A barter?

About a year ago I got an email from Mary at Quilt Hollow with a rather mysterious subject line. “Barter” was all it said. I had no idea what to expect when I opened the email but was really intrigued after I read it. She wanted to know if I’d like to do a “trade”. She’d quilt one of my quilts if I would make her a set of the Tisket a Tasket blocks in wool. After thinking it over, I thought it was a great idea!

So, each month as I posted my finished block we would “wink” at each other.

(I created a cute collage of these blocks but can’t get it to load to my blog. Hmmm, bummer!)

I had a medium sized quilt ready to go and she told me to send it to her right away so we could talk about how I wanted it quilted. We have such similar tastes that I knew it was in good hands. Little did I know that I sent her into a tailspin because she usually just did “all over” designs and she knew that this was going to have to be a custom job.

I felt really bad that she was so stressed about it so I told her to send it back and I’d send her another one. She refused and took it to her long arm gatherings for advice. I hadn’t heard from her in awhile (lots going on with my Mom) and then all of a sudden a couple of weeks ago, there it was on her blog. OMG…I thought I was going to hyperventilate! It was so gorgeous. Funny thing was…I had just finished putting the borders on Tisket and was getting ready to ship it off to her. Great minds….right Mary?

When mine arrived here, I quickly made and attached the binding so I could stitch it down in the car on another trip to Calif last week. Finished it by the time we got home and Wa-La, here it is.

Check out the quilting…

Isn’t it wonderful? (Somehow I think I got the better end of this barter…LOL)

Have you ever thought of offering up your talents to someone who does something you can’t or don’t want to do or don’t even have time to do? If you haven’t, it’s something you might want to consider. After all, isn’t that the way business used to be done in the “olden” days?

I’m so grateful to Mary for suggesting this trade and in my opinion, it was a win win for both of us.

Thanks Mary. I love it!

(My quilt is a pattern by Jo Morton called “Jo’s Whig Rose” and is in her book “Traditions”.)

Joe Joe worked his Mo Jo

Back at the end of December I blogged about the Joe Joe that Candace sent me which is supposed to bring good luck selling a house.   I had put my Mom’s house on the market at the beginning of December.  My brother lives in the same Del Webb Sun City development that she did, so I sent Joe Joe home with him after Christmas to place in my Mom’s house, hopefully bringing us some good luck.   I suspected that he might keep Joe Joe for himself since his house was also on the market.  

Well, just one week later we got an acceptable offer on her house.   Come to find out…my brother hadn’t put Joe Joe at my Mom’s but had put it in his own house.   I say…Karma’s a bitch!  LOL  

Happy ending though.   He has a contract on his house which came last week.   So, Joe Joe worked his Mo Jo on both houses.   Thanks Candace for sending him to me and thanks to Monica for designing and making “Hello Joe Joe”.   I’ll be passing him along when I go back to California to finish cleaning out the house.

And some more good news (at least for me anyway).   I FINALLY got the red border fabric for A Tisket a Tasket.   After all my searching, Karen at Farmhouse Woolens ended up having it.   I could have saved myself alot of time if she had just told me so to begin with.  LOL.

I really like the way it turned out.   I think the red was worth waiting for.  What do you think, Mary? 

Hugs, Anne

A Tisket a Tasket – the finale

It seems appropriate that we began with a snowman and we’re ending with one.  

Are you sad to have this wonderful series come to an end?   I sure am.   In fact, I’ve decided that it won’t end now for me. 

Do you notice something missing?   Like the sashing and borders?   Well, a funny thing happened.  My order hasn’t arrived from my friendly online quilt shop.   I may have to cancel that order and try another friendlier online quilt shop.  

And, if I had put it together in the order I photographed it, it would be wrong.   I think I have May and June switched around.   So, I guess it’s a good thing my fabric didn’t arrive!  LOL

I promise to show you the finished project and, hopefully, it won’t be next Christmas.  

Thanks, Anne, for a wonderful 12 months of darling blocks.  

Tisket a Tasket – November block

It’s hard to believe that Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is right around the corner, isn’t it?  Our night time temps sure feel like it though.  We’re having some below freezing nights so the electric blankets are now on the beds.  I love the colors at this time of year and the newest block from Anne really let me have fun pulling from my wool stash.  I love the way this block turned out. 

While we were at quilt market, I bought a fat pack of the new Primitive Gatherings plaids called “Simple Gatherings”. Anne and I had fun picking out the sashing and border fabrics.   Now I just have to get them ordered and start putting it all together.  This has been such a fun project to work on all year. 

I want to thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and kind words.   I know there will be difficult days ahead, but I really appreciate the support I’ve had from my blogging friends.   What a wonderful experience blogging has been for me. 

I also want to thank Mr. CnW for stepping in and helping me out because I’m not sure the words would have ever come to me in a blog post.   Losing a parent is something we all have or will have to face, and one of the most difficult and stressful times we will have in our lives; but with the support of family and friends, hopefully, the journey will be a bit easier.  

Hugs, Anne

Tisket a Tasket - October

Wow, I can’t believe it’s time for another block!  I don’t know where the time has gone.  Well…yes I do and I’ll tell you about it after I show you this darling block.   So fun to do in wool too.   By now, you know the drill about heading over to Anne’s blog to get the pattern.  Only 2 more blocks left to go! 

  I think we’re going to look for sashing fabric while we’re at Market, right Anne?

So, on to the reason for my absence.   I won’t go into ALL the details but first want to thank you all who have emailed me to ask about my Mom or to tell me that I’ve been missed.   I really appreciate you all.  Bloggers are just the best!

As you know from a previous post, my Mom got “cellulitis” in her legs and was admitted to the hospital.   While there, she developed a blood clot in her thigh.   She was then treated for that but began getting very weak.   (You need to know that she is 89 years young, and prior to the cellulitis, she played golf 3 times/wk, line dancing 2 times/wk, tai chi, daily walks and….get this…20 minutes on the Nordic Track.   Lived alone in her own house and still drove everywhere.  Now she can’t even get herself up from a sitting position and has to walk with a walker.)

Anyway, after 2 weeks in the hospital, and then 2-1/2 weeks in a skilled nursing facility, she was able to come home but needed 24 hour care.   I provided that for a week until she had to be readmitted because of anemia and loss of blood.  Where was all her blood going?   That was the $64,000 question.    After doing an Upper GI, 2 CatScans, an MRI and Xrays, they still don’t have a definitive answer.  

An oncologist was called in and suspects that she may have “blood cancer”.   Not really sure what that is…and they say they won’t really know until it manifests itself.   If anyone out there knows anything about this…let me know.  

We had arranged 24 hour care for her in her home right before the last admission.  I was supposed to be going to Emma’s 3rd B’day celebration in Seattle, but thought I better stay in Sacto.   My Mom and brother both insisted that I go to Seattle and after much prodding from both of them, I went ahead and left her in the care of her Drs and my brother, telling them that I could hop right back on a plane and come back if needed.   She stayed in the hospital another week and then came home and, for now, has a caregiver she really likes.   

I have to say that if any of you are caregivers or know someone who is, you have my utmost admiration and respect.   It is an incredibly hard job and so very stressful.   Kudos to you!

Now, on to the party.  Emma turned 3 and she wanted a “pinkalicious” party in the park.   She got her wish.  Here she is, swinging at her pinana… Yep, that’s what she calls it.  

We gave her a pink laptop and some fun dress-up clothes and shoes.

 

She wasn’t feeling very well on her b’day.  She’d had a nasty cold and fever AND….decided to share it with…ME!   Isn’t she sweet?   I’m sure I was ripe for any bug to invade my body!   I think it was the worst cold I’ve ever had.   We came home last Monday and I literally didn’t get out of bed until Thursday!   I’m on the mend now and really looking forward to going to Quilt Market with Anne on Wednesday.    After we get back from that, I’ll be heading back to Sacramento to my Mom’s. 

While I was at my Mom’s, I worked on lots of new projects for Anne. (She’s got some wonderful new patterns debuting at Market). What a godsend that was.   I took my sewing machine and supplies and Anne provided me with all the materials.  I didn’t have to make any decisions…I just sewed for her.   It was such therapy, I can’t even begin to tell you.    I would sew when my Mom was sleeping and it would help ease my tensions. 

I did get to work on 2 blocks of my Wool Garden too.

 

Look…we’re almost done!   Thanks Karen for your wonderful choices of cottons n wool!  And, by the way, I can’t wait to see you at Market!

So, that’s about it for me.  If you’ve stuck with me thru this whole post (a really long one for me), thank you.    It’s been a trying time, to say the least but we’ll all get through it.

I can’t end this without showing you a picture of the cutest little guy you’ve ever seen.   I call him “Mr. Happy”.   Our little guy, Mason, is now 4 months old!  He just makes me smile.

Being a Grammy is just the best!

Tisket a Tasket, block 9

Wow, summer is almost over and school is beginning again!  Where does the time go?   Pretty soon this wonderful block of the month that Anne has given us will be over.   Seems like it just started, doesn’t it?   The weather is starting to cool off, so it’s a perfect time to work with wool. (although you all know how much I like working with wool when it’s triple digits, LOL).  Okay, get busy now!

 

I wanted to thank all of you who have emailed me or my friends wondering where I’ve been.   Well, my Mom has been seriously ill for the past 3 weeks and I had to go to California.   She’s still not out of the woods, but hopefully she’ll be fine and back to her normal vibrant self soon.   

I’ll probably be going back down there next week if she’s released from the hospital as expected, so don’t worry about me if my blog seems “silent”.   I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you caring about me.   You’re all the best!

I took my little netbook with me, but wasn’t able to get any wireless reception in her neighborhood or the hospital (believe it or not!).   She has dial-up and I didn’t feel like I could tie up the phone line using her computer.  And, I never had time to go sit at a Starbucks.   So, the internet and bloggy world weren’t available to me.    I actually came home to 535 emails.   Yikes, how will I ever get thru them all.  Oh my!    Anyway, if you emailed me or commented on my blog, please forgive me if you didn’t get an answer.   I’m sure you understand.  

Hugs, Anne

A Tisket a Tasket – block 8

It’s hard to believe that August is here and fall is just around the corner. I’m looking forward to fall because we’ve had some really hot weather and with it have come lightening and thunderstorms. (and….I don’t like lightening and thunder).

Isn’t this a cute block that Anne has come up with for August? Cupcakes are so the “thing” right now. And they are the perfect dessert to take to a picnic. (If there isn’t any thunder and lightening…LOL)

After I got my block finished, I thought it would have looked cute with some sprinkles on the frosting. I may go back and add some french knots and straight stitches in some fun colors. What do you think?

Is anyone out there working on these blocks in wool with me? Because if not, I'm not doing anymore! It's too hot!

Hugs, Anne

It’s Tisket a Tasket time!

Happy July! Hey Anne, maybe we should have released this one on the 1st of July so that all those “overachievers” could be finished by now. (You all know who you are).

If you’ve seen Anne’s version of this block, you’ll see that she’s used wool. COPYCAT! (and not only that…she had a contest about it last week). I’m the woolie, Anne, keep to your fabric and leave my wool alone! So there! LOL

We’re still working on how to finish the wool version. She won’t even talk to me about it now because it’s too hot in California and she starts itching just thinking about it. But…we’ll come up with something, honest.

We’re half way there

Can you believe we’ve already finished 5 blocks and are now moving on to Block #6 of A Tisket a Tasket?   My how time flies when you’re having fun, right?  

Isn’t this a cute block?   I’m amazed at how Anne just keeps coming up with these darling blocks.  I know you’re probably tired of hearing about how easy they are, but, trust me, they really are!   If you haven’t started, you can be caught up in no time at all.   Prepare a block in an evening and then, the next day,  sit outside in the nice weather and stitch away!

Lookin good!  Thanks Bunny Hill.

Tisket a Tasket, Block 5

That Anne keeps making these blocks cuter and cuter.

If you haven't joined in the fun, there's still time. Click on the link on my sidebar and it will take you right to the FREE patterns. You could be caught up in no time at all. Each block takes about an evening to put together and another evening to stitch. Come on. What's stopping you?

A Tisket a Tasket block 4

These blocks are just so much fun to make and I look forward each month to see what Anne has come up with. There's still lots of time to join in on this Block of the Month. Just click on the Tisket a Tasket picture on my sidebar and it will take you right to the pattern.

In this picture, you can sure tell where the natural light was coming from. Unfortunately I couldn't fix it in my photo program. Oh well, you get the gist of it! The actual color of the background fabric is on the right side.

Same thing happened here. Maybe I should be using a flash. Anyway, I got another block of Winter Wonderland finished in the car on our trip to and from California. I think I only have 3 more blocks. Wheee!

I also did one more block on "Stars around the Garden". It's the one in the lower right corner. I only have 3 more blocks of this one to finish and can then start on the center section. I'm trying really hard to only work on UFO's and not start anything new. Boy, that's no fun at all!

Block #3, A Tisket, a tasket.

Well, she's done it again...That Anne over at Bunny Hill Designs has come up with the next darling block in her year long mystery Block of the Month. These little blocks are so much fun to do and so quick and easy. I haven't put the buttons on the basket yet, but other than that...it's a done deal! If you haven't started them, you can get caught up in no time at all. Just click on the above link or the picture on my sidebar and you'll land right on her site to get the FREE pattern!

Here are the first 3 blocks. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next month. Thanks Anne!

I guess I shouldn't complain about the snow we had last week when this is what we see once the skies clear! It's such a beautiful sight. There are 10 mountain peaks that can be seen from all over this area and they are so pretty with all the snow on them. Bend is such a beautiful place to live and play.

Thanks for stopping by,

Anne

A Tisket a Tasket, Block 2. A couple others too.

Here's my wool version of A Tisket a Tasket for February. Go on over to Bunny Tales to download the next block, or click the link on my sidebar.

Love the way they are looking together.

Here's block 3 of Wool Garden. If you're observant, you can see that the sunflower block is a little different from what it was on my wool tutorial. Well, it seems that I reversed the fabrics for the star and the sunflower seeds. (Thanks Karen). I felt like a real dodo since my boo boo was out there for the whole world to see...(well, maybe not the WHOLE world, but it felt like that). Anyway, I took those pieces off and dug deep into my stash and came up with something that looks a bit better. Geesh!

And finally, these are the current blocks for Jan Patek's Girl Gang. It really feels good to be caught up.

Now if I can just get to some of the other projects in the closet, drawers, shelves, etc.

Now that was fun!

Block #1 of Bunny Hill Designs, A Tisket a Tasket...FINISHED! Okay everyone, this is a fun, fast and easy project to tackle. I picked out my wool, cut out the pieces and glued them down to the background in about an hour last night. Stitched them today and voila! Use whatever method of applique you like to do and have at it! For those of you who have never used wool, next month I'll try to remember to take pictures as I go along and do a little tutorial for you. Sorry I didn't do it this time but I didn't think about it until I read some of your comments and emails asking me how to work with wool. It's easy...trust me! So, now you know that you can get these blocks done in no time. If you haven't downloaded the 1st month and signed up for Anne's newsletter to get the rest of the months, just click on the widget on my sidebar or the link at the beginning of this post and it will take you right to the pattern.