July UFO finish

This is my UFO finish for July, Neighbor's Fence.  I started this several, and I do mean several years ago.  It is made from all of my flannel scraps.  The only thing that I had to buy was the border fabric.  I have pieced the backing from some of the flannel scraps that I had left.  The really sad thing is that  I have another one of these that is on my UFO list for the year, the good thing is that it is almost finished.  All I have to do is add the borders.  I really feel like I am really accomplishing something this year.

And the Winner is

The lucky winner of the Christmas cat fabric is Michele Hester from quilting Tutorials.  Please send me your address and I will get your package in the mail.  Congratulations.

You've got mail

Several weeks ago I signed up for the red and white fabric swap sponsored by Sew Many Ways,  not that I need more fabric but it was red after all.  You had to send in 125 5 inch squares of red and white fabric.  That was not hard for me to do.  I think that I bought two new fat quarters but the rest of it came from my stash.  I had started to wonder when it would arrive, apparently there were a few people late mailing in their fabrics.  On Friday, when I went to the mailbox there it was. 

125 beautiful squares of red and white fabric, along with  a golf tee painted white with a little red flower on the end to use as a spool and bobbin holder.  It is too cute.  I haven't decided exactly what to do with the squares, but I have a few thoughts.  I am thinking about a tablecloth or a table runner, I could also add some fabric to it and do a throw.  Guess I will  have to think about it.

Dont' forget about my Christmas in July give away

Don't forget there are a few days left in my Christmas in July give away.

Cucumbers, tomatoes, and figs oh my!!!

 This week has been packed with just toooooo much to do.  It was the week of our Silver Thimble Stitch-in, which I was signed up for four wonderful days of sewing with friends.  Well life got in the way, big time.  This gardening stuff is lots of work.  On Tuesday night we picked not one but two five gallon buckets of figs and you know that figs wait for no quilter.  This is my first batch of fig preserves.  While this was cooking I also had almost a bushel of corn to deal with, okra, and jalapeno peppers.  In the midst of all of this my brother (who is moving to Atlanta today) called and wanted to know if I could go pick up the house key from the realtor.  I need to learn to say no, with a capital N.

 The fig preserves finished and ready to eat.  I made three batches, two are fig/strawberry, the other is fig/raspberry.  I also put two gallon bags of figs in the freezer.   I found a great recipe for a Fig Upside down cake in this month's issue of Paula Deen's magazine.  It is wonderful. 

Can't forget about the cucumbers.  These are the 14 day pickles that I have been working on for 14 days.  Now today maybe I can get back to sewing.  But first I am meeting a good friend for lunch, then heading  back to the stitch in. 

Great skirt pattern

A couple of weeks ago several of us went to the East Cobb Guild to hear Sue Spargo lecture.  It was wonderful.  I came away so inspired.  Of course after the guild meeting we has to go quilt shop hopping.  While at Little Quilts I saw this great skirt pattern. (you have to remember I started sewing with clothing, so I clothing patterns always catch my eye.)  The name of the pattern is Formula Skirts by Serendipity Studios, there are no pattern pieces, just directions on the length and width to cut the pieces.  I thought this would be a great skirt for back to school, and I am one of those people who really likes to wear skirts or dresses.  I had planned on buying fabric for it, but remember "less is more" and while doing some cleaning I found four pieces of coordinating fabric that who knows what I had in mind when I bought it, and lucky for me there was enough to make the skirt.  It is in process now, very easy!!! 

Christmas in July

Christmas is my most favorite holiday.  I buy and make Christmas presents year around.  At this point I have over half of my shopping done for this Christmas.  By doing my shopping early I can actually enjoy the holiday season and not be stressed out by shopping.  I am also in the "less is more" frame of mind.  I bought this fabric last year to  make a Christmas quilt and have decided that I am never going to make it.  There are 6 yards of coordinating Christmas fabric, some of the fabric features cats.  I am not a cat lover so I have no idea why I bought this. This falls into the category of it is on sale so I must buy it.   I am doing a Christmas in July give away with this bundle of fabric.  All you have to do is leave a message telling one thing that you only bought because it was on sale.  The lucky winner will be chosen on July 25.  Good Luck!  me a

Arts Council Quilt Show

 Each year the Blue Ridge Arts Council sponsors a quilt show during the summer.   This year the show happened to fall over the Fourth of July weekend.  I convinced DH that we just had to go.  There were some wonderful quilts.  (I plan on having some of my quilts in the show next year).  It is a small show but there are some wonderful quilts.  I always enjoy going to this show, however, the lighting leaves a lot to be desired.  The quilts really aren't show to their best advantage.

Wordless Wednesday

I'm back

 It seems like forever since I have sat down to do a post on my blog, it has been a couple of weeks.  We were out of town for the fourth.  We went up to the cabin to relax a little.  Had a great time, even went out on the lake on Sunday morning.  It has been a long time since we have done that and we had a great time.  On Tuesday after coming back from the mountains, I headed to Mississippi to spend some time with my mom.  This was my first trip over there this summer.  We had a really good visit.  It was also time for her annual doctor's appointments, and those went great.  This is her second year of being cancer free. 

My  mom keeps busy with her flowers.

More of mom's flowers.

After coming back on Monday, I have been busy catching up on "stuff".  I had my annual checkup today, that was good.  I have also been making pickles.  I feel like I am going to turn into a pickle.  I want to get back to sewing!!!!