Hand Quilting

Back in July, I decided I really needed to make something and (are you ready for this?) FINISH it.  I knew it had to be small or it would never happen.  

 So, I took some nine patches that I had made using my Jo Morton fabrics and put together a little nine patch quilt. 

  
Then I pulled out my needle and thread and hand quilted it with simple diagonal lines.  It took a few evenings, but soon it was ready for binding. 

Now it lives on my antique sewing machine in the family room.  I can't tell you how good it felt to finish a quilt this summer...even if it's only a tiny one! 

I'm planning another hand quilting project for the winter.  I have two more quilt tops made with Jo Morton fabrics that need quilting...

Empty Nesting!

Here it is, almost Labor Day...it's so hard to believe!  Getting Grace ready for college was a summer long activity.  She's now settled into her dorm, classes have started and she seems to be enjoying it so far.  In the meantime, Lee and I have settled into our empty house.  It's strange.  I think the biggest thing that we've noticed, aside from how quiet it is, is that when we clean things, they stay clean!  Well, except for the litter boxes, that is.  Can't have everything, huh?

 
I do miss having Grace around and I'm looking forward to parent's weekend which we'll head up for in October.  In the meantime, I've been trying to catch up on a few things around here, one of which is the blog!  My major project of the summer was crocheting an afghan for Grace.  Being the daughter of a quilter, it would make perfect sense that rather than a quilt, she'd ask for an afghan for college, right?  I was surprised by her color choice...I figured she'd go with a dark purple or dark green, but she went with a beautiful dark wedgewood blue. The color above is pretty close to what it looked like and you can sort of see the design.We found a pattern she liked and I was off.  I'd hoped to have it finished by her high school graduation, but was only half done at that point.  I finished it the week before she left and was so happy to have that project done!  And apparently she liked it too...

Next up is the little bit of handquilting that I did over the summer.  I'd forgotten how much I enjoy hand quilting!

Be Back Soon

Have had no time to sew and can't really get to my machine. College packing is taking over! I leave to take Grace to college on Friday for Saturday's move in. Then I'll drive home to a quiet house. Lee will be traveling quite a bit this fall, so I'm hoping to have lots of sewing time. See you soon!

27 Years

27 years ago I married this guy.  I hadn't known him very long...he transferred into my high school at the beginning of senior year. I had one class with him in high school, thought he was kind of a jerk...quite full of himself!  I never gave him a thought until Valentine's Day that year when he stood at the door of our English class and handed out little kid Valentines and candy hearts to all the girls walking into class...including me.  It seems he hadn't had much luck in dating after he transferred and hoped this would get him a date or two.  It got him plenty of dates...but not with me!

Fast forward to our 5 year reunion, in November of 1984.  I attended with a very good friend, who happened to be friends with Lee.  I was catching up with old friends, dancing and have a good time..and then he asked me to dance.  We danced a few times, the night wore on and the reunion came to an end.  Afterwards we all decided to go to Denny's and get something to eat.  Lee was invited along, just because he was there when we made plans. When it was time to leave Denny's, I gave everyone a big hug, except for Lee.  After all, I didn't really know him!

The next day he called and asked me out.  We went out that night in early November and that was all she wrote...on New Year's Eve we got engaged and got married that July.  What a whirlwind it was!  Later he admitted that he really wanted to go out drinking after the reunion with some other friends, but decided to come to Denny's with us so he could get my number. 

We've had our ups and downs as all marriages do, we raised 3 wonderful kids, and now we're getting ready for the next chapter of our lives...the empty nest.  It won't be completely empty since Grace will be back from college on breaks and for the summers, but it will be so strange to have just the two of us rattling around in our house.  I'm looking forward to the next 27 years...and beyond! 

Happy Anniversary, Lee...I love you!

The Philadelphia Color Run

Up until a few months ago I had never heard of The Color Run.  Then our kids decided to run this 5K race, so of course we had to go cheer them on! Here they are, all bright and shiny at 6:30 this morning!

Andrew, Dayna, Ellen and Grace

They all started running at approximately 7:30.  Dayna, Andrew and Ellen headed off in one group, but Grace wound up a group behind because she was asked to take a picture of some other runners.  Here's Grace, starting her run.

Grace - without a foot on the ground...she's flying!

Ellen, Dayna and Andrew

Since Grace took off late, Andrew, Ellen and Dayna finished before her.  Grace came in a few minutes later...

Grace

 And here they all are after the run!

Since it's not a race, just a fun run, there were loads of people walking, jogging, in wheelchairs, in strollers...you name it. Lee and I are thinking that maybe next year we'll join them!  It was a great way to start the day, but I have a feeling that bedtime will be coming early tonight...a 5am wake up call is just a little too early for me!

Sunday Evening...

I got to spend a  little bit of time with my longarm today.  I finally finished stabilizing the quilt that I had on the machine and got to move onto the fun stuff!  Some freehand quilting and some wreaths with my Circle Lord made me realize I am SO out of practice!  I guess that's what happens when you don't longarm for a year or so!  I'm glad to be back at my machine again.

With the heat we're having in the East, I decided to cut the prettiest of my hydrangea flowers and bring them in the house to enjoy.  The ones still on the bushes are just shriveling up in the heat, no matter how much water we give them.  

Time to get back to the afghan...I really need to take pictures of this thing!

Design Wall Monday

 I do have something new on my design wall!  I've signed up for a 6 month block of the month called Vintage Rouge from Stitchin' Heaven.  I got my first shipment two weeks ago and made my first blocks over the weekend.  I just love this quilt...I hope mine turns out okay!

Here's the complete quilt...

What's on your design wall?

Of Quilting, Percocet and other things...

I made my annual pilgrimage to Pennington Quilt Works in Pennington, NJ on Saturday.  Every year for your birthday, they send you a postcard good for 20% off of a purchase. The coupon is good for the month of your birthday.  In the past, I've usually purchased fabric with no idea what I'd use it for, but this year I had a plan. It's been a challenging year.  Back in November, I was diagnosed with Shingles.  I read up on it and knew that once the rash cleared, there would be some pain and discomfort, but I figured by Christmas, it would be gone.  Wrong!  If you are of an age where it's recommended that you receive the Shingles Vaccine, do it! You don't want this, trust me!  Postherpetic neuralgia is the name given to the pain that ensues long after the shingles are gone.  Now, I've suffered from migraines for 30 years, given birth to 3 children and have never felt anything like this!

I've been on a combination of Neurontin, Percocet and lidocaine patches since last December in an attempt to control the pain.  Although it varies in intensity throughout the days, it's a constant presence and is totally exhausting.  As a result, I've been too tired by the time I leave work to do much of anything, especially quilting or knitting. And I've missed it.  So this quilt will be my way of working through all of this.  Up in Pennnington, I picked up the pattern Sherbet Stars by Bonnie of Cotton Way. The jelly roll and coordinating fabrics are Blackbird Designs "Meadow" for Moda. My goal is to have the quilt completely finished by the time my next birthday coupon comes in the mail in a year...and hopefully the pain will be gone long before the last stitch is taken.

Hard to Believe

I'm absolutely amazed that all 3 of my children have now graduated from high school!  Grace graduated on Wednesday night from high school and I'm so proud of her.  Above are my parents with her, right after she collected her diploma.  Next week we take her for college orientation...then come August she'll be going to college and we'll have a big, empty house.  It will be strange!

I have so much to share...a quick trip last weekend, a finished mini quilt, the afghan project and so much more, I'm excited to get back to blogging!  Andrea from Welsh Quilter and I are going to encourage each other to post on a regular basis.  I know we can do it!

Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks to the greatest kids in the world...I love being your mom!

And a happy Mother's Day to my mom...I hope you have wonderful day!

Wishing all of you a Happy Mother's Day too!

Wish I was there...

Grace is on her senior trip and is hanging out with my favorite character!

I'm so glad she's having fun!

Would you be happy...

If you came home from the groomer looking like this?  When we took Daisy a few weeks ago, she didn't seem very happy!  I thought she looked pretty cute though.  Still love her eyes, it amazes me that one can be ice blue and the other, dark brown!



I've begun quilting my Kansas Troubles block of the month.  So far I'm just stabilizing it because I can't decide how to quilt it.  Any suggestions?

 Another new project is in the works...a wool Christmas table mat from Primitive Gatherings.  I've fused everything down, now need to do the buttonhole stitch along the edges of the appliques.  This WILL be done before Christmas...pictures soon!  Oh...and I've started a crocheted afghan for my youngest to take to college.  Can you believe she doesn't want a quilt?!?  She's leaving for her senior trip to Disney World on Wednesday morning.  With the Boss in Denmark/Italy this week, I think I'll have a little bit of sewing time in the next few days...can't wait!

Sock Fail

I sat down to have a cup of tea and work on my Tidepool Socks.  I've been totally uninterested in them, they just weren't knitting up into something I liked. I fought it hard, I tried to like them, really I did, but there was just something about them. So now they look like this:

Yep, I did it again.  Back in December I ripped out a sock I had started for the boss...right about the time I got to the heel flap, which is where I was on this one.  Now I'm wondering if I'll ever finish a pair of socks...or even one sock!

19 March

Daisy was right, a walk was exactly what I needed before my class tonight. Smart pup!

Sonoma Rose Winner!

Using the random number generator, and leaving out the one comment that didn't want to be entered, comment number 7 was the winner.  So that means Maggie from Maggie's Crafting Adventure is the winner!  Congratulations Maggie!  I was doubly excited when Maggie's number came up...you see, a few years ago (okay, more than a few!), Maggie and I met through a mutual friend when we were marching in different color guards in high school.  We lost touch and found each other in the last year or so on Facebook.  Isn't Facebook a wonderful thing?  

Maggie, send me your address and I'll get your book off to you!

Don't Forget the Giveaway!

Leave a comment on the Giveaway post before Saturday to win a copy of Jennifer Chiaverini's new book Sonoma Rose!

New Projects

I do have a few new projects in the works here at Lakeside Quilting!  The first is an Old Shale scarf (Ravelry Link) made of Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere in this gorgeous blue, which the boss brought home from one of his business trips for me.

Next up is a Tidepool sock made from Fleece Artist Somoco yarn.  I got this as part of a sock club a few years ago and I'm finally knitting it up! This picture does not do the color justice, it's a beautiful blend of aqua blues and greens.

Next is an applique which I'm doing with a friend as a block of the month.  The pattern is Piece O Cake designs "Cinnamon Stitches" which was their 1998 BOM.  I plan to do the entire quilt with Bonnie and Camille's Ruby fabric.

Now the question is, will any of them be done by the end of 2012???

Giveaway!

I was recently asked to preview a book that is coming out on February 21st.  When I realized it was the latest installment of the Elm Creek Quilters books by Jennifer Chiaverini, I was delighted to do so!  As soon as the book arrived in the mail and I started reading, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed.  The book picks up the story of Rosa Diaz Barclay, who we met in The Quilters Homecoming.  She's had a very difficult life...she's married to a man who abuses her, and 4 of her children have died from a mysterious disease (one that has touched my daughter, thank goodness for advances in medicine!). She manages to run away with her first love to look for medical care for her children and a new life for herself and her children.  I don't want to give anything away and I haven't finished the book yet, so you'll just have to read it yourself!

Once I finish reading this, I've been asked to give it away to another reader so they can enjoy it too!  If you'd like to win my copy of Sonoma Rose, just leave a comment.  I'll use the random number generator next Saturday, February 25th to choose a winner.  Good luck!

Quilt Top Finish

I've finally finished the quilt top for my Block of the Month Quilt that I did in 2010 through the Fat Quarter Shop and I can't believe I waited so long to finish. I love how it all came together! I've already made the binding...just need to load it on the machine and decide how to quilt it. Any suggestions?

Catching Up...

I haven't been very good about keeping my blog updated lately.  Looking through my past few posts, I realized that I never even mentioned a few things...

Mary

1.  I was lucky enough to go to Houston for Festival this year!  My dear friend Mary and I had a wonderful time.  We took a full day class with Elly Sienkiewicz.  One of my life goals was to go to her Applique Academy.  Not anymore.  I feel like it's almost sacrilegious to say this, but she was not a good teacher.  She constantly got lost in what she was telling us and seemed very confused.  If someone questioned how she did something, she changed her mind and tried to explain another way, but couldn't quite do that either.  It was hugely disappointing and I felt that I wasted my time and money in taking the class.  She didn't bring enough supplies for everyone in the class, all in all it was a complete disappointment.  It's a good thing I had Mary with me...she's a great teacher and I learned a lot from her!  We did have fun walking around the show and it was so relaxing, spending time with her and her wonderful DH.

2. We really enjoyed the holidays this year.  We loved having the kids all home for opening gifts on Christmas Eve and for dinner on Christmas day.

Ellen, Andrew, Dayna & Grace

3.   I did finish a few small gifts for Christmas.  Grace and Dayna each got a crocheted, slouchy beret.  Here is Dayna's beret...I don't think I took a picture of Grace's, but hers was the same pattern in burgundy.

Ellen was the recipient of this year's "Unfinished Project"...a slouchy hat in a different pattern.  But hers didn't take nearly as long to finish as Dayna's quilt did last year!  I finished it this past weekend, and here it is...

My sister also received a knitted gift this year...a scarf that I started in a class last spring and finished a few weeks before Christmas.  This was my knitting project on the plane coming home from Houston.  It appears I didn't take a picture of it...or if I did I can't find it.  You'll just have to believe me, it was very pretty and so soft!

Since the "Unfinished Gift" has become a family joke, I'll have to figure out who will get it next year!

The boss and I were looking back over 2011 and decided it was a very challenging year.  We learned a lot from some of the experiences we had (like not to take in our kids' stray friends), I have some ongoing health challenges which have followed me into 2012 (do any of you have experience with shingles?  If so, please share your story with me.  I've had them for about a month and a half and never anticipated how debilitating the pain would be.  I'm at the point where I feel kind of stupid saying that I have shingles since it's been so long, but that's what it is.).

I'm looking forward to a very productive 2012, because heaven knows I wasn't very productive in 2011!  More on what I'll be working on in the next post!