Retreat Month!

February, the month of Love and Retreat is already here?  Where does the time go?  I've been spending time down in the dungeon (aka my sewing room), and at Joann Fabric trying to get myself ready for my Quilt Guilds Fall Retreat.  My Guild has it's annual Fall Retreat over Presidents' Day weekend, where 35 women bring our sewing machines, and sew, eat, laugh, sew, eat, laugh, and sleep once in a while.   This year we will arrive on Friday February 15th in the afternoon, and leave Monday, February 18th in the afternoon.  There are lots of activities planned, (Big Bag Lady Bag, Pincushion, and a Mystery Quilt to name a few) and this years theme is Tropical, and we are giving a tropical fabric to make blocks with. These blocks will be raffled off on Sunday.  I am copying my friend Mary over at Keep Me in Quilts http://keepmeinquilts.blogspot.com/2013/01/retreat-blocks.html and posting pictures of my Retreat Blocks.

Tropical Retreat Blocks 12 1/2 inch unfinished

I'm really looking forward to our "Tropical Retreat", and all the sewing, and fun with my fellow retreating friends.  So, happy February, and happy piecing.

Me. 

TGI Monday

Woo, what a weekend DH and I just had!  DD came down with the ful, DSIL is a Bartender, working at (you guessed it) night.   Two little boys haven't gotten their flu shots.  DD (AKA Mommy) did have a flu shot, (she is a mother who works in healthcare) but this flu is apparently a different strain.  So what's a Nan & Pop to do?  Go get them on Thursday night and keep them until Sunday evening.  Friday 1/11/13 was Mommy's birthday, so Sunday we made a cake, and brought it along with dinner back to their house for a little party for Mommy.  It was the perfect ending to a busy, fun filled weekend.  

Saturday night fun included movies, M&M's, and a little wine for Nan. 

We also went to the Library, and had lunch at McDonalds (eatting in the Playland area), and burning some energy in the play area.  Riding bikes, walks, in the neighborhood, and playing board games rounded out the weekend.  I even got a little sewing in on Sunday while the little guy was sleeping, can't get any better than that.  Orca Bay is soooo close to being finished, completed picture to follow soon.

So in ending "Thank Goodness It's Monday) and happy stitching to all of us!

Happy New Year!

2013 Welcome, and congratulations to the Washington Redskins NFC Champions!  As season ticket holders Sunday was a hugh game for the home team.  I had givin my ticket to my youngest daughter thinking it would be too cold for me to go.  Then #1 son (only son) had to work, so I ended up going to the last game of the regular season against our #1 opponent, the Dallas Cowboys...What an awsome game!  It was originally scheduled for 1:00pm kick off, but the NFL changed it to Sunday Night NBC, with kick off at 8:20PM! (ratings, ratings, ratings NBC).  And 37degress at kick off time!  Burr!!  Layers, and homemade MD crab soup, and propane heaters during tailgate time warmed us all up nicely.  Inside the stadium the energy in the crowd kept us nice and warm too (never sat down once during the whole game).  Driving home from the game after a "WIN" is the best! 

Set up 5:30PM.

Once inside, Redskins band playing "Hail to the Redskins" Panoramic view.

Before going to the game, I was determined to get some sewing in.  So close, yet so far away...

One last 3 inch row needs to be added to bottom, sashing, and pieced border needs to be added.

Going into the New Year with Orca Bay still a UFO.  I can live with it...

So until next time, Happy New Year, and happy piecing.

After Christmas Sewing

Christmas was beautiful, the boy's were spoiled and all the running around and gift exchanging was a blast!

Remy waiting for Santa!

It was snowing, raining, and sleeting all day here in the DC Metro area yesterday.  Yuck! A perfect day to stay in and sew.  I know some are thinking "after Christmas Sales", and I do so love that four letter word "Sale", but I do not do cold too well.  So down to the basement and my trusty sewing machine!  I  thought I had all the corner parts together, but alas that was not the case.  So I have been cutting out the black triangles, I do have enough half squares. Orca Bay is going to be finished soon I hope!

80 Orca Bay Borders & 55 Step one of Easy Street & Blitzen Charm Pack

 I'm not sure how the charm pack found it's way to my sewing table, but it's there too...

So for now Happy Piecing

Christmas stitching update

Well I haven't blogged since Thursday 12/13, it's been kinda busy around here!  Christmas presents have been purchased, wrapped, and put under the purchased, and decorated Christmas tree.  Dear friends stockings have been embroidered, and sewn, and picked up by friend.  I finished all five stockings last Wednesday the 19th.  Boy let me tell you that was a real "monkey off my back".

Five stockings with names embroidered, and seven little jingle bells sewn on each top.

I have made similar stockings for my DSIL, and both grandsons too.  Though the youngest grandson's didn't have his name embroidered on his even though this is his third Christmas (poor little guy!)  So I put his made stocking in the hoop, and embroidered his name (way too small)!  So off to Joann's to get replacement fabric, and pick, pick, pick the top off the stocking, and sew a new embroidered top on baby boys stocking.

Ta Da! 6 stockings embroidered and 42 total little jingle bells sewn on tops!

I did work a little on Orca Bay pieced borders, maybe have 50 unites finished (half way there).  But no work at all on Easy Street.  That will have to wait till after Christmas.  Yesterday I wanted to try some just for fun embroidery, so I made some of these.

What fun!  These designs were freebies from http://www.embroiderygarden.com

I'm done with Christmas shopping and decorating, but plan on going out to the store (Macy's) tomorrow morning to pick up "anything that strikes my fancy". Then watching the boy's for a little while before DD gets home from work. Christmas is going to be here before we know it, and I'm ready!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Piecing everyone.

Guild Holiday Pot Luck

My quilt guild had it's holiday dinner tonight.  Lots of good food, and lots of very talented ladies in one room.  There was a 12 1/2 inch Christmas block exchange, and a block of the month, neither of which I did this year.  I have too many UFO's (aslo know as Unfinished Objects) in my possession to join in on these exchanges.

These were the block of the month for the month of September 2011.  I won these blocks driving down I-95 home from VA. 

They are still neatly hanging in my closet in a 1 gallon baggie waiting to be a quilt.

This is one of many that are "begging" for me to sew together.  In the mean time a very good, long time friend asked me if I could make her two personalized Christmas stockings, which has turned into five Christmas stockings!  

I have 6 stockings cut out.  They need names embroided on five of the tops.  Tomorrow is Thursday, and I "must" get the names embroided.  

To top it all off, I missed a step in Orca Bay (the pieced borders), and finally started step #1 of Easy Street.  How the heck could I make Christmas blocks, and Block of the Month blocks when I have shown you just a tiny piece of what's on my plate. 

Christmas presents still need to be bought, and wrapped, Christmas Tree still needs to be bought, and decorated, decorating still needs to be finished, and all the "ballroom" is still without "proper paint".  I found a place within myself a long time ago, which keeps me in a frame of mind where I "embrace" the state I am in right now. I am who I am, and the love of my family and friends will get me through.  It will get done, Christmas will be fine, and wonderful for my beautiful family. In 34 years no one has ever complained...

So in case I don't get a chance to blog later, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy Piecing everyone.

Slow and Steady

Slow and steady will get the job done, at least that's what I tell myself.  I've made a lot of progress on Orca Bay, but I have the nerve to start working on Bonnie Hunters http://quiltville.blogspot.com Easy Street (link up to directions to Easy Street on the left sidebar) which is her current mystery that she reveals week by week.  I'm hoping to have picture's later this week.
Today I finished some embroidery for a co-workers of DD's.  I made patches with names on them instead of doing it directly on the jacket's.  I was worried that I might mess up the jacket's which I wasn't wanting to buy the co-worker new ones.

I embroidered the name's, U .S. Army & the Star were already on the jackets.

Patches were a new technique for me, but I really like how it turned out.

I made two of each name, followed the directions just as were told to me on youtube.

And with a woodburning iron cut the names out of the "patch kit material".  Which makes them iron ons!

I am looking forward to praticing up on this technique, it was so easy and turned out really nice.  
DD is going on a field trip with that cute Grandson of mine tomorrow (Monday), so she will take the the jackets to her co-worker on Tuesday.  I hope she like them.   

I finished all the "hunter stars" for Orca Bay.  I am hoping to have the top together this week, and I really want to get going on Easy Street!  

Until later, Happy piecing, and sewing.