finishes and a retreat . . .

Back in April I shared a photo and story of a flimsy I'd completed, but it came from blocks I hadn't pieced.  I purchased the blocks (along with all the leftover coordinating fabrics) from an estate sale.  The original quilter, Janet Noever, had made the 9" blocks, but left no indication of how she planned to use them. So I put them together the way I wanted and even used (gasp) borders!  (If you knew how much I dislike using borders, this would make you laugh.)

ANYway, my sweet friend Lois, who is a long arm quilter, was the person I asked to quilt this special piece (because it deserved a little more than my straight line machine quilting).  She knew the backstory, and she said she had "ideas" for quilting.  I was really happy to hear that, since it's not my strong suit!  Anyway, I got it back and got the binding on it zippity quick (because binding *is* my strong suit) and, TAHDAH  . . .

Isn't it beautiful?  She did such a great job! Her quilting couldn't have been any more perfect for the piece!  And, as promised, I also did a couple of fun pieces to coordinate with the quilt, for out on our screened room:

So fun! 

I also zipped on the binding of my mom's quilt (Lois quilted it, too):

Yay!  We had such a fun time taking the class together.  She needed a finished quilt for all her efforts!  Not bad for a first quilt, huh??!

Another important finish is a little less quilty.

The construction of the bathhouse exterior is finished!!  As Todd continues to tell me, the bathhouse is about 75% complete; all it lacks is finishing up.  Ahem.

Our stitcher's group had a fun little retreat up in Bell Buckle, Tennessee! It was a great group of woman (and a really cute house) . . .

Okay, here's a photo where you can actually see our faces . . .

I'm peeking through on the back row, left side!  We had a great common room for quilting.  

I went in with three goals.  Number one was to finish the binding on the Picnic Quilt:

I didn't have anywhere to lay it out there ... I had to come home for that!

Number two was to finish the flimsy for the new baby's quilt:

And number three was to cut all the sashing and cornerstones for my Hospital Sketches in wool, and continue stitching on the wool blocks:

I nailed it!  I'm learning to be more focused at retreats.  I'm really pleased with everything that got accomplished!

:)

of guilds, gardens and guntersville . . .

We had the most FABULOUS guild program this month! Several of our members have taken the steps to form a Quilts of Valor chapter here locally; Liberty Piecemakers of Huntsville, and we had a QOV program at the meeting, including a very touching QOV award presentation.

Barbara Black, of My Joyful Journey, wrote nicely about it HERE.  Her husband was one of the QOV recipients. Some of our photos may look the same . . . I sent what I had to her so she could enjoy the program itself!

Pre-meeting gabbing!

The QOV regional spokesperson

Barbara, her husband Will, and April Goss, the head of the new Huntsville chapter.

The other recipient, David Aday, and his wife, Sharon.

The program and ceremony were incredibly touching and I think a lot of interest in the local chapter was garnered from it!

Thursday night guild means Friday lake day! We enjoyed a spectacular day on the lake; the weather could not have been any more beautiful!

For me, the sunset shot as we head towards the marina is always the money shot!

Our garden is starting to produce in earnest ... I love having a summer garden!

Tomatoes and green beans.  Yum.  Now to use and/or gift it all before it spoils!

:)

california travels to alabama . . .

I'm just going to warn you right now . . . this post is going to be super SUPER photo heavy.  And not a single quilty, stitchy thing.  All grands.  :)

As I teased in my last post,  James, Kim, Sawyer, June and Olivia made the trip from California.  They came the last few days in June and stayed through the first week of July.  It was so spectacular to see them all!!  I've just uploaded pics.  Enjoy!

My folks with six of their greats!

There always has to be the funny face photo!

Edith thought she'd sleep on the top bunk.

You see where Edith ended up.  My bunk. Hahaha!

Sawyer holding Horsepower!

Exploring the trails!

Everyone on the Bull!  (That's what we named our Gator.)

They conquered the Obstancle Course!

Setting up!

Lotsa bug spray, water and popsicles!

Sparkler fun!

Edith's first time with sparklers!

Firework anticipation.

Todd and I in the twilight of the 4th!

Ready for the show!

Sawyer, June & Olivia 

Best cousins!

Group Grands!

These are outtakes from the group picture.  Edith was put out about something!

We had a lovely sleepover -- ALL of the grands -- one night!  We schlepped over to the cabin.  It was such fun!  The kids did so great!  It was Olivia's and Edith's first sleepover at Neesey's!

We also enjoyed the July 4th holiday at the camp! The kids purchased a bunch of fireworks, and it was such fun to enjoy them!

It was a fabulous visit ... over way too quickly.  I enjoyed every minute of it (except the part where we said goodbye!)!

:)