birdie stitchery day

Yesterday we gathered at Kim's to stitch block #1 of Little Miss Shabby's Birdie Stitchery.

As always, fantastic food.


I probably should have taken a picture BEFORE we started eating lol.

We all got a great start on our blocks. Kim even finished her's.


Kim's is the redwork block; Kim assembled her quilt already so she can embroider through her batting.

Cindy's block is in the left corner. She's using Nest by Moda. Andrea is using Bliss by Moda and her block is in the top left. Mine is the one with the wooden frame. I ended up forgetting two of my floss colors so I couldn't continue with my block. Jill's block is on the far right. Jill is still waiting for her jelly roll to arrive. I decided to do all my embroidery without adding my squares to my blocks.

After we came home, I ran out to the wool shop and picked up a few more flosses that blend better with my jelly roll.


Now I can get this finished. Bring on block 2!!

ladies who lunch christmas brunch

Today was our second annual Ladies Who Lunch Christmas brunch This year, Andrea opened her house to us.



Andrea's home is always decorated so beautifully; I have to share some of my favorites.
Her John Deere tree,



I love these,


And this one,


We had lots of yummy food.


Check out these desserts.


Finally time for our gift exchange.
Andrea had Cindy's name and made her this beautiful Christmas table topper.



I had Sarah's name. She loved her Santa quilt(more on it tomorrow).



Jill had Andrea's name. Jill made Andrea a gorgeous scrapbook to put all Andrea's Christmas traditions in. I think Jill should make a few more for next year ;)


Sarah had Jill's name and made her these beautiful placemats. Love the paisley fabric!



Cindy had my name and she made me these fabulous fingerless gloves. Aren't they fantastic?



As usual, we all got spoiled. These women have made a big impact in my life; they all mean so much to me. Thanx again my friends for such a wonderful day.

home alone

This weekend was nothing like originally planned. I was supposed to be taking a custom quilting class this weekend. But sadly, my teachers sister is horribly sick and not expected to live and the class was cancelled. Jim had planned on taking off with the boys to go wilderness camping since I was going to be busy all weekend. Instead, I encouraged them to still go(a weekend home alone? yes please!) Oh wait, as #3 keeps reminding me, I'm not actually home alone. #3 likes camping like me, with showers, flush toilets and beds. So he stayed home with me too.

He and I went out to dinner on Friday(subway as he requested lol) Than I got pretty little flowers painted on my freshly manicured toes(I highly recommend not enlarging the picture. feet are simply not attractive!)


Saturday, a quick trip to the local garden store.



Than Bag Ladies descended for a sewing day.

Cindy and Jill arrived first.


Jill was working on a coin quilt and Cindy was starting a pretty quilt for her kitchen table.

Than Sarah.


I had told everyone I didn't want posed pictures and Sarah did this lol. She was working on a very cool raw-edge bag. I totally forgot to take a picture of the finished product so check her blog for it.



Sarah also brought us these neat thread boxes. Perfect timing since my other one was overflowing!



Than Andrea and Kim arrived.

Andrea was working on some applique


And Kim on some seasonal stitcheries.


I got an amazing amount of sewing done.
The binding on this.



I finished my pinwheels sampler.


I absolutely LOVE this quilt. Fingers crossed I can quilt it this week.

And finally did the custom quilt I was hired to make; it's being picked up on Wednesday lol.


She wanted a picture of Edward in the center of the quilt so this t-shirt gave it's life up for the quilt.

I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out due to a very limited budget my customer gave me but I think she'll like it. I'm quilting it up on Tuesday and will show you what I ended up doing than.

Today was spent working on some applique,



While lounging by the pool.



Tonight some moving watching. I never know who might show up ;)


But first, I'm hosting my Splurge group tonight and tomorrow off on a big city adventure with #3. And tomorrow come dinner, we'll all be home again.

I love summer.

bag ladies unite!

Today Bag Ladies met at Andrea's. We had a fantastic day of sewing, eating, laughing, eating, laughing and sewing.

Here's Kim and Marica's projects. Kim was working on a table runner and Marica on a quilt that is heading to Haiti with the MCC.



Look at our lunch. Cindy made the fantastic Mesa Chicken Salad Recipe. Hopefully she'll blog the recipe (hint hint).



One of my favorite parts of the day was seeing Andrea's puppies. Nazzy had them on Monday, NINE puppies. I've fallen in love with the golden one. It's bad that I've named it isn't it?



And Toby. He's only 6 months old; he's going to be a BIG dog.



Dinner was fantastic. Andrea's hubby Rob BBQ us some chicken; sooo yummy!



I stole the picture from Kim since I inhaled my dinner before I thought of taking a picture. Thanx Kim!

And look at the desert that Marcia made-yummers!



Cindy got her Thangles quilt top totally finished; great job Cindy!



Sarah was there today as well and for some reason I didn't get a picture of her projects. Sorry Sarah! Sarah made the cutest pillowcase for one of her boys and than was working on matching pjs; just too cute!

We also had Loraine from The Glass Polkadot Co. come with her jewelery. I picked out 3 pieces. The floral one Loraine didn't have a name for. Because I bought it, she's now named it after me! Thanx Loraine!



One sad part of today; the death of my 6x12 ruler :(


Too many things shoved into my bag.

I did get some quilting done; just no pictures lol. I finished stippling a doll quiltie and my Thangles quilt pieced up to the pieced border(you can see it in Cindy's quilt). Hope to finish that up this week.

Thanx again Andrea(and Rob!!) for opening your home to us. And the fabulous dinner. It was fun as always!

bag ladies

It's been a while since Bag Ladies had all gotten together. This time we descended on Marcia's.

I'll admit the (fake) spider in Maria's kitchen got my heart pumping pretty good. Not what I was expecting to see lol.





Marcia made the cutest dolls for her girls for Christmas. Tonight Marcia was making little shoes for them.



Sarah working hard on another messenger bag. I didn't get a picture of the finished product sadly. It is so cute!



Andrea started cutting out a beautiful flannel quilt. For some reason I don't have a picture of her working hard. All I've got is this lol!



Cindy and I decided to work on our Thangles blocks. I was very happy to see that I only had 3 more blocks to finish. Now to start assembling the quilt!



Once I got those finished, I made some 9patch blocks for a table runner giftie I've been asked to make. Love the Wildflower Serenade line.



Again, it was another fun Bag Ladies night. Even if a lot bags weren't created this time around lol. Can't wait until the next one.

pleated purse

I started this bag earlier this month during our last bag ladies night. I found the corduroy fabric for $3/meter on clearance and I wanted to make the bag to take to hockey games. But I love it so much I use it all the time.

I got the pattern from here. My bag turned out more square/rectangular than I had expected but still super cute.

There is lots of room inside; I made extra pockets for my lipstick/gloss collection and of course I had to have one for Mini-E lol!

And now my bag, me and Mini-E are off an extra special adventure. Stay tuned ;)

blah

I'm sick. Jim is sick. At least the two of us have it together(awww lol). So nothing new to post. I took Wednesday off to rest up for the rest of the week. We are pretty swamped with quilts right now(yay!) and I can't afford to take any time off. But I also can't afford to get totally run down. It's a fine line isn't it?

Last Friday night, Bag Ladies got together at work for another fun night. There were 7 of us this time, a great sized group.


From left to right, Deana, Sarah and Marcia

Deana was working on some super cute Grab Bags but with her little helper, she wasn't able to get much done.

Evie is sure a cutie though isn't she?



Sarah and Marcia were both finishing up some messenger bags. Sarah got right into sewing; look at all that thread lol.




But she got her bag finished. Cute isn't it? lol!



We had a giggle when my bag strap *attacked* Deana.





From left to right again, Cindy, Jill and Andrea.

Cindy and I both worked on the pleated purse. Jill was making another reversible bag than switched to a beautiful table runner. Andrea was making little Christmas bags(it is less than 3 months away!)

Cindy brought a super yummy Sour Cream Chocolate Cake and Andrea made a delicious raspberry rhubard platz. And I forgot to take a picture, sorry Andrea! It was just too good.


Can't wait for next time!