Weekend Sewing

I guess I am continuing on my pink and orange kick with the fabrics I selected to make a dress for one of our granddaughters.  She turns four years old today and is a very “girly” girl who loves pinks and twirly dresses.




Of course, I couldn’t stop there.  She has a very tattered “loved” little “Chi” monkey and I happened to find twin “Chis”.  All babies need their own quilts….right?



The final pattern came out for the Row by Row QAL.  I wasn’t sure I was going to like it on my quilt, but decided that I might try it on one side and across the bottom.  I actually liked it better than I thought I would and am trying to decide whether I should do all sides or leave it wonky and only do it on two.  I added another row of sashing between the borders so it is currently 74x95” – plenty big in my opinion.  If I added the other two borders it will add another 10" in both length and width.  What do you think?  Does it look incomplete?



Linking up with Freemotion by the River Linky Tuesday.

Saying Goodnight to Irene

It’s time to put Irene to bed.  This brings an end to the sewalong that Terry held for Goodnight Irene.  It was fun to dig out the 2.5” squares in the autumn colors.  I hope to get it quilted before the cooler fall temperatures set in here so we can snuggle down with it in front of a nice fire.  I’m pleased with the way it turned out.

                            (Oops….I see I have a smudge on my camera lens.)

I’ve also done a bit of un-sewing the last few days.  I finished all eight rows of the Moda Bake Shop Row by Row QAL and sewed them together.  They looked perfect.



Now….who would imagine that today the sewing the rows together instructions were released and there was to be sashing between each row????????  Rippit, rippit, rippit!  However, I do think I like it better with the sashing.  I guess that is a good thing.



The border instructions come out on Friday.  I wonder what that will add to the top.  I think my favorite rows are the flowers and the diamonds right below the flowers.
 
I have some birthday sewing to do now.

Mellow Yellow

There has been a bit of yellow sewing continuing around here.  This month’s color for the RSC14 is  YELLOW so I have added some yellow posies into my Moda Bake Shop Row By Row project. 




These, along with some orange and pinks, were added to make the next completed row.



Which color combination came first – the blocks or the garden????  Could I have a one track mind?



One last question……how many times have you ripped out the same seem?  Not that I would know anything about that, but am simply curious. 

Onto the next row…….

Rows and Road

How’s that for a title???  Before we hit the road I managed to get my blocks made for the current row in the Moda Bake Shop Trifle QAL.  I did not sew them together as I wanted to contemplate the arrangement while we were gone.  Do I do them mixed up or matched???




With blocks bouncing around in my mind, we headed off to Northern California for our grandson’s wedding.  Since our SIL could not make the trip we took our daughter and their four little ones in our car.  These were the smiles before the nearly 500 miles/ 9 hour drive.  We made many stops to “stretch our legs”, but it is still a long time to be buckled in car seats.



The wedding was beautiful and the happy couple is now off on their own.



Coming home, I jumped back into the QAL.  It is a very fast moving QAL with a new row coming out every other day.  Mine is all done using scraps that I have.

Row 2


Row 3

Row 4

Row 5

So far…….

I’m running out of design floor!!!

A Bit of Stitching Week

I finally managed to get to the long lost sewing machine yesterday.  It was one of those days that I had to stay home and wait for a delivery.  While waiting, I did a bit of sewing. 

First off was the Cherry Spools and Lady Fingers row of the Row by Row Along that Moda Bake Shop is holding.  It is a fast one and I doubt that I will be able to keep up, but will eventually finish it.  My color inspiration comes from the x&+ blocks that Teresa is working on right now.  I love the bright and happy looks of her blocks.




Then I did my yellow Soul Searching block for the RSC14 this month.



It plays nicely with the other five blocks.



I need to share what was in the mail for me when we returned from vacation.  It’s always nice to have surprises waiting for when you return.

First off is a win from a giveaway that Amy of Sew Incredibly Crazy had.  Look at all of these yummy colored threads and fabrics.  I’m so excited.



For my fun little mini spools quilt I won all of these amazing patterns from Another Year of Schnibbles.  I was thrilled to win these – especially the Firecracker pattern.  It is one that I have been tempted to make for awhile now.  Thank you Sinta, Sheri and Thimble Blossoms!



It was a party weekend around here.  Sunday’s party was to celebrate the christening of the newest grandbaby – always a reason to celebrate.  (The Godmother is in labor today.)

Here to There and Back Again

Yes, the silence on my blog was due to the fact that we have been away for the last few weeks – on a little business and lots of pleasure.

We first headed off to the big island of Hawaii.  This was our first visit to this island.  We enjoyed many beautiful sights – vacant beaches, black sand beaches, warm waters, palm trees, glorious sunsets, fragrant flowers and even a volcano.






They had a lovely Hawaiian quilt hanging at the hotel and I found the different patterns and the border fascinating.  Pardon the glare, but it was behind glass.


The center with the dolphins was great.



We returned home, emptied the suitcases and headed up to the beach to check out the new remodel with my sister, brother and their spouses.  While there, we collected clams for dinner, visited the pier to see the freshly caught fish that was being brought in for sale and then hit the Santa Barbara Farmer’s Market to collect our dinner ideas.







Leaving there we did a quick stop at home to add more clothes to that suitcase and headed out for a few days on the road – our favorite thing to do on vacation.  We enjoyed the historic mining communities in Nevada, the Sawtooth Mountains in Stanley, Idaho and the budding of spring in Wyoming and Utah.


Although it appears to be snowing in this photo, it is actually the blowing of the seeds from the Cottonwood trees in Bishop, CA.


Full streams were everywhere.



A natural sandhill…..makes you want to grab a slide and climb to the top.


Wild mustangs.



A frosty morn in Stanley, Idaho – 22*.  This was the view from our cabin.


Spectacular red rocks of Utah at 10,000+ feet elevation.


Along the way I had fun stitching some easy little projects that the amazing and creative Wendy sent me a link.  I figured they would make cute gifts.



It will now be back to the regularly scheduled program!