Slow Sunday Stitching

I'm just about finished with my baskets - just have one to redo as somehow the basket is not centered on the handle. Then it's start making the leaves.

Lily came for another short visit and she wanted to sew again.  I made her a flannel Barbie doll blanket from a scrap of flannel.  She's embroidering a B in the center of it.

Two of us slow Sunday stitching, so I'm linking to Kathy's party by the same name. Button on sidebar.  WIPs Be Gone still open - just go down two posts and link your eye candy - past or present. Thanks!

Winners and winnings on WIPs Be Gone Week 34

First, congratulations to Sally over at Q Bits .  She won the Edyta Sitar book from my giveaway last week.  Her link took me to her quilt show and it is amazing. Here's the photo she shared of some of her great quilts.  Well worth visiting.

And speaking of winners - I won!  I came home from Colorado to open a package from the UK that contained a beautiful thread landscape from Margaret at Lizzie Lenard Vintage Sewing .  Her work is amazing and the landscape came out gorgeous! I'm thrilled!!

As for me, I've had two of my DGS over for the week and no WIP work done at all, but we've had fun.  Last night (it's too hot during the day) we played miniature golf.  It was hilarious with those two. I'm so glad they are here and we can have fun together.

Budding Gamers both.

What are you up to? Would love to see it, whether finished or WIP progress or an old post, or even about what is going on in your life - not necessarily quilty. Share your goodness. Linky below ends Monday, midnight.  And I'm linking to Amanda's Finish it Up Friday, Richards Link A Finish Friday, Sarah's Can I get a Whoop, Whoop?, Lizzie Lenard's FMQ Mavericks because I did finish something (a baby quilt) and did some FMQ.  Here's the finish

and the back:

And here's the linky:

An InLinkz Link-up

Stash Report 7/22/12 & Family

It's just as well Judy isn't having a report this week as I have nothing to report, again.  Oh, I'm sewing, and if I took the time to figure it, I may have used a 1/32nd of a yard in all the little pieces used for my third block of Anna's Garden, so essentially I'm where I was last week as far as destashing.  Almost done with the second flimsie  of the four baby quilts. Added a wrong size sashing (by 1/4" too wide) and had to almost take out a whole row to fix it.  So instead of fabric progress, here's some fun photos of two of my DGS.

I don't know what it is about this hat, but both Leo when he was here in 2010 and Alan, recently, both love it and wanted to wear it.
Here's Leo at about 21 months in 2010:

Here's Alan at 20 months, about a week ago:

Who's next?

Saturday Summary 6/30/12

It's the end of the week, so I'd like to share some of the happenings that came our way here in Riverside, or of things shared or seen.
First off, my DIL posted this photo of our cherubs  - a moment of peacefulness for Frank and Lily:

 Then there's Alan brushing his teeth.  He loves to brush his teeth.  Oh yes, his casts will be off in another 2 1/2 weeks.  Alan is 19 months.

 And here's Leo - doesn't he have the bluest eyes?!

Then,  here is William (front left) with Dad (behind him), GrandPa, and half-brother, Gavin.  This was taken last Sunday before they (the three of them, not GrandPa)  headed back to New Mexico.  Will is visiting for 3 weeks.

My online friend, Billie posted of all the animals that visited recently.  We had a visitor too.  Not one I want to see coming round often - can't even call him snake in the grass - more like snake on the patio:

This guy was big!  I estimate 4 feet, but you can check that out yourselves by watching this (little kids might actually like to watch this - LOL) . Our steps are 3 feet wide.  He kept trying to climb our plumeria plant and the siding on the house.  Strange.  We guess it is a gopher snake. Two friends think so too.  Are there any herpetologists out there that can verify that?  He finally slithered under our breezeway door.  Good bye snake.  Don't come back - well unless we have a mouse problem.

Stash Report 7/31/11 & New Curtain

My husband and I have had a running feud about our kitchen window and its covering.  First a little background.  The window faces west so gets LOTS of sun.  One can't sit at the kitchen table in the afternoon without feeling like we're sitting outside in the broiling sun.  There wasn't a problem before because we had a huge Canary Island palm that grew outside and shaded the room for most of the afternoon.  But after 40 some years it grew so big that the city crew came and cut off the top so it wouldn't go in the electrical wires.  Many of you know when you dehead a palm it's dead as that is its growing tip and doesn't branch.  Well, the city then came out and took out the tree and we now have this sun patio that is way too hot for me.  My husband wants a curtain and we did have one but was a bit too narrow and he's been after me to make one that fit.  Says if I can make quilts, I can make a curtain.  I did have a landscape I wanted to make for it, but darn if I can't find the big piece I need for it.  So today, in desperation, I found another piece given to me and says on the selvage 1988 that is big enough.  It is a preprinted cloth (I don't call them cheaters).  I hemmed the sides and made a plackett and hung it up.  Done.  The sun is so bright the camera made the room way darker than it really is.  I guess I should have back lighted with flash - but I'm not much of a photographer.

One good thing is I used a piece 2 1/4 yards so that is good for my stash report.  I used a yard to cut pieces for a 4 block block piece for the BOM program and the girls used about a 1/2 yard to make their placemats, so yes!, I have broken 40 yards.  Here are the numbers:

Used this week: 3.75 yards
Used/Donated Yr to date: 53.21 yards
Added this wk: 0.0 yards
Total Yr to date Added: -11.0 yards
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Total Yr to date Use: 42.21 yards

Be sure to go over to Judy's Patchwork Times button on my left sidebar and see what others are doing as far as destashing.

He's growing up so fast!

Here's Alan at 8 months:

This free slideshow design generated with Smilebox

He likes sitting up now and plays for a while.  Here he is without his braces, but he can balance with them just as well as without.  Some times he'll fall backwards - hence the pillows.  He's trying to turn over now also.  Oh, the adventures of a baby!

A Swimmer is born

After years of swim lessons, William is now pretty good at the crawl.  What is so nice is that he is finally comfortable in the water - he goes underwater and swims like a dolphin, twirls, floats and generally looks like he's having a good time in the water.  Check out his progress:

Thank you

For those not with us - we mourn your passing and honor all you've done for us.

For those who presently serve where ever it may be:  God bless and keep you and return you safely to your loved ones.

We remember.

First Communion Saturday

Will made his First Communion May 7th.  He was so excited to do this.  He's been working 3 years to get to this point.  And it was a great day.  There were 55 children receiving the sacrament.  And four other masses with the same number of children.  It's a large parish.

The children made a banner at their retreat.  Yes, a retreat.  I don't remember doing that, but they enjoyed it - videos, prayers, songs, making banners - they had a nice 6 hour get together.

Next is the family waiting to watch the big event. With so many children, of course the church was packed.

The big event has begun.  The boys came first and they whizzed by looking like ghosts down the aisle.  William wore a blue shirt and yellow tie.

The girls came next of course much more sedate.  They all looked so nice in their finery.

It was over before we knew it.  Pictures are not allowed during Mass so here's Will afterwards when Father asked them all up to the altar.
 

And then we could take photos!

Here's Megan and William.  Megan is a long time friend.  Her mother is Em's best friend from high school.  They have grown up together.  Then Christie, Megan's mom, had us over for a reception/lunch afterwards.  A very pleasant day. 



And our Princess

We had a party for Stephen to celebrate his 37th birthday.  And it was an opportunity to take photos of all the grandkids.  Here's our princess sitting on my lap and Mom holding Leo:

And the kids and their kids!

Each one is holding their delight. Frank in the middle is Frank's holding Lily and Will on far right is Em's.

Cowboy Leo

Son Stephen, Amanda and Leo came and have gone.  It was so good to have them here.  Leo was such fun.  He is 20 months and right there between baby and toddler stage.   Talks up a storm, eats hardy and is so adorable.  He has the bluest eyes!

Cherub is 5 months!

Alan is 5 months - I can't believe how much he's changed.  Every day he does something new, stay upright longer, rock on the pillow, stand longer, eat solid food- babies are so wonderful to watch and this grandma is having so much fun.

Stash Report 3/27/11

Cut up fabric for sewdality quilts - 1 1/2 yards, made a scrap block for our guild's bom with about another 1/8th, and that's about it this week.  So much going on and having to deal with kidney stones, too - ay-ya-yi! Used/Donated this week: 1.63 yards

Used/Donated Yr to date: 23.87yards
Added this wk: 0.0 yards
Total Yr to date Added: -3.5 yards
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Total Yr to date Used 20.37 yards.

So I'm over the 20 yards point.  I can't believe it!

I don't know how much quilting I'll get in in the coming weeks as Monday I start babysitting Alan full time when Mom goes back to work.  And it's William's spring break - he gets 2 weeks off - too.  So they will be here from 7:30 am to 6pm.  Plus I'll have to take Alan to his physical therapy appointments.  It will be different.  I will try to get my 15 minutes of quilting in somehow.

See how others are doing with their stash at Judy's.  Just click on the button Patchwork Times in the left sidebar.  How are you doing?

Here's our cherub at 3 1/2 months

Isn't he a sweetie?!  Yes, when Alan's around I can't even think of quilting.  I get all mushy inside.

This n That #1

We're leaving tomorrow for a 3 day visit to Palm Springs, so not much quilting is getting done.  I did hem a curtain for my DDIL in CO so she can try out how they hang and what length she wants them (got it off in the mail, too), finished my secret block (more on that later) and  unstitched my 4 inchers to replace the large block.  So I'm leaving you with a photo or two:

 Here's Alan at 2 months.  Last weigh - in said 7.9 pounds so he's right up there where he should be if he had been born Dec 20th instead of Nov. 11th. He's so precious!

Then here's a scrappy quilt tip - when I'm making a scrappy quilt I use left over thread and partly filled bobbins to sew them together.  If the quilt is most one color - I'll try to use color in that family, but for truly scrappy quilts, it's whatever partial thread is on hand for blocks making AND quilting.

Dec 19th was another First

December 19th marked William's first piano recital.  The teacher wisely placed him first on the program as he is her newest pupil and didn't give him a chance to get nervous. He played We Three King and another cheerful short tune. He did very well for having studied less than a year.  This event started the Christmas week nicely.

A Newborn

Yesterday, Dec 20th was our baby's actual due date (I know that is approximate) but we're using it to mark his progess.  Little Alan Vincent is no longer a preemie.  We can now call him a newborn.  And today his mom dressed him in newborn clothes as he has outgrown preemie clothes - right on schedule.  At left: holding hands with grandma in hospital. Then home at 9 days at a tiny weight of 4 lbs, he's now closing in on 6 pounds five weeks five days from birthdate.

Late Design Wall

Well I'm in a funk - I can't seem to get myself over to the other half of this room and do quilting!  Weekend was busy!  A class, a shower, a headache - all kept me from feeling par.

Some good news - fun was had by all at the shower. Mom gave daughter a darling quilt - but I forgot my camera and can't show it to you.  There is nothing on my design wall at the moment.  I should be working on a table runner for our Christmas exchange at the LQG meeting in two weeks, but just don't have the energy.

Some great news.  Baby Alan now weighs 5 lbs!  Yeah!

Ah me!  Can hardly wait for the days to begin earlier - today I got up at 6am but it was so dark I went back to bed.

Send hugs, please,
Angie

Post Thursday

Well not much quilting has been done lately - our 42nd anniversary had to be celebrated.  It was tuesday.  As we had two going out to dinner Christmas obligations, we decided not to go out that day, instead we went to a Cactus Society potluck on Wednesday.  We took our grandson as he usually spends his wednesday evenings with us. It was great!  Today my DH gave me these: 

and I baked him a carrot-pineapple cake with cream cheese frosting which I took to our thursday out of the house dinner at the Sons of Italy - a fraternal club that serves the best lasagna in the area.  Four other friends came with us.

    So maybe some quilting tomorrow!

Stash report 11/21 and Harvest

Well no quilting done this week - everything was Alan Vincent Stewart  - LOL.  He is so tiny!  At four pounds he is just like a little doll.  But doing well and eating well. Alleluia!


So none in and none out - and that's my stash report for this week.


Now here is my harvest.  While it is raining now - has been for the last 24 hours on and off - I did go out to our two tomato plants and plucked all the red fruit for eating just before it began to rain.  Yumm!  They are so tasty.  New plant doing nicely but no fruit yet, just flowers.

I'm saving most for Thanksgiving Day salad.