Sunday, September 29, 2013

Friday, September 27, 2013

Three Steps Forward Quilt



























































































































































































I put the final stitch in the binding last night and promptly washed this very large quilt.  It came out in all it's crinkly goodness.  The details of the quilt are here.  I'm so happy with it!  Have a great day!

Smiles,

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Strawberry Pincushions












































































I have been having a lot of fun handstitching.  I joined in on Erin's of Why Not Sew?, Strawberry Pincushion swap.  I used Crabapple Studios pattern to make my strawberry's.  I really enjoyed making them and I hope my recipient will enjoy them too!  It was fun filling a sweet little ceramic fruit basket with goodies for her.  What is a swap without the goodies?  Make sure to head over to Erin's beautiful blog, it's one of my favorites.  Enjoy your day!

Smiles,

Monday, September 23, 2013

Lovely Colors






















































































































































It's a brisk 55 degrees here today.  Oh how I love this weather!  The sun is shining brightly and the leaves are turning a riot of colors.  I took the opportunity to snap a shot of the quilt top I finished yesterday.  It is the Water Lily pattern from Sherri McConnell's book, "A Quilting Life".  I am in love with this quilt and Sherri's book!  The pattern is straight forward and fun to piece.  I love how the fabric combinations make up a great secondary pattern and the watercolor feeling it gives.  I used Jennifer Paganelli's "Circa" which was dreamy to work with.  While I was outside I took some photos of the flowers that are hanging on.  Soon the frost will take them away but I can enjoy them a little while longer.  Today we celebrate Maddie's 19th birthday.  This picture was taken last year on her 18th birthday which also was the day we took senior pictures.  She is a freshmen in college now and I'm heading out the door to take her some cupcakes.  Sweet blessings, friends!

Hugs,

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Wednesday












































































Happy Wednesday, Friends!  Just popping in to say hello.  I wrestled with squaring up my quilt yesterday.  Boy oh boy, a bit challenging for a king size quilt.  I started the binding last night.  This will take awhile but I'm so excited to use this one.  I unpacked a few of my friends too, I keep finding boxes that I haven't unpacked and was happy to see their cute little faces again. Blessings!

Hugs, 

Monday, September 16, 2013

Just Be You






















































































































































For a brief moment on Saturday I thought about changing my style.  The boys had come home from the Michigan game with some friends and they were sitting on my pretty furniture in my pretty room watching football and they looked a little silly.  I had just gotten back from an antique market and had purchased the cute little buffet with the key for the dining room.  I started going through possible design changes, more industrial, more neutral, more blah, blah, blah.  Nope, I can't do it.  Eventually when we finish the basement they will have their man cave.  No one objects to my style at home so why would I change?  I've been blessed with a husband who lets me display a vintage wedding dress in the dining room and has no problem putting his feet on a pink coffee table.  I'm so glad, because the florals and the roses and the vintage goodness is here to stay.  Blessings!

Xoxo,

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Fabric & Flowers
































































































































































Thank you for all your kind words on the before and after photos of the house.  Things are coming along and I've been liking the progress.  This is my first week of being without the kids.  I find the whole empty nest thing like riding an emotional roller coaster.  I can be chugging away and doing just fine and then a quick curve and I'll find myself choking up while driving the car, out of the blue it snuck up on me.  I've been trying to stay busy and sewing up a storm.  I'm working on Sherri's Water Lily quilt from her book, "A Quilting Life".  I'm using Circa by Jennifer Paganelli.  The fabric colors are amazing.  I joked on Instagram about not being able to close the fabric cupboard door, so what do I do?  I drop a quilt off for quilting at the quilt shop and come home with the adorable snow man quilt kit.  Geez.  That emotional roller coaster has me justifying all kinds of impulse fabric purchases. Fabric and flowers seem to be my weakness right now.  As soon as one bouquet starts to wither I get another one. I think I'm trying to hold onto summer.  Michigan winters are long and cold, dark and long, did I say long?  I'm starting to unpack the upstairs more.  I hung the medallion quilt above Maddie's bed and the kids canvas pictures in the hallway where they smile at me everyday.  I better go, I'm rounding that bend again.  Blessings!

Smiles,

Monday, September 9, 2013

House: Before & After













































































































































































































After…





































































































































































































































































































































































Lots of pictures today!  I have been promising some before and after shots of the new house. We have been here three months.  Things are coming along nicely.  We have repainted and redone the first floor flooring as well and put in some landscaping.  We are done with big projects for  now.  The dark blue living room we turned into our dining room because it fits our 72" round dining table nicely.  It truly is amazing what paint can do.  I was looking for soft, pretty and calm.  I believe I have achieved that.  I still have lots of pictures to hang and bedrooms to get in order, but I'm taking my time.  I will show you more as I get things done.  Have a great Monday!

xoxo,