Back Again

There hasn't been much quilting going on here the last nine months. . . but lots of good things have kept me distracted from  my sewing room: 

Probably the biggest 'thing' for me is that we went from a two family household back to  one family.  Son #1 and his family have a cute little house a few blocks away. . . After their move, it seemed like the perfect time to 'spring clean', purge and shuffle furniture around.  At the end of summer our DIL accepted a full time position which meant that Grandma went into full time grandbaby sitting.

Son #2 left for his first deployment to the middle East last summer.  I was amazed at how much time I could spend planning  themed deployment packages.  Decorating those monthly boxes, shopping and mailing them off . . . not to mention emails (sometimes daily) helped to pass the time till his return.

 Before I knew it,  the holidays were here.  We had a bad flu season this year . . . love those preschool germs!  Quarterly visits from Mom and Sis.

Then there is our never ending honey-do/remodel list . . . nothing like having a personal contractor to share coffee with each weekend morning and brainstorm about remodeling ideas.  His ideas are always much greater than mine.  We finally got that new roof put on.  And new trim and gutter covers.  Ya see what I mean?

Next was our daughter & her family's move a few blocks away . . . Now that is Trouble with a capital T.  Playtime with the grandbabies AND shopping at a quilt store all in one stop . . . just around the corner from home.  I'm in heaven.  Check it out at Cora's Quilts.

For the first time in a long long time it's back to just the two of us. How do you adjust to being empty nesters?  New Furniture seemed the perfect way to me. What started as a trip to the furniture store for a TV stand for the guest bedroom Mom sleeps in turned into the mother lode.  Well ok, not exactly the mother lode, a living room full and a media chest and chair for the guest bedroom.  For a while there every week when hubby came home from his business travels there was some new item added to the living room.  It was a fun little game to see how long it took him to notice!  All that's left are the window valances.  I'm itching to get started on those.

Now that winter is over, Son #2 is back from the middle East, and it feels like the dust is beginning to settle,  I just can't wait to get back into my sewing room! I've got several projects lined up that I'll share real soon.

In the mean time here are a few of my favorite pics from the East Coast 'homecoming':

USS Harry S. Truman pulling into the pier at the Norfolk Naval Base

 

Manning the Rails

THERE HE IS!

The Best Part of Being There.

Proud Dad

 

 

 

 

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A New Craft

It was not my intention to find a new craft this summer. . . if that's what it could be called.  Maybe better put, a way to have some fun and feel closer to a loved one so far away.  It is a given that this mom of 2 sailors could not escape the big D. 

 

DEPLOYMENT

So how do you  pass the time and have some fun with a son who you miss terribly and can't call or visit for months and months?  THEMED CARE PACKAGES have become my new craft!  I suppose I could just throw some pre-processed, pre-packaged junk food items in a box along with the home town newspaper and call it good.  Yeah, Good and Boring!  So most of  my August has been occupied with thinking, planning, scheming, scouring web sites, and shopping.  I've been busy coming up with themes, designing the inside of FPO boxes and visiting the local stores for cheap, clever, and cute items to send half way around the world.

It took me two weeks and three trips to the post office counter before I could get the first package sent off, which he has yet to receive.  Package #2 was a little easier and arrived before package #1.

The fruits of my labor:

 

Box #1 - we are so 'blue' cuz we're missing you.

 

Box #2 - it sure must be getting hot there.

 

 

Each box contains a treat bag of chocolate kisses marked with the name of each loved one in our family.  Wonder how long it will take him to notice that?

 

Oh and on my sewing table:

1 baby quilt ~ mostly done

& something for the new little guy in my life ~ half way done . . .  more about those next time.

 



New Toys

While the local Beverly's store is undergoing a 'make over', they are offering a sale on ALL their merchandise.   I was just going to dash in for  a couple of 1/2 yards of solid flannel for a baby quilt in progress (more on that another time) . . . .  the 'dash in' turned into a leisurely stroll.  Ultimately I succumbed -- that darn 25% off sale was just to much temptation for me to resist!  So I treated myself to a couple new toys:

 

 

I've been longing for a rotating cutting board since I started my English Paper Piecing Project.  I tried it out last night and it works great.  I can tell already it will be my 'go to' cutting board.  I've also had my eye on this rotary cutter for some time now. 

 

Well off to my sewing room to work on a special little project for the new sweet little boy in my life!

Doc ~ All Done & Delivered

Back to blogging after a short spring nap (as opposed to a long winter's nap).  I continually find myself amazed with the happenings in my life . . . so many things unanticipated.  I guess that keeps life interesting, but reeks havoc with my project schedule & blogging.

Well Finally here it is . . . completed & delivered :  DOC Table Topper

On my March business trip (as opposed to my April celebrate my baby brother turning 50 trip) to Southern Cal, I delivered this (a December birthday present) to my sister.  The colors match her leather couch & compliment her kitchen colors. 

 

If feels sooo good to be able to boast about a completed project! 

 

Doc Table Topper: 
Pattern:  Doc, Miss Rosie's Schnibbles pattern
Fabric Line:  Late Bloomers by Sandy Gervais
Started in June 2012; completed in March 2013

I loved quilting it on my 1 year new sewing maching; it was fun testing out some of the many different pressure feet I've been accumulating.

Things to remember for next time:
Keep it simple - make a solid sash . . . it seems impossible at my current skill level to square up my quilts & keep those little outside squares uniform in size with the inside squares. Should have been a no brainer!


On my next post I'll share some of the other projects I'm working on - of course there is more than one in the works!

Valentine Distraction

"Doc" Project Update:  As usual,  I was overly optimistic on my anticipated progress so I don't have a picture to post yet.  The binding is 'mostly' finished and I am so pleased with the look. My quilt lable is designed thanks to a fairly new purchase:  A Bareroot's pattern called  "Quilt & Stitchery Labels"  that I picked up from last July's visit to the Fat Quarter Quilt Shop in Vista, California
 

 

One of the reasons that "Doc" isn't done is that I tend to get distracted very easily . . . I always have several projects in various stages  &  there are always new ones that are driven by the changing seasons, upcoming holidays or latest shopping trip.

My Valentine Distraction:

A little valentine bib for one of the special little men in my life.  I ran across this little Felties Valentine Kit at Beverly's.   Amazingly I had just the right fabric ~ some T-shirt ribbing, Babyville Boutique Polyurethane Laminated Fabric for most of the bib,  brown polk-a-dot cotton from the stash to add onto the bottom, plus a little vinyl crumb catcher.  Note to self: The pattern was a tad short (must be the t-shirt neck style), adjust the length of the  pattern.  

 

Almost Done !

Sometime last year (I think it was June - it's all a blur now) I started a project for the Schnibble Parade using the pattern called 'Doc'.  I had the perfect fabric in my stash . . .  purchased  at last spring's Quilt Rush:  Late Bloomers by Sandy Gervais.   I luv luv luv the colors and prints of that fabric line.  It reminded me of the colors in my sister's newly remodeled kitchen.  So, of course, I had to make this project for her.  It was intended as a birthday present . . .  sadly the birthday has come and gone (Sorry Sis!) I told her it would be on its way soon.  I am so close to being done - should have it ready to ship by the begining of next week. 

I have to say I think this project  ranks right up their as one of my favorite quilting projects.  In fact I loved the fabric line so much that I just had to get my hands on some more for a future project ~ maybe just for me. 

Look what just arrived:

 

 

This picture certainly doesn't do  the fabric line justice but check back next week to see my completed project.