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?