Workin' And Playin'!!

This weekend was spent making new window treatments for our bedroom/master bath and doing some serious yardwork! We accomplished it all by this afternoon- leaving me tomorrow to catch up with bee and swap stuff! Maybe I won't be behind after all :)

The Master bathroom is painted a pretty bright pink. We decided not to re-paint it, but to work with the color...



The master bedroom used to be the same color pink (UGH!) but many coats of paint later, it's not anymore :) We actually painted it a few years ago.



The rest of the time was spent taking the fence out from around the garden, cleaning up the whole garden area, cutting dead branches out of trees and trimming bushes!

And my reward for all this hard work?



A grape martini (or two...) :) :)

PS- I was so excited to share my new shades that I forgot to tell you... theye were made using this awesome tutorial! Cheers!

Blogger's Quilt Festival

My quilt for the festival isn't spectacular. It isn't cutting edge, or modern, or even my own pattern. But it is my very favorite quilt- the one I reach for when I am tired, sad, cold, watching a movie, or just want a hug :)



This is my Peace and Serenity quilt. The pattern is from Anka's Treasures and the fabrics are mixture of Shangri-La by Moda and Winsome from Benartex. I absolutely love the calmness of this quilt! This quilt has the nickname "my bamboo blankie" because it was the first quilt I used 50/50 bamboo/cotton batting in. I really like it- it's thin but warm, and it has a beautiful drape!

I also used my embroidery machine to make a label for this quilt! I enjoy playing with all the fonts in the software :)



Happy Blogger's Quilt Festival everyone!!

Back In Quiltyland!

I have had to spend WAY too much time in Real-Life Land over the past few weeks :) I was SO happy to spend this past weekend back in Quiltyland!

Saturday evening I went to the ever fun and always party-like lock in hosted by my friend Vicki down at Tammy Tadd Designs. I was able to finish quilting the ticker tape mini we did at the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild meeting a couple months back. It's not bound yet, but I think it's SO cute :)



I also worked on the pieces for a new quilt for my spare bedroom. It's the "Greet The Morning" pattern in the Summer 2010 Quilts And More and I managed to find the exact fabrics! I am using Essex linen in white for the background.



On Sunday I spent the afternoon sewing with the SewMod group that my friend Paige put together. I used that time to continue working on the "Greet The Morning" quilt.

Last night I unfortunately had a severe bout of insomnia- I did not even go to bed until 4:30am. But I did use the time to pick the fabrics, cut the hexies and do the basting for my Handsome Hexies swap partner, so it wasn't all bad :)





Today I'm working on bee blocks and prepping my fabrics to send for June- I send for both the Buzz Cuts 2 and Scraptastic Bee groups and I'm so excited!

Still Alive!

I've been spring cleaning, helping people move and doing lots of yardwork- my sewing machine hasn't even been turned on for a week- yikes! Things are settling down and I hope to have some new things to share with you soon :)

HoopUp! Stitch And Send Swap- I'm Done :)

Today I put the last stitches into the last piece I was making for my group in this swap. Yes, it was due on April 30. Yes, today is May 11. *hangs head in shame* What can I say? I tried!


For Jessica, who asked for an undersea theme along the lines of the Heather Ross "Mendocino" collection.


For Corinne, who asked for free-stitched scenes within a 5" circle.


For Beth, who asked for Ed Emberly inspired cities! I chose Paris. I forgot to take a picture of the finished piece, which includes trees.


For Rita, who asked for a woodland theme.


For Aneela, who asked for little girls playing.


And these are what I have recieved from Aneela, Jessica, Corinne and Beth! My theme was random circles and I am absolutely delighted with what I have recieved!

Just Plain Happy :)

It's been lovely weather, and I'm feeling fairly good, and the garden is growing, and I am just happy :)
I have also been working on this...


These are the "leftovers" from my version of the Jewel Box quilt in the Fat Quarterly e-zine. I actually got enough half-square triangles for 12 blocks total and they're all made. This afternoon I'm going to put the top together and load it onto my GrandQuilter to quilt it :)

I'm still working on the Jewel Box quilt. I just need to make a few more blocks and I can put that top together, too.


I also indulged this weekend and bought 1/2 yard each of all 40 prints in the "Freebird" line by MoMo for Moda. I ordered them from Hawthorne Threads on Saturday and they came today! I call that good, fast service :)

This morning I've gotten a lot done in the way of housecleaning and I've made yogurt and bread. I'm feeling all domestic today :)

Clouds

Lately I've been fascinated by clouds. I really can't explain why. Maybe it's the fact that they are ever changing? Or that a seemingly innocent looking cloud can grow and change and draw energy to itself until it becomes a deadly force? I don't know.

Whatever the reason, I've been obsessed with taking pictures of clouds.

Like these.

A Little Of This And Some Of That...

That describes the week since my last blog post!


The week brought some storms...


But today I'm enjoying lovely weather and clear blue skies!


I'm working on a quilt from Fat Quarterly e-zine...


And playing with the leftovers!


I've been showing off my backside... ;)


And recycling things to use in the garden! Here are branches I am using for my pole beans. They'll be perfect for the vines to climb!