Seeing Things

This is the view from my front window. Just between you, me, and the wall, I am very apprehensive about this. Curly is interviewing for some new positions within his company. No offers have been extended. Yet. While we wait, and while I throw out half of our belongings that we just don't need, does anyone want to buy our charming Victorian? I promise you will love it. I know I do.

Say it With Me

Three! Three Swoon block done! Ha ah ah ah ah ah ah!

Big Plans

Tonight is Friday, so naturally I have big plans.

Hosted by Heidi, this monthly party is something I try to do every time. I don't always get to because sometimes my kids sense that I have plans for after they go to bed, and they decide to go bat crazy. But this month I am determined! I have about 5 quilts I'm working on right now. And that may be a conservative estimate. Don't tell Curly, but the sewing machine is coming with us on vacation.

So next month is my birthday. I'll be 35. If I were to have another baby, I would be considered "advanced maternal age." That makes me feel very VERY old. Curly will be 40, and that's sounding a lot older than me. I have my eye on a few things that would make my day extra special.

A little Kate Spain.

And some Lucy.

Would those ladies be fun to have around?

Much Too Soon

Yesterday I went to my Happy Place. You know. Target. I was there to just "look" at something, and just had Ginger with me. She wanted to look at the toys (and play with the toys, and put them in our cart), and as we walked towards the back, my heart stopped.

The school supplies are out.

How is that possible? We haven't even been on vacation yet. I mean, I want the heat to be over as much as the next person. Maybe even more. As I walked by the bins of crayons and erasures, I could almost smell the cool air. I could imagine walking outside and wearing a sweater, or maybe even just a long sleeved shirt. The leaves would be crunchy and the sky blue. It made me smile a bit. So maybe I don't mind the school supplies being out in July because it makes me think of my favorite season.

But then again, maybe I think it's excessive.

I'm a mess of contradictions these days.

For those who wanted a book, but didn't win, I have a great offer for you. For now through July 22, go here and use the code BLOGTOUR and get 20% off the book. That's an amazing deal!

Ready? Set? SHOP!

Snail's Pace

I finished my second Swoon block last night, and I feel a little like The Count on Sesame Street. Two! Two blocks done! Ha ah ah ah ah ah!

My Swoon quilt is coming along at a snail's pace, but that's okay. Halloween is still months away. As long as it's done by September 30, I'm okay. If it's not, I may have a temper tantrum.

Can I just pat myself on the back a little here? I love how it's turning out. Having the center be a different fabric than the outer points was, quite frankly, a bold step. But I love it. And I love purple. I am so glad it was added to the official Halloween colors. Remember when it was just black and orange? Bo-ring!

Who decides holiday colors anyway? I'm pretty sure it's Martha Stewart.

Today I get to go to the dentist. Whenever I go to the dentist, I sing the "Me and My Llama" song. Sesame Street made a little girl walking down the streets of NYC with a llama normal. It's pretty much been my favorite show since I was 2 and clearly influences my inner dialogue today.

The Winner and a Question

Thanks to everyone who entered! There were 86 commenters, which is just fantastic. Love it. Without further ado, here is the winner!!

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max: Result:8Powered by RANDOM.ORG


Honestly, can I tell you how glad I was that it was number 8? I would hate to have to count to, say, 54. Now, who is number 8?

Lynne Tilley said...

Oh my, my favorite thing to make???? Well, it is usually whatever I'm working on at the moment. I just jump from quilts, to bags to bookmarks to zipper cases to pillows.... you get the idea. I just love to sew. Thanks for the chance to win!
tilleybl@aol.com

Yay for Lynne! I will email you directly!

Now for my question. Flower is here for the next 2 weeks. She has wanted to learn to quilt, and I think this is a fantastic opportunity. Can anyone give me some good teaching tips? She's 13 and doesn't have much sewing experience. And please, no one say "patience." Please. I will just lose it. 

I'm so funny.

And beautiful.

Wrapping Up

The tour ends today. Have you checked out all the stops? Entered all the giveaways?

Sunday, July 1st: Amanda's Blog  & Jana's Blog (me!!)

Monday, July 2nd: Julie's Blog

Tuesday, July 3rd: Sally's Blog

Wednesday, July 4th: Candice's Blog

Thursday, July 5th: Stephanie's Blog

Friday, July 6th: Johanna's Blog

Saturday, July 7th: Jackie's Blog

Sunday, July 8th: Brooke's Blog

My giveaway ends tomorrow, so go here to enter, if you haven't already. 

This week we are supposed to get a break from the oppressive heat. I am thrilled. I have never been more grateful for AC. It's a marvelous invention.

We Love America

We had a great Independence Day celebration here in MD. We woke up bright and early and got ready to attend the 18th Annual Olsen Breakfast. The food is terrific and you'd be hard pressed to find a more patriotic celebration. Every year there is a costume contest, and I was determined to win. I made the girl's sundresses from the Popover Sundress pattern. They were super quick to make, and looked fabulous, if I do say so myself. Patch's shorts were made by Target and my skirt (which you'll see down in the group shot) was made by Old Navy.

 It was hot. Very hot. Ginger got a little grouchy.

 Mini-me, however, was all smiles.

 Patch thought it was "too sunny" and the program was "too long." I was so mean to make him go.

 Curly dresses up every year as a different historical figure and acts as MC. This year he was Major Jonathan Letterman, who during the Civil War came up with a combat ambulance system that is still used today. And now you learned something new from coming to my blog. Aren't you glad you did? I felt bad for him because his costume was wool. Ick. In this picture, they were getting ready to announce the winners.

We won for best dressed family, but no one thought to take my picture as I went up to accept the award. But here is Ginger later in the day with our cute USA sign. Love it.

 And here is our group shot. I love it because it's chaotic like we are. No one is looking in the right place, but we all look pretty happy. I was thrilled to finally be in some shade. And isn't my skirt cute? It's the only picture of me all day. That's so lame.

I was so wiped out after a morning in the sun I went to bed at 9:30. It was delightful. I hope your celebration was delightful as well!

An Apple a Day Blog Tour

Hello everyone! Welcome to day 1 of the An Apple a Day blog tour! I'm so glad you've stopped by. What is An Apple a Day? I'm glad you asked. It's a fabulous book put together by The Quilted Fish Creative Consultants Design Team. Amanda assembled the team about a year and a half ago, and I am thrilled to be a  part of it. These women are creative geniuses! 

The book features 9 different projects, ranging from simple to challenging. My contribution? A quilt.

 I am enamored by precuts. It seems to be all I order these days. I love having every print in a fabric line, because I know my finished product will look color coordinated and beautiful. My quilt uses 2.5" strips, which Riley Blake calls a "Rolie Polie."

The coolest thing about this quilt isn't the stunning top. Oh, no. It's the back. Namely the foot pocket on the back. Within the pocket are three smaller pockets where you can put foot warmers in. Now, on a day like today where it's supposed to be 100 degrees with 80% humidity, that doesn't sound so appealing. But come November, you're going to love it.

When I made the quilt, I had an extra block left over. What to do, what to do. Why, a pillow, of course!

 Cute, right? For the top, just quilt as you want. I quilted in the ditch, which made the fabrics pop a bit. I added a border around the block, and then bound it in leftover binding from my quilt. It's very matchy-matchy. For the back, I did an envelope closure. Here's how I do it:

Measure the front of the pillow. Divide the length by 2, and then add 2 inches. Cut two pieces and finish one edge of each piece. In the book, there are instructions for the foot pocket that you can use for this part.

 Place the pieces on the back of the quilted pillow front, and baste where the two pieces overlap.

 Bind using your favorite method. Mine? I like the stitch the binding by hand. I find it very soothing, and a great excuse to watch horrendous Summer TV that I just can't seem to get enough of.

So there you go. A cute pillow to go with the cute quilt you are going to make.

Now because this is a blog tour, there is a very strict rule that there must be things given away. Up for grabs is a copy of the book and a kit to make this necklace:

All you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me your favorite thing to make. Is it quilts? Is it bags? Is it knitted washcloths? Is it dinner? I really want to know! I'll announce the winner a week from tomorrow, July 9.

Here is the schedule for the rest of the tour. Thanks for coming by!!

Sunday, July 1st: Amanda's Blog & Jana's Blog <--- that's me :)

Monday, July 2nd: Julie's Blog

Tuesday, July 3rd: Sally's Blog 

Wednesday, July 4th: Candice's Blog

Thursday, July 5th: Stephanie's Blog

Friday, July 6th: Johanna's Blog

Saturday, July 7th: Jackie's Blog

Sunday, July 8th: Brooke's Blog