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!!!

 

The Stockings Were Hung

Of course not being a blogger when I started making Christmas stockings for the grandchildren, I did not photograph them as I completed them.  WHY would I have done such a thing???  The other day when we were at one of our son's homes I decided to photograph some of the stockings that I have made in my pre-blogging years.  I will try to photograph some of the others this year as we visit the homes over Christmas.

I am linking these stockings up with Pat at Quilting Lines.  Please check it out and add any of your stockings as well.  It is always fun to see what others have created.

Again, the week has been a busy one.  We were home for dinner just one night.  At this rate I will forget how to cook!!  It has been so much fun to celebrate the season with family events. 

The newest little one was baptized over the weekend.  It is always a joyous occasion.

I love the look on her face in this one.

We were thrilled to go visit with Santa this week.  He was pretty harmless when he came out of his little house to sing Christmas carols with us, but it was a different story when we entered his house and sat on his lap.  This was an amazing Santa, if I do say so myself.  He knew the REAL meaning of CHRISTmas.  Even his hair and beard were the real thing!

I've had a couple of really fun wins lately.  I received some lovely Christmas fabrics from Peach Patch Quilts.  These will be such fun to use in future projects.  After seeing some of the cute patchwork stockings, I am thinking that these might come in very handy.

As well, look at this adorable little hedgehog and mini quilt that I received from Susan.  Is this not the cutest little guy ever with his little scarf?   I just love it and was so thrilled to have been chosen as her winner.  Thanks so much, Susan.  I don't know how many of you follow her, but she does such beautiful work and I have followed her almost since I started blogging. 

This week I have been working on some Christmas gifts in my sewing room.  I really can't show them yet, but it has been fun to slip away into the studio and forget the messiness of the house.  I also had a bit of time to work on Easy Street.  The best part was the cutting of the lime green squares.  Since lime green is one of my all time favorite colors, I have a TON of fabrics in that color.  I could have probably cut 145 squares and not have one match!!!!!  I am ready for step five on Friday.

Since I doubt that I will be blogging in the next week as we will be having houseguests for Christmas, I would like to wish all of you a wonderful and joyous Christmas. 

Busy Summer Days

The summer is just flying by us here.  Each week I think I will get this or that accomplished and then the days fill up faster than I can blink my eye.  Such is life in a big family and we love it.  After all.....what would I do with a block of free days???

The week has been busy with birthdays - my brother, my DIL and a grandson.  Lots to celebrate and no pictures to share because I forgot to grab my camera.  Such is life. 

I spent two days in the garden with weeding and removing spent summer flowers.  By the end of the day I wasn't sure whether the body would even go upright again, but it felt good to get the jobs finished.    The reward is when the blooms appear in appreciation of the hard work. 

My flowers for my How Does Your Garden Grow quilt-along did not reproduce as quickly this week.  I only added one and a half flowers this week.  I think I am ready to change to a new color this week as I believe I have enough yellow ones. 

Speaking of yellow flowers....look at my gorgeous orchid that is blooming.  My father would have loved this one.  He had a huge greenhouse in the backyard where he raised prized orchids.

I did manage to work on the last Christmas stocking for our darling neighbor girl.   I just need to line it and add the hanging tab.  Santa will be pleased to know where to place the goodies this year.

Lily Pad Quilting had a giveaway for a collection of fat quarters and I won!!  I am thrilled with these fat quarters and I really love the line of fabrics.  Thank you so much to both Lily Pad Quilting and to the Fat Quarter Shop for being the sponsor. 

We've been trying to get lots of grandchildren sleepovers and one on ones in before school starts again.  This week it was this little one's turn.  She had wanted to come over and make bread with me.  We had such a great time and lots of giggles as well. 

My sewing room has been quiet this week so I don't have anything to show from there.  Hopefully, next week will be more productive. 

I have to share what was in our neighborhood this week.  They had a vintage car show and this pulled up.  It was a food vehicle, but I thought it was cute.  Enjoy the week!