Spring Break and the plague

My children have a knack for getting sick the week before spring break. We decided to pass on our planned trip to Washington DC and stay home and rest. It's a good thing we did because hubby and I have both come down with the plague this week. Lots of laying around, watching movies, napping, and some sewing!

This is the next baby quilt I needed to get done. The shower is April 4th. This is my attempt at a blended quilt -very hard to photograph when all the colors are so pale and close in color! I like how it turned out! The pattern is called "Seeing Stars" from American Patchwork & Quilting, December 2008. Can you see the stars hidden in there?


I have also spent some time playing around with the charm pack I got last week. I had also been admiring Judy's latest stash project. So I combined the two into these blocks. I had to alter the sizes a little bit so I could use the charm block - but it turned out cute. I can make two blocks from each charm square. I think I will use the blocks to make matching lap quilts for my daughter and my niece. I don't think I am going to set like Judy suggests, but am going to put some white sashing around the blocks, ala Crazy Mom Quilts.

What else might I get to work on this week? Hmmm....

Help me!

Yesterday I was roaming around some blogs I read and came across Allison's post about some cute fabric she had found at JoAnn's. Very cute! I happened to need to go and get some batting so we sweet talked hubby into driving down to Columbus with us and went shopping. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending how you look at it!) the nearest Joann's is about an hour away. Anyway - here's what I got!

This first group is going to be made into a lap quilt for my husband's employee. She will be leaving us in August to go to grad school in Texas. She was #1 in her graduating class and we are not sure how we will ever replace her. We have been lucky to have her with us for two years. Anyway - I wanted to make her something special as a going-away gift.


And then there is this lemon fabric! I love it! It is an Alexander Henry fabric and it is so bright and cheery! It has a nice weight to it.

These last two are from Hobby Lobby. They remind me of the Orla Kiely stuff at Target.


This is a little peak at three lap quilts I am making for the sons of a friend of ours that passed away suddenly last week. The boys are 15, 12, and 9. They will have a long road ahead of them without their mama - breaks my heart. My stomach is still in knots whenever I think about it.

We were supposed to be in Washington DC this week for spring break but Ian came down with a bad cough last week so we decided it wasn't wise to go off like that. Now me and hubby are getting so throats so it is just as well that we are at home. Gives me lots of time to sew though!

Burned a hole in my pocket

Last week Judy was kind enough to choose the cake recipe I submitted when she was looking a recipe for Vince's birthday cake. I won a gift certificate for $59.09 to The Fat Quarter Shop!

Judy announced the winner on Thursday morning and I managed not to spend the gift certificate until at least 8 p.m. that evening. I would have spent it sooner but there was so much beautiful fabric to choose from, I couldn't narrow it down!

I finally came to some decisions. The picture above is of the SWANKY charm pack by Chez Moi for Moda. So bright and cheerful.

The four pink fabrics all have the Eiffel Tower on them and will eventually make their way into Madeleine's Paris quilt. The others were just pretty browns and greens that I couldn't resist.


Thank you again, Judy! I am glad your family enjoyed the cake!

Oh - did I share our plans for spring break next week? My brother-in-law and his family live in DC and we are going to spend the week with them! And do you know what is between Auburn Alabama and Washington DC? Mary Jo's Fabrics in Gastonia North Carolina. Last time we went to DC I remember seeing it from the interstate - this time we WILL be stopping! I had better start taking my self-control pills today!

Last minute finish!

The star quilt is finished and given to the expectant mama. The baby shower was on Saturday and she got tons of wonderful things. Including a wet quilt! I was so proud of myself for getting the top quilted over a week and a half before the shower. But when did I get around to putting the binding on it? In the two hours between Maddie's tea party and the baby shower! No problem - except that I decided to wash the quilt too. The white background fabric was being difficult and was showing the little holes where it had been quilted. I threw it in the washer on the express wash cycle - it should have taken about half an hour. Fifty minutes later it is still not done - I stood there watching it spin and spin and spin - and it wouldn't count down past 5 minutes left to go. I gave up and took it out of the washer anyway - and it was still soaking wet. Into the dryer it goes - with some already dry bath towels. 30 minutes later the quilt is still wet - and I am half an hour late for the shower. Out of the dryer comes the wet, label-less quilt and off we go. When I get to the shower everyone is still snacking so I sneak the quilt into the hostesses dryer. By the time everyone finished eating and the mama-to-be had opened most of the other gifts, the quilt had finally dried to a slightly damp condition! I had to bring the quilt back home to put the label on it but it was returned to the mommy the next morning at church. And isn't Shelby Mae just the most southern name you've ever heard?

I am almost done with my sewing room and closet reorganization extravaganza. We are hopefully having some company this weekend - so it needs to get done today - along with the rest of the house. But this "company" knows our normal low standards and is just happy for a bed to lay her weary head down on, so I am not too worried! She will leave her white gloves and magnifying glass at home.

How did it get to be March?

First things first, today is my sweet Madeleine's 10th birthday. We celebrated on Saturday with a tea party. Lots of fun! All dressed up - eating petits fours,
chocolate covered strawberries, and sugar cookies and
drinking punch out of my tea cup collection.

Today I decided to reorganize my sewing room. It needs it badly. There is an empty white dresser in Ian's room that I decided to switch out with the little bookcase in my sewing room. Got that part done but now my table and the floor underneath are covered with stuff that needs a new home! I think my next job will be cleaning out the hall closet where my stash is hidden, err.... I mean, housed! I am hoping to find room for all of my quilting books in the closet - since they don't work so well in a dresser drawer! Anyone out there a professional organizer? Help!

This is my quilting thread collection.
I just love all the colors!