Adios February

I can't believe how the past week has flown.  Here we are approaching the end of February already.  I must be getting old!

A week ago today I had the most delightful day at Quilt Con.  The quilts were amazing, but even better than that was meeting up with so many quilters whom I have followed through their blogs, bees and e-mails.  I was terrible with my camera as I was enjoying the company way too much, but you will have to trust me when I said I loved every minute of it.  Lunch and dinner were both fabulous and gave us such a good opportunity to chat with each other.  I hope Pasadena has recovered from all of the fun.

This week has involved a lot of yard work so sewing was on the back burner.  My cacti are all blooming.  This is a special one as it is a section from a plant that once belonged to my grandmother.  Aren't the colors beautiful?

Right below the cactus are two pots of cyclamen.  These pots are probably 9 or 10 years old, but are just as pretty each year.  I know that I should divide them, but that tasks also keeps being placed on the back burner.  That back burner is getting crowded.

My mom has a birthday tomorrow and my sister's is next week so I got busy and did birthday postcards for them.  My sister may read this post so I can't show hers until she receives it, but here is my mom's.

As an update to her hummingbird nest......two little hatchlings appeared last Thursday.  Notice how short their beaks are.  The nest looks big here, but it is about 2" in diameter.  You can imagine how tiny the little birds are.

This is five days later.  They are filling the nest quickly and will soon be flying off.  ;-(   You can see the beaks starting to form a point,

As well this week I quilted my Hillside Houses quilt.  I ended up doing a Wiggle Worm quilting pattern on it.  I had wanted to do special quilting on each house, but I just wanted to get it finished.

 Loved the little houses for the backing....

It is now residing at the foot of the guest room bed.

Speaking of guest room.....our guest room is going to be filled for the next few weeks with our dear friends from the U.K.  They arrive tomorrow so I will be away from the computer as we enjoy our time together.  Stay well and enjoy your stitching while I am away.

Block Construction

For some time now I have been seeing Block Lotto blocks appearing on various posts.  I finally jumped in and made a few of June's blocks.  These were interesting blocks to make and I am sure will make a really nice quilt for someone with all of the different blues they are going to receive.

I finished up the last row of my Hillside Houses blocks as well.  Now you can finally see the blue sky.  I'm not sure how I will quilt it yet.  I think I need to study it a bit before I attempt it.  An overall pattern will make the houses disappear - I think.  Any opinions????



We had a fun Father’s Day BBQ here.  The gals cooked for the guys with tons of good food and family.  Our daughter’s family was not able to make it because of sick little ones, but these are our GREAT dads – a reason to celebrate.



Here are a few pictures of the grandchildren enjoying our cockatiel from yesterday.





Today was cleaning!!  I have mopped the floor four times and I still feel as though I am sticking to it.  I wonder if it is my imagination at this point.  SIGH

Some Quilting Time

The last month has been such a blip on my calendar, but I have managed to squeeze in a bit of sewing here and there.

One of the great swaps that I participate in each year is the ALQS.  I shared the mini I made already, but I have to show you the one I received.  It is absolutely beautiful and has so many fun techniques.  The colors are amazing and I really love this little quilt.  I am showing it on its side as the photo appears more detailed that the upright one.

 You can read some of the techniques Joan used by reading her label.

As well, in my package, Joan included a brooch that she made.  Isn't it lovely too?

We took a little road trip up Hwy. 89 through Utah so I had some time to work on my second circle in my EPP project.  The curves were a bit of a challenge for this new EPP quilter, but I am pleased with the way it turned out.  I haven't trimmed them down to their 12" block yet so it looks a little ragged around the edges.

Elizabeth at OPQuilt has created the designs for these circles and the patterns can be found on her blog.

There were so many fabulous QALs this summer.  I would love to join each one, but the Hillside Houses (link on my sidebar) is one that I had to start first.  The little houses remind me of beach huts.  I have nine of the twelve blocks completed.

We spent a few days at the beach with my sister, BIL, brother and SIL.  Although June tends to be foggy most of the day at the beach, we had a great time. 

We had the last of the graduations of the year this week and have been enjoying a lot of time with little ones here too.  It's no wonder the weeks have slipped by so quickly.

Now.....I'm off to clean house after the weekend mess.