Finished!

I worked on this Civil War Block of the Week all last year. The directions were posted weekly by Barbara Brackman, and quilters all over the world followed along.  I really had fun collecting reproduction fabric and then digging through my stash to find the combination for the block that week. There were 53 Saturdays last year, so there are 53 blocks. When I laid it out, I found out that I only had 52. It took me a while to find which one I had somehow skipped. (It was the Indiana Puzzler block - top corner, second from the right). I have the fabric for the backing ready to go, but I am not going to attempt to quilt this one on my domestic Bernina. The quilt measures 96 inches square, and so I will send this out to my long arm quilter. I am pretty excited to have this all put together. On to the next project.

 

Roll Tide! Good News!

Last night I tried to add a new post, but for some reason, I could not get the pictures and spaces and typing to make any sense. It looked fine until I published the post, but then it was all confused with big spaces and odd spacing. I tried several times to fix it, but it just got worse. Try #2 tonight. We have biggger news than that tonight though. Our new (fourth) grandchild due June 1 is.... a BOY! Georgia will have a baby brother.

At least Alabama got try #2 right! We had a fun get together with Shannon and Nathan and friends on Monday night. Yesterday was a long day on short sleep, but it was fun watching them take the BCS championship  - decisively take it back! I made the Bama table quilt back in September, and we've had it out since then. Notice the hounds-tooth napkins?

I made the elephant tea towel with my Sizzix die and leftover fabric from the quilt.

Then there's the new needle-book I got for Christmas from Shannon. It has a new home in the sewing basket by the couch in the family room.

Here's the inside. I have found I really like Roxanne applique needles, among others. I never knew it mattered much what needle I used, but I guess I've changed my mind.

Did you know I have a fun collection of miniature elephants? There are little figurines, salt and pepper shakers, tiny tea pots, and my favorite, toothpick holder elephants. I don't buy them often unless they really catch my eye. Don't know why I like them, but they complement my bigger 1940-50s elephant planters.

I guess Alabama football is officially over for this year, but the first game for the next season is just around the corner in September.

Roll Tide!

Rainy Sunday

It has been rainy and gloomy here, good for hanging out in my sewing room. This is the first finished quilt this year - The Twelve Days of Christmas from the Temecula Quilt Company. Each block has the same number of pieces as the day of Christmas - one on the first day, two on the second, three on the third... and then it has sashing and borders. I had fun doing this from my stash in all reds and neutrals. I am also working on a Kaffe Fasset quilt, and I'm finishing my Civil War Block of the Week quilt. I thought I had all 53 blocks, but it seems I have 52. Darn!

Tomorrow, back to school and then home to the BCS game. Allen (not I!!) has the deer meat chili cooking. Roll Tide!

 

Wasn't it an excellent holiday!

I had to go back to work today after a most wonderful holiday. I thought I'd share some of my favorite moments.



Allen is showing Ozzie his own picture. Meghan painted Ozzie's portrait for her dad's Christmas present. Ozzie was interested in the new dog and barked at his own picture. Silly Ozzie.



Aunt Meghan and Georgia on Christmas night --  Georgia's tuckered out after her first Christmas Day.



Our grandsons Bridger and Taplin are good buddies!



Bridger and his Beyblades. Christmas is fun when you are six!



I love this picture because it is really hard to catch Taplin being still for a picture. Taplin loves Ozzie, and the feeling is mutual.



Allen, Ozzie, and Georgia. What else is there to say?



Nine months old. What a doll baby!

Excellent vacation. Oh, did I say I have four quilt projects going? Pictures of those another day.

Roll Tide.

Ready for Christmas!

Merry Christmas! We have been busy with work, busy with family, and busy getting ready for Christmas. Tonight is Christmas Eve, and we just spent a lovely evening at Shannon's home with Nathan's parents and family. Of course, we were all entranced with Georgia. After all, it is her first Christmas. She stayed with us Wednesday night and Thursday this week. Ozzie loves her.



Meghan and Justin and the boys were here for Thanksgiving. Meghan's big news was that she was named Teacher of the Year at her school, George Hall Elementary in Mobile. Um, proud parents? Yes. Tomorrow night, they will be here for dinner and exchanging gifts. I am looking forward to spending this week with our grandsons. I made Bridger a quilt for his sixth birthday last month.



Thanksgiving was grand with all three grandchildren. Christmas promises to be an active time with the boys here! Yeah!



I've gotten several projects ready for the holidays. First, there is Georgia's patchwork stocking.



Next is a wool felt candle mat that I put together over the Thanksgiving weekend. I used my Sizzix die cutter and just added some embroidery and red beads for berries.



I had so much fun with the candle mat that I went back to the Sizzix and used the swirl cut out to put together a Christmas tree. Then I added a couple of batik borders and a bit of stitch in the ditch quilting, and I have a wall hanging.



I found my old doll cradle in the attic. Actually, I think it was my mom's first. It was painted a sad pink and needed some TLC to bring it back to life. Allen took it apart and painted it, and I made a new mattress and pillow. But the most fun, of course, was making a little red and green Christmas doll quilt for it. I think it is going to stay under my cutting table for now, at least until Georgia is ready to play with it. There are a little dresser and a doll rocker in the attic still. Hmmm.



I made a little bird and bell Christmas tree. The ornament idea was in Shannon's Stitch, Craft, Create magazine, a design by her friend and co-worker Courtney. Well, not really co-worker since Shannon has started a new job as the Marketing Director for the Huntsville Hospital Foundation. Yes, she has some proud parents.



My sewing room and quilting are good therapy!



Today, I was in the kitchen baking some sugar cookies for tonight's get-together. Leg lamp cookies - Major Award from The Christmas Story.



The tree (a new, slightly smaller tree) is trimmed. The stockings are hung by the chimney with care. Merry Christmas to all!

A Day to Catch My Breath

Hooray! I made it to fall break. When school starts in the first week of August, a few days off in October is a much needed respite from the daily routine. I have a long list of fun things I want to accomplish today. I've actually been up for quite a while: walked the dog, ran two loads of laundry, paid some bills, watched an online show on The Quilt Show, downloaded some recent pictures.

Last weekend, we had Georgia with us while her mom and dad took a weekend trip to the beach. Ozzie enjoyed the company!



But that picture shows Ozzie resting his head on her rear and not her sweet face. She got to go on one of Ozzie's walks with us. Check out those snazzy sunglasses! Georgia chuckled the entire time she was rolling.



Today I plan to spend a good chunk of time in my sewing room or maybe pinning a Bama table quilt top I have ready to quilt. My big finish was my red cross quilt last week. I will have to move some chairs and lay it out for a big picture, but here it is finished and folded.



It is a gorgeous fall day here...I'm off to get dressed and run some errands. Yeah for fall break!

Saturdays are the best!

Today was the grand opening for the bricks and mortar Sew Beautiful Marketplace.



As you probably know, my daughter Shannon is the art director for Sew Beautiful magazine. She is also the editor for Stitch Craft Create which will be on the shelves in stores in just a few weeks. I made this quilt (featuring Anna Griffin fabric) , and it will be in the new magazine! The pattern and a kit will be available.



Shannon and Georgia went with me to see the store this morning. The Sew Beautiful Marketplace is filled with fabric, patterns, notions, and inspiration!



Georgia had the most wonderful time when we headed on to Hobby Lobby. She giggled and giggled at the feathers and flowers we held for her to see.



Of course, then we went home and she changed into her glow-in-the-dark skeleton suit for the game. Georgia had her six month check-up: 27 inches and nearly 20 pounds.



Last weekend, we went up to the Monte Sano Art Show. It is such a great venue!



We enjoyed many of the vendors and their work, but our favorite was Guadalupe Robinson.



We've bought quite a few pieces of her wonderful pottery, and this is the newest fish pot.

Quilting? I have been working on finishing my red cross quilt, and the binding will go on tomorrow. Stay tuned.