And it's DONE!

While still being quilted:

I swear, the cat isn't getting donated with the quilt, but try telling him that!

Also: an easy peasy baby blankie- just a square of flannel with a coordinating cotton binding on the edges!

Jacob's Ladder QOV

The pile of block from the previous post turned into THIS! I ditched the red/white batik in favor of a red/white/blue bandana type print, deciding that it was more patriotic (and I had 6 yards of it in my stash, so I could make a wider border than with the one yard of batik!) I think I had mentioned that these blocks were from a past online block swap, so , really, sort of a group effort for a good cause!

I'm backing this with the same fabric as the border (and I still have some of it left!). It's currently loaded on the frame, and I did half of a pass of quilting on it. I'm quilting it in a varigated red/white/blue thread, and doing an all over free form with loopies... I think (hope!) it will turn out well!

Coming Soon....

And my next project will be...

This stack of blocks is from a swap about 2 years ago. Yup, for approximately 2 years, these puppies have been hiding out in my closet. I've had the red/white batik border fabric about that long too! Sad, isn't it?

First thing to do: I need 4 more of those red TOT and WOW Jacob's Ladder blocks... then assembly! I'm thinking I'll make this a QOV and donate it ( http://www.qovf.org/ ). 16 blocks will make the center, then possibly a thin inner border of a blue to pop out, then the outer red/white batik... maybe? I'll figure it out as I go!

Finally another finish!

I've been working on this quilt since last fall. Between bouts of unmotivation and moving, it's taken awhile to get done. The pattern is one that an online friend wrote up for a group of us a year or so ago, and it's my first use of a jelly roll in a quilt. (I know- I take awhile to catch on sometimes!)

It's pretty busy.... and the quilting didn't turn out as nicely as I'd have liked, BUT... it's done, and at this point, that was my main concern. This one started out with bad quilting - bad thread choice that took me hours to pick out... after that, I didn't care how perfect it turned out, just that it got DONE!

Turns out that the 2nd quilting attempt went tons better, and even though it's not the best I've done on the midarm, it'll still provide a nice pop of color on our dull, dark greyish bedroom wall. Yeah, we could change the color, but the hubby is a big fan of a dark bedroom when he's on night shift and sleeping all day, so I'm working around it!

Festivities from the 4th

Perk to being married to a military police officer: golf cart seating for the annual 4th of July festivities on post! (Def NOT me in that uniform, but hubby's co workers LOL) You can see Matt enjoying the comfortable, dry seating. It had rained earlier in the afternoon, so dry was a high point for us!

Another high point: FUNNEL CAKES! Especially when eaten off of the back of previously mentioned golf cart.

And, of course, you have to have fireworks on the 4th!

Latest Quilty work

This is my latest top... it's super busy, and I love it! It's made from a Moda Fresh Air jelly roll, with coordinating borders. The backing will be a 2$/yard clearance cotton- even better! It's currently loaded on the frame, and I started to quilt it the other evening, but I've decided I don't like my chosen thread color so..... need to pick out the little bit of quilting that I have done now.

This one doesn't have a definate destination yet, but it might be heading to my sister in MO upon completion... we shall see!

No sewing... just swimming!

Happy First Day of Summer!

On Monday, my sister, her friend, and friend's two kids showed up for, what turned out to be, a very short visit. As soon as they got here (after driving all night), we decided to head out for Destin, FL for some beach time! The weather was gorgeous, and the waves were calm. After 4 or 5 other trips to the beach, this was the first time I was actually able to get Matt into the water to enjoy it. YAY!

(Matt, contemplating getting wet)

(Aunt B and Matt)

(me and the sis- same parents - I swear!)

(salt water on the glasses- not so easy to see through!)

(finally brave enough to go under)

There are some baby gators chilling on the little docks and stuff in the water... this was at Fudpucker's for lunch. Matt got brave enough to touch one of the little ones, that had it's mouth taped shut, but they wouldn't allow me to take any personal pics of it. But... karma is a b!tch... right after making me put my camera up, the guy holding the gator got peed on by it.... Ohhh yes- too funny! Matt was super amused.

We wasted the next day at a local pool that serves double as a mini-waterpark! The first few times Matt walked up the path to the top of the waterslide, he promptly ran back down scared, but he finally got brave enough to go down a few times!