It's Been a While

I've been absent lately and I'm sorry about that. I feel like there's a lot to catch up on but at the same time nothing much has happened worthy to blog about. Has that ever been the case for you? Probably, I'm sure.

Last month we were gone for a week to Texas to visit my sister and brother-in-law. No pictures were taken as it was such a short trip and we wanted to enjoy the moments with family. Mom sure loves to see her "baby"! Lol We were also taking down a load of stuff that my sister wanted of Mom's. We're trying to shed some of her belongings without acting like her things don't matter. There's just so much that I can keep and, truly! We need to get her house off my shoulders. Unfortunately there's one more load to to take to Texas and maybe a couple more loads to bring up to me. Next step -- getting an estate sale set-up and then sell the house. So much to think about.

We leave later this month to take Mom to her 70th college reunion in Pennsylvania. Can you believe that -- 70 years???? From there we'll visit family in NewYork and then on to see the kids & grandkids in Maryland/Virginia. Let's see if I can remember to snap a picture!

I did have a little project that I started and finished the end of last month. Earlier I'd bought two flannel pieces that were 1.25 yards each. I washed them both, trimmed to make them the same size, rounded the corners and set about to make a baby blanket. Then I sewed both pieces right sides together, leaving an opening to turn right side out. Then I stitched all around 1/8" to secure the opening and then around again 1/4" in. I scrounged around in my yarn stash -- yes, I have fabric AND yarn stashes! -- and found something suitable. I button-holed all around the edges and then just crocheted an easy shell pattern. What do you think of this simple, soft baby project?

Super Soft Flannel Baby Blanket

Close-up of the Flannel and Crocheted Edging

Sneak Peek of the Back

This was also the first Friday of the month meaning time to join in with Friday Night with Friends. I had started a cross stitch project that I really wanted to finish up. The pattern is Rose Garden Mini Sampler offered by Melisa of PinkernPunkin'. I changed some of the colors and I think it's really pretty. Hope to finish it soon.

Where I was Friday Night

Finished this Weekend

This weekend was the 151st Kentucky Derby. Did you watch? It was a great race. I learned on Sunday morning that every horse that ran in the race was a descendant of Secretariat, one of the best race horses ever. I found that fact fascinating!

Mom & I Enjoying Our Hats & Mint Juleps on Derby Day

Close-Up of My Mint Julep & Hat

Hummingbirds have arrived and Mom's azalea and rhododendren bushes are in full bloom. In spite of all the rain we've been getting, I guess Spring has officially sprung!

I took a class last month through my guild. I love the Quick Curve Ruler by Sew Wonderful Curves. It's the ruler that I made all those pineapples! Anyway, we worked on Posh Penelope. So fun!

My Station for Class

Posh Penelope Project with Our Teacher, Norma

My Block

We've also been involved in a complete, total master bath renovation. I'll share pictures of that 3-week project another time. I think this has been more than enough.

I hope you had a good April. Time to pull our Green for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month.

Please don't get too worked up over what the media reports. Have a little confidence in our government leadership and faith in the Almighty. Stitch on!

And Red It Is PLUS a Finish or Two!

Angela has chosen RED as the color for April. We Rainbow Scrap Challengees try to use as much of the monthly color as possible, trying to use up our scraps. Do we really think that will happen? I have to say that some of the participants have actually made dents and that's progress!

I haven't started any red sewing as of yet but I have looked over my possibilities for the Gem Tones. You know what? I've decided not to make any red ones. I just can't get into light, medium, and dark reds. I did play around and found one color combination but I was really struggling with a second block. This hobby of mine is supposed to be fun so I'm opting out of red. Let's see what we can come up with in May.

I do have a finished quilt to share with you though. This quilt pattern was an AccuQuilt pattern by Eleanor Burns called Grandma's Star Quilt. The fabrics were bought when I went on a Shop Hop in Melbourne FL with my friend Vickie. Our husbands were there for a military reunion and we were all there in April 2023 to enjoy memories and past friendships from our Hawaii assignments in the 1980s.

Then in October 2023, Vickie and I joined our friend Sharon at a Kinderhook retreat. Sharon was the instigator that the three of us should make a quilt together, a friendship quilt. We each started working on our quilts at that time together. By the end of retreat, we shared our progress.

Mine (horrible photo)

Vickie's

Sharon's

All versions turned out so pretty. I even like mine now that it's finished. Quilted, washed, and ready for snuggles!

Close ...

Closer ...

Closest!

After I washed it, I folded it up. That's why there are a few wrinkles but, honestly, it lies straight. Maybe I'll fluff it another day and take better "beauty" shots. Yeah, maybe. Anyway, this one finished at a nice 56-1/2" x 69" after all was said and done.

My backing was just a bit shy so I inserted a strip of the orange fabric. Looks so good with the black & white backing fabric I chose.

The back is so pretty!
Love the orange strip with the orange binding.

A couple more pictures to show off the block, the fabrics, and the quilting.

The backing is full of friendship phrases and was the perfect choice for my "friendship" quilt.

Now I'm ready for the next clue of the mystery quilt being offered at my local quilt store. That'll be on Monday. I'm also ready for the next block of The Quilting Life quilt-along which I believe will also drop on Monday. I'm signed up for a class on Wednesday called Posh Peneope. It uses the Sew Wonderful Curve ruler like my pineapples used. I love their projects and I plan on using several pieces of gradient fabric that I think I got from a free table during guild or retreat.

Speaking of class, I forgot to share with you my 4-Pocket Case. I took this class at my local quilt shop and discovered zippers and vinyl are not to be feared! Lol!

4-Pocket Case
Love the Dragonfly Fabric!

Pouch Opened
Two Zippered See-Through Pockets on Top

Two Open Pockets Under the Zippered Pockets
So Convenient!

I'm sure you're wondering about the pattern. Here's a picture of the cover. The one I made was the large size. Someone made the smaller size and it looks very useful too. I'm planning on making one of those also -- another day.

Pattern by Aneela Hoey (#AH116)

Don't you think I've rambled on enough by now? It's rainy here in the Midwest. My rain gauge measured 6-1/2" of rain since Thursday. I emptied it out this morning to see how much more we receive. I can tell you all the docks are underwater around our pond! YIKES! I think it's a good day for sewing.

Have a great weekend. I hope we dry out soon. Catch all the RSC sewing blogs HERE.

Yellow Ending

This was the last full week of yellow. April 1st starts a new month and that will mean a new color for Rainbow Scrap Challenge. We so appreciate Angela keeping this organized so we will have motivation to sew up our scraps by color each month. Here's what I accomplished this month.

Two Gem Tones blocks in yellow obviously. Here's a look at them with two of their "friends".

Crummy basement picture

Although not on the RSC radar, I did get my units sewn up for the Itch'n to be Stitch'n mystery quilt. It works for this month since I'm using yellow scraps.

I'm off to for a sew day. I'll be sewing down binding and will share my finish before the month ends.

Have a great weekend!

Yellow!

Finally I can join with a yellow post! It's not that I don't love yellow (because I do!). I just haven't sat down with that pile of scraps and here I am going to an all-day class today. So much for yellow today, but that's alright. There's still half a month left to go!

All packed & ready to go with a bit of yellow

I have joined in with a mystery quilt at my LQS. Of course I jumped all in to make the queen-sized one! Ha! Because I missed the February meeting, this month I picked up Feb & March clues. I also needed to decide how I wanted to proceed -- go all-in scrappy or maybe one-color scrappy. In the end, Fred helped me to decide with one-color: yellow. Doesn't that work out nicely for March's RSC color!

March Clue just about finished
January Clue seen upper left

Three out of ten sets done for February Clue

Bits & pieces waiting for a trim

So glad I got to play with a little yellow this month. Hopefully I can sew a bit more this last half of March.

Have a great weekend. Hopefully last night's major storm (complete with hail) left my neighbors and friends unscathed. It was a rough one, for sure! I'll be linking up with Angela at SoScrappy as soon as I return from my class this afternoon.

I Like Thursday #172

Welcome to my I Like Thursday post. This is where a group of us share things that have recently made us happy, gave us a smile, and/or just puts a positive spin on day-to-day life. After reading my I Like blog, please visit the others over HERE where LeeAnna rounds us up. OK? Got it? Let's go!

Last Thursday was the first Thursday of the month and that meant the three of us were headed over to the Senior Center for our monthly luncheon. March once again brought us the Irish dancers. Between performances, we were also entertained with Irish ballads.

Corned beef, cabbage, mashed potatoes, roll, and a fruit cup
Fancy cupcakes for dessert!

My west-facing dining room window is loaded with beauty. Three of the amaryllis plants are blooming!

Two of the blooming plants

See the other buds coming?

This starry-faced beauty is called Minerva

Hadeco was the first to start blooming
It's an orangy red

Meet Bolero who started blooming this week
She's a pinky-red

There is one other amaryllis in "the collection" that has a bud shooting up. I lost the tag so I have no idea what the name of it is but I'll bet it's pretty!

And speaking of flowers, Spring has started springing up in the yard!

Blooming purple & white crocuses

Twinkly purple crocus

The promise of my biggest show of hyacinths to come!

Flowers were not the only things making appearances in and out of the house. Look who stopped by for a visit!

I finished "The Quality of Silence". It really stretched out too long. I'd give it a 6 out of 10 stars so don't drop everything to read this one. I picked up my next book which was a recommendation from my daughter. Her book club read it. I'm about 70 pages in and it's interesting so far. This is a true story. Read about it HERE.

"Agent Sonya: Moscow's Most Daring Wartime Spy"
by Ben Mcintyre

In the kitchen this week, I made a strawberry pie for Fred. He loves pies! I followed this recipe since I've made it every Spring for years and it's a winner. Sorry no picture.

With St. Patrick's Day coming up soon, I'll be making Ina Garten's Irish Soda Bread. It is also a winner and I've made it in the past. Mom loves this one with a subtle taste of orange in the background. I don't use the called-for currants and instead substitute raisins. Scrumptious!

I hope you're still with me because I saved the best for last. Our family is growing! My niece announced that she and her husband are expecting a baby later this year!!!

We are all so happy and can't wait for the baby's arrival. Our family feels so blessed!

I hope you all have a blessed week and are able to keep a positive attitude. There are plenty of things around to appreciate ... sometimes you just have to look!

Thank you, LeeAnna, for continuing to host this weekly post where we can remind ourselves and others that sometimes you sometimes have to actually look around to find appreciable things.

Lucky For Me

Do I have a Rainbow Scrap Challenge finish for blue February? Nope. Did I start on RSC yellow March? Nope. But if you put blue and yellow together, you get green and I DO have a green finish!

Quite a few years ago, my friend gave me a Riley Blake Designs kit, may have been for my birthday. I loved it even though it got put on the back burner for a while. The pattern is copyrighted for 2020 to give an idea of "a while ago". I decided it was time I put it together for St. Patrick's Day. What do you think?

It is quite large at 20" x 20". Mine actually ended up being a little smaller, probably closer to 19" x 19". I stuffed it with a 22" pillow form to really fill it out.

Pretty much fills up my rocking chair!

Checking the weather ...

Getting a little sunshine showed off its true colors!

Now to dig into yellow for the merry, merry month of March(?)! Have a great weekend!

I'll bet there's plenty of blue scraps that made it to blocks and maybe even into quilts! I'm heading over to Angela's blog SoScrappy as soon as I get this posted!