Sewing with the Oldies

Last week was super busy with two of my sweet grand daughters visiting and attending Vacation Bible School with me. I forgot that I wasn't still 29 and signed up to lead the 2nd graders. There were over 50 kiddos in that grade alone.... I only had 11 of them, but still! Whew!!

 I'm rested up now and catching up with sewing up some blocks for my mates in the Mid-Century Modern Bee. Sewing for these awesome quilters proves that you don't have to be young to knock out some fabulous modern blocks!

These feathers in orange and aqua with a light grey background were fun to make, but a bit challenging to get to come out the same size. If I ever make this quilt for myself I would probably make the bottom section a little longer so that the blocks could be squared up to a consistent size.

 You can find the pattern here.
I'll be sending them off to Suz in Australia and praying that the mailman doesn't lose them the way he did the fabric she mailed to me in April. I wonder if the package is at the IRS?

Linda of Flourishing Palms chose a fun and easy pattern called Stacked Blocks for us to create in pink and green fabrics from our stashes. 

Kona ash and Kona white fabrics were suggested for the background. She will be using the blocks as a border for a beautiful sampler quilt she created in 2012. You can learn about it here.

 As I was making the blocks I kept remembering a quilt that I made several years ago using the same technique. I used a tutorial from Moda Bake Shop by Freckled Whimsey to make mine.

 Here's my rendition using wider strips. It's a great way to use up scraps.

Meanwhile, I'm cranking up the tunes and will be sewing again today. How about you?

Sunday Morning

"In repentance and rest is your salvation,

in quietness and trust is your strength..."

Isaiah 30:15

June 365 Photo Challenge: Week 1

Summer is my favorite season and June is my favorite month. What fun I had with this week's photo prompts!

Pastoral We have seen lots of rain here in the midwest, making for some beautiful landscapes.

Documented Both of these signs point to the history of the area.

 Converted A pretty bird cage makes an interesting flower container.

Catch Phrase I love the label on my favorite kind of apple.

 Touch of Red The water in this pond was so clear that it was hard to tell that the turtle was even swimming.

Catch Lights are the sparkle in the eyes that make a portrait come alive!

 Dramatic Scene This photo, taken with my husband's phone, is a bit blurry but definitely dramatic! The often dry creek in the front part of our property became a raging river and flooded it's banks this week. Since the fast moving water covered the only way out of our yard, we were happy that it receded pretty quickly! This scene repeats itself once every few years making it a bit challenging to do much in the way of landscaping.

Sunday Morning

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear

but of power and love and self-control."

2 Timothy 1:7

WIP While I'm Waiting...

Awesome, free downloadable pattern: Check!

 Pattern printed and cut up for paper piecing: Check!

 One feather paper-pieced: Check!

Mailman delivers background fabric from Australia: Waiting. Waiting. Waiting....wait..wa.. 
Fingers drumming on sewing machine table: Check!!
I guess that I'm going to have to substitute another grey for the background . I've been waiting a month now! Hopefully, it will blend in okay. Oh, how I love being a part of the Mid-Century Modern Bee! You can see all the projects we've been working on here.

Suz, your block will get finished and sent back to you even if I have to take it myself and forget the middle mailman. I wish! 

May 365 Photo Challenge: Week 4

Oh, I'm loving this spring weather and have lots of outdoor photos to prove it this week!

Fresh Cut Grass I drive by this country "yard' almost every day. This is about one fourth of it... always perfectly cut with never a dry spot or weed to be seen. I guess they like to mow!

Black I wonder what Mrs. Blackbird is gossiping about this time!

Clouds An evening storm approaches.

Fresh Vegetables Every year I think about it, but so far I've avoided planting a vegetable garden.  Farmer's Market, here I come!

Walk The path through the Arboretum is a favorite place to walk with friends.

Peaceful Moments The sound of running water is always so soothing.

Her Course, I didn't spend every moment outside this week! Sweet little Pearl came to visit. I like to just watch her sleep.

Thanks again for your encouragement for my photo challenge to take a picture every day this year. You should try it...it's fun!

Thank You

Today, my husband and I carried on a tradition held by our parents and grand parents to place fresh flowers on the graves of our family members gone before us. We do this to honor their memories. We wondered if the tradition will die out with our generation. For some reason, it's a tradition I have always enjoyed.

A sweet commenter alerted me to the facebook page of Quiltmaker Magazine who had posted a picture of my patriotic rendition of a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt. I shared it with you a couple of years ago, and do so again today.

"The greatest glory of a free-born people is to transmit that freedom to their children."

William Havard

P.S. I'd love to have your vote in the Baby Quilt category of the Blogger Quilt Festival going on now. You can see the entries here. My quilt is #23.