July 31: Family Things Happened, but the Quilt is Bound

Wish I could share the look of the finished wedding quilt, but I have to wait until the wedding.  Tradition with me.  I have given peeks, but only a few have seen the finished product.  It is very purple and green with a touch of brown just for Ben.

We are actually surprised that August arrives tomorrow. The year is flying by. Love what we are doing but it there were more hours in the day, it might only be March, right?


***********************************************

This week brought most of my sisters and my brother together to attend the funeral  of one our brother-in-law's brothers.  I am uncomfortable about attending funerals even though I know they are meant to help begin the healing process; however, the minister did a fabulous job of making it a celebration of Bob's life.  I know there will be a lot of grief on the part of his family, but that is because he was such a good and caring man.  Prayers will continue to flow toward them as they discover live in its new form.

Life is GOOD!

July 27: Kicking Back

Decided that after the long day and a few hours in the studio, I needed to just kick back.  Had a 1/2 glass of wine and popcorn and am now watching "George of the Jungle" with Kevin and Dad. 

Thought I would spend a few minutes and tell you about a wonderful birthday gift I just received.  Yes my birthday was a few months ago, but....Jamie and her family gifted me with a hardcover book that I actually wrote.  It is the blog I wrote while we were living in Vermont.  How cool is that?  We told our children we were headed off on our 2nd honeymoon, hence the book title.

 
Life is GOOD!

July 27: Quilting and Woodwork

Just so you know, I am still working on the wedding quilt.  Binding starts on Monday.  That being said, this is what I worked on today.  Kevin and I are making them for our craft shows.  Wouldn't these be great for a gardener or bird lover.  We had a great time doing it.  Dad helped with a little of the scroll saw work, and that made it even more fun.  We were doing it together.

We are expecting some company over the next few days, so I should probably do some cleaning, but tonight is for stitching and I am going to keep my personal promise to myself.  Tomorrow is another day.  Right?

Life is GOOD!

July 21: Close but not quite!

I have all the blocks sewing into strips.  I have FIVE seams left to finish and then add the border.  Tomorrow, I plan to load it, but need to pick up the bamboo batting first.  Should be able to do that after Dad and I take the sewing class for his new machine.  Should be able to bind in the evenings for the remainder of the week and then be able to roll it up and put a bow on it for the happy couple.

Wednesday and Thursday I will be meeting with my nephews to pick out some fabric and have lunch.  Two more quilts in the works.  These are the last of the nieces and nephews to graduate from high school, so after that I will go back to making some of the designs in my head and finishing other projects that I have already started.  Of course, Dad has some sewing for me to do as well.  August should be a great deal of sewing fun!

Life is GOOD!

July 19: Goal is Still Possible

I set the goal of having the wedding quilt top done by Sunday night.  It is still possible but I am going to have to really push.  I need 55 blocks and have 50.   Then I have to put them together and add the border.  I am so positive it can be done, but I do have a few things to do this weekend --- eye exam (so needed) and Saturday evening is the Jazz Fest.  Guess I better go and stitch.

Life is GOOD!

July 18: Happy Birthday Little Sister

Debbie is having a b-day today.  Sent a card, but it will probably be late.  Calendar needs to be more visible next year!  I know when here birthday is but that does not mean I get cards out in time.  Just like every other birthday this month, ICE CREAM will be eaten by my husband to celebrate.

Today I have only two big goals.  Take my last summer school test and quilt.  I am to the next step where I make the smallest blocks the next size.  I think I have enough made, but fabric can do strange things over night.  Maybe I will also have leftovers that will go into another quilt.  OR I might not have counted right and that will mean more cutting and small block building.  OH the thrill of the experience!

Life is GOOD!

July 17: Sun with a 100% Chance of Quilting

I am continuing with the plan to spend most of this week quilting.  Last night I think I cut the last of the pieces.  I am going to be putting blocks together today  Each block has 4 smaller blocks and each smaller block has 2 sets of smaller blocks.  I am making the smallest version today.  This is a controlled scrappy quilt of purple and green with a touch of brown for the groom.  Have not quite figured out whether to border it or not, but that is probably a couple days off.  Love the pattern and the color combinations.  Can't believe that at one time I thought batiks were ugly.

Life is GOOD!

July 15: Happy Birthday , Anna and Wendy

Anna turned 3 yesterday.  We had scheduled some Skyping time with her at 7:15, but Jon called to say she had fallen asleep in her plate at 6:53.  She is constantly on the move when she is awake, so I guess she had just worn herself out.  We will try again until we get it right.  Happy Birthday, Sweet Little Girt!

I may be 60, but my baby sisters are still spring chickens.  Happy Birthday, Wendy!  May you have many more joyful celebrations of life!

Yes, I quilted most of yesterday.  I went down into the studio after church and emerged for meals and for a little trial and error winding bobbins on Dad's new machine.  Believe me quilting was much more fun than the bobbin stuff.  I am taking him in for a bobbin lesson this morning.

After dropping him off at the house, I am meeting a school friend for lunch.  That is my treat before doing a task I do not enjoy - shopping for clothes.  When I stopped teaching and being the boss's wife, I found I had little need to dress up except for church and I can wear slacks with a nice shirt or sweater there.  Thought I could live out my life with jeans, t-shirts and sweatshirts, but I have jury duty all of next month, Kevin's class reunion and then Ben and Jill's wedding.  I have never loved shopping except at quilt stores and recently wood stores, so this is going to be a marathon shopping day with the hopes of getting it all done in one outing.  I am going alone so I can yeah or nay pieces right in the dressing room. Guess I should not complain too much, though, because I can at least afford to buy clothes, right?



Life is GOOD!

What Can I Say?

For months we have have been truly worried about my FIL's health, but a couple of weeks ago he started to turn the corner and feel better.  He is even on a break from physical therapy for 2 weeks, his appetite seems to be more normal even though he can't taste everything he eats..

Several times in the past month, he and I have taken his faithful companion - his embroidery machine in for repair. (First it has had in over 5 years!!)  This time it may have pushed Dad to consider the machine's future demise.  He bought a new one and is having the old one repaired as a back-up, if possible.  He is really excited about the bigger hoop and larger designs that will be in his future.

Lfe is GOOD!

July 8: The Quilt

In case anyone is wondering, I am working on the wedding quilt.  I am not going to show any other photos of it until it is finished.  I have piles of half-square triangles and the other block parts.  I am going to use today to do some trimming and then make more blocks. 

I have also started to sort through some t-shirts for the first of 3 t-shirt quilts.  Need them all finished before colleges start in the fall, but I am using the traditional pattern so once I have done all the ironing and cutting, they will go together quickly.  Figure I can do lots of binding in August because I am not planning much of anything else since I am on jury duty for the month.

Biggest problem with loving all the things I do is that I am always ready for the next project be it quilting, woodworking, or school, but I never catch-up to thoroughly enjoy the process and the product.  Binding is my way of slowing down and enjoying my handiwork, so August will be more relaxing, at least in my head.

Life is GOOD!

July 7: The Big Reveal

After the better part of 3 days, spent with our dear friends, power tools, sand paper, and the smell of cedar, we have completed our three gliders.  The two matching ones are ours and will be used on our future patio.The one with the high back is going to live with our friends, Dan and Nancy. Below are shots of us working and then the finished gliders.   Nancy does resemble Edith Ann in the highback chair .( I was the camera person.)  The seats are very comfortable and the glide is very smooth. 

Life is GOOD!

 





July 2: No Drive or Ambition Today

This doesn't happen often for me, but I am not accomplishing anything of value today.  It is bugging me, but it is NOT motivating me to get up and do something either.  Ever had one of those days?  Maybe I will go touch fabric and see what happens.  Probably stayed up way too late truly enjoying a novel, but maybe it is just time to be a slug?  Have a naggy headache which means I will probably need an early bedtime.  ;o}

Did enjoy today's lunch with Dick and Margaret, though. 

Life is out of whack today, but it is always worthy of appreciating.

July 2: House Painting in the Offing

Well, the rain seems to be less constant, so the outside paint for the new addition has been purchased.  We have several other things planned this week, but the paint will be drying before this time next week.  It is on our HAVE TO GET IT DONE list.  Neighbors have not said anything, but I am sure they would like something other than the patchwork colored house we have at the moment.

Also wanted to report that Dad is feeling the best he has in months.  Don't want to jinx him, but it makes his life so much better.

Life is GOOD!