Craft Hope

I happened upon this site recently and signed up right away - blankets, beanies and booties for babies living in an orphanage in India. Click on the icon and find out more.

I know that I have some super soft flannel, just waiting for a little binding - enough for three or four. Maybe even a couple of tiny little slippers too. Gotta get working on them though - have to be in Texas by the 25 of July!!!

Quilt Along Continues

I'm all caught up. Week 5 starts tomorrow and I'm ready! Here's my quilt top - ready for "sandwiching" and then quilting. Think I might have to go out and buy some varigated thread for the quilting - what do you think?
Now I need to go catch up on the one-a-day nine patch square challenge that I signed-up for.

This is what 12 looks like!

Our youngest.  Can't believe it's been 12 years.  He is a truly delightful little man.  Celebrations included going to the ACC semi-finals and finals a couple of weeks ago - with the Daddy (much as I love him - sitting through 3 baseball games is just not something I can do!!); a breakfast feast, topped off with ribs and Jello poke cupcakes for dinner.  It was a good day.  Next year ....  we'll have 3 teenagers in our house.... YIKES.

Off to high school and quilt-along

I can't believe it - one senior , one freshman and one 7th grader.... where does it go? K had her 8th grade award ceremony (we're not allowed to call it a graduation here on the coast of NC) - graduation is reserved for high school. A couple of awards, tears (that she had saved up for a week!! a long story), lots of photos and a little cake. Altogether a great day. So here's a pic of her dress. K is the one in the blue dress (for those that don't know her!). She wore it with a cute white shrug as it was strapless (as per her instructions) and therefore not appropriate for school! Unfortunately, you can't see the pleats - to me that what made it a little different. The way it laid because of them.

I've also been working on Old Red Barn's Quilt-Along. My fabric is picked, strips cut and i've sewn two sets together. I'm a "little" behind as we're supposed to be at the point where sets have been sewn & cut and blocks are being sewn together! that's okay though 'cause I have all week to catch-up!!

Here are my 12 fabrics -

... now cut into strips... for the life of me I couldn't get the cat out of the way - i'd put him down, he'd get right back up.... quirky!

.... tomorrow the strip sets!

Back into the Swing of It

Nothing like a Quilt-Along to get me back into blogging. The reality is that i have a couple of other priorities (like an 8th grade graduation dress) to complete before week's end but hey - nothing like a little pressure to get i all done :)

It's just the third week (out of six), strips are just being sewn together.... I have to go into town tomorrow - hope the little man doesn't mind a quick trip to the fabric store as my stash is in very sad shape at the moment... so it's feeling very doable.

I can't believe school is over in just a few days - a senior, a freshman and a 7th grader in the fall - where does the time go?

I'll be back tomorrow with a few updates - some photos - but REALLY - that dress has to get done and the girlie picked a Vogue pattern - an advanced sewer one, with funky pleats....

So Thankful For So Much

On this Thanksgiving Day I am so thankful for -

• Funny, wonderful children;
• A fabulous husband with a great sense of humour;
• GREAT friends;
• The opportunity to spend time with great friends and family;
• Plenty of good food to cook with;
• Piles of books to read;
• Piles of fabric to play with;
• the gift to sew and create;
• the great blessings bestowed upon us... for all these things and more - I am truly thankful.
  

Cool Critters

These three "Magoo" monkeys along with "Tweet & Hooty" and "Dudley" the dodo are what I have been spending the last month working on. Are they not the cutest softies EVER!!!?

They were created from Melly & Me patterns - a wonderful Australian line of patterns created by two sisters. Treasured Threads is one of their American distributor. Definitely a place to browse through. Shannon carries a variety of different lines - everything from quilt patterns that include gorgeous stitchery, fabulous softie patterns, oodles of books etc. etc.

This is where you can also go to get your hands on Australian Homespun magazine. WOW - love it!! glossy, variety of projects from quilting to stitchery, to softies. Lovely articles accompany the projects. Oh and beautiful photographs.

You may also want to add this Absent-Minded Santa to your Christmas craft list. I know I will be. He comes together quickly and it WAY CUTE. Sshh - don't you think he would make a great Christmas present!!??? I made him from a Natalie Ross In Stitches pattern - again Australian designer.

I also made a lovely purse - Ginger & Spice by Cinderberry Stitches. Unfortunately I don't have a photograph of the purse. If you have an opportunity to look through her patterns

and blog I know you'll enjoy the time spent.

Now until mid-November all my sewing is likely to be focused on the local high school play, though I really have to finish my projects for my stitching angel swap. My swap angel lives in Australia so I think i'm going to send one package - but i know how much fun it is to receive a little package here and there - so i'll see..... maybe i'll split it into two!!

Until next time my friends - enjoy the day and this absolutely stunning fall season.