Monday, July 29, 2013

Finished Row-A-Long Quilt

















































































































Today is a "bind a quilt" kind of day.  The weather is cool, in the 60's, and cloudy.  I'm so happy to show you the finished Row-a-long quilt that many of us made with Lori from Bee in My Bonnet.  I thoroughly enjoyed making this quilt.  I used fabrics from my stash and played around with purple and soft brown, two colors I don't normally use.  Mary, my quilter/friend, did a fantastic job of quilting.  I wish you could see the detail she put into each row.  It's amazing.  I just took it out of the dryer and it's all crinkly and warm.  I want to thank Lori, again, for all the time and effort she took in designing the quilt and sharing her patterns and detailed directions with us.  It's not too late to make your own row-a-long quilt!

Smiles,

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Friday, July 26, 2013

Happy Dance!







































I'm doing a happy dance!  A vintage featherweight Singer sewing machine has found it's way to my house. She is just a wee little thing, weighing in at 11 pounds.  I have been wanting one for a long time and when I saw that Donna had one for sale, I asked my husband for an early wedding anniversary gift (next month).  She was made in 1948 and belonged to a Ministers wife who sewed her clothes on it when she was in college.  Some history for you…around 2.5 million were manufactured from 1933 to 1964 in Elizabethport, New Jersey; Clydebank, Scotland; and St. John's, Canada.  I have not turned her on yet as she just arrived yesterday.  Sweet Donna also sent along a fabric gift.  Wonderful prints from Atsuko Matsuyama 30's collection.  Be still my heart!  Flower Sugar and 30's collection are my two all time favorite fabric lines.  My heart is so full today!  

Hugs,

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Thankful







































Feeling thankful for three quilts to bind and a break in the heat.  What are you feeling thankful for today?

Smiles,

Monday, July 22, 2013

Wonderful



































































































































































































































It was really something, this wedding and reception.  What a way to end a wedding planning career. Look at these gorgeous photos.  A young and incredibly talented photographer released a few preview photos last night.  Her name is Evelyn Vaughn and oh my goodness, has she got quite a career ahead of her.  These photos are a few of my favorites.  It was busy and exhausting, breathtakingly beautiful and felt like we were in a movie.  I can't imagine how we could've changed it and the feedback coming in is nothing but fantastic.  Congratulations Shelby and Ryan!  What a way to kick off a lifetime of love and happiness.  The best part, Christ is the center of this marriage.  Blessings!

Hugs,

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Thursday, July 18, 2013

On the Farm



























































































































































































I'm back in my old hometown for a wedding.  The last wedding of my wedding planning career. Instead of it being at my former farm of employment, it's at my friend's farm.  Her daughter is getting married.  It's a big wedding with 348 guests.  Yesterday the tent went up and I took a stroll on the grounds to get acquainted with the resident critters.  I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  It is a slice of heaven on these grounds.  I introduce you to Johnny Cash and June Carter, the miniature donkeys. I got a big kick out of watching Wesley and Buttercup, the goats, climb.  I had no idea goats liked to climb, shows you I don't have much farm animal knowledge.  The chickens were a riot of color and weren't quite sure what to make of me.  It is a beautiful setting for a wedding reception.  I hope the heat breaks, that's my only concern.  Hope you're staying out of the heat!

Hugs,

Monday, July 15, 2013

Marcelle Medallion

















































































































I am thrilled to start the week out with a quilt finish which has been long in coming.  Last week I picked up some quilts from my quilter/friend, Mary.  One of them was the Marcelle Medallion.  I quickly got it bound and washed.  I just love it!  Mary did an exquisite job on the quilting, I wish you could see the detail.  This quilt was gifted to Maddie for graduation and will hang in her room.  I'm looking forward to her coming home from Ireland this week and seeing it.  Have a blessed day!

Smiles,

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Sunday Scripture







































"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things
of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace…"

image found here

With Joy,

Thursday, July 11, 2013

As for Me and My House













































































A few months before the move I found this chalkboard at one of my favorite shops, Everlasting Blooms.   I knew we would be moving and have been hanging on to it.  It's a big one, measuring just over four feet in length.  I painted it a lovely shade of blue, named "Watery" by Sherwin Williams.  It is the same color of two of our bathrooms in the new house.  I found my inspiration piece on Pinterest and free handed the scripture.  I really like how it turned out.  It makes quite a statement, placed just inside the front door.  The cute little Fischer Price toy came from my friend, Shann.  Such a wonderful surprise!  Isn't she the cutest little thing?  Have a blessed day!

Hugs,

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Seeing Pink



























































































































































































The painters finished yesterday.  I closed the door and looked around at a freshly painted blank slate.  Now the fun begins.  I want to decorate slowly, to allow myself time to find pieces that I really like.  Many of my furniture pieces did not come with me because they were too big for this space.  I spent some time in my sewing room over the weekend.  The walls are PINK!  It's a beautiful color named "Possibly Pink" by Sherwin Williams.  I love it, it's soft and pretty.  One of my biggest challenges with this room is book storage.  I parted with a big cupboard before the move which housed my books so I've decided to use the closet.  As you can see, I still need to purge and organize, but the books are out of the boxes which was the goal.  Putting my fabric in the cupboard was like taking a walk through a lovely garden.  I was back in my happy place.   The view from my window overlooks the neighbors backyard and I can still see the pretty barn.  Lots of birds, bunnies and even the occasional coyote pass through that field so I plopped my sewing machine right in front of the window as to not miss any of it.  I'll have better pictures when I get more done.  Have a wonderful day!

Smiles,

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Happy 4th of July







































Americana Rose made the summer of 2009 ~ one of my favorite quilts

Wishing you a blessed and safe 4th of July!

Love,

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

With Paper















































































































































































































































































































































I apologize for my lack of posting.  Once my sewing room is up and running I will have lots to show you.  It has been crazy around here with boxes still being unpacked and painters coming in and out. It's a good kind of crazy, as I keep trying to tell myself.  I have a very large space above my mantle and not one thing seemed to work there so last night I located the box with all the scrapbook paper I have been collecting and decided to make a wreath.  Easy peasy, just a little time consuming.  I watched "Sleepless in Seattle" and started rolling away.  I cut a large circle using a dinner plate as a template out of cardboard (we have tons right now) and began hot gluing them starting from the outside and working in.  I like how it turned out, but it's big, about 33" round.  The red walls are gone and I've been pulling out all the pretties, which is the fun part.  I'm enjoying the little gardens that I have in back. I have not had ornamental grasses before.  I'm not sure how I feel about them being an old-fashioned flower kind of girl but they remind me of being a child in the dunes on the shores of Lake Michigan, especially when the wind is blowing, so for now I'm keeping them.  I'm looking forward to the fourth and a few days away with my husband.  This past Saturday Maddie boarded a plan to Ireland, all by herself, to meet up with a missions group in Dublin.  Yes, I bawled like a baby when she left but I'm looking forward to all the wonderful things God has planned for this trip.  Blessings!

Smiles,