Some Sewing and Chicago

Brother....I am still trying to get used to this new way to upload pictures on Blogger.  Things, including me, are out of sorts here.  But.....I will continue to try to learn yet another new trick.  What is it they say about old dogs?????

With Halloween coming up, I am getting into the costume mode.  The little ones always want to decide what they will be at the last moment so I sewed for a dog.  That would be my uncle's dachshund.  I saw this pattern months ago and thought it would be so cute for a doxie dog.  Since he lives in Iowa, I have no picture of the dog in it.  I tried to get my cat to model it for me to no avail.  I think he is still hiding somewhere.  What a fun pattern it was to make.

Emily and I have been exchanging blue and yellow blocks each month and I finally finished hers and got it in the mail.  I can see this block as a full sized quilt.

I finished the binding on two of the quilts that I had Mary longarm for me.  She did a fabulous job, as she always does.  Thank you, Mary.  I wanted to get the doll quilt washed before taking a picture of it for you, but my washing machine decided to stay on vacation even after we returned from ours.  The part needed of course was backordered.

Look at the sweet hearts.

I just loved using the leftover strips in my binding on this one.

The mailman brought me a great package this week from Rhonda.  She has a sense of humor, I think, quite like mine.  I had won some fabulous fabric in a metal basket and a ruler grabber in a giveaway that she just had.  When I opened the box all of these adorable little fogs popped out of it.  Sooooo cute!  The card was also hysterical!  Thank you, Rhonda.  It did give me a great laugh for the day. 

It is always fun to have a "helper" in my studio.  Kids and a box of buttons!!!!  He really liked just scattering them with his hand because they made a great noise.

Now for a bit more of a taste of Chicago. As I mentioned, the weather was perfect so we did a lot of outdoor walking and exploring.

Since we were in Lincoln Park, we visited their zoo.  Can you believe it was actually FREE to get into it?  What a fabulous thing that is for young families.  I won't bore you with all of the animals, but DH liked this one because she was on watch while he was able to get his afternoon rest!!!!!!

Me???  I liked the stately giraffe.  Gorgeous, isn't it?

Now...this guy was "in charge".

We had to take my sister and BIL back to visit The Bean.

This building is called The Wave and is the tallest skyscraper designed by a female architect.  I guess you could say that she was going to have none of the boring square looks to her building.

These are the three oldest skyscrapers in Chicago.  Beautiful, aren't they?

A view of the newer Chicago.  The river was considered the dividing point between "old" Chicago and "new" Chicago.  The division has moved somewhat further away from the river as newer buildings were built to replace some of the older ones.

Well....we were looking for fall colors in the trees!!!!

Buckingham Fountain with a backdrop of the "old" Chicago.

What???  More fall colored trees????

Navy Pier

The elegant Water Tower on Michigan Avenue.

Navy Pier entrance.  A great place to visit.

The harbor with Lake Michigan in the background.