Busy Weekend

My, my what a busy long weekend!  I was off work on Wednesday, so I did some sewing, cleaning, and ran some errands.  On Thursday we went to a nephew's house for an enormous feast.  We also watched Bruce Almighty, which was pretty cute. 

I'm glad I didn't have to cook for 14!  And they always send leftovers home with us, so we still had ham, salads, and cranberries on Friday.

Of course, on Friday, we went shopping.  We don't go out until late morning, when some of the madness is over.  Spent some time and some money at the mall and then at the outlets.  Then I took some packages to the Post Office, and made a quick trip to the quilt store.  Did someone say "SALE"?

I drive by this flag every day, but on this day, I just had to stop and take pictures.

On Friday night, we went to an Italian restaurant with our Dinner Club.  We meet once a month, and go to different restaurants each month.  I haven't had Italian for awhile, and really enjoyed my seafood lasagna.

On Saturday, I spent the first part of the day making sandwiches, and I'm not talking leftover turkey.

The rest of the day was spent quilting, which is where I should be right now!  I must put the finishing touches on my Secret Santa Swap piece, as well as my stocking for the Great Stocking Give Away of 2010.

And now I must get off the computer and get to work on the sewing machine.  More quilting to be done.

Until later......living my life with an attitude of gratitude......Sunny

One Two Three Flower Wednesday

One of these will be on it's way to Australia in a couple of days.

I have to use up some vacation time in the next couple of weeks, so I was off work today.  I woke up at my usual time, but I got to lay in bed for awhile instead of jumping up and into the shower.  Then I did some cleaning and organizing before I headed down to the sewing room.  I got the border on my Secret Santa Swap gift, and then realized that my plan for the backing wasn't going to work out, so off to the fabric store I went!  It was a cool but sunny and nice day, so I made sure I had my camera with me.  I stopped to get pictures of this orange bush that I've driven by a few times.

I parked around the corner, and found this bittersweet when I got out of the car.

This little guy didn't get the message that summer is over, and we're well into fall.

We have a Winter Advisory for tonight/tomorrow morning, so these may not be around much longer.

I then drove across town to photograph this little bird's next.  I found it last night while walking with a friend, but it was dark and I didn't have my camera, so I wasn't able to get a photo last night.  It's a tiny little thing, about the size of a baseball.

On the sewing front, I've been bitten by the Mug Rug craze!  I worked on one today, and have ideas for a few more.  One will be a stocking stuffer for my Great Stocking Giveaway.  You can register for the drawings on each of the participating sites between Dec 1 and Dec 8th

Tomorrow we'll go to a nephew's house for Thanksgiving dinner.  They host Thanksgiving and we host Easter each year.  We'll have a huge dinner, followed by a family-friendly movie, and then pumpkin pie.  It doesn't matter how much we eat, we're expected to have some pumpkin pie!  It's a very nice day, and we try to get home before dark if possible. 

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, everyone!

living my life with an attitude of gratitude.......Sunny

Weekend Results

I completed my fall wall hanging, and it's still fall! 

I also finished the binding on my Bling Thing.  I started it a couple of months ago, and I thought I was almost finished with it, but I had a lot left to do.  It's now off the UFO list.

I also made this adorable little mug rug.  Even hubby likes this, and said I should make more.  Perhaps I will.

Last on the list of finishes was a long, long overdue siggy block for a bloggy friend.  It took me a long time to decide what I wanted to do with it, and I'm pleased with the result. 

So what did you get done?  I'm off to make a hexie flower now before I head for bed.

Living life with an attitude of gratitude......Sunny



Prizes, treasures, and Friday Night sewing!

I was one of the lucky winners of the Friday Night Sew-In drawing last month, and my prize arrived a couple of days ago, just in time for another Friday Night Sew-In.  Look at these luscious fat quarters!

The colors are actually nicer than the photograph shows.

I was off work today, so I did some cleaning, sewing, organizing, and treasure hunting.  I couldn't stay in the house all day, could I?  Here are my treasures.

Have you noticed that I like linens and laces? and buttons? and jewelry?  Some of the lace is destined to end up in a quilt, as is part of one of the hankies.  And who knows what might happen with the rest of the lace.

And now, I must go whip up a batch of gingerbread to take to friends tomorrow, and then get back to some sewing!  Tomorrow I have a trip to G Street Fabrics on the agenda.  I haven't been there for several years, so I'm hoping I'll find some goodies!

living life with an attitude of gratitude......Sunny

One Flower Wednesday

My garden is growing!

Most of the fall colors are gone now, but I found this spot of color at our corner this morning.

living my life with an attitude of gratitude.......Sunny

It's almost Friday!

This is the week for Friday Night Sew-In.  And I happen to be off work on Friday, so I'll be sewing all day and all night. I've got a long list of what I'd like to accomplish.   Go to Heidi's blog if you're not already signed up.  Anyone is welcome. 

Living my life with an attitude of gratitude......Sunny

The BIG Apple



My reference to the apple in my previous post was to the Really, Really BIG Apple - New York City!  DH and I got up at 3:30 am yesterday to be on a bus which left at 5 am and arrived in NYC at 10 am.   We had been thinking of trying a bus trip one day, because when we've gone in the past, we walk and do so much on Saturday that we're too exhausted to do much on Sunday, and a hotel room is usually about $250 per night.  But we're too tired to drive back on Saturday night.  So a bus trip is the perfect solution, right? We can sleep while someone else does the driving.  However, it was a group of DH's coworkers and there were several small children along.  So we had to listen to blaring videos the entire way!  So much for sleeping.  But we did have a good time, and there's plenty of rest on the agenda for today.

We always like to take the Staten Island Ferry because it's free, it goes by the Statue of Liberty, and we get great views of the city skyline.

Lady Liberty

Brooklyn Bridge



The Manhattan skyline, taken with my fish-eye feature!

We then returned to Manhattan, and headed for China Town, where we ate a light lunch and did some shopping.

I absolutely love the watch, and I spent the grand total of $8!  The scarf is so soft, I can't wait to wear it.  DH's choice of places to visit this trip was the Union Square Farmer's Market, so that was our next stop.  We had purchased 1-day Fun Passes for the subway, so we could hop on and off all day, and I'm sure we got our money's worth.

We each chose a loaf of bread, and dh bought a bunch of the largest radishes we've ever seen!  Uh oh, what's that store across the Square?

 I believe I've mention before that I'm addicted to buying books?

And check this out!  I can't wait to dive into it.

Our last stop of the day was Macy's, where we were to be picked up by the bus.  We allowed plenty of time to do some shopping while we waited. 

I'll leave you with one of our final sights in the city.  We crawled into bed at about 1 am this morning.  Not a bad day.

Living life with an attitude of gratitude.....Sunny

One (two) flower Wednesday

I actually have two flowers this week because I finished the one from last week.  This week was a little challenging because I was fussy cutting to make all the petals the same.  It was supposed to be for a swap, but I don't think it's good enough, so I'll try another this weekend.  Oh - maybe that means I need to buy some new fabric??

We're going to do something different and very fun on Saturday.  The new camera will definitely be getting a workout, so come back Sunday if you like lots of photos.  Hint: 

living life with an attitude of gratitude......Sunny

Fall Retreat and CGQC Goals for Nov/Dec

I've just returned from our Guild's Fall Retreat, and I was able to give my new camera quite the workout.  This post is very photo heavy.  I only wish I could do justice to the beauty that surrounded me.  I almost didn't go to the retreat because I don't really know anyone, but I decided that was my depression talking, and that going to the retreat would hopefully be the perfect place to make new friends.  And make new friends I did.  They are a wonderful group of very talented ladies, and were all warm and friendly, and very giving and sharing of tools, advice, and encouragement.  One young lady was only thirteen and made an appliqued quilt of bugs!  She came with her grandmother and they both seemed to have a wonderful time together.  One lady had an amazing bow-tie quilt that was all hand pieced and was being hand quilted.  (I didn't get a picture   :-(  )    If you look closely, you might see part of my Secret Santa swap piece.  I'll start with a picture of fall color, just so you know it really is me!!

There were many cupcake potholders

 

Garden Twist.  I took the class last spring, but mine isn't finished.

Placemats designed by me.  Still need to be quilted and bound.

Simple but beautiful strips

These tablerunners were all the rage.

Two friends had purchased the same fabric and challenged each other to complete their tops.

Minnesota Hotdish - will be offered as a class in March.

And what might this be?  Looks like it still needs borders.

A very happy quilter with her bug creation.

As for CGQC Nov/Dec goals, I plan to complete the four items that I started at the Retreat. 
1.  Placemats need to be quilted and bound
2.  Secret Santa swap piece needs borders, quilting and binding
3.  Fall wall hanging needs binding, and not sure what else.  (forgot to take binding with me!)
4.  Flower basket table-topper needs quilting and binding - got lots of advice on how to quilt
5.  Quilt and bind Garden Twist
6.  Finish quilting Turning Twenty (twelve in my case)
7.  Finish binding on class quilt
8.  Make at least one hexie flower per week
9.  Make Christmas cards
10. Enjoy holiday season

This sounds like a long list, but most of these are just finishing touches, and shouldn't take too long.  Now that it gets dark in the middle of the afternoon (I don't like it when Daylight Saving time ends) and now that the budget is finished at work, I'm hoping to be more ambitious with my projects in the evening.  I still have at least a zillion projects in my head, so I need to clear out the UFO's, so I can make room for more.