Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Still Alive and Kicking

I hope I can still remember how to do a post!  It has been so long since my last one.  There hasn't been a lot to SHOW these last few weeks as my camera messed up on me. My trusty camera got dropped, breaking off the battery/memory card door.  Thus it would not work so I purchased a new one.  I took pictures over the July 4th holiday and all that weekend.  Initially I could view the photos, but then it just showed giant question marks for each photo and then flashed "memory card error".  To make a long story short - the camera was defective and there was no way to recover my photos in spite of their best efforts with different recovery programs.  Such is life.  The party pictures are now etched in my mind - never to be shared.

There has been a bit of sewing done over the last two weeks.  I finished piecing my String of Pearls for Christa's quilt along.  It looks blue, but it is actually a mottled gray color.



I also quilted and bound my Halloween Schnibble that I pieced several years ago.  I needed a finish this month for the monthly tally at A Lovely Year of Finishes.  Slowly, but surely, these tops are getting finished. 



Mary was my swap partner for our mug rugs this time around.  She made me the most delightful mug rug and her work is just glorious.  The card that came with it matched perfectly.  As Mary said ... guess which came first. 

Aren't these such happy flowers?

Extra goodies she also sent are fabulous!


This was the mug rug that I made her for the summer. 



Trying to stay ahead on my Japanese x&= swap blocks, I made my August ones which are now ready to mail off.



As the U.K. (and the rest of the world) is on baby watch, we are also on baby watch here.  Our daughter is due to deliver any day now and we are all waiting to see what sex the baby will be.  I love being surprised - the old fashioned way.  They have two boys and a little girl right now. 

You may remember that a few months ago I got to play around with some Happy Town fabric from Jacquelynne Steves.  She is now having a wonderful giveaway over on her site so be sure to check it out and sign up to win. 

We've had such a delightful summer this year and the garden has been so prolific.  Needless to say there has been a lot of using and sharing going on around here.  It always requires a lot of time, but is so worth the efforts once winter sets in. 




40 comments:

  1. Just love your String of Pearls!! And how wonderful is that Schnibbles, too! I only put in a few tomato plants this year, so miss the large gardens, but just now able to do all that work anymore.

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  2. Oh Mary!!!! your string of pearls is just stunning; and the postcard are lovely. I love the water melon...lol/just so cute!!

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  3. Your X&+ blocks are so colorful and bright. I am really enjoying my watermelon mug rug. Sorry about the camera difficulties. I also have a new one on order.

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  4. Love your year of finished. I wish I have year like that as well. Lovely finished you did too. Just love that water melon mug mate, so cute! Glad you have a lovely summer. Our winter is not too bad here either - Have a lovely week Mary - Hugs Nat

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  5. Woohoo Katie! I'm excited to see what she's having too. My guess is girl - to even the score.

    Love all your beautiful projects. That watermelon mug rug is to die for.

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  6. I love your string of pearls quilt.....I know I say that about each one of your quilts, but I really love this one because it's so colorful!

    Oh, can't wait to hear about your royal baby!!

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  7. You have some wonderful projects here! I really love your String of Pearls and the Schnibbles...wonderful! Plus your blocks and watermelon are awesome! You have been busy!

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  8. well you certainly haven't let a broken camera get in the way of getting some sewing done! All your finishes are marvelous and I love the mug rugs you and Mary made! ummmm....could you get my Japanese blocks made and sent out for me in your spare time? LOL....JK...I'm working on them!

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  9. Everything looks great! I love the watermelon mug rug! :0)

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  10. Your Pearls is just wonderful, as is the Snibbles and the mug rugs. Lucky you and lucky partner to receive the one you made.

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  11. Ooh! I love that little watermelon!

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  12. They all look great; but, my favorite is your String of Pearls. Congratulations on the new grandbaby to be.

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  13. That watermelon is just grand! Very summery and very cute. And can't believe you're already knocking out some finishes--bravo to you on the string of pearls quilt. It looks great, as do the other projects.

    Funny--I had camera troubles too (got sand in it at the beach!) and it came back from Cannon saying they couldn't repair it, so I sent it to Kurt's Camera Repair in San Diego and they said they'll fix it. I LOVE that camera, so I am very happy they'll fix it up for me. Must be the month for camera troubles--and you're right, some photos will have to stay on our own personal memory card. Sorry!

    Elizabeth E.
    opquilt.com

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  14. Beautiful 'String of Pearls' quilt - funny... I was just listening to the Glenn Miller rendition of the song today!

    Mary, could you let me know what your 'comments' settings are for your blog. I can leave you a comment through Bloglovin' but on another friends blog, I can't! Just interested to see what settings you are using - embedded, full page or pop up.

    Love the watermelon mug rug!

    Cheers from Helen

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  15. All are so colorful, fun, and delightful to see. That watermelon mug rug is cute! I had seen a large table runner version but never o e little...fun,fun,fun!

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  16. Mary, all your projects are always a delight.i love the watermelon mug rug. I am looking forward to you announcing the news of your new grand child.

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  17. Sorry about your camera. My newish one stopped working as well back to older one. All lovely and bright projects! A new baby is always such a sweet and exciting time! We are still waiting on the figs and pears here.

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  18. I've been too busy to post, too. Love what you've been up to. I should have joined a year of finishes...it feels like a year of starts with all the BOMs. Your quilts are great and love the mug rugs. Can't wait to find out the sex of your new family member. My daughter still hasn't named the little boy she is carrying so I haven't even been able to finish that quilt.

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  19. I love that watermelon mug run! How cute!

    I love that Halloween Schnibble, too!

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  20. I love your quilting and that watermelon mug rug is beautiful!

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  21. I really love your Halloween Schnibbles- the colors are perfect!

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  22. Some lovely finishes Mary.. Always like the Schnibbles quilts.
    The floral rug mug is nice and I think the watermelon is fabulous.
    sorry to hear of your camera woes. Hope you have a good one now.

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  23. Glad to hear you were able to replace the camera. I'm with you, I don't think it's worth posting without pictures. How's that for being a visual learner?

    Your string of pearls is gonna be so nice quilted, love your prints and the choice of gray. Sweet mug rugs, too, your flowers and the watermelon slice ~
    :-}pokey

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  24. Hi Mary your string of pearls is elegant. Your colours you chose absolutely divine...I really like the mellon too...

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  25. OMG, your String of Pearls is my favorite. I can see you have been very busy. So happy you gotten so much done, what an accomplishment!!

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  26. you have been busy , i love your string of pearls

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  27. Love the mug rug you made! So cute for summer! As always I am in awe of all the projects you get done!

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  28. The broken camera has allowed you much time in the sewing room! I love the Halloween schnibble. The colours really suit the pattern. Good luck to your daughter with the impending arrival, and being the mother of 4.

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  29. Oh bummer about the camera! Your string of pearls is fun...I love the graphic quality of it. Love the watermelon mat. Tasty and refreshing. Maybe Kate and your daughter will deliver on the same day???

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  30. I love the watermelon mug rug, and the string of pearls quilt and everything else :-)

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  31. don't worry, I have been catching up reading posts!!! I think we get Baltimore Orioles on the coast ( 60 miles away) but I have never seen one here in Eastern NC and would love to...read that orange halves attract them but have not even tried that.

    I too love your watermelon mug rug!!!

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  32. You've made some beautiful things but that bright blue quilt is my very favorite! blessings, marlene

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  33. Love all your projects! Glad you have a camera that is working :)

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  34. Good for you for the wonderful finishes! I confess that the watermelon mug rug gave me a giggle, too cute!

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  35. What a lot of gorgeous finishes. I especially like the shnibbles quilt and the watermelon mug rug. So very cute!
    I feel for you with your cameral troubles. I have had mine taped shut for several years because I dropped it. I hated to throw it away. lol

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  36. You've been busy! I'm not sure what I like best. Love the String of Pearls quilt (that's on my "someday" pattern list) but those mug rugs -- both amazing!

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  37. All your projects are lovely, Mary! Awwww - that mug rug just stole my heart!!!

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  38. Sewing as delightful as ever but sorry about your photos. So frustrating.

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  39. Sigh technology. . . but more to put in the memory bank!

    Great finishes. Thanks for linking up.

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  40. the halloween quilt is so fun! I just think it is the cutest ever! and oh Yeah, dogs are just big needy kids.

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