15 minute challenge ~ feb. 14th

~!!~happy valentines day~!!~

cyclamen love . . . or maybe i should say passion~!
;- )

here is my valentines day report card:

• tuesday, feb. 7th: pineapple trial block
• wednesday, feb. 8th: practice with TAST (chevron stitch) ~ chevron stitch onto stocking
• thursday, feb. 9th: quilting on the pink lemonade doll quilt
• friday, feb. 10th: quilting on the pink lemonade doll quilt
• saturday, feb. 11th: quilting on the pink lemonade doll quilt
• sunday, feb. 12th: made 3 fabric covered buttons
• monday, feb. 13th: quilting on the pink lemonade doll quilt

if you would like to see what others are doing with their 15 minutes or you're interested in joining in, you should visit Kate at Life in Pieces. she is currently doing  some fun give-aways for those participating in the 15 minute challenge.
i have found it to be an excellent way to continue  making my own sewing/creative time a priority.

how about some button love~!?!~

since the beginning of the new year i've been in the process of figuring out what i should do next with my scrap basket and it's exuberant contents. the pineapple block has always been a favorite of mine so when i spotted a tutorial on one  of my favorite blogs for making this block pattern based on Gyleen Fitzgerald's book: "Trash to Treasure Pineapple Quilts" i was immediately intrigued with trying it out. the problem was i would need yet another special ruler and since i'm making an effort to simplify my life and another ruler just doesn't seem like a good idea i decided i should at least try to do it without  one. i'm not a math wizard and  it took some time and help from my daughter but i was finally able to convert one of my regular square rulers into a make-do pineapple ruler using some masking tape to mark where i should cut as i sew up the block. i also have a couple of pages of copious notes and strange diagrams which anyone else might think were just plain scary as well as completely confusing.

i did do a little bit of un-sewing, re-figuring and then some re-sewing and a few more (pages) scribbled notes but with a lot of luck and a pinch of pixie dust maybe i'll be able to duplicate this whole process to make more . . . it turns out there really is a good reason why these handy dandy rulers (and accompanying books) are so popular~!

my scrap basket is now a tall laundry basket that's about three quarters full. at one time it was the same laundry basket (but totally overflowing) plus a very large, very deep drawer stuffed full so i do know that i am making progress towards my ultimate goal of keeping my scraps in a much smaller basket sometime before i pass on to the great quilt teacher in the sky. btw: this great teacher's first note of instruction is going to be to use the right ruler for the project . . .

recent gifts include:

• the feeling of being loved
• the feeling of loving someone else
• romantic dinners for two