MUGGLING ALONG

Here are two of my mugrugs--Christmas side--that I am making from scrap fabrics.  I decided to make them reversible--

That way, they can be used all year long....and have finally (after making 4 or 5 "practice" ones to try out different methods)--decided to "channel" quilt them.  I love that "feel"....It took a really long (sigh!!) time to sew all those 2" squares together for the reverse sides, but, Stash the Bash I will !! They are VERY scrappy as a result:

I like the way the one on the left turned out--kinda oriental, no?  I got sick of --"twosies-foursies-8-sies etc...ad nauseum!!

I really wish that this year's "Santas" were as cute as this old fabric--this year they all seem sort of scarey...LOL!!  I am collecting for the back of Fiona's "big girl" quilt for when she goes into a twin bed...

And here is  that really cute snow people fabric, too....kinda "Debbie Mum"-ish...

And so I leave you with 13 done and 20 to go...W H Y do I get so intense and do S O (sew) M A N Y?

Because I am Julierose, La Blageuse

C O L D : Weather & Me

Here's my setup for finishing my Wall hanging for our living room: {pauvre petit lapin is all blurry }

FINALLY, this cold/flu-like bug has left me; and I was able today to finish this quilting.  The Jason Yenter fabric {In the Beginning from 2010} had been lying in wait for me to do SOMETHING with it.  I just couldn't see cutting it --yup, I have that syndrome, too, mes amies. SO-- It will be the back of Christmas time wall hanging for us --very nostalgic and sentimental.  I love the way the holly curls in diamond shapes--just perfect for use as a quilting shape.  I big-stitched this side and just took lil' bites from the other side...[I think I showed the Good Luck Crane fabric on another post here].

I still like to use that 1/4" tape to mark my quilt path--love this colorway--just a little different for Christmas, I think.  Those little old-timey vignettes are just charming.

Am still struggling with the bindings on my muggle rugs--they just look CLUNKY to me--especially around those corners.  AND....so it goes....

That is all for this time--Bundle up and have a great weekend..Julierose, La Blageuse

MONDAY'S MUGGLE RUGS (Bash That Stash Edition)

I found all these little 2" squares today--and decided to make up a "plethora"of mugrugs .  They are all random  cuts with just a few doubles; I need to make up some items for Mom's Nursing Home Christmas Sale and I thought these might be just the ticket--while bashing my stash--a twofer!!  (LOL)

I LOVE the way that little "Kissy Kitty Face" just peeks out--I didn't fussy cut--it just happened--serendipity!! I get to bash my strip stash, too.  The reverse will be Christmas bits and bobs I have left over from making my grandbabes' Christmas Big Girl and Big Boys' quilts in previous years.

Since my arm/hand/fingers are really sore from Big Stitching my wallhanging, I am workin' ye ol' machine--it's smokin', ladies!! (heh heh)

Your "hip to be squared" Julierose, La blageuse

TREASURES FROM DOWN UNDER: HI MERRILL!

HERE IS THE" MINI FRIENDSHIP QUILT SWAP"   QUILT THAT MERRILL SENT ME--- all the way from Australia--(she is my secret partner).  The stitching is stunning and the fabrics are just lovely. She added a birdbath and decorated hearts in the four corners--I am so thrilled with it!!  It is so sentimental and sweet.

AND HERE IS THE BACK:

SHOWCASING A LOVELY bird fabric and a sweet label...AND, that's not all......

LOOK AT all these extra goodies:  A needlecase she made and embroidered (how did she get those stitches so even???) at a Lynette Anderson sew-in, a notebook for ideas, 2 of the cutest little sticky notepads and 2 pieces of Australian fabric:  one with Koala Bears saying Merry Christmas and one with Kangaroos jumping Merry Christmas, too.  On this rainy grey day here in the S. Eastern USA, a bit of sunny Down Under to brighten my day.  

I have to decide how to showcase that fabric--perhaps for an ABC or I SPY quilt for Fiona--where else  could you find Koalas and Roos singing "Merry Christmas"???  I am a lucky girl...Thank you so much Merrill for your generosity....Julierose, La Blageuse

OOPS! WEDNESDAY WOES.....

Ya know what I did this afternoon ? WHAT WONDERS AWAITED ME?????

 I FUSED my little red baskets to my ironing board cover!! 

 Oooh noooo!  What a doofus!!  I haven't fused in so long, that I FORGOT about the UNDERneath part!!  

Ya know, you are rolling along and doing fun stuff and then...BOOM you do something so stupid that you cannot believe it. Huh? ( Not to mention the mess on my iron...). Perhaps too many things going on at the same time??? I'd like to believe that:

BUT ---Even Henri Le Chat fell over when he heard about it--all the way up on Cape Cod...(HE LOOKS PRETTY DISGUSTED WITH MOI).

AND here is Fiona's reaction.....even she could not believe it!!  

"Oh Grand'mere--where was your brain???"

I certainly came back to earth in a big hurry...With a THUMP, BUMP...PHOOEY!! For heaven's sake-- I just GOT that new cover!!  So tomorrow after my flu shots--(perhaps that will wake my brain up?)  I will go searching for a new cover.....and I remain

 Julierose La Blageuse ridicu-leuse!!!! 

A-TISKET-A-TASKET

Last night, I was gazing at one of my all-time favorite applique pattern books (and drooling as usual):  
"When the Cold Wind Blows" by Barb Adams and Alma Allen from Blackbird Designs--and remembered that I had prepped their basket block called "Trick or Treat" to try out a new applique method.  After unearthing the tin I had them stored in, I looked at the 1st block I did and saw just how LOUSY the applique was!  But, I really, really love this little basket block--Whaaaa!! I just love that little diamond in the middle...aaaargh....

Well, allright then:  So, right then and there, I decided to try out my old standby favorite "blanket stitch" applique with No. 8 perle cotton...and...

Here they are: I don't know if the stitching shows, but the perle No 8 cotton thread is a warm honey golden color:

I had made a dresden plate quilt (called "Chez Nous"--which means "at home" in French) yrs ago for my cousin, Jeannette, as a housewarming gift; and used that stitch then....and loved doing it! 

 Soooo, why not try that--since it seems that I am absolutely, congenitally unable to do a good blind stitch--even with prepped pieces ---and just forget needleturn--I just make a 
H U G E mess of that!! And. It makes me very nervous....

Phew! I am really enjoying this and I like the old fashioned look it gives--just a teeny bit primitive.  The background blocks are a "white on white" muslin that I coffee dyed...(Maybe I shouldn't have had that second cup of coffee this morning LOL)

I guess I have a lot in the works--YA THINK?  But, right now, the plans and ideas keep on popping into my head.....so here I sit in the rain and wind working my little baskets--I took out the first one and am now BS-ing it also uh-oh--now THAT didn't look right BS= blanket stitching :--))))  Julierose, La Blageuse on coffee...

SUNDAY (AE) SPECIALS

HERE--what's hanging on my living room wall right now:

I made this using Anita Gross Solomon's Book: (which is really fabulous)

And:  Don't you have to love that Geisha fabric?  

Well, it's been up for a while now and my colorways have changed (new sofa, chairs etc):  SOoooooo:

HERE is the new panel pin-basted and ready to hand quilt:

I just love the dancing cranes from Kona Bay and the irridescent moons over the waves:

No fuss, no muss, just find a backing (I will show you that later after quilting is done--A lovely Jason Yenter Christmas print so I can reverse it for the Holidays:  A TWO-FER!)

And here are the indispensable items used so far:

The Sulky re-positionable spray, my favorite "Kwik Klip", pins and an old sweater blocking board I had bought when I was doing so much knitting.   It is just perfect to put on my dining room table (the back is felt--yes!!) and the measurement lines really help to get everything straight.  

So, this has been my Sunday Special--now for a sundae (ahem--the ice cream one--certainment) special --YUUUM!!

Avec Amities  Julierose, La Blageuse