Chat – Page 35 – Thimbleanna

Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day

374 Comments / May 26, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Chat

It’s been quite awhile since I had a giveaway, so I’ve decided the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day is as good of a reason as any. And besides, we should probably celebrate the end of the 2009 Mulch Weekend. WooHoo and boy, are we tired. We actually ran out of mulch and I had to go and get a little more. I think those stadiums who have astroturf have the right idea. We should do that at home.

Anyway, on to the giveaway. Sew Mama Sew is hosting a blogland giveaway and all blogs are invited to participate. (At least I think I’m participating — if I’m not, then I’m having a giveaway anyway. ;-) ) I’m posting a few hours early — I’ll be at work at the appointed posting time. I’d like to give away a Posie Pin Pie pincushion, pack of coordinating fat eigths, a few of the “Keep on Quilting” logos, and a Keep Calm pendant.

Just leave a comment by midnight, May 31st and I’ll choose a winner by random ManoftheHouse generator.

And after you’re done, visit Sew Mama Sew and work your way through the jumbo list of blogs that are having giveaways this week. Good Luck in all your blog commenting!

XOXO,
Anna

Sah…low.

53 Comments / April 14, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Chat, Sewing

Have you all recovered from your weekend? We had a nice quiet Easter. There’s not much excitement going on here in ThimbleannaLand these days. If it gets much slower, I’m afraid that time might stop. I have a ton of projects I want to start, but I’m trying to get some UFO’s done first — I’m tired of them nagging me. Most of the weekend was spent working on “have-to” sewing which wasn’t terribly fun. Then, there were lots of little odds ‘n ends. I finished a few pincushions that have been sitting all cut out and waiting on my sewing table. They’re from the Posy Pin Pie pattern by Jill Finley and they’re perfect for sitting near a cutting mat.

I’ve also resurrected a sweater that’s been maturing in the closet. I was in the middle of a yoke when I put it down and every time I thought about picking it back up, I only had a few minutes to knit and I was afraid it would take me a long time to figure out where I was in the pattern. All that procrastinating for nothing though — it only took 5 minutes to pick it back up. The back and two fronts are now done and I’m starting on the sleeves. I’m hoping to channel my inner Finny and get it done in short order.

I’m thinking this is the calm before the storm. May is shaping up to be a busy month, so I’m hoping to make some big progress while I can. Are the rest of you working on anything exciting???

XOXO,
Anna

Good Friday

43 Comments / March 27, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Chat

Not The Good Friday, but a good Friday anyway. Boy, thanks for all the purse thingy love! You guys are the best. This week hasn’t yielded any crafty excitement at all. I’ve been working on a few little things, but nothing is far enough along for show-and-tell. After goofing off around here this morning, I went to MeMum’s this afternoon and we watched a few episodes of Monarch of the Glen. Ms. Yummers recommended it to me several months ago and we’re really enjoying the series. Just the scenery alone makes it all worthwhile…and that’s not even counting the leading man eye candy!

Anyway, as you can see, I didn’t take Paul back to TheSecondChild last weekend. He’s just having too much fun with TheEmptyNestChild. And besides, TheSecondChild is fostering a kitty for a friend (she had him in her dorm room and got caught…oops!) until school is out. We thought we’d save Paul the trauma of a new kitty along with the move he’ll be facing when school is out. In the meantime, he enjoys watching the sunset from the patio widow with TheEmptyNestChild.

A few random things —

— Check out this cute quilt that Shawn is making. I really like the interesting technique she’s using…not to mention the cute fabric and the size of the pieces.

— What do you wear when you clean your house? I wear sweat pants and a t-shirt and look like a total slob. You must go see THIS adorable outfit. I LOVE everything about it and I’m hoping to change my ways. Thanks for the inspiration June!

— Here’s some really cute little posy pushpins that I’d love to make!

— Now, I’m going to whisper. Psst. Come closer. I just don’t get twitter. Call me a dinosaur. It just screams TMI (too much information), or information overload or something. What am I missing???

And finally, here’s a random pile of books in my living room. I’m hoping to read a little this weekend. Our book group has selected Geraldine Brooks’ People of the Book for this month’s selection. I loved her Year of Wonders, but for some reason I’m not really excited about this book. We’ll see. Anyway, totally by coincidence, Ms. Brooks will be in town on Monday night to discuss this book. In 17+ years our book group has only ever heard one other author speak and that was Barbara Ehrenreich speaking about her book Nickle and Dimed. That presentation was reasonably interesting, considering I thought her book was a bunch of (please cover your delicate eyes) Crap. I know Ms. Brooks is controversial in some circles too, but I have much higher hopes for her.

Tomorrow is siggy swap day for me. I must get going on those blocks or they won’t get done. Think I can knock them out in one day? Hopefully I’ll at least make a big dent in them. I hope you all have a great weekend!

XOXO,
Anna

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

51 Comments / March 17, 2009 February 22, 2011 / Chat, Embroidery, Sewing

Wow! You guys are the best readers anywhere! Thank You for all the mug cozy love! I had several questions about how to make that little mug cozy and you’d be surprised at how easy it was to make. I think it only took me about 3 hours, start to finish.

It’s just a little rectangle mini-quilt. Draw a few little flowers out on a piece of fabric, embroider them, and then add 1-inch blocks around the outside. Finish it just like you would any other quilt with a backing, batting and binding. Then sew two buttons to each end. Wrap it around your mug and stretch a small sized ponytail holder between each set of buttons. (You just can see them in the photo above.) Easy Peasy! I would have taken a better picture of the button thingy, but it’s now at work doing its job. It’s either working well, or I’m drinking my tea faster, but the tea isn’t getting cold now until very close to the bottom of the mug.

Among all of your fab comments was one from Isabelle suggesting that I make a patchwork roof cosy. Which is exactly what I’ve been thinking.

That’s precisely why I have nothing else to report today — you wouldn’t believe how long it takes to make a quilt big enough to cover that south end of the house. And then, being the over-achiever that I am (ha!), I had to make more than one for a little change up now and then.

I’m thinking this could be a new market niche. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could drive down the street and see a quilt on every roof? And certainly, today deserves a quilt all its own. Somewhere, way back in my genealogy, I remember seeing someone born in Ireland. That probably makes me about 1/50th Irish, but I’m counting it.