Sewcation

Just two more weeks and then I get to fly to Vermont for a week of sewing with my sister Diane!!! Of course, I will also spend some time with my Mom and I will visit with my other sister Debbie, and stop by to check out my little brother James' new home theatre room.  I saw photos and it looks pretty impressive - so I will have to plan to have some of my projects at the hand-work stage when I go to his house. (you know, so that I can work while watching a movie).
My dear hubby, Louie, is sitting this vacation out. He didn't think it would be much fun to go all the way to Vermont to listen to my sister and I yack and sew every day (I can't imagine why).
Of course, there is one more thing I will be doing when in Vermont.  This is super exciting too!  Turns out the folks I went to High School with are having a multi year reunion while I am back there. Graduates from Essex Junction High School from 1969 through 1979 will be getting together. This will be the first time attending for me. Both my sisters fall into that category too! (I also have an older brother that does, but he lives in Texas).
Yesterday was a pretty successful sewing day for me. I managed to put together 10 burp cloths (for gifts), stitch out part of a quilt on my embroidery machine, and get a few more hearts completed for the same quilt!  I am off traveling for work this week but look forward to coming home and hitting the machine again. I would like to have that quilt done before my sewcation.
Sister Diane and I have a very specific, important mission and I can't wait to share it all with you once it is done!
Until later, have a wonderful week!

A Little Tease

I spent some  time over the weekend pulling out projects and planning others. I had a bit of a panic attack when I thought I had lost part of the pattern to Nick and Kathryn's quilt. BUT, thankfully, I found the whole thing along with all the pieces.  As I read through the pattern, it became quite clear WHY I stopped when I did!  The next section of this quilt will require quite a bit of concentration! But I do have a plan!!
Meanwhile, I thought I would work on some of the others I have been planning. 
For my friend Kim, you will get a kick out of this!  My "princess" quilt I was planning has now become one of hearts! I decided NOT to spend any more money and use up what I have!  Here's what I accomplished Sunday:

I am planning this one as I go along!

 

We'll see what the finished project looks like. . .

 

 

Well, I'm off to Colorado in the morning so my sewing will have to wait until next weekend.

Until then . . .





The Greatest Dad!!

20 years ago, I went to Southern California to finish up my RN training. I had been an LPN for 13 years and during most of those years, I would have a baby, take a class, have a baby, take a class (you get the picture!).
The final part of my education had me going to Long Beach to do a 2 1/2 day practical.  When I finished, I met up with my brother and sister-in-law and we ended up shopping at a big mall.
Father's day was coming and I was in search of the best gift for my husband. We saw a shop in the mall where they made customized shirts.  This is what Louie received for Father's day 20 years ago:

The shirt says:  I'm a great Dad, just ask:   Nicholas, Hannah, Ben, Megan, Diane, Nathan, Jared, Joel, Kimera.

The lady in the shop couldn't believe I wanted NINE kids on the shirt!!!!

My son-in-law, Luke, was asking Louie on his birthday (the week before Father's Day) what the best gift was that he could remember receiving and Louie said it was this shirt.

Well. . . the kids got together and decided to do another:

 

This is the whole family as of Father's Day, 2013

 

Top row is Nicholas' family



 

Second row is Hannah (who will forever be pregnant) and Luke; Ben, and his family (Victoria will also forever be pregnant)

 

 

 

 Third row is Megan; then Diane and her family,

Last row is Nathan, Jared and Joel (all three are military) and Kimera (who is no longer the baby!)

 

Louie certainly got a kick out of this one!!

Travels

 I may have mentioned in a previous post that I am a nurse and work as part of a compliance team for a company that owns and operates long term care facilities. When I took this job (just over a year ago), I decided that one of my goals would be to visit a quilt shop wherever my travels took me. Well, that doesn't happen a whole lot because when I am visiting a facility, my work day usually takes me past (sometimes long past) 5pm - which is when most quilt shops close for the day.

This week I was in Colorado.  I left the facility in search of lunch and had stopped at a Wal-Mart neighborhood market for the much needed bottle of water and CHOCOLATE! I headed out of the parking lot in one direction and decided to turn the car around and head out the other way when I saw the sign in big letters - QUILT SHOP.  Well, needless to say, that lunch hour just got extended as I pulled up to the front of the shop, parked, and got out!

I was at Fabric Expressions in Littleton, Colorado.  What fun to check out quilt shops and get a feel for the personalities that go into the them!

This shop (like many others), carries a lot of Moda fabrics. Being a lover of pre-cuts, I was thrilled to see so many jelly rolls, charm packs, and dessert rolls! The owner of this shop seems to really like the fabrics and patterns of Fig Tree & Co. (Joanna Figueroa). Of course, I love her creations too and was able to purchase one of her Vintage Stamp Collection patterns and a couple of charm packs.  The shop had many quilts hanging up throughout the store - always eye candy for me!
I guess this was one of the best lunch hours I have had in a long time!

Well of course I had to pick up some Christmas!!!!

 



Needing Encouragement Part II

Well, I got it done. I finished an hour ago and have managed to take photos and clean up my mess. Now I have to pack and head out to the airport (with the quilt).  Seriously though, WILL I EVER LEARN???!!!!

So, the positives of this are (because I am the person who always looks through rose-colored glasses!):    * This project is done          *My sewing area is clean           *All the mending is done          *I am free and clear to work on . . . . (see below)

Here are the photos of this baby quilt:

 

 

I Started with these

 



 

And ended up with this

 

 

I meandered in the big areas

 

 

Outline stitched in the pinwheels and half square triangles

 

I pieced the binding together with strips of the different fabrics.

 

I sure hope they like it!
Now, for what I am free to work on . . .   (drum roll please)

 

 

The quilt I started around 8 years ago for Nick and Kathryn

It is the Wedding Star by Judy Neimeyer (sp)

Kathryn chose blues with a white background.

 

 



 

 

The plum and lighter shade are for the star

 

 

All of my arcs have been completed (actually, they have been done for a couple of years!)

The next pieces to put together are the melon pieces.

 

Another goal?  YES! This quilt must be done this year! (help me)  :)

Will keep you in photos as I progress!

Christmas is coming . . .

When I was a young girl (long, long ago, in a faraway place . . .) I used to pull out the Christmas albums in July and start playing them on my Dad's stereo. My parents thought it was "cute" and through the years, they were accustomed to this practice.  I have done this with my own family and my kids "tolerate" me after much groaning.
Two years ago (in October), I went home to Vermont, loaded up my Mom, and we went driving through Lancaster County, PA, to see the beautiful Amish quilts. I got a smile out of Mom when I put in a Christmas CD!  At least someone appreciates my zeal for the holiday!  :)
Knowing this about me, you can just IMAGINE how excited I was to see a Christmas blog hop in July (well, OK, mostly August)! 
I signed up and I'm in!   Woo Hoo!! I am a happy camper!
I invite you to check back often, and most of all, check back in August during the Ho Ho Ho Blog Hop!

Life Happens

Wow! It is June 8th already!
Tomorrow little grandson Christian will be a year old. Today my son and daughter in law had a little birthday party for him. The little bugger managed to keep a whole bunch of adults entertained for several hours. The most fun of all was when he ate his birthday cake. His father was wise to remove his shirt, knowing there would be chocolate frosting all over everything!!

 

This little cutie made us laugh! He got all of that cake into - AND all over him!

 

 

So, of course, things like this trump anything else - like finishing up projects.

Gotta get that quilt done! More photos to come . . .