Bread and Bags

...but not bread bags...

Yesterday we went to a wedding for a couple who are dear friends of the family.  Both of our kids and spouses were there too. It was a nice day.

I was able to finish quilting panels for all but one of the big bags.  I have it loaded on the frame so it won't take long to quilt.  Hoping to get to it one night this week.

These are 5 of the 7.  You are seeing half a panel of each in the picture. And Addy.  And Bess.  Little photo bombers.

I have a pot of stew cooking on the stove and 2 loaves of bread in the oven.

The stew just needs to be thickened.  Bread should be done soon.  The house smells good!

Vacation Days

Ev and I had the past week off.  We rented a cute cabin in the Missouri Ozarks.  It was a beautiful spot and was very peaceful and relaxing.  Unfortunately, Ev was sick with a respiratory and sinus infection.

I had taken my Featherweight machine and made some of these cute little present blocks.

The new cat, Miss Lenore, was pretty happy to see us.  My sister came over and fed and watered her.  She has become quite the little lover , jumping in my lap and curling up for a nap.

This weekend I quilted panels for 4 more bags on Gemma.

Four Friends i

 Yesterday we had a girls day.  The three of us from my area met up with our friend up north.  We had a shopping trip and then lunch.

See all our bags?  I put goodies in different pockets, too.

My son and his wife moved to the city over the weekend.  They bought their first house.  Since it is in the middle of the city, they didn't take their cat that had been living outside.  We now have a cat living in our garage.  I'm actually loving it.  I go out and spend time with her every night when she comes in for the night.

Productive Weekend

 

This quilt for my brother and his wife is completed.  I added the binding today and a label.

I kind of want to make another chunky churn dash top now.

I have been making these big bags like cray.  This one was in progress in this photo, but it is done now.  These are going to make some nice gifts.

This is a strip set for a future bag.  I'm going through some of the jelly roll sets and moving them along.  Feels good to be using them and using stash for linings and pockets.

Checkbook Cover

 

Here is a checkbook cover I found a pattern for on Pinterest.  It was super easy and worked up quickly.  I needed something in a light color because I am always digging around in my purse for my checkbook.  This pretty fabric is one of my favorites.

I finished quilting my brothers wedding quilt today.  Took it off the frame and just have to add a label and bind it!  Not sure what's going on Gemma next, but I want to keep the momentum going.

Another quilt going on Gemma

This is the top I am quilting next. It was on Gemma a year ago and part of it was ruined by Bess the cat. Had to build out the sides with the large border to make it the right size. 

I picked up backing material over the weekend when Ev and I went down ti Nashville, IL.  Lee's Variety store is so cool.... It reminds me if my childhood.

Jeans Redo

Way back in the 90's I made quite a few flannel comforters for Christmas one year.  I had a lot of flannel scraps left over.  I also had a lot of my husband's jeans that were too worn out or stained for him to wear anymore.  I decided to make a jeans comforter with a flannel back.  It turned out to be one of the family's favorite blankets, but my son especially loved it.

Fast forward almost 30 years.  The comforter long ago lost it's backing of flannel from repeaded washings and heavy use.  The jeans top was relegated to a basement cabinet and pretty much forgotten about.  Until a few months ago.  Darling Son asked me if I still had it.  I said yes but it was in pretty sorry shape.  He said he was wondering about it.  That got me to thinking....  What about a redo?  I could trim off the edges where the flannel and batting (oh, my, did I really use high loft 100% polyester batting?) hung in shreds.  I would also need to pick out all the little crochet thread ties that used to hold it all together.  Then could I possibly put it on Gemma?

Over the last few weeks I have rough trimmed the edges and painstakingly removed all the little threads.  This was what it looked like:

It has seen a lot of love and really was used.  There are holes and tears, and stains, most of which were ink from Dear Hubby's job.  And did I mention, it isn't really squared up?  Cutting myself a lot of slack on that one, because it was the early 90's and I had not made many quilts, and I had two very young children at the time.

My plan was to find a backing, layer it with batting (the good stuff this time!), put another piece of material over the batting that will play peekaboo in the more holey sections of the top, then lastly put the top on.

Backing is a striped sheet I thought would play nice because it has been washed a lot and won't shrink.  The jeans top is not going to shrink and it would not be good if the back did.  Here it is loaded on Gamma:

The batting went on next, and then another sheet, this one also had been washed many times.

And finally the top.  It is going to have to float, because it needs to be adjusted as I quilt it.  Remember, it's not really squared up... :)

I decided to use my new grid stencil and put diagonal wavy lines on it, going around any tears a few times - pretty loosy goosy quilting, but it should really secure the layers together.

Wish me luck!  Oh, and I have no clue how I am going to bind this sucker, but I'm sure I will figure something out!  Hey, keep a secret if you see my son - he is going to get this for Christmas this year.

Hope's Island Paradise

I quilted this top today!  When I showed a pic to Mary she said it looked like an island paradise, thus the name.  It is for my niece, Hope, for Christmas.  Pieced the back, and I like it!  Want to bind it this week.
 

Fantastic Find at Salvation Army

 

Salvation Army has had this entertainment center for a couple months now.  It is not very tall and originally was marked at 50 bucks.  It went down to 40, then 25, and today was marked 12.99.  The one door did not line up properly.  I sent Johanna a picture and asked if it was fixable.  She said yes so I bought it (senior discount, with tax, price was 12.17 out the door).  

I did not even have to take it out of the truck, she just fine tuned the door hinge and took out the tv stand and slider.  When she removed the bottom drawer to do that she found the original receipt.  In 1994 the cost was $1060!  I think I got a good deal, don't you?

Soldier has come home

Can you see all the little flags lining the street?  A soldier who had been MIA for almost 80 years (from WWII) was identified and was brought home with a military escort today.

In The Wash

 

The quilt is finished and in the wash.  This is the Wonky Star that Mary and I both made blocks and traded with each other.  

If you were wondering, that is a king size bed.  The quilt is square (the bed is not) and is very large.  I just put it in the wash and am hoping my washer can handle it!

Making BLT sandwiches tonight for dinner.  I have a few tomatoes from Johanna's garden and am really looking forward to having them on the sandwiches.

Golconda Grace

 

This is only one quarter of Golconda Grace!  It is folded into quarters and laid across this bed.  Hoping to get it on the frame today or tomorrow 

Just Moving Right Along

 

Finally have the Wonky Star Quilt off of Gemma.  It just needs binding, and it will be ready to go on the bed.

The hubs and I went to St. Louis yesterday with the kids.  We had lunch at the Gyro House.  Was good, but not as good as Fazzi's!

It's the Little Things

I am having a lot of fun making little projects right now!  I am also working on borders for Golconda Grace. Here are the fabrics for one of the borders.

On the Frame

 

I have made quite a bit of progress on the wonky star quilt.  There are 8 rows in it and I am on the 6th row!  

I found a great place online to get batting, thread, and supplies.  It is kmquiltingsupplies.net Kingsmen Quilting Supplies.  Great prices, fast delivery, wonderful customer service.

I even jumped in and got a color card for the Glide thread I now like to use.  I am probably the only persin who gets excited about a color card, but I practically drooled over all the variety!

Mini Fun

 I found a neat little project on Pinterest.  This is a simple cover for a mini composition book.  Just another way to use my cute little snaps.

Wednesday

 Monday Ev and I both had the day off, so we took a boat ride in the afternoon.  We took Addy with us.  She likes it on the water.  She loves to watch the fish jump and the water birds.

Tikaani is Finished

 My wolf quilt, Tikaani, is finally done!  I put the binding on her today and washed and dried it.  

Addy likes the quilt too!  I think she is checking the wolf out.

Next

This is the next victim going on Gemma.  Wonky Star blocks Mary and I swapped a while ago.

Here Chicky Chicky

Here was one of our dinners we had over the holiday.  It was bbq chicken wings with potatoes and cottage cheese with fruit.  Was a pretty good supper.  

This year we did not go out on the lake to watch the fireworks.  Ev had a toothache and just did not feel like going anywhere. I get it.  We saw quite a few fireworks just sitting in the backyard!  People around here must spend a lot of money on them, because they put on quite a show.

Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday.  

Let The Wolf Howl

I had quite a productive day today!  I finished quilting my wolf quilt and took her off the frame!  I am so tickled to have it almost done!  Mary and I might sew together over the phone tomorrow and if so I may work on the binding.

Ev is pleased with this quilt.  He says it isn't real girly for a change. Lol.

Small Wallet

 

I found the pattern for this cute little wallet on Pinterest.  It worked up real quick and I got to use my snap maker!  

Puppy Love

I know, I know, Miss Addy is far from being a puppy but she is always going to be one to me.  My sweet doggy is 9 years old.  She sure doesn't act like it, which is a good thing.

Smoky

Can you see the hazy smoke?  It is from the wild fires in Canada. This is in South Central Illinois.

Time To Sew

I had time to work on the wolf quilt today.  The center panel was a challenge but it is now completed. I have less than half to quilt now. Feels pretty good! 

A Tisket A Tasket A Very Tiny Basket

 

I visited with two dear friends uesterday.  I made each of them a small trinket basket.  They were only a few inches across and an inch high.  

Princess Shadow

 

Yeah, my cat thinks she is royalty.  I woke up with my hand under the cat, so who knows at what point she laid down on it.  Shadow likes to spend her days sitting next to me while I work.  Every so often she will reach out a paw to let me know she is there and wants a nice scratch under the chin.

Surprise Gift

 

Yesterday we received a sweet surprise when we picked up our order at Wal Mart.  They were giving each person who ordered pick up a tumbler full of snacks.  Oh, and a fishing bobber.  LOL.  Don't they know I'm off sweets right now?  haha

Making a pot of chili for supper.  We had Taco Tuesday yesterday, so that means it is Chili Wednesday today.  I like to use up the leftover taco meat in chili.  Ev wanted it to be spicy hot, but I might have gone overboard with the pepper flakes.  OHHH DOGGGGGGYYYY is it hot! :)

On a serious note, please send up a prayer for the people trapped in the submarine.  

Flags

 

I would have had to climb on top of the garage roof to get this picture to show the Cubs flag writing in the correct direction, but I think it is pretty obvious we are Cub fans here! 

Yesterday I had a day off work (Summer Hours) so I quilted on Gemma for a while.  The Wolf quilt is coming along nicely.  I am about half way through it, with the center panel being the next part I will quilt.  

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there.  We had the kids over and cooked out on the grill.  Made steaks and burgers and hot dogs on the grill, plus a whole lot of other sides.  Devilled eggs, macaroni salad, cole slaw, corn on the cob, green bean casserole, baked beans, fruit salad, angel food cake, cool whip...  yeah, i fell off the diet wagon.  Will be right back up on it tomorrow, hopefully.  Worked to hard to get where I am to go backwards now.

Saturday Night

Ev and I are just enjoying a nice quiet evening tonight.  We picked up a pizza for dinner.  I had been running errands and cooking all day, and He had been working outside.

I'm still cooking, in fact.  Have a pot of beans on the stove simmering away.  They are for tomorrow.  We are having the kids over and grilling out.  I made macaroni salad and devilled eggs earlier.  When the beans are done for the night, so am I!  

See this cabinet?  It was an entertainment center in a former life.  Johanna put a full back on it and took out the insides, then created shelves for me.  It now stands in my kitchen as a pantry.  I love it!!!!!