"And where do you think they will fit?"

The comment from the hubby as I explained why I had bought 5 pillows and intended to take them to NC with us. I did not make pillowcases to cover pillows that they will lounge around on and then have them use their bed pillows!!! These will be for use in their new pillowcases that they can drag to the beach for all I care. "I don't think we will have room for much extra" Hmph-no worries yee of little faith-I also bought SPACE BAGS!!!????? What you are seeing is my 5 pillows compressed to the size of 2! Isn't that neat? Well Dear-they will fit in the car with the rest of the luggage.....Here is a picture of the pillow cases themselves. Can you tell there is one girl in all these boys.

During the week I spent one night cutting the 3 pieces, the next night ironing and pinning the "hotdog" together and the third night sewing the seams. I sat on the porch pulling the tubes right side out and grading the seams which drew some attention from the neighbor. She could not believe that I was actually making pillowcases-how talented. It always amazes me when someone says that because to me it is so easy and makes sense.

Here is my ALQS that is headed to the mailbox on Wednesday. I love the colors. The picture does not do the colors justice and I failed to take a picture over the weekend outside. Oh well-maybe the recipient will have better luck conveying the colors in a photo. Maybe it is the lime green of the walls that is the distraction. Not my choice-the walls were painted when I moved in and I kind of like how bright it makes the room so I keep them.

ALQS-done 5 pillowcases-done Now what ??

I have completed the ALQS and need to stop at the post office tomorrow for a box and label. Depending on the rain, I will try to hang it outside and take a picture. The light inside and my camera do not do justice to the colors.

I also completed my pillow cases. You would think they would not have been such a big deal but I could not get myself to work on them. I finally made myself at least cut the fabrics, the next night I sewed the edge, trim and body and tonight I sewed the side seam. Whew. Now I need to wash and press them and add them to the vacation suitcase-2 more weeks!!

I cannot wait! An employee today realized my vacation is coming up and panicked. I assured her that I would take messages and return calls but would NOT be taking my work computer. I REFUSE!! I am so looking forward to seeing my siblings and parents all at one time. I also am refusing to plan anything-I am going to be as lazy as I can. Anyone who knows me will know that this is all talk and I will last until lunch the first day in lazy mode!

I believe that tomorrow I will cut into my Friends and Flowers charm pack. I am excited. I have a pinwheel/flower/applique thingy planned in my head and cannot wait to see it translated.

This quilt is one I started 7 years ago for my son-is this a WIP or a UFO? It awaits some embroidery details before being quilted. Hmmm-maybe I should do this before the F&F charm pack. Guess we will have to see the mood/motivation tomorrow.

My excuse!

You know it is hot when the child who is normally asking to go outside for some "Fresh Air" is pleading to not have to play outside. I agree since our KitKat candy bar incident on Friday night that put us at the emergency room (nut allergy) he is taking Benedryl and Prednisone so I am not making him do anything he does not want to just to keep the peace! Amazing that an 8 yro can have a mood swing better than any PMS person I have ever met.

So we rented a few movies and hung out. I put the binding on my ALQS and got that sewn on-whew. Now for the label. I went back into the sewing room, which is where Zach watches TV, to start some pillow cases and this is what I found:

Now how can I disrupt this-did you know that "your quilt things make great ramps Mom"! No way am I disturbing that-pillowcases can wait. I did grab the fabric pile and will at least have it ironed.

I dare say it was too hot to sew, even with Central Air.

I should be sewing

I know, I know - I am supposed to be binding and making 3 pillow cases but it is such a lazy day and I haven't had one in so long. I was going to blame it on the heat but we have central air and the house is very comfy-so that won't work. I could blame it on being tired but I went to bed at 10 and woke at 7 so that won't work either. Can't think of anything else-oh well. The hubby just stated that he wants to do a late lunch, see a movie and go to Lowes. Guess I will have to get dressed shortly.

This is a picture of the Miranda Bag I made for a co-worker who admired mine and is not crafty-can you believe that exists??!! She traveled to Omaha for work and received numerous comments and awe that someone could make something like this-these types exist??!! Too funny-I am as shocked that people can't do these types of things when this is more my passion than my career-which I love too, but force me to choose and I think sewing would win.

I promise to touch my machine today-just later than originally planned.

ALQS

Here is a tease picture of my ALQS-I have the binding to do. My hands have not been up to hand work at night-must be the weather or my work tasks lately-who knows. No worries though-it is small enough I can finish up in an afternoon. The Quilt Diva fabric is the back-I couldn't resist. I bought 2 yards of this a while back and have not looked at it since purchase. I was digging through the stash and thought it would be great as backs for these quilt swaps. The camera does not do justice to the colors. When it has arrived I will post the entire quilt and use the hubby's camera so it will translate better.

The next project after that you ask-Pillow Cases! I have read in the blogging world how easy they are, a neat way to use novelty fabrics and a great accessory to a quilt gift. So I get this ambitious idea to make all the children a unique pillow case and buy them pillows that they can use at the beach house when we all get together in July. Now mind you there are only 5 to make but they need to be done by June 26-27 and my work load is crazy this month. Plus I have a Charm Pack of Friends & Flowers that is screaming for me! Oh the pressure! The goal this weekend is to finish the pillow cases, buy pillows, bind the ALQS and cut the F&F fabrics-wallhanging design is all done in EQ.

Ok-enough for tonight-Lordy I cannot believe I am still up!

Quiet Weekend

As much as I LOVE long weekends I really do not like coming back afterwards-I spend the week playing catch up: laundry, house work, my job and life in general. I was so looking forward to this weekend and got what I needed to do done!

The weather was on and off again rain yesterday so I took advantage of the lawn mowing delay and got my blocks for the ALQS pieced. My Mom is cleaning out the sewing room and was recycling magazines so I spent some time looking threw them and found a neat block for this exchange and had bought a pack of fat quarters that would be great. The original pattern was pieced with templates!! What in the world is a template-is that something from the age of cassette tapes? Well there would be no template quilting here so I headed to the computer, booted up EQ6 (Mom's not mine-yet) and turned it into a paper pieced project-much more my style. I got that all together Saturday and realized that I did not have enough left of any one color for the borders and did not like the idea of a scrappy border. It was 11AM-my local quilt shop is open until 3-plenty of time to shower and get there. I arrived at 1:05 and saw the sign on the door that said "Summer Hours"-Nuts-I only had 55 minutes! Seems like a lot of time but I needed to find the perfect border and fabric for 2 more pillow cases. To top it off-they were setting out the holiday fabrics-I got what I needed to get but had to postpone the touching and playing with the holiday fabrics for another day. I then headed to the mall for my favorite shampoo and came across some nice sales and ended up with more than shampoo-don't you love when that happens. The last stop was the grocery store before headed over the mountain.

My parents visited for Easter and while here we went to Lancaster for the day. I wanted my mom to see how different the Amish are here versus upstate NY. While there we visited a quilt shop-there we say a nine-patch in traditional colors with black-it was really stunning and then I flipped the price tag.....$400!!! I dropped the tag and stepped away in case the white gloves didn't protect the lovely wall hanging from my sweaty palms. Are you kidding-400 bucks for a wall hanging? I appreciate that it was hand quilted-in the ditch mind you but 400 dollars??? Needless to say that wall hanging is still in that lovely shop in Lancaster PA-it does not grace the walls of my home.

BUT-there is a reproduction hanging on my wall and it's twin in upstate NY hanging on my Mom's wall-all for a mere $40 in fabric and a day's worth of work. I found this variegated rainbow thread that is amazing in this-not very Amish at all but I love how it turned out.

I am all about the classic in retro and this defines that for me-I love it.