Mini Vacation

It has been sooooo hot around here that Joe and I decided to take a few days off and head for the hills, the hills of Tennessee. We left Wednesday night, spent the night at our cabin in Blue Ridge and on Thursday morning took off for Falls Creek Falls State Park. It is a little over an hour north of Chattanooga. We got there about lunch time on Thursday, with neither one of us remembering that we had traveled into a different time zone. On well, it really didn't matter since we were on vacation. We spent Thursday afternoon hiking around the falls and the gorge. It is really pretty there, but unfortunately not a lot cooler, the temperature was actually about the same there as it was here. While hiking around the gorge we did spot a deer having a late afternoon snack. The next day we did some more hiking, went to a lecture on the weapons that were used by the Native Americans that lived in the region. It was great just to get away. I even managed to cross the swinging bridge there at the park!! I am really afraid of heights especially things that swing over water, but I did it. Not once but twice, I had to if I wanted to get back to our car.

On Saturday morning we drove to Chattanooga and spent the afternoon at the Aquarium. I know we have a really big aquarium here in Atlanta, but I actually like the one in Chattanooga best.

It was wonderful just to get away for a few days. I am heading to Mississippi tomorrow to stay with my mom for a few days, then bring her here for a couple of days, then we are going to Savannah to visit with my brother. The next week is going to be very, very busy. Hope everyone has a great fourth, since I probably won't be blogging too much in the next week.

Fabric for Christmas Lights

Finally got the battery on my camera charged, it helps if you put it in the charger the right way!!. Here are the fabrics for the mystery quilt. I have already made the four patches. Most of those I made as leaders and enders when working on other projects. Now that I have those made, I am putting it away to work on during the Silver Thimble Stitch-in next month.

I finished another project today, a tote bag that I started a couple of weeks ago. It was a kit that I purchased from The Fat Quarter shop. I am really pleased with the way it turned out. It took two charm packs and 1 1/2 yards of fabric for lining and the pockets. I liked it so well I am going to give it to my niece for her upcoming birthday, and make myself one too!

Bonnie Hunter Mystery

I know in my last post I said I was going to focus on the quilt size quilt I had started out of Chocolat, well, I am already sidetracked. I am working on the Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt in Quiltmaker magazine. The mystery is called Christmas lights, the first part of the mystery is in the current issue of the magazine. I have picked out my fabrics and started on the four patch blocks. I promised myself that the only way I would do this mystery is if I didn't have to buy any fabric. After digging around in all of my fabric, which took a while I managed to find everything that I needed. I will take photos to post when the battery on my camera finishes charging. Check it out, I think it will be a lot of fun. My friends Becky and Kristie are both planning on doing this project as well.

Design Wall Monday, Fit for a Queen

I can't believe that it is Monday again, where do the weeks go? We had a very busy weekend, my husband's niece came up to spend the weekend with us, so that meant lots and lots of cooking. She is a student at Georgia Southern and doesn't get home cooked meals too often, so I made all of her favorites. With all of that cooking, (plus we got stuck in the traffic on Saturday on 85 South for almost 2 hours) I did very little sewing. I did however manage to get a little done.

I have to get busy, since I decided on a bed over the weekend. After going back and forth, and forth and back I decided on the iron bed.

Just in case you don't remember here it is again. Of course when I went back to the store they told me it would have to be ordered, which means I have a month to get busy

and get my first Queen Size quilt made. It is what is on my design wall this week. I got the fabric several years ago and knew I wanted to do something special with it, but didn't know what at the time.

The fabric is Chocolat by Moda, along with a Debbie Mumm fabric in chocolate brown that blended with it. My husband came down to my sewing room and I asked what he thought of our new Queen Sized Quilt, he thought I was a little confused.

I admit I have a long way to go. But if I focus, which I have a hard time doing, and only work on this one project hopefully it won't take too long to at least get ready to go to the quilter.

Shopping Trip

I felt the call of Sweet Home earlier this week, and boy did I have fun. I had actually forgotten that Melissa was having a sale. I needed backing for two quilts and luckily the fabrics I selected were on sale. I got a red and white backing for the Firecrackers Quilt that still needs the final border. I had planned on finishing it this week, but the blue that I needed for the corners is still up at the cabin. Hopefully, I will get it soon and can get it finished. I also found a great tan fabric for a Stash Pot Pie pattern that I made last year. I am really excited about getting the stash pot pie pattern quilted, it is one that I plan on keeping. I haven't decided about the Firecracker quilt.

I also picked up three great books, Just Desserts, Simple Comforts, and the new Jelly Roll book. I have found several patterns in each book that I really want to do, but don't know when I will get around to working on them. I am also really excited about a pattern that I bought, it is from Cake Walk and features embroidery on some of the blocks. I also got a great pattern for a tote bag. It looks like I have more projects planned than I can possibly get done any time soon.

Pressing Spray

I had always wanted to try the "fancy" pressing spray that the quilt shops sell, well I had the chance at my mini mountain retreat. Pat brought some and was generous enough to share. As they said, I tried it and I liked it, really liked it. I was planning on purchasing some, but it is a little on the pricey side (but worth it). I thought I can make that, I know I have seen "recipes" on the internet. I started looking and found one on Bonnie Hunters site. It is very simple, 2 cups of distilled water, 2 ounces of vodka, (the cheap kind) and about 6 drops of your favorite essential oil. I bought a gallon of water at Kroger for .99, a fifth of Vodka for 6.99 and essential oil at Joanne's for 1.99. I mixed up a recipe, used an old spray bottle that I had and tah da!!!! my very own pressing spray. I did make one change, I have found out that really cheap vodka smells so I went back and added more of the essential oil. It works great and I saved money to buy more fabric.

Monday Design Wall

This is the project that I started a couple of weeks ago at the cabin with Becky and Pat. It was a kit that I purchased probably about three years ago at one of the local quilt shops. The name of the pattern is Origami, bu Elizabeth Anne Quilt Designs. The pattern shows the quilt made out of oriental fabrics, ( this is the cover of the pattern, at the right)which have never been my favorites. The sample that was in the shop was made out of very traditional old fashioned floral fabrics, the sample is what caught my eye. I was very into that look a couple of years ago. Luckily I still like it, I can't say that for all of the kits that I have in my stash. The finished size of the pattern is 52 x 62 but I am adding at least one row on the side and top. I might even make it bigger. I have all of the blocks and the sashing pieces made I just need to put them all together.