It's still February right ?

It's still February right? (Kind of hard to tell sometimes since it seems like we're having April weather !) ANYHOW, since the calendar says it's still February ...(and Leap Day tomorrow even gives us one extra February day this year).... the MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept feel it's not too late to show the finally finished .....











....Valentine Garland , made with ......









....wool felt and burlap (with yo yo's made out of a cotton pin dot fabric.)









....the burlap was a little tricky to work with, so I ended up just leaving freezer paper on the back of it and sewed right through the burlap and freezer paper onto the white wool felt backing piece. The red wool felt hearts are fused onto the burlap with a heavy fusible web .... the yo yo's are stitched on by hand through the hearts and burlap .


OK ..... this year's Valentine's Day decoration DONE ! Bring on the next holiday ! (St Patrick's Day ...... not sure if I feel like doing a shamrock garland .... but maybe the mood will strike at the last minute .... you never know !)


P.S. I'm linking up with


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

Really, really, REALLY need a vacation !!!!

Yes .... a vacation would be nice ..... and grape stomping in Italy sounds just about PERFECT !!!! (sigh)

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

W.I.P Wednesday

Work in Progress Wednesday ......what to choose, what to choose ....(from that huge pile of UFO's). Well, since it's still February , how about a Valentine garland still in the works being made from .....











....my latest favorite combination of burlap, wool felt, and a cute cotton polka dot print !


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

ANOTHER good reason NOT to smoke !!!!

Another good reason NOT to smoke ....... less chance of lighting your nose on fire !!!!







This has been a public service anouncement from the MBIAJ Public Service Announcement Dept.


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

$10.6 MILLION raised at "THON" by Penn State students !!!!!!

WOW !!!!!!! Those Penn State students danced and worked their butts off this past weekend at "THON" (their annual Dance - a - thon) and achieved and surpassed their goal --- raising more money than at last year's "THON" to benefit pediatric cancer research !!! AMAZING !!!! They did a GREAT job !!!!





The MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting (and dancing) Dept not so much .... We got about 8 more of these blocks sewn up during our "Dance - a - Sew - a - THON" ..... not as many as we hoped, but ,hey, we were dancing the Wah-Watusi in between sewing !!



Anyway, at least our mini MBIAJ "THON" added 8 more blocks to our Project Linus Quilt - in - progress that weren't there before ! I think we'll try to make this an annual tradition during Penn State "THON" weekend .... the "MBIAJ Dance - a - Sew - a - THON" !!!!

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

Dance - a - Sew - a - THON !!!

Happy weekend everybody ! Today begins "THON" weekend at Penn State University. "THON" is a weekend long dance marathon that raises lots and lots and LOTS of money for pediatric cancer research. It is the largest student run philanthropy IN THE WORLD !!!!! Moonbeams Boy Matt is a student at Penn State Main Campus (the location of "THON") and will be there with his gang of friends .... they wouldn't miss it !!!! If you would like to read more about it and donate to a wonderful cause, go to www.thon.org (P.S. you can click my music off over there on the sidebar so you can actually hear what they're saying in this you tube video .... just click the pause button)


SO, in the spirit of "THON" , (besides making a donation) the MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept wanted to participate in their own little way by having a "Sew - a - THON" this weekend!!! and not just any sew - a - thon, but one that happens to fall on the Project Linus Make a Blanket Day (which is tomorrow)! Back in November, the MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept had started a Project Linus Quilt geared toward the teenage boy population and planned to finish it up in time to mail out to Craftsy , who was asking for donations of hats a blankets to donate to Project Linus with a deadline of December 15th. Well, as usual, our quilt didn't get finished ..... it barely got started! But, Craftsy has decided to make this an ongoing project, so if you want to want to participate in "Make A Blanket Day" but can't find a Project Linus Chapter near you, you can always send it to Craftsy and they will send it on to Project Linus. (By the way, the blankets can also be knitted or crocheted. AND, Craftsy is collecting handmade hats also.)

So, this is where I planned to show you a picture of the blocks that are finished so far but for whatever reason, my computer will not cooperate .....(grumble grumble) ... and you're thinking "yea, sure " .... but REALLY, there are 10 finished blocks (with only about 50 more to go !)

OK .... .time to get going on our Dance - a - Sew - a - THON ! (thinking we'll do the Watusi in between block sewing so we get the full effect of THON AND work off a few thousand cookies) Look! Here's how it's done !




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

Somebody STOP me !!!!!

OK, as if Pinterest hasn't been enough of a distraction , NOW look what the delusional MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept has scouted out whilst blog serfing instead of sewing and quilting (among other things)....



...the New York Beauty Quilt Along !! (GASP !!!!) The Sewing and Quilting Dept has long admired New York Beauty blocks and would LOVE to do this quilt along ..... or at least one block ! It's paper piecing and that sounds like loads of fun (have only done a teensy bit of paper piecing when it first was the "in thing" and thought it was just the cat's pajamas the way you can do some pretty intricate looking stuff.)


AND the New York Beauty isn't the only thing the very distracted Sewing and Quilting Dept came upon in Blogland ..... there's also a Granny Square Quilt Along !!!! This is being hosted by Dana of Old Red Barn Co. and they are using a block tutorial by Jolene of Blue Elephant Stitches. (That's Jolene's beautiful quilt in the picture)




Isn't it just GREAT the way it reminds you of crocheted granny squares ?!?!? (hmmmm, crocheted granny squares .... that sounds familiar ..... I think the MBIAJ Crocheting Dept had started making a few of those ..... think they are on square #4 and got distracted ... or bored ... or the yarn disintigrated ..... will have to look into that ....)

OK , so here's the plan .....I'll have the MBIAJ Sewing and Quilting Dept make ONE New York Beauty block and ONE Granny Square block ..... just to have the experience of making the blocks and learning the technique ..... and that way, they aren't commited to yet another great big overwhelming project AND we'll have two new pot holders .... or mug rugs ..... or whatever .....(OK deep cleansing breath ......). That sounds managable doesn't it?

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