odds and ends EDITED

 I have gotten a bit of sewing done towards the end of the week.   In fact, I went almost straight from one project to the next thing on the mental list.  Here I am trying to make a pattern for Skyler's perch cover last evening, cutting into the old worn out one to see what its approximate measurements should be.  I had ordered the fleece stuff to do this months and months ago. Both perches (yes, he has two!) need attention and there is no need to even laundry them when both of them were looking pretty sad.

I had completed the hand finishing on the binding of the bedroom valence on Friday morning, doing the bulk of the assembly and half the binding on Thursday.  This was after helping to rake up the brush from the bushes Robert had trimmed up after he mowed the yard.  It is a wonder I had any ambition at all after that!  Hot, sweaty work.

Then Jane called and invited me to run over to the Ashville Quilt shop with her, Aline and Terry on Friday afternoon.  They along with several of our quilting pals are doing a BOM with the quilt shop but with a different twist.  They give the participants the fabric and they get to pick their own block patterns to use it.  It has been interesting to see how differently the projects have come out.  Some are appliqued, others pieced.  I think so far  the fabric has been something like an Aunt Gracie closely packed background like print.   Anyway, we had quilt guild today which conflicted with their scheduled session so they got what they needed on Friday.    I'll show you what I came home with a little later in the post.

I was up early again today, (thanks a lot,  Skyler)  but had found poor Oscar had apparently gotten a little sick last night.  I cleaned out his crate upon discovering the mess.  Hooray for Resolve carpet cleaner as Skyler had gotten sick the night before.  What is it with those two??  I started a load of laundry to wash up his messed up towel, etc .  Since I had to get the vacuum attachements out for the crate, the kitchen floor and then most of the carpet got vacuumed right after.  It is around 5:30 at this point.

 THEN I sat down to finish prepping and sew the perch cover.  No breakfast, not dressed, not showered but sewing.   I thought  " it is just some edge finishing and two simple seams"  Ah, famous last words there, LOL.   I was determined to have it back up by the time I left for guild.



Skyler apparently approves.   I will be making another cover for the one in the opposite side of the house but he will need to vacate it first, LOL.  I believe he tracks the sun in the house, mornings on the sunrise side and afternoons/evenings on the sunset end.   There may also be enough sheepskin fabric leftover to make a zip cover for Oscar's crate pad so that may follow if that is the case and I get a zipper.


TADA!  Two finishes.  The picture I took this morning was way too dark (like the one above, LOL)   for you to see what the valence turned out like so I re-did it this afternoon.  I ate a half peanut butter sandwich running out the door, had 5 minutes to shower, 10 minutes to drive and was only 5 minutes late to my destination.  I was to drive today so they didn't leave without me.   The pretty blue patriot swirl Quilter's Candy from Connecting Threads is what I used for that recently completed dust ruffle.  I lined it with their Musical Scroll from their Symphony of Blues line.   I have leftovers and some of the other fabrics in the line so it is entirely possible that I will be making a quilt that will go on that bed at some point.    Also please note that the sun has been shining---for a change---most of the day though it was quite foggy at 5 when I got up.

Off we went today to St. Clair county for quilt guild.  For various reasons, I have missed a few meetings this years so I finally could turn in a donation quilt and show my Paint Chip Challenge that was due back in December 2013.  I also had my stitchery hop bag to show but the last two finishes had to be mailed out so no go there.  

The program was on antique irons.  Our program person Loretta's mom had collected them but she also invited to others who may have had some to bring them too.  Interesting what our foremothers had to go through to iron and smooth fabrics.  Heavy things and some actually looked more like smooth rocks than cast iron or whatever.  

There was a lot of other things happening today besides show and tell and the program.  Loretta's mom lost her husband within days of DJ's passing.  Some damage to their home has forced her to move out and into Loretta's home.   Mrs. B he had brought boxes full of  fabrics and sewing things to donate to the guild.   Very sweet of her.

Then our friend Denise is trying to help a friend's father settle his daughter's estate.  Sherry and Denise were dear friends for years outside of guild.  Unfortunately Sherry lost her battle to health issues a couple weeks ago.  Denise with the help of another quilting friend had brought in some of Sherry's things to raise some funds .  There had been a featherweight machine but I got the New Home HF 3000.  Left the foot pedal behind though and realized that once I got home.  I've already emailed Denise about it and depending on what/where we'll work it out for pickup.  The quilt kit has 19 yards of fabric in it and I got it very very reasonably.  Don't have to make that pattern if I don't want to.   The purse is just cute--who doesn't like polka dots?  

In addition, we had planned on having a mini quilt auction in March for the quilt show, first time ever.  The auctioneer was arranged for, two charities were picked and the proceeds were to have been split between Lakeside Hospice locally and the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Awareness nationally.  It did not happen much to our disappointment.  However, the decision was made to have a silent auction among the guild members instead if the members still wished to donate the miniature that they had made for this purpose.  It was so cool to see those hanging again at the meeting place.  Sales appeared to be brisk!   The pictures below were taken at the show.  I made blocks for the log cabin group miniature but just did not have time to make a mini.  Others did.

When I got home, I found that the giveaway order that I had gotten from Quilt Taffy's etsy store was already here.  THX to generosity of Carol of Just Let Me Quilt and a little money from me, I got this little cute kit to make a see through bag and some wonder clips to try.   A friend mentioned that perhaps I was due a reward project of some sort and this just might fill the bill!

This is my quilt shop purchases then.  The Blank Quilting Polka Dot and the Cat Party Print from Red Rooster are probably both headed to Baby R's drag around quilt.  I am still thinking chevrons for that one.  The aqua on the end is a Vintage Vibe piece from Faye Burgos and Marcus Brothers which should be a good fit for some of those Farmer's Wife Inspired Sampler blocks that I want to get to to working on one of these days.  I wish I could have gotten some of the Bonnie and Camille Scrumptious line as I love their stuff too but I refrained.   I know I have room for this stuff, more fat quarters, not so much, LOL.  

I hear Oscar barking and it is time for his supper.  When I got back from guild and lunch out today, I loaded him up in the carrier and we did two laps around the local park.  We also took a short jaunt up the lane to share my newspaper with the neighbors.  He is my paper dog!

Guess that's it for this installment.  To my family members in honor of events they are celebrating this weekend, I love you all.

stash enhancement

okay, I had said I might share some pictures of what I had gotten at the Mountainfest quilt show and Pappy's Quilting Place in Maryville, TN last week.  I forgot to mention that we had stopped in Chattanooga at Southern Thread, Inc.on the way up.  Garmin had us exit I-75 way too soon so we were winding all over the place to get there.  Marilyn sews professionally making American doll clothes and those cute little towels that you can hang in the kitchen that look like dresses plus she has an embroidery machine now so she needs all kinds of threads.  I just stocked up a bit on neutral toned serger thread---white, beige and gray.  I didn't take a picture of that but I did of the other goodies.


A selection of batiks from Stitch N Frame from Vicksburg, MS

These were the 5 yard bundles from Bolines at Indian Creek that I mentioned was from my old stomping grounds.  The one of the left most likely will become a donation quilt but whether I used the enclosed patterns or not remains to be seen.  I like the prints on the right a bit better and they may possibly in end up in different configuration for Baby R's drag around quilt...............

Because they also go with some of this stuff too.   I had gotten a few cuts at Hobby Lobby recently---that aqua tone on tone up through that dot piece.  I found the last piece in that stack at Pappy's.  I'm sort of thinking a chevron quilt and calling it waves, LOL.

The two Deb Tucker rulers were from Magic Cat Quilt Shop from Knoxville, TN who were vending at the show.  I have long been fascinated with the Hunter's Star pattern and Lois had recommended it.  The Tucker trimmer is for another of her techniques.  See her you tube videos  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aB-BEiK5ebU

In the middle is the pattern that I had drooled over in the Keepsake Quilting catalog but they were doing it as a BOM complete with fabric.  I have a big collection of 30's reproduction so I was not interested in that but no one seemed to be selling just the pattern.  Pappy's had it and it is "Aunt Grace's Garden Party"  from Bloom Creek--a 5 month block of the month.  I don't know that Keepsake ever shared the information so it could be tracked down.

The other pattern just intrigued me.  Colorful Cubes with no Y seams from It'sSewSue Patterns.  My guess is that it is done in rows probably vertically but I have not read it yet. One that I wish I had gotten was an appliqued Sunbonnet Sue that told the "story" of her getting caught in the wind and losing her clothing.  Quite cute!!  People are so clever, I tell you.  I don't see it on their webpage but I may have to send Linda C after it or get some more information.

The three pieces of fabric in the foreground are for my Farmer's Wife Sampler.  I know that the aqua and pink piece are part of the "Scrumptious" line from Bonnie and Camille.  Oh you know how I love their stuff!!  The red scroll piece is Darlene Zimmerman for Robert Kaufman "Hints of Prints"  Jane had them cut her some 30's print pieces and I said to cut me a half yard while they still had the bolt out.  All from Pappy's Quilting Place

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've put a couple of lamps together today.  One is a natural light floor lamp that will work much better with the sewing machine.  The other went in the living room, floor lamp with a small two tiered glass table that I stuck between the recliner and the love seat.  DJ always used a torchiere type lamp there because he didn't want the light in the periphery of his eyes when he was watching TV.  If he wanted to read, then he moved to the other couch or read in the kitchen.  If I am going to do any stitching in the living room during TV viewing hours, I need decent light.  When I think of how much time I spent in by the computer so I could see my work, it makes me sad that we didn't do something about it sooner.  If we could agree on what to watch together, he would move the lamp so I could see the TV better but that was few and far between.   Regret that now.

Oh, the torchiere went to live with the next door neighbors.     I was dragging it out to the shed and asked if they wanted it.  They have been doing a good bit of remodeling/spring cleaning.  She said she had one like it and sure, she'd take it.   The lamp I had on the previous floor stand is installed on the office desk and the stand went out to the shed "just in case"  If I don't need it in say six months time, it is gone.  The recliner, I am still debating about.  Stay or go?  Skyler is the only one who sits in it.  Napping in it now, as a matter of fact.   I've been toying with swapping out the couch and the love seat location and it would need to be gone if I do it.  It takes up so much floor space.

Well, I said I was going to work on my embroidery today and have yet to do that other than picking up a bit of floss while I was out, slightly darker shade of the same blue I had used in another area.  You'll see soon enough!

My friend Gene came by yesterday afternoon and somehow wiggled or jiggled my speaker line and got the sound up and running. Woohoo there.  I'm calling him the computer whisperer, LOL but he swears that he doesn't know what he did to get it going.  Maybe tried another port and it worked while it didn't when I tried.  Don't care as long as the music, hulu and ballgames can be heard.  No taking it to the shop either.

Guess that's it for today-----

Doesn't take much.............

..............to make me happy, LOL.   Remember my saying that my 2 1/2 inch fabric bin was looking a little sparse after a couple of group sew-in's?  I also had raided some of the strips to toss into PopStix.   At one point this thing was so full I could barely keep the lid on it.

Well, Lois reads my blog and came to the meeting today with a pile of 2 1/2 inch strips and said that she hoped she was not too late.   Ahhh even if I was a done with my top, there are lots of other projects that call for 2 1/2 inchers!  Album block is one of them that is in the "has been set aside" category.  Each of the PopStix blocks takes 14 different strips, or it does in my version anyway.  Since I am down to the last 3 blocks at this writing, it seems that the bits that I do have pieced contain all the same pieces.  :-( and then I gotta un-sew more than sew.  SO I pulled out about 16 bits that are NOT in my quilt and when combined and strategically placed, it should be fine.   WOOHOO!

Also there were some really pretty browns, neutrals, tans, etc that would look great as a log cabin block(s) especially when combined with already existing stash fabrics.  I grouped them together when I put them in the bin.   Two other strips may make it into my Farmer's Wife Inspired Sampler that I am getting every more closer to starting.  WOOHOO again!

Oh, Lois also had a whole container of half square triangles, possibly the cutaways from other projects. Bev took those off her hands!   Brenda relieved her of some blue and white bits---little flying geese pieces or star points it looked like.  I told Lois that passing on your stuff to other quilting friends is STILL stash busting since it is not living at your house.  It certainly makes both parties happy, like it did me!

Here is the other thing that makes me smile-----abandoned blocks. Marilyn brought them to me and some of them will combine with the ones I have from mom, her friend Linda H. and my own set aside bits and pieces.    That one has a more pastel, country feel so a few of these will probably have to go to another project.  I think there are a few more dresden plate blocks at her mom's that I just need to pick up that Marilyn said were lighter in color.  (One of those butterflies needs a body!).  I found two more blocks that I had stuck in my embroidery bag---another butterfly and one called "Bed of Roses".  I'm tired so I do not want to take throw them all back down on the floor to take another picture.  Maybe when I post a quilt finish, or the donation quilts but not now-------

I'll write more about today's meeting later.  After all, I have donation quilts pictures to show you.  I don't know why but I could not keep track my camera at all today, LOL.   Somehow in spite of my being a bit scattered I managed to take them.    I didn't get a lick of embroidery done today but that's okay.

I was looking for something on the library cart and found some patterns that needed to be put in the notebooks.   This cute owl quilt was one of the loose patterns, hiding in the stacks of books.   Owls are so "in" these days!  BUT guess what----pattern is from 1985 and get this, cost 2.50 from wherever the person who donated it found it.   Nothing is every truly ever "new".   I would want to make it not square if I try it.  (Kids aren't square after all!).  It turned out the thing I was looking for was out with one of the other gals---which is fine!  I was going to try that "Fun and Done" deal that Bev needed help with but it can wait.

I've just been following up on things from the meeting since I got home.  It was a rainy day due to the effects of Isaac but no wind problems or tornado watches or warnings. Thankfully!  Of course, I hope whatever he does down in southern AL, MS and LA especially is minimal.  7 yrs since the disaster that was Katrina ---a hard thing to recover from.

Well provided we don't lose power tomorrow,  I believe I will get that quilt top done!  That's my goal anyway.  Later--------

a shopping we will go!

When I left off in my last post, Jane was coming by to pick me up and we were headed to get Marilyn for a run up to Boaz and fabric shopping, lunch out.  We stopped at Mill Street Deli for lunch and then went over to Wilson's.

Marilyn is making the quilts for ovarian cancer and she was on the hunt for teals and such.  Jane needed some yardage for a secret pal and found some other pieces she liked---some that I had picked out first actually.  Similar tastes, it would appear.  I'll show you that stuff in a minute.  

The 2nd piece in the stack above is some yardage I picked up at Hobby Lobby in Gadsden before we came home.  I had gotten the Andover Girl Friday lime green piece and the Quilting Treasure Contempo dots with my birthday money from DJ and thousandsofbolts.com  The gray Jinny Beyer has been in my stash since the late 80's/early 90's.   Somewhere around here I have some solid gray and that is really what I had thought about tossing in the pile to audition.  I did look but it was not in the most likely areas from my best recall.  That's why the Jinny Beyer gray was tossed into the pile.  I don't know where the white came from but the darkest piece is the challenge fabric.  See this post for it actually looks like unfolded.  Looks like it just might work together.

 I THINK I may make my Belles challenge quilt with this stuff----but already I am wondering if I would be able to give it up once the top is finished.   Would it be totally selfish of me to want to use the leftover piece of challenge fabric for a quilt for myself??  I have two sections of  that challenge yardage and can donate the other one.  I think I may be one fabric short here---another green needed perhaps??  I keep coming back to Burns' Quick Trip Quilts when I see this yardage.  Not sure why other than subconsciously I want to try it??  I have a yard of each of these.  It calls for 6-1/4 yard fabrics for a crib  42 x 52 (with borders) and 9-1/2 yard pieces fabrics for a lap (54 x 77) and 12- 1/2 yards for a twin (65 X 102) with borders.  Can't you repeat a color or two??   HMMMMMM  Better think on this a bit longer but I am putting this stack aside for now.  Besides, I had planned on doing the Mock Trip Around the World  pattern for the challenge in the first place.

The Belles were so kind to give me some birthday spending money and this is how I spent most of it.  I did order a Twister ruler (the bigger one) and also a Perfect Piecing Seam Guide as well but the latter has not arrived yet.   Still, the girls are going to want to see how I spent their gracious gift.  Because it was Tuesday, seniors (55 and up) got a 10 % discount on the regular priced items.  That offsets the tax so more bang for the buck.

At the top left. "Perk Me Up" for Wendy Bentley for Timeless Treasures.  The colors should go nice in my FWIS--soft color, aqua and pink dots, etc.  The vintage, feed sack appearing piece is actually Ella's Wishes by Jenni Calo for Connecting Threads.  That green piece is in the 2nd row is also from Connecting Threads as it happens, Merry Minis but I don't think it screams Christmas and actually looks more 30s to me.  (There was no indication on the bolt as to origin as they often wrap their own on old cores.) The soft yellow for background of some of the sampler blocks is Home Grown by Granola Girl.  The two dot fabrics, pink with orange dot and white with aqua dot---Riley Blake.  The piece on the end, unknown origin but I like it--reminds me of sun flowers.

2nd row the green/blue piece is a Moda  (I think) something Geisha maybe.  The orange piece --Wiggles and Giggles from Thimbleberries.    The blackish, floral piece was in the Aunt Grace section.  I have a good bit of 30's fabrics but few blacks.  I believe it will show up in  my sampler with a nice red and maybe that piece that I think looks like Sunflowers---perhaps one of the blocks that calls for 4 different fabrics.

I'll pack this all up to show the girls in person next week.   Again, thank you so much, my dear friends!

WIP Weds/check-in

What is a blog without pictures?  I've got a couple, LOL.

I quilted up the August Button Up on Monday afternoon and started on the "Faux Button Up" row quilt right after that but only got the first two rows and a little bit of the third one done before I hung it up for the night.  "The Closer" was on, after all and this next Monday is the series finale!    The binding still needs to be done on both wall hangings.  You still see pins in August because I am considering hand quilting around the melon seeds.

Tuesday, I finished up the row quilt, bound and labeled them both.   I realized that I did not have near enough information in my head to complete the label but was not entirely sure where I had put the journal notes that were passed around with it.  I knew all about the top three rows----I did the stars, Lauri from MD the flag,  Diane W from IN (who has since passed away) did the kitty, bowtie and log cabin blocks.  Cher did the butterfly and veggies row---my OR FAB pal of many years.   BUT it was not clear to me which row Jacquie from WA had done and who had done the 6th one??  What year was this anyway?  I should say that the piece was inspired by the Summer wall hanging in the Country Threads book from that patchwork place Quilt Shop Series way back in 1992.  Thankfully the girls did not slavishly follow the one in the book as I think their choices made it much more unique.  I didn't like parts of that piece anyway!

After throwing  picture up on Facebook, Jacquie posted that she thought it was from 2000 and she believed she had done the watermelons as she is not an applique aficionado.  Right on both counts!  I found the journal notes in the file cabinet along with the signature squares.  Off came the label that I had applied to it that had the wrong information and cross outs on it!  WOW, it is about time that this row robin get completed.  Of course I am thrilled that the piece is the same size as my other button ups so it can be used on the base just like the others.  I will not have to do up the June Button Up unless I want to----it is picket fence with tall flowers.   Meh.   Do the May basket, skip June, the July one is done.  Sounds good to me!

Here is the proper text with the sig squares pinned to it (the fan was blowing them away, LOL)  The green and white print is the reverse coloration of the backing I used.  These strips look like white on green while the backing was green on white. Blend-y though not a match.  I will piece the squares together to make a special label for the piece.  That is on today's "list"  Cutting fabric was as far as it got this morning as DJ needed me to go up to the license tag division at the Country Administration building and a few other errands along the way.

The other pile is the prototype for DJ's nighttime neck "brace" deal.  Coincidentally this yardage is what I used on the back of August.  I have plenty of fabrics but nothing I cared to cut into for this project.  Wrong color, floral or juvenile, headed to another project---you get the picture.  That job is also on today's "list" though I know I need to get some wide velcro on the next store run to finish the piece.

Before putting away my good and faithful servant Erik the Red I gave him a thorough cleaning inside and out the best I could anyway.  I re-positioned the sewing table and got out Brother Man though left him unplugged. I vacuumed up my stringy mess and even cleaned off the ceiling fan.  It is amazing how quickly a white fan can get dusty looking!  Yeah, I know---quir looking up!

Next up in the pictures for today----some more of my bday present.  Yeah, it isn't for a couple of days but who knew it would get here so quickly?  Boy, that DJ sure knows how to "shop", LOL.    Half yards of a bit more of the Vintage Modern for my Farmer's Wife Sampler.   Love, love that aqua and red combo.   I had ordered some half yards of a few selected pieces last month but my quilt will not be make entirely of the fabric line as I want a scrappy look in my 111 block sampler.  I may not have taken a picture of that stash acquisition when it came in.  Don't remember.   I am thinking that a stop for another snap lid stackable tote is going to take care of the remainder of my spend down, LOL.

My other selection----set M of Marti Michell's Perfect Patchwork Templates which is sized for a 12 inch finished block 5 x 5 grid.  I am pretty well set now and will use these on the Farmer's Wife Sampler.  Also since I love her 1 and 2 inch finished log cabin ruler so much I got the next smaller strip sized on which finishes at 3/4 inch and 1 1/2 inches.  

Here is the longer range plan----

• Finish up Popsicle Sticks ---roughly half done at this point.   Then I can raid whatever fabrics and strips that I want from that container.  It has not seen the machine since mid-Feb 2012 meaning it is fairly new UFO
• Start cutting for Farmer's Wife Sampler at least the first 10 blocks in whatever sequence I finally settle on---numerically by the book or by the conversion chart or how they are laid out in MY version.  
• Quit talking about it and get started on those blocks, will ya?!
• Finish up the Prairie Stroll top at the next Bama Belles meeting(s)---the blocks are done, after all.

Just noticed that is time for lunch and I have to pop it in the oven---best get off the computer and into the kitchen!  THX for stopping by.

WIP Weds

 

Sounds good anyway, LOL.  Posted by a Facebook and Guild friend

Last night, and into today, I had some things on the mental list that needed tending.  This was the contents of a box Mom and I had packed up when I was back home.  My sister had offered to UPS it to me since she often visits the mailing spot to help her husband in his job.  DJ had to haul it back to the sewing room and said "I wish you would tell your friends and family not to be mailing such heavy boxes!"  14 lbs worth, LOL.

The fact that it had not come so soon after my arrival back from Illinois gave me time to find some room for this shipment. The pile on the left is abandoned blocks.  I pulled out the blue-y pastels one thinking they might work in with the stuff on my design wall---the abandoned project pro bono quilt I spoke of yesterday.  There is another stack of more fall toned blocks that I set aside for now.  And then, there are some that I will pull apart for the fabric as I like the fabrics but not what they were used for.

The basket fabric was put with the other basket fabrics that Maggie, Sheila and Mom had sent me.  I love basket blocks so I would like to use that for a  basket sampler project.  I will use some of it in the Farmer's Wife Sampler (FWS) though since there are several basket blocks included in it.  I had even located that missing piece of my own in one of the fabric bins the other day.  Since I had emptied out the temporary project box for the August button returning all the greens, etc to their starting off point, that freed up a spot.

The 30's charm pack---I've got bits of that in four different places along with a larger snap tote of feed sack fabric.  I found a spot, LOL.  I may work some of it into my Two of Kind/Cheap Trick shown HERE.  I have not worked on that one for a while and forgot what size things needed to be cut. 

The blacks and grays?  I had made room recently switching a couple bins etc around where I could get at the basket a bit more easily.  That was easy enough.  I love that pink with tan dots---kids quilt or it may work into the Popsicle Sticks project, FWS blocks, if I ever get around to replicating the Indiana Puzzle I made for my niece Beth shown HERE.

Also last night I was on the hunt for something to use for iron caddy pad that I will be making at the Christmas in July sew-in this weekend.   I knew I had several pieces of sewing themed fabric but where were they?  I was digging in all the appropriate totes on the sewing room shelves in that hunt.  Finally I found this pink and blue button print-----oh, is this piece old!  But then so is the red and green spool print that I dug out at the same time, LOL.  Then my eye went to this pink and white stripe that I will cut on the bias for the binding pieces.  It calls for one inch buttons, preferably shank type.  I found these in my button box and think I WILL try to use them rather than make a store run for others.  Look like a wad of chewing gum, don't they?  The caddy pattern looks cute enough to be a purse! In fact, Jane thought she might want hers to BE a purse.  The fabric she had gotten would have looked cute if she lined it with her alternating piece.   I still need to cut out the section I need and the binding, obviously.

Since I was already deep into head sweating with ironing fabric, I decided I better get this pile of binding pressed and rolled.   (The a/c was not on at the time and the two fans I had on were not keeping up with the humidity outside)

BEFORE--------

AFTER--------

Now the table is cleared off and I can cut the caddy sections.

The a/c is on now and I believe that I will sew the two on the left onto the appropriate donation quilts.   Jane has dibs on two of the quilts in the stack that I have quilted but one of the Belles that lives near me has volunteered to take a couple more off my hand.  I had set aside one of the pro bono quilts when I went on vacation and never got back to it.  I should finish it up.  I don't think that will be happening today but you never know!

Tomorrow I will need to do the grocery run, pack up my stuff for the sew-in and I am signed up to bring a dessert.   I'm thinking Tex-Mex sheet cake might be just the ticket.   DJ said to just get something from Wal-mart's bakery but I won't do that.  A lot of the girls do but I like to bake and store bought stuff does not cut it for me.  That sheet cake does not have to be in the oven long since you bake it on a jelly roll pan plus it satisfies that taste for chocolate and it is GOOD!  Yep, got a plan.

Now I best get back to it----- 

EDIT---I was asked about a recipe link for my Tex-Mex Cake.  Try this one  

this and that on a Friday

DJ went out as the sun was lowering behind the tree line and discovered that the UPS driver had left me a box.  I'll tell you, my mom knows how to stuff a shoe box, LOL.

Not sure what I will do with this stack as it sort of depends on how much is left of the fabric---there is a blend-y sort of thing going on though with a few of the pieces.  Naptime, maybe??  If not, there are a few nice pieces of neutral background.  I think Mom may have added two pieces that I did not have set aside but that's okay too.   Some re-arranging of boxes on her end left had her wondering, she said.

That lovely, cheerful floral on the left is a  Hoffman "Country Side Collection" piece.  I'm thinking it might make up into a 4 patch posie??  Isn't that the fun part of quilting to pull out fabrics till you find a combination that will work together?  Already I am eyeing a blue tone and tone on the shelf, LOL.    Lois had recently used some 4 patch posie elements as block centers of one of her tops.  I'll point that out when it is turned in because I did not get a picture at the time.

A glimpse at the design wall----mostly leftovers and future projects.  Christmas blocks for the stalled out Oxmoor Christmas quilt.  The strip is a section of binding for my Christmas Patience Corner.  Leftover bowties from the 76 Bowtie QOV--that will work with with the next abandoned block project along with the various other nine patches etc stuck up there.  The plain squares are for quilt labels.  The just finished basket block is hanging for me to see before I put it up with the others and pull another out to stitch.  The two ziploc bags?  One is squares I pulled to make a few "Fight Like a Quilter" blocks for a fund raiser.  I like the blocks so may make more for a pro bono quilt so I did not file the cut squares back into the 2 1/2 inch square container.  Lastly, greens that my friend Pat sent for the paint chip challenge----I see watermelons in their future as in Button Up #8.  

Those foundation pieced flowers were something I started years ago from one of Carol Doak's books, Easy Mix & Match Machine Paper Piecing.  Now this was copyright 1995 and I bought it as a new book at the time.  Yep, old project and I remember stitching on it at Hands All Around Quilt Retreat near Lake Shelbyville in Illinois. I planned to make a wall hanging she showed on the back cover with butterflies, a sun, snails in the grassy area.  Well here is a link to the image.  Once upon a time I had all 6 flowers done but two of them wound up in a row robin for a friend on the old aCozyQuilt Bee list.  I think that the sky blue fabric has been used elsewhere over the years so these four may be "it" and added to another project down the line.

Here I am holding up Lauri's row---bad picture as I had a crappy digital camera at the time.  Lauri had a garden theme going and wanted the bright fabrics she had provided as alternating blocks.  I stitched up the Pieces from My Heart blocks from Sandy Gervais that said ""What Flowers?".  The dragonfly and frog blocks were slightly re-sized from Quilts from the Heartland Nature of Things, I believe it was called.  The lady bugs were also from that book but was actually a wall hanging that I scaled down to a 12 inch block.  And then you see the other two flowers on the bottom.

So back to present day, LOL.   I have not done much but re-organize files on the computer..... and read.  I had picked up a used paperback from Mom's stash Barbara Parker's Suspicion of Innocence for reading on the plane and finished it up  We picked up a couple more of the series at the library the other day.   DJ is reading the first one now.  I also buzzed through Kate Jacob's Comfort Food on Wednesday afternoon and evening.  I enjoy reading but often do not make time to do so.  Some days, it is all I can do to get through the local paper . When I get on a reading jag, it reminds me of summertime and going up to the town library a couple times a week because you had read through the stack you had checked out days before.  


This summer cold and the heat have been energy sapping so the cutting and batting fusing that I had mentioned in my last post did not get done.  I told DJ he is just lucky that I have gotten meals on the table as lousy as I have felt at times.  But the laundry is done, groceries bought-----I am going to live, LOL.  I do hope to get something done today though as I hate wasting time and I hate having stuff piled up in here too.  That action really stifles my creativity when I don't have space to work and need the table or whatever under that pile.

It looks like a good part of the USA lower 48 are going to be in extreme heat situation if we are not already.  I just pray that there are no heat related fatalities with the sustained weather pattern.  I know my parents said it hit triple digits in IL---we were at 96 yesterday but fortunately without high humidity factors.  The a/c can barely keep up even set at 79.  I cooked  on the stove top, grill and microwave last night and still could barely stand to be in the kitchen though by that time the afternoon sun is barreling into the opposite side of the house. Now,even with the blinds drawn it is HOT in the kitchen with the sun on that side.  I am avoiding doing the prep work for the fish tacos with avocado sauce I plan on making for tonight.  The sauce and fresh tomato salsa should be done up ahead of time to meld the flavors a bit so I will go out there and blast a box fan while I do it.  No jalapeno peppers here though and I am putting the fish on the grill.  Skyler also is begging for his 2nd treat bite which he normally gets around noon if DJ does it but I am a softer touch and he knows it, LOL.  

Stay cool the best you can---and thanks for stopping by.

blogging break? yes but vacation too

Looks like I took about a two week blogging break but it was for a very good reason! You see my mother was coming up on a milestone birthday, a round numbered one---she is a Flag Day baby.   This past Sunday was Father's Day as well.   I was going to get to be there for both but shhhhhh it was a secret.  There had been a lot of phone calls back and forth between my two sisters and I over the last month. One minute my sister Janet who lives in near Denver, Colorado was thinking about driving down to Alabama to see me with our mother---"what did I think?"   A few hours later my other sister Diane was calling to ask what I had planned for the 13th of June to the 19th!  She was getting me a ticket and I would be Mom's birthday present.  The return date was pushed back a day to get an earlier flight back to Atlanta but I was going to see my family.

Of course, I could not say ANYTHING about that on my blog---Mom reads it.  Janet swore Dad to secrecy but she would need him to make some excuse to pick her up at the airport on the Monday evening (the 11th).  It was his turn to keep that birthday celebration a surprise!  All kinds of truth bending going on once the plans were made.  The thing is that Mom had been asking me to come up for about two months now and even offered to help with the gas money.  She had been given quite a bit of fabric from a friend who was making room for some family to move it and the scraps were mounting again.  

Unfortunately someone back in Colorado kind of spilled the beans and called my parent's home looking for Janet.  Dad had already left for the airport so he could not beat her to the phone.  My two youngest nieces were playing ball at the Lexington field so Mom went up to see them play but the whole time had her eyes peeled for Janet and Dad as well as my sister-in-law.  One daughter home!

Then came Wednesday the 13th.  I swore the Belles to secrecy---say nothing on Facebook about have a good trip!!!  DJ and I left for Hartsfield fairly early in the morning and by 1 p.m. I was in Bloomington (BMI)  Janet and Diane had concocted a story about meeting for lunch at Avanti's when really she was to pick me up.  I told them I didn't care what story they made up but I WAS going to have a Gondola---we took some back for our supper, LOL.  After running a couple errands, ordering a birthday cake at Sam's etc we went on up to my folks.  Janet pulled over about two blocks from their home just in case Mom was looking out the window---she would see only one driver and in I would walk.  Mom was napping by the time we got there.  Just about the time I was going to go to her room and ask if she was going to sleep the whole day away she entered the living room where Dad, Jan and I were visiting.  She was speechless and started crying.  2nd surprise for the week!

Janet had been knitting a baby blanket----remember that one that she had asked me to help figure out the pattern a few months back, shown HERE?   Somewhere along the line after viewing some of Mom's donation quilts she mentioned something about making a boy quilt just in case.  Well, you don't have to ask Mom and I twice!    That is a bit like waving a flag in front of a bull, LOL.  Janet sews and has made a few small pieces but she would need our guidance.  We were off digging in the fabric bins, shopping Elsie's Quilt Shop and once she settled on a focus fabric the other go-with's fell into place.  Janet cut it out and we had three machines going-- like Elsie's Sweat Shop---by 10 pm we had a Naptime top done minus borders. 

I thought I had a picture of the finished up all the way open but here is Jan quilting up her boy quilt a few days later.  I had gotten her started by threading up the machine, winding bobbins and doing/demo'ing a few lines but she did all the rest.  Mom and I had said we would finish up what she did not get done but a few hours before her flight left on Monday she was trimming it up.   I should also tell you that Jan and Mom had teamed up before I got there and had the bindings machine stitched down on 7 or 8 donation quilts.  She also had a pile of tops to pin,  We did those over the next few days including of course, Janet's quilt.  8 or 9 of them.

Thursday, her actual birthday was fairly low key.  My dad had a long planned meeting about a hour away so we girls took off for the Peace Meal site for lunch. I made a lemon icebox cake for her since she loves lemon desserts--no true birthday cake yet.  My mom used to be the site coordinator and Dad does the home delivered meals and helps fill in for the coordinator so they both support the program.   They gave her a lovely Knockout rose bush!   Janet had dinner plans with some friends who also live in Lexington.  Mom and I went up to the quilt group meeting at the Community Center.  Some of the gals who were in the group when I was still living in IL are still members.  They were sewing Christmas stockings for the military that evening.  I sat down to talk to one of the gals and told mom that I should have brought her Jem up to help instead of working on my basket stitchery.  Mom ran back to the house to get it.  Eloyce and I sewed our way through all the cut out fleece cuffs that will be applied to them.  Once done they go to State Farm to be filled and shipped out.  Eloyce was going to give me a lift back to the house since Mom was going to go on home but I turned around and she was chatting with someone else.  See?  Even on vacation, I am stitching!!

Friday we had told Mom we were going out for Girl's Day Out at the tea room in Clinton where my sister Diane lives.  What she did not know was others in the family were coming as well!   Here is the La Tea Da!  The parking was behind the building and the others were waiting as we approached.  We got her again---hugs all around.  We had told her earlier that her boys would be coming on Saturday.  By that time we were getting a good bit of "is it true that________?"  Who could you trust with all the whoppers or sins of omission we had been committing?

And here is the whole gang------thanks to our waitress who took the picture.  Note the birthday girl's tiara?

Seated from left,  Kristine, her mother/my sister Diane, me, my niece Allison, my twin nieces Elizabeth and Laura, Mom.   Standing behind us my sister Janet and my sister-in-law Jen.

Diane had made a lovely raspberry white chocolate cheesecake for dessert so we had gone back to her house.  Even her little long hair chihuahua pup Izzie was dressed for the occasion in her party dress!

Laura with Izzie and Elizabeth with her sister and litter mate Lexie--minus clothing at that point.  Even Kristine's puppy Sydney was getting into the dress-up deal with a sun dress on, LOL.

This was a busy weekend for Kristine and her husband as they had just closed on their first home on Thursday evening---and the occupant was still in the house at 9 p.m!!  Short sale 7 months in the making.  They had to be out of their apartment by Sunday night.  Lots of work to be done.

We went home to make a few dishes for the meal at Jen and Phil's lovely home for Saturday and picked up the cake on the way back from Clinton.    My brother Phil was away at Boy Scout camp in Canada with my nephew John, his last time since he will soon be turning 18.  John recently made Eagle Scout!   Diane had given Mom a new digital camera since she was still using my old sony that used floppy discs---some of these were taken with new camera.  Lessons ensued over coming days in how to use it and get at the contents.  Janet was working with Dad on scanning some of the older family pictures that will eventually be made up into discs for the siblings.  Some computer help was given by both Janet and I. 

Front row:  sister Janet, Mom and Dad, the hostess with the mostest my sister-in-law Jen
Back row: my BIL Rick standing next to my sister Diane his wife. Me, my brother Steve.  (Wife Jan was dog sitting her two dogs and her bosses dog so stayed in TN)  My sister-in law Ann with my brother Dave

 grandparents with the grands who were present
Mom and Dad surrounded by Laura, Beth, Rose, Ted, Allison and Elizabeth. (We were missing 6 of the grands)

By Sunday afternoon Phil and John were back from Canada.  Jen invited us back over and her parents were there as well to celebrate Father's Day.   Monday evening Janet was boarding the plane back for Colorado and Allison picked me up to take me to Schooner's for burgers and onion rings----yummo!  And we pinned that pile of quilts on Monday and Tuesday.  Jan quilted,  Mom and I pinned.

Here is what followed me home though Diane is mailing a box of blacks and abandoned blocks-------

This combo is straight out of the boxes Mom has on the table in the family room-----I am going to cut out and kit a couple of Prairie Stroll tops for us, one for me and one for her.

And this stuff should work for my Farmer's Wife Sampler------

---------------------
Since I have been home and unpacked there was the usual laundry and errands to run, paperwork and mail to deal with.  I also was shuffling my fabric containers around, replacing about 6 of them with 4 snap lock 20 qt models.  I had to make some room for the recent acquisitions and re-organized some of the mess in the closet as well.   I filled two of them right back up----one for the paint chip challenge and the other, the Farmer's Wife stuff.  I also re-arranged the design wall but I'll post that later.  I finished the egg basket stitchery that I had been working on intermittently but more on vacation.  Read two books too.

DJ and I had to take my 606 New Balance shoes back to Kohl's for exchange as they were already wearing out in the same spot on both shoes, right worse than the left.  I had kept up my walking while I was back and bumped up the distance---till I got another blister on the left heel.  I figured I only had about 18-20 hours use of them. DJ was discouraging me from getting another pair just like it but those things are comfortable on my foot, if you discount the blisters.  Part of that may have been for walking out in the woods with rubbing sandals when John took us out to see his primitive campsite setup that was his Eagle Scout project. 

While I was away he had started to try to replace my drippy bathroom faucet but with the long water lines complications, he called in Lowe's to finish the job.  I think this will be a lot easier to keep clean since it had the single lever and no faucets with grooves.   He also got himself fitted for a hearing aid that we picked up on Friday while on our errands.  Hopefully this will help the decibel level of the TV that drives me bats.  He had picked up his new glasses post cataract surgery but those were transition lenses and he decided bifocals would be a better option.  Lastly, the dishwasher repair guy was back out to replace that danged gasket which keeps falling out.  He and Skyler held down the fort.  He is still caulking some siding cracks, priming and painting in the back of the house---ongoing project. 

Yesterday I was essentially down in bed----it started with a scratchy throat on Friday and I knew I was probably going to be in trouble.  That how it always starts.  Yep, I got a head cold, cough, drippy nose--bad headache.  Same thing happened that last time I flew------hmmmmm.  At least I have remained upright today and feel some better.  The closest I got to anything quilty the last few days is just some drawing in EQ and filing away some patterns. 

I guess that is about it for this post----------thanks again to Diane for getting me the ticket home and to my parents for putting Janet and I up at the house.  Love you guys.

catch up

Finally sitting down to rest!  I went straight from my morning walk, to errands, to laundry and cooking. It is mizzling out there with intermittent downpours so while the temps are down, it is extremely muggy, inside and outside the house.  That rain/mist stuff  started right as I was getting into the car after the walk, thank heavens but I still had to run the errands in it.  I got wet and never have dried off/dried out.

You might say will just turn on the air!  Well, DH has that set so high that it is will probably not run enough to feel comfortable in the house.  In that case I find it preferable to put a box fan in the window and turn on the ceiling fan to an a/c set at 79 on these "tweener" days.

Since the Belles and I are discussing/demonstrating/playing with quilting at our meeting tomorrow, we had decided to go with a potluck lunch rather than chase out for carry out in the middle of "class".  That explains the need to cook this morning.  Since I was experimenting with a recipe, it is entirely possible that my strawberry fluffy stuff will not set up correctly. My fingers are crossed but I am guessing I may have needed to drain some of the liquid off the frozen strawberries though I limited the amount of liquid added to the packages of jello to offset it.  (I put a little bowl of it in the freezer just to see how it turns out in there---might like it better!)   I made tuna macaroni salad as a back up, LOL----plus I like it!  DJ and I have to eat as well, right?   It is an old family favorite and have never learned how to make just a little bit of it.  It just occurred to me that I left out the pickle relish.  That will NOT do!  Back in a minute  I even have tonight's casserole ready to pop in the microwave to re-heat.  I had no desire to head back out there again in a few hours to cook dinner.   WHEW!    DJ had an appointment for a followup echo cardiogram early this afternoon and would have liked for me to sit down and eat with him but I was too busy to stop and right in the middle of some part of the process.

I would have like to have finished this quilt up this weekend but it just did not happen.   #4 of 12 Puss in the Corner.  I left off on Friday night with all the horizontal lines completed and one column worth of verticals but 11 lines to go.  I guess this will be the one I use for the demo tomorrow rather than pulling another quilt off the stack.

Saturday I had Friendship Quilters Guild and my pal Teresa rode along with me.  The other gals took a separate vehicle as initially they planned on going over to Hoover (AL) and the Quilt Symposium show that was held Thursday through Saturday.  As it turned out, some of them had gone on Friday with the JOY group but were going to go to the quilt shop in Trussville instead.  Pell City is kind of the half way point from Calhoun County and on to the Birmingham Metro area.  I had opted out of both activities.    Actually that turned out to be a good decision as I felt un-well once I got home.

Sunday ended up pretty much paperwork day---meeting minutes and all that plus things around the house that needed to be taken care of.  Translation:  no quilting though later I was looking at the Hancock Fabrics and Keepsake Quilting catalogs.  I really like some of the Moda Vintage Modern particularly THIS piece of yardage with the sky/aqua and red, pink accents.  Some of the Dear Stella Petal Pushers are interesting too. I could totally see using a bit of that sky vintage modern as a "jumping off" point for my Farmers' Wife Sampler.   Dear Stella reminds me more of the type of fabrics in my 40's-50's bowtie on the bed.  The fabric I love most is a nice clear blue with red flowers on it and it feels like feed sack stuff.  THAT is the look I want for FWS.

What I am thinking of doing is setting a mileage goal for myself with walking.  I am currently at 11 miles so if I say when I hit 50 or so, I will order a half yard of that fabric and maybe a couple pieces of the companion prints.  Not a food reward, a fabric reward.  OR it is not that long till DJ gives me birthday money to spend. I can still walk but maybe I order a tad more if it is subsidized, LOL.  It is something to ponder anyway.

Well, I still have things to gather for quilting day tomorrow including making a sandwich to practice some free motion quilting on.   I'll pack up the machine and supplies and load the car before it starts raining again as well.  In spite of my best intentions and efforts I am always running around in a rush to get out of here on quilting mornings.  Brenda told me we may have some guests from her small quilt group and I know Bev invited a friend too.  I need to be sure to get there at 9 in case we have a few early birds as I have the key.

And sew it goes---------

A shoppin' we will go

Today Heart to Heart Quilt Shop in Trussville (AL) was having an anniversary sale.  Jane had offered to drive and could take 5 including herself.  We had agreed to meet at 9:30 at our usual spot and took off.

All was going well till we got hung up on Chalkville Mtn. Road near downtown Trussville but a train stopped on the tracks.  Finally when almost all the cars ahead of us had done a three point turnaround and went back around we figured that the locals must know another route.  Sure enough----the next street down had an overpass OVER the stopped train.  (That stinkin' train was STILL stopped in the same position when we were coming back home!!)  That detour told us that the Chocolate Biscuit was probably not open as we did not see a single car in the lot at 11 a.m.  We went to Applebee's for lunch near the quilt shop instead  before we even went shopping. Crossing Chalkville Mtn. Road or turn left onto it can be a real nightmare as there is too much traffic on a far too narrow road.    We immediately ran into a bunch of quilters we knew from Calhoun County too.

The shop had everything marked down at least 30%----so that meant the fat quarters I got were 30% off.  Then there were a few shelves of 50% off with minimum 1 yard cuts and table with 75% off as well as a spot where you could stuff everything you wanted into a small bag ( the size they use for patterns) for 5 bucks as long as you could close the seal.

So what are you looking at here? Above,  Popsicle Sticks ammunition.  I pulled the fabric bin of teals out last night.   I had a pretty good idea that I needed to concentrate on some lighter fabrics for the strips set stratas on our run today.  Darks and mediums are pretty well covered.  I can pull the purples, pinks and green bins out but basically I was going with the colors in that Amelia by Me & My Sister  I had gotten as part of my Christmas present from DJ.   The thumbnails on the link will show most of the included fabrics in the jelly roll.  Once I took the tie off I can't get it rolled back up like they had it , LOL.

You will also see my over stuffed pattern bag above as well, next to the jelly roll.  Here is what I had
stuffed in it.  The pale green is quilt cut aways as I was allowed to remove the batting that was sewn to it.  Turquoise gingham---about a fat's worth.  A few pieces of lime green that might work for some short strips. The pinkish piece and the blue print yardage are about a half yard wide!!  Score.

A closeup of my purchases.  Fats in the first row and yards in the 2nd.    On sale, more bang for my Christmas spending money----THX DJ!

Since I had to buy more than I really needed for this project and obviously I have stuff in my stash to use as well I have a feeling that this will move on to other alternate quilts.   I have Ring Around pattern  from Four Paws Quilting that would be a good choice---scroll down the page a bit.

On the way home we had a choice about which route to take.  Both would end up at the same spot in the middle of Ragland on AL 144.  I don't think anyone was on a  "deadline" to get home so that helped too.  One of the gals is in the process of making two commissioned baby quilts for a woman with twin daughters.  She apparently needs to arrange for someone to machine stipple them in "pink variegated thread" according to the mama.  We had talked about the reasonable machine quilting prices at Ashville House Quilt Shop.   When we left Trussville traveling through the back roads, we said we could go thru Ashville on the way home.   Two of the girls had not been there before and would know their way over, should they decide to have Pat quilt them for her.

At first we were not sure they were open as they were doing some roofing and repair work outside.  It being Friday she normally would be open but we are talking about a holiday weekend.  But the workmen assured us that the shop was open.  We just needed to use a different entrance into the house/shop. The stop actually turned out to be good idea as Lois had been looking for horse fabric for another sort of commissioned piece---and Pat had some, while Heart to Heart did not.  I picked up that pink piece on top with the needle and thread on it and the light purple fat quarters at Ashville House.

Once I got home I finished putting the Christmas decorations back up with DJ pitching in to help haul the boxes in and out from the shed.  It is amazing how quickly that stuff can get packed up when it takes a good part of the day to put it out!  So we are now in the snowman decorating phase for a couple of months, LOL.

Tomorrow I am back to quilting----personal project this time and a small one at that.  Closer to one last finish for 2011??  I'm pokey with binding so I am guessing not but an early finish for 2012 may be more possible!

I wish all the best for you in 2012--------

Sunday check in

No surprise but I have set aside the hand finishing details on the Pioneer Sampler Plus in the last few posts.  I'll get back to it but there are a couple other things that need attention first.

The block at left is one of them.   It is the challenge block for the Friendship Quilters Guild and due on this coming Saturday.  While I did not participate in the block of the month, others did.  The organizers suggested the Christmas 2003 block from Quilter's Cache for anyone that wanted to make one.  I don't believe that there is going to be any voting on them for a favorite or anything like that.  I figure I can always use a 12 inch finished block for my Adapted Oxmoor House Christmas quilt so I'll bite, LOL.

One thing though the downloaded gif did not print anywhere near the scale listed on the block.  I drew it up in EQ and made a little adjustment in the drawing so the rings would be even on the edges.  My first attempt was not, LOL.  When I inspected the printout outs I could see why and fixed it.  My block, my drawing ....... it will look the way I want.

When I started pulling fabrics last night I started with other fabrics but eventually it ended up being some leftover "antiqued" Moda Robyn Pandolph fabrics that I had used to make a Lazy Girl Towne Purse with years ago.   I did the rough cutting for the foundation piecing last night.  I had the tree section pieced before I started this post.

Yesterday my friend Teresa and I made the run up to Wilson's Fabrics in Boaz (AL).  I was on the hunt for the white on cream that I had used for the Christmas Patience Corner I spoke about in my last post..  I want to make the top biggers and had run out of the available fabric and cut a substitute as well but was STILL short.  Armed with my swatches we took off.   I found something very similar---it will be okay and elected to go with it and the original piece of fabric.  I can use the strips I already cut from the alternative for something else down the line.   I got the remaining yardage on the bolt---a hair over 5 yards and can use it for background on the next 30's quilt or whatever.  I also found a nice Michael Miller stripe that I will use for bias cut binding.

Teresa meanwhile found a little somethin' to make a gift from the heart for her hard to shop for hubby.  I helped her with a little of the design work in EQ when we got back.   She was going to have to tell Joe not to ask so many questions and lock the door to her sewing area or his surprise would be ruined.   I told her she could come over and sew here if she had to.  Surely he will behave!

So back to sewing on the Christmas block.  Next up Norma's birthday present.