Playing blog catch-up...

I haven't been in the mood to blog lately, but I have been working on a few projects. I can post the current things later, but here's some of what's been going on...

A quick baby blanket for a couple at church. It's lightweight with cotton on the back and no batting. She was a Texas summer baby, so I thought this would be appropriate. It's the first quilt I hand tied rather than quilted.

Here's another baby blanket gift for a couple at church. It's a rag quilt; my first one. I did it without instructions, so I'm sure there's an easier way, but it turned out cute and I saw them actually using it. I LOVE seeing these things actually being used!

I made a little pin cushion for a sweet friend.

Shea made a pillow case. I love to see her sew!

I knitted Shea a sock on the way to Florida. This was in the hotel room. I'm not sure what I got distracted with on the way back, because she still has only one sock. Humm.

I got my sewing space set up in the temporary house. It was kind of messy in this photo. I'll take another when it's been picked up.

Gizmo, my 12 year old Yorkie with cataracts, found a cozy place to sleep in the sewing room.

I made a test block for a string quilt. I love it! I started on one using some of my Heather Bailey fabric. I'll post it later.

I made this necklace for a wonderful woman who speaks at my church's ladies fellowship each month. It's an empty tomb and says "he is risen". I don't have upper-case alphabet stamps yet, but I'm sure He understands.

I finished a re-upholstery project I started about three years ago. And I found another chair just like great-grandmother's chair at the antique mall! I snatched it up and can't wait to finish it so I'll have a pair! It's a Kroehler chair from the early 1950's.

And lastly, on November 1st, I ran the New York City Marathon.  A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!

I realize now there have been a few things I've done that I don't have photos of, and some of those have been given away.

I've got the jewelry studio operational again and have done some painting too. I'm back in that spot where I have so many things going that I don't know where to start!

Sanibel Island

We slept in this morning, but the part of the island we are on had no shortage of little shells.

We are headed to the west end of the island to look for larger shells.

quilting and packing and quilting and packing

I finished the top of my Roundabout Quilt! Amy was right, the method does require a lot of pinning and patience (and steam, lots of steam from the iron helped too), but I think the top turned out great!

There is one spot where I got my pieces mixed up and there are two of the pink and blue dots diagonal from one another and the blue and green dots near one another. It's bugging me, but I really don't want to take it apart. Maybe it's not bothering me that badly.

I made a deal with myself this morning: make a block of four, pack two boxes, repeat. So, I got some boxes packed and finished my quilt top. Now to figure out how to motivate myself to keep packing...

Giveaways and Fledglings

I entered a great giveaway this morning over at The Fabric Shopper! Melanie (what a great name ) is hosting a giveaway with Jamie of Phat Fabric. An adorable apron pattern and three yards of fabric to create it! Be sure to check it out!

On another note, we've had two fledgling Northern Cardinals in our backyard on and off this weekend. They are (bless their hearts) the ugliest little things I've seen in a while, but oh what beauties they will become. On Saturday, this little guy finally flew over the fence into the alley. I hope that he's doing well. There are a number of cats that roam the neighborhood and I hope that his flying skills improved enough to get away from any mean cats that may have tried to get him.

I'm watching for them at the feeder, hoping I'll see them again before we move next week. Mama and Papa Cardinal were never far away while they were in the yard, so maybe they'll pick my feeder to bring their babies to when they are better fliers!