wrapping up the month . . .

Backposted (because how ever many years from now I'd regret not having posted these pictures along with their stories)!

Luckily for me, I did Ellie's birthday trip over a long weekend . . . which meant I had Monday *off*...which was particularly nice after the trip to Atlanta. If you know what I mean.  Ahem.  Anyway, I put Monday to good use and finished up my February UFO challenge project for our stitcher's group.

I sewed sashings and borders. And finished . . .

YAY!  This has been a very long project.  Haha!  Because I'm the world's most prolific procrastinator.  But that's okay, because I think it's so pretty. I know this needs to be handquilted; I'm thinking I'll save it for late in the fall, when I'll want to be covered up in a quilt while I stitch on it.  ♥

Joc sent me some pics of Ezra . . . 

Awww!  Tummy time on the quilt his Neesey made for him!  This little fellow has such a darling little smile.

He melts my heart!

Friday night I took another road trip, this time down to Montgomery to see comedienne Chonda Pierce!

My wing(wo)man for the event was my dear friend, Lindsey.  We had a really good time ... Chonda kept us rolling!

Tickets to the show were a Christmas gift from Todd!  I guess February was a month of realizing past gifts!

The weekend was also my mom's 81st birthday!  My sister (Julia) and her daughter (and her daughter's youngest) made the trip down from Virginia. Julia's birthday is also in February, so we had a dual purpose cake!

Edgar's Bakery makes such pretty cakes!  And delicious, too, trust me!  Mom had been enjoying her tree (which I totally get—and do myself), but keeping it fresh with ornaments in keeping with the season.  

Julia and I did it up in shamrocks, leprechauns and green and white pompoms (yes, the pompom maker came out again).  It was such fun and the tree looked so pretty!  The lights help keep the drear of winter away.  :)

And we had a quick minute before the Virginia crew had to get to the airport, to allow cousins (and second cousins) to visit!

A happy way to close out a good month!

:)

to sum it up . . .

It was a very quilty week! On Sunday and Monday, I finished up the seven hexie flowers that needed whipping together . . .

All forty-five flowers (and parts thereof) were together, stacked and ready to "landscape" my garden!

Monday was a dual purpose day . . . a quilty friend of mine and I headed to visit 3 Hens and a Chick, a local quilt shop in nearby Athens. 

Sarah's one of my co-conspirators in the Quilting Intrigue Club at guild and we've been ironing out the details for our guild's mystery quilt, which we'll introduce (fabric requirements) at this month's meeting. I actually picked out fabrics for the quilt while we were there (I've got to stay at least one step ahead):

The yardage on the right is for the mystery quilt. It's QT Fabric's Whisper (with the exception of the middle piece which was Oasis Fabric's Romance). Isn't this line yummy???!!! It's whimsical and sophisticated, all at the same time. I'm so excited to work with it! The fat quarters on the left were ... well, just fun finds (an in case you couldn't tell, I was already scoping suitable oranges for 2019's pumpkin projects)!  ;)

I mean gosh, there were a lot more shelves in the shop than the one that held the Whispers line. I had to browse shop them all!

From the quilt shop we headed into the square in Athens and stopped for lunch at the local tearoom. 

Aren't our spiced chais fun??

I had commitments after work on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings; generally I wasn't getting home until after 9 p.m., so not much evening stitching until Thursday -- I don't have to get up for work on Fridays -- so when I got home Thursday, Todd put a movie in and I started working on my 'gardening'!

Friday was a kicked back day.  Todd and I went out and had an early lunch and did some shopping. I also did a little grocery shopping so we'd have 'game day' food for the SEC Championship game on Saturday.  Sausage balls and pigs in a blanket! Plus I got ready to celebrate the Advent of Christmas with the Advent teas the Merkel family had gifted me with for my birthday . . . 

A different tea for each day leading up to Christmas! I thought it would be fun to hang a week's worth of them (and prudent, so I wouldn't forget) over our coffee/tea station! Do you want to know how hard it's been to wait over a month to start trying these teas?!?  :)

Through the weekend I've worked in earnest on the Mod Flower Fall project . . .

This sheet has been SO helpful through every stage of this project. I've now whipped up ten of the sixteen rows, and stitched the first four rows together. 

I don't think ... even though I knew the dimensions from plotting it out in EQ ... that I am prepared for how BIG this is going to be. LOL!  Just these first seven rows are over 4' in length. I'm stitching up the rows individually, first.  Then I'll stitch the rows together in sections ... and then finally I'll stitch the sections together.  I think that'll make it the most manageable. 

Saturday, in between the Texas vs. Oklahoma and the Alabama vs. Georgia games (Roll Tide!), I went out into the Nook for a bit of machine sewing.  I stitched together the first pole twist valance, backed and turned it.  It still needs to be quilted, but I love this look!

It'll be fun to have it hanging over the window across from where I sit, so I can SEE it. I also did some teeny, tiny blocks for the matching mug rug.

I was channeling my inner rogue quilter for this bitty thing -- 1-1/4" HSTs!!  I've got fabric cut for the second valance, and I still need to work on the matching runner.  But I'm confident after finishing the first one that it'll all stitch together quickly!

Today's slow stitching will definitely be back at the hexie flowers ... making that garden grow! Linking up with Kathy's Quilts for that.  May your Sunday be filled with blessing and rest ... so you're ready to face Monday and a new week!!

:)

a rousing end . . .

Last night was our regular guild meeting and I was really looking forward to it. We did a round robin of easy holiday crafts and I was one of the teachers!!  I was so excited to share the sweet little felt poinsettia pins that I've made for several years now, from lil fish studios! 

I just needed to make a quick stop in Michael's before heading to the meeting...

And that was my downfall.  I was going in and out so quickly, I didn't even bother to take my phone.  Or my car keys.  Aye yi yi!! Luckily, we have AAA and so I called for service. That was at 6:08 p.m.  The social hour at our meeting starts at 6:30 and the meeting at 7:00.  

The agent at AAA said the service would be there by 7:08.  What can I do but wait?!?!  Luckily, I really didn't have to wait long . . . happy story, the responder arrived at 6:23!  Less than five minutes later, I'm on the road again.  WHEW! Thank you AAA!

There were some fun surprises waiting for me when I got there. 

Isn't it pretty??  It's the tote from the International Quilt Festival in Houston!  The quilt on the cover?  That was made by my friend and fellow guild member, Barbara Black!  How cool, huh?  She blogs over at My Joyful Journey.  She's a wonderful and talented quilter *and* teacher and a dear friend, too!

She also brought back some of the pretty pins from Houston . . . aren't I lucky?!  

I was also lucky enough to purchase from her an acrylic template for the Antique Rose block (like the one I made here).

I turned up my nose at the acrylic template . . . but that was before the POTC blocks and understanding how the templates can really be a powerful tool to enhance your block design!  I may have to give the Antique Rose block another shot.  *grin*

Ya' know, the magic mirror works with the Antique Rose template, too . . . 

Isn't that awesome?! That reminds me, I need to announce a winner!  I left it in the reliable hands of random.org and my winner was:

Yay, Sandi!  I've notified her and I'll have it to her next week. Sandi blogs at Quilt Cabana Patterns -- you should go check her out -- she posted her block from 100 Blocks today -- it's really cute!

I'm off to play in fabric.  With mirrors and templates, of course!

:)

late-breaking stash reporting . . .

I've been wanting to share this stash report for ages, because there was such a decent (for a change) use of fabric!  But I couldn't say why until now, so I've patiently waited . . .

Whoohoo!  There was a big purchase in there for the backing and binding. But I turned right around and used it up.  So my numbers are again moving in the direction I'd like them to! (Going ahead and linking this up to the Stash Report at Patchwork Times.)

The quilt finish is one I've worked on (procrastinated on) for a LONG time.  It was a memory quilt for a sweet friend whose father passed away.  I'd asked her if she had cotton shirts of his to make a quilt from. What I got was a box of interesting shirts . . . but a LOT of rayon and poly blends.  It took me a while to come up with a design and once I did, it took me a while to realize I needed to use stabilizer in order to piece the top. But I think the overall quilt finished up nicely:

The center was a bit of a bugger . . . almost all rayon! And notice the quilt is hanging on a clothesline?! Yay! My sweet hubby hung it for me.  I've even already used it for hanging clothes to dry!

Our mutual friend Ronda had offered at the get-go to quilt it for me/her and she did a *spectacular* job of it!

Isn't it beautiful?

I had enough cut squares to make a matching pillow, too:

And it's reversible (the pillow, I mean) . . . 

Because I am totally in love with the flannel backing -- it's a nice feminine counter to the front!

There was a bit of a delay before I could deliver it to my friend, but she was finally home yesterday and I was able to drop it off.  I hope she enjoys it!!

:)

stash enhancement time . . .

Overall,  I've added far less stash to my fabrics this year than I have by this point in the year for the past THREE years!  And honestly, most of what I've added I haven't purchased, either, I've been gifted ... the best kind of stash enhancements!  Still, at some point I need to get busy and USE some fabric...

This week's report reflects that best kind of enhancing . . . a double bonus, actually.  Not only was it gifted, but it was FAIRY FROST!!!  My sweet friend, Jean (Jean Creates), thought of me when she saw this packet of fabric, helping a friend get ready for a stash sale . . .

I do adore Michael Miller's Fairy Frost fabric line! And look at the lovely, wide assortment of colors!

The original owner must have purchased the material with a specific quilt/BOM in mind.  These five finished blocks came in the bag with the rest of the FF. I'd love to know what she was working on -- the first blocks are so pretty and I can totally see wrapping up in a frosted quilt!  These look like a familiar BOM to anyone?!

Jean knows me so well . . . she also tossed in a sweet yard of this darling tea fabric . . .

Isn't it pretty? And an Art to Heart book that I didn't have!  I adore these books -- they're always filled with such sweet, do-able projects!  And this one is filled with month-themed projects that can be appliqued, stitched, or done in wool -- and will fit perfectly on my mini-stand!

I like having *options*! Thank you again, Jean ... mmmmwaaaaah!

Todd and I spent yesterday moving stuff from the old RV, putting it away in the new RV and making improvements (hanging paper towel rack, drilling cable holes in cabinets, installing the DVD player in the bedroom, getting the ice maker working, etc.), feeding the turtles and critters (and catching a huge black and yellow centipede which I *didn't* touch), and watching the antics of the Cub Scout pack we have visiting the camp this weekend. It was a good day!

Linking up to the Stash Report at Patchwork Times.  Happy Sunday!

:)

slacker . . .

I've been such a blogging slacker this week!  C'est la vie . . . chances are, if I've been slacking on the blog, life is moving along at a pretty good pace!

My stash hasn't increased or decreased, my design wall hasn't changed, and to be honest, I haven't gotten even fifteen minutes of stitching time in since last Friday! On the other hand, I've spend time with my friends, worshipped and fellowshipped with my Sunday school class peeps, spent time with family and especially grands, and (grocery) shopped and (grocery) shopped and shopped. One of those trips included riding the train with my friend (and pastor's wife) and their son:

Whew, it's all been a whirlwind!  Oh yeah, I also found out . . .

Yup!  It's a girl!!  We'll be having *marvelous* tea parties!!!

Ellie and I made a sweet little Easter craft on Tuesday . . .

He's not here; He is risen!!  She was so sweet, working on the empty tomb.  She also tells me she's ready to be a big sister.

I think she's going be a terrific big sister!

And today is my sweet husband's birthday!  We'll be celebrating with the whole crew, tonight, here at the camp!

♪♫ Happy birthday ♪ to YOU! ♫♪

♫♪ Happy ♪ birthday to YOU! ♪♫

♪♫ Happy birthday dear ♪ Todd !!!! ♫♪

♫♪ Happy ♪ birthday ♪ to ♪ YOU!!! ♪♫

♪♫ And many more . . . I ♥ you!!!!! ♫♪

I do have a new little hexie project for the month.  Actually, I have my choice of three different hexi projects:

These are from the StitchMAP hex labs for the month (along with my Celtic Garden and Australian Wattle projects).  I haven't decided for sure which one I want to do . . . any thoughts?! Regardless of which design I choose, it'll finish up in hexie form.  So I'm linking this on up to HeLP for Hexie-aholics on sarah did it!

Have a happy day!

:)