Gettin' Some Things Done

Oh and that makes me so very happy...I love to get things done. I made my list and spent some afternoons cutting and sewing up a storm. It's been so darn hot here that I've kept myself tucked nicely inside my house, in my sewing room with the air conditioner doing it's job. I can sure get a lot done in this weather...sure don't want to be outside.

I finished this little quilt in just a couple of days...it was so fun. It came as a kit from The Temecula Quilt Company out in California. Sheryl (the shop owner) had this on her blog, I fell in love. I e-mailed her to see if I could get one of my very own. She e-mailed me back and within a few days it had arrived. Great customer service...nothing better than great customer service. Make sure you go by her blog and see all of the wonderful things she has to share. OMG, if I lived closer to her shop, I'd probably be in debtor's prison.

I also finished this month's Simply Sophisticated blocks...we're getting close to the end of this one. I can hardly wait to see what The Fat Quarter Shop has in store for us when it comes time to put this quilt together. This is going to be one gorgeous quilt.

Hope everyone had a great weekend...I sure did...and hope you all have a wonderful week!

A Dog's Life

The boys were exhausted and taking a little rest......until the camera clicked...and as you can see from the blur, Zack was getting up and ready to run...poor Howie, just wanted to rest some more.

They were so tired from helping me put the finishing touches on this quilt that will be going to our Hospice of the Comforter on Friday. I showed this back in December when it came back the the quilter...then it had to wait it's turn for binding...the coordinator of the fund raising event said that if they could get the quilt in June they would be thrilled...the event is in August...with lots of help from the boys the binding is on and I got the label on yesterday...we'll deliver it Friday. I just love this quilt...the fabric is so pretty, MODA Quilt for the Cause, the quilting is amazing...just makes the quilt sing.

OK boys, no more cameras...you can resume your rest!

Where Did May Go? Can You Tell Me?

Where oh where did May go? I've heard several people say the same thing...I don't think I've ever experienced anything like this one. I've had months go quickly, but I think this one was missing at least 2 weeks. I guess with my weeklong trip to Birmingham, and then Andy's trip to Key West with some friends, and then having the herd here for 10 days while the "visiting dogs" mom and dad took an Alaskan cruise...the month just got away. I sure hope things slow down a bit...I have lots I want to do.

I did get a few things done...I showed this one as I was working on it, but it's all done and on it's way to a new baby girl in South Carolina.

Here are 2 months of Belle Meade...BOM from Homestead Hearth, pattern from Bonnie Blue Quilts. I am just loving these blocks. When I opened this month's fabrics I thought, "Yikes, some of these fabrics, I'm just not sure" But I stuck with them, didn't substitute anything and I love the result. I'm convinced that reproduction just work together.

I have a new favorite tool......Triangle Square Up. I've had this "ruler" for several years and have just never used it...I saw it the other day and decided I'd read the directions and try it out. I love it! I used to use the Precision Trimmer all the time...here's the difference...with the Precision Trimmer you pressed the HST open and then trimmed all the sides...4 cuts...well, this tool...you pick the line that matches with your cut size (not finished size)...lay the dotted line on the stitching and trim 2 sides...I love it. They came out perfect and half the cutting! YIPPEE!

My friend Jeanne taught me this new trick...another time saver...makes the sewing of the HST go so much faster. If you have a 1/4" foot (with a 1/4" on each side of the foot, this is my Bernina 37 foot) feed the HST with the long side on the left and then the next one have the long side on the right...just keep feeding them through alternating. It takes a few going through to get used to using that left side of the foot as a guide, but as soon as you get used to it, you can fly. They just go through smoother and faster.

That's it for me today. I have to go get ready for Game 1 of the NBA finals...my Magic are playing! Have a great evening!

Designer Mystery BOM

It's finished...I'm so excited...I really like it a lot and I finished it before the new one started...YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't say enough good things about The Fat Quarter Shop and their BOM's...always on time, perfect instructions and more than enough fabric...I'm ready for the new one to begin. I think this is the first time in my quilting life that I stayed caught up with a BOM and finished putting it together before the next one began...Can you tell I'm very proud of myself?

Have a wonderful weekend!

I'm Back Home

I've been back home since last Tuesday, but I can honestly say I have no clue where the time went. I got home Tuesday evening at 6:30 after a long day on the road...leaving Hampton Tuesday morning was the hardest thing ever...he kept saying "Stay Mamie" and then he said "Just read one more book"...how could I resist? Sat down and read with him...kissed, hugged and then hugged some more, started down the front steps and he called to me "Mamie, come right back"...OMG I just wanted to turn right around and stay, but I knew I needed to get home...turned around and said "I'll be back soon" trying very hard not to cry, I didn't want him to be any more upset than he was. By the time I got to the top of their street, I was crying so hard I could barely see the traffic light change. I called Andy to let him know I was on the road and he wasn't sure who it was on the phone. OMG...pitiful! Cried my way out of the state of Alabama...I stopped to get a Diet Coke at McDonald's and I'm sure I scared the poor girl at the counter to death...red puffy eyes and splotchy face.

Andy left Wednesday at around noon for a long weekend in the Keys with some friends from college...they had a great time...The 5 of them try to get together at least once a year...very, very fun! I thought I'd have tons of time to sew my little fingers off, but I had major computer problems...my laptop went nuts...it was locking files, and not opening things, I'd try to open one thing and something else would open instead. Took it to the trusty Geek Squad at Best Buy, I love Sean there, he got me all fixed up...said Windows was corrupted...go figure?! So a day without my computer and then a day to get everything loaded back on and ready to go again. It's running like a champ now.

Mother always worries that I don't eat when Andy's gone so she insisted that I go to her place for brunch on Sunday...so off I went...it was great, always good to see mom and the food was wonderful, but Sunday was gone and then Andy came home Monday...POOF the week was gone.

I did get my Simply Sophisticated blocks done and I've been working to get my Designer Mystery BOM put together...hopefully I'll have a picture to show you really soon.

I've started a new blog...now don't laugh, since I can hardly keep this one up to date...but I have some fabric and books that need new homes...LOL...so I thought I'd keep it separate from my regular blog....the address is Brown Quilts and MORE...I'll let you know here when I post something new and you can check it out. I just finished the first post with some fabric.

I'm off to finish my BOM...I'll check in later...hopefully with a picture.

Lots of Mamie Fun

Every morning that I've been here I say "I'm just not sure I could have any more fun than I had yesterday"...and then I do. I'm writing quickly this morning before everyone else wakes up. I haven't downloaded yesterday's trip to the Botanical Gardens yet...so I'll save that story for tomorrow.
I just don't know where this week has gone. Andy went home on Thursday and Hampton's been looking for him ever since...he's called him several times on the phone...Thursday afternoon we went to the park and played and played and then Josh met us there on his way home from work. What a joy to watch him interact with Hampton...he's a great dad!
I love this picture of Hampton coming down the slide...between the static electricity and the fact that he was flying down the slide...his hair is standing on end. He's just learned to "climb the mountain"...he could hardly wait to show me how he can do this. And he had so much fun with Josh, trying to see if he could make it all the way across......gosh being a Mamie is so darn much fun. It's time to leave the park.
When we got back I took Little Miss Camden out of her car seat and Katie snapped this picture...oh I think this is my favorite. She knows her Mamie...I think I hear her saying "I love you Mamie"

Wishing all of you a very Happy Mother's Day! You know where you'll find me.

Not much going on EXCEPT...

...We're leaving in the morning at 6 to head up the road to meet Little Miss and see our Hampton...oh and I guess we'll spend some time with their mom and dad too. I think we're ready...bags are packed, gifts are ready, the dogs bags are packed...all that needs to happen is that it turns into 6 a.m. Oh my gosh I hope I can sleep tonight. I already told Andy that I'll drive most of the way...I drive faster than he does...don't tell the Florida, Georgia and Alabama police that I'm on the road please.

Not much sewing going on here this week...no stash added, no stash used...so this week's report is exactly the same as last week's.
Week 18
Fabric Added this Week:0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date:26.25 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date: 99.75 yards

Fabric Busted: 73.5 yards

Spent some time this week doing laundry, cleaning and just getting things ready to be gone for 8 days. Why is it that I have to have the house all clean to go away????? I'm not going to be here to see it? Andy decided that he needed to clean the shower, he's worse than I am...he took the shower head off and soaked it in vinegar to get the calcium build up out of there...he had lots of help...Zack was very interested in what dad was doing on a stool in the shower. Hopefully I can get online at Josh's so I can post the newest pictures. I'll talk to you from Birmingham!