Sunday, April 2, 2023

iPad experiment 🤷🏻‍♀️

 Well hello old friend ! How have you been Moonbeams in a Jar Blog ? Nice to see you after all these years! The last time I visited, I was still on a desktop and using a point and shoot camera. Now as you can see, I’m trying to figure out how to write a blog post on my iPad.





And as you can also see, I am trying to figure out how to post pictures and remove the background and not have it look like this
😁. These are some scrunched up pictures of some of my UFOs. Another thing on the to do list. So I will keep plugging along. Trying to figure this out on my iPad. I used to have this down to a science doing it for years. I think I was one of the original bloggers.  My first ever blog post was March 7, 2007! Now it’s a whole new ballgame, and the tech has gotten away from me. We’ll see if I can figure this out. And then, after that, it’s onto adobe illustrator! I’m setting my sights high😬.       We’ll see how this goes !                 Be back soon ! ( maybe)                

Saturday, August 11, 2018

My Poor Abandoned Blog .......

Hi everybody ....... I had all sorts of good intentions of updating my poor blog and keeping it up to date ............ so you can see how well that went (insert sigh and eye roll here )  .......... ANYHOW ...... like most people these days I am on Instagram  ...... so if you'd like to take a peek you can find me at madrury3 ( not very creative .... but it works !! )

I do have a new adventure I'm trying to get under way ....... and that is teaching kids and adults beginner quilting and sewing ....... still in the planning phases ....... but I do have an opportunity to teach beginning quilting in my home town of Tamaqua, Pa.  They have really stepped up their game and started a wonderful Community Arts Center !!!!  Now I just have to get myself organized ........
.....starting right here with some of these wonderful autumn fabrics for a beginner quilt sampler table runner !!!!  ( and I am MORE than ready for autumn !!! This hot HUMID weather we've been having here in Pa can go back to where it came from !!!! I am NOT a fan of humidity !!! UGH !!!).  

SO .... off I go to try and squeeze in some sewing in between laundry and the ever present stack of paperwork for the day job ( yes ..... its always there ..... always ..... lots and lots of paperwork ...... at least until I win the mega millions jackpot !!! ) Anyway .... come for an Instagram visit at madrury3 !

Toodles,
Mary Anne ( aka Mare)

Sunday, April 9, 2017

Vintage Hankie Easter Eggs

I have SO many pretty vintage hankies that were my mother's and my grandmother's.   They are too pretty to keep hidden in a drawer or to blow your nose on !!! (even though that was their original purpose ......yuck!)  So...... what to do with them ?  

How about wrapping them around plastic or wood Easter eggs and tie up with some ric rac !!!   REALLY easy to do !!!  

Be back soon!
Toodles, 
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Saturday, April 1, 2017

April ...... Ready for Spring !!!

Well it's April already !!!  And hopefully we'll be seeing some pretty colors outside soon !  ( Still gray and muddy here in Northeast  Pa.) 

Well I goofed and forgot to post yesterday for my March finish at Elm Street Quilts One-Monthly-Goal .... BUT I actually did accomplish my March goal ..... pretty much.  My goal was to machine quilt 1/3 -> 1/2 of this baby quilt.  I got 1 out of 3 houses quilted ..... so I'm gonna call it a win ( at least in my book that 's a win.....) . I'm machine quilting using my walking foot ( because I'm really lousy at free motion quilting ..... oh well ..... hoping that will improve one of these days!).  Anyhow, I'm pretty happy with how this is coming out so far ..... the wavy lines on the roof to look like shingles ......

.......and the outline quilting around the clouds and windows etc.  I have to say even though this is not a huge quilt, it's still not easy to wrestle it around to stitch around the clouds ..... my shoulders are getting a workout !!! 

But this batting seems to be making everything stay in place nicely !!! This is the first time I'm using Warm & White and I have to say , so far I'm 
VERY happy with it !!! 
OK ..... so I'm going to try and keep my momentum ( slow momentum) going on this quilt and sign up for the April Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal.  So for this month my goal is to get one or two more houses quilted.  Not a huge assignment for most people ....... but in my world it's gigantic !!! (sigh and eye roll here ).   
Be back soon !
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Thursday, March 9, 2017

Pretty Fabric = Instant Gratification !!!

Arriving in my mailbox today from Catching Stitches was this luscious fresh as Spring Fig Tree Coney Island jelly roll and layer cake ....... it is SO pretty !!! I plan to use the jelly roll to make the Fig Tree Ferris Wheel pattern (eventually).  I'll have to look through my layer cake patterns to decide which one will work best so I don't hyperventilate by cutting these pretties up too much !!!  I just love each and every one of the fabrics in this bunch ....... I think so many of them would sew up into a cute summer shift / sundress or skirt  too !!!!

.......and a little happy message ( that is such a good reminder ) came innocently wrapped around the layer cake ..... the Bonnie and Camille selvedge that says "You do not find the happy life .... you make it" .   So ...... SEW ON and make some happy !!!!

Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Friday, March 3, 2017

SO many things going on !!!!!!

Well there's never a lull in the action in the quilting world !!  There are SO many activities going on to participate in that it can make your head SPIN !!!!!  One is the 12 months, 12 designers, 12 contests that Moda is hosting.   I missed January, but the February designers were Sweetwater.  Their contest assignment was to make a 6 inch block ( or more than one if you're more organized than I am) ..... and you had to use Sweetwater fabric.  

So, I have a basket of  their "Noteworthy" scraps that I just LOVE and thought would make for some cute Beach Houses !!  

Next on the agenda is this baby quilt .... I'm signing up again for Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal March edition to keep my momentum going and get this baby quilted ..... or half quilted (at least !!!)    
Also ...... have  you seen the fun on Insta Gram that Amy's Creative Side is running !?! It's the #IGQuiltFest 2017 .  Every day she has a little prompt for people to answer and post.  The first day were selfies and introductions.  The second day was a picture of your sewing "partner" (aka sewing machine.).  Today she's asking everyone to post a picture of  "where the magic happens" ( i.e. where you sew and create) ......... ummmmmmm I'm gonna need a little time to clean up the think tank /sewing room first before I can take a picture !!!! 
So those are just a few of the gazillions of activities to try and keep up with in the big wide quilting world !!!  Have FUN !!!!

Be back soon !
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Sunday, February 26, 2017

February GOAL !!!! DONE !!!


Baby quilt basted ....... check !  That's it ..... just one baby quilt basted .  Knowing how I roll, I only set myself up for a simple little goal for the February 

......and there it is ..... Ta Daaaaaa !!!!  Now you may not think this is a big deal, but I'm feeling rather proud of myself for ignoring oh so many other things that I really should be doing and spending an hour focusing on accomplishing this teeny tiny goal. And now I'm motivated to start quilting this baby !!! In fact ..... I think I'll make that my goal for March ..... but of course I'm not about to overwhelm myself and say the whole thing will be quilted by the end of the month ....... unless of course my fairy godmother plans on making an appearance to declutter my house and get all my stacks of paperwork for the day job all caught up.  No ..... nope .... lets just go with getting 1/3  -> 1/2 of the quilting finished  .   Yep ..... I think just taking small bites at a time is the way to go !
                                     
                                                        Be back soon !
                                                        Toodles !
                                                        Mary Anne ( aka Mare)


Tuesday, February 14, 2017

The Very Last Possible Minute Valentine's Day Mug Rug

So..... here is this year's Valentine's project  ..... put together at the very last possible minute ( well not quite ... I guess if it was 11:59 it would be the last possible minute ) .  Anyway , this is a simple, easy mug rug I put together really quickly when I really didn't have the time to step over and shove over piles of work I should be doing instead !)  

First I made 2 different size paper heart patterns.  The smaller heart is about 3/4 inch smaller all around than the larger heart.

I used pinking shears to cut out a red wool felt heart from the larger pattern. 

Next,  using the smaller heart pattern, cut out 2 fabric hearts and 1 heart out of batting. (I just had to use my I Love Lucy fabric !  Perfect for this project !! )

Layer the batting to the wrong side of one of the fabric hearts.

Next layer the fabric/batting combo on top of the other fabric heart , right sides together.

Now with 1/4" seam allowance , stitch all the way around the heart sandwich , through all 3 layers. 

Clip the curves and the point to make smoother turning.  Also, I found it helpful to trim the seam allowances around the curves for smoother turning and less bulk.  Careful not to cut into your seam !

Now pull the layers apart.....

and CAREFULLY cut about a 2 inch slit in the fabric heart .  Now turn the heart out to the right side through this slit.  No need to stitch up the slit since it will be covered by the wool felt heart. 

Smooth out your points and curves and press.

Last step :  layer your fabric heart (slit side down) on the wool felt heart.  Stitch 1/4" around the entire fabric  heart to attach it and quilt it.  You can stop there or  do more quilting on the fabric heart ( maybe more smaller concentric hearts or cross hatch) .

So there it is ..... my quick and easy Valentine Mug Rug !  Perfect with my I Love Lucy mug!!!  Happy sewing and Happy Valentine's Day !!!

Be back soon !!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Just under the wire !!! February One Monthly Goal

(SIGH) .......OK ....... so here we are a month later and so much for my big plan to participate in the January "One Monthly Goal" by Elm Street Quilts. I was all"I plan to spend just 10 - 20 minutes a day sewing" blah blah blah .  OK .... so that didn't happen .   Let's just move on to this month's "One Monthly Goal" challenge ...... which I signed up for at the last possible minute ...... well I signed up with just 2 hours left until the deadline ( thus the title of this blog post )

ANYWAY ....... this is my February  goal.  This is a baby quilt I started about 2 years ago for my niece's baby ( who is now 15 months old).

I finished up all the applique ......

and now my goal is to get it basted , quilted, and get the binding on and send this quilt off to my niece and her baby girl before that baby girl is old enough to go to college !!!!!  OK ...... so maybe basting, quilting AND binding is biting off way more than I can chew for a one month goal ........ so lets just go with getting this thing basted  ....... anything else that gets done from now until the end of February will be icing on the cake !!!   I better get moving ...... February is a short month !!!!   Here's the link Elm Street Quilts One Monthly Goal February
Also linking up with Cooking up Quilts for Main Crush Monday ( now that it's Wednesday !)  Here's the link Main Crush Monday

Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne ( aka Mare)

Monday, January 2, 2017

One Monthly Goal !!!!

Look what I just came across on Facebook !!!  Elm Street Quilts  is trying to give slackers like me some incentive to get our acts together now that we are starting a brand new year .  You link up your goal this month, then post  your completed goal the next - and it doesn't have to be an entire gigantic undertaking - if your goal is to applique 2 flowers on 1 block that's your goal !!! ( or in my case dig out the sewing machine from under the pile of UFO's - my current goal - ugh!) .   So ..... my new mantra is to spend 10   - 20 minutes a day  - just a little snippet of time - working on something - anything sewing or quilting related .   I have to do this for myself ( work schedule has been just too much and totally soul sucking  - - working in health care is not good for your health !!) .  AND, I have to do it to declutter !!!!  We may be downsizing soon and all my stuff will not fit ( uh oh......).  So, anyway , if you need some incentive and a UFO Support Group ..... zip on over to Elm Street Quilts blog page and sign up !!!  ( Oh and there are PRIZES and designers ..... and did I mention PRIZES !!!)

Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne ( aka Mare)



Sunday, January 1, 2017

Happy New Year 2017 !!!!



(meme borrowed from Pineapple Fabrics)

So here we are at the beginning of another brand new year .  Don't know where the last one went and I can't really think of much that I accomplished in my sewing world ( other than adding yet another UFO to the list .......) . So here's to a new beginning and big plans to get things accomplished !!!   We have another big happy event on the horizon with son #2's wedding coming up in November so I really really need to get organized !!!!!!  

Here's wishing you all a happy, healthy, productive/organized New Year  !!!

Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)



Sunday, December 18, 2016

"A Star a Star ....Dancing in the Night ....."

So here we are just one week away from Christmas !!!!  And what am I doing ?  Well digging out one of many Christmas UFO's  of course and deciding if I should finish it.  Are my pumpkins and other fall decorations put away ...... NOPE!  Is our Christmas tree up and decorated ...... NOPE! (it's still lying on the garage floor ).   Do I have a wreath on the front door yet ..... NOPE!  Did I wrap anything yet ...... NOPE! ( I'm just thrilled that I am almost finished shopping .... all done online at the last possible minute to make it just in the nick of time for Christmas delivery).  So "A Star a Star... Dancing in the Night" Christmas stitchery will more than likely be put on the back burner for yet another year ( darn ..... so close !! )   along with the other long suffering Christmas UFO's !!!  And even though I have plenty to keep me busy ......

.....I still have visions of new pretty fabric dancing in my head !!!!

From my over flowing fabric stash to  yours ...... I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year !!!

Be back soon !
Toodles,
Mary Anne ( aka Mare)

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Dusting off the cobwebs .....

Ok ....... so here I am again .....dusting off my poor neglected blog.   It's been almost 6 months ....... sheesh !!!!  Alot has gone on in the past 6 months ....... Matt (older son) married his sweetheart Brittany on May 28th in a beautiful outdoor ceremony in the Poconos.  Then, I barely put my Mother of the Groom dress away when  my younger son Evan proposed to his high school sweetheart in July!!!!!  They are busily planning for a November 2017 wedding !!!! So ..... here I go again on the hunt for a Mother of the Groom dress Fall version .......... or should I sew one ???? ( I do not hear an encouraging word from any of my family members on that one ...... they know my track record on finishing things before they get moldy).  

ANYWAY ....... so here we are between Halloween and Christmas ...... oh WAIT ...... what about the poor forgotten holiday that gets squeezed out by those other two !!!!  THANKSGIVING !!!

I LOVE Thanksgiving .... since the only shopping involved is grocery shopping .   AND it's a  nice family day gathering around the table for a (hopefully) pleasant meal.  And, if the weather is anything like it was today , then that's even better !!! Perfect autumn weather here in Pa.  

Bright blue skies....

colored leaves and a chill in the air ........

put me in the mood to gather up some fabrics, look for a piece of paper and my colored pencils,  and design a Thanksgiving table runner (or whatever it may turn out to be).   "We Gather Together"  is just in the planning stages ( and may possibly never get out of that stage) ..... but it was a fun diversion from everything else I'm supposed to be doing today !!!

Happy Fall !!!

Be back soon ( I'm being optimistic !)
Toodles,
Mary Anne ( aka Mare)

Sunday, May 15, 2016

CUTE SEWING MACHINES ALERT !!!!!!

 Be still my heart !!!!   Pink, turquoise and yellow sewing machines !!!! Just like candy !!!!   I want one of each !!!!  These are Singer Simple Sewing machines spotted yesterday at JoAnn Fabrics .  Aren't they the cutest !!!!!  
Do I have time to sew right now ....... no (son's wedding is only 2 weeks away !!!!).   Did I finish (or even start their wedding quilt ) ......no.   Did I sew my Mother of the Groom dress ....... no ( bought one after much trial and trying on every single dress in every single store ....ugh .... would have been faster to just make what I was looking for instead of looking all over the place for it !).   
Oh well ......maybe (hopefully) I can become reaquainted with my sewing machine after the wedding and when the day job isn't so crazy !

Be back soon !
Toodles,
Mary Anne ( aka Mare)

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Spring has sprung and love is in the air !!

Spring has sprung VERY early here in northeast Pa !! It was 75 degrees today !!!  A record breaker I'm sure !!  Can't say I'm minding the early spring ( just so it's not a brutal summer !!).  This nice warm weather puts me in the mood for Bridal Shower planning ...... and it's a good thing cause my soon to be daughter in law's bridal shower is zooming up soon on April 2nd !!!  So, her mother and I have started gathering up the makings of what we hope is a successful shin dig .   As you can see, we are going in the direction of shabby chic.

AND, as soon as the shower is over, the main event ( wedding) will be here before I know it ....... and what am I , the mother of the groom, going to wear ????  I HAVE NO IDEA !!!!  I walked into a bridal salon about a week ago  and I thought they were going to have a stroke when I said I was looking for a dress for a May 28 wedding  ...... apparently I've waited a bit too long to look for a dress !!!!!  OOPS !!!! In my defense, the mother of the bride hasn't looked yet either ....... So, I was thinking maybe I would sew my dress or maybe a suit ?   The wedding is an outdoor afternoon wedding, so I don't want anything shiny or sparkly or dark colors.   I picked out these 2 Simplicity patterns .....

The dress and skirt and top should  be pretty easy to put together..... the jacket might be a bit of a challenge to get the right fit ...... getting the right fit is ALWAYS the problem  !!!!!   So...... it's crunch time !!! Tick Tock !!!!  and if I end up sewing my outfit, it would be true to form for me to be hemming it as I'm being escorted up the aisle 2 minutes before the wedding starts !!!
 
Be back soon!
Toodles,
Mary Anne ( aka Mare)

Monday, February 15, 2016

Counted Cross Stitch Revival

Well it's a VERY frosty February day here in Jim Thorpe, Pa !!!  The steam train is in town for the President's Day holiday and it's making quite the spectacular scene !!! Looks like something out of The Polar Express doesn't it !!!  I'm FREEZING just looking at the picture ( and I was REALLY FREEZING taking the picture !!) .   So, to warm up, lets talk bunnies and spring time ...... and the counted cross stitch revival that has been going on the past  few months/year or so.

I LOVED counted cross stitch the first time it was popular ..... back in the 1980's and 1990's .  In fact, I was a cross stitcher way before I was a quilter .  I did a wedding sampler for myself , and then birth samplers for both of my boys ...... 

I just love sailor suits on little boys !  So I couldn't resist this bunny wearing one too.

And Beatrix Potter bunnies !!! How can you resist Peter Rabbit, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail ???

Now doesn't that just look like Spring !!!!

So, I'm really happy to see counted  cross stitch picking up steam again ..... I have TONS of great patterns and half started projects ( big surprise) ..... I'm gonna have to dig them out and dust them off and get stitching again !

Be back soon,
Toodles,
Mary Anne (aka Mare)