Happy Halloween Witches

 Happy Halloween Witches

Last week I attended the Witches Luncheon at the Lodge. It was so much fun. Everyone dressed up and just enjoyed the festivities.

Just a witch hanging out with the Harry Potter Posse ... of course!

Next year I think I may dress up as Luna Lovegood ... hummm!

Happy Halloween!

Adulting ... or NOT ...

 Adulting ... or NOT ...

I realize that watching cartoons is NOT very adult like but I enjoy cartoons - animation is such an amazing art. Presently my favorite cartoon is Avatar, The Last Airbender. If you are interested it is presently airing on Netflix

I tend to binge watch programs nowadays because of the ability to stream programing but with this cartoon I've been enjoying an episode here and there. I enjoy the story, the characters, and the animation. Not very adult of me but I am enjoying watching this cartoon all the same.

Progress Report - Red/White Historic Redwork

 Progress Report - Red/White Historic Redwork

My friend and longarm machine quilter sends progress photos when she is working on one of my quilts. Yesterday she sent this amazing picture ...

I love it! I wanted the quilting design to be a simple one.

The embroidery is the real star in this quilt.

My oldest son purchased the embroidered blocks years ago after I spotted them on Ebay. I love it that my children (and family) support my quilting habit. I trimmed the blocks as soon as I got them but it was a year or so before I figured out the quilting pattern for setting the blocks. For me, this quilt is another example of how interesting and beautiful Red / White quilts are. 💖💖💖

Fall Carpet of Leaves

Fall Carpet of Leaves

The leaves have been glorious this year! 

As I was taking the trash cans to the road yesterday morning, I was stopped in my tracks by the beauty of the leaves that have fallen.

Fall 2022 has been amazing! The cool crisp temperatures, the mild and warm days, the leaves, and the bright blue skies.

I had to stop and take a moment to just enjoy the beauty of the glorious Fall morning .... and snap a few pictures.

 

Decoration Day is Usually Memorial Day

 Decoration Day is Usually Memorial Day

But this past Saturday me, my daughter and my mom decorated the graves of our loved ones.

The picture quality is very good but it was windy on the plateau!

I was trying to hold the bags down with my foot and take the picture at the same time.

Needless to say, I'm not very coordinated! 

Even though it was windy, it was a beautiful warm day in the city of my birth and where I grew up. Attended school and learned about the Lord and what family means.

The leaves were in vibrant and colors of fall were in full swing.

We had a wonderful day enjoying each others company and honoring our loved ones who have passed.

Memories

 Memories

Each year since my daughter purchased her first home I have made her a Christmas ornament from pictures of Christmas morning on Shutterfly.

These are the pictures from our 2021 Christmas morning and this morning I went onto Shutterfly and created and purchased the Christmas ornament I will gift my daughter on Christmas morning 2022.

Red/White Churn Dash

 Red/White Churn Dash

Adding to my Red/White Quilt Collection

In June 2022, I started my Churn Dash quilt. I'm using a free pattern by Kairle Oaks of Virgin River Quilt Co. I cut the fabrics for the smaller version of this quilt and pieced about 14 of the blocks before I lost interest and returned to the Legendary Quilt Kit that I was also working on at the time. This past weekend I pulled this quilt project back out and evaluated where I was in the process and what I needed to do to complete the project. I had to cut a few more blocks and/or portions in order to complete all of the blocks needed. In this case 42 blocks are needed. By Sunday evening I had cut the remaining fabrics needed and pieced almost half of the blocks.

The fabric I'm using for the center patch of my Churn Dash is a print called Clemetine. I used it as backing for another Red/White quilt in my collection.

These little motifs in the fabric just make me smile. I was originally drawn to this fabric because it reminds me of the primary reading books when I was elementary school.

I love this pattern. As you know I love red and white quilts. I'm passionate about them. No matter the pattern, Red/White quilts are just stunning. 2 colors, light and dark, always stunning. As of late I've been drawn to more traditional patterns such as the Churn Dash, Jacob's Ladder, and Nine Patch blocks. I enjoy modern pattern designs and improvisational blocks/quilts but recently traditional quilt block patterns have caught my eye and peaked my interest. I do have 2 patterns by Elizabeth Hartman that I'm going to try piecing as modern Red/White quilts. We will see how that goes. It is my Goal to make 2023 the year of Red/White quilts. This Churn Dash quilt is one of three red/white quilt projects that I am currently working on. You know me and lists ... I have several lists going at any given time ...

1. Churn Dash

2. Little Red Houses

3. Red/White Abstract 9 Patch

Car Wash ... At the Car Wash ... Yeah ...

 Car Wash ... Yeah ... At the Car Wash ... Yeah ...

I am the world's WORST when it comes to cleaning my car ... both inside and out! But, I work  in an area that has a gravel road. The weather has been dry and that gravel road had wreaked havoc on my car ... I could barely see out the windows ... and I couldn't see out the rear window at all ...

So it was time to hit up the Car Wash yeah!

I don't know why I don't hit up the car wash more often. I love having a clean car!

hahahahaha!

I'm a big ole' goober!

Fall Y'all!!!

 Fall Y'all!!!!

It's warm during the day but the mornings are BRISK!

Not quite "sweater weather" during the day but it is chilly in the mornings!

I've already had to break out my heater at work. 

I love Fall ... 

I love this time of year!!

Good Friends, Good Food, Good Times

 Good Friends, Good Food, Good Times

Weekends are for joy! The older I get the more I realize that this life is about joy and that there are so many things in and of this world that steal our joy when we let it.

One of the things that I enjoy most is eating out and enjoying good food with my family and friends. I have Mother/Daughter Sushi Date night and ...

Yesterday I had Brunch with a dear friend.

We went to The Melting Pot

A fondue venue.

The starter is a cheese fondue with bread, vegetables, and green apples.

Following was a beautiful salad.

We chose the cast iron grill top for preparing our main course of Surf n Turf

Shrimp, salmon, steak, and chicken.

5 sauces ...

Then the chocolate fondue

Yin & Yang

White chocolate, dark chocolate, with a variety of dippers.

Pound cake, rice crispy treats, bananas, strawberries, and marshmallows.

I also enjoyed a refreshing Mai Tai 

It was a wonderful brunch.

The Melting Pot is an eating experience plan on at least 3 hours from start to finish.

Inspiration for Red/White Quilts

 Inspiration for Red/White Quilts

Lately red / white quilts has been rolling around in my head. I'm considering making 2023 the year of Red/White Quilts.

I found this beautiful quilt on Instagram ... and I immediately thought, this quilt would be stunning in all red and white fabrics.

I have a love-hate relationship with instagram ... I love the inspiration that can be found there but I HATE how much time that I spend there.

Instagram is a horrible "time suck" for me ... it is my goal to spend more time sewing than strolling on Instagram ... or social media in general.

****

I'm headed out to Brunch this morning with a dear friend.

We are going to a place called the Melting Pot.

Fondue ... I'm so excited!

Binding - Stars & Stripes Quilt

 Binding - Stars & Stripes Quilt

Last weekend I made this binding. I sorted through my red fabrics for this cute little floral and knew it would be the perfect binding for my Stars & Stripes quilt.

I don't always make my own binding but some quilts just need handmade binding and this quilt is one of those. I love this pretty little floral ole' glory quilt. 

Weekends in my sewing room! There is nothing better than that!

Safe at home in my sewing room making things!

Awww, life is sew sweet!

Backings - HEARTS

Backings

HEARTS

I'm always on the lookout for clearance fabric sales mostly for yardage for backings for my completed quilt tops. It is rare that I spend more than $5.00 a yard for backing fabric yardage. I'm not saying that I haven't spent more but as a rule of thumb I try to keep cost down when choosing yardage for backing fabrics.

The search for backing fabrics is made a bit more difficult by the added rule of keeping cost down and my need to stick with the theme of the quilt top, but I love the challenge!

 

This backing fabric is, by Rifle Paper Co. for Cotton + Steel, Alice in Wonderland in Navy. $11.74 a yard.

HEARTS

This quilt, HEARTS, is a special quilt so it was worth it to me to purchase a more expensive fabric for the backing. I have loved this fabric collection from the moment that I saw it. When I choosing the backing fabric for this quilt I knew it would be from this collection. This quilt was pieced during the COVID 19 Pandemic. I began this quilt projects just days before the world wide Pandemic shut down our world.

Backings - Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilt #18 - Batiks

Backings

Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilt #18 - Batiks

I'm always on the lookout for clearance fabric sales mostly for yardage for backings for my completed quilt tops. It is rare that I spend more than $5.00 a yard for backing fabric yardage. I'm not saying that I haven't spent more but as a rule of thumb I try to keep cost down when choosing yardage for backing fabrics.

The search for backing fabrics is made a bit more difficult by the added rule of keeping cost down and my need to stick with the theme of the quilt top, but I love the challenge!

This backing fabric is, by Lisa Whitebutton for 3 Wishes Fabrics, this printed cotton fabric is from the Painted Soul collection. $6.78 a yard

Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilt #18 - Batiks

 

Tag Team Effort

 Tag Team Effort

My daughter helped me finish washing and drying all of my new finished quilts.

My daughter had remote training with her job last week and was able to finish washing and drying all of my recently finished quilts. 

A very satisfying sack of crinkly clean quilts.

#quiltsinthewild

Games

Games

 I grew up in a family who loves playing games. Over the weekend my daughter hosted a Margaritas and Mahjongg Game Night ...

I had a wonderful time and look forward to more such evenings in the future!!

#gamenight

Books and Patterns

 Books and Patterns

Lately I have found inspiration in this book by Jessica Dayon

Jessica is on Instagram @jessicadayon

There are several quilt patterns in this book that I would like to make. Jessica is making reels tutorials on her instagram site.

I love this new pattern by Kristin Rauch of WoollyPetals she is on Instagram @woollypetals Kristin's PDF pattern Ghost Party! went on sale yesterday and I purchased mine ASAP!

This pattern is so cute.

#instagraminspiration

Sewing Saturdays and Quilting Mistakes

 Sewing Saturdays and Quilting Mistakes

Yes, I still make plenty of mistakes in my quilty life as well as in life in general. Mistakes are necessary ... so that we can grow and learn.

I have really been enjoying working on this quilt kit that I purchased from Amanda of Westwood Acres Fabric.

I love this look of this pattern and the use of low volume fabrics.

I got ahead of myself and pieced two blocks before I read the whole pattern and watched the quilt a long on Amanda's You Tube channel.

https://youtu.be/r5ADkDCLLsM

Thus my mistake ... so seam ripping was involved ...

Mistake aside ... I managed to get all of the units for the blocks made and up on my design wall. I still have a bit of tweaking to do but otherwise I'm well on my way to finishing this quilt project. I have a funny ... I showed my daughter this final progress photo and she looked at me with shock on her face and said, "It's blue! She was shocked that it wasn't a red/white quilt! hahahahaha!!! 

#denim&lace

Sewing Room Mugs

 Sewing Room Mugs

I'm a real creature of habit ... once I find something I love it, I use it daily ...

For years (many years) now this little Tinkerbell coffee mug has been my favorite.

My sister got me a new Tinkerbell coffee mug recently and this morning ...

there's a new mug in the sewing room.

#wearefamily