1877, Thomas Edison demonstrated the phonograph.
1922, Howard Carter opened the tomb of King Tut.
1955, Howie Mandel was born.
1961, a monkey was launched into space.
1972, Pong the first commercial arcade game was released.
1978, I married the love of my life!
1986, Cary Grant died.
1988, my baby girl was born!
Happy Anniversary, Sweetie!
and...
Happy Birthday, Baby
Later,
Debbie
How do you like that title?
Okay...so. I've never done a tutorial before, bear with me.
I wanted easy diagonal striped binding directions...on the bias...striped like a candy cane...but could not find one that I understood on the web. So what does a girl do...?
1. Tries to figure it out herself. She has a college education, surely it can't be this hard!
2. It is! Next...?
3. Ruin a 1/3 yard of fabric! Next...?
4. Cry, cuss, cry some more! Next...?
5. Call Mother! She'll know!
And...she did! My grandmother showed her! Thank goodness!
Note: I 'm using a different piece of fabric for the tutorial than I did for the quilt I'm binding.
Tools: Cutting mat, ruler, rotary cutter
Step one:
Place fabric face down on cutting board. Line left side up on mat.
Step Two:
Bring right side of fabric down to left hand corner.
Step Three:
Cut fabric on diagonal. (I found it really doesn't matter where as long as you're using the diagonal line on the mat.)
Step Four:
a. With top portion that has been cut off cut a 2 1/2" strip. Discard remainder of this top portion of fabric (or put into scrap bin!)
b. Using bottom piece of fabric, flip upward to the diagonal line and cut another 2 1/2" strip. (Continue cutting 2 1/2" strips until you have enough for the quilt you want binding on.)
Steps Four
a. Line the two strips up:
b. Sew on the diagonal; trim ends and 'bunny ears'.
c. Open and press.
To finish:
a. Fold in half and press.
b.
c. Attach raw edges of binding and quilt together; sew with machine.
d. Turn binding towards back and hand sew into place.
Binding attached!
I'll show the finished quilt when I sew the binding on the whole thing!
Disclaimer to anyone who is reading this:
I am writing this tutorial so that I won't have to call my mother the next time I need diagonal biased binding! I'm sure it probably won't be of much help to anyone else other than me, but...it is what it is!
Later,
Debbie
Seriously...I'm so in denial! Can you believe Christmas is only 35 days away! I feel like everything is so rushed this year. Maybe because it still doesn't feel like winter...today is suppose to be in the 70's. Crazy!
I hate the holidays being such a rush. Thanksgiving is just 5 days away. In the previous post I said we'll be with David's family on Thanksgiving Day and on Friday will have another dinner here. This will be the first time 'Bama Girl's fiance' will be meeting the family. Poor boy!
Not only is next week Thanksgiving, but also 'Bama Girl's birthday and our anniversary. Just sayin'.
I went grocery shopping yesterday and bought food for our dinner. Today, I'm probably going to do all my chopping...onions, celery, bell peppers, pickles, etc. One new thing I'm adding to the menu this year is roasted brussels sprouts:
2 packages 'fresh' brussels sprouts (about 48)
3 T olive oil 1 T lemon juice 2 T chopped garlic salt and pepper
Cut brown end and any yellow leaves off sprouts. Cut in half. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice; add garlic, salt and pepper. Roast on pan at 400* for 30-40 min. stirring or shaking pan to turn sprouts over.
They are so good...I also use the same recipe for roasted broccoli or cauliflower. (I've always been anti-vegetables...unless they're fried, buttered or swimming in cheese or sauce...roasted veggies changed this!)
*Brussels or brussel sprouts? I looked it up...it's brussels sprouts with an 's'.
'Bama Girl came home Wednesday night and we spent two days making quilts for her to give to her future in-laws...I forgot to take pictures. She took the one for Dain's Dad home to finish the binding, I have one on the quilting machine and one to finish putting borders on. And one of mine to quilt and one to finish the binding on. (Oh! I do have a picture of the one on the frame!)
This was another thing I did while I was out yesterday: bought more batting and even though I had a 40% off coupon it was still $150...(ridiculous!) and it wasn't even the kind I wanted...all they had was natural and I wanted white. The manager called every store in a 45 mile radius and none of the three had any white! What's up?
I may take the week off, but don't be surprised if I show up!
Later,
Debbie
Can't find my meds...no, really...my blood pressure, cholesterol, etc! I hope I didn't leave them in Ohio! (Update: Found 'em! Where? Where I keep the medicine...where else?)
Can't seem to get it together and plan a menu or even a grocery list for Thanksgiving dinner. We usually eat at David's mom's for Thanksgiving dinner. But, because I have a couple of spoiled brats (LOL...my bad!) I also cook a complete dinner here, too!
Got two quilts to 'quilt', one to finish sewing the top, one on the drawing board and one that I need to finish the binding on. And this is what my kitchen and dining room look like:
I don't think I've shown the wall hanging I finished while I was gone and since it's not a surprise...it's for 'Bama Girl:
I'm really trying to get into the Christmas spirit...but I need to get over over one holiday at a time!
Guess I'll go clean the kitchen and make some chicken salad...then nose to the grindstone on those quilting projects!
Later,
Debbie
Today I spent my first full day at home. I'm such a homebody and really hate being away. So I'm a very happy person today!
So are these little guys:
"I missed you!"
"What?"
I really didn't do a lot today, but I did make a "mug rug". So easy, so fast!
But...not necessarily the cutest thing on the block! I've got to make a few more and then I'll post some more pictures. Maybe I'll get better and make some prettier ones! Anyway...that's what I'm going to be doing tonight while I watch TV...Mike and Molly! (Love this show!) The Event (still not sure about this one!). And since it's rainy and cold...I'll use my new mug rug for some cocoa and ...vanilla wafers! (That's all I have in the pantry! LOL!)
Later,
Debbie
We'll be leaving (hopefully) around 12 or 1 pm today to go back home! I'm so ready! If you don't know already...I'm a homebody! And as much as I love David and love being with him, I really love Alabama and being in my own home! So does this little fellow:
Because?
1. He hates being taken out on a leash
2. He hates being cooped up in an apartment when we leave.
3. He hates travel.
4. Most important? He misses Cheddar!
(Chance told me all this...I didn't make it up...promise!)
I'm excited about going home because I've got so many project to do! I didn't tell that I went fabric shopping, did I? One of the places I went was to JoAnn's. And boy oh boy! What a haul I made! 26 yards of fabric for $40!! All their red tag fabric was 1/2 off...that's right...$2, $3, and $5 fabric all 1/2 off, folks!
I also went to the Pottery Barn outlet here and bought a white quilt. I can hear the collective gasp..."A QUILT? Why would you buy a quilt?"
1. 'Cause it's white and I don't want to quilt a white one.
2. It's king sized and it's harder to get a king size on my frame.
3. It already has shams and I don't have to sew them.
4. I bought a dust ruffle to match and don't have to sew one.
5. I wanted to be able to use it when I got home and later...'K?
6. And...I've got ideas for revamping my bedroom!
Back to the projects...for Christmas, I already have one quilt to bind, two to quilt and possibly two left to make, so although I already have my plate full, I really, really want to make some of these:
Mug rugs...(sorry I don't know where I got the picture from...if you see this and it's your's, please let me know!) There is a tutorial...so cute!...on Jodi's blog! It's different from this one...it's a scrappy Christmas Tree! (Jodi, if you ever read this, I'm hoping you don't mind!) Anyway...I'm jumping on the band wagon and making some mug rugs!
If you can't tell, I've had a lot of time on my hands while David has been at work and I've been surfing the 'net a lot! But I won't tell you all my plans...I'll save some for later!
The next time you hear from me I'll be in Sweet Home Alabama!
Later,
Debbie
I'm still on the loose!
We went to West Virginia to the Homer Laughlin factory. This is the broken pottery outside the door.
I guess I went a little crazy, but I really got a good deal...about $300 worth of Fiesta for around $80...it's seconds, but I don't mind! I don't know who will inherit all that I've got, but they better love Fiesta! I'll show some pictures of what I bought when I get home and unpack!
I found a few more barn quilts, but went past so fast I didn't get a picture (maybe I can talk David into going back!)
But I did get a picture of a barn with hex signs on it...just as unusual! (for me!)
And have you ever wondered where clouds come from? They're factory made!
The Cloud-maker
And....one more barn picture:
Later,
Debbie
Good answer! But...NO...Not me!
Ohio would be the correct answer and that's where I'm at! And...why I haven't been blogging for a while! Well...that's just an excuse and we all know it! ('Cause I've only been here a week!
I'm in Circleville, OH visiting hubby! He flew home and then we drove up here for two weeks. We'll drive back and then he'll fly back next week...easy peasy! Except for one little thing:
Chance! He's not a good traveler. He whined for the 8 long hours we were in the car coming up here...not fun! We tried everything to get him to go to sleep...it just wasn't going to happen. I'm really dreading the trip back.
I'm going to show just a few pictures from my trip and save the rest for another post.
I'm so excited...LOOK!
**squeal**
BARN QUILTS!!
**squeal**
Click on these to look closer! Please! ('Cause I made David turn around and go back just so I could get pictures of them!)
Later,
Debbie
