Project Update

Project one, block for our diocesan quilt...finished! (Although apparently I didn't get a good picture of it before I turned it in!)

A close up of the block center...

Project number 2, the current block for my Heartland Heritage Block of the Month...done!

Projects 3 and 4 are still in the works...I've turned the heel on my sock and I'm working on the foot and I've been appliqueing the first of the 3 blocks I want to finish...I have a feeling they won't all be done in time! And then we had a new project thrown in at the last minute...finding a car for Ellen in time for her to return to Providence for school. Her car has had a series of fuel pump problems and after replacing the fuel pump about 5 times it just finally died. So, she's now the proud owner of a Mazda Tribute. She was able to load all of her college stuff in the car and get back up to school safely...and we didn't have to take her!!! We'll be heading up to visit her before Labor Day.

One other project completed here...after 20 years of saying I wanted to get a real estate license and putting it off, I finally signed up for class! I start September 14th and class will be over by late November. The encouragement of a good friend can be priceless...

Canoe Carnival

After the tornado, we bandaged up our fish the best we could...

And we took all of the pieces of the float and put them together

We toasted another year of good fun and good friends, and our paddlers set off down the lake...

Canoe Carnival was a different experience this year, but it was probably the most fun I've had since I started. We got to be creative this year....our "Under the Sea" theme was changed to "Under the Tree", we put up some power poles with drooping lines and a smoking transformer...you can see all the tape along the bottom of the canoes, where they were bashed into the dock and the plastic covering them ripped...we were lucky we didn't sink during the storm! We knew we had first place in our division locked up...since we were the only entry! There were problems this year on the lake and over half the floats were disqualified because they had to be towed. We made it around on our own power, but those in charge have decided to hold off giving awards because it just "didn't seem fair" that so many were disqualified, so they're going to do an investigation into it. Seems to me that the rules are the rules...if you're towed, you're out. I'll be curious to see what happens and if we ever get our first place award! After all, we followed the rules...

August Projects

Kelly, over at Charming Chatter, has started a club aimed at getting some projects finished. I'm in desperate need of motivation, so I'm playing along this month. Although none of these are whole quilts (and one isn't quilting at all!), they are the projects I need to get finished...they all have deadlines!

First up is a block for our Diocesan quilt project. I've been asked to create a block representing our parish. I'm going to do a Baltimore Album style block, red on white, with a small sketch of our church in the center.

Second up will be my new block for the Heartland Heritage block of the month from the Fat Quarter Shop. I've managed to stay up to date with this one, I want to keep it that way!

Third are my socks that have been on the needles for months now...I want these done before the weather gets cold!

I've got loads of projects going on my design wall. My fourth project will be catching up with my basket block of the month. I've got June, July and August to do, I plan to have them done by the end of the month!

And I thought I'd share my last two blocks finished...May in the basket swap and July's block from Gail Pan's block of the month.

I hope to make good progress on these projects because I have one more that I want to add to my list when I finish!

Happy Birthday, Grace!

It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since my youngest was born! She is an independent, free spirited, determined, funny and sweet young lady. Happy birthday, Grace...I love you!

Stormy Days

Late Friday afternoon, a fast moving, devastating storm came through our little town. The talk is that a tornado touched down a few blocks over, although the weather service hasn't confirmed it. It's amazing how much damage can be done in less than a minute. We were lucky. I was home with Grace, who is still recuperating from surgery and within seconds of hearing the wind pick up, I watched this tree go down right off of our backyard. Fortunately, it fell just perfectly and missed all of the surrounding houses...and didn't mess up my new patio!

The boss and Andrew were at the lake, working on our float for Canoe Carnival. They were incredibly lucky...as they were trying to cover things on the float, a board came off of a bench and flew right over their heads.

Then, as they were walking alongside the cabin, Andrew stopped to put something away. A tree came down in between the two of them...had Andrew not stopped, he would have been under it. All in our group are safe, but the house where we launch didn't fare as well. There's no structural damage, but they have a huge clean up to do.

Our float didn't fare well either. It's completely destroyed. Apparently, we were one of only two out of about 20 floats that were totally destroyed. Canoe Carnival was postponed until next week and although we can't rebuild what was lost, we do have a plan...and we WILL float!

The Patient

ACL surgery went well this morning and Grace was a wonderful patient. She's home resting and recuperating now. She's in some pain, but the pain meds are helping. Tomorrow she'll start on the CPM (passive knee bending machine) to help her regain mobility in her knee. After she gets her stitches out, she'll start rehab. Thank you for all your well wishes and prayers, they're much appreciated!

Slowing Down...

Or trying to, at least. Over the past few months, when I haven't had time to do all of the things I need to do, let alone things I want to do, like blog or sew, I've come to the realization that I don't like to be busy. So, I've decided to slow down a little. I just finished the last customer quilt I had in the house. Since I'm now working just about full time, when I come home I really don't want to have to work more! I'm taking a break from quilting for customers, at least until October first. Don't worry...I'm not quitting...just trying to erase the feeling of burnout I've had for the last few months. I think I may take this course as a way of becoming motivated again. I may join MQR as well, there are apparently so many inspiring quilts and videos available to the members...are any of you members? Is it worthwhile?

It's also our annual Canoe Carnival time and we've been working on our float. Canoe Carnival is on August 1st and this is our float so far. We have a fair amount of work to do this weekend and next!

However my main reason for slowing down is that I'll be taking about 10 days off from work to spend time with Grace. Back in May she ruptured her ACL. For the past month she's been going to physical therapy twice a week to strengthen her knee...so she's scheduled for ACL surgery on Monday. If all goes well, she'll be back on her feet in time for school to start in September. I don't know how well she'll be walking, but she will be on her feet!

I have been back in the sewing room in the past few days...more on that later!

The party's over...

And it seemed to have been a success! There were people everywhere...on the patio...




In the house...



On the porch...







Games were played....



The most amazingly delicious cake, made by Kim from Just 1 More Bite was eaten...

And after a long, tough day of eating and drinking...everyone was still asleep at noon the next day (this was the living room...we also had them sleeping in the computer room and all the bedrooms!)...covered with quilts, of course!

And now that everyone has gone and all is cleaned up, I'm heading back to my sewing room!

For Mom...

This post is for my mom...who pointed out that I haven't posted for awhile. I just haven't had anything to post! I haven't picked up a needle in weeks, I've been working a lot, but most of my time has been spent cleaning and getting ready for Andrew's graduation party/Fourth of July party on Saturday. It just goes to show...you really shouldn't ONLY clean when you're having a party, especially if you haven't had a real party in years!

When we bought our house, there was an empty lot behind us. A few years ago, a house was built on the lot, which meant it was time to do something with our yard. Never did it...but with this party, it was time to do something. So, we started with this yesterday morning...



















Then the Hartford Gardens crew showed up and now we have this...

And this...

Which has led to this...

And this...

Life is good....

Quilting?

Yes, this really is a quilting blog, not that you'd know it lately! Just a peek at what I've been doing...

I quilted 12 quilts for Camp Reach for the Sky, for Rosie's Calico Cupboard. The quilts will go to children who are battling cancer and their siblings.

The boss and I attended a local quilt show at Kirby's Mill. The Mill was beautiful...

And we've prepared one of our canoes for this year's Canoe Carnival. We'll begin building the elements for the float this week!

Grace update...she's seeing the orthopedic doctor next Tuesday. She wasn't supposed to see him until the 25th, but his office called today. It seems the doctor was looking at his schedule, saw she had a torn ACL and decided she really shouldn't wait that long...so he had his office call to get her in sooner. I'm impressed.

Really???

We got the results of Grace's MRI today. Her little fall from the fence tore her ACL. No wonder her knee hurts! She's probably looking at surgery and rehab once she gets out of school. Not exactly how a 14 year old wants to spend her summer!

Wonder if I could convince her to let me teach her to knit?

Hey...

I'm still here, did you miss me? After Andrew's graduation, the drama continued. Ellen is home from Providence now and I once again have a full house. My house was seeming very empty and far too big for awhile there...not anymore! It's good to have everyone home, although they expect me to cook. They're learning quickly that I don't do that anymore! :o) Grace has had a little drama herself. Last weekend she jumped over a fence at the beach and it didn't go well. We were in the emergency room the next morning. She badly sprained her knee and wound up on crutches and in a knee brace. Today she went for an MRI. We hope to have the results tomorrow and we hope there's nothing wrong!!!

Judy asked what was on our design walls. There's not much on mine. My finished 5 blocks for Gail Pan's Block of the month is up there. I'm caught up on this one and here is the latest block...

I've also got the first two blocks of the Heartland Heritage Block of the Month done...I'm caught up on this one until my next package arrives later this week! Here are blocks one and two....

I've realized that other than the BOM's, I don't have a quilt started. I'm still working on Anne Sutton's baskets and I've been working on a Rachel's Reel quilt when I have a few minutes, but I really need to start working on a pieced quilt. Hmmm....I'll have to find something to make. So many choices!!!!

One Down...

The happy graduate...

The relieved family...

Congratulations Andrew, we're so proud of you!!!

Mother's Day late...

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. It's been a busy week and a half, which didn't allow much time for quilting!

My Mother's Day weekend was excellent. Earlier in the week, I received a tin of Hershey's dark chocolate covered pretzels in the mail from Ellen and her boyfriend Jarred. They're almost gone...chocolate covered pretzels are my favorite treat! On Saturday we went to the Phillies game and saw them lose to the Dodgers. In spite of that, there's nothing like a sunny day at the ballpark! Afterwards we met Andrew at PJ's for my "Mother's Day" beer. :o) They run a special on the 9th of each month...99 cent Magic Hat #9, so we took advantage of it!

When we got home, sitting on the table were these beautiful flowers. Grace had walked from our house to the local florist, which is about 1.5 miles away. After she bought the flowers she walked to the Hallmark store which is a little further and bought the two votive candles. Then she carried it all the way home. I was overwhelmed...what a thoughtful gift she gave me! Then the next day, the Boss offered to pay for part of the flowers and she told him no...if he paid, they wouldn't be from her and it was worth every penny she spent to surprise me and see the smile on my face. What a sweetheart!

Burlington County also sent me a Mother's Day gift...a summons for jury duty. I have to report in June...on my birthday! Thanks, guys...

I finally finished my fourth block of Gail Pan's embroidery BOM this week. I'm now a month behind on Anne Sutton's basket BOM and on the Heartland Heritage BOM from the Fat Quarter Shop...although in that one I've done block 2 and not block one. I've had no time to sew, between my work schedule and quilting for customers schedule. I can't wait to have time to catch up!

And that's it from south Jersey...until the weekend. I should have lots of pictures then...Andrew graduates from college tomorrow! I can't imagine how I got old enough to have a child graduate college!

Home again...

I hadn't been to Chicago since I was very young and really don't know why I waited so long to go back! Even in the persistent rain, it is a beautiful city. Since this was a business trip, the boss was busy during the day, so I got to spend a lot of time exploring on my own. We arrived on Wednesday and took a walk down to Lake Michigan once we were settled in the hotel. You couldn't see much of the skyline as you looked across the park because the clouds were hanging a little low.

I walked for miles each day...I loved the parks and the artwork in them. This fountain is in Millenium Park and I found it very unusual!

As I came around a corner in the park, suddenly this came into view. It was very odd to see a T. Rex lurking in the park!

Then there was the Chicago Bean. I'd never heard of this before, but read about it in a travel guide at the hotel and had to go find it. It's like a big garden gazing ball which reflects the city. Very cool!

On Wednesday night we had dinner at a restaurant called Wildfire. I had a filet platter with roasted vegetables which was just amazing. If you're ever in Chicago, give this place a try, you won't regret it!

More pictures next time...