It's Halloween!

It's Halloween, and I actually have Gourdy's Gang finished and hanging up!  This was a fun wool applique to work on...love these little guys!

This is how a 3 year old decorates his pumpkin! 

Saturday night, we had our annual Trunk or Treat in the church parking lot.  Jim loves to dress up!

The kids always get a big thrill out of his costumes...he never says a word!

Jim and Grandson Caleb...mini-me!  Jack is not so thrilled with his grandpa in this costume! 

Happy Halloween!

Goodbye Summer, Hello Fall

I love to decorate for fall...especially with little Max to supervise!  She is quite the "klepto-kitty"...when she thinks we aren't looking, she likes to drag the dolls around the house.  

A new little candlemat that I finished a couple of weeks ago.

And what would fall be without a scarecrow or two?  I just love the little "crow-shoes" on their feet!

The seasons are changing...time to drag out the sweaters, the corduroy jeans, and heavy socks.  Cleaning out the flower beds, raking the leaves, mowing the grass one last time.  We hear them before we see them as we walk around the lake...the geese flying south.  It has been a beautiful fall, the temperatures here have been warmer than usual, but today the cold front came in from the north...brrr!   Time to put on a pot of soup and light a fire in the fireplace! 

Hope your week is blessed and you find time to enjoy the changing season.

Twisted I Spy quilt

Sandra is sponsoring an I Spy Parade of quilts over at Sew in Peace.  A few months ago I participated in her I Spy Charms swap and this is one of the quilts I have made from the charms I received. The pattern for this quilt can be found here.    I wish I had a few more quilts to show, but my mojo has been seriously lacking lately!  This little quilt will be a gift for our little 3 year old grand-daughter, Ella.  Now to get it quilted!

If you like I Spy quilts, and want to participate in a swap, check out Sandra's blog.  She is sponsoring another one.  It is so much fun to receive the wonderful variety of prints you will get.  Hurry on over and check it out, the deadline is October 15th!

Piecefully....

Everything but the kitchen sink

Kim Brackett's book, "Scrap-Basket Surprises" has been one of my favorite scrappy quilt books.  When I saw this one, appropriately named "Kitchen Sink",  I knew I could utilize lots of scraps using the little pieces of fabric that were in my basket.  This was started several months ago, and this afternoon seemed like a good time to get the borders on.  Now it is ready to quilt...yea!

It's Labor Day weekend...where has the summer gone?  I have to admit that I am ready for fall...love the cooler weather.  Last night we went to the Kansas City Irish Fest...it was so stinkin' hot, very uncomfortable!  Then I went to the Sana-Cali-Gon festival this morning...lots of great craft tents, but once again it was way too hot.  After the 4th tent, I decided that it was not much fun and came home to my nice cool sewing room. 

Last weekend, the boys came over for a sleep-over.  Have to share these pictures of Jack...Gramma and Grandpa have to spoil them with donuts and milk for breakfast, right?

And then we can send them home in a sugar coma......

I wanted to share this link with you, it seems like I know too many women fighting the battle with breast cancer.   This is so beautiful.....

I'm Gonna Love You Through It

Lazy, rainy Monday

It has been raining all morning...a nice gentle rain with some thunder in the background.  Doesn't that make you want to curl up with a good book or do some stitching?   The rain is much needed and the temperature is in the low 70's, so much better than 2 weeks ago!  Saturday, I was able to work in my flower beds, but today is sewing room time!

Many of you have heard of Quilts for Kids,  if not check out their website.  This is my finished quilt that is washed and ready to send out.  I love the kit they sent me...the black and white striped border is something I would not have thought of.  Right now they are in need for quilts for boys, so I have another one cut out from some of my own fabrics...it has motorcycles on it.  The little quilts work up very quickly, and I do a simple meandering all over. 



The Farmers Wife Sampler blocks and the Civil War blocks are keeping me busy!  I like sewing on different blocks.  Some of the blocks are easy peasy, and some are a bit of a challenge.  I know I am going to like the finished quilt, samplers have always been a favorite of mine.

Farmers Wife Sampler blocks

It's still summer, but I am in the mood for fall.  I have dug out a little wool kit that I bought last year...it is so cute! It's a Pumpkin table mat by Lisa Bongean.  This afternoon I am tracing off the pattern, and will have it ready to sit and stitch while we sit on the deck this evening.  There are a some wool projects in the Primitive Quilts magazine that are inticing me as well, so I have been pulling out wool to make a few of these as well.  I feel like I always need to have something to do while watching TV, or I think I am wasting my time...what about you?  

Hope you have a pieceful week!

Absent from blogland

Time....sometimes there just isn't enough of it.  The hours when I am off of work seem to fly, I pack them so full...I'm sure most of you do the same.  It has been awhile since I have had time to visit blogland, and I have a lot of catching up to do!  My computer is running in slow mode, hope it is not on it's last breath...I have little patience for waiting for a page to load. 

Not getting much finished, so I thought I would at least post a picture of a quilt I made about 10 years ago.  A group of us traded 6-inch 9-patch blocks, and this is how I put mine together.  I love this quilt, as it reminds me of times shared with good friends. 

Look what I won!  A few weeks ago, Marlene had a give away on her blog...it was like Christmas in July for me.  And she added some fat quarters to sweeten the package!  The little candle mat is beautiful,  I know I will be using it when the holidays are here.  Thanks to Marlene, and if you have not visited her blog, you should...you won't be sorry!

It's hard to believe that 1971 was 40 years ago...

last Saturday, we attended a 40th wedding anniversary party.  The guests could dress up in 70's style...how fun!   Did you know that if you go to a "vintage" clothing shop...a lot of it will be the clothing of the 60's and 70's...when did I go from being a hippy chick to being vintage?

                                     

                                                                                                                       Peace!

Summertime friend

Look who came to visit while I was out watering!  Not too hot for this little guy!  I noticed that part of his wing was missing, wonder what happened?  I try to plant flowers that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds...so far this year, I have not seen a single hummingbird.  Usually I can get at least 2 or 3 interested in the feeders....no such luck this year!

It's sad when one thinks it is too hot to go to the pool!  So I am staying inside and trying to catch up on my Civil War blocks. 

And Penelope finally has a face! 

These are certainly the lazy, hazy days of summer...good for catching up on sewing and reading!  Hope everyone is enjoying the summer inspite of the heat!   I keep telling myself...remember last winter!