Guild Meeting

Almost two weeks ago we had the big reveal for our year long Round Robins.  Last year the gals started passing around their "pizza boxes" with their starting centers and any fabrics they wanted used for their quilt/wallhanging.  Very intimidating for me...hence no participation from moi!  They are all beautiful and I applaud all of the creativity.
I do have to admit that I did not get the owner matched with the quilt on most of these pictures. I apologize to all the gals.  The centers were started by the owner....or the off center parts.  They all finished beautifully.

All of the border dresdens were made by one person on the next quilt.....our "over achiever".....beautiful work, Carol!

Spring on Schedule in Ohio?

It has been such a long time since I have blogged.  A lot has happened since my last post, including an overnighter in the hospital for what I thought could be cardiac problems.  Women's symptoms are so different that I decided I needed ER and they decided I needed to stay 24 hours with lots of blood work, EKG's and a lovely stress test. I passed all.  Thank goodness.
Just before that, granddaughter, Mia and I made pillowcases for our guild who was collecting for Chelsea Cares at our local Children's Hospital and also for soldiers deployed overseas.  We had fun.

Then next was our guild meeting to reveal our round robins that had been going around since last year at this time.  Pictures to come soon of that.  But what the real talk around here is, is the weather.  We have had very mild temps lately and the last week in the 80's.  Let me just say that set records!  It is really Spring around here.  We have things blooming that usually don't bloom  until April or even sometimes May!  I even had to go digging for the capris and short sleeve tops....that was a hoot!  Here are some of the gorgeous colors in our yard.

A couple of finishes

I did get some things finished....or part way!  The last of the Birdie Stitcheries from Dec. has been finished for a couple of weeks. HOWEVER, I still have several that didn't get completed in their respectful months.  I think they are all traced and bordered, ready to embroider.

This has been stitched for several weeks...I know, it wasn't ready for this past Christmas.  I worked on finishing it so Kaaren could see that it was finished by the time she was done with her treatments.  I thought of you Kaaren and wish you much health and happiness.  This was one of her First Friday Freebies for us that go to her blog.

I am working on other projects for Material Girl's Quilt Guild.  Granddaughter, Mia, is coming over to help me....fun times.

2 Weeks Already

I can't believe that it has been 2 weeks since my last post.  It has been a rough couple of weeks health wise for me.  Lots of head/throat/and chest congestion.  Antibiotics, coughing through the night and just plain being uncomfortable.  It is better, thank goodness.  This particular "thing" has attacked daughters and grandkids and me. Takes several weeks to get better and we are in the home stretch.  I better be, I have a quilter's retreat to go on in 3 weeks and I can't/won't miss that for sure!  This is what happened to my amaryllis in one week from the picture in the previous post!

Last night my daughters and husband/boyfriend and my sister and BIL went out with Mr. Stitches and I for a lovely evening.  We had such a good time and laughed a lot!!!  I really needed that.

Mr. Stitches and I shared this pulled pork sandwich.  I was about to order it for myself and the waitress said it was as big "as a head".  I believed her and am glad I did.  We shared it....he got the fries and I got a salad.  And I still brought half of my half home!  It was yummy though.

Hope to have some sewing to show you soon.  FYI....I am now addicted to Pinterest....yikes, that is a fun site.

 

My Weekend

I am very much in love with the series Downton Abbey on PBS.  I started watching last month when Season 2 began.  I was able to decipher most of the characters but not the stories that surround them.  I just had to have Season 1.  I watched all 7 episodes on the weekend and have started watching Season 2 over again thanks to the free downloads on PBS (for Season 2 anyway).  I will be so disappointed when this current season is done....hopefully a third??

And an update on our amaryllis.

Early Valentines Goodies

Last night we had our monthly meeting of Material Girls Quilt Guild.  We had a guest speaker that showed a trunk show of her work and gave us all a lot of inspiration and tips.  I love that sort of thing....I need all the clever ideas that I can get.  One of our sweet and very talented  quilters, Carol, brought our snack for the night and all I can say is delicious and unique!!

She glazed these heart cookies and then applied edible paper which she drew and painted quilt motifs onto.  Wow...darling and delicious!  Then to top that off she made little "books" which look like needle books but actually have pockets for tea bags and/or candy.....she had one for EACH of us!!  Thank you Carol....you are a gem!

On a side note, Mr. Stitches bought an Amarylis bulb after the holidays and I planted it in January.  These two pictures are a week apart....last Thursday and today.  Those "puppies" sure grow fast!  Can't wait to see the flowers.

Happy New Year

I can't believe it is the 22nd of the month and it is just my Happy New Year post.  I guess I am a little slow for this new year of 2012.  By the way, I am now calling the year "twenty twelve".  I like the sound of that better. ;o)  This was one of my first pics of the year....Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal....we always see them in couples here in Ohio.

I know that I should be concentrating on finishes.  I did finally get this guy done last night.  Now to make him into a pillow with wool borders and backing.

But, I am going to be starting some really fun stuff with my Material Girls Quilt Guild.  We are sewing pillowcases for Chelsea Cares for our local Children's Hospital and also for Deployed Military.  We will turn these in in Feb. and March.  Then we are starting a Row by Row type of round robin.  You pick the fabrics you want and the width of the row (not to exceed 54") and make the first row.  Then we will pass it along to the others in our "group" to make rows that width.  These 30's prints will be the inspiration for mine.

We are also going to be making HST's using these papers (like thangles).  We can turn in however many we want over the course of this year.  A cream and dark print will be used by all.  We don't cut them, just turn them in and in Nov. we will get back an assortment of perfectly sewn hst's to make whatever we want with them.  Lots of yummy scraps from everyone.

All of these new things are voluntary, but seems like lots of fun will be had this coming year.   I can't believe that decorating for this next holiday is coming soon.  Yikes!

What Fun

The Oklahoma son and family were here this past week.  What fun we had with them. Guess where we were on Thursday?

Yep, the Christmas Story house....it is right up in Cleveland, about 40 minutes from us.  It was really a lot of fun with the kids....and the big kids, us, also.

Grandpa and son having fun with the major award.  The actor that played Randy was at the house to answer questions and pose for pictures.

Remember the bib with the mashed potatoes scene?

Our "Randys" being afraid that the Old Man was gonna kill Ralphie!

They have a small museum of memorabilia from the movie.  So fun to see the actual outfits, toys and pictures from the making of the movie.

It was a fun day.....ending with dinner at the Great Lakes Brewing Company.  And here is my souvenir from the Christmas Story gift shop.....of course there was a gift shop!   And they are headed back to Oklahoma already....visit, too short!