tons of tidbits . . .

I have so *much* to share ... but so little to show. Hmmm . . . that's a conundrum, isn't it? I'll try to keep it kind of brief -- but that may be tough -- especially since I totally missed my Monday post!

Things are getting busy. We are seriously considering/praying about an April 28th retirement date, so Todd can apply himself full-time to the ministry. Wow. I mean, WOW! It would mean a huge leap of faith, but we both truly believe this is the direction that the Lord is leading us. 'Nuff said, right? Whew!

We've also signed up for some specialty training for Mission Service Corps (MSC) missionaries. The training is about a week long and will take place in the Baltimore/Washington DC area in the coming months. More on that later ... but it's a course on self-funding. The preparatory work for the course is pretty thick, so that will occupy a good bit of time in the coming months!

We celebrated Sawyer's birthday this past Saturday ... no surprise that the theme was Buzz Lightyear!

Sawyer had a blast and was totally enchanted by the life-size Buzz balloon!

I finally F-I-N-I-S-H-E-D June's pennant quilt . . .

I'm so pleased with it!! My friend Melissa (I Am Beautiful Bee) did the quilting on it and I love it! I delivered it to Baby June yesterday and she was totally thrilled with it! Yay!

Kim exchanged me some fabric for the quilt . . .

Haha! Happy me -- it's not mine! It's for June clothes! So I get to play with it and don't have to add it to my stash report! LOL! Speaking of which, I do have a little to report for last week:

Used/donated this week: 0.0 yards

Used/donated year-to-date: 12.0 yards

Purchased/added this week: 1.75 yards

Purchased/added year-to-date: 38.75 yards

Net used/donated for 2013: -26.75 yards

This was from the fabric I picked up at the guild meeting last week. I'd already reported the use of the pennant quilt, so no 'used' yardage this week! I was kind of curious as to how I was doing compared to last year, so I pulled up Stash Report #11 from 2012:

Used/donated this week: 0.0 yards

Used/donated year-to-date: 4.75 yards

Purchased/added this week: 0.0 yards

Purchased/added year-to-date: 31.75 yards

Net used/donated for 2012: -27.25 yards

Yeah. So not a lot has changed, huh? This totally made me laugh!!! I guess old habits really DO die hard! However, I can say that if retirement and full-time ministry is truly ahead, we'll be really living like missionaries in more ways than one -- I'll take that "purchased" right off the added line!

I've accomplished three out of five of my "get 'er done" for this month . . . and one is almost finished. I still need to get that pineapple quilt center finished up. Mostly what I've been working on is the Wedding Quilt . . .

I've put a nice dent in it. It's so funny ... we've had the perfect weather to snuggle under a quilt to do some hand stitching -- it's been cold and grey and snowy. Our high today *may* hit 45.  Average temps are in the 70's.  Who cares that we're a week into spring??!!  I think we're experiencing an April Fool's joke a little early. Hahaha!

I received my DQS in the mail on Saturday, too . . .

Isn't this darling? Check out the hand-stitching:

Aren't they sweet? She did a marvelous job - I'm thrilled with it! I'll get hers off by the end of the month and then I'll be taking a little hiatus from the doll quilt swaps for a bit.

Okay, enough for now, I've got to run! I'm having lunch with a friend and then I'm spending the evening with June and Sawyer. So much to do and not nearly enough hours in the day to accomplish it all, right? Linking up today's post with the Stash Report #11 and Design Wall Monday posts at Patchwork Times and the Slow Sunday Stitching post at Kathy's Quilts.

Ciao, baby!

:)

furrrrrightened felines . . .

All the time I've spent with grands at Joc's house this past week has been *great* for me -- and great for the kiddlies, too.  One who has not really enjoyed the heightened level of toddler/baby activity in her home was this one:

Leia quickly realized that while this spot put her at a relatively safe distance from Ellie and June, Sawyer has a bit bigger reach (and climbing capacity).  At one point she backed into this space:

Yes ... she's cowering in the corner.  A self-proclaimed time-out.  Unfortunately, Sawyer didn't understand that she was in time out.  I think she made a run for the steps after that.  Still not safe.  The funny thing is, she could totally leave and hide . . . but she likes to be where the people are!  Silly cat.

Speaking of silly cats, I came across this clip on facebook yesterday and it's such a HOOT!  

I love how the music plays *perfectly* the funky kitten movements!!  Linking up to Sarah Did It! and Feline Friday!!  

Wrapping up the week, I am still adding things to my CQ block.  My monogram was looking a little lost in its space, so, with the ingenious advice of my darling man, I added the white stitching in the patch.  Now it looks rather like it's sitting on a trellis, which perfectly fits the 'garden theme' of the block!  It also really helps the "D" stand out a little better.

I also added a lace flower motif down there in the bottom (it's transparent and sparkly, so it's a little hard to see in the photo).  Three butterfly charms will go on this afternoon and then it's just waiting for the ribbon to come in. I've tried to crop it to where the seams will be for the rollup.  I think I could just frame this and hang it!  LOL!

I also got word that my doll quilt swap partner for February received her little piece in the mail, so I can share pics of that . . .

It was such fun to do!  And I totally adore that fabric.  It was from my trip to Hammer's during the retreat.  Can you believe it?  Less than $5 a yard?!?  I may go back and get more.  The theme for February was "Something I Love" -- I think this little piece perfectly says chocolate raspberry Dove bar.  LOL! 

Anyone out there do any smocking?  I've got a friend who's willing to sell me her mother's pleater for a very reasonable price.  Joc and Kim are both hot for me to learn and pump out the smocked dresses for the girls!  To be honest, I'm rather hot to learn it as well!! 

I'm off for the weekend ... we're catching up with MSC (mission service corps) missionaries from all over the state of Alabama this week.  Should be fun!  

Yay for Fridays!!!

:)

spiders, webs, snow, and stitching . . .

What a fun weekend!!  Saturday, since Todd was on shift, I spent some time with the young Panter family.  June and Kim were out and about, so James, Sawyer and I went to lunch at Burger King ... 

And then I went back to their home and spent the afternoon and evening.  Such a fun little family!!

I can't get over how quickly June is growing!  She's such a happy, bubbly little thing -- and she's definitely got her daddy wrapped around her little finger!

I shared pictures of a promising spring at the camp on Friday ... today I have pictures of a winter wonderland!  At least, what passes as winter wonderland in North Alabama in March:

The flurries were non-stop from Friday evening through Saturday, but we never saw more than a dusting on the trees and a bit on the ground where the leaves were.

Still, it was very pretty and sure did make Sawyer smile!  He sang "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" all day long!  

As I drove out of the camp on Saturday, I noticed that the snow was sticking to the spider's webs in the little trees along the drive.  It's hard to see in the picture, but it sure was gorgeous and lacy!

I wish I could have gotten a better capture!  And how timely it was ... I'd just finished up my beaded spider on my CQ block . . .

And I've got the beading finished on my matching pin cushion, too.  I hope to have lesson 6 finished up today.

Boy, there is a LOT more to bead embellishing than I'd have imagined.  When I first purchased the beads I've got, I thought they were SO small.  Little (pardon the pun) did I know!  I definitely need some teeny-tinier beads to do the things I want to do!  My fabric stash may not get too much more enhancing ... I'll be too busy enhancing my collection of embellishments!!!

And speaking of beaded spiders, I think Ellie may already have caught the embroidery bug ... she's definitely showing great interest in my stitching . . .

She's a tactile person, like me, and loves to get a sense of something by touching it.  She rubbed all the metallic flowers and made little 'oooh' and 'aaahs' as she did.  I love this one as she pulls my stitching up close, for true inspection:

Oh yeah, we'll be getting her started at an early age!

After being so ambititious with my March goals, I decided I'd better go ahead and get the hoop out and get working on the wedding quilt.  For starters, I just plan to stitch-in-the-ditch around each of the blocks.  I don't know where (or if) I'll go from there.  So far I've got four blocks done . . .

One forty-six more to go!  Who knows, I could actually finish this up this month! Bahahaa!!

The theme for this month's doll swap is 'animals'.  My swap partner loves cats and cardinals (just like me)!

Since I already have that beautiful cardinal print, I thought it might be fun to use it.  And since it is March, I figured that an Irish Chain block would be the perfect setting!  I'll have to go through my stash and see what I can do to put this EQ mock-up into being.

I also have been wanting to do a table topper piece for Cindy, the owner of Grand Oak Retreat, to match her gate (my design--see HERE and HERE).  

These two are my top favorite colorscapes.  I really did want to include the bars from the gate -- and so the openings are blue.  I think I prefer the batik over the other, but I haven't quite decided yet.  Any thoughts?

So that's what's going on here ... I should do a stash report (because I do have stuff to report!) but I'm not ready yet, so perhaps I'll update with that on Wednesday! Today I'm linking up to Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times and Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts!

:)

reminisces from retreat . . .

So where does one begin, when they're talking about the quilting retreat they've just come home from?

I guess they start with the fabulous view they had from their "station"!

We lovingly refer to this spot as the "greeter station" because you've got to go by it to get in or out from the parking lot.  That didn't bother me in the least ... how could it when I had such a view?  And in case you're wondering, I *did* have a sewing machine with me ... it was just over to the right a bit!

We did (of course) have an opportunity to do a little shopping.  We went to Hammer's, which had a marvelous selection of fabrics from $3 to $6 dollars a yard.  I did my part to boost the local economy . . .

Not the greatest picture but it really is a lovely selection of fabrics!  Those are a white linen and a tonal white down there at the bottom.  I got yardage of both of those.  

I also did a little enhancement through the 'sharing' basket we have each year.  I picked up a pretty piece of Michael Miller's Heirloom Lace.  

It was the only piece in the basket that sparkled, so I knew it was destined to go home with me!

I also picked up a couple of fat quarters from "winnings" through the weekend ... and when I went back to guild on Thursday night (a topic for another post), Gail Garber has this *beautiful* selection of hand-dyed fabrics, pre-packaged, that I couldn't resist!

Luckily I semi-balanced it out with a little destashing and some finishes, so *whew*.  My stash report for this week isn't too out of shape . . .

Used/donated this week: 6.00 yards

Used/donated year-to-date: 10.5 yards

Purchased/added this week: 10.0 yards

Purchased/added year-to-date: 30.50 yards

Net used/donated for 2013: -20.0 yards

Actually, now that I look at it, I'm rather pleased with those numbers!  I gave away 3 yards and used 3 yards for my 'used/donated' total.  I'll be quite happy to link that up with stash report #8 over at Patchwork Times!

I also had time to do a little more work on my CQ block.  The next segment was pattern embroidery using a tissue paper method (which I'd never used before). You trace the pattern you want to stitch onto tissue or tracing paper . . .

Then pin the paper to your fabric and stitch directly onto the fabric through the tissue.  It was interesting.  I hope to have this block finished up this week! Linking up to Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching post for this week!

I'm also very pleased that (while I didn't exactly completely catch up) I was able to put a dent into the blocks I'm behind on in Barbara Brackman's Grandmother's Choice blocks!  I completed six and got the pieces all cut and ready to be hand pieced for a seventh . . . 

I'm inspired to continue working on these, this week!  I fell in love with that fabric all over again.  They'll go right up on the D/W!

I also worked on blocks for the President's Quilt that our guild's board does for the reigning president each year.

This quilt is going to be a real batik beauty.  Five of us were working on these blocks and I think we decided we are going to have a party and each make this quilt for ourselves!

And I found time to put together my February doll quilt swap piece . . .

Can't show too much, now, can I?  I finish that up and get it in the mail tomorrow!  So there's my wall for the weekend/week ahead ... I'll link it on up to Judy Laquidara's Design Wall Monday post over at Patchwork Times!

I have tons more to share, but I spread it out through the week!  And then there's tons more I can't share ... you know the old adage:  What happens at Quilt Retreat STAYS at Quilt Retreat!  Hahaha!  But we did do some darling make 'n takes I'll share and we had some antics that are fit to print, too!

I'm off to restore some semblance of order as I unpack!!  And then catch up on my bloggy reading and respond to a ton of comments ... there was internet up there, but it was SOOO SLOW and spotty, it was hard to do a whole lot online. And between retreat and a three-day stay with Ellie, I feel so behind! LOL!

Happy Monday!!!

:)

m. i. a. . . .

One would think, for as broad the gap is between my posts, that I'm getting lots and lots done.  Ha.  Between doctor's appointments and dentist appointments and hair appointments and being sick (ongoing sinus issues--literally and figuratively, migraines and some stinkin' virus), I really haven't gotten a whole lot accomplished.  *sigh*  I feel like I've fallen and I can't get up.  LOL!  I need to re-group, get busy, take the bull by the horns, bite the bullet, take the plunge and buckle down.  I.e., get to WORK. I love euphemisms.     

I *did* receive my January swap quilt from Lynn:

Isn't it just the most darling little thing?!?  The Panter clan came over for a visit yesterday evening and Sawyer noted the snowman right away.  He was as charmed by it as I am!  *Thank you, Lynn!*

I finished the top of June's quilt . . .

I'm very pleased with how this turned out.  Kim is too, which makes me even happier!  I need to decide how to quilt it, now.  I'm thinking a loose meander ... all over the white, the pennants and the words.  In a white or invisible thread. Any thoughts?

A group of family (including myself) is participating in an 8-week weight challenge. You get daily points for logging your food, water intake, fruit and veggie intake, contact with another team member, and exercise.  Then at the end of the week, you total up those points and add 10 points per pound you've lost for cumulative points.  

At the end of eight weeks, there are two winners -- the one with the highest number of points and the one with the biggest weight loss. The competitiveness of the challenge makes it interesting -- especially since there are guys participating!  We've just finished week one, so Todd and I just finished week one of another round of South Beach, phase 1.  I celebrated by throwing up.  This has been my January!  On the bright side, my weigh in was a really good one.  Being sick has its advantages.  LOL!

A huge positive coming from the challenge is that I pulled out my walking DVDs and gave 'em a try.  I can do it!!  I have several of the Leslie Sansone DVDs and I was walking the 2 mile walks!

This is the DVD I'm working from right now -- hoping to work up to the three mile walk.  I can't do all the moves; for example, I learned the hard way that my right foot does NOT do side lunges any more, but now that I know that, I can compensate.  I'm just excited to be able to put points in the 'exercise' column! I'd like to eventually order her four mile power walk!  

Yesterday I went to my very first embroiderer's guild meeting. The Huntsville, Alabama chapter of The Embroiderers' Guild of America, Inc. It wasn't actually the meeting, but an instructional meet, where they work on a 'petite project'.  I went with a friend from quilt guild and luckily there was an extra kit prepared, so I got to play.  

This was the finished project.  Isn't it a darling little hedgehog?  The apple is a floss-wrapped bead.  Too cute!

Mine is still in the early stages, as you can see.  The most fascinating part was learning this new stitch, a bullion knot.  It took a couple of tries but I finally got the hang of it.  Fun stuff!  If you're interested in the stitch, Mary Corbet does a nice job of explaining and demonstrating it, on her site, Needle 'n Thread.

I took this picture yesterday, too.

I'd like to take this opportunity to remind mother nature that it's still January. We had our doors and windows open yesterday (into the late night hours) too. Crazy, isn't it? I understand cold weather is on its way.  Ah, the roller coaster ride of weather in North Alabama.  :)

My stash hasn't changed a bit since I last reported ... which was far too long ago. That is, it hadn't changed.  Todd just brought in the mail and look what it contained:

Darling Kate, from Life In Pieces, sent me this fun yardage (five, to be exact) of Buzz Lightyear fabric!!  Isn't it precious?!  She knew I had a raving Buzz Lightyear fan in my family and thought I could put it to good use.  I'll say -- I see several projects from this!  Immediately I though (1) cape, (2) applique pieces for a quilt, and (3) pillow case.  To infinity and beyond!! 

I've been doing a lot of reading.  A LOT of reading. Expect several book reviews coming up in the next week ... especially Declutter Now! by Lindon and Sherry Gareis.  It's been a fabulous read and I can't wait to share with you about it.  I've had several e-conversations with Sherry and she's such a great person!  Yup -- if decluttering is one of those things you 'resolved' (or, if like me, you made goals instead of resolutions) to do in 2013, you definitely want to check out the review (especially since Sherry offered to send a copy of the book to not one, but TWO of my followers)!

That's it for now.  My hair is cut, my teeth are clean and sparkly, my health is getting back on track and so am I.  Whew.  This is hard work, y'all!

:)