Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Pillowcases are Being Delivered...

as I type...I just talked to Jami a few minutes ago and they are in Fort Gordon...they arrived yesterday afternoon, checked in at the base and then rested for today.  I am just thrilled beyond words...I was very concerned about Jami making that long car trip...8 hours...the most she's ridden in a car since June has been about 1/2 an hour and she's usually exhausted.  When we spoke, she sounded FANTASTIC!  They had already done "formation" and she and her sweet hubby Thom were introduced to the soldiers that could make it there, and they were headed into the Dwight D. Eisenhower Hospital to spend time with the wounded soldiers.  I wish you could have heard her voice.  Truly, truly made my week!

Again to all of you who made this possible...thank you from the very bottom of my heart.  I was telling Andy on our way back on the plane from Pennsylvania that when I came up with this little idea my hope was to receive maybe 25 pillowcases...my thought was that it would certainly increase the number that Jami could give out and I knew it would lift her spirits.  Well, the final count is in and you all are beyond AMAZING!  425 pillowcases from you all are being delivered at this moment...thank you, thank you, thank you!  You will never begin to know what this has meant to Jami...and the special notes that you included brightened some of her very darkest days.  And from me, you all truly made my dream come true!  I will never be able to thank you enough!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Having Lots of FUN!

Reporting from Pennsylvania...having lots and lots of fun...staying busy, busy, busy.  Got here Tuesday, had a great dinner with our friends and visited the evening away.  Wednesday morning we ran to a little farmer's market...look at these gorgeous mums...
they're huge!  I was trying to figure out how to get one on the plane with me on Monday, but so far I can't figure it out.  Last evening we went down to Pittsburgh (about an hour away) and had a yummy dinner at Lydia's...the Lydia of Food Network fame...and saw Wicked
...I LOVED it!

Today Nancy and I drove to Garretsville, OH to a wonderful quilt/gift shop...The Shaker Tree.  Oh if this shop were near my house I'd be in very serious trouble.  And then we had a great lunch at the Welshfield Inn in Burton, OH...OH MY was it ever good...I better get back home soon and get back to the gym...this may not be pretty! Sorry, have to run, they're calling me to get ready for dinner...Enjoy your evening!

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Tons of Fun and Got Lots Done

Oh my gosh and that title even rhymes...and I was worried about my titles...LOL!

Hope everyone had a great week...I sure did...doesn't get much better than 5 whole days with good friends, good food and lots of sewing.  I can't even tell you how much we laughed and stayed up half the night talking and giggling...just like a slumber party...beyond fun!  One day Linda fixed us the most amazing lunch...Baked Brie with raspberries and walnuts...

Oh my!  It was sooooo good!  I could really get used to eating like that...

I am  so thrilled that I got lots done...I got Camden's Big Sister top done...
...ordered backing today so it will be off to the quilter soon.  I got all of the blocks done for Hampton's Big Brother top done...I spent some time today getting it laid out and  lots of the blocks sewn together into rows.
I also got 51 of the 80 blocks done for "Buster's" quilt done...
...It's going to be a happy quilt!

That's my week...wonderful fun!  This week leave on another adventure...Andy's 40th college reunion in Pennsylvania...more time with good friends and an evening in Pittsburgh to have dinner and see Wicked...I can't wait.  The house/pet sitter was here yesterday...I'm so excited that the boys just love her.  They'll have a great week too!  I'm taking my computer and camera so I plan to blog from there...see you from Pennsylvania!  Have a great week!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

My Bags Are Packed...

I'm ready to go...are you singing with me?  Well, my bags are packed and I am ready to go...but I'm not leaving on a jet plane...I'm only driving and hour and a half away...besides they probably wouldn't let me on a jet plane with all my stuff!  My projects are in their boxes in the project bag...I probably have enough to keep me busy for at least a month...oh, I'll only be there for just less than a week.  Well, I certainly won't get bored.


I also did a little cooking...I made Anna's (of Thimbleanna fame) Overnight Lasagna...we'll be having that for dinner tomorrow night...it's so much easier to have something that we can just pop in the oven since we'll all just be getting in. And it is absolutely delicious!  I also made Retreat Treats
...I've been making these for years...they are super simple, and we all love them...it's that sweet and salty thing...a pretzel, a Hershey kiss and an M&M...easy peasy...I put the kisses on the pretzels and pop them in a 250 degree oven for about 5-6 minutes...then press the M&M down in until the kiss kind of squishes...that attaches it to the pretzel...put them in the refrigerator until the kiss sets up again...take them out and put them in a container...ENJOY

I did take a few minutes yesterday and got 2 more Farmer's Wife blocks done...#33 Farmer's Puzzle and #55 Linoleum. A huge thank you to Lori (Bee in My Bonnet) for all of her drafting tips.  She changed the size of the pieces in Linoleum just a little bit and made it rotary friendly instead of a template block...I think she's just amazing!  Thank you Lori!

Hope you all have an awesome week!  I'll be home Friday...no internet connection...so I'll see you when I get back!

Friday, September 09, 2011

Love This Pattern!

The binding is done, the label is on...Stargazer is ready to be delivered to Hospice of the Comforter...the event is November 5th...yippee done in plenty of time.  I was very happy with the top when I finished it...I was thrilled beyond words when it came back from the quilter...got the binding on it and I loved it.  As Mr. Quilt Holder was holding it up for me to take a picture...
 I told him I almost felt guilty...I'd keep this quilt in a minute.  I LOVE it!  But then I had a big talk with myself...this quilt was made for one purpose and one purpose only...a donation to Hospice of the Comforter...I'm back on track again...it's all ready to  be delivered.  It was a great pattern to work with...thank you so much Kelly!

Tuesday, September 06, 2011

Getting Ready and a Little Cleaning

I'm a very excited girl...I'm getting ready for a retreat with some friends starting Sunday...we're heading over to the beach to one of our friend's beach houses...we went in January and had such a good time that we decided we just couldn't wait until January to go again so we're going to spend Sunday to Friday together again...at the beach, sewing, laughing, talking, eating and just have a blast. 6 of the gals get to sew together regularly, and there are 2 of us that get to come too...I just can't wait...we have so much fun and get a lot done.  This time we're working on a group project...I think it has something to do with Kaffe Fasset fabrics...OH BOY!  you know me, that's way out of my comfort zone, but I'm up for the challenge...I'll keep you posted on what I do.  Today I got some essential things done...
these are must haves...hmmm, I wonder how many I'll get to empty. We don't have any internet there so I'll let you know what I got done when I get back home.

I also did a bit of cleaning today...I have a ton of wool and just don't have the time to get to it...so I made 2 bundles today and if you like them I'll make more...there's a lot of wool in these bundles and they'll be $35 plus postage...send me an e-mail and I'll send you my address...checks are fine...one of these days I'll get my PayPal set up...promise.  Blogger won't let me add anything else after the pictures, so I'll be back tomorrow.
Let me know if you'd like one of these bundles...brownquilts@gmail.com


Here's Bundle #1...stacked up SOLD
Stacked up

Spread out

And here's Bundle #2 SOLD But I can make up more bundles...just let me know.
Stacked up
Spread out