Designer Mystery BOM

     I'm finally back with a little bit of an update from the sewing room. 

     I'm trying very hard to keep up with the Designer Mystery BOM.  Some months it works and some it doesn't.  This month, I got the fabric kit on Thursday and here it is Saturday and I'm already done with it.
     We are on block #5, which is surprising to me since it feels like I just started.  To realize it's the 5th month already surprises me. 

     So, our designer this month is Vanessa Christenson from www.VanessaChristenson.com and the pattern is called "Stargazing", which I think is a perfect name.      I absolutely love this fabric line and so far all of the patterns are awesome!!! 

Before I put the block away, I took the other 4 out and took a picture of all 5.  After the next block is done I can start assembling the first 2 rows.....

 

Earlier this week I finished a quilt that I did with a kit that's been in my stash probably 2 if not 3 years.  I took for granted that all the parts would be in the project bag when I opened it but it was missing the 2 borders  :(      I did call the shop but they wanted me to drive the kit out to them and since I knew they probably didn't have any more of the fabric AND it's an hour away, I just made do, pulled borders from my stash of flannels and moved on with the assembly.  It's all done now and off to the quilter.  This particular quilt is for a friend's mom who will be 90 in January.  I will show a picture when it does come back to me since I did forget to take one before I shipped it off.

 

After the above quilt was finished I was at a loss for what to do but I have been thinking (almost dreaming) about the "Swoon" pattern I got over the summer and wanting to start it so I pulled one of my Bonnie and Camille bundles down off the shelf, pulled enough fq's to make the blocks and got to cutting.  BUT, in true fashion for me, I had to stop the cutting and assemble the first block.  I just can't help myself :)

NOW, this block looks like it would be a quick one

to do, and it kind of was BUT, looks are deceiving.  This block measures 24-1/2 inches square!!!

I don't think I've ever made a single block this big.  I'm anxious to get back to making the final 8 blocks so stay tuned, I doubt you'll have to wait too long to see them.

 

Peggy

 

Hobby Lobby?

   Hobby Lobby?  Where?????????????

Yes, I had heard one was coming to New Jersey but I thought it was out by Philly.  Well, last week when my BFF Michelle was in hers and texted a picture of the pumpkins they had in the store it got me to thinking....where is ours?   Well, when I found out it was approximately 45-50 minutes away I KNEW I was taking a day off and going in search of it. 

So, here's the pumpkin that I was tempted with by Michelle.....

My oldest daughter just happens to be a fan of all animal print things so when I saw this I just KNEW she'd want one for her coffee table.
It was a little pricey for me but I'd gotten an email from Hobby Lobby over the weekend for 40% off so I used it on this...

I picked up quite a few items while I was there including some party favors for a "baby sprinkle" the girls and I are hosting here in November, some Kona Snow, some Halloween items and also a red button for my sewing room wall.
It looks a lot bigger than it really is sitting there in the shopping cart.  In reality it's about 7-71/4 inches....
You can see I had 2 in the cart but the one was cracked along the back side so I left it there. 

Now that I know how to get there, I'll be going back quite often!!!

Designer Mystery BOM 2013-2014

     Well. Good Sunday morning to you.....

     I've been Blog MIA for a while with updates on project progress but I'll start back with more pictures and info soon.  For today I have my Designer BOM block # 4 to show you.

     This block is called "Radiance" and it was designed by Bonnie & Camille.  They both design patterns and fabric at www.cottonway.com and www.thimbleblossoms.com.  I am a fan of both mother and daughter so it was such a joy to make this block. 
As I've mentioned before, I'm doing this with Fat Quarter Shop and again.....LOTS of left over fabric so I'm trying to decide on a project to incorporate these fabric leftovers and make myself 2 quilts at a time.  It's either going to be geese or hst 9 patch blocks....Stay Tuned!

     My Big 3 list for September was not totally completed but I am thrilled with how my month went.  I can sometimes be a little over ambitious when I assemble my list so if I get 2 of the 3 done and keep up with the 2-3 BOM's I'm doing, I'm a happy camper.

1.)   Binding on Gwen's quilt- DONE
2.)   Assemble "Picnic" quilt and send to quilter- DONE  (on it's way back to me too!)
3)    Decide on final border for "Jamestown"- I did make a decision but never got to working on it :)
4.)   Work on scrappy postage stamp quilt-  Doing this as a leader/ender so I did add some to the bin.

So, you see I did do good....AND I finished assembly of my Granny Squares quilt and assembled backing, did my Designer BOM block, bound 2 other small baby quilts and also assembled my Snowman block bom but didn't get the wool embroidery tacked down.
All in all a good September.

Onto October

HAPPY FALL,
Peggy

A thought for today......................................................

YARD SALE

   I am down to 3 items in my yard sale:

The Fons & Porter Kit---------SOLD

The Vintage Stitches BOM kit

The tumblers with the blue dot yardage


Thank you to all the people who visited my yard sale.

I will certainly be doing this again.....

It's Yard Sale Time!!!!

First item today is called "Vintage Stitches".  It was the 2006 Thimbleberries BOM.  I did it thru a quilt shop that cut all your pieces for you, all you had to do was assemble.  I remember being excited about doing it and then lost interest before I could drop out.  This package is yours for $40 and that includes shipping.












The 2nd item is called "Petite Baskets".  I'd seen it in a Fons & Porter Magazine so I ordered it from them.  The kit includes everything needed to complete the top plus the backing and buttons for the baskets.  I paid $38 plus the price of the magazine.  It's yours for $25 which includes S&H.

3rd item is called "Frolic & Butterflies".  It's a Moda Bake Shop project.  This kit can certainly be broken down and used for a purse or other small quilt.  This is $25.00 includes S&H.
SOLD!!!

4th item is some "Cotton Blossoms" fabric by Bonnie & Camille.  There is a charm pack, 1/2 yd of the cream print, 1 yard of the blue stripe, a fq + a couple inches of the blue dot, 2 yds of the other floral print and 4 yards of the blue print.  I think I was going to make a small quilt with it but never got around to it.  $ 30 including S&H.
It's an older line but still very pretty.

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!








5th item is a pile of  6-1/2 inch tumbler  blocks and 2 yards of "Little Things by Sarah Fielke.  $20.00 includes S&H.

 

# 6 is 5 fat quarters and 1 yard each of the large dot and stripe Riley Blake "All Star 2" $20 S&H included                                                             

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#7- Gallon size Ziploc bag of blue/gold fabrics.  Some is yardage and a few pieces are just random sizes.  Probably 5+ yards in here..  $10 S&H included.

SOLD!!!!!

#8- Ziploc bag of scraps from a recent quilt.  Most pieces are from a layer cake but there are some random larger and smaller pieces. Aneela Hooey line with girls riding scooters, puppies etc.  $10 includes S&H.

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# 9 is 2 projects.  Both are free but a nominal $3.00 postal fee, and can be sent separate.  If you want one and not the other that's fine. The first is Thimbleberries "Hometown Christmas".  It's 4 booklets.  The other is the "2012 Designer Mystery BOM".  I did both of these projects this past year and enjoyed the process of doing both.

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

#10- a bag of quilt blocks.  There are 26 and they are all different blocks and all different brown on brown fabrics.  I always thought I'd make a big sampler quilt from them but I've just never done it so here's the chance for someone to assemble a quilt super quick because the biggest part of it is done.....$6.00 for the whole lot.  S&H included.   SOLD!!!

 

 

 

#11- Pink floral fat quarters.  Flower Sugar, Lecien, Tanya Whalen....They will play nicely with #12 as well since they are all from the same type of lines...all pretty florals.  $25 for the 2 or if you want to split them up, the pinks are $10 and the mixed pile is $15.  S&H included.

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

#13 is a Pat Sloan kit called "Black Eyed Susan".  You get the book with that and other projects in it and the fabric to make the front of the quilt.  I've already made 2 and am wondering why I have a 3rd kit?  $15.00 and S&H included.

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, be specific which project you want and I will need your email address to send your paypal notice to and your mailing address.  Please email me privately at paront1222@comcast.net

As I said in my original email, I will be sure your project leaves my home no later than 3pm on Wednesday unless I'm waiting on your check to arrive in New Jersey.  Otherwise, I have mailing envelopes, small boxes etc. all lined up and ready to go.  The kiddies come back to school on Thursday so I'll want this yard sale done and over with by Wednesday for sure.

 

I am hoping this is not my last yard sale as I've been collecting, hoarding  fabric and kits for YEARS!!!   I've lost interest in some of these projects or have just outgrown my love for the fabric line etc.

 

All fabric comes from a smoke free home.........

 

Peggy in New Jersey

Challenging Yourself

     Do you challenge yourself during the month?  Even if it's to make 1 small quilt block, bind a top or even try to make a final decision on a border?   I do.  Myself and 2 of my BFF's do it.  Recently it's been just 2 of us since the 3rd was moving but I've kept up with mine and have found that it really helps.

     This month I am not making "huge" challenges with my list because school reopens on Thursday (ugh) and there a few other things going on with life so I'm not picking complicated or hard things....

First in the picture above is a small postage stamp quilt that I started early in August.  I'd like to get some more parts made.
Second is an Aneela Hooey pinwheel quilt that I need for September 15th.  It just needs binding.
Third is a quilt called "Picnic".  It needs rows made and to be sent to the quilter.  It's been hanging around for too long, and we all know what happens with that, it gets set aside and never done.....
The fourth project is called "Jamestown" from Bonnie Hunter.  The entire top is done but it needs a border.  Bonnie did a piano key border but I'm questioning that.  I'm not sure I have enough blues and tans left from the top assembly to actually make that type of border.  So, the project is to figure it out and send it for quilting.

Those are my Top 4 September "must do's".

My BFF Robin will send me her list later this weekend and we'll keep one another on track  :) 


                       Peggy in New Jersey

Yard Sale

   




 Yeah, I'm going to jump on Bonnie Hunter's "Yard Sale" band wagon Monday......
I was just saying to my 2 BFF's this week that I needed to purge and was wondering if Bonnie was going to have one.   So sooner did I say it than Michelle emailed and said "Ask and you shall receive".

     I have a 13 lots so far....and I'll only tell you that my prices are going to be dirt cheap...some stuff will be free but you pay postage, some things will be postage plus ridiculous prices like $20.....
Yeah, I'm almost giving this stuff away!!!    I'm thinking of making up some 1 gallon Ziploc bags of scraps and doing them for free too.......

     I have 2 sewing rooms and as they say "something's gotta give"  We can't keep up with this stuff.....  So, check back on Monday morning and I'm just gonna say, first come first serve.  I'll take Paypal and personal checks..  Paypal items will go out by Wednesday at the latest, personal checks I'll have to wait for the check to come in and clear. 

     So, check back Monday if you want some great deals!!!

WHAT HAPPENED?

I don't know what's up with the post I did this morning.....didn't touch any font or size buttons but I'm getting 2 sized fonts and bold/not bold.  I've attempted to fix this but it's not working....so it is what it is on a Friday morning that finds me with too many things to do to fuss with the post  :)

Hope everyone has some fun this Labor Day weekend.....I hope to find some rest and sewing time.
I go back to my "Last" School Opening on Thursday the 5th which I'm looking forward to but it also makes me sad to be leaving so many friends I've made over the last 18-1/2 years....but I'm sooooo looking forward to January when I will have "Peggy Time" every day.

Happy Labor Day.



Peggy in New Jersey

Sewing Room Re-Do

     I have always felt very lucky that I had a husband that "got" my sewing addiction so when we built our house 20 years ago he made sure I had a sewing room....it was only 9 x 12 but still a sewing room.  I loved that little room and spent MANY hours in it sewing.  It was right off the living room so I could watch the tv, the kids would sit outside the room and sometimes inside (underfoot) so I was never unreachable. 
Many nights I'd be laying blocks out on the living room floor and both hubby and the kids would be jumping over them to come and see me.  
     A little over a year ago we decided that the empty bedroom upstairs was a bigger, better fit for my sewing so we emptied all the junk out  that had accumulated in it , painted it a nice buttercup yellow and hubby ordered me a cutting table with the matching sewing machine table and quilting chair!!!  Here's the wall with the cutting table on it.............. 

    I didn't do a lot of decorating in the room at first since I was not sure how I wanted the room to look so I just shelved the fabric, threw bins in different corners and basically just lived in the room for a year or so. 
Back in early spring I found a cute battenburg lace valance to put on the double window, just to have "pretty".
I didn't want curtains or anything blocking all the natural light and the semi view of my backyard...just a little something to put over the blinds to finish the windows off.


I finally started to mention that I NEEDED something on the wall over the cutting table.  I'd had pegboard on the wall in the downstairs room and that worked for me so my friend Vic the builder was called, plans were hatched and our household list of "things to do" was handed to him on Monday and voile...shed doors and front replaced, ceiling lights in the upstairs hallway replaced and shelving in my sewing room hung....
This is what the room looked like on Thursday at 3:20 when I came in from work. 
You can imagine my giddiness on finding all that space for pincushions, books, baskets, and all my "chochkies".  Oh yeah, that priority box....not from Vic, but from someone else...Vic just brought it in for me :)

I sat in my sewing chair and looked at the shelves for a bit and thought about what I wanted to put on them but for sure, I knew hooks on the pegboard for scissor hanging!!! 
I brought goodies up, loaded the shelves and after dinner gave it a once over, was fairly happy with placement and then took this picture................................

YES.....I'm definitely happy with seeing all my toys again and I love how the scissors are accessible on the pegboard.  I have more scissors, but then don't all quilters have a bevy of scissors? LOL   But, the ones I have out are the ones I use all the time. 

I'm sure that I'll change things up a bit as I find something that needs to be displayed, but for now, this is perfect.......

 

Yes folks, Peggy is a happy girl (for now).  And yes, I'm already hatching a plan for kitchen remodeling once I retire in January.  I already talked to Vic, drew the layout for cabinets etc....Stay tuned for more fun remodeling  :)

 

Peggy in New Jersey 

 

2013 Designer Mystery Block of the Month

     Yes, it's been a while and there's no excuse but I'm here now and that's all that matters. 

     I got my Designer Mystery BOM kit the other day and it's been #1 on my list of things to get done this week but I'd started a baby quilt over the weekend and needed to finish that and prep the backing before I could start on the block.  I did get it cut and assembled earlier tonight and I'm thrilled with how nice it came out. 


The block is called "Wildflower Bouquet" and it was designed by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts.   

 

   I know I've said it before but FQ Shop is very generous with their cuts for this BOM and the Fig Tree Quilts fabric line is gorgeous!!!

     I have the first 3 blocks done and you will notice that there is a pattern going on this year  :)   It looks like we might be making a basket quilt....something I've wanted to do for a while now and never did so this is a perfect time to get one made.

     Here in New Jersey the schools don't open till after Labor Day, Thursday that week to be exact for the school I work in.  This will be a time of "lasts" for me.  I will be retiring from the guidance office of my school after 18-1/2 years working in the district so this is my "last first day" with quite a few "lasts" to follow.  I'm looking forward to spending more time in my sewing room and hopefully USING UP some of the fabric I've been hoarding  :)

     Hope everyone has a great day...

Peggy

Saturday Update

    I should have more to report on but for some reason I just don't.  I got 3 baby quilts assembled but need to get the backings prepped.  Seems that there are a lot of new babies coming this year and I'm always getting requests for more from family members so I feel like it never hurts to have a few ready to go at any time  :)

     With that said, this pattern

has been sitting on a shelf in my sewing room for quite a while....maybe even 2 years. I don't know why it's been sitting, it's a cute pattern AND it was already kitted!!!   You would think that having the kit it would move me to assemble it quicker but it didn't. 

I did however decide that today was the day to get it cut and get the assembly started.  It calls for 182 half square triangles so today I did the cutting and line drawing so I'm on my way......  Anyone out there ever make this quilt?

Dr. Seuss

Happy Saturday Everyone!

I just thought I'd share the little quilts I finished the other night.
A co-worker will be a first time grandma in October to twins and

as a school teacher she loves Dr. Seuss, mainly One Fish, Two Fish.

After much searching on the internet I found that there isn't an entire One Fish, Two Fish
fabric line, there were only a few pieces designed so I added them to other Seuss fabric,
backed it with red and white cuddle and bound it in the Seuss red and white stripe.  All in all, two super cute quilts for two yet to be born babies.


I'd also like to brag just a teeny bit.....
My daughter likes to paint and create.  I haven't yet been able to bring
either daughter over to the dark side of quilting (LOL) but I am happy that
Sarah likes to paint.  About a week ago we took a trip to a little Goodwill store
nearby and picked up a two drawer file cabinet for I think $6.    Here is what she
did to it this week.


Here's hoping everyone is enjoying their
Saturday.


Peggy

Staycation

    Last week was a "staycation" for us.  We normally go away but with planning our daughter's wedding and then hubby needing a new car, we decided that day trips was the way to go this year.

     We started off on Monday morning taking a drive into Burlington, NJ.  Hubby wanted to check the navigation system on the car to see how it worked and see how "user friendly" it was.   
     Hubby is pretty accommodating when I ask if he'll "chauffeur" me to a quilt shop or two or three  :)    We visited a really nice quilt shop called "Olde City Quilts".  It's in a very historic area of Burlington that has an old working train that goes thru the center of town and the streets are cobblestone! 
After that we went on a search for a Joann's Fabrics for some notions and quilting accessories that your normal quilt shops don't carry.  He treated me to a favorite lunch spot, Panera Bread, and then a quick visit to Wegman's.  We don't have a Panera or a Wegman's locally so those two places are treats for me.
 
     On Tuesday, Sarah was off work too so we took  the
Statue Cruise and went to the Statue of Liberty!
We've always lived in New Jersey but for some reason we've never gotten onto the island for an up close and personal with the Statue!
It had only opened to the public again on the 4th of July so it was a great time to go over and see the island.  The elevator was out of order so we had to walk the 170+ steps up to the area below the statue's feet to go outside and look out over the river to New York.

I have seen the statue before but to actually be able to see it up close is an amazing feeling.  The original torch is inside the base of the statue outside the museum and heard the story of why it's inside now by a really nice park worker.

 

Ellis Island is still off limits since it had quite a bit of damage during Hurricane Sandy so we could only look at it as the boat passed.

Hubby and I have been on the island, back about 20 years ago for a company anniversary dinner....His company rented the island for an evening to celebrate and after dinner, dancing, speeches etc. we were treated to a boat ride around the statue with fireworks.   One day we'll go back but for now we were happy to ride past it.

 

Wednesday we drove to Maryland with boxes, bins, newspaper, packing tape etc for our newly married daughter who is moving back to NJ with her husband for a job transfer!   Can you hear me cheering ????

 

Thursday the hubs and son golfed and gave me a little relaxation time....

 

Friday was an overcast/sprinkly day so I talked hubby into another trip to yet another quilt shop.  I didn't even know it existed until I did a Google search of NJ Quilt Shops.  We got to Mouse Creek Quilts and dashed to the front door thru raindrops only to find it closed AND the shop was empty.  Guess I didn't look at the web site carefully enough because it clearly says that they moved  :)   So, off we go on another adventure, found it and did some shopping....   Great shop, great fabrics and very, very nice ladies in the shop.  So willing to help me pick stuff out and spend my money  :)

All in all, it was a really nice and fun staycation.  I went back to work feeling rested and refreshed.

 

2013 Designer Mystery BOM

     Yup....I'm keeping up with this year's block like I did last year..... 
     Block # 2 Is called "Bows & Baskets" which was designed by Sandy Gervais of Pieces From My Heart. 
Once again, Fat Quarter Shop was super generous with their fabric cuts so I think I'm going to make some half square triangles and make some 9 patch blocks with them so that when I'm done, I'll have a second quilt to show for my efforts!!! 

Is anyone else doing anything with their scraps?

     I finished a Moda Bake Shop project too last night....It was a snowball quilt using some Aneela Hooey fabrics. I'll take pictures and make a separate post about that one.

      97 and super humid here in NJ....perfect day to stay inside and sew!

Peggy

Two Finishes

Here are 2 small kiddie size quilts I finished including the binding and washing them to get the desired "crinkly" effect

This "bright" quilt is made from a pattern that my local quilt shop owner designed herself and she calls it "Bricks and Stepping Stones".  I've probably made about half a dozen of these over the past few years.  They're fun and easy and as you can see, you can use scraps from your stash or even use one particular line. 

Now...the interesting thing about the backing:

Can you read that selvage?  1999?????  It's a Mary Lou Weideman green yellow and black stripe that I've had in my stash for YEARS!!!  The piece was perfect for the backing and I used STASH!!

I have another piece that's a red stripe exactly like this one....I'll have to make another kiddie quilt to use that up!

 

Then there's the zig zag.  I used a pink and white stripe for the binding which was perfect for this one and it washed up very nicely.  I still have quite a bit of this fabric line left in my stash so I'm sure I'll be making another quilt soon.....

Lets get started on that list

     Ok, lets get started on that "10 Things to Do This Summer" list. 

     Since I finished assembling the zig zag quilt last night I thought I'd start sandwiching and quilting that.   It's not a big quilt, 40 X 48 and it's made from a tutorial I found on "A Quilt is Nice" blog.  Her tutorial was easy to follow and the entire quilt went together in 2 nights.  It's made from "Out to Sea" fabric and came out super cute.

I'm just following the zig zag on my machine since I think it will really look sharp.....









Here are two pictures of what I have started quilting so far......

Ten Things This Summer

     While surfing some of my favorite blogs the other day I came across "A Quilting Life's" post that she referenced to another girl's blog about how quickly summer came and the need to organize ourselves for the summer or else it will be fall and we'll be saying "where the heck did the summer go?".

     It's shouldn't come as a surprise to close friends that I'm a list maker.  I make lists in work and I used to make more lists as the kids were young but in my sewing room I'm a free spirit......and sometimes that can be detrimental.  So, when I saw the ten things this summer post I thought to myself "I can do that!!!!"

     I don't have pictures of everything, but I think as I start the projects on the list I will post pictures then.  So, here goes.....

            Peggy's Ten Things for the 2013 Summer (in no particular order)

1.   Organize my bins of kits and make a list of what I have

2.   Pull out BOM kits, Thimbleberries kits etc. that I won't ever use and have   an online yard sale.

3.   Pull my Crabapple Hill "Snow Days" quilt out and get the binding sewn on.

4.   Take the "fox" fabric I have and make my great niece a small tote bag from it.  Her last name is "Fox" so before I misplace the fabric, I need to make her a bag.

5.   Make a reasonable bucket list of quilts I want to make.

6.   I have 2 sewing rooms....organize fabric, backings, kits etc. and get everything into 1 room.

7.   Take my HUGE pile of 5 inch kiddie charms and get them cut into triangles and get them assembled into a triangle quilt.

8.   I have 4 quilts out at the quilters.  When they come back I need to make the binding and get them sewn on and tacked down.

9.   Quilt my Zig Zag quilt, get it bound and washed.

10.  3 finished quilts need quilting and binding.....decide if I'll do them or send them out (purple star baby quilt,  black/white/pink baby quilt and scrappy star top)

So, there you have it.  My 10 things to do this summer....and that's a small list.  I have wool BOM's to keep up with, my 2013 Designer BOM to keep up with, some baby quilts to make when we find out what the babies will be and other fun projects to work on......

This will be a fun way to keep track of things!

Peggy in sunny, hot, hot, hot New Jersey!

Happy Birthday Dan!

See that handsome man on the right?  Yes, that's my boy.....and today is his birthday.  He's 28!
This picture was taken in April the night before our daughter's wedding...it's occasions like that that I can get all 3 kids together for a nice picture and not get grief over it  :)

It's days like this that I ponder the day he was born, his first haircut and even putting him on the bus for the first trip to kindergarten.  Life with Dan was never boring but fortunately he was never a troublemaker.....

Happy Birthday Dan!

2013-2014 Designer Mystery

Yes, it's that time again....Fat Quarter Shop's Designer Mystery BOM. 

I signed up for it last year not knowing if I'd keep up with it but I knew so many girls out there in blogland that were doing it so we kept one another challenged each month to do the block and git er done. 

This year they are using "Avalon" by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts, and it's fitting that block #1 was designed by Joanna to start it off.  The block is called "Strawberry Picking" and I must say, the fabrics are super cute and the block was easy peasy to make. 
OH....and again, FQ Shop was VERY generous with their cuts so I could probably make 2 blocks each month from what they send you.

If you were on the fence on doing this BOM, I'd urge you to go for it!
AND  if you were wishing you'd done last year's BOM, and want the patterns, let me know, I have them and would gladly share them with you.....

Only 3 days of work this week and then vacation until July 15th.

Juggling

Yes, I've been juggling....just a little  :)

Yesterday was the first day of summer and also the last day of school for the kids in our town.  Being a guidance office secretary that means there's lots of "juggling".  Award ceremony last week, final grades, promotion, retention meetings with kids and parents, TONS of phone calls from the sad aka angry parents that feel there kid should promote even though their final grade is 51.....and INSISTING no one did a thing all year to help their kid. 
School takes up about half of my day and then there's the juggling at home.  Do I do laundry, vacuum, dust, nap, sew???
Yes, I like a nice nap after school  :)    Hubby was away 8 of the last 10 days to different parts of the US and then there was the decision I had to make as to "when" to click the "retirement button" for the state of NJ.  
So, lots of "juggling" but in the end, I hit the button to retire January 1st, 2014 on Wednesday which gave me such a peace of mind...you have no idea!    I tell anyone that I know that is swaying on that front...Hit the Damn Button and you'd be surprised at how good you feel!

As for sewing.....I've started 2 new projects.  I have 25 of "Terry's Scrappy Stars" from last summer that were just calling to me the last few weeks so I had them laid out two different ways, one on pointe and one just side by side in rows.  The on-pointe setting won out for me.  I have a few rows connected as of late last night so I'll get some pictures taken today so that my next blog post is a little more colorful/picture friendly.

Happy Summer!!!


Peggy

Cross Stitch

     I've been back from retreat now for 2-3 weeks but just haven't felt much like blogging....I know...it's sad but I don't want to make excuses for being MIA.

      This has been the spring of "baby news" both at work and for a couple of friends of my daughter so I've been keeping busy with making, binding and wrapping up a few.  Last week however, the counselor I work with in school, Peggy (yes, we have the same name...and at one time there were 3 of us Peggy's in the guidance office) asked if I'd put a backing on a counted cross stitch quilt top she did for her daughter Jaclyn who's expecting in July.  As she said, just doing the cross stitch was a HUGE accomplishment for her.  She didn't have the ability to finish it off. 

       I brought it home from work on Wednesday and just set it aside, but when I remembered Friday night that the shower was next Saturday I went on a mission to find a nice backing for it.....Of course I had trouble making up my mind.  Flannel or cotton, polka dot or flowers?    I finally decided on a pink floral flannel and got to work on it.    I got the binding on late yesterday afternoon and popped it in the washer last night when I went to bed.  I just now took it out of the dryer and look at all it's crinkly goodness!!!!



"Z" is for Zebra