I love my hubby

DH surprised me yesterday with fresh garden flowers. some roses and iris.  I love it when he does things like that.  Usually a couple of times a year, my birthday and our anniversary I get "store bought" roses. Flowers like this that he takes the time to pick mean more than the ones he goes out to buy.  Happy Spring!!

March UFO finish

When they call this a lap quilt, they aren't kidding.  I knew that it wouldn't be very large, however I thought it would be a little bigger.  Ilove the colors and fabrics.  I got this as a kit a couple of years ago at Sweet Home, the pattern can also be found at Moda Bake Shop.  The pieces are big, you use a layer cake and it went together quickly, once I was determined to finish it.  If I had been thinking at the time I would have bought two layer cakes and make it bigger.  I think that after I get it quilted I will use it on a table.  I like the pattern so well that I really think I would make it again, just a larger size.

Design Wall Monday

It isThis is exactly what my design wall looked like two weeks ago.  I finally have all of the pieces for the pieced blocks for Comfort and Joy, now I just have to get them all sewn together.  Even though it doesn't look like I have been sewing, I have.  I made a vest and a pair of pants.  The pants are finished except for pressing, and the vest is finished except for buttons.  I thought I had some in my button stash, but none that would work. It is really hard to find nice buttons.  Gail K's has a great button selection, but is a little out of  my way.  I guess I will have to make a trip to the "J" place and see what they have.

Welcome Spring

Tuesday was the first official day of spring, however; it has felt like spring for the last month.  Actually it has felt more like early summer than spring, the temperature has been in the low 80's for the last week.  It is like we are going from winter to summer.  All of the spring flowers have already bloomed, the azalea's are in full bloom, and the trees have already leafed out.  But the most obvious sign of spring is that beautiful yellow stuff known as pollen.  All this week at work I have been reading spring books to our kindergarten and first grade classes, one of my favorites is Signs of Spring by Justine Fontes.  After reading, I ask the students to name some signs of spring, a few students say flowers, bugs, trees but the most often sign of spring mentioned by our students is "pollem".  We are all ready for the pollem to disappear.

Stash Busting

This week:

Stash in:  0 yards
Stash out: 12 yards

This year:


Stash in:  42
Stash out:  14 yards

Happy St. Patrick's Day, and National Quilting Day

Wow, two great holidays in one day, St. Patty's Day and National Quilting Day.  I  celebrated the quilting part last night at Thimbles.  There was great show and tell as usual, Sandra had really  been busy.  She had three great quilts, I love this one, but of course I don't remember the name of it. 

Sandra's version of Yellow Brick Road, these colors are great.

Don't remember the name of this one either, but it was gorgeous.  Sandra is actually giving this one away.

Gretchen really isn't sideways, just couldn't get blogger to cooperate with me and turn it around.  This quilt is from 40 fabulous quilts, called American Beauty.

Today was busy doing house cleaning, gardening, and baking.  I remembered that I had a recipe for an Irish Cream pound cake (called for a trip to the liquor store), it is one of the prettiest pound cakes I have ever made; they usually fall apart coming out of the pan.  Not this one!!!  It came out perfectly look, and tasted wonderful.  This recipe is definitely a keeper.  Have a great St. Patrick's Day and a Quilty Day.

Two field trips in one week!!!

Wow, two field trips in one week!! Very different field trips at that.  Last Saturday, Kristie, Becky, and I went to the quilt shop in Cumming, Thread Bear Fabrics.  We had wanted to go for a while and finally made a morning of it.  The shop is very unusual in that it is actually in two shops, it started out as an online shop only and then opened a brick and mortar store.  I picked up a few things, got the backing for my Long Road Home top that I just finished along with a few fat quarters for our next swap, and a couple of pieces that I couldn't resist, Becky and Kristie also picked up some "needed"fabrics.  The shop has a lot of fabric, however, the way it is laid out it is hard to see a lot of the fabrics.  If you are looking for an older line of fabric that would be the place to check.

The second field trip was at school today, the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum.  One of our fifth grade classes invited me to go along as a chaperon.  I haven't been on a field trip since I became a media specialist.  It was wonderful.  I was so impressed with our docent and with the  speaker, our students were spellbound.  If you ever have the chance to go, please do so it was a great experience.  One of the special exhibits at this time is the arts and crafts of the Japanese Internment camps from World War II.  The photo above is a wood carving that was created by a person in one of the camps.  I don't usually think of arts and crafts being done in the camps but it makes sense.  The unfortunate people in the camps had to do something to keep busy while interred in the camp.  The variety of arts and crafts was incredible.

Design Wall Monday

I finished one of my New FO'S, Past Times, this is the kit that I have had for more years that I can remember.  When I started it I thought I would give it to my brother and his wife for Christmas, however, after finishing the top I decided that it really looked like my aunt so I am giving it to her for Christmas.   It will fit in with her house much better, and it just looks like her.  I have another old kit that I am going to make up for my brother.

Since finishing up, Past Times, I was able to put something new on the design wall, Comfort and Joy by Silver Thimble Quilt Co.  I am working on the last applique block, and have started on the connecting pieces.  I love this quilt and really want to get it finished in time for Christmas this year.  You probably see a theme here, Christmas; I am trying to make everyone in my family a Christmas quilt.  I did two last year, plan on doing two this year, and if I get Comfort and Joy finished, it will be mine.  Wish me luck. 

Stash busting

This week:

Stash in:   8 yards
Stash out:  0

This year:

Stash in:  42 yards
Stash out:  2 yards