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.)

Company and Goals

The days are just never long enough these days.  The days, weeks and months slip by too quickly.  October is here and it is time for setting my October goals. 

We enjoyed our house guests from England so much.  While the "guys" were away golfing most every day, Irene and I stayed home and quilted ... and quilted ...and quilted.  They will become grandparents for the first time in a few months so her goal was to make a baby quilt and a quilt for their own bed while they were here.  She loved my Granny's Flower Garden Quilt and decided on that pattern for their bed.

This was a quilt pattern from an old Quiltmaker magazine.  We did this one with a Minky backing and it feels so heavenly.

Then we managed to get a few more done as well.  A simple, but fun baby shower gift...

.....as well as a double Irish Chain.   This one still needs the last two rows attached before she can quilt it, but the other three are done up until the binding.  She even had to buy a new rolling suitcase to get these and plenty  a little more fabric home with her.

 

We even took some time out for retail therapy.  Trainers (tennis shoes) and some NYD jeans were on that shopping list. 

During that time we celebrated our newest granddaughter's Christening with our oldest granddaughter and grandson as the godparents.

We headed down to San Diego with our house guests for a business meeting and enjoyed some beautiful and relaxing weather while we were there.

Now....it is back to real life and back to some goals for October.  I have chosen to finish the Christmas stocking that I started last year.  I am not sure I will be able to finish it, but it HAS to be done for Christmas.  I put it aside last December when I knew there was no chance of finishing it by Christmas.  Wish me luck!!!

 

A Healthy Fabric Choice

Can you eat your fabric?  If so, I think I have found a good choice.  I am hungry just sewing on this fabric selection. 

This was a fun and easy pattern at Moda Bake Shop  that uses charm packs and I loved the addition of the prairie points.

Over the weekend we celebrated the christening of one of our newest granddaughters.  It is always such a joy to join in the happiness of these events.

I love the very curious little one looking on.

The car trip up for the christening allowed me time to work on the applique of the newest set of the Just Takes 2 blocks.  I really like this set.  I should start putting them together so I can see what it is going to look like.

August is the month for the sunflowers to show off in the garden.  The heat that we've had for the last few weeks has encouraged them even more.   I love all the different colors in this year's plants - including one that is almost black.

My roses are also loving the warmer temperatures.  They were wondering if it would ever come, as was I. 

I need to get in and find the bottom of my cutting table now.  SIGH!!!!

Friday Finals

Wow....where did this week go?  It won't be long before school is back in session for the kids here.  I remember those days of getting ready to go back to school.  How about you?

This week I have worked on a couple of fun projects.  One is a small wall quilt for my grandson.  About six years ago he made some notecards and sent me one with a thank you note written on it.  At the time, I thought it would make a good quilt and kept it on my "future projects" board.  SewCalGal is having a Pets on Quilts display this week and I thought it would be fun to tackle my project.  Having raised four sons, I know that captured snakes are always going to be one of those pets that I would dread having around.  Thankfully we never had a rattlesnake, but there were many other "sorts" that resided here for short periods of time.  Soooo....here is my snake quilt!!!!!  I am showing it with the notecard so you can see from where I got my inspiration.

I will now give it to my grandson for his new room.  A thirteen year old boy should appreciate this one.

Now....about that story that I was going to tell you from my last post! It truly is funny what blogging can do for you.


One of the first blogs that I followed was Dawn. Over the years we have also e-mailed back and forth and discovered that we lived in many of the same places, but at different times in our lives. A few weeks back I blogged that I had gone to my 45th high school reunion. Dawn wrote that she must be the same age as her 45th reunion was also this year. She also wrote that she was not attending hers as it involved travel. I nonchalantly asked her where she had gone to school. As it turns out, we both went to the same school - again not at the same time. It was a small town in Nebraska and we lived there several years while my dad was in school. It turns out that she knew several of the girls that I had known waaaaay back when I was a youngster. Mind you, we moved to CA when I was ten years old. To make a long story shorter, Dawn has contacted several of these people and we have woven the most incredible story by pulling in what everyone remembers. I have also involved my mom who is just enthralled with the whole idea and has also added more to the story. Had my family not moved we would have been in the same class. Talk about a small, small world!!!! I am a little worried about one gal who remembered my WHOLE name!!!! It must have been my flaming red ringlets that she remembers.  Hmmm!  Ahh....to have them again.

This week was also the Christening of our newest granddaughter.  Family events like those are always cherished. 

We were able to get a picture of the four generations - my daughter, my mother, myself and the newest girl ( a little grumpy) in the family.