More quilts and a new project...

 Here's a few more quilts from the show that moved me...some...I don't know why...others are obvious...but hopefully you'll enjoy them...

 Here's the new project...Don has been making these. He was looking for something to do with all the reclaimed wood he has collected over the years...I think these are really great...but then I love clean lines along with a really rustic piece of wood...these are reclaimed cedar fencing...they are so full of character...

He spends a long time sanding down every piece til its so smooth...and then he added some great brushed nickel hooks. I mentioned that he should add them to my booth in the Fall to sell...what do you think??

I decorate very cottage...yet I like modern clean lines too...but do you think others would like them too...he wanted some one else's opinions...and I told him I would ask...for now it keeps him busy using his hands...enjoying the wood...I mean he can only make me so many bird houses and table tops...

we value your input...

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

I'm in awe once again...

 Last night my sisters, Sharon and I went to the Long Beach Quilt Show...we had a great time. It is nice going on the preview night because the crowds are much smaller...plus your ticket gets you in to another day if you want to go back!

 I didn't take a lot of pictures in of the vendors booths...a lot of them are getting fussy about pictures...but I met this fabulous designer from Texas...this is where most of my money was spent...her patterns are delightful and ...well...just perfect ! If you like redwork or working with wool...go on over and visit her blog...you won't be disappointed...cute name too...Lakadaisies and her shop is here

 I took quite a few pictures of quilts that touched me for one reason or another....but there were so many that wouldn't allow pictures...so here are some of the ones that moved me...enjoy!

 I would LOVE to have this one hanging in my house!

So there's a few that made me smile...I have more to show you later. 

I didn't buy as much as I normally do...some new patterns...a few fat quarters...but I did get lots of energy and inspiration from just being there and today I will spend the day at my sewing machine...I know I don't have anywhere near the talent as so many of the wonderful ladies I met last night...but it got my creative juices flowing again...and so I will sew!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Babies bring us together...

 This is my newest great niece, Ravi...she is my oldest niece's 3 month old daughter. She lives in Seattle and this week I finally got to meet her...we all did...the whole family gathered at my sister's house on Sunday for a visit and a barbecue...

 Selin and Ravi got some bonding time...

 while the guys hung out...this is my older son, Joseph and his newest cousin, Jameson...

 Selin, my sister, Debbie and her daughter, Chelsey...Chelsey is the Mommy of Stella and Jameson...

 Here's my sister Cindy and the newly weds...Sarah and Bret...I showed you pictures of their wedding last September...

 This is my youngest sister...Laurie and her daughter Carly...Stephen and Anna had to work so they couldn't come up and I didn't take too many pictures...I got side tracked twirling Stella until I was dizzy and holding babies...sorry...we had a nice time...I just wish everyone lived closer...

Mid Summer now and I'm knee deep in projects...I have been working on this as I sit and watch a little TV...which hasn't been much these days...lousy picture though...I drew it on heavy muslin...it looks really yellow here...bad lighting I think...

Summer is moving by quickly...we stay busy around here between trips to see the boys in San Diego...last week we helped Stephen and Anna move to a new place...we felt old after that...I didn't know I could be sore in so many places all at once! This week I am going to the Long Beach Quilt Show...Thursday night, in fact, for the preview night...I like it then...not as many crowds and you get first choice at all the vendor's booths...I can't wait! I love to see all the vendors that come to these fairs from all over the country...there are so many beautiful quilts to drool over too...I hope I can get a lot of pictures...sometimes they don't allow pictures...the weather hasn't been too bad this week...we are outside every morning for a few hours...I garden...Don has been working on wood projects...he has also been helping a friend re-do a rental property...the have been remodeling just about every room...tomorrow they paint...he hates painting...but he likes his friend...so he will paint!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Another sure sign of Summer...

 You know Summer is in full swing in my area when the Black Eyed Susans start to look like this...they love this weather and will bloom and bloom until late Autumn. 

 We have tons of these beauties in the yard...all from one plant many years ago...I have separated it so many times...and I have given lots of starters out...they are the most wonderful plants...easy and cheerful!

 Another of my favorites is Cone flower...or Echinecea...this is purple...they get really tall in the back yard...behind them is Autumn Sage...there are little tiny flowers on it that the humming birds and carpenter bees love...this particular one is crazy huge...I can't keep up with it...I could trim it every day if I had time...it grows that fast!

 While I was playing with the flowers and veggies...Don was up picking the last of the peaches in our tree...we get green beetles this time of year that will boar into the fruit if we don't get them all off...its not pleasant...so we will let those that are still a bit hard ripen in the house...safer there!! It was a pretty morning out this morning while we were gardening...a bit warm...but it's Summer! I don't know what happened but suddenly I can't type under the last picture...weird! This is what Pam, my letter carrier, brought me today!! It's so much fun wool to play with...if you like wool and want great pieces...go visit Hungry Hook Primitives...she's great! The ones on the right look purple...but in person they are raspberries...oh so luscious and wonderful...do I sound a bit crazy...well...I guess I am when it comes to wool and fabrics...oh and a whole host of other things!! 

Until next time...enjoy the day!!!

Look what Don made me!!

 Don has been a busy guy around these parts lately...retirement keeps him busy...that's for sure...well...it could be me that keeps him busy...but I'm not admitting anything...

 We had gotten a little table at a rummage sale a few years back...it was so ugly...think royal blue when you see the iron work...but we saw it differently...at least I did...so $2 was a fair price...

 We painted the iron work black...as it should have been all along and the top...a shabby white...but I was yearning for something a little more rustic...I like rustic...

 I think this fits the bill perfectly!

 It is made form our old back fence...cedar posts that Don put together and sanded and sanded and sanded...

 I love the look...its exactly what I had in mind...there are knot holes and even some nail holes and paint from the neighbor's side on there...its perfect!

He applied several coats of satin poly to it after he had it looking the way he wanted...so now it is protected...that's funny to think about...it was out in the back yard for 30 years!. I think I have the best husband ever...I am so lucky...cookie cutter houses and decorating is just not my style and now I have one more one of a kind table to love for years to come...

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

Sewing day at my sisters...

 Yesterday I went over to my sister, Debbie's house for a sewing day...I had this kit for a Christmas table topper I got last year... so I cut out all the pieces and got ready to sew...

 I made one mistake. that bugs me...but I can't do anything about it now...I hope after I quilt it that it won't really show...

 I'm pretty new at this quilting...but I like it...I think it turned out pretty well...now I just have to quilt it and put the binding on...I hope that goes well...

Stella came over to help us out...I loved this picture of Debbie and Stella sewing...who knows...maybe  Stella will be sewing with us in a few years!!

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!

A young visitor...

 Don spotted this guy walking around the back yard this morning...isn't he a beauty! I quickly got my camera and took these shots through the window...we didn't want to disturb him. Its a juvenile Coopers Hawk...a baby!  

 He flew up to the back wall and was looking a something for quite a while...maybe that pesky gopher we have been trying to catch...let's hope so!! He jumped down to the ground behind all the bushes for quite a while...look at those talons...I wouldn't to get caught in those!!

Then he came back up...and rested for a while before getting a drink of water...we keep lots of water for the birds this time of year...it is hot and dry! We could really tell he was young with not much experience...a few humming birds flew right by without a care and a couple Hooded Orioles were feeding while he was back there...Coopers Hawks prefer birds as their main food...so I was surprised that the Orioles were there...they will catch mice too...we just want them to catch the gopher!!

The temperature has been rising daily...I hope it hit its peak yesterday...it was 110...we got everything done before 10 AM outside this morning...this afternoon will be some sewing for me and reading for Don.

Until next time...enjoy your day!!!