My dear friend Cathi at Quilt Obsession seems determined to find ways to make encourage me to blog. She recently asked/begged/pleaded with me to join in on the Around the World Blog Hop. I think you could actually call it grovelling.
Here’s how it works….. I am to answer a few questions and then tag more blogs to continue in the fun. I tried hard to resist, but resistance was futile. So here’s my posting in answer to the begging/pleading/grovelling from Cathi. You can thank her later. Or blame her. I haven’t decided yet which I’m doing.
1. What am I working on?
Ha! At the present I am working on quilt blocks for my Bee. We exchange them at our annual Christmas party. And I always wait until the last minute to do them. Always. I operate better on a deadline, it seems. And I truly only finish when the deadline is tomorrow. Case in point…. I’m writing this blog at midnight of the night before I have to post it. Even though I’ve known about it for several weeks. It’s the way I roll. Without deadlines I probably would never get anything done.
Would love to show you pics of these cute blocks I’m working on, but alas. I can’t. The girls they are for are blog followers and the blocks are to be a secret. So I guess you’ll just have to come back here later and hope that I actually blog some pics of them after the party. Cross your fingers that I get them done!
But I’m also working on these blocks using my favorite process – Inklingo.
I absolutely love these blocks! I love the way they look and the happy surprise as each one comes together. Because you don’t know exactly how they will look until they are done. They are also loads of fun to stitch with lots of continuous stitching. I’m mostly stitching them by hand. Also my favorite technique. A bit slower, but I like to just enjoy the process from my recliner.
2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I’m not sure it is different! I am a pretty traditional quilter. I like the old traditional patterns and techniques. If I had my way, I’d piece and quilt them all by hand. But I already have started enough projects to last way past my life expectancy. And I somehow keep starting more. Why is starting something new so much fun anyway?
3. Why do I write/create what I do?
I quilt because it is very therapeutic. Beats paying a therapist by a mile. Somehow it makes sitting and watching TV acceptable, if I have some stitching in my hands while watching.
And I blog just for fun. I enjoy trying to write something that makes my readers laugh. It just makes my day to feel like I’ve brightened the day of another. I also love that I have my very own online journal. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve looked things up on my own blog to jar my memory on what year something occurred. It’s nice to have a way of keeping track of things, complete with pictures!
4. How does my writing/creating process work?
My writing tends to all start with pictures. As I take the pictures, I’m writing things in my head. Trying to come up with something funny to say about them. Sometimes the pics just make the blog write itself!
Especially when I write about my sweet kitties, Panda and Pappy. I love taking pics and have about 7,539 pics on my cell phone. 7, 538 of them are cat pictures.
The weather turned cold today in Texas. We even had snow tonight! Snow that would be laughable to anyone living up north.
So we had our first fire of the season in the fireplace. And Pappy was totally mesmerized by it all.
Panda prefers a warm lap. She is laying on my legs right behind my laptop as I type. She is my little heater! And oh, so very, very cozy.
On Monday, November 24th, my dear friend and fellow quilter, Cookie at Cookie’s Creek will be joining in on the blog hop. Be sure to check out what she’s got going. She loves BOM’s and makes about 836 of them every year. She is a very, VERY prolific quilter. She gets things done. Even if she doesn’t have a deadline. When I grow up, I want to be just like her.
Enjoy the blog hop!
Hugs,
Barb
Just Sayin' Sew 
Fun seeing your entry, Barb!!! Cannot wait for more – especailly all the quilts! Love Love Love your stars! Hugs from Southport —–
Great to see you blogging again. Although I’m on auto-notify, I check frequently to make sure I haven’t missed something. Love, love, love your stars. And I do hope you post photos from your bee’s Christmas Party. Miss you. Love you.
Bertha
Somehow you always meet those deadlines, Barb, even if its in the car on the way to the party! LOL! Your work is always spectacular (those stars, wow!), & I love Pappy by the fire…keep an eye on that mischevious boy! He could learn a few things from Panda! 😉 💜 😸
Great Blog Barb…so glad you are back writing I have missed the blog….I love the quilt blocks in your pic..and can’t wait for you to blog about the Christmas Party…big hugs to you..
Thanks to Linda I rarely use my sewing machine any longer! About 60 years ago my mother insisted that I do a muslin booklet of hand stitching showing that I knew how to do by hand all of the stitching that the machine was capable of doing, including things like zippers, hem stitching and instertion stitching. I hurried through it, just to get to the point when she was satisfied so that I could use the machine. Then I used her machine for everything. It took Linda’s first book, Quilted Diamonds, to get me to stitch by hand again. I was hooked before I had the first block put together. I was there in person when she first attended the Houston Quilt Show, and again when she first publicly demonstrated Inklingo in Indiana. Actually being able to meet Linda, Russ, and Monkey was thrilling…. Linda had given me the ability to stitch anywhere, anytime.
It has also helped keep my fingers limber in spite of the “arthuritis” that is trying to take over my fingers. They might be bent out of shape, but they can still hold and use a needle, and they do so every day of my life now.
I love your star blocks! They are such a beautiful blend of fussy cutting made easy and stitching.
Starting a new “project” is exciting because it permits us to try out new things. I like to think of them as learning experiences rather than projects. I estimate that I will need another 150 years or more just to finish the things I have already started. Then I will need another 150 to start the things I have in mind.
A cat on your lap, a fire and quilting! It just doesn’t get any better than that, does it?
Davene
I love the star quilt you’re making. Very effective.
I know what you mean about hand sewing – I prefer it too. Much more relaxing than sitting at a machine.
Gorgeous kitties. I miss a little warm bundle on my lap. Looks like you have a very cuddly heater there.
Oh, how I love seeing your gorgeous Inklingo Stars. That is going to be such an amazing quilt! Two beautiful kitties, the fireplace glowing and hand piecing to do. What could possibly be better?
And thank you for playing along on this Around the World Blog hop. 😉
Keep blogging, Barb. Always a fun read and pictures of your blocks are wonderful……..and we all probably have more projects than we will ever finish!!! But we are still learning too…….:)
Oh my. Pappy has really grown!!! Gorgeous blocks Barb. Keep the bloging up. We all miss you.
Fun bloghop! I love the quilt you are working on, so sweet with the Roses!