No Crafter Here!!! Part Two….

Let’s see now, where did I leave off?

Aha, I need the handles, the bottom and basically to make the bag. I did a lot of searching on blogs for a grocery tote bag. Many tutorials came up, many I read, advice I asked,
BUT
What in the world are they talking about!!!!

So, I just used some common sense and plowed through it:

First handles, do not ask I have no idea, and I then put the front and back of the tote right sides together and sewed around three edges…… here they are….

Ok turn inside out, hmmm really big bag!!

Next I attach the handles. I measured from each side so they would be even when held.

Sew the handles on, I know !!! Not the best but they were secure!!

TaDa, My first tote!!!

There are so many things I would do different. I do however like it for my first bag and the size will be perfect for the table-topper.

Next….

Potholders?????????????

Friday Flick Pick.....

Remember just movies I like…

Not in any particular order…

Use your own discretion….

Friday Flick Pick # Monkey Business (1952)

Staring; Cary Grant and Ginger Rodgers
Also, Marilyn Monroe

Director: Howard Hawks

A story about a scientist who tries’s to make a formula for the “Fountain of Youth” But one of the monkeys in his lab gets loose and mixes up a formal that gets put into the water cooler. Hilarious events start to happen when people start to drink the water!

To quote --Bret Fetzer”One of the last of the classic screwball comedies.”

Jane’s vote 5 stars

Our favorite part is when Ginger Rodgers tries to make a phone call; we still say this line to each other in our home….. “I’m going call Hank Entwhistle, that’s what I’ll do, I’ll call Hank”. I promise you will laugh out loud at this fun, fun, film.
Please, if you have not seen this film or even if you have, watch it and laugh yourself silly!!!
Have a great weekend!!

Trojan.....

Trojan, I do not mean the Trojan Horse from Virgil's Latin epic poem The Aeneid.

I mean the Trojan Virus, the kind that seeps into your computer and starts to eat and worm its way to destruction.

This is just a little story or better yet a warning.
Picture, Jane, me, normal day, nothing special, checking blogs,

when BAM!!!!

(((((((Danger your computer is under attack!!
Your computer is being hijacked!!
All your personal information is at risk!! )))))))
UNLESS
You download this virus protection.
Now these messages “look” real. They are from Microsoft, from Vista, from people and places you trust. So you try to close the windows but no matter what they keep popping up!! Hmmm, you think!!
THEN
You remember about a year ago when something similar happened and you listened to those warnings and you clicked the name you came to trust and you saw your whole hard drive melt right in front of your eyes!!

So, #1, I knew it was not true, I have great virus protection, and I did not need more.

#2 How dumb do they think I am, give them my name, address, and credit card number, really!!

#3 My warring to you, if this happens go to another computer and Google the Trojan. I Googled “Remove Trojan (whatever they say the virus is)".

The first thing that came up said,
FAKE!! Aha, I knew it!!
I was able to remove it, because I do have some computer knowledge.
What I do not have is the time to waste on something so silly.

Please be careful and when in doubt, Google, ask questions, but just do not blindly believe.

A small post note, as I was doing this all day, I did not get a chance to read any blogs, sorry about that! I will catch up with you later!

No Crafter Here!!!

We had a very busy weekend, filled with fun, girls and food!!
Every year my husband has his softball team over to our home for an Easter Egg Hunt. A dozen high school girls running around outside our home finding eggs, going on a scavenger hunt and coming in for food. I always make mostaccioli, fruit salad, garden salad and warm garlic bread. For some reason unknown to me, they love the bread. I need to make a least ten 3 foot loafs of bread. Cut butter, garlic, pop in the over and eat!! This is great bonding experience for the girls and I believe it is our 15 year of having them over. Maggie will start High School next year so I will only have four more of these fun days left.

I did manage to fit in a small amount of sewing, nothing I can show you just yet.

That was our Saturday!!!

Sunday was filled with laundry and

Crafting….

Really I am not a crafter, not at all…
BUT,
With all the wonderful tips I received for gifts for Mrs. G., nuts, I just had to try!!!
SO…..
I started with a grocery, tote, whatever bag.
I have no idea what I am doing, so please this is NOT a tutorial, just what I am doing!!
I started with the Kyle’s Marketplace fabrics and cut them into 3 inch strips, then cur them in half so each strip was 22 inches long by 3 inches wide. I pieced them into one large piece of fabric.

Ironed all the seams to one side...

and trimmed it.....

Now here is where I had no idea what to do. I knew I wanted the bag to have a liner so this is what I did……
Right sides together…

I then sewed around all sides; but I left a little opening so I could turn my fabric inside out.

Presto!
Fabric!! I did this twice so now I have a front and a back.

All that is left…
The bottom, sides, and handles.

YIKES…

This will take some research!!

But not now, right now Maggie has eight 14 year old girls here for pizza and to watch “New Moon”.

I love having the kids here!! They are darling!!
Thus ends Sunday!!!!
Hope you have a wonderful weekend too!

Friday Flick Pick

Remember just movies I like…
Not in any particular order…
Use your own discretion….

Friday Flick Pick #2
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
Staring; Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan
Director: Rob Reiner
A delightful romantic comedy about two people who share a ride from Chicago to New York; only to have chance encounters over the next 12 years.

Film quote “ Can men and woman really just be friends”?

Jane’s vote
4 stars
Yes , this is a “chick flick”. My favorite part is when Billy Crystal improvises, by saying “For the rest of the day let’s talk like this” watch Meg Ryan as she looks at the director as if to say,” What do I do now”?

Love Harry Connick Jr's song: "It had to be you"

Emily.....

26 years ago your big sister and I were watching the St. Patrick's Day Parade on TV, when I felt "funny". We went on with our day, drove to Grammy and Grampy's, dropped off Becky and went to a movie. Still, feeling "funny", your dad and I went to see Splash, but by the middle of the movie, I was having contractions. Your Dad being who he is said “Can’t we just see the end and then leave"? "Are you kidding"? Actually we did stay!! By the time we got back to

Grammy's the contractions were 45 minutes apart, we were an hour from home and a snowstorm was raging. We left you big sister at Grammy's and you were born at 4:18 AM.

Happy Birthday Sweetie,

we love you very much!!

PS Your favorite color was green until you were in High School!!!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Emily lives downtown, within walking distance of the Chicago River and this is what she got to see on Saturday....

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!

Japanese fabrics...

I worked a little more on my Japanese quilt. I have Nanette to thank (hmmm) for first showing me these fabrics. She has the most wonderful taste in fabrics and I soon as I saw them on her blog, I was hooked. In fact many of these are from her store and she led me to some wonderful fabric sites for Japanese fabric:
Supperbuzzy

Reprodepot

Nuno

I found:

The Heyday Shop -Etsy

Mwendas Shop -Etsy

Karaku Shop -Etsy

Sweet Flavor-Etsy ( just found something I must have)!!

I know there are many sites, these are the few I have used; Just Google and you will find many sites to choose from.

Now, I can only work on this quilt for an hour or so, I get so caught up on picking fabrics, I start to go cross-eyed. So, this quilt needs to go to bed for a while.
So without further ado….

More blocks…

This I believe you have already seen, but just in case....

New additions...

Weird, but when I look at how much I did, I cannot believe it took hours!

Yep, this baby and I mean me~~~

needs a nap too!

Table-Topper

Emily’s future MIL is having a Bridal shower for her in her son’s hometown, just outside of Philadelphia. Emily, myself and her two sisters (fiancée of course) are all flying in for the shower. I want to bring a little hostess gift for Mrs. G!

So….
Kyle’s Marketplace was a line of fabric I carried when I first opened my store. This fabric sold like crazy!! I was smart (greedy) enough to save some for myself. This is what I am using for the topper.

Simple squares… Some of the prints look like you could eat them!!

Topper…..

Backing…… Rise and Shine by Glenna Hailey. I love her fabric!!

I am then going to hand quilt in a grid with green thread.

Now can you help, I would like to make her some more things, any ideas?

The winner is......

And the winner is…

Thank you to all who read, enjoyed and commented on my Cinderella post. The winner of a surprise treat is
Vanessa from V & Co
I will email you for your addy!

Friday Flick Pick....

Friday Flick Pick #1
Mr. Smith goes to Washington (1939)
Staring; Jimmy Stewart and Jean Arthur.
Director: Frank Capra
Politicians in Washington believe that Jefferson Smith (Jimmy Stewart) a small town scout master would be the perfect to fit a vacant senate seat. They feel he would do and vote as told. But when he finds out they want to put up a dam up on his beloved camp for boys he fights for his rights and for the boys to the bitter end. Even getting cynical Jean Arthur on his side.

Jane’s vote
5 stars
A super family film showing how one man can make a difference.

Something New.....

Starting tomorrow, I am going to start a new feature on my blog. It will be called

Friday Flick Pick
We all love to quilt or stitch as we watch TV or movies. So, every Friday I am going to share with you a movie I enjoy. No, I am not a movie critic; just a gal who loves movies. If the movie sounds like something you might also enjoy, rent it and watch it over the weekend.
One year, 52 movies, can I do it?
So pop some popcorn, grab some candy and get stitching!!
Feel free to grab the button and come and visit every Friday for

Friday Flick Pick

I won!!!

I seem to be having a streak of luck lately. It must be the “wee bit of Irish in me”.
Rachel of p.s. i quilt was having a giveaway for a blog makeover.
I won!!
The designer was Lauren from Designer Blogs.
She has hundreds and I mean hundreds of options to choose from; all of which are very reasonably priced.
I asked for a little face-lift.
A new header.
New font title.
New post dividers.
And a new signature.
There was so much more I could have chosen, but I am very happy with my new clean, crisp look. What do you think?
Stop by her site and take a peek at all her goodies! Tell her,” Jane sent ya’”!!

Other news...

I did finished two more blocks for my swap;

Little T

It is so hard to believe that one year ago today, God sent us a slice of Heaven. A little angel that crawled into my heart and will tug at my soul for all of eternity;

I love you sweetie,

Happy First Birthday, Love, Grandma

Cinderella....

( You will want to pause my music at the botton of the page.)

In 1950, my favorite princess came to life through the Disney studios. I was not even born, but in 1960, I was 5, yes 5, way before color TV’S, VCR’S, DVD’S, Blue Rays, T-VO and computers. If you wanted to see a movie you went to the theater. If you loved that movie, you hoped it was shown on TV, if you missed it, you have to wait a year or more for it to be show again.
As a little girl I loved princesses, but my favorite was Cinderella, and I had three that I adored.
It started with the Disney version, how I wanted that blue dress…


I cannot tell you how many times I pretended to be Lesley Ann Warren, I was 10, and I wanted her dress too….


Then in 1997, Brandy, she did an amazing job….Now being older I wanted Whitney Houston dress!!

Even at my ripe old age I have always wanted to be in a play, on a small stage nothing big, but a home town play where family and friends would come and watch.


I can dream, Cinderella’s dreams came true.
Who is your favorite princess? Let me know and I will send someone a surprise, next weekend!

Thank you....

In my younger years cross stitching and embroidery were my favorite crafts, even though I quilted, I loved to stitch. As in this post I have explained my eye site situation. So, I can longer cross stitch, so quilting and fabric now became my passion.
BUT,
Thanks go out to a lovely fellow blogger
Kaaren
Kaaren is the designer of many beautiful stitch projects. So, I thought if I can quilt and see to follow a line, why can’t I stitch?
So, I gave it a try…

Now this is just a try, but I was delighted to see that I could actually accomplish this procedure. I even remembered how to make french knots!! I do not think I am ready for Kaaren’s work but I owe her a huge thanks for the push and inspiration to pick up a craft I use to do as a little girl.
Please check out her blog tomorrow for her
First Friday Freebie
You will be delighted and inspired.
Thank you Kaaren, from the bottom of my heart!!