A Little Something Done

I'm ridiculously happy that I finished hand sewing down the binding on the placemats I've been making. It's not a huge project, but it's done and I'm very happy how they turned out. I won the fabric in a giveaway at the Ellison Lane blog back in March. It is a line called Fruit Slice.

There aren't 8 placemats, I made 4 and made them reversible for more variety. I like that each one is different, but they all fit together. There is also a cover for the top of my microwave which I didn't photograph. I'm also making a matching set of kitchen curtains. No, I didn't win enough fabric for all that; I went shopping for more. Goal-to finish the curtains by the end of August.

My other little finished project is my name tag for the Northern New Jersey Modern Quilt Guild. There was no pattern given, just anything we might want. This is what I came up with.

I thought I had some pin backs but couldn't find them so I sewed on a quilt basting pin for a simple and permanent solution.

My big concern at the moment is my missing walking foot. I want to get the quilting done on my 'Tis the Season quilt. Unfortunately the walking foot is far too expensive to just go out and get another one. I think that if I don't find it within a few days, I'll be hand quilting it. I don't mind except that it's a lot slower....and hard on my fingers. If only I could learn to use a thimble....

We got back from our visit to Ohio last week, and I'm still worn out. Here's some of what we did.

I spent a good part of two days sewing with my sister-in-law, Linda. I worked on my Curious Nature quilt and she made new throw pillows and worked on weaving a rug to redecorate her family room. We were so involved in what we were doing that I didn't take any pictures at all! After I take some, I'll show pictures of how the Curious Nature quilt is coming in my next post. I almost have the top finished.

I also made a couple of burp cloths for the new baby that my niece Peggy is expecting in October. I did get a picture of them once we got home.

The cloths are the same, and are reversible. Maybe it was a result of having three sons first, but I enjoy using girlie fabrics, especially pink, for a baby girl.

We visited my in-laws while there; my father-in-law in assisted living and my mother-in-law in a nursing home. We did get some pictures with them, but they didn't come out well so I decided not to share them.

After a few days of that, my husband Don and I drove a few hours to the family cottage on Lake Erie. We spent a couple of days there, just the two of us. Here's Don, in the cottage, relaxing with a book.

 I was cold while we were there, the first time I've been cold since about March. It's been a hot summer almost everywhere it the US. Here's the beach at the cottage. As you can see it's deserted. It's not a public beach, so it's never crowded, but it's rare to see it completely empty in the summer.

 I'm so happy to say that I got my 'Tis the Season quilt basted while we were at the cottage. Basting is the hardest step for me to get done since I am not agile enough to get down on the floor to do it. At the cottage I used the huge picnic table that we use as a dining table. I'm determined to get this finished soon. I already have the binding ready to go.

That's all for now. I am working on my Dots on Dots presentation for that blog hop which is coming up in a few weeks. Can't show that yet! Meanwhile, you might want to check out the Bowls With Borders Blog Hop. It continues until August 28.

Getting Ready to Travel

It's hot. And humid. And I'm getting a bit cranky about it. All I want is an air conditioned house and access to a swimming pool. Alas, these things are not to be. OK, time to get over it.

Two days ago, our first cucumber of the season. Actually, our first cucumber ever since this is the first year we've grown them in the garden.

Then yesterday we got two cucumbers. Very nice, good for salads. Then today it was ten cucumbers-yes, 10! I wish I had a picture but the husband is out of town for a few days and took the camera with him. We now have a very large cucumber salad for dinner. We only have a few plants. Will they keep producing like that, or will it be one big burst and then nothing? I'll let you know.

Recently, this came in the mail:

When opened, I found this:

It's a whole pile of Curious Nature fabric by David Butler for Free Spirit. I plan to make this quilt for my son Steve.




It's a free pattern on the Free Spirit website, and I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Steve recently had his apartment renovated, and I think this will suit the apartment beautifully.

In a few days the husband and I will be heading out to Ohio to visit family, especially his parents who are not well. While we are there, I have a Quilt Summit planned with my sister-in-law, Linda. We'll have two solid days of quilting, sewing, and socializing. How far will I get on Steve's quilt? It's to be a Christmas gift, so no real rush, but I'd sure like to get it done early.

Puttering along

How is it that after working off and on all day at my projects, the progress seems so slow? Maybe it's because I did just a bit from several projects. I worked on a set of placemats, my name tag for use at the North Jersey Modern Quilt Guild meeting, and secret blocks for the Dots on Dots blog hop which is coming up in September.

The main accomplishment of the day was getting the bindings sewn onto my new placemats. The fabric is Fruit Slice from Anthology Fabrics.

I still have to hand sew the bindings down on the four plaemats. I'm planning to do that next week as car sewing as we head off to Ohio to visit family. It's an 8-9 hour car ride so I need something to keep me occupied when I'm not driving.

Right now the Think Christmas Blog Hop is going on and I've been following along. I definitely recommend it. There are five more days to go. The hostess is Lesley of The Cuddle Quilter