Back to Dotty

Last week I decided to get my dotty fabrics out again and resume working on this quilt that I started back before Thanksgiving.  I had made three blocks when life came calling!

Now there are fourteen

Sunday and Monday, I cut out the centers and have started sewing them.  I have six more blocks ready to sew together and that will be it for the blocks.  Then I will think about the borders.  I won't use the sashing used in the pattern (that's why I made more blocks) but I do like the outer pieced border.  

First I have to concentrate on getting to that point.

This will probably be my last sewing day for this week as we are going up to PA for Hannah's graduation from Drexel this weekend.

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Chillin' out in chilly Oxford, NY

My sister, Barb, sent me this picture last week.  It was 3 weeks ago at her house in Oxford. I think  the high temperature was 53 that day.  She did have the heat on every day.  And there is a gas space heater, just beyond my feet, that heats the big front room very nicely after awhile.  She was making me a very special breakfast that day.

It will be 93 here today!

Emily and I after dance recital

Who else but a teen could look like this at 11:15 PM and dancing and changing costumes so many times that I lost count.

E

Memorial Day 2014 -The Lake

Angie has lots of little garden-scapes around her house.  Love this one with the big flag!  She always uses lots of American Flags for the summer holidays.

 Tracey and Molly came up Friday afternoon. Tracey cleaned the porch for me and we planted the flower pots. 

 Back in the 70's, John was on some board at Wake Tech, and he thought it would be a good idea for Kathy, Tracey and myself to take a Powder Puff Mechanics course offered by Wake Tech.  Well this weekend Tracey and I, with Molly's help, had occasion to use our vast knowledge learned back then.

Actually we read the manual for the mower.  We replaced the battery in the lawn mower and the Golf cart.  Who knew that could be so easy (the mower) and so annoying (the golf cart).  But in the end the both are back in use. Yea!!!!

We played lots of Scrabble games on the porch and enjoyed the beautiful weather too.

Today is our Table of Grace Meal at WUMC.  We will be serving Sloppy Joes, Baked Beans, Slaw and Dessert so it is time for me to go shopping.

Enjoy your Memorial Day and take a moment to remember all those who served in our Armed Forces.  Thinking of John who was in the Army and Gordon who served in the Air Force. Also remembering my brother Richard, who passed away May 8th.  He wasn't eligible to serve in the military as he lost an eye as a child but was very supportive of our troops.  He was very proud of his grandson, Chris, who recently graduated from Marine boot camp. And also my grandson, Evan, who is serving in the Coast Guard.

Patriotic Quilt??

When I started making these red and white blocks with the blue centers up at the lake a couple of week ago I thought they would make a nice patriotic quilt.  Now I'm not so sure with the gold sashings. Right now I'm not too excited about it.  Maybe if I find a patriotic border it will help.   

Today was a sew with friends day so even though my quilt leaves a lot to be desired I had a good day. Sewing, sharing a meal and small talk  -  the simple things in life are the best!

Banners and a Block

After Bible Study this morning, Lori came over and we made Baptism Banners for brothers who will be baptized this Sunday.  Both designs are new for us so it took us longer than expected.

 We enjoyed lunch together before we tackled the second one.  Lori has been researching designs and verses.  We had fun collaborating on them.  It is much more fun to make them with a partner. Thanks Lori.
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This is the cover quilt from last September or October 2013 Fons and Porter magazine.  It was recently shown on their PBS program too.  My quarter blocks came out smaller than their pattern by at least 1/4 inch no matter how much I pressed.  Rats  - I hate when that happens.  Not decided if I will proceed or not. 

More Machine Quilting

On my way to the lake last week I found a backing I liked.

I finished the quilting on the Charlie Brown quilt Monday afternoon and put the Crosses and Crossroads quilt on.  I went out early Tuesday morning before Sit and Sew at Ladybug and finished quilting it.  The quilting is very simple and minimal. I'll get it trimmed between meetings and appointments today and make a binding when I get home this evening. That will give me plenty of time to finish sewing down the binding before  giving.

Waiting It's Turn- February 28th

 Ready to go  -   I just have to decide how to quilt it!

Wow - It's been 6 weeks since I put this on the quilting machine.

Lake Life - Good Neighbors

Radar 

Radar lives at the end of our road - he loves to visit everyone in the neighborhood.  He was taking a break while his owner, Dickie, along with Steve and Donna were mowing, raking and blowing the leaves off my yard. They came over Saturday morning and when my mower wouldn't start - they went home and came back in a few minutes with their equipment and before lunch they had it all done.  

After the clean up

The weather was beautiful and the I hated to leave this afternoon.  I wanted  to plant  some flowers in the planter but the weatherman said we may have some pretty cool temps near the middle of the week.

I had time to start quilting the Charlie Brown Quilt when I got back home.   I put it on the machine a few weeks ago.  Using the baptist fan again - still need lots more practice.  I need the quilting machine for the top I finished last week.