Busy Days!

We're in a hot and humid weather pattern right now; no surprises there, indoor activities during the heat of the day are the norm around here. I finished quilting up "School Spirit" and was able to score a pretty piece of red solid for binding when I visited a cute quilt shop in Greensboro, NC on Friday. We were there to watch Lucy Ann swim in the Age Group State Championships (lane 7, below).

She did quite well; so well, in fact, that she's swimming in the Southern Zone Age Group Championship meet in Orlando next week! This has been her dream for the past three years. We couldn't be more proud of her dedicated, ambitious, determined spirit!

I managed to get this wall quilt finished and hung on the side porch for July...

...and completed the stitching on a pin keep for this month, too. This is Patriotic Quaker by Lindsay Weight of Primrose Cottage. I used the called for floss colors and stitched over two on 32 count lugana linen. I love these patterns, each little element is fun to stitch on its own. You can see lots more of these by clicking on the hyper link above. I'm currently stitching another one, Quaker Fruit Salad. 

Between her swim events on Sunday Lucy Ann and her Mom came by for a few hours in the afternoon. Our son and Gregory were already here, Gregory is rebuilding a car in our basement. It's impossible to believe that they will both be earning their Learner's Permits this fall! The six of us enjoyed lunch together while these two almost-fifteen year old cousins entertained us all; it was a rare, impromptu, get-together that is still eliciting smiles. (I never knew she had my phone, I only discovered this photo later in the day. A souvenir for the heart ❤️).

While we're on the subject of "impossible to believe", guess who turned 17 years old today? Yep, Mason! Those of you who've been part of this blogging community with me from the beginning may remember this day. Sigh. 

Most recently, later in the day, after the hottest part of the afternoons have passed, I've been enjoying some stitching out on the porch where the light is just perfect. This is the afore-mentioned Quaker Fruit Salad.

The Dahlias are so pretty in the garden right now, the more that I cut the more they bloom!

The Crape Myrtles flanking our driveway are putting on quite a glorious show this year too. I mentioned those of you who've been part of the blogging community with me from the beginning... my very first post, (←linked here) July 13, 2006, was on this same subject!

As much as things change, there's comfort in what remains the same.

How's your summer going?

Life is Good! 

It's July!

Sam says 'hi"! I hope and trust that you all had a wonderful fourth. It was really just another day here as we didn't attend any fireworks or barbecues this year. Work continues on the kitchen re-do; hopefully all of the perimeter counter tops will be fully installed tomorrow. We did observe the holiday with extra flags and patriotic displays, Uncle Sam is currently on sentinel duty at the sewing room door. Sam is a Country Threads pattern. 

I began this sampler yesterday, even though it won't be finished in a timely manner it will be ready for next year and it will be a fun little project to work on in the evenings this month.

Another sampler, this one a block-of-the-month quilt variety from last year, a Bits 'n Pieces pattern, Lady's Scrap Basket, is finally under the needle for quilting. Panto: "Daisy Swirl" from Willow Leaf Studios. Mine is entitled "Red Letter Day".

And now, the most exciting news of the day! Take a look at this positively scrumptious strawberry quilt! You just know that I had to have this! Amanda over at Westwood Acres Fabrics has kitted up the fabric along with her original quilt pattern for purchase, right now, on her website. I'm always the one saying "I don't buy kits" but, the truth of the matter is that's not always the case; this one is a delightful exception! (The paper pattern-only is available too if you have more restraint than I do and can resist this beautiful hand selected collection of lovelies.) I honestly can't wait to get started on my own Strawberry Jam quilt! Hurry on over (click on the hyperlink above) before these kits and patterns are gone, I promise they're going fast! 

🍓

Life is Good!

Happy July!

I missed wishing you all a Happy 4th of July, but, today, I'll wish you a happy July instead! Our flag was flying proudly yesterday, as always, and we're keeping busy as these days grow increasingly warmer. The potted flowers in front have never been prettier than this year, I can't take any credit, all I did was set them into the pots. Recently, we've had additional heartbreak where our nesting bluebirds are concerned. For the second time this year we've lost two families of fledglings to black snakes! Both times the reptile attackers have been removed, permanently. I am at the point where I want to simply take the nesting box down, as I feel responsible for them even coming here and setting up housekeeping at all. Mr. Goodneedle wants to persevere and has been doing research on new pole baffles and more effective deterrents than those we've been employing. We've learned that snakes are one of the most common predators; this is all new to us after twenty years of blissfully watching our bluebird friends arrive, raise their families and launch those scruffy little bluebird babies out on their own without so much as a care in the world. If any of you have any sure-fire solutions to this situation please let us know! Nature, for all its beauty and wonder, can also be so cruel.

The new laundry space is ready, at long last, for countertops! The folks from the stone place are coming out this afternoon to measure and "template" the top for the quartzite that we've selected. The room should be completed in two weeks. We've installed the new washer and dryer; there's so much more technology than I've been accustomed to from a major appliance! They're bluetooth compatible (I get a message on my phone when the clothes are dry!) and have many other handy features, ones that I never even would have thought of! The washing machine has a reservoir for the detergent that is filled for 40+ loads. The soap is dispensed based on the weight of the load. There's been a LOT to learn, it's all good.

I've begun quilting on "The Workout" quilt (pattern from Wonderful Curves Sampler Quilt Block Book). It's been a long time since I've feathered a wreath. 

This arrived in the mail last week! I had pre-ordered a copy back in January and almost forgotten about it until the amount hit my credit card. Oh, yeah. 😉 It's everything that I hoped it would be, and more! The premise of the book is to use up the scraps that you have on hand and includes a system for organizing those leftovers from other quilts so that they're ready for any of the patterns published here. 

From the last fat quarter bundle that I purchased I had little to no leftovers whatsoever! Believe it or not, I pieced quilt #1, quilt #2, bound those block boards (#3) and pieced these minis for doll quilts (#4) all from one bundle (plus the background) of fat quarters. Now I can start all over again, creating new  quilts and more scraps! Just like the title of the book above: Scrapiness Is Happiness; it really, truly is! 

This is proof that the above was a really, really good fat quarter bundle- 

good clear down to those last too-small-to-use strings and threads!

Life is Good!