Sister Stitcher

If you remember from last week, our youngest granddaughter was eager to learn hand embroidery. She came and stayed a few days with us; guess what was first and foremost on her list of things to do! In this photo she's exhibiting all of the basic stitches that she accomplished on day one: running stitch, backstitch, split stitch, chain stitch, satin stitch, lazy daisy, fishbone and, finally, French knots (those were the hardest). She was still smiling when she asked if she could move on to a "real" embroidery. The little kit she worked from had a stamped floral design but she opted, instead, for a puppy dog that I had in a book of redwork patterns. There were a few other things to do in between her stitching sessions. 

She's a home schooler, there was classwork to do. Augie was never far away from her.

There were also piano lessons to practice.

She accompanied me on a trip to the library, too. 

But otherwise, from early morning... (look at where her buddy hung out)

...until after dark, she persevered on her stitchery piece. 

That ta-da! moment that we all love!

We turned her cute little project into a small pillow, 

look at that smile; she was so proud.

Welcome to the Stitching Sisterhood, Lynnleigh!

Life is Good!

And, if this little story could get any sweeter, 

she gave this to her brother when she returned back home. 

Quilt Camp, Day #5

Today was the last day for Quilt Camp, there was still plenty to do: getting the binding attached, and then, learning the fine art of finishing. She was an eager beaver this morning! Even though we were winding down the week, we still packed in a full complement of activities. After the binding was carefully sewn into position by machine, she designed a few quilt blocks that she might like to stitch up in the future using a wooden block puzzle that I keep in the studio.

Before lunch she settled down to begin the handwork; she likes hand-sewing, and carefully began folding the binding back to the "soft side" and catching it one stitch at a time. I was able to squeeze in reading one last quilt-related children's book while she stitched away.

And then, all of a sudden, it was time to go. She's still got three sides left to finish stitching down, but she left here today with thread and needles; a boxful of scraps and, most important of all, she's still smiling! I'd say that's a glowing testament to a week well spent. I couldn't be happier. 

'Bye!

And it's a wrap... 

💗

The quilting world is growing, 

one quilt camper at a time. 

💗

Life is Good!

Quilt Camp, Day #4

She did it! She quilted her quilt, on the longarm, by herself! 

Wouldn't the first thing to do, after it's removed from the rails, 

be to wrap up in your quilt that's backed with royal purple Minkee? 

You betcha!

💗

Each one of these snapshots is worth 1,000 words!

💗

Life is Good!

Quilt Camp, Day #3

Day three of Quilt Camp was a momentous one! As you can see by the clock on the wall, all twenty blocks were completed before 11:00 AM! This was reason for celebration, and a well-deserved break before lunch.

Today was a perfect day, weather-wise; jump roping and spending some time outdoors was a great outlet for expending energy. We had story time after that, time spent with my all-time favorite children's book.

She loves it as much as her Nana does!

Someone left a little surprise this morning. 💗

The afternoon was spent joining the rows together. She was unstoppable. 

She monitored her own progress, keeping track with this tablet parked beside the sewing machine!

In an effort not to tire her out too much, our afternoon break was a card game. That "poker" face! 😂

She finished piecing her top shortly after that, this is a portrait of pure,  proud accomplishment!

She couldn't wait to wrap up in it!

And what could be better to top off the perfect day than some backyard s'mores after dinner?

Life is Good!

Quilt Camp, Day #2

Today's Quilt Camp session saw great great progress in the quilt block count! One of Lynnleigh's most frequently asked questions today was: "how many blocks do I have done now and how many more do I need?" She sewed up a storm and loved arranging her warm, freshly-pressed blocks on the design wall. 

I'm very proud of her can-do attitude! For the second day, we followed the same format as the day before; keeping the sewing sessions productive but not overtiring. There were plenty of other activities sprinkled in. 

The theme of her quilt is "camping". As you can see there are plenty of S'more related fabrics. 

Following that theme, "quilter's fuel" was at the ready in a "quilty" snack cup to keep her energized.

Lots of this...

Balanced with lots of this... puzzles, stories and games, not to mention lunch and dinner...

Led to this conclusion for Day #2. Fifteen (of twenty) blocks on the wall and one very happy camper!

Life is Good!

I'm Still Here...

Don't send out the bloodhounds yet, I'm still here! It's been a busy, busy week. Isn't that great to think about? A busy, busy week! Yes!! After months on end of nowhere to go and nothing to do, life is ratcheting up again, my calendar is filling every day and it feels so good! This past week Lynnleigh and I made a trip to Pineapple Fabrics to get her supplies for Quilt Camp with Nana! She will make a quilt next week, from start to finish, a camping-theme quilt (a camping quilt at quilt camp!) with her very own special curated collection of fabrics.  

It's going to be great! They're all washed and pressed and patiently waiting to be cut and assembled starting bright and early on Monday morning. Stay tuned! 

The hydrangea are blooming again. This is nothing short of miraculous (to me) after the butchering that happened to them last year when we added the screen porch. This spring, each time they sent out new growth it was promptly halted by killing frosts. That happened three times and they really didn't look good. I wasn't expecting much... and then, this! Joy!

So, speaking of that screen porch: Mr. Goodneedle added a planter wall across the back of the adjoining patio during the construction process. I transplanted some straggly daylilies that had been neglected. These were a gift from Quiltkeemosabe, years ago. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I had let them go. Little did I know, they were far from "done"; but were simply looking for a sunnier location to spread and grow. 

They're thriving in their new location!

In three separate locations I have Easter lilies blooming in the perennial garden right now. These have been re-plants after Easter Sunday services for years. This is a portrait of resurrection right here! Aren't we all experiencing our own resurrections right now? Those filling calendar pages are a testament.

Lynnleigh wanted an outdoor, mask-free pic with her fabric purchase. She hasn't yet been vaccinated, her young age prohibits that for now. But we're all emerging, one day at a time. There's life again, and it is GOOD !!

Life is Good!

Sleeping Away, Going Home

We had an overnight visitor on Friday night. Lynnleigh arrived in the afternoon and promptly removed the clothes that she was wearing and pulled on her new sundress which I had just finished. (the link to the pattern was in a previous post, but here it is again.) I can't say enough good things about the fit and the ease of wearing, no buttons or zippers. Once you figure out the method (not hard!) to sewing the pleats it's Easy Peazy! 

She wore it home on Saturday, too; I think she liked it!😉 We had a wonderful time together. She and Nana decided that it would be a good idea to clean out and take inventory of the Art Box, that is her favorite thing to explore when she's here. I had just replaced my decrepit label maker with a new one which arrived from Amazon that day, we put it right to work!

We labeled whatever we could attach a sticker to: the bins of crayons, markers, scissors, paper, smaller tablets and so on. Lynnleigh wrote me a list of things we need to replace or add to the box, she was very serious and thorough with her list-making. 

She even the numbered the entries: #1. wotir clors (water colors), #2. PomPoms #3. pip clenirs, #4. glue stik, #5. gitir glue (glitter glue) #6. paly-doh. She left her list in the kitchen beside my grocery list! 🥰

One more: from our D.E.A.R. (drop everything and read) time on the porch. Isn't this precious?

I am deeply grateful to one and all for your prayers on behalf of my mother. She spent Monday through Friday in the hospital with pneumonia in her right lung. She was discharged to a rehab facility nearby until yesterday, she's at home again with my Dad and sleeping in her own bed again. She's feeling much, much better; thanks be to God!

"Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; 

save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise."

 -Jeremiah 17:14

Life is Good!