taking a turn . . .

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

Well.  The week started out just fine.  We woke up one day to a lovely blanket of snow.  I love March snows!  Remember, just the weekend before, we were out on the boat!

But, as is typical of March snows (not March ice storms, mind you), twelve hours later, it was back to Spring! And three days later . . .

By the end of the week, I was feeling poorly.  By Saturday morning I was feeling bad enough that, for the very first time, I took a covid test . . .

It didn't even take sixty seconds for the "positive" to show up.  Ah Bach. Talk about a turn for the worse.

Thankfully, I didn't feel terrible.  One day with a fever and bad headache, and then I was just tired.  I spent a bunch of time out on the deck (covered and with the heater on) . . .

And enjoyed the wildlife show . . .

By Monday, as hard as he'd tried to stay away, Todd had also succumbed. By Wednesday, I was really feeling fine, so I nursed Todd and took advantage of being home and worked on (and completed) my March UFO challenge project, which was to piece the T-block quilt (minus the border) that I'd tentatively named Oriental Tea Garden.

Yay!  I also worked on finishing the hand-quilting the silver spiderweb on my Halloween Hexi table topper . . .

This was actually May or June's UFO challenge project, but I've got the time, so I went ahead and finished it up! 

I did end up missing some big things. Ellie did her presentation on the fabled Babylon Hanging Gardens:

I was supposed to receive a Quilt of Valor at a presentation on Thursday, and our guild's quilt show, which is always spectacular, was over the weekend.

Luckily, I've got good friends who sent me some photos!

I can't believe I'm saying this ... but I'm ready to go back to work next week.  <grin>

:)

heavy laden . . .

This post, that is . . . with pictures.  :)  This past weekend was our guild's biannual quilt show!  I spent the afternoon there on Saturday and have the quilty photos to prove it!

I didn't enter a quilt in this year's show, though I did place my Blue Melody in one of the exhibitions that had been set up . . .

So it was fun to have that around!

We had over 250 quilts on display this year -- the show was amazing.  We have SO many talented quilters in our guild . . . it's very humbling to sit among them! Here are a few of my faves . . . 

I *adore* this one . . .the faces of Santa and the reindeer in the progressive photo frames just CRACK me up!!

I'm a sucker for a patriotic/red, white & blue quilt! 

Yup.

This was my sweet friend's quilt!  Sarah is a Sassy Affirmation Sister (as is Gail)!  ♥ Really, as a trio we are enablers of one another -- of the best kind! *wink*

And these two quilts belong to my darling friend, Kari!  The first was a work of collaboration with Sarah's quilt, above.  And the second? Roll Tide!

This quilt was a beauty up close, but from a distance, the appeal is obvious!!

This was my favorite of the Christmas pieces ... I really felt like it deserved a ribbon.  All hand applique!  It was very beautiful!

This sweet redwork lighthouse quilt, with the reverse applique, was made by the same maker.  Her handwork is just amazing!

This beauty won the Best of Show!  This was pieced by none other than Barbara Black who blogs at My Joyful Journey.  The quilt (and Barbara) even got a nod from The Quilt Show!  That's pretty cool, huh?!?

This is my sweet friend Lois (and me)!  She's a talented long arm quilter and in fact, she's the one who quilted the show winning quilt that Barbara made!  Amazing!

This quilt was another amazing winner.  Pictured here with its creator, Linda (right), and quilter, Robin (left).  It won first place in its category (two makers, extra large, pieced), best machine quilting - track machine, and won the viewer's choice award!  The quilting in this piece really made it, in my opinion . . .

I wish I could have taken a close up of all the blocks!  It was exquisite!

Joc, Ellie and Evey joined me later in the afternoon . . .

The girls felt that since they were going to a Quilt Show, they needed to bring their quilts!  Aren't they cute?!

They also visited our selfie station.  Quick side note, I did a lot of the props for the station! 

One of the reasons they waited so late to come by was because they wanted to attend a demonstration on English Paper Piecing I did that afternoon . . .

My table all set up!  It was a fun 45 minutes; I really love doing things like that.  I've found that I really enjoy teaching adults.

The birthday weekend wrapped up with a celebration at Joc's!  

It was a lot of fun -- she's such a terrific cook and hostess!

Okay.  I'm done ... except for one thing!  I did pick a random winner for the blog hop ... first let me say what a lovely bunch of happy birthday wishes ... thank you!  The winner of the book was:

And it's on its way to her!  Congratulations!

Have a great rest of the week!

:)

come and gone . . .

Can you believe we're already into November??  How did that even happen?! And did everyone that needs to, fall back an hour? 

I know that a lot of people don't like the time change ... and *I* don't enjoy that we switch back and forth, but I do love the return to standard time! Oh -- and don't forget to change your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide batteries! (nod to Sarah!)

October was a fun and busy month. I feel like I got a lot accomplished, too. I finished two Christmas quilts and designed (or rather, resized) two more . . . 

The two I finished.

The two I've resized/redesigned, but not yet stitched. From table toppers, I think.  

The Heritage Quilters of Huntsville held their 15th bi-annual quilt show. My "The Pineapple Quilt" was in the "large quilts - one maker" category. 

It didn't place, but I overheard lots of nice comments on it!

We had a blast with the girls and my parents at the pumpkin patch!

You know my October isn't complete without a visit to the pumpkin patch.

Janet, that rogue quilter, and I had a mug rug swap for October. She gifted me with a LOT of extra goodies, too, in honor of my October birthday!  

Isn't this mug rug darling?  And perfect with my fall china! She knows me very well. :)  My mug rug to her was a combination of all my favorite things . . .

Hexies, English paper piecing, handwork, wool, batiks, embroidery, and pumpkins!!  Unfortunately, I (once again) forgot to get a pic of the finished product, but Janet has one in her post I've linked to, above.

Halloween was fun.  We started the festivities at my folk's house . . . 

My mom loves to decorate and cook for the theme, and the grands love it, too!

Joc and family costume as a family.  Can you guess who they were?

Ellie was Princess Peach, Evey was Mario, Joc was Luigi, Jason was Bowser, and sweet little Edie was a super star! Aren't they fun? Evey, in particular, in her mustache, just cracked me up!

Anyone who's followed me for a long time will get a sense of deja vu with this sweet capture:

Edie as Raggedy Ann. Originally, I stitched up the costume for a baby Ellie! I wonder who wears it best?

The California crew had fun trick or treating, too! Only their temperatures were a LOT hotter!

Sawyer was Darth Vader, June was a ninja, and Olivia was Rapunzel!  She *loved* the wig! They had a blast . . . wish I could've been in two places at once!

Now it's on to a time of Veteran's Day parades, turkeys, and cornucopias! (Not Santas or Christmas trees ... not yet!)

Happy Sunday!

:)