Sunday, May 25, 2014

Friday, May 23, 2014

A Walk in the Garden



























































































































































































I traveled to see my parents.  After 52 years of living at the same address, they have decided to sell their home and move to something much more manageable.  I knew this time was coming and it makes sense.  It's good to do this now while they can and not because they have to.  As I slept in my childhood room I was flooded with memories and emotions.  I took these pictures in my Mother's beautiful garden.  Her garden has always been a place of enchantment for me.  There is always a surprise around each corner, from a blooming rose to a wee fairy tucked in just the right place.  Some of the flowers came from my Grandmother's homes, the tall hollyhocks and the climbing roses.  I will be heading back next week for a major moving sale and hope to take many more pictures then.

I also helped host a wedding shower and had a lot of fun making mini cherry pies in mason jars for the dessert.  A very easy recipe from Pinterest.  I was able to deliver a gift to my friend, Debbie.  Her husband is a beekeeper (among many other things!) and I had so much fun knitting this tea cozy for her.  Her reaction was priceless and I would do it again just to see her face.  I love giving gifts to others, just for the joy it brings.

I hope you've had a good week.  We've had rain and sunshine, hot and mild days.  I could take this weather all year.  Spring is my favorite season.  Blessings!

Smiles,

Monday, May 12, 2014

Great Granny Sew Along Top Finish



























































































































































































I had so much fun putting this quilt together.  I can't remember the last time I enjoyed sewing this much.  Lori's patterns are so fun to make, clear to understand and I always learn a better way of piecing with each quilt pattern from Lori I make.  The only trouble I had on this quilt was choosing a border fabric.  I ripped out two different choices before deciding on this one.  The blocks are very colorful and I needed a border that wouldn't compete with the other fabrics.  I had this Lecien Flower Sugar in my stash which I had eyed before using something else.  I need to follow my instincts.  Lori is going to start another quilt along soon, so be sure to check out her wonderful blog!

Happy Sewing,

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Tilda & Tea

















































































































We had quite the thunderstorm last night.  I stayed up late enjoying the flash of lightening and the following roll of thunder, so glad that it wasn't snow.  Today the grass is greener and I can hear the birds chirping in the flowering trees.  I'm so thankful for spring and the hope and promise it brings.

I was so pleased to receive a pink envelope in the mail yesterday all the way from the UK.  I finally decided after months and months of wrestling with myself to give in and buy the Tilda Quilt Collection that I've had my eye on.  What was holding me back was my imagined cost of shipping.  When it came right down to it, eight 1/4 yd. cuts and one 1/2 yd. cut with shipping from the UK cost me $34.95.  I didn't think that was extravagant at all.  I have had some favorite lines that I love and this one is no exception.  We need to figure out what how to get Tilda fabric in the states.  For now I'm so glad it's available on Etsy, thanks to Caroline of Love to Sew and a handful of other ladies.

Yesterday on a bit of shopping with my son I purchased the most beautiful tea.  The name is Summer Bouquet and is a blend of chamomile flowers, rosebuds, cornflowers and orange peel.  Made with a spoon of wild blueberry sugar and a bit of milk, it makes the prettiest shade of lavender grey.  The tea looks as if it was made to go with Tilda fabric.

I am so thankful Whole Foods was offering these beautiful peonies and tulips.  The flower beds at this new house only produced the five daffodils.  I am hoping to transplant some flowers from my mothers beautiful garden so that I can be surrounded again by flowers.  I'm forcing myself to resist the urge to make a trip to my old home to see my garden, knowing it wouldn't make me feel any better.  I hope the flowers there are blessing the new owner.

Have a lovely day!

"The grass withers and the flower fades but
the Word of our God stands forever."
Isaiah 40:8

Monday, May 5, 2014

Cuteness






























































































Happy Monday, friends!  I hope you had a good weekend.  I am working on reorganizing my sewing room and I'm really enjoying all the discoveries of things I have that I had forgotten about.  Please tell me I'm not the only one that does that!  For those of you who asked me what the material was that I used to make the Bitty Mouse dress, it's from the 30's Collection by Atsuko Matsuyama.  I checked on Etsy last night and there is still some available.  It's so pretty and is the fabric in the first photo.  In the second photo I have some yard cuts of Lori Holt's new Vintage Happy that I just bought.  I love it!  The pattern material is to die for and if I could have I would have bought the whole bolt.  I used a piece of it to make the crochet hook in the block I showed in an earlier post.  I also had to show you the most adorable donut stitch markers I bought on Etsy.  I know they will make me smile every time I use them to knit.  They look pretty on my ironing board cover (purchased at TJ Maxx).  Sweet blessings!

Hugs,

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Crochet Yarn & Hook Block

















































































































I'm really enjoying the Great Granny Sew Along.  Any pattern of Lori Holt's is always fun to make.  This certainly will be a happy, colorful quilt when finished.  It appears my sewing buddies think so too from the smile on their faces!  Have a blessed day!

Smiles,