Quilts: reading and doing

I am not one who keeps up with the latest in literature and usually find good books "by chance" in thrift stores. Recently, I ran across a book from this series: Elm Creek Quilts. It was the third book written in this series and I am now hooked and want to read all of them, in the order they were written! Yesterday I went to the library and brought this book with me to read while staying at hubby's work place this week. I was excited when I saw there are quite a few books in this series and should keep me busy reading for awhile. The stories are great and there is a lot of "quilty" stuff involved, which serves as an inspiration for me to get busy and quilt! I also brought my unfinished, work in progress quilt with me that I need to finish up. I have my sewing machine set up here at the "lily pad" and I hope to machine quilt and get it ready for binding this week. My daughter will be home soon from Hawaii. (July 19th... yay) I made this quilt for her and need to get it finished. She will be arriving home just in time for the family beach vacation. She will fly home on Tuesday and we leave for our beach trip on Saturday. Is that great planning or what?? Maybe she'll be close to having her time zone readjustment by the time we get to the beach. If not, maybe the family can help her to readjust to NC time before our vacation is over. And then..... it will be job hunting time for her! Great things ahead!!! Looking forward to a great July, 2011!

Random Thoughts

I promised June would be a better blogging month, but so far, I haven't done too well. Sorry. I'm still going back and forth with my hubby to his work place and I don't get as much computer time at his place. :( Actually.... no frown! I've been able to "pull" myself away from the computer a little more and I am finding that I can actually get things done! :) I sewed some pillow covers for my outdoor patio set. We bought the set from Wal Mart and I just hated the pillows that came with the set. I now have some bright green, summer appropriate pillows on the orange chairs... made from thrift store curtains. (and was able to save enough of the curtain to make CUTE valances for my "one day" coastal home... LOL)

I've gone "hi tech" recently... I purchased an Ipod Touch for myself, having really no idea what this thing can really do. I am now learning to use it and I love it!!! What a cool toy! I love the fact that I can keep my music with me wherever I go. The young girls at work are helping me to learn my new gadget and I ordered the adapter to use with my car radio yesterday. It's so much fun to be hip and cool. LOL

Yesterday was hubby and mine's 27th wedding anniversary! Where has the time gone? 27 years of total dysfuntion.... ha ha! But still... 27 years. :o) We were both off work yesterday and spent the day together. We shopped at the new Tanger Outlets and had lunch at Mellow Mushroom... yummo... one of my new favorite places to eat. We stopped by our sweet Avery's house (and his mom and dad's) to see his new swimming pool and his new swing set that his Daddy has built for him. (sorry, mom, I forgot to get pic's for you) When we got there, he was swinging in his new swing and was such a "big boy". Grandma had some fun play time and then he wanted to go home with me..... WHAT A FEELING! Now I know how my mom used to feel when my kids didn't want to leave her house to come home with me... ha ha!!

The pic's above are of our little guy when he was at our house a couple weeks ago. He is 16 months old now and is turning into such a big boy. I'm amazed each time I see him... all the new words and how smart is has become! He has finally said "grandma" a few times and I think that's the sweetest word ever. :) With kids, you never have to wonder... you just KNOW that they love you! And Avery loves me. He's truly one of the best things that has happened in our 27 years of marriage. And I'm looking forward to the next one... and the next one... and the next one....

You will never know how much joy you bring..... I love you, Sweet Avery!

Going Coastal!

You can take a girl away from the coast... but that doesn't stop her from wanting to return!! As hubby is drawing "very" close to retirement, we are seriously considering our options and trying to decide where we want to live. All things keep drawing us back homeward... that dream of "a little cottage by the sea" just doesn't leave me.
We drove to Edenton, NC last week, just to browse.... Hubby knows I want to retire in New Bern, NC... but he wanted me to see this little coastal town, too. It is BEAUTIFUL, but it's not "in my blood" like New Bern seems to be. This town is probably just as pretty, if not prettier than New Bern, but it's a little too far away from "civilization" for me. Plus, New Bern is so much closer to the beaches that I love.

So, we think we have made our decision. The next year will be very busy, as we have a lot to prepare for.... but I am sooooo ready to go! I like calling (eastern) North Carolina "home".

Zippers

Just wanted to show off my cute little "zipper" flowers! I found these shoes at a new(er) outlet store nearby and so far, they have been my favorite summer shoes. (check out those hardwood floors... these are from the lilypad, where hubby lives during the week. They are very dog friendly and I love them!!! Wish I had them in my current home!) I had been seeing lots of "zipper" pins and jewelry on some of the blogs and magazines. I really like them, but thought to myself that I would never "wear" them, even though they would be fun to make.

(borrowed picture) So, when I found the zipper shoes, I didn't hesitate to buy them. They are fun and they seem to go with anything I wear! :o)))

Kisses

Just wanted to show you who I've been smooching with these days! Our Avery has learned to kiss! Nothing like those sweet baby kisses. :o)

Welcome

Welcome to the dark hole! I have never loved my entry way from the outside, as it looks like a plain dark hole to me. Here's my new wreath for this year (paid way too much for it), but it does add a pop of color against the brown.

I spray painted the chair, spray painted the metal hanging, and added the pillow for more color. It's better, but still a dark hole to me. :( I'm looking for a bright colored welcome mat... no luck so far. I know we are supposed to never say never, but I hope we never buy another BROWN house. Wishing for my white country farmhouse right now. :o)

Sorry for the long delay in posting... June will be better, I promise. :o)

Vintage Linens

I'm still dreaming of my "future" old farmhouse in eastern NC near the water. When I'm at thrift stores, I always look through the linens that have been donated. Sometimes you can really hit the jackpot! You see, in my future old farmhouse, with its many bedrooms, I have designed several different rooms already in my mind. One will be a vintage little girl's room, with lots of pink and other pastels... and lace.I'm not sure what this above piece is, but I'm guessing a tissue box cover?? It seems to drape over the box nicely. I'm not sure if it's handmade by anyone local or not, but it sure is pretty to me.

I couldn't pass up this set of pink pillowcases. They are made from a nice heavy cotton fabric. I washed them and they ironed up so pretty! I love the vintage design.

And THIS was my favorite find!! When I pulled this dresser scarf from the hanger, there were lots of frayed strings all around the edges. My first thought was that this piece was very damaged and that I would cut it up and make something , using the embroidery. When I got it home and washed it, I realized the frayed strings were only frayed edges from the hem on the back side of the piece. I am positive that the lace edge was done with a tatting shuttle and it is beautiful. I have this piece folded over and you can't see the whole scarf, but it is long, with both ends having identical embroidery. I trimmed the frayed strings, ironed it, and I am in LOVE with it! Seriously, in the store, one would think "why are they even selling this worn out stuff"? So, it was another happy week at the thrift store for me. Now, if we could just move along on getting that farmhouse in eastern NC!

First haircut

Look who got his first "big boy" haircut on Saturday! His mom took some great pictures of him with his precious little bottom lip rolling out during the haircut. What an experience for any little guy to have to go through. :o) Isn't he cute??? He sure does add a lot of love to our little world. :p

Still here

I'm still here... I've been busy spending time with this little guy! He is so smart and so much fun. He has been keeping grandma entertained 2-3 days a week. :o) I've been back to the doctor; my b/p is normal again. He says I may be able to go off the b/p medicine in six months. I'm looking forward to that! I saw the eye dr. this past week and he gave me one bifocal contact lense that makes me see a little better. I'm not nearly as depressed over my vision now. I love to sew and do needlework and it has been SO discouraging, not to be able to see the needle and thread! We've been working in the yard. The dogs are being good. Our preacher resigned. My daughter is coming home soon. My nerves still get the best of me some days. And I have learned that you are never too old to miss your mama! Have a great day!

Quilt "Tease"

It is true what they say: If you do stuff, stuff gets done! I've been watching some of my favorite quilters produce quilt after quilt after quilt, and I've been amazed with their accomplishments. Several of them have the same strategy: work on it just a few minutes everyday. I started making this small quilt for a very special someone approx. a week ago. I made it in sections on different days and there was absolutely no stress involved. It's easy to get excited about a project and try to complete it from start to finish in a hurry, but that is where the stress comes in, and it can take the pleasure out of the hobby. This quilt top is ready to be machine quilted (hopefully this weekend) after I buy the backing fabric. I had some leftover quilt batting from another project and was able to piece together two pieces to use for this quilt. (thrifty quilter) If all goes well, maybe I'll have a picture of the finished project for you by next week.

Yo Yo's finished.... here it is!

Yes, it is finished.... and framed!!! I was almost sad to see it end, as I enjoyed making the yo yo's so much. I'll just have to think of another yo yo project to do. I hope you aren't disappointed... ha ha.... as I have talked about this yo yo spread forever. I just can't believe I finally finished something. Yay, me! (ps... went shopping for a new lamp to replace the one on the table... couldn't find it... yet)

Baby (big boy) bibs

I have accomplished a little bit this week on my days off. I decided I wanted to make some big boy bibs for Avery. I hope his parents don't think the fabric is too feminine for him.... I bought the frogs and the puppy dogs, but the other two came from my "stash". These were so easy to make and now I want to find some cute little boy fabric and make a few more for him.

They show up a little better against my bathroom rugs that are hanging out to dry. (ok, I admit it... they've been drying for days!!!) And yes, my flower beds need mulch badly!!!

I also made Avery a little "tag" blanket, as he likes to fiddle with fabric when he is going to sleep. He usually winds the fabric of whoever is rocking him's shirt around his thumb, and sucks it to go to sleep. He really likes the little tags on his soft toys, so I took some leftover flannel, some cute ribbon, and made him a tag blanket. I don't have any idea if he'll even like it, but if he does, I'll post a pic. of him using it.

*I've completed the yo yo spread. I need to find a background fabric to frame it on... I tried a natural colored linen which did not show up well. I think black or dark brown is what I'm going to look for... I have decided not to paint the frame black, after all.... I think the brown tone looks better with my new recliners. (they are brown.... pleather) :o)