It's a Party...

yes it is...I'm having a party...are you saying "I wonder what she's celebrating"?...

I'm celebrating my 6th Birthday in Blogland...WOW...6 years...the time has flown, so much has happened and I've met some of the most wonderful people in all of the world.

Andy's been out of town for a few days and is coming home in just a bit, so I've had some quiet, alone time to reflect on the past 6 years...some very wonderful things have happened, some incredibly sad things have happened,  some of the most joyous times of my life have happened...I had my quilt shop when I started this blog, Andy retired in April of 2007, I decided to close the shop and retire in August 2007, we've been blessed with 3 beautiful grandchildren, our son and family moved from Chicago to Birmingham (Lots closer for Mamie), we've taken trips that we've wanted to do all of our married life (Alaska, Maine, New York, Washington DC), spent time with dear, dear friends...Lost my dear friend Jami, lost my sweet mom, started taking better care of myself, eating better, working out...started working on designing patterns, got some people out of my heart and life that were just simply not good for me, met wonderful people because my heart was now open...I think I could probably go on and on, but you all get where I'm going here...

So to celebrate my 6th Blog Birthday (Blogiversary if you will) I have a treat for you...I'll be drawing a name at 9a.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) Friday, August 3rd from the comments to this post...you don't have to jump through any hoops, just do one thing for me if you will...take a few minutes to reflect on the past 6 years of your lives...the good and the bad and the stuff in between...leave me a comment. 

The winner will receive a $50 Gift Certificate from Green Fairy Quilts...they always have a great selection of MODA precuts...and they get the very newest stuff really quick...and they're delightful to work with...I love to support small business!

So get busy on your assignment!  Have a wonderful day!

Carol's Back in Rehab

BOM Rehab that is...with all the travel the month of July there hasn't been much sewing time...but Andy took a quick trip to Pennsylvania for a reunion when we got back from Washington and I got right to sewing.  The Fat Quarter Shop BOM came while I was at the beach...so I did it first...

...sure was fun.  Then in Thursday's mail was Month 11 of Cotton Club...don't think there could have been anymore half square triangles in those 4 blocks...

...but they were fun to do, the directions were great and they went right together.  So I am caught up with my 2012 BOM's...and no, I'm not addressing the years and years worth of BOM's that I have tucked away for my retirement years...oh wait, I've been retired for almost 5 years...YIKES!

Less Than 24 Hours Later...

...my bags were unpacked from the beach, repacked and on a plane heading for Washington DC.  A friend of Andy's daughter was getting married and we decided to go up a couple of days early to do some wonderful DC things and spend some time with some of our other friends that were also coming for the wedding.  We got there on Thursday afternoon and just visited...but Friday morning we got up and headed to the National Zoo...I wanted to see the pandas...I've never really seen one...I've seen them on TV but I just needed to see one in person.  It was kind of an icky morning, drizzly rain, so there were very few people at the zoo.  We got there and headed right to the Asia area...I didn't care about anything else.  I was like a 7 year old...I was so excited.  We got to the panda habitat, walked through the observation area where the scientists and vets watch the pandas every move.  I could see them on the camera and couldn't wait to get out there...the lady that was watching the screen said "Oh you'll be able to see this one...but she's been sleeping for a while and is very content so I don't think you'll see much...and this one

is in an area that you really won't be able to see much."  Well poo, but then someone came out into a fenced area and the panda that was awake came to life...

he wanted to know what was going on...

he wanted to know what the man had behind that fence...oh he was so interested...and his friend just kept sleeping.  I was absolutely squealing...I think I was far more excited than all of the kids that were there collectively.  Andy decided he could get really close to a panda...

silly man :)

We did spend a bit more time there...saw zebras...a wonderful elephant

...cheetahs that were just lounging

From there we went to the National Cathedral...

what a magnificent building.  Wish we had been able to spend more time there...there was just so much to see.  What an amazing city!

Now I'm home for a while...well until the middle of August when I head back up to Birmingham to help the kids move into their new house.  I wonder if I'll know how to act staying home for 2+ weeks...maybe I'll get some sewing done...fingers crossed!

Home and Happy

I'm home and I'm very happy to be here...the beach was really good...I found so much peace there that I can't even begin to explain.  It truly was amazing and I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that mom is with me every single day.  I still miss her, I still think I need to pick up the phone and call her but I am full of peace.  All is well...

Saturday evening we went to dinner at Mom's very favorite place, and after dinner went to a wonderful spot on the beach and spread her ashes...just the way she wanted.  It was a perfect evening...no wind at all and the nicest waves...that's when the peace came over me.  She was happy...Sunday morning we walked out on the beach about 7 and for the first time in the 30 plus years of going to the very same spot, there was a rainbow in the sky

...right in the spot where we watch the sun set every evening...Mom's favorite thing...All is well...

Tuesday evening I went down to the beach for the sunset...the sky sure didn't look like it was going to cooperate...it had rained on and off all day...I sat down and started thinking how this was my last evening there and the last sunset I would get to see this year...all of a sudden, like it was from a movie the most wonderful light show appeared...not the normal fireball fading into the Gulf...just the most beautiful cloud formations

and light reflections

I have ever seen....it went on...

and on...

and on...

All is well...

Thank you all so very much for you kind words before I left...those notes mean more to me than you will ever know.  I'll be back tomorrow with some fun pictures from our visit to Washington DC last weekend for our friend's daughter's wedding...have a fantastic evening!

I was Gone, I'm Back, I'm Gone in the Morning, I'll be back and Gone again...

That just says it all...we were in Birmingham last weekend for Peyton's baptism

...what a wonderful, wonderful weekend.  Lots of good time with the kids...

...big and small.  Nothing beats family time.

Life is good.

Andy and I leave in the morning for the beach...I've been having some real mixed feelings about this...this will be the first time in probably close to 35 years that mom hasn't been with me for this annual trip.  I've cried, I've had pep talks with myself, I've gotten sage advice from a very dear friend, my sweet DIL keeps checking on me, and my Andy is here supporting me every step of the way.  I think I'm going to be OK.  I started packing yesterday, made it through that.  I've gathered enough sewing projects to keep me busy for 4 weeks (I'll be back home Wednesday) and my Kindle is full.  Andy will be going with me tomorrow and he's coming home Monday and I'll stay a couple of days.  Then I get back and Thursday morning we leave for Washington DC for a friend's daughter's wedding...home Monday.  The boys are so confused...suitcases in and out...and the revolving door of pet/house sitters.  I'm thinking by the time we get home from Washington they won't even look at us...LOL!

I had breakfast/lunch with a good friend on Wednesday...Gloria, she used to own The Olde Green Cupboard up in Jacksonville, FL.  I haven't seen her in several years...but it was like we had visited the day before...we never missed a beat.  Laughed and talked while we sat in Panera in Palm Coast, half way between the two of us, through the breakfast shift and the lunch shift.  It was yummy!  Thanks Glo for a really fun day...we'll do it again soon.  Although I maybe shouldn't be talking to you anymore, since you hooked me up on Pinterest.  OH MY!  I swore I would NEVER do that...you guessed it...I'm in...hook, line and sinker...pinning, boards, sitting on the couch with the computer in my lap.  What was I thinking...just kidding...I'm loving it...I had no idea what I was missing.

Have a great weekend everyone...I'll try to get a post off from the beach...we'll see how that goes.

love...Mamie Borders

You're almost done...you've done the hardest part now...time for the borders.

My 9 patch center measured 48 1/2" wide by 54 1/2" long...measure yours and make whatever adjustments you need to.

Cut 6 strips of white (that's what I used) 3 1/2" wide X the width of fabric...sew your strips together and cut 2 strips 54 1/2" long...sew to the sides of your top.  Continue to sew strips together and cut 2 more strips 54 1/2" and add them to the top and bottom of your top. My top now measures 54 1/2" X 60 1/2"

Now you're ready to add your small 9 patch border...Make sure when you add your side borders that your border strip starts with a positive 9 patch on the left side and a negative 9 patch on the right side.  This is important, I know because I goofed and had to take one off and flip it, because each border strip has a positive end and a negative end...so when you add your top and bottom strips you put the negative end on the left side of the top and positive on the right side....and the opposite on the bottom border.  I know that sounds confusing as you're reading this but it will make perfect sense when you do it...you always want those 9 patches to nest nicely.  With my 9 patch border on  my top now measured 60 1/2" X  66 1/2".

Last border...Cut 7 strips of white  4 1/2" wide X the width of fabric...sew your strips together and cut 2 strips 66 1/2" long...sew to the sides of your top.  Continue to sew strips together and cut 2 more strips 68 1/2" and add them to the top and bottom of your top. My top now measures
68 1/2" X 74 1/2"

You're all done... Hope you enjoyed it!  Can't wait to see some love...Mamie's in your fabrics.

love...Mamie Let's Put it Together

Let the fun begin...we're going to put our quilts together...gather your 72- 6 1/2" blocks...these are the inside.  We're going to call this block the positive...(the one with the dark fabric in the 5 position)

 and this block

the negative (the one with the dark fabric in the 4 position)...you're going to lay out your blocks in rows of 8 blocks and we will need 9 rows.  Begin your first row with a positive block and alternate positive, negative...by doing this your blocks will nest very nicely together. Press...I always press the odd rows to the left and the even rows to the right...do whatever works for you. Your second row will begin with a negative block and so on...every block in your quilt will alternate...positive...negative.
Sew your rows together and press...I pressed all my rows down.

You can also sew your pieced border together...gather your 80- 3 1/2" blocks...you'll need to sew 20 of your  together alternating positive and negative...you'll end up with 4 strips of 20 blocks.

That's it...ready for the borders to go on...I'll post those directions on Thursday...you'll have everything you need before the weekend.  We're leaving for Birmingham on Friday for Peyton's baptism so I want you to have all your directions.  If you have any questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me.  Have lots of fun!

When It's Hot...

Andy spends hours in the pool...

the boys spend hours sleeping...

...and I spend hours in my sewing room, with the air conditioning turned down low and the ceiling fan spinning...I did have to make sure that it didn't blow my pieces everywhere...my cookie sheets helped with that too.

Hope everyone has an awesome week!  Try to stay cool!