Big Weekend - Bricks & Stepping Stones - Test Blocks

No celebrating here this weekend but TV is all about the big Indy 500. Glad I'm not a fan - would hate to wait in line and battle thousands of people.

Mark and a friend of his, took Chet to "Carboration Day" on Wednesday. They were able to rent a golf cart so it was easier for Chet to get around and enjoy the day. They left town about 9:30 and got home about 5:30. They all had a great time - tired and a bit sunburned tho!

Mark had a 'gathering' last evening. He deep fried two turkeys and put out an open invitation. We didn't go - sometimes the people get a bit rowdy and I'm just not into that anymore. I'm hoping he had a bit of turkey left and will ask us out for leftovers! (I even have a can of cranberries.)

We had breakfast with Nate one morning this week. After we ate he came over to use the computer for some things at work. JD bought a car - sight unseen - and Nate was adding it to his insurance, getting it registered and all that monkey business one has to go through to make it legal!

I forgot to mention last week that Mitch had an opportunity to visit with his Aunt Donalean - she and a friend took a Mystery Trip and ended up in Green Bay. Mitch & Diane visited Wednesday night and took pictures; Mitch stopped Thursday afternoon and took her some Schneider promotion items (mugs and maybe a hat). Thursday evening he took Mandy and they stopped at Lambau Field gift shop and picked up a jersey for her. She's a Bears fan but her husband is a Packer fan! Think she changed teams ? ? ? ?

Haven't been in touch with that Mississippi gal for a couple of weeks. Must try to give her a call sometime today.

Chet saw a commercial for the Topsy Turvey tomato planter and wanted to try it out so we picked one up and also got tomato plants. Our plants are so puny, it's pathetic. The neighbor's are gorgeous.

I did manage to get a bit of sewing in this past week. I finished a quilt top using the black and white strips a group of us from the Fabric Stash Chat room. It's a Quiltville.com pattern - Bricks and Stepping Stones (3rd one I've made using that pattern.) I tossed it on the TV room floor and took the picture so it looks a bit rumpled! Pictures below.

And a close up below.




There are still quite a bit of strips left from the swap so I spent time looking for a pattern to use up the rest of the fabric. The block shown below is an experimental block. I don't think I'll make anymore and will look further for another pattern.



While I was paging through magazines I ran across a striking block and did up a couple of them. I just used green fabric which was left over from another strip swap a while ago. Like the block but very fussy sewing I'd use a large variety of fabrics but I don't think I want to make 32 of them.



Laundry is finished so must sign off for now. Have a good week.

May - Month of Birthdays

We have had quite a few birthday wishes to send out. Mine on the 1st, friend on the 9th, Mitch, nephew Chuck and another friend on the 17th and daughter-in-law Diane, on the 22nd. I'm glad I'm not the only one getting older!

We've had quite a bit of rain this month, too. The puddles in the field that butts up to our yard, are finally gone. We've had a cardinal visiting us a couple of times a day, comes right up on the patio. Such a pretty bird!

And of course Chet has been mowing - a bit more than necessary, I think. But it keeps him busy.

Checked in with the kids and all seem to be keeping busy and out of trouble! Monday a friend and I drove to Shelbyville to a quilt shop - she was looking for a special ruler and they didn't have it. But we did have a great omelet at Grandma's Kitchen! It rained on us - all day!
On Tuesday I had to do a 'sick girl run' - Tia has a terrible cold and was miserable so I picked her up and brought her home with me. Mark came to pick her up when he got off work at 4:00. I had him do a couple of quick projects here before I left him leave. . . oh, I did make Minnesota Hot dish for him!

Stayed put at home on Wednesday. Thursday I had my hair done and one ear re-pierced! Yes, the holes were not aligned! Friday a friend and I went to a flea market in neighboring town. A former quilt shop owner had a booth there and we had to check it out. I did buy some 'fat quarters'. No special plans for them but I do pet them from time to time. (Picture below.)

Below is a picture of the 6th block for the Rocky Mountain Sampler Quilt. This is a "block of the month" so it's getting kind of dragged out. 12 blocks total - so we're halfway through with the blocks.

Chet is taking a friend and myself out to lunch today (his idea, not mine.) We are going to the Iron Skillet - really a truck stop. They always have good food there and a fantastic buffet.

So time to sign up and finish dressing. Thanks for stopping by and have a good week

Late Post or Early Post ! !

The past two weeks have been a bit up in the air! I did have a nice Mother's Day - local kids were going to take us out to eat but Nate got called in to work early so he and Deanie stopped in for a visit. We picked up JD and met Mark and Tia out at the Brau Haus on The Beach restaurant. Mark arrived on his pontoon with another couple. We had a nice visit and the food would have been great had it been hot! Tracy called and we chatted for about an hour.

Our weather has been quite wet and strong winds, too. I fought a flu bug for about four days - I didn't even get to Quilt Guild on Monday - so you know I was really sick! On Thursday I did make it to Rushville for our monthly 'block of the month' meeting. Had a nice lunch afterward and came home and napped. The bug sure tired me out! Think I'm back to my normal self now.

Today I messed in my sewing corner and got the block of the month block finished - it's about 1/8" too small but I'm not telling anyone!

I found a 'confetti' quilt online and thought I had to give it a try. I called a halt to it after four rows. I need to sew the rows together and add borders. Photo below.

A group of gals (12) from the morning fabric-stash chat site are in the process of doing a strip swap. We are exchanging black/white and white/black fabrics. I can't decide on a pattern - I waiver! Photo below is a sampling of the strips I have so far.

This picture is the fabrics I bought to use with black/white strips. Colors are soft gray and a mottled red. (The green is my 'design wall' - a plastic table cloth)

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the warmer temps. Have a good week and thanks for stopping by.

No Post

Hi All - I'm fighting a bug and will post when I get to feeling better. Take care and have a good week.

Trying Pictures Again

I don't give up easily! Took pictures again this morning - bright - sun shining for the first time in days.

First photo is two pillow cases - made these from a tutorial online called "sausage" method. Using this method means there are no raw edges inside the pillow cases.

This second snapshot is the bouquet of flowers from Nate & Family. Aren't the polka dots perky? The Amish girl/lady is a piece my sister Amy made in a ceramics class a few years ago!

This bouquet is from Mitch and family - poor shot but you get the idea. The base is metallic gray and then the silver embossing makes it so classy! Mitch called last night and we had a nice visit.

And last but not least - the Bricks & Stepping stones (Pattern from Quiltville.com). A group of gals from the chat room exchanged green strips of fabrics and this is how I used mine. At first I didn't care for it but the quilting sure made it come alive.

This picture shows it laying lengthwise but only half of it.

Have a good week!

UGLY Day - Ugly Mood

Honestly this rain has just been more than necessary - coming down now in a steady fall. Puddles in the field at the edge of our yard and will probably be in our yard soon. Guess I'm just grumpy today.

I took pictures of the two lovely flower bouquets I got from Nate and Mitch and their families - too dark. Took pictures of the two pillowcases I made this week, using a 'new to me' method - Sausage Method (no raw edges exposed) and also took a picture of the Greens Swap Strippy quilt I made. All pictures too dark and couldn't find the correct edit button to make them lighter!

I did have a nice birthday, flowers from Nate and Mitch, an early morning call from Anna Grace & Tracy (they were on their way to Gulfport, MS where Anna's soccer team was in State Finals. Haven't heard the outcome yet.) Went to brunch with a friend and had good food and company! Sister Amy called and we chatted for about an hour; many b'day wishes via e-cards and Facebook. Even a card from our former daughter in law (her b'day is today). I will call her and meet for lunch one day this week!

Tuesday three gals from quilt guild and I went to a quilt show and shop and out to lunch. Nice day out - but did get home in time for my nap!

Nothing planned for this week - except maybe fuss with camera and pictures - might even be dry enough to take pictures out of doors.

Hope your all well and thanks for stopping by. . . . sorry I'm crabby today!