Lake Sewing Project

I've been making these 8 inch star blocks at the lake on and off.   I decided to bring them home this week as I needed to cut a few more.  I wanted to determine if I had enough color and pattern variation.

I'm using a pattern in a book called "Miss Rosie Quilts" by Kim Deihl.  It has 36 stars in the center bordered by flying geese and then another pieced border.  Lots of cutting.  Now I need to take the stars down and trim them before I sew them together.  I also need to cut for another 70 flying geese tomorrow.

There were so many butterflies flitting around out here this afternoon.  I can't believe I have none in the picture.  I love when this viburnum blossoms in late July/early August.  The white blooms look so fresh and crisp.  They can be dried and used in winter arrangements. 

This plant is 12 years old.  My sisters Barb and Janet bought it for me at the State Farmers Market in August 2000.  John had been in and out of the hospital so many times that year so they drove down from NYS for a few days to lend moral support. 

There is a huge Lantana in front of it.  I think that is what really attracts all the butterflies.  We've had a lot of hot weather this summer and fortunately we've been getting rain when we need it too.  We need to get out and trim some of this growth when it's a little cooler.

Happy Weekend! 

Top Finished

This morning I finished this quilt top.  The blocks were easy to make but I just knew I didn't want to make dozens of them. 

The top measures 46 x 54 inches and will make a nice size baby quilt.  I'm not a big fan of borders just to enlarge the top size but I feel this one complements the center.

I will use leftover strips from the center for the binding.

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John and I went to the lake after church Sunday. 

 It was hot, humid and showery on Monday. 

 I asked John  if he wanted to go for a ride to a quilt shop in Phenix, VA.  (Some of our Bee members are going there at the end of the month.  I couldn't go then as we are expecting company from CT.  Soooo I decided I should check it out.)

 

 I remembered looking it up on the GPS last year and it was about 50 miles from us.  We left about 1:30.   When I tried to enter in on the Toyota GPS all I could get was Phoenix AZ.  Well to make a long story short  - it was actually 93 miles away and  lots of scenic roads! Thankfully I had looked it up on a VA map we had at the cottage and had an idea where it was.

 In a beautiful country setting, the shop was very nice.  The owner, Lori, and her husband Steve are so friendly and welcoming.  She and John are from the same area of NY state.  They made fresh coffee and Steve and John had a great conversation while I shopped.

Threads Run Through It is the name of the shop.  They have an online store and also do custom quilting and embroidery.

Some Sewing Time

Scrappy Kalidescope Blocks

Somewhere, not too long ago, I saw a Kalidescope Quilt made with pieced blocks.  I was sewing with C & S the other day and decided to try and make it from memory.  I bought a special ruler and started cutting 4.5" blocks.  They just seemed too small so I went to 5 inches for cutting.   My finished block is 8.25".

I think this will be a baby quilt  with borders. I' m not too sure I really like it.

It isn't hard to sew just lots of seams.

July Table of Grace

 Danny & Jim getting ready to serve

It was a hot day with thunderstorms but we had a good crowd and a nice meal.

We served ham, potato salad, tomatoes and cucumbers from Scott's garden, biscuits and home made pound cake with ice cream.

We were happy to have Jim helping us all day.  Peeling potatoes, washing dishes and serving.  Jim retired from the ministry this June.  He is a native of Wendell and grew up in our church.  He was my children's Sunday School teacher and youth leader when they were in high school.  It is a real blessing to have him back at WUMC.

Our intern, Liz, gave a  the message on HOPE.

H - Hang in there with Jesus

O - Open your heart and mind to His word

P -  the Possibilities are endless with Him

E - Each and everyone of us is loved abundantly by Him.

We had some really good music too!

Come join us in August - the last Monday at 6PM - it'll be a blessing to you!

From the kitchen window ------

The hibiscus have started blossoming!  There are several plants Star of Bethlehem just outside the window and I really enjoy them.  They are about 6 feet tall.

Lady Baltimore

White Dixiebelle - Blooms are about 8" across.

The white phlox are soo sweet smelling.

Lastly in between other things I have been cutting and sewing flying geese.  I'm attempting to make a quilt from a picture I cut out of QNM years ago.  It was an advertisement for Harriet Hargrave fabrics. Also cut some triangles for a possible Thousand Pyraminds quilt.

Parker - June 30, 2012

We had a picnic after the service on Saturday afternoon.

Parker, 3, my sister Janet's grandson, finds the perfect spot to relax and enjoy his Cheetos.

This looks good!

He looks distressed but he was laughing.

Perfect!

A Room With a View

We spent last week with my sister in Oxford, New York.  We went to attend a celebration of life service to honor and remember my brother in law Jim. 

The morning of the service we woke up at 6AM to this wonderful view! 

One I've seen many times but don't think I really appreciated as much as I did this morning.  It just seemed like Jim was looking over his beloved farm and smiling at the day.

The fields, lawn and pond were all mowed and trimmed.  You can see Julie is already out giving a final trim to the field next door to the house while Matt was trimming the front lawn. 

(you can see I took the pics through the screen)

Oh, to wake up every morning and turn over in bed to this view! 

I just love Debbie's bedroom.

John had a good time up at the pond with Jess.  They caught about 40 small mouth bass. They transferred them to another pond across the road near Matt's house.

The weather was perfect!

The view was awesome and time spent with family and friends was priceless!

Thanks Barb.