Lake Days - Wednesday

I decided to pull out a couple of set aside projects to take up to the lake to work on during the summer.
This is small quilt that I started last year.  I saw a picture in Keepsake Quilting offering a kit in 30's fabrics.  Since I had lots of 30's pieces leftover from a Dresden Plate Quilt that I pieced last year, I just drew up a pattern based on the picture.   

Most of the components are made.  I just needed to make the 32 white/print blocks.  I made 10 today.

Will have to cut more of the white squares to finish the other 22. 
The blocks are 6" - the finished quilt will be about 50 x 60".  A nice large baby size.

This project is a pattern that I bought down in Myrtle Beach last March.  I have cut out the 400+ black and white squares and made some of the blocks.  Appliqued lots of little circles, etc.
Eventually I found out the pattern is a disappearing nine patch.  A pattern I have never made before but is very popular with some of the gals in the Undercover Bee.
They use it a lot for donation quilts.

This project went back in it's box.  It will have to wait for another day.

I know no sewing will be done this weekend.  Looks like we'll have some of the kids and grand kids. 

I see lots of games and fun in my future!  Eating too.

And of course, we'll go out on the lake Saturday evening to see the Fireworks!



Backyard Flowers

I

 No problem seeing this Hibiscus from the kitchen window. Not sure of the variety - Could be Lord or Lady Baltimore.  A nice surprise when we came home.  Tomorrow is a  trip to Fayetteville to Loving Stitches Quilt Shop with Connie, Cathy & Sally.  I've never been there so it will be fun.  Can't wait!

Lake Days - Tuesday

 Tuesday morning we went up to the lake.  John wanted to work on the porch screening.  It was very humid and hot. 

John had no more than lit the grill when we heard the thunder.
The rain was very welcome.  We had more thunderstorms during the evening and one early Wed. morning.












I fixed fresh cucumber pickles with crushed red peppers. 

I fried summer squash the way my mother used to make it - each piece fried individually - rather than all stirred together.  I wonder how long it took her to make enough for a family of eight?

The little tomatoes are from  our mini-garden, as were the cucumbers and squash. 

Some of the Lilies

The early day lilies have finished blooming, as have most of the Asiatics.   The Stella d'Oro is in between blooming.   I thought the second was a Star Gazer but it didn't have the over whelming scent. 

 

Found this one under a rose bush



There are about 20 buds on each stalk.








love this pink one





A great vivid orange - like a beacon



Table of Grace - June 2011

Margie,Ella, Janice & Randie

 Today we marked the end of our 5th year of cooking and serving meals for Table of Grace.  We always have a good time together.  Randie has been helping us the past few months.  She leads our Monday Morning Bible Study Group (we take the summer off),

Alta Ruth, Sara, Janice

Alta Ruth and Sara come in about 4PM and help serve tea and lemonade.  Scott was our worship and music leader.  One of our guests sang Amazing Grace.  She had a lovely voice and it was a nice surprise.

Our menu - Pasta Salad, Tuna Salad, Peaches and Cottage Cheese, Rosemary Foccacia and Frozen Ice Cream Sandwich Dessert topped with Chocolate Sauce and Butterfinger Crumbs.



Donation Quilt Finished - Mini Garden

Finished this cute little quilt and will return it to the Quilts for Kids table at the guild meeting tonight.

This morning I work at our church's Food Pantry.  As part of this ministry, several of our members grow vegetables to distribute to Food Pantry patrons.  I admire their willingness to share the bounty of their gardens with others.  In addition to giving to the Food Pantry, they make fresh vegetables available to the congregation on Sunday for whatever donation they are able to give.  These donations help buy staples for the Panrty as needed.  

The mini gardens are doing pretty well.  We have picked cucumbers, zucchini and grape tomatoes and it looks like we will have yellow summer squash in a few days.  I noticed that one of the Roma tomato plants had some blossom end rot so went to the Hardware and bought some calcium to spray on the leaves.  I will also treat the zucchini plants.  I bought some dipper gourd seeds today -  we'll see how they do.

I love how these little tomatoes grow in cascades.  This one plant has loads and loads of fruit. 

Sewing Time

 I sewed this quilt top Thursday afternoon at our sewing time.  It is a kit with pattern that I picked up at Capital Quilters Guild last month.  I hope to layer and quilt it today and get it back to the Guild tomorrow evening.  The kits are so easy to do. Most times the strips have been pre-cut and the backing fabric is included also.

I volunteered to make at least 50 napkins for Vacation Bible School.  They provided the fabric- a light yellow poly-cotton.  I don't use my serger much but it sure comes in handy for projects like this. I bought this elna 5 thread in 1990.  I have made many window treatments, pillow shams and dust ruffles etc.  

I have machine appliqued four plates to background squares.  The squares are cut 20" but I may trim them an inch or so.  It looks like there will be a big blank in the corners when the blocks are joined.

Family Time

Molly and Daniel graduated from their respective high schools Friday evening.  Saturday they held a pool party at Aunt Shelly's.

Daniel will be attending Wake Tech for the coming year .

Molly will be going to NCSU.  She was awarded a scholarship to the School of Textiles .

As for the other grand kids -  Hannah's home from Drexel for the summer, Shane is on a six week internship in Minnesota, Evan is off for a month at Camp Don Lee where he will be in the Leadership Training Program and Emily is looking forward to going to the lake with Papa and GPat this summer.
The west coast boys still have another week of school but are ready for summer to begin.

Sewing Room

  

The valances, blinds and windows are all clean.  Thought I'd take a picture to commemorate that!

 My Bernina is still at the doctor's so yesterday I made backings and bindings for the spiderweb and string quilts on the Singer FW.  It sews beautifully but I hope to get the Bernina back soon as I need to make at least 50 napkins for Vacation Bible School before the 19th.



Archives - Quilted Valances

 We decided to replace the blinds in the sewing room so I took down the valances to wash.I made them from mostly odds and ends in 1996.  Then sewed on lots of old buttons as the wallpaper has buttons on it.

 They have held up well, just a couple of fabrics that have faded, so I will put them back up.  

Sewing Machine Woes

Wednesday I took my Bernina 1130 for repair (2nd time in a month).  It seems to be the same problem and fortunately the repair technician stands by his repair for 30 days.  The first repair was  $250.

So for  now I am sewing on my Singer Featherweight that I brought back from the lake on Monday.

I got out the Dresden Plate pieces and sewed the last three together.  I had bought a large floral print (Kaffe) that I had planned to use as the centers but didn't care too much for that look.  Then I tried some Kaffe dots and really think they are cute so I'll go with them.

I think when I get my Bernina back I may machine applique the plates to the background fabric with invisible thread as there are so many color changes. I'll have to try a sample and see how it looks. 






Well time to get a move on - guess I'll fix a salad and something else to take to the potluck after church tomorrow.  It's pastor Ellen's last Sunday in our pulpit. She'll be vacationing before going to a church in Burlington, NC in July.  We'll have guest speakers for the next 3 Sundays. 

Quilt # 68 - From the Archives

Bluebird and Baskets - 41 x 41" - Completed 1996

1. Some of the flowers in the baskets are three dimensional.  I had just learned to make them and actually taught a class to some friends in the New London area using the baskets and flowers.  The bluebird pattern came from Quiltmaker magazine, I think.
2. This quilt was awarded a red ribbons at the Salisbury-Rowan Quit Show in 1996 and the NC State Fair in 1998.