I Made a Mountain INTO a Mole Hill

Yes you read that right...I feel that's exactly what I did.  I took a quilt that I had wanted to do since the Fall/Winter of 2009...that was the year that Temecula Quilt Company was in the Quilt Sampler and their quilt was on the front.  I think I mentioned before that I ordered the kit the minute it became available, it arrived and I was immediately intimidated.  Wonderful kit, lots of fabrics, amazing quilt design, lots of pieces to cut...I read the directions and then read them again...there was absolutely not a thing wrong with the pattern, it was very well written, and very well organized...I just couldn't seem to get my head around where to begin...so the kit aged.  Then I decided earlier this year that I wanted that quilt this year...I looked at it differently...I broke it up into sections and did a section a month...that was the answer...yesterday I finished the second to the last section of this quilt and added it...

I am so, so excited.  I'm thrilled that this quilt is almost finished but I'm more thrilled that I've discovered a new way to approach projects. I'm taking the "Mountain" project and breaking it into "Mole Hill" sections... Can you tell?  I'm a happy girl!!!!!!!!

True Confessions

I'm here to confess...I haven't been blogging...oh you knew that already...but I have a good reason...now my mom would say that you aren't supposed to confess something and then say "But..." but I really do have a good reason...want to know??????????

I was in Birmingham the first week in June with these fun kids...

Katie had a huge part in running Vacation Bible School and the big kids went with her everyday and enjoy their classes and all the fun activities and Peyton and I stayed home and played.  We went for long walks...they forgot to tell me that there are lots of hills in Mountain Brook where they live...I think I was pushing that stroller uphill all the way...no there wasn't any snow, I won't add that embellishment...LOL!  But I am a Florida girl and it's FLAT here...so I did get my cardio workout while I was there.  We had tons of fun every morning...then the afternoons were full of fun stuff, trips to the library, the park, bike riding...life really just doesn't get much better.

When I got home my list was waiting for me...had to get cracking on those "every month" projects and I'm happy to say that list is complete...
I have all my little squares filled with a purple dot...my other list of extra projects is almost complete...I plan on finishing the Temecula sampler section in the next day or so and then getting the back finished for my Topsy Turvy quilt and then I can pat myself on the back for 3 seconds and move on to the July list.   I know lists don't work for lots of you, but this sure has gotten me on track...I feel way less stress, and I just move from one thing to the next without giving it second thought.

Here are a few of my projects for this month...Deckade blocks from the Fat Quarter Shop...

I am so loving this project...a new section out on their blog every other Monday...the directions are perfect and I got the kit to complete the quilt...I'm a happy girl.

And then here are a few of my "every month" projects...

Crossroads

Country Threads Anniversary BOM Blocks

Fat Quarter Shop 2013 Designer BOM

4 rows added- I'm 1 row short of half

Four Generals

So, Long Story Short...I haven't been blogging but I have been having tons of fun and I have been sewing!  Bring on July!

Claiming my Blog

I'm not at all sure what I'm doing...but Bloglovin says I need to do this...so here we go...we'll see if I still have a blog when this is all done...LOL!  We all know I am techno challenged...Follow my blog with Bloglovin

May 31st...Really???

I'm thinking that I'm starting to sound like a record with my needle stuck...where has the month gone?  Is May really over?  Every time I think I'm going to get back to blogging on a more regular basis, the days just plain disappear.  I'm sounding more like my mom every day...I just can't figure out how I had time to work for all those years...LOL!
I've been sewing fast so I could get my list finished for the month of May...

and I did add another project for the monthly list...the Deck-ade the Halls quilt from the Fat Quarter Shop...I just couldn't resist...the first clue came out on their blog this week and since my fabric had arrived from them and I was ready to go I jumped right on it.  What fun!  The pattern was PERFECT!  The fabric is wonderful and I think these gingerbread men are just about the cutest. 

If you've been thinking about this project and just can't make up your mind...you sure won't be disappointed...this is going to be one darling quilt and lots of fun!  A WIN! WIN!

I have a really good excuse for being away for another week...I'm leaving in the morning to go see the kids...Katie is in charge of Bible School and the big kids will be going...Peyton and I will be staying home doing fun stuff...I'll be back a week from tomorrow in the late evening...Howie and Mr. QuiltHolder will be here taking care of each other.  I'll try to check in while I'm gone...have a great week!

I Could Have Danced All Night

Yes that's just how excited I was when I finished this...

The Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery BOM 2012.  It was starting to get dark so the lighting isn't very good...sorry.  I allowed Andy out of the house to hold this up for me, it was a bit bigger than his wing span...and quite honestly, I think he was trying to peek around the quilt to survey the trees in the front yard.  He's already talking about what he needs to do next...someone help me please.

Tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiime Is Not On My Side....

Are you singing again...but the words really were...Tiiiiiiiiime is on my side...Yes it is!... Yes I'm old...if you don't remember this one, you're probably much younger...The Rolling Stones/ Mid 1960's...yes, I told you I'm old...LOL!

Well really not just regular time...but sewing time...but don't feel sorry for me.  I've mostly been having fun.  I was up in Birmingham visiting these fun kids...

Camden wanted me to come for her first ever dance recital...

how could I not go.  It was soooooooooo much fun.

I got home and pulled out my list and started right to work...Four Generals...

Temecula Quilt Company Civil War Diaries...

Lori Holt's Barn

I've also been working on my Fat Quarter Shop Mystery BOM...the final block arrived in my mailbox on Friday, got it done on Saturday.  I had the rows all together and ready for this last block.  Then I started getting the borders on...my plan is to get the last borders on today...we'll see how that goes.

I went to Pilates this morning at 7:30 came home and had a little breakfast...as I arrived home Andy was in the garage putting his shoes on and said..."I'm going to do a little trimming on the oak trees in the side yard."  I thought, OK, we had talked about a few things that needed to be trimmed off with his long extension pole trimmer...silly me...here's what I found when I went outside...

please remember this man is 64 years old...and has had a total knee replacement...up in the tree...foot here, foot there...and I wonder why Time is not on my side!  LOL!  I spent the rest of the morning out there with him.  Oh My!  I'm in for the afternoon...and so is he!

Wish I Could Say...

that I've been on cruise to an exotic country, an African safari, a ski trip to Colorado...something exciting...but I can't...I've been right here at home...not a thing out of the ordinary going on.  Happy news this morning...we had Howie at the vet on Monday morning, she wanted to run a senior panel (bloodwork) on him, since he's 10 1/2...they just called a few minutes and my boy is PERFECT!  We are so excited...we did find out on Monday when we were there that he's gained 5 pounds in 4 short months...oh dear...guess we've been spoiling him just a bit too much...or the vet tech that weighed him in January made a mistake...that's Howie's story and he's sticking to it.

I have been sewing and having fun...Temecula Quilt Company's Monthly Mini for April...

these were some teeny blocks...so much fun!  Sure makes me pay attention to my piecing.

Got my Hat Trick

done for Another Year of Schnibbles: Vintage Schnibbles...I added some blocks to it to make it a bit bigger...it's made from Paris Flea Market and will be going to a sweet new baby girl in October.  Dear, dear friends of Josh and Katie will be having their first baby in October...she just had to have a quilt.  Sorry for the not so good picture...we were getting ready to have a storm and I had to get the pic taken so I could get it off to my quilter...I'll take a better picture of it after the binding is on.

I've been lusting after this quilt every time I see these blocks posted on blogs...so I got the pattern and made my first block...

Crossroads by Geoff's Mom Pattern Co....it's a big block...15"finished...I'm using stash and having a blast.  I'll be doing a block a month.

We've been watching this water bird all week...

it's an anhinga...we've had these in the pond for all the years we've lived here...they swim around, they dive under water on one side of the pond and come up on the other side of the pond...this guy has discovered that if he stands on the fountain he can stay nice and cool and wet...everyone on our circle is talking about this funny fella.

And if you're not fond of snakes, close your eyes and scroll down for a minute...my neighbor was walking by out front with her labradoodle puppy and she came upon this brightly colored guy...

she said she backed up and came across the grass to my front door...I went out and took a look...he's just a corn snake...I gave him a push to send him on his way...sadly he didn't move...something had gotten him...we had to have a burial.

Have a wonderful day...do something today that makes you really happy!