Summer Summer Summer

I've had a very nice summer so far.  However, every now and then, I catch myself looking at sweaters and boots with a longing for fall. What a shame!

At the end of July, we had our 2nd Annual Chica's Weekend.  Denise of My Whittle Adventures and Regena of The Distracted Domestic drove down to visit with Karen of Sew Much 2 Luv and I.

 We saw some amazing quilts at the festival.  We also had several friends join us - Sam, Oma, and Marcia - it was a great day!



 We spent a day at the International Quilt Festival and a day sewing on our swap blocks.  We bought the charm packs last year at the IQF.





Then I had a business trip to Iowa and I found this little quilt shop that I had to stop in to see.  Found room in the suitcase for all my goodies.


Sam, recommended I visit Country Threads shop in Iowa when I was there, but it was too far, so I ordered online of course!.  I bought this quilt pattern called America's Quilt

Then yesterday, it was HOT, and I mean HOT for around our parts.  Too hot to garden or do much, so I stayed in and sewed. This is my version of the America's Quilt.  Earth tones, to go in our master bedroom.  Not so patriotic now, but in person the colors really do blend really well.

Not so much sewing going on lately

I've been so busy with work trips, working out with a trainer, Junior League and just keeping our house running somewhat smoothly that I just haven't had time for any fun stuff.


Last weekend, one of my co-workers invited me to visit the beach house his family rented for the week.  So I went down for a day and spent a long day at the Jersey shore with them.  The beach was so much easier than Southern California beaches, soft powdery sand, no 100 meter trek to get to the water and everyone was so friendly!  I love the dunes and salt grass.





I was able to get a nice long beach run in before I left for New York.



Every half hour or so, someone rings a bell to announce that the ice cream truck is there so you can walk up and get a water ice (their version of a sno-cone).



Then once I was in New York, we had a customer event for several days and one night we had a reception on the roof of the hotel and had these wonderful views.



You can see the new Freedom Tower 1 being built in that one.

One night we had a dinner cruise on the Hudson river and I was able to snap this shot of the US flag with Lady Liberty in the back ground.  Makes me proud to be an American.

I love finishing a project

The great nephew's quilt is finished.  The binding was a challenge, which is interesting, because usually it is the easiest part for me...Go Figure!

I do love this quilt and the hubs says it's the nicest one I've ever made.  I hope lil' Gaige likes it.


I know I was only able to finish it because I went to Karen's (from Sew Much 2 Luv) Sewing Day at her church on Saturday!  What a fun time with all the great ladies there - *wave* to Marcia!

Karen was retrofitting a bunch of dinosaurs while I was there.  Aren't they amazing?

A few weeks back, I went to Chicago and was able to visit this great beach.


Don't you just want to be there right now?

Living Life

one day at a time.  Sounds like an ol' country song, but lately, that's what I've been doing.  Work is busy, which is good.  Came in this morning to lovely bottle of wine on my desk.  I found out that it was carried back from Switzerland by one of my colleagues from one of our colleagues at our headquarters for me.! Score! The lady that sent it is one of the few female managers in our company, and someone I've always admired.  Over the years, I've taken her several different California wines to try and she sent me this one from Switzerland.



Over the weekend, the hubs was home and on Saturday he treated me to some tasty frozen drinks! nice nap afterwards too.  Not sure which one I needed more.

 

I say this little funny on Facebook and it really does sum up how I feel about things today.


Last week I went to Chicago for a meeting, and took a small road trip to the Lake.  What a lovely spot this was.  Nice end to a long a week and before flying back home.  It is Glencoe beach, Illinois.

Feverishly Stitching

For the last few weeks, I've been working on the quilt for my great nephew.  Lil guy came a few weeks early making me now be a few weeks late with this quilt.  I'm close to finishing the hand quilting but not yet done. I've put in quilt batting and am backing the quilt with swirly brown minky. 



In yesterday's mail, I got some really good things instead of just mail!

I ordered these great pacifier leashes and matching pouch from my friend Karen's Etsy Shop.  These I will send along with the quilt to my great nephew.



Then Karen sent me something for me as a surprise! That girl is crazy and sweet and such an inspiration!

Love it! Thank you so much Karen!


Karen has a tutorial on her blog on how to make these great mug cozzies too!

Sometimes it's good to be Great

or a great aunt that is.  My oldest nephew is having a baby next month.  So of course, I'm way behind schedule on the baby quilt.  That's right I said quilt and not a blanket.  Thought I'd try and stretch myself a little.  A while back my friend Karen and I went to the The Road to California Quilt show and we both picked up this pattern.  She, however, has already made one of these and it's available on her Etsy site for sale.  It's adorable! You should buy it!

Well the nursery my nephew and his girl have planned it kind of a dark moss green with chocolate brown and fleur dis lis (momma is from NOLA).  It's really very pretty and serene.  I was able to get a peak at it when I visited in February.

So here is what I've started and I hope to get it done pretty soon.

Aunt Pitty Pat Spring Mug Rug Swap

I participated in another one of Aunt Pitty Pat's swaps! Her swaps are so much fun.  Here is what I sent.



Plus a few other things like a hummingbird mug, some fat quarters and some quilting pins.

Here is what I got from Janice my partner!  Isn't it adorable?  thank you so much!







Thank you Aunt Pitty Pat for another fun swap!