January 31.... already?

Wow, where did this month go? I had hoped to get my quilt square along quilt finished off this month as my UFO project...... but I am OK with the little progress I had on it. I made that initial start of QAYG and it was pretty easy. No fear in the way to finishing this one off now.  It should get finished in February since the other two big hand work projects are to a top stage now. I can concentrate on this UFO again. I plan to work on it today to finish stitching the back sashing on this set of 2 and four. Tomorrow lets me get the other 3 sets of 4 ready by machine for more hand stitching this week.

Back ready for hand stitching of the black.

Front photo of 4 and backing of 2 QAYG.

I got my midget appliqué blocks into a top last Sunday  night. This is a completely hand pieced top over the last year! I decided it needs a border with some appliqué vines in two corners with some flowers... but until I can figure out the color it will sit. Ideas on border color welcome. Binding will be yellow I believe.

I finally got my trip around the world blocks into a top last night. This baby is also all hand pieced last year and finally to a top stage. It is 90x90 and will got into the queue for hand quilting along with the above quilt.

Yesterday since Emily got her room cleaned up before the bday party her reward was sewing. She wanted to make a house block like me and picked out her colors. We really need to work on seam allowance but pretty darn good for a 6 year old on her own machine!

I think it will be playing in the soil for a bit today. I picked up some pansy to put in my front triangle bed and some geraniums to pop into pots on either side of the garage. I am also turning over the garden and replanting a bit so some tilling and prepping going on back there. I picked 2 broccoli this morning and have more ready for later in the week. Aidan has replanted some of that in his section of the garden. I added potato's in a little square of Emilys section. I think I finally have this gardening thing figured out down here in the south! Time for a quick lunch and then getting my hands dirty. Yes, I know most of you are in snowy regions.... but they are saying it might hit 80 this week! Winter in Florida - freezing last week and in the 80's this week. Crazy.

Aidan and I were playing Skip-Bo this morning and he grabbed some pretzels for a snack. I only eat them with boursin dip as pretzels are not my favorite thing. I found this recipe that is pretty close to the one I remember from up north at the craft fairs in the fall. I had all the herbs and just added a splash of worchesterire sauce at the end. I swapped fresh garlic for garlic powder. Yummy, yum yum. Good thing there are 2 bags of pretzels in the pantry (how that happened I'll never know!).

Linking up with the other slow stitchers at Kathy's Sunday Slow Stitching party. Won't you join us?

RSC in blues....

I caved.... I decided to make a new block this week. I am ok with it as this is a block that I have wanted to make for years. It is the scrappy house block found as a free pattern over at Bonnie Hunters site Quiltville.com. It uses 2 inch strips.... one of the sizes I have hanging around. I just have to remember to put the window the correct way... the frog in the upper right corner would have been sideways if I had not fixed him. I just need to add the uphill and downhill frame to it. I think I'll go with bright colors.

I hope to play with some more blue today and tomorrow before starting with a new color for February. We have a bowling birthday party this afternoon for a friend that we spent yesterday afternoon playing with. She is very excited to be 5! Her brother is Aidan's age and the four kids play great together. I think she has a bit of a crush on Aidan.... =)

Check out the Saturday linkup for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge and who knows, you might have to join in the fun.

Mom - I have the towels crocheted and need to add buttons. I found a pattern for the round scrubbie and picked up the correct crochet hook on Thursday. Just need to try it out! Waiting on sending the box to include an Avon order from Joanne which should arrive early in the week.

Progress.... Trip Around the World

Sunday was a great night of stitching. Along with yesterday's post of the midget appliqué top I fixed the corner of the yellow trip block. I plan to attach it back to it's row in the car pick up line today. Who knows, maybe the three rows will get sewn into a top tonight!

That would make 2 down and one UFO to quilt as you go left. I have a set of 2 together for hand sewing the back together and one set of 4 together. Progress is a good thing and I still have a few days left in the month to get that one completed! I'm going for the cross off the list with the trip quilt top first... it seems closer to a finish and I need the check marked done!

Design Wall Monday

I did it! I got all the rows hand sewn into a top last night. I am very happy with how it came out.... but how in the world did those two similar green blocks on the bottom 2 rows end up right on top of each other? Oh well, it is staying put. I think it needs a border around it and then a little trailing vine with a few flowers appliquéd in two of the corners..... Still thinking on that but at this point I am calling it done for now. All hand pieced over the last year. That means I have way too much time waiting in the car line at school for the kids. At least I have something to show for it!

Linking up to Design Wall Monday over at Patchwork Times.

For those still reading, I decided to become an Avon Independent Sales Representative last week after looking at various home businesses the last few months.  I have a link to my on-line website store that is open for orders 24/7 and can ship directly to you from Avon. For the next couple of weeks (first 2 campaigns) there is a special deal where for $19.99 you get 6 full size Avon products from their daily care collection. The order code is 724-706 for the bundle. It includes:
Advance Techniques Daily Shine 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner, 11/8 fl. oz - a $6 value.
Foot Works Healthy Intensive Moisture Foot Cream 2.5 fl. oz - a $6 value.
Moisture Therapy - Intensive healing & repair hand cream 4.2 fl oz, a $5 value.
Skin So Soft line:
-Soft & Sensual Ultra Moisturizing Body Lotion 11.8 fl oz. A $7. value
-Signature Silk Creamy Body Wash 11.8 fl oz. A $7 value
- Signature Silk Shower Gel 5. fl. oz. a $6 value.

I have been using the Moisture Therapy hand cream and it is working wonders in this cold snap. Feels great on the hands after hand quilting as well. If you are interested please click on the link or Avon in the side bar and you will be directed to my on-line store. Thanks so much for your business. I'll now return you to your normal quilting blog =).

Slow Sunday Stitching....

Oh so close! This was me in the potential rainy day pick up (one line of cars instead of 2) on Friday. One hour in the car line working on my Midget Appliqué quilt.

The hand stitching of the rows is coming along swimmingly. I have 6 of 7 rows together.

Will today be the day to add the last two sashing rows and that last row of blocks? I think so.... as the girl would like a family movie time before her brother is returned from Grandma this afternoon.

Head on over and see what other slow stitching is happening today.

RSC Saturday in blue

I finally got to have some quality time with the sewing machine this week and played with some of my blue and purple fabrics!
Six Twinkle stars got made using Angela's pattern. This will be for the row along... but would make a super cute quilt on their own!

I made a couple of 8 inch blocks to add to the ones I found in the drawer earlier this month. I think that dark blue one might be too dark to go with the others.... Unless I make some in all colors like Sheila of Sew Cook and Travel does and use 48 colorful blocks to make a nice size throw..... ?

I am so glad we have one more week to play with blue...as I have not had too much time this month to play with my scraps. Too many hand work projects I am trying to get to a complete status this month for time with the sewing machine (midget appliqué into a top, UFO - quilt as you go, trip blocks into a top with a rework on yellow).

Head on over Saturday morning to the RSC Challenge to see what others have been doing with their scraps this week. This is the first year I have not picked 3-5 blocks to make and I am feeling a bit lost. I may have to rethink that and make a block or two...... Maybe houses? Those have been on my to do list for a while....

Birds in the Air....

These birds in the air blocks flew into the sewing room. I did the dark blue ones Tuesday and finished up the medium blue ones on Saturday afternoon. I hope to make another set of the dark blues today. I spent lots of time on Sunday finding this floor. It doesn't look it... but that is big progress. I have my current UFO laid out on the floor to remind me to finish it.

Aidan is out scraping the car off (27 degrees this morning Mom!). Emily was off yesterday afternoon - crying at the drop of a hat, headache and said her tummy hurt - and has a little bit of a temp this morning so I'm going to keep her home today. I see lots of snuggling on the couch for her today.