April 365 Photo Challenge: Week 4

Once again, I managed to complete this week's photo challenge despite a few days of thinking that I would bail! Here are my pictures and the prompts that spurred them...

Morning Light While I missed the sunrise, I managed to get some great silhouettes...

Mobile Janie's handsome steed is a fun way to travel...

Spotlight Birthday cupcakes for a sweet four year old...

Strut Five and six year olds huddle on the soccer field...

Fresh A brand new humming bird feeder waits for it's first diner...

On the Ground Pasture grass wet with dew looks covered in jewels...

The Price I didn't buy one, but I wanted to...

Sunday Morning

"Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,

and establish the work of our hands upon us;

yes, establish the work of our hands!"

Psalm 90:17 ESV

Friday Finish...Sort Of

Last summer, my good friend and fellow quilter, Vicki, suggested that we make the Good Fortune quilt together. We agreed to only sew on it when we could do so together. Between chatting, drinking coffee, eating and shopping, our sewing days weren't always  as productive as they could have been....but we've sure had some good times!

 This week, during our stitching day, we managed to add the final white border to our quilt tops.(Before lunch out and some shopping for our next project!) Here's Vicki's version using pretty soft pastels. I love it so!

I chose Flea Market Fancy for my version.

The colors in our quilts are similar and compliment each other, just like good friends. I'm going to call my quilt, Fortunate Friends!

Now to decide on binding and backing while I think about how I will quilt my top. 
Thanks for stopping by.....Hope you have a great weekend!

April 365 Photo Challenge: Week 3

Thanks for stopping by to view my week in photos as I seek to snap a picture every day in 2013. The photo prompts this week led me to books and the outdoors, both subjects that I enjoy.

April Showers One evening, as I was cleaning up the kitchen, I happened to catch a glimpse of this beautiful painterly sky, thick with rain. Can you spot the moon?

Passed Down This family Bible is over one hundred years old, passed down from generations of my husband's family. I keep a gold ribbon tied around it for stability.

A Bow Serendipity!

Blooming I'm fortunate to live just a couple of minutes from one of the best garden nurseries in the Kansas City area. This time of year, it's a favorite spot of mine!

A Touch of Yellow Maelie spent a couple of days with me last week. She's growing up so fast...a fourth birthday this week!

On the Edge Pink hibiscus...freshly watered...summer soon. 

A Pile The books pile up on my bedside table no matter how hard I try to keep it from happening. No wonder I dream about quilts, huh?

Hope you are taking the time each day to notice the little things.

Weekend Doodles

A little "fun" sewing this weekend:

Ten cutie patootie churn dash blocks to add to my Mid-Century Modern Bee quilt...

a jump start on my newest leader/ender quilt...

two more little kaffe skirts for my grand daughters...

Maelie even modeled hers for you...

She and I had fun picking out a plant for her mommy at the garden center.

And Lula modeled the rocking chair pads that I recently covered for her baby sister's nursery...

...while I got some new ideas for future machine quilting.

What did you sew over the weekend?

Sunday Morning

" When the cares of my heart are many,

your consolations cheer my soul."

Psalm 94:19 ESV

April 365 Photo Challenge: Week 2

The calendar might be turned to April, but the weather here in the midwest is still trying to decide to get off the 'winter fence'. I'm focusing on the few springlike days we've had so far...

 White Pear trees are in full glorious bloom! They remind me of bridal bouquets.

 Sprouts My peonies are pushing out of the grey ground with promise of color to come. 

Mail Every time I pass this mailbox I wonder how many cuss words the mailman said while trying to deliver their mail!

 A Sign The word above the entrance to this home needs no explanation. 

 Overgrown Grape hyacinth is taking over more of our lawn every year.

A Fence These three cute goats look comfy, don't they?

A feature A prompt for another self portrait (my least favorite photo subject) led me to include this picture of my hair and freckles. (Thanks goes to my grandson, Oliver, for help with this photo.)

Thanks for stopping by and flipping through this week's album. I'm still having fun with this challenge!

Balm Sewing

Today, I spent an enjoyable few hours making my April blocks for The Mid-Century Modern Bee.

My favorite radio station was playing in the background as I sewed. When news about the  tragic explosions at the Boston Marathon filled the waves, I was glad that I had already chosen to use a text print inscribed with the US Pledge of Allegiance.

This little pink churn dash is probably my favorite of the four that I completed as I love all of the prints included. Isn't that little sewing machine just so cute!

The four six-inch blocks will be going to Carla in Canada. If you aren't familiar with her blog, Grace and Favour, be sure to visit but be prepared to stay awhile looking at all of her pretty quilts!

I also ran my Ambrosia quilt through the washer and dryer to get that crinkly look. It turned out just as cuddly as I had hoped that it would!

 One downside of not pre-washing my fabrics is seeing more shrinkage in the finished product... unless, like me, you like that look. Here's a photo of the quilt before washing. You can see that the quilting design stands out more on the top of the quilt.

Working with colorful fabrics is balm to me, especially on gloomy days like today. Join me in praying for those in Boston.

Sunday Morning

"{God} gives more grace. Therefore He says:

"God resists the proud, buy gives grace

to the humble."...Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord, and He will

lift you up." James 4:6, 10 NKJV

My Finish-A-Long Quarter 2 Project List

Leanne is hosting a Finish-a-Long to help all of us with Quilting ADD to maybe get more of our UFOs out of the closet and onto beds. Since I only finished 3 of the 9 projects on my first quarter's list, I figured maybe I should dial it back a bit! Here's my list for the second quarter; all but one are held over from the first quarter:

1. X-Block Quilt: I only have 7 more blocks to make and this quilt will be ready to set together. It is the oldest UFO on this quarter's project list. Most of the blocks were pieced by members of The KC Scrappy Bee in 2011.

2. Mazed: All of the blocks have been made, so once I get them set together I can get onto the quilting stage.

3. Great Granny Square Quilt: I only need to make 2 more blocks (which are already cut out) for this Quilt A-Long project made with Bee in My Bonnet last year. I'd like to have it finished for Independence Day.

4. Flea Market Fancy Jelly Roll Quilt: This one has been pieced for exactly one year and is ready to quilt and enjoy!

5. Good Fortune Quilt: Another quilt using Flea Market Fancy, all this one needs is a border and quilting.

6. Farmer's Wife Quilt: Oh, how I hope that this one is finished during this quarter! It's the only one that you didn't see on my last list. Because I wasn't crazy about the background quilting, I removed it over the last few months. It's back in the hands of the professional quilter now. I am counting on getting it back soon so that I can get it bound.
I am sure that I have more time invested in this quilt than any other I've ever made!

Not officially part of my UFO list, the birth of my eighth grand baby has been very much anticipated! Little Whatshername finally arrived on Monday evening! Here's a 3 generation picture of me with my daughter, Megan, and her three darling daughters, Lula, Jane and baby Pearl Violet. I don't think anyone guessed her name, but isn't it sweet? I knew it would be another vintage name! (Oh, and in case you are wondering, Pearl isn't red haired like the rest of us.)

 I'm crazy about these ladies!