Tuesday

Good morning!  How was your long weekend? Bret took some extra days off to extend the time, which was fun.  We managed to do some stuff around here AND get out and about a bit.  And shocker, I even sewed some. 

 

All my sewing projects the past week or so are for the future, so I'll just give you a sneak peek at this little heart until I can reveal it. I have a few days of machine quilting ahead of me.. so there's a hint, small projects.  And no kidding, they're cute!  I mean how cute is this little heart!

 

I hope you had a fun and safe weekend.  It's already hot here and it's taking all I have to not break into a bunch of complaints.  Once it hits 100 degrees though all bets are off.  Summer and I are not friends. But after 10 years I guess you  know that.  The mornings are still nice and I have a new cushion on my swing so I'm all ready for coffee on the porch. 

 

So tell me, what did you do this past  weekend?

Friday

Friday..where did the time go?  I've just been puttering around the house doing a little of this and that with one exciting trip up to the grocers as the high point.  Exciting times people! 

 

I thought I'd finish out the week telling you about the sweetest thing ever.  I'm sure you all know Jodie, I've followed along with her on her blog forever and have had some crazy laughing good times with her at market.  She's smart and funny and oh so very talented.  You can find her on her blog here, and on instagram here.

 

Anyway I knew she was on either the first or second row so I had to rush down to say hi before things got to crazy busy. That's the downside to market, the fleeting time spent with friends.  Thank goodness for the internet. 

 

She surprised me with this sweet P is for Pig and coordinating block ..  I love his little tilted head and articulated arms.  And those ears. Well it's P for Perfect! She also gave me a cute little packet of her line Bunny Trail!  If you haven't seen her wonderful stuffed animals be sure and check out them out here. I am so grateful for her generosity! I can't imagine taking the time to whip out a project as a gift during the quilt market frenzy period!

 

 

I finally have a current block to show off for Splendid Sampler day!  This is Simple Surpises by Amy Ellis.  As you know I'm doing all the blocks that seem easy to me, and this pieced block was fast and fun.  So fun I actually made two of them! 

 

 

I have sure enjoyed seeing everyone's blocks over on FAcebook and Instagram!  There are going to be some wonderful quilts when this is over!

 

Ok, we're having an extra long weekend!  Hope you have a safe Memorial Day! xo

Monday

Good morning.  No exclamation point today.  I'm back home.  Insert sad face here, I started feeling sick on Friday night and decided instead of infecting Nanette and her people, including those two cute kids, I'd just come back home. 

 

The drive home went fast.  Luckily not super sick, just a cold kind of thing.  Phew.  Today I feel like a truck ran over me. 

 

Market was fantastic as usual and I'm glad I got to see a lot of people.  Of course for everyone I saw I missed some more, so that was the downside of leaving early.  Its good we have the internet to keep our friends close.  I know I'd be lost without it. 

 

And just so you know.. I did get to drive in snow.. just a smidge once I hit Donner Pass.  That 'Carry Chains' flashing sign does get one's blood pumping, just ask Elizabeth.

 

Ok peeps have a good week.  xo

Good morning!

Short and sweet this morning my friends!  Sucking up a cup and a half of coffee before I hit the road to Salt Lake City!  I'm thinking of all my favorite places along the road. Things to see, the places that I get gas, the landmarks.  It passes the time along with a good audio book!

 

Cute mug from Frankie with a sweet message.

 

I was thinking about snow, it's been so stinken hot here already, two days in the 90s and people the a/c already has clicked on once!! I sure don't appreciate that! I probably won't run into any, they don't' expect snow in the Sierras till tomorrow!  Just as well I suppose.

 

Ok, see you later gators! You guys are the best! xo

 

All the Colors

Good morning!  Its a quick week for me, Thursday morning I'll be off for Quilt Market in Salt Lake City.  I love every aspect of the trip, including the drive.  Its long for sure, but I have so many great memories of making that drive a couple of times  with Elizabeth and then later on my own.  And remember when we drove through snow both on the way to market then again I had snow on my trip to see Nanette.   Good times.

Just had to share my lovely  painting from Pam Garrison.  I have been following along with her on her artisitic journey since I found blogs and started my own, which  ten years now.   I just can't stop looking at it and I'm so happy to have it.  From the second I saw it on Instagram I had to have it.  You can see a better photo of it over on Instagram here.

Probably not the best way to show it off but Frankie brought me some flowers and the composition and colors reminded me of the painting.  Frankie's friend Amy who is a floristA created this arrangement. I love how cute the name is, with the capital A for Amy and her partner's name is Ann I believe, so both A's, both floristAs.  Clever I thought. 

 

Their arrangements are very eclectic, using a variety of flowers, many of them old fashioned like those white stocks.  Yum my house smells like my childhood. My father used to always bring my mother big bouquets of stocks and their spicy scent would fill the house.  Anyway lovely.  Everytime I walk past them I drink it all in.

 

Ok, I hope to get back here, I'm working on getting my stuff together.  After market I'm heading to Nanette's for a few days of visiting and sewing and sightseeing.  CANNOT WAIT.  Be sure and check on my Instagram account if you want to see what I'm up to! xo

Fri-YAY

Woohoo, Friday!  How was your week?  I got a bunch of small things crossed off my list, which feels so darn good.   I know so many of you are wonderful at keeping things in control and that's something I really envy.

 

I realized that I have forgotten to share my Spring in a Jar block for Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks Issue 13 with you.  This issue is now on newsstands!

 

 

I love simple applique shapes.  These are perfect to practice your machine blanket stitching. Of course you can straight stitch around the edge as well , which seems to be the popular finishing method. 

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Popular or not, I love the blanket stitch.  I remember when I was looking at upgrading machines from my old used Singer my dad bought me in 1974, the main thing on my list was the blanket stitch. I've spent lots of hours stitching away and it's still my preferred method of applique.   I hope you like my block with the pieced background. 

 

Ok peoples.. hope you have a wonderful weekend!  xo

Wednesday

Hi there!  What's new with you?  The days have rolled by without a lot to show for them here on the blog.  We had some rain, I went to the market, I ran some errands, I had an eye appointment.  Although I did actually instagram a photo of my eye doctor way back in the day, some how it's just not that exciting anymore.  What will be exciting, getting my new glasses. Then maybe all those times when I think my block is right on, it actually will be!

 

In the meantime, I have my stars stitched together.  It's really fun using the Sizzix die for this block, no cutting with templates or fancy rulers. They go together fast.  Well as fast as I do anything these days!  I have a few dies for applique shapes, this is my first die for  piecing.  Pretty fun.  

 

I really enjoyed Cheri's fun Scrapbasket Sew  Along, and it looks like starting June 10  there will be another one!  Here's the sneak peek of the designs.  Each month there will be an applique block and a pieced block.  You can join Cheri's group on Facebook here.   I really enjoy the group. 

 

It's a very positive group, I haven't seen anyone being unkind, as sometimes groups can get.  I know some of you are already in the group, are you making the quilt? 

 

Ok, that's it for today.  Hope you're having a good week!

TGIF

How was your week peeps?  I don't even know what happened to mine, the days just slipped away and now it's Friday.  While I know I was in and out of the sewing room I know for sure I didn't sew a stitch. 

 

I did do some coffee break reading this week.  Fat Quarter Shop sent me a copy of Sherri's new Holiday Wishes book.  Oh my gosh, so super cute. If you click over to FQS to the book you'll see the projects included.  Today's favorite is Norwegian Holiday. I love a pretty red and white quilt.  You can count on the team at FQS to have easy to understand, carefully illustrated instructions.  There's a nice range of projects for   beginner and  experienced quilters .  I can't wait to get busy on it!

 

Ok, it's Mother's Day weekend, hope all your moms out there have a nice day! Happy Weekend!

Easy Addition

Woo hoo it's Monday ! It's May!  Wow, I can hardly believe it.  It was a warm windy weekend here, how about your place?

 

I had mentioned last week one of things I'd ticked off the list was my Easy Addition Quilt.  I scrapped it up with a lot of PamKitty white background prints and I'm quite pleased with the outcome!  I can't wait to have it quilted. 

 

One of the things I love about blogs and social media is all the fantastic photos. I'd love to have the space in my house to set up but there's just no 'back up' room around here.  So my clever idea was to take it to a school.. I mean 'Easy Addition' has kind of a school house  sound to it right?  And where do you learn addition, elementary school.  Bret decided Walnut Grove, his elementary alma mater, would be the perfect choice.  I love the California Mission style of the plaza area outside the school. 

 

But now close up, where you get a feel for the quilt you're stuck with a weird lame photo.  Or should I say another, weird lame photo. 

 

So at the school we saw another sign, so thought that looks good.  Well, that provided some challenges as well, like the crazy wind that came up. And really, kind of my regular just barely ok photos. I guess in my mind I'm torn between wanting a pretty photo and wanting to see a good portion of the quilt.  Old school vs new school. School.  Get it?

 

So we high tailed it back to Livermore to see if Frankie's old elementary school had a better sign.  And it does.  I practically had to get into someone's car to take these photos, but  they're much closer to what I had in my mind, a clever shot about math.  Or is that even a possibility?

Thanks to Brenda for a great pattern and to American Patchwork and Quilting to bringing it to us.

 

I really enjoyed making it, and participating in the quilt along.  It is great to have a community of like minded people to hang out with!

 

Have a great week!

 

 

 

 #apqquiltalong

#easyaddition