Designing Monday

I have managed to get some sewing done in the last couple of weeks.  First of all I have finished two quilt tops that I started a long time ago.  I won a little bag of Thangles patterns and fabric kits (20 blocks total) in a Chinese Auction at a guild meeting in 2012.  I made the 20 blocks over the next couple of months and then decided to make 4 more using the scraps and added some background fabric from stash.  I drew up a simple layout that fit the requirements from our guild for soldier quilts.  Then I put it all away.  Somewhere along the line I bought some gold fabric for sashing and later some patterned fabric for borders and backing.

I pulled it all out again a few weeks ago and bought some more backing fabric at the Primitive Gatherings warehouse sale and then got busy and sewed the tops together.  It took a lot of figuring with my calculator to get everything to work out.  Plus a few extra seams in the sashing.  Anyway I now have two finished tops and soon two finished backings to go with.  These will be turned in next month to the guild for soldier quilts.  Nothing fancy, but still a nice gift, I hope.

I am doing the Companions & Friends Sew Along and got two blocks done this week.  The last block was measured in 1/8's and 1/16's.  Yikes.  Measuring was not hard, but squaring up blocks with no 1/32" marks on the ruler was a bit frustrating.  And besides who can see that well anyway?

I saw a house in the want ads last Sunday that was reduced to $1.9MM and has 26,000 sq. ft.  I had to  do a drive by to see this and took a photo to share.  It is now in foreclosure and unfinished on the inside.  If you decide to buy it, invite me over so I can see the inside.  Okay?

Enjoy some great designs over at Judy's blog.

This & That

Seems like I have had a busy couple of weeks.  My book club met two Fridays ago in Manitowoc, WI which is about a half hour from here.

Our book this month was set in a little made up town outside Manitowoc so we went there for lunch and after went to visit the West of the Lake Garden.  This must be the best kept secret ever as I had never heard of it.  The home and grounds were owned by a couple named West.  He was a 2nd generation CEO of a shipbuilding company in Manitowoc and when they died they created a foundation leaving their home and 6 acres of gardens to exist in perpetuity free to the public.  There is a full time gardener/ caretaker who was zooming around on his lawn mower while we were there.  There are also people who work in the foundation offices which now occupy the house.  All of this is set on Lake Michigan which is a beautiful view.  And did I mention that it is FREE???  WOW!  Really lovely.

Coleus, Day Lilies and Begonias

Rose Gardens

The back of the house faces Lake Michigan

Waves of color - purple phlox and red salvia

More roses and annuals

Angel Trumpet

Succulents

Fuchsia is every color & Begonias below

My hubby and I took in the rodeo and county fair last weekend with friends.  I always look forward to this as I love rodeo and I enjoy seeing the animals and seeing the kids who take such good care of them.

Whiplash the Dog Riding Monkey ( My husband's favorite act )

Rodeo Announcer on Horseback at Sunset

The Farmer's Market has been going strong and I have been several times this summer.  We had a late start to summer and produce is just now coming in.  I am overrun with zucchini and cukes from my garden and my friends.  I made applesauce twice this week so my freezer is already getting full.  I am waiting on my bell peppers so I can make relish.  Our grapes are just starting to turn a little purple so hopefully in a couple of weeks we will have some good eating.

Hope you summer is zooming along, too and you are finding time to enjoy all the bounty it brings.

Designing Monday

I finished the latest block for Threads of Memory from Barbara Brackman's Civil War blog.  I really enjoy reading her blog entries and learning more about the history of our country, particularly since she writes about events that are not part of the history books in school.

Enjoy your day and hop over to Judy's blog to see more Monday designs.

SCORE!!!!

Today is the Warehouse Sale at Primitive Gatherings.  I was up bright and early and on the road before 7 am.  It is about a 40-45 min. drive from my house.  Mine was the only car in the parking lot. Last year there was a line at the door to get in.  One of the worker bees was in the parking lot and he opened the door for me and told me to go ahead and look around.  I was the very first customer!!

There are 3 very long tables full of bolts at $5.00/ yd.  If you buy 20 yards, it is $4.00/ yd.  I needed backings for several quilts and had my list of yardages in hand.  I pulled out a pile of bolts and headed for the cutting tables in the next room.  Two ladies did my cutting pretty quickly.  I went back in the main room and I could see a line forming outside.  I guess I was the only one that was let in early so I had free reign of the place for at least 15-20 minutes.

There were lots of fat 1/4's and 1/2 yd cuts that were discounted, but not nearly as much as the bolts.  Lots of books and magazines at 50% off.  Quite a few kits from candle mats to bed size quilts.  Some wool fabric, too.

So here is my haul.

These 3 are from Kathy Schmitz's Piecemakers line.  I won some charm packs and mini charm packs from Kathy quite a while ago and need some yardage to make something of any size.

These are neutrals for my stash.

These are backings for quilt tops I have ready to go.  Don't you love the birds on the red fabric?

In case you are wondering, I did manage to get my 20 yard discount.  Just sayin'.

Thank you to Primitive Gatherings for hosting such a fabulous sale.  All the fabric was high quality and I was able to get what I needed.  Of course, it helps to be first!

Designing Monday

I finished the donation quilt I started last week and decided to join in the fun on the Friends and Companions Designer Sew Along.  I finished the first square the day it was posted.  I must have been in a energetic mood that day.

Our daughter took off on the bus to Idaho for a few days to visit a family friend.  When we dropped her off at the terminal, a woman around 50ish showed up with a suitcase, two ginormous trash bags with bedding, a carry on bag and a large clear plastic container full of stuff.  She wanted to put all of her stuff in the luggage area and the bus driver would not let her because the trash bags could come open and make a mess and the clear container had to be taped up.  She had a big melt down and the bus driver kept scolding her.  While this drama continued, my sweet daughter picked up all this lady's belongings and made 3 trips into the bus loading them on.  I don't think the lady stopped crying or the bus driver stopped scolding long enough to realize that the problem was solved.

She also told us that at one stop a lady tried to board the bus with a chihuahua in her carry on bag.  I guess this is a no-no.  When the driver stopped her, the lady said it was her seeing eye dog.  LOL.

Be sure to hop over to Judy's blog to see some beautiful designs today.