Quilty 365 February

Hi guys! Time for Quilty 365, Audrey's quiltalong, also known here as the Dotty quilt or Circles. There is a link up On Quilty Folks blog,HERE.

I began my Circles in November. The Dot for Feb 29 will be number 116.

We're about 1/3 of the way done? Here are all my dots so far.

As you can see in my pix one of the February Dots is missing. I faithfully make a square everyday, so one little guy is hiding somewhere!

I'm still using the various text and script backgrounds.

We had a lot of grey miserable days in February...

I finally found nice boxes for this project at Home Goods. The big box may hold all "365"squares in the end . (366?/ 380 in a 19 x 20 setting? / 400 in a 20 x 20 setting? Don't know yet.)

The smaller box holds the book/ diary, the jar lid template, a glue stick, a pen; and cut 4" grounds, some extra dots for busy days or obviously days like St Paddy's Day. I make a mess hunting for the daily choice, so I've resorted to pre-cutting circles when I have fabric out. But I only choose on the day of the diary entry.

I find I cannot sew a dot or even a couple each day. I usually sew about two weeks worth in one sitting, I have to set aside at least two hours. Just the sewing of the dots takes me 9 minutes for each. I estimate 20 minutes per Dot total, including finding fabric and background fabric, cutting, the sewing, pressing taking photos. Yes, I'm slow.

I am still enjoying this project. But I am happy thinking it is maybe 1/3 of the way done! Are you too?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Springtime Pretties

Hi! How's everyone? Let's talk about shopping---do you love  to shop? Not for clothes or heaven forbid swim suits, but for fun and useful treasures for your home? Or---shoes? I do love to shop. But I've been on a frugal kick since Christmas, pinching those pennies til they scream.  Best way to save money is, for me, to just stay home. [avoid the crowds with flu too!]. I don't even look at catalogs these days and I try hard to avoid the temptation of things like BBW's online ads- 3-wick candles for 12.oo FREE shipping!!! Oh my.

A girl can only be good for so long and then she snaps, right? My friend and I had a fun outing the other day, a trip to a favorite place, Home Goods. I did have a list, organizing items for my craft space, a coat rack, a laundry hamper, a bed for Mo. When we got there my friend texted me, ''Are we just looking or did you want something def?'' "Both!" I answered.

Oh my gosh look at all these cute spring things! Polka dots are big this spring, as is yellow. Polka dot plates, how cute is that!

And striped bowls....

Blue bunny dishes, ooooh.

I loved this rug for my living room. But resisted , because it might tempt Mo to ''christen'' it.

Then this bench, on sale as is, 59.99? Not exactly cheap. Disregard the ugly orange, I'd reupholster it or make a slipcover in white or blue and white. I need a small piece like this, extra seating, extra drinks table, etc. I waffled. Not really a bargain, though. And it didn't fit onto my cart.

I did get:
Mo's new Cuddle Cup bed. So snuggle-y! And dental cleaning treats.

New laundry basket. Isn't this beautiful. I do like utilitarian items to be pretty.  Mo ate its predecessor.

Off-list, a large cobalt glass float.

Now I have two, is that a collection. I just let them roll around on my deck in the summer. Large cantaloupe sized.

Just one blue bunny plate.

Goodies for sewing room.

A tiny trash can for the ironing board, little sketch books, boxes for Dots Project [Quilty 365], a weathered wood board with clips for displaying sketches, works in progress, or tiny quilts.

And an important find, a terrific ''old'' turquoise coat hook rack or board for Mo's wardrobe.

So my entry doesn't look like this:

I thought these boxes were perfect for the Dots Project.

The large one will hold each month's finished batch of circles, the small one will hold the little diary, the circle template, the precut background squares and glue sick, some precut circles--a selection for busy days. The paper designs remind me of the script motif fabrics I'm using for my Dotty Quilt.

At home I'm also trying to make do/ use what I have. I'm having girlfriends over a few times in the coming week, so I wanted to have a tea cake on hand. I'm a sucker for supermarket specials like Four for a Dollar! and I had this banana bread mix in my fridge's pantry drawer.

I gussied it up with a container of what I thought was vanilla yogurt [no wonder it tasted odd when I licked the spoon], extra Splenda, I like things sweet, more vanilla and a handful of chocolate mini chips. Oh it smelled delightful.[

Full disclosure it smelled great right up until it smelled like scorching smoke. I wandered off to sew and forgot it. Oh too bad! I have a strawberry cake mix I'll use instead [yogurt, choc chips, almond extract, handful of frozen raspberries, in bundt pan.] Usually I slice my cakes and freeze them, just get out what I need when we have tea.

I also found an old box of matzo ball mix and a can of chicken broth, leftover noodles. I made matzo ball soup, adding some of the Trader Joe's leeks, lots of pepper, dill, parsley, lemon pepper. You make the little matzo balls and toss them in the boiling soup for 15 minutes. Add the noodles at then to heat them up. Deeeee-lish on a very cold and windy night.

So..do you like to shop for your home? For the family? How about buying clothes? And what do you do to save a few pennies when your wallet is a bit thin? (What's in your wallet? Nothing! LOL.). Pennies saved are pennies to spend on quilt fabric! Isn't that just The Best.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....

PS Trader Joe's is right next to Home Goods. How fortuitous. No ranunculas yet, but cut hyacinths never fail to charm me.. 5 stems for 4.99.