Happy Birthday to a Special Guy . . . .

Today's Cooper's 3rd Birthday!!

Happy Birthday to the only dog we've ever owned who likes to sit at our kitchen table.

"Who Me?"

I think he learned it at school! Here he is at doggy daycare.

It seems like it was just yesterday he came to live with us,

but in other ways it feels like he's always been a member of the family.

Cooper, you make me smile countless times a day, what would we do without you!!

Happy Birthday Cooper!!

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Planning Ahead . . . .

I'm still working away on Crazy Eights,

but while I'm working on one project I'm always thinking of the next one,

and here's one I hope to get to soon.....

I'm so excited I had an excuse to buy a layer cake of this adorable fabric,

Max and Whiskers by Basic Grey for Moda. This is the first line of fabric I've purchased by Basic Grey.

I was thinking this little guy could use a quilt,

as soon as he stops growing, so I know what size to make!

(I think that line suits Tucker to a "T")

Cooper demands equal blog time.

Two dog pictures, each with a panda, even-steven I would say.

(I think Tucker is a bigger fan of the panda than Cooper!)

Today, Nicole over at Sister's Choice, is kicking off week two of the Fat Quarter Winners by Monique Dillard Book Tour. I think she even has a tutorial, be sure to stop by!

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Red, White and Wonderful...ly Done !

Here it is, my first official finish for 2011, and it's a keeper!!

Red, White and Wonderful by Gerri Robinson.

So the last time you stopped by, I had the center blocks all pieced.

Next step, the inner border.....

which is mitered.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, this project was a kit I bought from Lisa/Stashmaster.

The fabric, Roman Holiday, came out several years ago, so in the back of my mind I was aware that if I made a mistake cutting out this kit, I probably stood little chance of being able replace the fabric. That was particularly true with the border fabric, so what did I do...

of course, my very first cut of the very first strip, I was off by 1/2 inch!! Oh no, what to do!!! There was really nothing I could do, but cut all the remaining strips wrong and hope for the best.....and I got lucky, and got the best.......

The border fabric is cut lengthwise, when I lined up my ruler, I lined it up down the middle, but cut it a half inch too narrow, which forced me to cut the opposite side a half an inch wider, giving me that cute little scallop design running down the left side of the inner border fabric. Don't you just love it when stuff like that happens!!

So here it is, and I can't improve on the name, it is Red, White and Wonderful.

My first finish for 2011.

This is Lifetime Quilt #64,

it finished at 57" X 57",

and has approximately 201 pieces ( a new low for me I think!).

I'm not familiar with Gerri Robinson, but someone left a comment that they had several of her patterns, so I did a little research and she has a wonderful website with some beautiful kits and patterns. Her website is called Planted Seed Designs. I really love her Bellissima pattern made from Luna Notte by 3 Sisters for Moda. The pattern is in McCalls Quick Quilts February/March 2011 Magazine, out now.

That makes two amazing patterns I've seen that used Luna Notte, Eventide, by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company and Bellissima.....and I've still not bought that fabric!

I heard on the evening news that every state in the US has snow, except for one, Florida.....

we're enjoying ours!

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Let It Snow . . . .

One goal that I was able to accomplish for 2010 . . . . .

my Belle Meade half square triangle units!!

Here they are, not coming close to filling this basket, setting in the snow.

I even made 50 extra,

for a total of 706,

because I'm an over cutter,

and like choices,

and really loved making them!

Making these units in advance, for Belle Meade, could not have worked out better. There were more than a few days, especially in the last 2 weeks, where I would maybe squeeze out enough time to make 5, but they sure added up. And sometimes, just making 5 units, was all I needed to get my sewing fix, feel like I accomplished something, and then tackle something else on my Holiday To Do list.

The next time I have a project with what seems like an overwhelmingly number of small pieces and parts, I hope I'll be able to break it down over time, because that seemed to change a task that sounded tedious, monotonous, and tiresome into fun! Really, give it a try sometime!

We got snow for Christmas . . .

I sure hope snow didn't interfere with your holiday plans, at our house, it was just what we wanted . . .

and we made the most of it.

But now that Christmas is over, I'm over getting anymore snow!

Spring can come anytime now!

I tried to get a good Christmas 2010 picture of Cooper,

but he was not in the mood for it

At first he refused to even look at the camera,

And then, when I finally DID get him to look at me,

this is the face I got . . I have no idea why!

Don't feel sorry for Cooper, Santa took pity on him,

and put a nice new bone in his stocking.

Can you believe Christmas has come and gone......I enjoyed every minute, I hope yours was wonderful too.

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A Weekend of Family Christmas Fun . . .

Well you were right, once I gave "He Knows When You Are Sleeping" to my Dad, I felt great about it. My Dad was thrilled. I think he would have liked any quilt that I made, parents are like that, and I have an ugly Christmas quilt that would have fit the bill,

but I'm glad I gave him one that really suits him. I particularly liked Dianne's comment about me feeling sad to see this quilt go to a new home, "it will hug him when you can't, and you can't get any better than that". I could not agree more!

While I was home, I baked cookies with my Mom and niece and we made a great team. My Mom made the dough, I was the official roller, my niece the cutter/decorator, and then my Mom watched the oven, so technically I guess she was the baker.

This was the first time I'd made sugar cookies from scratch! I know, over 50 and just now making cookies, but it's never too late to learn!

When my daughter was smaller, we would make sugar cookies from the refrigerated prepared dough in your grocer's case. It was easy, they tasted OK, and the decorating was fun.

But once you've successfully made the real thing, I don't think there will be any going back to the old method. (I think wearing the hats was the secret to our success!)

As a matter of fact, they turned out so well, I'm thinking of buying cookie cutters for every holiday. I bought this Little Petite Candy Dish at Williams-Sonoma around Thanksgiving. They had it displayed in the store with candy and it looked so cute I couldn't pass it up. But once I got it home, it looked pretty sad, sitting empty on the counter.

Well it's empty no more!

yummy light buttery goodness.....

The funniest thing of all, I collect Christmas Cookie Jars, and my folks gave me #20 over the weekend... and I just love it and think it will look nice sitting out the rest of the winter.

But with all those cookie jars I collected over the years, they always sat empty! I NEVER made cookies.

And now that I've made cookies.....

they aren't going in a jar, I want to see them, so the cookie jars are STILL EMPTY!!

~

Two years ago, the Sunday before Christmas, we got the best present of all,

my folks gave us Cooper. It was a surprise, but aren't those the best presents! We couldn't keep him out from under the tree.....

and still can't!!

I hope you're enjoying the holidays at your house, from the decorating and baking to the time spent with family, it really is "the most wonderful time of the year".

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A Tale of Four Pumpkins . . . . .

So Monday I blogged about winning these adorable pumpkins, made by Brandie.

And even mentioned how I hoped no one actually used them....

even though I had them setting out, just begging for a messy glass, who would actually set anything on these lovely coasters....

There was one contingency that did not cross my mind . . .

"Cooper, what do you think you're doing!!"

"Hey you, YES YOU, come back here!!"

"I'll trade you a chewy for that pumpkin coaster ......."

Bribery works every time!! Except, Cooper's not allowed on the couch...I'll take what I can get!

I've moved those coasters to higher ground,

and hopefully out of Cooper's eyesight!

The only progress I've made in my sewing room is on my half square triangle units for Belle Meade. I'm getting up early and making a few while the house is quiet and before the menfolk are up.

356 down, an even 300 to go! It's so relaxing to start my day feeling like I've accomplished something before I've even had my first cup of coffee.

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Celebrations . . . .

Here's Nottingham Star with a few red stars filling its center.

Woo Hoo, I'm liking the looks of this quilt top. I get these ideas in my head, but am never sure if what I see in my mind's eye will appeal to my naked eyes....so far so good!

Today is Cooper's 2nd birthday, so in addition to two tablespoons of canned salmon in his food bowl, the celebration continued with a trip to the park. Cooper has always loved the smells, playground equipment, and general atmosphere there.

Today, someone was flying a kite. Something I've not seen in years, but it was a perfect day for it.

The daisies have lasted longer than the leaves on the trees. Our fall foliage was short and unspectacular this year.....too dry I heard them say on TV.

Here's Cooper's first trip to the park, at 4 months old we was just a little ball of fat and fur.

And not very happy. He didn't smile much as a pup, which worried me at the time.

But he outgrew the grumps and pretty much everything else around the house, his bed, his crate. He's now twice the size of his Mama, and has a good 20 pounds on his sister.

Here he is today, celebrating his birthday at the park. He's an extremely good natured dog who has added so much happiness to our home.

Happy Birthday Cooper!!

We could not love you more!!!

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There's No Place Like Home . . . . . .

We had the nicest time in California but it's always great to be home. We picked Cooper up at the dog motel on the way home from the airport. Cooper boards at the same place where he goes to doggy daycare. It's nice for him, a familiar place, familiar people, and familiar friends who give him plenty of exercise......

and I mean plenty. He went to bed as soon as he got home and slept for 12 hours.

Here's quilt #3, or the back of quilt # 3. It's a nice all over pattern, well done, I like how the pattern overlaps, but not in an obvious way.

Here's the front of quilt # 3, an Irish Chain done in Asian and batik fabrics...and odd combination that I think turned out well.

The pattern was called "Nine Patch on Point" by Marti Michell from the book "Quilting for People Who Still Don't Have Time to Quilt". I 've mentioned before that this is a nice book for beginners, great directions.

I like a good irish chain pattern, they look so great, all this with just a nine patch block set on point and a same size block with no piecing. I made this top in early 2005 and I can still remember how excited I was as this quilt came together.

This was an easy pattern that went together smoothly. As you may recall, my beginner quilting class taught me to how to make 9 patch and rail fence blocks. By the time I made this quilt I was becoming a pro at 9 patches....or so I thought.

It wasn't until months after I got this quilt back from the quilter that I noticed I cut off every point of the outer nine patch square with the containment border..ugh....I just didn't know any better. When I caught my mistake I went back and reread the pattern instructions. There's no mention of minding the corners. I think my setting triangles were too small. But at the time it just did not occur to me to check the corners to see if they were done correctly. I was more into a perfect quarter inch seam allowance and sewing in straight lines. I have since learned that sometimes that perfect quarter inch seam allowance leads to imperfect points.

I loved this quilt until I noticed this mistake, then I hung it in my closet. About 5 months ago I decided to get this quilt out and use it as a throw in the family room. I thought I would stare at those lopped off edges and be unhappy but I finally decided to cut myself some slack and appreciate what's right with this quilt, which is what I do every time I now happily snuggle underneath it. It's too bad that it took me over 3 years to get to that point.

With regards to Monday's blog, "State of Grace", thanks for the suggestions I'm still mulling over my options.

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