JOY

Have you ever felt such joy in your heart that you had spontaneous laughter and tears? I've felt that only twice -- 1) last year after the doctor called and said there was no more cancer, and 2) today, driving home from Louisville thinking about my sweet granddaughter, Emma. I saw her today.....

All of us thought she was going to be a "he" so we were floored when the tech showed us her girly parts. I had been hoping for a girl so I could learn to smock, and sew those cute little outfits and dresses...and just because....

Look at those little feet crossed......

The profile, and the tiny elbow and hand....I teased them that her elbow looked like her daddy's, actually I was serious....lol

I am in love.....

Of course on the way home I had to go shopping......

And I've got to figure out a very special quilt to make for our very special little Emma. So blessed, so, so blessed.

 

36" Swoon block

I found on the Internet where someone enlarged the pieces in the Swoon pattern to make one big 36" block. I thought this would be perfect for a new wall hanging in our bathroom. It took me a while scavenging in my stash to get enough fabrics. I ended up making almost three versions before I was pleased with the outcome. You can see the stack of rejects to the left.

I think I am going to like this....

 

Round and Round again (third time)

Love this little pattern. This one is to donate to our church auction we have each year to raise money for the youth mission trips.

...a Christmasy wall hanging or table topper....

 

Ring Toss

I pulled out several of the fat quarters I won recently to make Ring Toss by Heather Mulder Peterson.

I found the Henry Glass fabric for the backing, marked down at a quilt shop that was closing.  Quilted it with a nice swirly pantograph.  I think this will be a gift for a little baby boy due in November.  I've saved my favorites from this line just in case we find out we are having a boy!  (my first grandchild!!)

Swoon from thirties fabrics

I know I am about a year behind the "swoon" rage. Somehow I missed all the hullabaloo about it last year. It is a design by Camille Roskelley and I love it. Very old fashioned. Big blocks. Set in white. I am using some thirties fabrics I collected a few years ago but never used. I am hoping the vintage look of the pattern will look good with the thirties fabrics.

Seems like it took a while to cut it out. I was being so careful and (my sister would be proud) labeled each fabric set to which block it is and which color. I ordered some Moda bleached white #97 to use for the white. That is what the designer likes to use.

Clever idea....and faux bias binding

I've been meaning to post this clever idea...

Use a canning lid to trace around a milk or juice carton spout. Cut it out.

Attach it to the jar with the canning ring. Great idea. As you can see I use it for our honey.

I finished the quilting on this little beauty tonight and am trying to decide on the binding fabric.

The plaid on the left has the true colors of the quit. The stripe on the right has a blue and green, neither of which are in the quilt. However, the mix of the two colors looks like the turquoise in the quilt. Decisions, decisions. Actually I think either one will look good. I've been buying up bias plaids and stripes whenever I see them. I love the look of a bias binding but I don't like cutting them on the bias. For these, you just cut them straight, but you get that great bias look for your binding.

 

Mountains

We went high up in the mountains for a couple of days to have some fun with my sister and brother-in-law.

It was so nice up at Newfound Gap. Only 61 degrees.

We stopped at a visitor center that we enjoyed. It had an early 1900's homestead complete with cabin, smokehouse, barn, garden, and other buildings and info from that era.

Travelled on over to Cherokee, NC, where we had an awesome lunch at a little mom and pop place. Then back to the Dixie Stampede where we pigged out on the great food and enjoyed the show!

(Photo from Dixie Stampede website)

 

Day trip to Becky's Barn

Took a trip today heading west....

...to Becky's Barn...

...inside the Barn is a shop...

..in addition to the shop, the barn is set up to accommodate several quilters for retreats. Each quilter has their personal sewing station...there are several cutting and ironing stations as well...

The place is full of beautiful quilts....on every bed...

....on every wall....

 

...a fully equipped kitchen too....

...and she has plans for more beds and sewing stations upstairs.....

...a beautiful place....truly a quilter's delight. Even a place to learn new skills....

...and show off your handiwork....

I have a couple of friends who love to frequent this place to relax and sew with their friends. I see why. Thanks Wanda for inviting me up for a visit!

On the way home, I stopped at a wonderful little store for a coke float...

...and enjoyed a beautiful drive back home.....

 

Honey wheat bread

 

Love me some homemade bread...

 

Saturday's doings

Ring toss is coming along nicely.....this fabric sews beautifully. You can tell it is top quality.

 

Yummy.....

And this is the first time ever we have had the windows open in August. And it is nice!

Hope this doesn't mean an early winter....maybe a long, beautiful fall.

 

Before and after, and other random photos

I don't think I made a before and after of my living room re-do.

It is such a beautifully cool day today, I pulled out my camera, went outside, and took some photos of my furry little model. He makes me smile.

And a couple of the color around our place.