Christopher's haircut

Christopher was one in April, and he just got his first haircut. He is looking every inch the little man...... He went to a special shop for kids......the clippers don't make noise and each station has a DVD to watch among other things. He has also been swimming and riding the lawn tractor with Dad and big brother Dillon.
Macy has been to "Bug Camp", Robert and Sara Ashley to nature camp. Life is busy for the kids and their parents!! Next week Dillon and Robert are off to UGA for football camp......they will be roommates.
No stitching going on here. Just spending time helping the Hornes adjust to life with new baby, and today, back to work after a week off...............
Later!

It's A Boy!!

Welcome to our newest grandson, Jackson Kellum Horne. He was born on May 27th, and was 8# 3 oz, 20 1/2"......to Ashley, Matt and Macy. All are well, healthy and happy....including Mimi, who has been doing baby, chief cook and bottlewasher duty this week!!!
This is proud father, Mommy and Aunt Christi. Big Sister Macy was pretty excited, too!


Needless to say, not much else being accomplished around here. I did finally finish my Basket of Flowers Wallhanging, which was a group project from my Yahoo PrimFolkApplique Group. I am pleased with how it turned out. It is IMA'ed and machine quilted. It was my first try at anything besides stippling and straight stitching machine quilting, so it was quite a challenge

This is the baby afghan I crocheted for little Jackson. It is a pale blue/white variegated yarn. Hard to tell in the photo

All for now.........got to go shower and head over to help the new mom celebrate her 35th birthday!!!

It's Been A Long, Long Time...............

Since I last posted. The past month has been a whirlwind. Five of our six grandchildren have had birthdays since the first of April, along with my stepson, sister and myself and several good friends. Then, there was Easter, Mother's Day and two baby showers for Ashley........oh, and Little League Baseball games, a party in the park for Macy. And life.......... Guess it is busy like this for most folks. This has just been a particularly busy time for me.

This is a photo of Macy in some of her birthday finery. She loves to dress up.

I was able to finish Ashley's baby quilt. The pattern is from American Patchwork and Quilting (not the current issue, but the one prior to that). I took some liberties and made it a little more whimsical. It turned out a bit larger than I had thought, but Baby Boy Horne will be able to use it a little longer this way. It is fused, machine buttonhole appliqued and machine quilted by me. I used some sharper lines on my meandering to better suit the shapes of the birds. I also made matching burp cloths for the baby from some of the fabrics, along with a few others. Some of them will get monogrammed when we are sure of the baby's name.

Our hard work in the yard last year has paid off with some beautiful blooms this year. It certainly hasn't hurt that we have had rain instead of the past two years' drought. This is a clematis that I planted last year. The blooms are incredible. They just continue to open up more and more each day. Of course, I can't remember its name and I am too lazy to research it. At any rate, I think it is spectacular!!!

More later........hopefully not as later as previously :-)

Jennie

Best wishes...........

to Danny and Betty!!! After 22 years of marriage they are being blessed with a baby boy. They are coworkers, and yesterday we honored them with a baby shower at work. They got lots of nice gifts and the food was delicious. We continue to keep Betty, Danny and their baby boy in our prayers.

Last night I glued up this pillow from Blackbird Designs' new book, "When the Cold Wind Blows". It was a kit (pictured here....wish it was mine, already finished and nicely made into a pillow) from The Quilted Crow. I really like it and have the perfect place for it in my house. Being said, this is unusual, because more often, I just make things because I like them.....not because I want them for a special place in my home. Or, I make them for a gift.

BBDs are my favorite designers. I love nearly everything they do, and they are very prolific. There are lots of their designs on my quilting, hooking and xstitch "To Do" lists. One of the new favorites of my online prim applique quilting group is in "When the Cold Wind Blows" and is called "Trick or Treat". It consists of 200+ tiny (like 5")appliqued baskets. I have gotten a bunch of them prepped and in my "To Go" bag (a worm bag from Bass Pro Shop), as they work up really quickly and are great to take with you. Four are now finished......I will try to post pics over the w/e. I am sure I will never finish over 200, but I will work on them until I tire, and then they will become something. And I will have used up a little more stash.

I only lack one side of the binding on Dick and Jane....and the label. Hopefully that will be counted off tonight. DH is also going by the frame shop today to pick up a xstitch and a hooked piece that I had framed, so that will be two more finishes. Finally, some progress.

Looks like we are heading into rain and cooler weather this w/e. I was really hoping for sunshine on Saturday since we are having a family fishfry...........

Later

Spring is just around the corner..............

Here in Georgia you couldn't ask for any nicer weather.......in the 70s and 80s with plenty of sunshine. Of course, we will have some more cool days, but Spring is just around the corner. There are green shoots springing up all over our yard. It was even nice enough to sit on the porch yesterday after work and stitch on the binding of the Dick and Jane quilt that I started back in 2007. Hopefully I will finish it tonight..........it needs a gentle washing before I pass it on to DD#2, who has already asked for it. I expect it will become DGD's TV quilt. Seems appropriate for this daughter to have it, as she is an elementary school teacher. I made it on a whim......saw the kit all packaged up in a cute little lunchbox in the LQS and the nostalgia hit me dead in the face. I was in first grade all over again.



My pretty purple pansies and chives are beginning to perk up, and the johnny jump ups are filling in the planter. Hard to believe that in a couple of months the heat will overwhelm them. But, I do love their perky little faces, and it is always worth replanting them every year.


I have also made a little hairbow hanger and altered some valances for DGD's "Big Girl Room" this week. They are getting ready for a baby brother in June.

Hoping to get some stitching done over the w/e. Saturday will probably be a bust, as we are having a family fish fry at our house. Maybe Sunday afternoon and Monday........no plans for those days so far. I will keep my fingers crossed.

See you later................

Where has this week gone????

Of course, the snow at the first of the week is old news now, but I will still post my snow pictures as I don't have anymore at the moment. These were made at our dear friend and hostess's house on Sunday night.......Nancy, Kathie and me. The snow was beautiful, but glad it only happens occasionally down here in the South.


I had intended to make wonderful photos at our hooking w/s over last w/e, but the snow seemed to dash away all of my good intentions. We didn't even get to the w/s on Monday and had to leave early on Sunday. At least I got my floor runner color planned and made a nice dent in it. Jeanne Benjamin is a great teacher and I enjoyed every minute I got to spend in the w/s. Will make some photos of the runner this w/e.

I hope to have a finish by the end of the weekend. Dick and Jane is quilted and ready for the binding to be handsewn. Whew!!! I started this one at the end of 2007!! It will go to DD#2, who is an elementary school teacher. I will photograph it when it is done.

My finishes are coming along much more slowly than I had hoped, but I am getting there nonetheless.....wherever there is :-). I will have two more to count as soon as they come home from the framer. Sweet!!

Later,
Jennie

This was their 13th!!

DD#1 and her hubby have been married 13 years today. They married after college, but started dating in high school. They are bright, successful and wonderful young people. They make a mother proud.

Tonight they went out to eat and grandson and granddaughter spent the evening with us. We played The Game of Life and ate dinner...........time was gone before we knew it. It is a school night, after all.

Typical big brother and little sister poses here:

I have been thinking about what I should give up for Lent..............I think that I will give up french fries. They are my favorite food...........along with shrimp. Not exactly health food, but I love them! And I think you should give up something you will really miss. Makes you think.

The past few days I have been perusing lots of blogs. The talent out there is amazing. I belong to a primitive applique group on Yahoo...........those ladies are among the most talented quilters I have ever come across. And, talk about productive.......... Really encourages me to want to do more and do it better. The internet can be a wonderful thing!! I am thankful for all of the friends I have made over the years through my internet groups.

Time to get a nice bubblebath and do a little reading................

This is the reason...........

I didn't get any stitching done this afternoon. It is okay...........it was worth it!!! I can't believe she is almost three.

This w/e I did get my second Bunnyhill BOM done. I don't think that these little patterns could be any cuter. And you can't beat free.

I missed Guild tonight because DD#2 had to make an unexpected trip to the doctor in Atlanta this afternoon.........the reason I babysat. All is well, and that is a good thing. I have missed Guild far too often lately. Seems something is always coming up.....I miss the fellowship.

I had started quilting on the Dick and Jane quilt that I started in 2007 when I got the call to babysit. Hope to get it done soon. Won't be this week, though. Too many things going on.............

This w/e is my Hooking Workshop in Watkinsville with Jeanne Benjamin. I am really looking forward to that, even though I don't need to start another project. The project that I will be working on is an original design...........a runner that I designed in a Susan Feller w/s. It will be fun to see it come to life. And it is not huge, so I should get allot done on it in the three days.

Better go get organized...........tomorrow is a work day.

Weekend!!

I am so glad that the w/e is here. It has been a long week, and I am ready for a weekend to do my own thing. The weather here is nippy, but gorgeous..........sun shining, gentle wind. The birds are busy at the feeders and the dogs are underfoot. It can't get much better, huh?

We had a great w/e flea marketing last w/e, and, of course, I came away with stuff. That's what you are supposed to do, right? Who could possibly resist that sad-eyed little "Japan" dog. And the sweet McCoy bird and Japan S&P are perfect for the basement. Have to decorate it, you know. Then there was this lovely little planter with a wispy trailing plant (I forgot to ask the name) that the lady assured me had very low light requirements. It is perfect on my kitchen island. Hope she was right about the light. Isn't the bird on the mini arbor too cute? I am obviously into birds....................

And this great ceiling tile, nicely rusted, perfectly matches my basement cabinets. And the Victorian dog print. Oh, my heart, I adore the old dog prints. Reasonable, too, with a nice frame. All in all, quite a successful day!!

On the home front, I whipped out a little Valentine kitchen towel. Nothing great, but cheerful and finished.

Last night was my Sew Crazy Stitching group. We started out doing Crazy Quilt, but now we just do whatever, eat and enjoy one another's company. I took my Primitive Gathering block and did some of the buttonhole stitching.

I have been fretting this week over the number of projects I have........both started and not. My Prim group on Yahoo assures me that I am not abnormal, and that helps. But the leader proposed a plan that was issued by a quilt shop involving working on ten projects, no more than three hours at a time. Sounded interesting and would work with my crafter's ADD . Think I will have to look that one over in more depth and see if it might work for me! For now, it is a nice shower and then to the sewing room to have fun!

Hope all have a lovely w/e wherever you are.

Friday the 13th.........

Fortunately, I am not superstitious. My family is travelling today. DD#1 and her family just called to say that they have arrived safely in Colorado for their winter ski vacation. DD#2 and her family will be leaving in a couple of hours for Disneyworld. I trust that they will be blessed with safe journeys.

The little doggies went yesterday for their haircuts. They always return exhausted, but looking and smelling ever so much better!!Looks like their Dad is pretty worn out, too...............

Finally finished putting the borders on my 2007 SS Sampler. Now it needs a backing and to be quilted. I got a new book this week: Foolproof Machine Quilting by Mary Mashuta. It has lots of techniques and ideas for quilting with your walking foot that are template free. That is pretty appealing to me. I have a smaller quilt I want to try it on, then maybe on to something larger, like this one. I have a Pfaff Grand Quilter machine in a cabinet and think that it would work well with these techniques. I haven't had a chance to use it much, as I bought it just prior to the Big Move. DH bought me a really nice Horn cabinet for it for Christmas, so I am ready to get started.

I am trying really hard to keep up with my quilting BOMs. Only three, sounds easy, huh? Maybe, if I didn't have so many irons in the fire. At any rate, I am done with Hatched & Patched #1 and Bunnyhill #1. This is my start for Primitive Garden (which I love). I only lack part of the buttonhole stitching on it. I had to wait to get some Steam a Seam 2 Lite in the mail before I could get it fused. It is wool on cotton, and that particular fusible works really well with it. Sorry, I should've cropped that photo, but, oh well............. I got notice that the second blocks of Hatched & Patched and Primitive Garden have shipped, so I had better get busy. I also have a baby afghan to crochet for DD#2's little boy, who is due in June. And a rug class with Jeanne Benjamin in Athens the end of February. And all of the UFOs and PIGs!!!!

FOCUS!!!!

My sister and niece are coming up for the w/e and we are going to Scott's Antique Market in Atlanta tomorrow. Should be a fun day of plunking around.......even if it does rain!

Have a great w/e.............

This too cute BOM is from Primitive Gatherings and is called Basket of Blooms. The quilt is Hatched & Patched by Anni Downs, one of those incredibly talented Australian girls. It is cotton and I used IMA for the basket block. It was the first I had done in awhile, and all of those little pieces of freezer paper were a real pain to remove. I am going to have to try the starch on templar plastic method that Jo Morton recommends. Just have to order some Templar plastic.

The w/e was lovely here...........time spent working in the yard a little, and best of all, sitting on the backporch. Someone sent one of those internet getting to know you questionnaires around the other day. One of the questions was "where would you like to be if you could be anywhere right now?". My answer, hands down, is my back porch. I will post a photo of it soon!

Off to bed for now.................

This is the reason................

I am feeling more successful in my approach to projects:

My nicely organized, new sewing room "studio". It is so good to
finally, after a year, have all of my things unpacked (well, almost
all......I have to admit, that I am still working on getting a few things organized) and within my reach. It was a little shocking to realize how many things I actually have that are UFOs, and even more that are PIGS!!! And most of them are actually things that I still like and want to finish/work on. I am just not ready to turn them loose yet.......even though there are a few things that, when finished I am sure will become charity quilts. I still feel inclined to finish them. We'll see what happens. At any rate, I feel so fortunate to finally have a wonderful place to work on my projects. Sure makes it easier to be able to put my hands on what I need! I really have no more excuses to not "Just Do It".


DH has a nice "Library" adjacent to my sewing area. He is able to do his genealogy research there while I am busy stitching. We also have a family room, kitchen, dining area and bath in this basement area. It was more than worth the wait to get it done. Now, to get it decorated and furnished.......no hurry for that, though. It will get done when it gets done.

Later.................

See the little item in the sidebar.......Blogging without Guilt. That has got to be me. Two posts, good intentions, nothing since November. Alas, no guilt it will be.


Like so many others, I have joined in the wildly popular, free Bunnyhill BOM. Like I need another project.....even a little bitty one. But, it was so cute I just couldn't resist. I did fusible with machine buttonhole applique. The snowbuddy is wool.






This is my January hooking class with esteemed hooking teacher, Eric Sandberg. We had so much fun that day!! We met at my friend, Kathie Meyers' shop, The Woolen Rooster (inside Collectors' Corner ). I am working on a huge rug, a reproduction of an antique for which Eric drew the pattern . I will probably finish it in 2025!!! In the meantime, I am working on some other hooking projects that can be finished more quickly...need a little "finish gratification" along the way.
The pretty little basket is "Page's Posies" by the wonderful and talented, aforementioned, Kathie Meyers. I am planning to frame it for my powder room. The other is "Lisa's Geometric" by The Potted Pear......this rug was done completely from my worm bags and was started in a Hit or Miss class that Eric did awhile back. I only need to sew the binding on .......Yeah, so what am I waiting for?????





This is my Second Saturday Sampler 2007 quilt from Little Quilts. I was
behind 3 blocks on it, and since the first of the year, I finished those and
got the setting done. Now I only lack the borders, and quilting of course. The borders are cut and I plan to get them on this w/e.



I also finished up this cute little Pat Sloan
Holly Tabletopper. It was in Create 'n Decorate a couple of years ago. I only lacked the binding for goodness sakes!!!! I fused, machine buttonholed and Big Stitched this one. I used wool batting, and despite most people raving over it, I didn't particularly care for it.

Next post I will try to show you why I am finally making some progress on my projects!!!

The party's over

Spent the day cooking and cleaning house. We celebrated SIL's 34th birthday at our house tonight. It is our family tradition for me to cook the chosen dinner and cake of the birthday celebrant, so tonight was Matt's night. Here is a photo of he and Ashley:

And one of Matt blowing out his candles:

And one of granddaughter, Sara Ashley, helping him celebrate:

Tomorrow Blake and I will go to Sara Ashley's school for their Thanksgiving celebration and grandparents' day.

We are off the remainder of the week, and though it will be very busy, I am really looking forward to not having to go to work for a few days.