Let's Make a Dog Bed

A couple of weeks ago I posted a picture of the pile of dog beds that I put together and took to the shelter...

I got quite a few e-mails asking how I make them...I decided that would make a good post so here I am.  This is the greatest form of recycling...no scraps in the landfill...and shelter dogs get soft cushy beds to rest on...it's a Win, Win!  So here we go...it's just like making a simple pillowcase and closing up the top...easy peasy!

I cut a yard of fabric...

anything works...a friend gave me this piece of fabric...I've used flannel, corduroy, upholstery...whatever I get.  If you don't have a yard, use what you have...the yard makes a pretty big bed for the larger dogs.

With right sides together, fold so the selvedges are together...

sew bottom and selvedge side using at least a 1/2" seam.

Turn it right side out and fill it about 3/4 of the way...

I use scraps and trimmings off quilts that have machine quilted. 

And I'm always getting stuff from friends...it's always fun to see what they've been up to...LOL!

Fold over about an inch or so...

Fold over again, all the raw edges will be inside now.

Top stitch all the way around...

I just put pins to show you where to sew because mine wasn't full enough to close...but you get the idea.

Have fun...the dogs and cats at the shelter will be so happy!

From My Front Porch

...I get to enjoy this beautiful bougainvillaea...

I have seen a lot of these in my years, in Florida and in different parts of the country and I've never seen one as beautiful as this one is.

The flowers are huge hot pink with a touch of orange
...absolutely breathtaking.  I thanked my neighbors for planting this just for me...LOL!

I've had a crazy week...laptop went in for dejunking, it had slowed way down and they got it all cleaned up and it's running like a dream again...I sure did miss it...I love my IPad, but it sure is easier typing on my laptop...been doing some cleaning, the heavy stuff that I've ignored for way too long...we have some friends coming for a visit in November so I have to get this place in order...isn't that what we do...

But in the craziness I did get the binding on this fun little Boo Crew quilt for my kitchen table...
...and yes that's Mr. Brown Quilts basket of "after lunch treats"...The pattern is California Dreaming by Little Louise Designs...it's a great pattern, quick and easy, you can really see the fabrics

and she gives cutting directions from crib/throw to king...this one is the crib/throw and is 48" square...perfect for my kitchen table.

Off to finish something before this day disappears...Happy Sunday!

SURPRISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Please don't faint..no, your eyes are not deceiving you...yes indeed this is a post from your long lost blogland friend.  I have absolutely no good reason for being absent for what a friend of mine has deemed "forever"...I haven't been doing anything exciting, earth shattering or even terribly important.  I haven't found a cure for anything, or really even looked for one...I haven't called Washington and given them a solution for all the problems there...I really haven't even been cooking anything good for Mr. Brown Quilts.  I quite honestly haven't been doing anything that was even the least bit blog worthy.  I'm hoping to make some changes and get back in the swing again...but I'm not going to make any promises, I'm not going to commit to anything...I will, however, post when I have something to post about.  I've been pretty boring lately...nothing is wrong, I haven't been sick, everyone is great...I'm just BORING!

The past few days I have gotten back into the swing of things and it feels really good...I made the grandchildren Halloween/Fall pillowcases...

Andy went up there last weekend and took them with him...the kids love them...I need to make the big kids some new ones for Christmas and make Peyton his first one.  They really are so fun to make...

I have a product to share with you...it's an oldie...I remember my mom using this when I was a kid...STA-FLO liquid starch...

I've used every starch, sizing, Best Press on the market...but this is my new favorite.  It is crazy inexpensive and leaves you with an amazing press.  It's even helping with the fraying of the fabric...that's been driving me crazy.  That big bottle costs less than $3...I fill the smaller bottle

almost to the top and add just a smidge of water.  The directions say 1/2 and 1/2 or even 1/3 starch to 2/3 water...not me, I'm lots and lots of starch and just a smidge of water.  It is wonderful.  I was sewing this section of the Country Threads with all these triangles and all the bias edges...

I sprayed them and pressed them and they went together with not a speck of trouble. 

I know there is a concern about bugs and starch and this is a lot of starch, but I wash my quilts the moment the last stitch goes in the binding...by the time it's quilted, bound and washed I don't think there are any worries.  I LOVE it!

I've also spent some time making more dog beds...the shelter is offering people that will foster dogs bedding to take home with the dogs if they have them available.  I am fortunate that my friends save scraps and quilt trimmings for me...the result 9 large dog beds that will be delivered this week.

That's what I have for today...I'll try not to be gone "forever"...

Divide and Conquer

That's my new mantra...I did it with the Temecula Quilt Sampler quilt and it worked terrifically...so as I told you I'm looking at projects differently now.  I found this wonderful project languishing in a basket...

yes it's wonderful, yes I loved it, but unfortunately it was another daunting one.  It has a zillion pieces, lots of sections, lots of directions.  I started cutting way back when I got the kit...

yes that's when I got it...2008...but came to a halt...I was trying to cut the whole thing...I was getting confused, I was trying to keep everything organized in ziploc bags, I was overwhelmed and I QUIT...all the pieces and parts went into a basket for another day...or another year as it turned out.  When I found it the other day looked at it totally differently...parts, sections...ding, ding, ding!!!  As I have it planned out it should take me    months to get the top done...sure beats 5 years...LOL!
So here's the first section...

the center star...done...next month the checkerboard border around the star.

I'm really enjoying looking at projects with new eyes...things are looking much more doable!

I'm Levitating....

And I have been for a couple of days...now I really thought that was hocus pocus...if you watch America's Got Talent you've seen the guy that does...I didn't believe it...until I finished this...

...now I know it's possible.  I've been floating about 3 feet off the floor ever since I put in the last stitch the other day.  Thanks to a good friend that showed me hers and lit the fire in me to pull it out and do it (it's been hidden since 2009)...and to another friend that taught me to break up a daunting project into small steps and then work at it.  Now it's ready for my quilter...WhooHoo!  You know I've said many times...We get by with a little help from our friends...oh so true!!!!!

P.S,  Sorry for the camera strap in the lower left corner...Mr. Brown Quilts wasn't available to hold for me so I had to do it...took 12 pictures and this was the best...LOL!

I'm Back...

Yes, I'm even surprising myself...I guess that's what I have to do...announce on my blog when I'll be back then I have to be here...kind of like putting it on my "List"...if I write it down, it's a commitment and I get it done...I think I may be on to something here...

Here are the two baby quilts I told you about yesterday...we had a hard time getting a good picture...it's been so overcast in the morning and then we can't wait until the afternoon because by then it's pouring.  This one I showed before it was quilted...I started this one back in April when Sinta and Sherri introduced it as a Vintage Schnibble...Hat Trick by Carrie Nelson/Miss Rosie's Quilt Company..I decided to use Paris Flea Market...loved it when it came out the first time, I had so hoarded away and added a charm pack and some yardage for border, backing and binding...I had a very special baby girl in mind for this...

Katie and Josh's best friends are having their first little person, they are the sweetest couple and I knew immediately when we found out very early that they were having a girl that this was the quilt for her.  I picked out a sweet rosebud fabric for the back and found out a month afterwards that they were using a tiny rosebud print for the bedding in the nursery...Serendipity...

Back in January, Terry over at Terry's Treasures started a sew along using this Wiggly Whimsy pattern from the MODA ...I loved this cute little design and had seen the Posh line of fabric by Aneela Hooey and knew I needed to put these two together.

When I started working on it and was posting sections of it each month I got several e-mails wanting to know who I was making this for...my response was "I don't have anyone in mind"...I just liked the pattern, liked the fabric and thought it would just be fun.  Can't think of a better reason to make a quilt...well then we found out about this new little person and I decided that this would go to her as a fun floor quilt.  Katie is having a shower for Jennifer in August so I have my gifts ready to take...a pretty quilt for the nursery and a fun quilt for the floor and some tummy time.  This is why I quilt!

P.S.  Yes those are Mr. Brown Quilts fingers and legs...can't do this without him and if you're wondering what those little dark spots are on the Whimsy quilt...that's the hair on the little brown haired girls in the fabric...I looked at the picture and couldn't figure out what in the world that was...first I thought it was dirt on my lens, no...then I got scared that there was something on the quilt...never noticed it until I saw the picture...WHEW!

Brown Quilts...Does Anyone Remember Who She Is?

As my little Peyton says..."OH MY!"
Where, oh where have I been?  How can it possibly be almost a month since I blogged?  I haven't gone anywhere...I guess I've been in, as Darlene says, a "hermitting" phase again...it's been crazy hot and we have had storms every day this month except one...so I've been staying in the house, with the A/C going full blast sewing like the wind.  I've been working on my "LIST", marking things off daily...it's a very good thing...but before I show you what I've been up to I need to take a little side trip and and share an event in our lives the past week and a half.  Andy got word from a friend from high school that another friend of theirs (they had all been together several months ago at a reunion) had been killed in a motorcycle accident.  He was riding his Harley from his farm in Ohio into town to help someone...a car turned in front of him.  So, so sad...Andy went up to Ohio last weekend for a celebration of his life...I'm not sharing this with you for any other reason than to say, live each day to it's fullest, don't take anything for granted, life is short...do what you love and love what you do...sure made us stop and think...

I've spent some time this month working on those tiny baskets that Temecula Quilt Company has been blogging...I'm all caught up...21 teeny tiny 2" finished baskets

...they are so much fun...I'm lovin' them!

Got my 4 Star General

blocks done....Crossroads

...Civil War Diaries from Temecula Quilt Shop

 and the Country Threads monthly blocks

celebrating their 30 years in business...

As I said earlier we've had lots and lots of rain and thunder storms...we went out one evening after one of the storms had moved on to find lots of magnolia leaves in the yard...picked this one up and there was this big old frog, who had turned himself brown so I wouldn't see him

...don't know who jumped further but when he landed in the greenery he immediately started to turn green

...he was lots of fun to watch...I love his toes...I know you're saying "Oh here she goes again with her nature pictures"...LOL! That's all I have for now...but I always am on the lookout and you know I just need to share them with you all...I'll be back tomorrow with 2 baby quilts that I've finished up this month...Happy Evening!