The one where I'm not very nice.

A few weeks ago, or maybe two, I don't even remember how long ago it was now, my husband was in Virginia for 10 days. He came home bearing gifts, as usual. On these kinds of business trips they're usually working 15 hours or more a day, so there's not much time for shopping but he likes coming home with something. Even if we do have a moratorium on coffee mugs.

Their stay was extended a few days and their boss generously suggested they take Sunday off and do something fun. His coworker wanted to see all the Washington sites so they went over to the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the Smithsonian etc, and he brought home all his tickets and his Holocaust Museum passport in case I wanted to blog about it. I thanked him and put the stuff on my sewing table, thinking I didn't go to those places so just exactly what would I say about all that stuff? Then I just forgot about it.

And then I did have a reason to blog about it.

Note to self, be a nicer person, you know, like your nice little husband.

Holly Does it Again!

Today is the kick off of the Dozen Designer Dolly Dresses showcasing not only Holly's wonderful new Doll Dresses line of fabric but a baker's dozen of our favorite designers.

Be sure and keep checking back with Holly's blog, I know its going to be great! Happy Monday Peoples!

The Little Digger

I'm up pre-crack of dawn this morning but I have to admit I frittered away the time. Darn it all internet and your ways.

Yesterday I finally finished up the last of the projects for my new Celebrity! I can't show them yet, but I did take some photos for later. My new Celebrity has a cute line of fabric coming out.. so as usual, it's all under wraps till Quilt Market. I sure hope she likes what I've put together.

Everything looks like fall, but sadly doesn't feel like fall most of the day.. we've had some hot weather here. Yesterday the air conditioning even came on! Mornings are cool and lovely but the air is so still I can't get that cool air to come inside and cool down the interiors. Makes for a bit of a stuffy house. I've had to take Binnie out for her evening romp earlier now that the days are shorter. Some of you might remember we had a nice little garden chock full of lettuce for her earlier this year, but of course she could have cared less about it. Last night she rediscovered the territory and I could barely get her out of there. I have been waiting for cooler weather to replant some lettuce but I don't see how I can do that now. She's discovered that nice soft damp earth and has been digging. And digging.

What you can't tell from this little video taken with my Sidekick is, she's in a raised bed, but has dug in far enough to be level with the surface of the rest of the bed. Does that make sense? She would have stayed out there all night digging had I not finally picked her up and made her run on the lawn to get all the bits of dirt off of her. Man that little rabbit cracks me up.

Ok, really, it's time to hit the sewing room. I'm working on some blanket stitching for Elizabeth. Man are these blocks cute. Hmm, wonder if there's a marathon on tv..

Have a good weekend my happy peeps! xo

Rabbit Talk

Soo... remember a month or so ago we had Binnie here? Well turns out this girl learned some new tricks at our house. Tricks that involve digging. A lot. And it turns out digging in carpet is just as fun as digging up the gravel path out back. Especially when you do it under the sofa where it can't be seen. Right away anyway.

So now Binnie lives here. In Frankie's room. This is her little station. She's not a cooperative subject for photography at all.

I had all these dreams of setting up her little world and showing you all fancy, like Anne and her Bunny Room. But turns out I've been too busy and just finally finished up the table this weekend. Poor Binnie. Forced to live on an undecorated table for a month or more.

Anyway, she's here and she's mixed it up a bit for us. But she's fun and cuddly, even if she doesn't like to be held. She stands at the cage door in the morning to greet me and get her morning ritual of banana chips and petting. And in the early evening she gets some time out back running and playing. And digging. A lot of digging.

Ok, back to sewing. Today I'm working on some things for a new celebrity! Crazy huh? More on that closer to market. All kinds of stuff that can't be shown off yet. Later today I'll pick up blanket stitching from Elizabeth. Thankfully, USA has a lot of marathons going on, so there's plenty of company while sewing!

Jolly Jabber!

So hey, guess who's guest blogging on Jolly Jabber today! ME!!! I'm guest blogging to celebrate the kit they made up of my Late Bloomer Quilts pattern, The Country Girl Purse Kit. It all makes me feel a bit like a celebrity! And I'm spilling the beans on what I have coming this fall market for Late Bloomer Quilts.

Hop on over and check it out! Thanks to the Fat Quarter Shop folks for featuring me and my pattern in your shop!!!

Friday's Class

We had a good time Friday at Thimblecreek. No one makes you feel more welcome and appreciated that's for sure. Elizabeth and I weren't sure how long it would take so we arrived a little early... just in time for some shopping.

And coffee, I did have time for some coffee!! Here's the project. Elizabeth made this cute banner.. I completely love it. And what do I love even more about it? She stuffed it in my bag to take home! Turns out my fine motor skills aren't what they should be. That and my lack of attention to the instructions.

My contribution was the orange cake. It was yummy.But even better was the company. Jean and her friend Nikki were there, they are a blast. Elizabeth had met them before but it was a first time for me. Becky also joined us and she's great fun. And amazing with a pair of scissors.

We all laughed and had a great time, I couldn't believe it was 1 pm when the time rolled around. The three hours just shot by. I can't wait till next month. We're working on a quilt that can be made in two sizes. Thank goodness, something I know I can do!

(fine print.... the cake recipe is top secret, I promised never to divulge it!)

Rabbit Wrangling

Talk about crazy. The other day I saw this when I went to put my trash cans away... rabbits lounging under my neighbors bushes. You can barely see the little black one on the left.

Another neighbors grand kids live there, and I freaked out.. can't have those kids come home and find their rabbits gone, or worse!

So I went and tried to herd them into the back yard. Turns out there were SIX rabbits loose and they weren't as tame as Binnie. I ran all over trying to catch those little things. I'm sure it was a sight to be seen.

Anyway, later that day I went back, not satisfied with leaving them out front. They managed to scoot back into the backyard through a tiny little hole in the fence. Phew.

Never a dull moment here people.

So yesterday...

I delivered the last 5 quilts, bringing the total to 8! Phew. I hand sewed the last binding down in the morning with coffee. Here is the pile, backs facing out.

Alex was very excited with how everything turned out. It was her first sight of 3 of the quilts. I'm so happy she's happy with them. And when I say happy I mean relieved! I wish I could show you the whole row... but that will have to wait till the project is done.

In the meantime today finds me a tad at loose ends. Bret has been gone for a week and returns home tonight, so I'm super excited about that. First time in AGES its just been me at home alone for days on end. Elizabeth and I dropped off quilts with Diana for quilting this morning, and we discussed our upcoming class at Thimblecreek. She's got a peek over on her blog.. so check it out. I'm working on finishing next month's class project to bring along. This month however, big fun surprise.

Ok peoples. Be happy!

Quilt Sampler

Ohhh had this with coffee yesterday morning. Really good read. Found it at the market on Saturday, what a treat, I'd totally forgot it was that time of year.

Sewing the last binding on this morning and then I'm dropping off to Alex this afternoon! Yeah! Have a super Monday peeps!

What Every Blog Needs

My friend Ann sent me this photo.

Because every blog needs a picture of Elvis on stilts.

On Schedule

I'm still on schedule peeps. I've got the last quilt basted and ready to go. I've had some good luck so my fingers are crossed for this last one as well.

You may remember this post where I showed a tidbit.. well the whole bit is here. I really like how this bag turned out. And speaking of turned out, can you believe how cute that new Lakehouse fabric is? I've seen it and man is it amazing. That new pinky red makes me get all tingly thinking about it. I know lots of our favorite designers have some fabric and are working on things and I know another one of our favorites has shown a sneaky peek of her darling doll dress project.

Ok, back to the machine. Have a good weekend. Next week I should be working on stuff for Quilt Market and for our class. (gosh, hope someone comes!) Oh and did you see the latest at Elizabeths? OH. MY. GOSH. I love Lecien so much.

It was a very good day.

How about you peoples? Did you have a good day? I had the most amazing sewing luck today. And believe me, at least half the time it is luck, and not skill. Machine quilting is really a challenge. I try to channel my inner Mrs. Schmenkman but its grids and cables for me. Have you seen her quilting? Well even her piecing and applique. Oh. My. Gosh.

I couldn't do it without this paper and I can't link to the site enough. I've gone through MILES of it. Anyway, it was wonderful, best machine quilting so far. I hope I'm just as lucky tomorrow.

Ok, off to bed. Got a read a little of my mystery then rest up the old eyeballs for an eye exam tomorrow. It couldn't come sooner, my glasses are seconds away from tape. I'll be lucky if they last till the new ones show up.

Hope tomorrow is a good one. My weather person was all jovial as he said it was heating up again. Jerk. Oops, I mean thanks for the warning.

Yeah

Like I'm even falling for that.

Sure, you can throw around some leaves and bring on the morning fog.

But I'm not even falling for this faux fall we're having today. By the weekend it will be in the 90's again. Hope you peeps are having a good day!

The Beginning of the End

This is the cut yardage for the last of the stunt projects. By no means am I done with the other pieces, 2 need border quilting, 2 more need layering and quilting and this one, well needs sewing.

It's a nice combination of some new Hoffman Batiks and a few from Alex's stash. I'm aiming at completing all of them by the weekend. That may be crazy talk but that's my goal.


It's finally going to cool off. Thank goodness. Hope you peoples have a cool week!

Seriously people

PM!

No wonder I need those tasty Root Beer Float bars.

Keeping cool

It's hot here, over 100 again for the second or third day in a row. I hope these 90 calories of cold relief on a stick are good. However at this point it might not matter. Have a nice weekend. I'm sewing, what about you?

Swingtime

Tuesday morning brought some nice cool morning weather. It smelled like back-to-school to me. Whatever that smells like, maybe the damp, maybe the dust on the leaves. Maybe freedom. The backyard was cool and crisp and I had to wear a sweater with my pj's.. you know that's crisp! Didn't last long but it felt soooo good.

Surprise gloxinia blooms, I'd forgotten I'd crammed that pot pack under the hydrangea and the whatever else is there. Cleaned away some dry blooms and out pops these velvety beauties.
Tiny succulant blooms. I am loving this little bowl of plants. Those spiderweb whatevers are so cool... they're towards the back. I hope you enjoy my vast knowledge of plant (g)nomenclature. (Seriously, doesn't gnomenclature seem better?)

Backyard nemisis. Of Rocket and Peep anyway. They SO do not like this cat. (or any other cat or the squirrels or doves or ...)
Spooky.

Welcome September. I embrace your cool mornings. Keep them coming.

Stunt Mail

Seriously, what's not to love about this job when box load of Hoffman sample cards come directly to your house. Of course it's Alex who they're really for but still, they came to my house!

Today Alex was back in town for probably 15 hours so she made some time to go through the box with me to make some selections. I was ready to start inventing projects just to select some more. And then hide them in my own stash away from prying eyes.

Alex is off to begin taping series 4 of The Quilt Show. Seems like I saw a See a Free Show button on the home page! Might be fun to take advantage of that if you're not already a member!

Ok peeps, happy fake Monday. xo

Buying happiness

I know, you really can't buy happiness but this comes close doesn't it? Lots of Lecien there, plus that pretty cherries from Moda. Sandy keeps using it and I love it with all her stuff, it inspires me to use it as well. This is my stack from Thimblecreek.

These three are from Quilter's Inn. I'm in love with those Lecien antique pastel florals. Jane still has that aquaish blue left.. that fabric has been snapped up everywhere, so if you want some, you better get it when you see it. I get teary just thinking that I might not have enough.

Just look how pretty they all are together. Hmm, I need more blue. Well its not like I won't be shopping again sometime soon right?

There's a little something interesting here for the local gals... check it out.

Ok peoples. Off to the sewing room for more stunt work. Hope your three day weekend is super fun!