Lunch in Lucketts

North on 15 is a little pit stop before you hit Maryland called Lucketts. It is like going back in time and they have the best antique store with lots to look at. Today was a beautiful day and Dee and I decided to meet for lunch and look around.The quilts and vintage tableclothes were the most popular with us. Hard to keep from grabbing them up, but I managed to walk away only because I know the family and I are going up to Intercourse PA and I'm sure there will be things there I must have.Dee put on a tiara in one of the fabulously decorated rooms and I had to have a photo and share. We each brought our lunch and had a picnic. A great day had by all.

Houseguest

Fluffin finally decided to come in for a visit. This has been a four month project of feeding this little ball of fluff (thus his name) to trying to get him to accept people, to coming in for a visit. It didn't last for long - maybe 10 minutes and then he was crying to go outside. We've set up a place for him in the garage if he needs one. And speaking of the garage. Look what I found on my saddles when I went to run a few errands. Cowboy Pumpkin taking a nap.

Dragonflies

  I thought is was fun that one came to the window as I was quilting one on the Pinwheel Quilt. I am halfway through and I have to watch myself that I am not rushing through. When I rush my stitches get different sizes.

The Block Swap

These are my The Block Swap blocks for May. Nicole had this month and asked for Wonky Log Cabins with permission to get a little wild and ambitous. You have to love a girl that gives you free reign to create, create, create. Nicole is making a quilt for her new light blue suede sofa. Her colors she sent were blue and brown and wanted us to add in orange from our own stash. This was my fun morning while my littlest one was home sick and slept ALL morning.

Happy Mail and Fluffin update

Look at what sweet Crystal sent me for the May/ Easter Swap done by Old Red barn Quilt Along Group. The queens are going to be so happy with the candy as I'm trying to loose some of the extra stuff I have going on right now, but NO ONE is touching that magazine. I can't wait to look all through it. Queen 2's tennis lesson would be perfect for that. Cryatal also sent thread and fat quarters and a gift card to Joann's- I know- I'm totally spoiled!  Thank you Crystal for everything.

And Now on to Fluffin. Look at that face. How sweet is this kitty? Still not all about being touched, but comes to the door every morning and evening and will play with me with the kitty toy I bought. I did have him in the house one morning last week and he was good. A little freaked out and meowing to get out at which point I let him. I want him to come to me and am fighting grabbing him up and demanding he love me. He is getting so much better though. And would you just look at that face?

A Day Off

The Queens had off last Friday from school and we went to the park with the pups. The dogwood is in full bloom and the sun was shining. We started off with dentist apts.. and then the pups had grooming apts. In between we went through a drive through- treat for us- and took it to the park and ate our lunch outside.

Jack would like a fry please.

A very good day

Dont you just love a good day? The weather is great. I'm having all kinds of creative ideas and looking forward to my Stella walk. Because of the book below, I've decided to be brave and give handquilting a go. It's really not so bad. I love to embroider in the family room and this isn't too far from that. The book- a great story with lots of quilty knowledge thrown in. Plus- Plus

This is my placemat that I recieved from Jodie. She had owls on the brain too. Isn't it awesome? She also gave me 1/2 yard of MM Owl By Myself. I have already made a quilt of out the 1/2 yard I  had and now I'm thinking of another.

Weekend Project done

I don't know about you, but I have maybe 5 could be 6 things in various stages of completion. The floor of my woman's cave is covered in fabric and I just need to get this stuff done before I can start something else. I guess that is a common theme with me. I do like to start stuff, it is the finishing that sometimes just doesn't happen. Above is a boy's quilt I started two weeks ago and I am glad to say it is done.  I found some really cute fabric at hancocks that had little woodland creatures and gnomes on it and paired that with two fabrics from the Hope Valley line. Used Kona red, charcoal  for the rest and navy for the binding. Quilted in free motion stippling.  It measures 48x48 square.Maybe I'll get another done this week. we'll see.

Placemat Swap

This is what I made for Jodie. She got it today so I can now share it with you. Mine should be coming any day and I can't wait. I saw a sneak peek of it and it's all my colors. This was my first placemat swap and I enjoyed the process quite a bit. I used all the fabric bits I had left over from cutting fabric for the Bee Liberated Bee. It's Marcus Alfresco. I embroidered the saying and hand stitched the owl on. The border is 1.5 inch squares sewn together with a 1 inch navy border. Ta Da- all done.

Hoop Up from Jill

I got one of my two trees in waiting from Hoop Up. This is what Jill sent and I LOVE it. The stitching on the leafy part is amazing and I love the detail in the trunk of this guy. I just have one more to go before my forest is complete. Now what to do with them? I am changing my mind all the time from quilt, to wall hanging, to seperate pieces hung in a collection, to pillows??? What do you think?

Placemat Swap

Here is a sneak peek at what I made for the Placemat Swap. It took me four days to make. I started on Thursday doing some embroidery while Queen 2 had her tennis lesson. Finished up the embroidery while I worked at the school door. Then Sat. was spent sewing it all together and handstitching the owl you see above. Sunday was quilting it and binding, watching Phil win the Masters and crying with him and his wife Amy. Great end- just the way it should be.

Happy Mail Day

This is what I sent to Paula Ozier for the 6 to 12 inch mini swap. The theme was "Spring Fling"

This was what the mailman brought me yesterday from Paula. Aren't those bunnies the cutest? The fabric is Paula's own. Pretty cool huh? This traveled all the way from the United Kingdom. Thank you Paula. It's already on my wall.

Another one is done

This is At A Angle. The front. Quilt size 50 x 66

The back

Quilting this one took me some time to wrap my mind around. I am happy with the end result. I free motioned quilted the flowers in the merlot squares, did vines going up the grey pieces, and then stippled the rest.

TA DA! Yippee! Another one done.

Some sewing time

I went to the library and got the first three you see. I bought the last one for the new bee I joined- Bee liberated. I have the first month in that one. It starts in May, so I have been cutting fabric and getting that ready. All of that will be in future posts I'm sure. I needed some inspiration because I joined a placemat swap and was stuck for a idea. As ideas often happen, mine came to me while walking and I went "Of course! That's what I'm going to do". So now there is a plan. I just have to get it done and seeing how this week is Masters weekend, I see some sewing time in my future.

These are the goodies that I am sending to....... wouldn't you like to know. HA- I'm not telling. This is for the Old Red Barn Co.'s " May we always be quilting friends swap" Love that group!

And Finally Fluffin....... He now comes running to the door at 6am when I open it and meows for his milk. He won't let me get within 3 ft of him -but we are making progress. I'm not sure who is training whom here. I think he might have me.

Happy Easter

We are having a quiet Easter. The bunny got the queens a bag filled with goodies and the hubby made up a hunt for them to do, putting the clues in eggs. We got some flowers and planted them and cleaned out the garage and mudroom area. School begins tomorrow and we are getting ready for that. I hope each of you are having a Happy Easter and know that our thoughts and love are with you.

All the best,
Dena

Blooming Inspiration

These are the trees the girls have been climbing in at the side of our house. They are too pretty to climb in now. Lots of little pink blossoms.

Our Bradford Peartree in front

And the other.. What is this? Maple?
Look at the comments below- Dee knows.

I got to sew today... Wahoo. It feels like forever with the kids home on Spring Break and all the puppy walking. These are for Sarah from Modern Quilting Bee. She wanted string blocks-fun to make. This is going to make a awesome quilt.

These guys crack me up. Can you hear Jack ask, "Hey come in and play?"

Color

Lots of 1.5 inch blocks for April projects to come

Orange kitty love and pretty yellow blooms

Everything is blooming here and so beautiful

Even the sunsets are getting in on the action of color