evidence of absence . . .

I would say that I was horrified or blown away by how much time had passed since I last blogged . . . but saying such seems rather dramatic, considering I've known precisely well that I *wasn't* blogging and that June, July, AND August had all passed by with my knowledge and without a word from me.  A word on here, at least.  

Unfortunately I have to admit that I've enjoyed the bit of bloggy break. Over the past three months I've spent time with family and grands, both here and in California, lots of time in VBS, Fridays with Todd out on the lake, getting our first cabin at the camp (!!!!!!!!), and time helping my folks get settled in their new home, right here in good ol' Alabama! Toss a 40+ hour work week into the bag and it's been a pretty busy, albeit very enjoyable, summer.

So very pleased to have my folks nearby!  It was a HUGE move for them. Mom and I have enjoyed going through boxes . . . especially the ones that net this kind of reward:

Aren't they beautiful??  Both of my grandmothers collected teacups. One box netted several pieces of china that belonged to my great-grandmother -- how special!

I've done some stitchy things, though quite honestly, not a whole lot.  I did finally finish the bloomers that I started for Everley in May. 

I finished up the sixteen sets of Civil War print swap blocks (including a set for myself) and got them dropped off.  I *still* have not picked up the blocks that come to me!  But I have a picture of them . . . 

Which is better than I can say for the ones I stitched myself!

I stitched up some huge pillows (26" pillow forms) for a dear friend of mine. Don't they look great in their new home?! The upholstery fabric was interesting to work with.

I finished up an Irish Chain wall hanging for my mom (housewarming). I'd done one for a swap a couple of years ago and knew it was perfect for my mom.

Note to self.  Be super careful when trying to get 'artsy' by hanging finished pieces from the top of the pontoon's cover.

Glad we keep a net handy.  (I did wash it before gifting it!)

I got started on a new wool project.  With a little help from a dear friend!

Isn't it cute?  It screams summer!  Now that it's fall.

I've not purchased the first bit of fabric since I was on here last. Not. One. Inch. I find that to be either most impressive or incredibly depressing.  I haven't decided which.

I'd like to say I'm current with my two-ornaments-per-month-challenge. But I can't. C'est l'été? Actually, I'm probably most disappointed in that -- I need to get on the ball! And when I do, this will be my next project . . . 

Isn't it darling? Simple but very pretty.

With summer days waning, I'll try to be a bit more consistent on the blog.  For my sake as much as anything else! Though I MUCH appreciate those that have checked in over the course of the summer!

I've got a three more days of a long, four-day weekend stretching out before me; wonder how I'll fill it?!  Happy Labor Day . . . bring on Autumn!

:)

let's make it . . .

. . . a wonderful Wednesday!!  (Did you think I was going to say something quilty-cutesy? Psyche!)

I'm just going to be straight out honest and say that I got in more napping than stitching on Sunday afternoon. (insert cheesy grin here) But I have done a smidge of stitching on Evey's quilt . . . 

"G", to be exact.

I found a cute pattern for bubble britches for Evey (to go with her turtle smock). I was prepared to buy a pattern when I remembered I've got a pretty decent arsenal of patterns for little girls' clothes saved on my laptop. Sure enough . . .

Just the bloomers. For now! Pdf patterns are interesting, because you've got to print them and then put them together . . .

Tah-dah! That was quick...luckily for me, these little cuties only needed five pages. But I still had to find some appropriate fabric! Luckily for me, there's a little shop *two*doors*down* from my place of work -- Barb's Sewing. I think I've got the perfect little print to hide a diaper and go with the smocked turtles . . .

Isn't that cute stuff??? Add that half-yard to my stash and out again.

I found a *GREAT* video tutorial for baby bloomers from Vintage to New.  

This tutorial is definitely worth checking out if sewing a pair of baby bloomers is in your future. LOL!  (insert another cheesy grin here)

So that's where I stand on Wednesday -- hoping to have bloomers finished on Friday and powering through letters "I" and "J"! Linking up today with Esther's Quilt Blog WOW (WIPs On Wednesday) post. Have a GREAT day!!

:)

bzzzzzzeeeeness . . .

Wow, what a BUSY week it was!  The Campers on Mission group was here working through Friday, but we did a big fish fry for them and the pastors of the association I work for on Thursday. Normally (on a smaller scale) Todd does hush puppies, fries and fish for a fry, but for this event I made three pounds of carrot slaw, twenty-one cups of pineapple slaw, and two gallons of banana pudding. It's a good thing I did -- none of it was left!

This group was a marvelous group of workers . . . they did two months of work in two weeks! The camp has been very blessed to have them out here.

And look what the Campers on Mission did for me . . .

Stairs! With a handrail!! No more climbing up and down on concrete blocks!  What a blessing they've been to *me*!

Friday evening I was helping hostess an engagement party for a sweet young couple.  Jeremy is from Huntsville, but is a Wycliffe translator serving in Romania. His fiancee is Romanian, but also working with Wycliffe. They're only here for a short couple of weeks and then headed back to Romania (and they'll marry there in August).  

I did meatballs and (of course) cream cheese mints for the party. Cream cheese mints are my ministry!

It was a lovely party and well attended. I wish thought to get a picture of Jeremy and Magda, but I was too busy . . . well . . . hostessing!!

Saturday I spent the majority of the day in my Little Nook in the Big Woods.  LOL! The Little House on the Prairie series has *finally* come out on Kindle, and I just recently read through them all. Can you tell? Anyway, I got some things accomplished.  I finished up ornament two (and took a pic of ornament one):

I got the second tab marked and ready to stitch:

I got letters G, I, and J traced and ready to stitch (it's hard to see them, but they're done!):

So I'll definitely have something to work on for my slow, Sunday stitching!

I managed to squeeze in a stop at an LQS to pick up the backing fabric for Evey's quilt. Initially my thought was to use white. And then I got to thinking about Evey and decided that white was dumb. So I got this, instead . . .

Along with the white I'll need to sash the blocks, once I've finished the embroidery. And the floss I'll need for the embroidery.  LOL! And isn't that print just darling??!  Evey is all about 'jurjuls' (turtles) right now. And since I turned around and cut out the backs right away, I can count it out of my stash as fast as I added it in . . .

Whoohoo for me!  The white will be gone soon, too.  Plus I was able to add a little in for these cute little hexies I'm playing with (because we should always add something new to the mix, right?) . . .

I saw a cute little candle mat on Jeanna's blog, Slammin' the Screen Door, and decided I'd like to make one of my own. The pattern arrived in Saturday's mail.

I mean, why not?!?

On top of it all, Joc had purchased this sweet little smocked romper, but the elastic was shot.  She asked me to turn it into a little blouse and make some bloomers to go with it. 

So I cut off the bottom and hemmed it up -- it's really quite darling; I believe it was lovingly made by someone and not a manufactured piece. Now to make up some bloomers!

So that's it for me. I'll link up to Patchwork Times and Kathy's Quilts today.  Enjoy a quiet, happy Sunday . . . this is the day that the Lord has made!!  Rejoice and be GLAD in it!!

:)