I'm Back

From nowhere. I have just been neglecting my blog. I really have no excuses. I have pictures to upload; interesting (well, to me, at least!) news and yet I post nothing.

The big news here is that my daughter is pregnant again. Yay!!! She is expecting her second baby next May. We are very happy. Michael, the big brother is telling every one that is is a girl. It would be fun to make some pretty little girl things. And all the new toys out there for girls! I want that life-sized doll house thingy I see on tv for myself!

Right now I am in Baltimore visiting my oldest daughter. I spent yesterday on the train. Today we went to a fabric store in Columbia where I picked up 3 free sample books and a yard of silk that retails for $130/yd that I got for $12. It was and upholstry/home dec outlet store. We may get out to a quilt store tomorrow. I came down with my Amy Butler weekender bag. I am taking home Adrienne's Vera Bradley duffle bag. Well at least now I know she will visit: she wants that bag back!

I have also been to one quilt show and a quilter's holiday in the past month. I will post the pictures when I get home. Yes, I know-they have been sitting in my camera for over a month. This time I promise.

All is well with the family and work. Still not enough time to do all I want but I have to say that today I am feeling very blessed. I have the time and means to travel; my family is healthy and happy and right now, all is right with the world.

May it stay that way.

Title, Please

I read so many wonderful blogs and the one question I have is, how do you come up with such interesting and provocative titles for your posts? I spend more time on that sometimes than the post itself.

I started work this week. Even though I see my grandson often, I had forgotten what a group of 4, 5, and 6 year-olds can be like. They are full of questions, insights, and concerns about the world around them. We have 11 children in the a.m. and 19 in the p.m. I have really enjoyed my time with them and I work with a wonderful group of adults. I can honestly say, I like my job!

I have had to adjust my schedule and I am trying to be productive. I get up, get my husband to work, shower and dress, take the dog for a walk (more on him later), pick up the house, figure out dinner, maybe some time to sew and then off to work. Coming home at 6 p.m. is tough, so far I have been exhausted. This can be my time for hand work-my second block from Leanne's house arrived 2 weeks ago and I haven't even touched it. I am almost finished with a sewing bag that I have been working on.

And then there is Buddy. Last week was tough on him. My husband worked 6 days in a row (we are talking about 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. each day) and Lauren and I were both out of the house ALOT. He had a couple accidents this weekend and was very hyper. His misses us all terribly when we are gone-especially my husband. Hopefully this week he will be better- my DH won't be gone so many hours. Don't worry- Buddy got extra loving this weekend. By the way, check out his paws- Do you think he is going to be big??






And, here is a picture of a purse I completed. Not one of my favorites but it is done.


Next time, I will share some of my latest purchases. Come back and visit!

Happy New Year!

Yes, I know that is is September but I have always felt that this month, more than January, brings more changes in my life. It is time to go back to school (which has always been bittersweet for my children and me). This is when I give my sewing room a good cleaning, pull out my fall clothes and start cooking again! The nights are cooler and even though the days can still be warm, it just feels different. Yesterday I made a pot of turkey soup and today I pulled out some of my fall decorations. I really want to go to the store and buy fabric but I have held out so far. I did go to JoAnn's yesterday and stock up at the notions wall (50 % off!).

I have a job. I taught 3rd grade for 7 years and when my school closed I was heartbroken. I did not even try really hard to get a job last year; I subbed a few time and collected unemployment.
One day this summer I was collecting my grandson from the daycare of our local YMCA and commented to the director how impressed I was with the kindergarten daycare program that my grandson had attended. She mentioned that they were looking for an assistant teacher; I applied and got the job. I will be working with a great group of people. It is part time (11:30-6) and I am looking forward to earning my own money again. Just in time for my husband's birthday!

I also have a New Year's resolution. Last November I put a quilt in my frame with every intention og hand quilting it. Well we all know where those good intentions are. So I have decided that each morning before work I will quilt for at least 1/2 hour. I will post picture when I get a little further along.

Buddy is growing by leaps and bounds! He is good about going outside and has earned some time out in the living room with us after dinner. I walk him 2-3 times a day so I am hoping that as he grows I will shrink! (In the 2nd picture, Buddy and my daughter are with Buddy's best friend, Bella, and her owner, Sarah, who are our next door neighbors.)



I am also posting pictures of one of my very favorite quilts. I pieced this quilt from a kit (I actually turned it into 2 quilts-one still not completed...) and had it machine quilted at a local shop. I love the colors and wish I could hang it all year long. It hangs in my upstairs hall and can be seen from front door foyer. I love this quilt!

Another Sunday

No pictures today. Just an update. Adrienne was home this weekend and she kindly "volunteered" (read 'was talked into') helping me sort and clean up my fabric closet. This is actually good for her because I sent her home with some fabric, a few knitting UFO's for her to turn into something new, pattern and fabrics to make aprons and my serger. When I was sewing for my daughters it was constantly in use. I have not used it in the last 5 or 6 years. So now I know that it will be used again.

I cleaned out 2 LARGE garbage bags of fabric and about 50 various sewing magazines and gave it all to my good friend Betty. She loves to make scrap quilts and does wonders with orphan blocks. As it happens we were all invited to her daughter's house for lunch today so was happy and I was happy because
a: I did not have to cook today
b: I had a good time with good friends
c: All that fabric went to a good home
d: My closet is much cleaner
I have to resist the urge to go out and replace all the missing fabric. I am trying very hard to use fabric I already have and to only buy fabric for specific projects. I am going to try very hard to stop buying for a while because the closet is really not that empty.

As for other news around the homestead, Buddy the new puppy is growing by leaps and bounds. I have taught him to sit but if anyone has hints on how to control his chewing, PLEASE let me know.

Handwork

One of the blogs that I read regularly is Abyquilt. May is a quilter from Norway that does beautiful hand work including applique and embroidery. She also intersperses her entries with beautiful pictures of Norway and other places she has visited.
May regularly showcases her blocks that she is making by an Australian designer, Leanne Beasley. I was instantly hooked, browsed the web for several days before deciding to order a block of the month quilt designed by Leanne. I ordered this BOM (and several other patterns) from Honeysuckle Cottage in Bundarra, Australia. I got my first block completed while on vacation in Ocean City,MD with my husband and daughter, Adrienne. Take a look:

Puppy Love

We love our Buddy. he is lovable, playful, and sleeps without complaining in his crate. He is growing every day! However...It has been a very long time since we have had a puppy in our home. The cat is close to a nervous breakdown(although he has shown great restraint!) He really has had no accidents because WE are trained to get him outside to do his business. He loves to chew-I think he has more toys than my daughters did growing up! And he has learned to use his crate to climb onto the kitchen table if we are not in the kitchen (and sometimes when we are). But just like every baby, he is just adorable when he is sleeping.

Bag Lady

Lately I have been on a bag kick. It started when I went to NYC and bought a pattern and fabric for the Amy Butler Weekender Bag. Although very challenging, I really enjoyed making it and have used it quite a bit. And it really does hold enough clothes, etc., for a weekend.

Then I found a totebag pattern in my quilting magazine. I made the first one as directed although I misread (redesigned?) the directions for the handles. That is the yellow bag in the pictures. The next bag (the green and white), I tweaked the directions a little. I cut the squares a little smaller and replaced the batting in the bag with heavy weight iron-on interfacing. I also put a couple pockets on the inside. I use these bags as my summer purses.

I have pulled out the fabric for a purse from a Fon's and Porter Love of Quilting magazine from last year. I want to use that bag for a sewing bag-I will make some accessories to go with it. I will post that picture when it is finished.

You've Got to See the Baby!

Well, we finally did it. Yesterday we got a new puppy. His name is Buddy and he is a Lab mix with VERY big paws. Lauren is in love with him. She took him to Petco to pick out all his new things. Buddy loves to cuddle and seems to be a little lazy. When he is ready to sleep, he is ready to sleep! The kitty is not too sure of him but they are getting used to each other. EVERYONE seems to think he is just the cutest! What do you think?

Graduation Day!

Yesterday, my grandson graduated from the kindergarten program at his daycare. It was hard to tell who was more proud- the kids or the relatives in attendance. You decide. Here is a picture of Michael posing with "his Dash". The next picture is Michael just being Michael.

Good Friends

As promised here are just a few of the many pictures I have to post:

This first picture is of my very good friend Mimi and her family. Her son John just graduated summa cum laude from Gettysburg College. He is working at Harper's Ferry this summer and will be going to grad school in Washington,DC in the fall.






The next two pictures are of my good friend Betty's first grandchild Katelyn. I have known the family for many years. Katelyn's mom, Lora was just 8 years old when we first met! The first picture is Katelyn with her godparents (Lora's brother and his wife). The next picture is just Katelyn. We all agree she looks just like her Grampa!

So Lazy!

Oh dear!

I cannot believe it has been 2 months since I updated. I have been chastized by my daughter Adrienne (beautystattoo.blogspot.com) for not keeping this up and I really have no excuse.

I have been busy-a little of this and a little of that. I just completed an Amy Butler bag which I will put a picture up of very soon. I made a trip to NYC and Baltimore last month and I am trying to (ok-avoiding) get my house cleaned before summer sets in. My book club is coming on Tuesday for dinner-so that has spurred on a little more cleaning.

Adrienne has challenged me to make a quilt of some charm squares from Moda that we both bought. She is done already BUT her Amy Butler bag is not done yet!

Michael, my grandson has started his spring soccer league. I went to his game this morning-he scored a goal but they really don't keep score.

I need to post pictures for these and other event of the last 2 months...I will do that this week.

Funny-my life doesn't seem as boring as this post does!

Breast Cancer Quilt

Last week I mentioned that I was finishing up my beaded butterfly for a quilt to be auctioned to support research for breast cancer. Well, it is finished, mailed and already in a quilt! I learned about the project at Shanigans' Bead Shenanigans (http://shanigansbeadshenanigans.com/). Please go and take a look at some beautiful beaded blocks.
If you would like to submit a proxy bid (for those who cannot attend the Bead & Button Show), contact Tonette Pillitteri with your information and bidding wishes. As with any proxy bidding, we will need your complete contact information and credit card payment numbers, so that the sales can be concluded on auction night at the Bead Social. Tonette's contact info:
Tonette M Pillitteri
Bead Artists Against Breast Cancer Campaigns
5710 Auburn Blvd. #3
Sacramento , CA 95841
Phone: 916-344-2323
Fax: 916-344-3517
Email: Tonette@BeadBabe.Com

Mimi's Quilt

Mimi is my dear friend who recently moved to Virginia. She misses all her friends in Central New York but she does NOT miss our snowy winters. I sent her with a snowman wallhanging to hang all winter. I made her a new quilt to welcome spring. Unfortunately I woke up this morning to an inch of new snow!

The quilt center is machine embroidered and then I free-motion quilted the sashings and border. I have been working to improve my bindings and can now put on a binding on my machine neatly.

I have also been working on a knitting needle caddy for my daughter and a felted purse for myself.
More on those soon!

My first blog

Today was a fairly lazy day. Michael (my husband) and Lauren (my youngest) were both home most of the day. I finished my butterfly block for the Bead it Forward project and I will put
it in the mail tomorrow. When I learn more about this blogging thing I will add some pictures of my jewelry, quilts and other projects I have been working on. I hope to blog 2-3 times a week.
Let's see how I do...