Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!!  I hope everyone is enjoying a blessed day and feels the warmth and gratitude of the holiday.

A Working Vacation

Here is part 2 of Helping-My-Parents-Move.  The house was put on the market the first weekend in August, and only took about 8 seconds to sell.

New Year of Stash Bee!

This week I officially signed up for the 2014 Stash Bee.  This online quilting bee is a group of modern quilters who use our stash to make beautiful blocks for our hive mates.  Here is the link to the sign-ups for this next year.  We will be assigned to groups of 11 and only go for 11 months (December off!)  Danny, our Bee Mama, is awesome!  She has a clear vision of how things should work and is so organized.  Even though she will not be sewing along with us this round, she has agreed to stay on and be our fearless leader.  Thanks, Danny!!

9607 Gardens

I've been meaning to do this post for about 8 weeks now.  There are a lot of pictures ... but mostly for my own benefit.  I guess you could consider this part 1 of Helping-My-Parents-Move.  My dad is an expert gardener.  Since I was in about 6th grade he discovered gardening and began transforming our suburban home into an oasis.  Everyone always knew our house because of the amazing plant displays.

I couldn't leave that home without documenting this year's garden.  It has come so far in almost 30 years and Dad collected some amazing plants.  I don't know what all of them are. I also know he'll start reacquiring in his new home, but I wanted to remember it this way.

Some Halloween Spirit!

I've been meaning to get back into the swing of things for several weeks now ... I'm still working on it, but I had the perfect inspiration in the CSI challenge this week:  Pinterest-Inspired Projects.  I'm not really good about decorating for holidays, but I was reminded by my kids how much they enjoy it--at least a little.  Usually I'm lucky if I remember to change my bear's clothes:

It's a Sister Thing!

Today is all about the swap I participated in this summer.  I got back from my cross-country trip last Monday and am finally getting my bearings.  The first thing I grabbed from my stack of mail waiting on my sewing table was a squishy package that had some really cool treats!

Despite my lack of posting, I think she figured me out.  Right now red/aqua is a favorite combo and I absolutely LOVE the plus mug rug.  Of course, since I got a mug rug, she also included some goodies to go IN that mug.  Yummy!

She also included two little pincushions that look like chickens.  Aren't they the cutest!  Thanks so much to Laurel at Drowning in Fabric.  You hit a home-run--Thanks!

Before I left for MD, I also sent off my goodie bag to my secret sister.  I haven't received word that she got it yet, but I'll post it anyway.  I got to stalk Janet at Caribou Crossings.  She posted even less than I did this summer, so I went way back on her blog; its a good thing she's been posting for more years than I have :)  I also had the great fortune to have worked with her round robin quilt in the few months previous, so I had an idea to work with.

I learned that Janet loves hexies and the great outdoors, so I went with many of the same blues and greens I used in my round robin border and added pops of yellow and orange to add some sunshine.  I used the pattern in Sherri McConnell's A Quilting Life (book.)

Janet also does a lot of handwork, so I included some cute labels, some amazing Clover Clips, and some sticky thimbles.  Hope you enjoy, Janet!

Thanks again to Michele at Quilts from My Crayon Box.  I'm so glad I stumbled on your sweet blog last year!

Some August Sewing

I really can't believe it's half-way through August!  Maybe its because I bought plane tickets this week and I know I'm leaving that I suddenly don't feel like I have enough time to get anything done ...

Summer Top 10 Progress

Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by in the last couple of days for the HO-HO-HO blog hop!  I always love seeing everyone else's projects and sharing the positive creative energy.  I try to respond to all the comments, but there are always a few no-reply ones that I can't.  So THANKS again!

That blog hop was on my Top 10 list for the summer, so I though I'd give a quick update:

1.  Lindsay's Baby Quilt. Done and received.  I love the way it turned out.

 2.  HoHoHo Blog Hop.  I posted for this earlier this week--YAY!!

3.  It's A Sister Thing Swap.  I have figured out what to make and am working on it ... almost finished :)

4.  Summmer Breeze Topper.  Almost done with the quilting, only the outside border left, then binding.

 5.  Tetris Quilt.  This is still waiting ...

6.  Flower Patch Quilt Along.  I've gotten a bit more done--4 squares now.

7.  Formal Gardens String Quilt.  Haven't touched this one, either ...

8.  Design Wall.  Still in the dreaming phase.

9.  Work in my yard ...  I've cut down several awful bushes and done quite a bit of basic maintenance--YAY!

10.  Help my parents move.  They have a tentative closing date now and I'm just making final arrangements!!

After spending a few days last weekend back at work helping out, I'm excited to have this weekend free to do some planning for back-to-school and get some sewing done :)  What are YOUR plans?

Ho Ho Ho: Not-Quite-Christmas-in-July

Welcome, hoppers!  I have been loving the outpouring of Christmas Spirit these past few days!

I really struggled over what to create for this blog hop--I had several ideas that just didn't feel right.  Then one evening as I was straightening my sewing area, I unearthed the advent calendar that I started last fall.  Woohoo--perfect project!  Pieces are already made and mostly cut out, a fabric line I truly love (Blitzen by BasicGrey) and still time to actually finish it.

Monogrammed Water Bottle Holders

Every year my oldest goes to Girl's Camp for one week with the Young Women's program at our church.  Our stake has a mail program where we can send gifts and notes up to the girls.  This is very popular and I try to do a little something every day.  She also takes her best friend from school with her, so I have double the trouble to be creative for.