Finding time to "Quilt the Quilt"

Started quilting "Lucille Memory Quilt" on Friday, August 24th.  About halfway done on Saturday.  Sunday got to work on it for a couple minutes before I had to leave for Daughter's house for a birthday celebration.  What a fun day that was, family, and food always equals Fun!  The weather outside was frightful, but it didn't stop us, on the drive home we got to see a rainbow, that always makes me happy too. Don't worry not only is the light red, but I am the passenger taking this picture!

Today the boys are here, they got here bright and early 6:45am!  We walked up to the park after breakfast for a little while.  Digging, Sliding, Swinging, now we're home having quiet time with the big boy, and the little boy is taking a nap.  I'm hoping I'll be able to quilt a little before bed tonight after the Grands go home.  I'm liking what I have done so far which is mostly stitching in the ditch, and a little free motion.  

I'd like to get this finished before Labor Day weekend, wish me luck! 

In the meantime...Happy piecing!

Sports & Camp Quilting

Ok so here is some beginning stages of the backing for my step mothers quilt. (yes I am a glutton for punishment). Why don't I just go buy some 108 inch fabric & be done with it? Because, there is still unused fabric that was her clothing. My step mother passed in 2009 , my Dad in 2010. They both loved sports. My Dad (Loved) the Giants (football), my step sister always wondered, how "Johnny" (my dad) could have a child that is a "Redskins" fan? (Me) seeing how she is married to a Dallas fan! I guess that may have been where "all in the Family"came from. Ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!
The six top square's are for "Orca Bay, for me just red, white, and blue for U.S.A.!  Which someday will make it into a future blog.

The bottom two large rows are pieces from Lucille's clothing and that "awful" "Giants" fabric in the bottom row is a handkerchief that was in my Dad's clothing.  He also had at leat 20 Yankees T- Shirts that  need to get OUT of my house,  My carma needs "Redskins" fabric under this roof.  Hey, to each his own.  I'm a Fan for life to the team I love, I will never begrudge a man or woman for the team they choose to cheer for.  Don't begrudge me for mine...

Anyway,  tomorrow is Friday, and Grandson #1 will be spending the weekend with Daddy, they are going camping, and Grandson #2 will be here.  

PS, I typed this post on my cell phone, first time I have done that.  I'm not sure how some of that got in there!  Oh well, better take my Mac downstairs with me always.

Slumber party?

The boy's & Mommy are staying the night. Severe weather is forecasted for the area, and they were going to be here bright and early tomorrow morning 6:30am so why not just stay the night? So for me it's fix dinner, go to Safeway for a few needed items then down to sew. Remy see's quilt pieces on the floor and she thinks I'm making a bed just for her. Get to work Sheila, no more blogging.
"Piece" out!

Sewing on the Fly!

Evening sewing now that my two buddies are safe at home with Mommy & Daddy.  Today not only did I have my Grandson's but I had their 1 year old Chocolate Lab "Mac" and my 3 year old American Bull Dog "Remy".  A full busy day was had by all, so I'm happy to report that I am down in my sewing room running some steps 5, 6 & 7 of Orca Bay threw the "my little brother" aka my sewing machine.  Husbands away on business so I have no one reminding  me of the time.  This is a good and bad thing, since no one's here to remind me to come to bed can turn into a bit of grumbling (totally on my part, never directed at the boy's) tomorrow morning when the boys do get here, but it's all good since I can always take a nap with them if I want to. (;-)Smile;-))

Orca Bay progress, I need to get a bigger "design floor"for this baby! There should be one more white background star block, and another row of the blue stripes on the far right of  this first row.  The block on the second row, first left is totally pieced wrong!! I'm not picking it out right now, I'm hopping I have extra unit's and can put this lone block to use somewhere else.  The units are the progress for tonight, but after a busy afternoon with the boy's I'm finding I really can't stay down in my sewing room as long as I imagined I might.  Old Mr. Sandman is throwing sand in my eyes!  I didn't take a picture, but I did a lot of cutting tonight too, and some big pieces for my Step Mother's memory quilt backing. I am loving the way Orca Bay is turnig out and I don't even have a full row together...
I feel like I'm "Sewing on the Fly" everyday that passes me by, but at least a little sewing in better than nothing.

Happy Sewing!
Sheila

Guild meeting fun w/ Southern Comforters members

Wednesday night's Guild meeting was so fun! We played games, one where we got to talk, and get to know each other a little better, had some snacks, looked at beautiful quilts, and there was even prizes!  What more could a quilter ask for.  I won the name tag drawing!  Yeah me!

This sunflower fabric was our summer fabric challenge.  Make any 12 1/2" unfinished block with this fabric, my block is called "Mothers Favorite" I didn't win the blocks, but it's always fun to see what everyone else pieces.

This is my Step-Mothers Memory quilt top completed.  Now I'm working on the back, also with her clothes, though I am planning to use larger squares just to get it done.  I really want to get it to my Step-Sister soon.  This pattern is from Joan Ford's "Scrap Therapy" program which I found in a magazine from the Publishers of Threads, called "Quilt you Stash!".  There are 10 projects in the magazine all with Joan Ford's program.  I really enjoyed trying her method for scrap cutting, sorting, and piecing.  Her method is different than my "Quilt Hero", Bonnie Hunter's.  Though I was still using the Leader/Ender method so I am always working on another quilt.

I had to put some of Orca Bay on the design wall, wanted to get some idea of what I've been doing all these months with all these little pieces.  I still have a lot to go, but I'm not racing, I'm piecing, right?:=)

Anyway, it's Sunday, watching the last bits of the Olympic's "Rhythmic Gymnastics", and I really need to get to sewing!  Tomorrow brings the Grandsons so I need to spend my time wisely!:=)

Happy Sunday sewing to us all.

Summer's flying by

Fast moving, never a dull moment, summer fun!  So far that has been the story of my life...Hot summer afternoons spent with my Grandsons, and youngest daughter are things I Love to journal about, Memories I never want to forget.  We have been to the Bowie Train Museum, where the boys can play with the wooden trains and watch the trains go by.  The youngest Grandsons new favorite word is "Caboose"!  (I wanna go to the Caboose!) This pictured was taken in early spring, no way could I take them out in long sleeves this summer!  Too many day's in the 100's this summer!  My boy's just LOVE this place!

Spending time with great friends in Carolina, a room with a view...

Our first summer trip was to North Carolina and a visit with long time friends for a wedding.  Their beautiful daughter (an artist who created a beautiful heaven out in a Carolina field). 

Had to be the most beautiful wedding I have ever been too. Without question!

No need to choose a side, just a seat!

The Altar...

We had a wonderful time and didn't want the fun to end, but alas, all good things must come to an end. I have had this post started for a while now and feel like I need to post it and move on to more adventures at a later date. Summer is flying by and I need to get it all in!  Until later,  happy sewing...

Happy Flag Day/Happy Birthday

Happy Flag Day, Happy U.S. Army's 237th Birthday, and Happy Birthday to my handsome son!  All those years ago, June 14th was my due day, and June 14th is the day my son arrived into this world and my life.  I am happy for this day, he has always made me proud.  This picture was taken last year on the 14th at a Washington National's game.  This year we stayed home and cooked out on the grill in celebration of Stanley's Birthday.  Tonights dinner menu Grilled Stuffed Jalapenos, BBQ Ribs, Cucumber/Tomato/Pasta Salad, and Hot Dogs with Mac & cheese for the two Grandsons.  Dessert was Ice Cream Cake, and Happy Birthday singers!  Lots of fun was had by the 5 of us, I'm pooped in a very good way.
I would have liked to have gotten in a little sewing in today, but that was not meant to be since the Grandson's are spending the night tonight.  The next few days will busy days too so probably won't get any sewing in until Sunday evening or Monday.  This is what is on my design wall right now. I only have 9 more 9 patch blocks to make for the center of this scrappy quilt top.

I'm hoping to show you more progress next week.  Here's wishing you all many happy sewing moments & family moments. I am so thankful for mine each and everyday...