Sweetie in one of her many moods. This is how I felt today after working on the following scenes. Jim helped me put up a new drapery rod (ok, Joe and Shannon and Megann stopped by and Joe helped him while I watched) then we hung the new curtains. I want to add larger red bows to them for the holidays.

The Christmas tree afghan on the glider is one I made many years ago. It has become one of my favorite Christmas decorations.
In addition to our stockings, I decided to hang the ones Judy and I made for Mom and Dad before they left us. The stockings are so pretty and I think they should be seen and admired by all of us. Plus, it makes me feel close to them.

The Nativity scene quilt is one I made a few years ago. I had it hanging at the shop last year but I decided to leave it at home. I have it hanging with push pins (I know, a no-no!) but I haven't added a sleeve. I have the perfect quilt rod that I want to hang in my "studio" and will be able to change quilts when I get the urge.

I've been working on a few Christmas gifts so I can't post pics of my projects yet. Must get back to my sewing machine....

Just chillin'

With Nani's iPad! Chillin' is right because it snowed yesterday. Nothing to write home about, but it sure was pretty while it was falling. Although, it must've just snowed at Rob and April's because Jim said it didn't snow a "flake" at our house! Just 5 minutes away and the weather can be so different.

iPad fun

I'm writing this from my new iPad. Still so much to learn! Sweetie has enjoyed playing "monkeys" and seems to think it's her new toy lol. I couldn't wait to show it to her.

It snowed earlier for a little bit. Was so pretty but I'm glad it has stopped. When I figure out how to upload pictures here I'll try it. Time for K's nap. Maybe for me, too!

A whole month later....

It's October and Jack O'lantern time! Jack has his little light shining at the shop. Although, today he has a new home since a friend decided he needed to go home with her. You can always call me for your own Jack!
This smiling Jackie is a fabric postcard, believe it or don't! I've been involved in a fabric postcard swap and the ones you see here are just a few of those that I mailed out this week. I hope their recipients enjoy them.




What would a blog post be without a picture or two of Sweetie? Here she is in front of some furry boas on display at Hobby Lobby. In the last picture, she is not in time out, I promise. Well, at least not this time. lol We were headed out the door and I couldn't resist catching her on camera.

A peaceful Sunday

Sweetie spent the night with us last night and she was a very good girl. She did cry a bit at bedtime but that's normal. She slept all by herself, like a big girl, in her own room. About 9:30 this morning I heard a soft little voice saying, "Nanneeee, Nanneee" over and over again. No urgency in her voice, just saying my name. It almost sounded as though she was saying it to herself.
I took these pictures of Sweetie last week when we were here for the day on Tuesday. I love her little fingers holding the "flower". She wasn't being punished in the picture where she's sitting. She looks like she's lost her last friend, though. The camera just happened to capture her expression at that exact moment. The very next second she probably threw up her hands and jumped up to run in the grass. She is non stop these days. Keeps her Papaw on the go.
One more little quilt for the day. A co-worker has a new great grandbaby girl and it's a perfect excuse to build another quilt! lol I can't wait to get this one quilted. It's such a soft, pastel color along with the white. It'll be perfect for a little girl.

Hope everyone had a perfect Sunday. Jim is watching the Cowboys. The season has begun!

Is it Fall yet?

It has been almost a month since I last posted. Jim asked, "Why?" "Well", I said. "I haven't finished anything I want to share!" And, I've been lazy about writing, truth be told. I want to apologize to those of you not on Facebook. I have been posting pictures there since I'm not expected to write a whole lot. So, I thought I'd update here.

Labor Day weekend has been spent working on several different projects. The pink, green and blue quilt and the circle quilt were both finished last week.
The green, blue and dotted baby quilt was easy enough to do. I finished the top in one day and quilted it the next.

I'd had the cloth book kit in a drawer for a while now so I decided to put it together. Easy enough and since Sweetie loves books, I couldn't wait to make it for her.
Speaking of Sweetie, see her peeking out from behind the couch cushions? She loves to play with her Nani Veronica.

She loves her Ross, too. Her monkey goes with her everywhere these days. We had a coloring session after lunch and before naptime. If one crayon works, two work better! lol
Last, but not least, check out Robert and Jim in front of the backyard shed they built over the Labor Day weekend! Not too shabby, fellas! I've said it before and I'll say it again...I'm proud of you!

I hope everyone had a peaceful and safe weekend.

Stormy morning

Woke up to pouring rain, thunder and wind this morning. Except for the wind, it sounded beautiful. Would've been nice to stay in bed. But, I've got to get going to go see Sweetie!

I spent the better part of yesterday, Sunday, working on this little quilt. I already had the top done so all it needed was quilting. The binding is nearly done since I stayed up until almost midnight trying to get it finished. Jim says I'm like a dog with a bone when I get started with something. LOL This is a comfort quilt for a little girl and I've got another one started for her sister.

I am sad today. One of our dear online quilting friends departed from this world yesterday. I didn't know Charla in person, but grew to know her through her fun, entertaining posts on Quilts on Review and facebook. We'll miss you, Charla!

Catching up

How long has it been? A month? I can't remember and I forgot to check the date of my last post before I started this one. So, here's one of my favorite pictures of K and her mama. I took this at dinner last week at Cotton Patch. They were wearing matching colored tops. I had to document that, lol. April, I hope you don't mind that I blogged your picture.

And, here it is! The badge/patch quilt is just nearly finished! It only needs binding and it will be done. And, it only took me 8 months! LOL Well, the actual construction only took about two months, off and on, spread out over the eight months. I hope the recipient enjoys it.

I'm almost finished with a prayer shawl for....me! Yup, I decided to make me a shawl. This one is knitted so it's taken me a lot longer than the crocheted shawls took. I'll have a picture soon so maybe it won't take me so long to blog again.

7:15 on a Saturday morning

I watched an episode of House last night. For those of you that don't follow that series, it's about a doctor (a diagnostician) who is SO smart. I only wish every doctor had the mad skills this doc has! lol I know, I know, he only plays a doctor on television. Anyway, in the episode I watched last night, (catching up on my DVR recordings) a woman was admitted to the hospital with strange symptoms, as usual. This woman, however, was an addicted blogger. Every move she made was posted for her blogging fans to read and comment on. Even when she had to decide whether to have a pig valve or plastic valve to help her ailing heart she asked her followers to comment to help her decide. Needless to say, her husband was furious with her addiction.

I only relate the previous story to let you know that I am not that diligent about writing about every move I make. Somehow, I don't feel that those of you that read my blog want to hear EVERYTHING. Am I right? So, I will continue to share a pic or two of my K (henceforth to be known as "Sweetie") and pictures of those projects I finish if I remember to photograph them before they go to their respective owners. Case in point..The following is a prayer shawl made for the sweet Angela, my sister's good friend who helped her move. Angela had the misfortune to be at the wrong place at the right time and was involved in a motor vehicle accident. She had to have many stitches on her beautiful face and in her mouth. Luckily, she was in her big honker of a pickup truck and was wearing her seatbelt so things could've possibly been much worse. The truck was totalled. Please keep her in your prayers that she heal quickly. The name of the color of the yarn I used is "chili". LOL. Judy says that's very appropriate for Miss Angela.

And, of course, here is our Sweetie! This is her favorite position to watch a little TV. When she's not on the floor. If you click on the picture you can see the crocheted "belt" I made her on the run. Her britches were not staying on those slim hips of hers so I fixed it. Her most recent word - DOE! Meaning "go!" Ready, set, DOE! Cracks me up every time to hear that little voice say that. Also rhymes with "NO" which she says with regularity. We have so much fun. Thank You, Lord, for this precious bundle and thank you, Rob and April, for giving me the opportunity to watch her grow. I love my jobs!

Weekend at Judy's

Here are only two pictures of the living room and a view to the dining room. We got a lot done, but she still needs a lot more done. I didn't take pictures of the rest of the house because we didn't get all of her wall deco up and there are still boxes in some of the rooms.
But, we made sure she had all she needed for the time being. She has been hobbling around on crutches because of fluid on her knee. I made her sit with her legs up the whole time we were there. Rob and April were a pair of awesome (and I mean that) work horses! They did SO much and I can't thank them enough.
We had quite a rain here yesterday and I couldn't resist letting K. out to play with the dripping water. She had such a good time. Looking back, I wish I'd let her out in the rain since she got soaked anyway.

Odds and Ends

I made this purse last night to give to one of my Thursday clients. This little lady has carried another purse I made for her for so long now that the handles are fraying. It's nice to see someone enjoying your handiwork so much that it's falling apart! LOL So, I'm going to surprise her with a new one. I took some liberties with the pattern and did not add the outside pockets on this one. I hope she won't miss them.
These are fabric postcards. I will be participating in a swap for the next few months so I've been practicing. The graduation cap went along with a grad gift. Aren't they cute? They're addicting, too. lol As if I needed anything else to occupy my time.
This prayer shawl went to another client who has had a rough month. They were on vacation, actually only the third day out, when she fell and broke her kneecap. They were sent back home for surgery. I gave her the shawl on Saturday when her hubby brought her to the shop. The color is not true in this picture. It's a deep purple and lilac.

Time to get ready for work. I'd rather be quilting!! lol

Stars and Stripes preview

 

I am so glad that K. doesn't mind wearing hats! I've had so much fun making them. This little dress was so easy to make. Many of the patterns call it a "pillowcase" dress. Nancy's Notions website has a video tutorial for the dress. If I wasn't on my way to bed I'd post the link. If anyone is interested and can't seem to find it, email me and I'll point you in the right direction. I'm off to bed. Goodnight.

Judy's new home!

 

I don't have really good pictures of the inside yet since she's only been in two days. Judy and a friend of hers from Albuquerque worked liked crazy women this weekend to get things set up. Of course, it's not all done, but she's home!

30 minute sunhat

While home for a bit today, I decided K. needed another sunhat. Stop laughing. This one actually fits! It's reversible, too. I just couldn't rest until I made one that fits her - now. I simply took a bigger seam allowance. I had to put it together in a flash, hence the 30-minute title, because I didn't want K. to have to sit in the glider too long. I didn't figure she'd want to sit there too long, either.
Bless her heart. We ran to the house because I had some things to do so I thought I'd see how fast I could make the hat. I was bound and determined to make one that fits her from the get-go! She was so good to sit in the glider and watch tv while playing with a golf ball, her shoes and a miniature Betty Boop lunch box filled with Scentsy. She loves to smell Scentsy. Granted, she was probably ready for a nap but she was a very good girl while Granma made her a hat. We're not baby-proofed around here so she needs to stay in view at all times. She only tried to get out of the chair one time.

Father's Day, 2010

Missing my dad like crazy today. But, I'm so glad he's not in pain and is dancing on the clouds with Mom!

Jim and Rob spent the day together on the golf course. Jim left by 6:30 a.m. (yikes!). I slept until 8 then spent the day crocheting and sewing as you can see from the pictures. I made Brittany a crocheted purse. An eleven year old needs lots of purses to carry their "stuff". I made one more little sunhat for K. It's a bit big, but I think once it's washed, it'll be fine. Mama April said she needs one, too, so I threw one together for her once they left to go visit her parents. Nothin' fancy, April, but should keep the sun out of your eyes!

Last, but certainly not least, I made Papaw Jim a cake for Father's day. My cough still lingers but not as bad. Maybe I can sleep tonight. I hope all the fathers out there had a pleasant day and didn't get too tired tending the bar-b-que!

Granddaughter delight!

We were lucky enough to spend some time at the lake this past weekend with Rob, April and K. Here's K. playing in her pool in the trailer's front yard. She was playing with a coaster, I think. Jim and Rob played golf on Saturday. April, K. and I followed the play around the first nine holes. Since it's only a nine hole course, we opted to go back to the cooler trailer while they finished the second nine. After dinner, we chilled and watched a bit of TV until the storm knocked the satellite out more than it was on. Early to bed on Saturday night since we would be up by 5:30 to get out on the boat before the heat set in. We were out until about 11 a.m. then came in. Jim and I decided to come on home since I wasn't feeling my best. Rob's little family stayed the afternoon to do a little more fishing and swimming. Oh, yes, I have bronchitis again. But, we had a good time getting out of Clovis and making memories with K and her parents.
Another memory-making opportunity showed itself this week when Brittany hit town. My oldest granddaughter, she'll be 11 in August, spent the last two nights with us. And, the last two days with K and me. In this picture, B. is modeling a crocheted cell phone carrier I made for her to house her new phone. I'd noticed she kept misplacing it. What 11 year old wouldn't, right? So, she chose the color of the thread, I modified a pattern I found and added the bling "B" and button. She loves it, of course. Bless her heart, she loves everything I ever make for her. She was missing her daddy so he came to pick her up tonight. We'll probably have a few more nights together before she goes home in two weeks.

I hope my meds hurry up and kick in. I've been coughing my head off the last few days. If I continue to have episodes of bronchitis, the doc wants to test to confirm or deny asthma. Especially since the beta blocker for high blood pressure I'm on is not one they prescribe for asthmatics. Since B. is gone tonight, I better plan to turn in early. Busy day at work tomorrow.