First Finish of 2014

I woke up to 17 below this morning.  It even looked cold out there!

 It was a perfect day to sit with a quilt over my lap and put the final stitches in the binding.  I'm not sure what year I pieced this quilt, but I know I started the hand quilting in November 2010.  It's a good feeling to have it finished!

I can't remember what year Barb, Ann, and I went on a quilt retreat to Minocqua, WI, but I know that's when I bought the fabric.  Ann offered up the challenge to make something using the Jacob's Ladder block and fabric that we purchased on our trip.  I definitely didn't want to make a full quilt using that block, so I just scattered a few among the plain blocks to meet the challenge.

Outside light gives a little better picture of the colors.

Now I'm waiting for it to dry off and warm up in the dryer so I can snuggle up with it and take my afternoon nap.  I'll dream about my next project!

Was today our Indian Summer?

I'm not sure what the temperature has to be to call it Indian Summer, but I suspect today was as good as it's going to get this year.  When Barb called to see if I wanted to join her and Bill on a ride to the beach I jumped at the chance.

After helping to pick a few sauna rocks,  I left her on the beach to take pictures of footprints in the sand.

I decided to give my aching knee a break and not come back down these steps once I hauled my buckets of rocks to the top.

Instead, I spent my time wandering around in the park enjoying the sound of the dry leaves crunching under my feet.

On such a beautiful day, it was hard to believe that November has arrived and it won't be very long before these leaves are covered with snow.

There are still a few trees that are refusing to give up their leaves.

I haven't spent much time with my sewing machine all summer, but on the cold rainy days we've had I've started to cut out fabric and play a little bit - so I suspect I'll find time soon to start stitching.

All this color will have to be my sunshine for awhile.

Summer Fun

I posted a picture of Wendy and Elizabeth on facebook - when they saw it they wanted me to post more of their pictures so I thought I'd do it here.

It was a perfect evening to relax at the beach.  Too cool to swim, but warm enough to play.  I don't relax much when the kids are in the water and I'm in charge, so this worked for me.

Brian found a fort on the hill and patiently spent the evening hauling flat rocks to make a floor inside.  He's pick up a rock, throw it a few feet, and continue this until it was close enough to carry into the fort.

Meanwhile, the girls set about making their own house on the beach --

with a little "help" from Mark.

I'm not sure what this other project was - other than good times.

When I tried to get a picture of Wendy and Elizabeth - they just wanted to goof around.

Fun times - I wish some of my grandkids would move to the Copper Country. I sure have no desire to move to the city.

Before and After

I thought I'd sneak in one more post before the month ends - just to keep in touch!  No quilting projects to report - but I did have some fun with a sample can of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint.  

Here's what my small end table looked like before -

The before picture was taken back in March - but it wasn't until my sister and brother-in-law started moving in on my block that I got motivated to work on it.  They've been full of energy painting walls and ceilings at their new house - and since I didn't feel like helping with that major project, I thought I better do something so that I could have the excuse that "I'm busy!"  

All painted up, I'm quite happy with the results.

The color is Versailles - followed by a coat of clear wax.

Al's Graduation

Not much time for stitching this month - I suppose it'll be that way until September.

There was a lot of rain on the day of the graduation party (Sharyn and I got drenched on our walk home from a rained out grade school field day) - but you wouldn't know it by this picture.  The skies cleared so that the graduates, families, and friends all had a good time.

Graduation was held at the Breslin Center on the MSU Campus in Lansing.  

With about 600 graduates, it was close to a full house. 

Where's Waldo?

and there's Jim - he appears to be texting Phil again.

Al tried to get me to smile for a picture.

Kisses work best.

Just another baby quilt

I had no progress to report for April and apparently someone was checking my blog and noticed.  I started feeling guilty so thought I better get something done.

I was sorting through my fabric and came across some pieces that were left over after making Andrew's quilt almost three years ago.  There was just enough left to put together a small quilt.

After using a few scraps to dress up the back, I think I had less than 10 square inches left - I had no guilt about pitching it.

The weather cooperated so I could get a picture outdoors before I gave it away.

March Progress Report

I only finished one of my stitching goals for March (goals which had been moved forward from February).  My goal was to quilt and bind this one.  I sort of exceeded that goal by making it larger before I did the quilting and binding - maybe that excuses me for not meeting the rest of my goals.

I had a difficult time getting a decent picture.  I'll be glad when the snow is gone and I can get back to my clothes lines!

In keeping with the scrappiness, I backed it with a sheet I found at a garage sale last spring;

and I managed to find a large enough piece of a favorite fabric to use for binding.



Although I don't have a photo of this second one completely finished - it was another finish for March.  A cooperative effort with my sister - she did the final steps and sent it off.

For April, my hope is to empty my sewing room and have new flooring installed.  That just might mean I don't get any sewing done - it'll be a big project.  I'll concentrate on my hand stitching projects in my down time, but those are long term goals - nothing that will be completed in April.  Obviously a new floor is more important than any stitching I would do.

If I manage to get my sewing room organized in order to do this - it's a bonus!