First sewing projects finished!

This was Caitie and Alex's first sewing experience. They really enjoyed it. Alex is already planning a project for her next visit. Caitie stitched pre-cut squares together for a front and back then stitched it all together with batting. She bar tacked the intersections.

Alex wanted to do a collage of fabrics. She cut shapes from squares of fabric and stitched them to a foundation with a zigzag stitch adding embellishments by hand. We made a wire hanger for hanging since she wants to hang it in her bedroom at home.

And the adventure continues

After doing some Monday chores, mainly laundry, the girls and I headed to the library. After spending some time on the computers in the children's section, they found lots of books to bring home.

Today was our day for baking. We have a tradition of baking pies (scratch dough and all) every time they come. Sometimes they are here during Blueberry season and we even get to pick our own berries for the pies. Not so this time. They are eating the blueberries that I saved in the freezer for snacks. We made Ruston Peach pies today. I found the cutest little pie dishes at a kitchen shop- bigger than an individual serving but smaller and easier for the girls to handle.

Their parents are driving in tonight, will stay a few days to visit also before taking the girls back to Austin. Since their dad does not eat peach pie, we made a batch of Sugar cookies for him. Of course, he probably won't get as many as he would like since the girls have been scheming on them too.

What has been keeping me busy?

On Wednesday, July 30, David and I drove to Orange, TX to pick up our two darling granddaughters where they had been visiting friends. Alex - 9 and Caitie- 7 have kept me hopping! We spent Thursday and Friday playing in my sewing room. This has been their first sewing experience and they love it. We started with making each of them an apron then I let them use their imaginations to just play and create with needle and thread and the sewing machine. It was getting hectic with them having to share the machine, so I pulled out my traveling machine so they could each stitch away. I was hopping from one side of the room to the other teaching and assisting. They are so different. Alex is the careful planner, taking her time and trying to get perfection. Caitie is the creative designer who thinks done is better than perfect! I stepped out of my zone and let the room stay in an upheaval with fabric and threads all over the place.

They each brought several items from home that needed mending. So I showed them how and let them help. One of the items was Caitie's gingham check plisse baby blanket that I had made before she was born. She still sleeps with it. It had an L-shaped tear. So we sandwiched the tear between two fabric hearts.






We got a break from sewing on Sunday when we enjoyed a day of good food and visiting when Uncle Chris, Aunt Lori and Jordon drove over from Shreveport for the day. It was too hot to be outside for very long, so we played games indoors and had a great time.

Catching Up

Here it is Saturday again! We just returned from a business trip to Biloxi, MS. Well, it was business for hubby; fun for me! I got in some good shopping and relaxing, enjoyed some really good food too. When I got home, the instructions for the final steps for my Mystery on the Oriental Express quilt had arrived. I couldn't wait to complete the mystery; I had a fair idea of where the express was taking me! I have the top complete but have no idea how or when I will quilt it. It will probably just get folded and put away for a little while.

Passing The Award

Here it is a week later than I was honored with the Brilliante Award and i am just now making my announcement of my awardees. Besides having a hard time making a decision, I was out of town all week.

I gain so much inspiration from my blogger friends.

Gail was the first to inspire me to start a blog.

Fran is a fellow quilter and QOR sister.

Wendy cracks me up with her zest for life and neat projects.

Mavie inspires me with all she does.

Lucy has such an interesting blog filled with lots of goodies.

Award

I was greeted first thing this morning by the most wonderful honor. My QOR sister, Veronica, awarded me with the Brillante Weblog. What a surprise. Unfortunately, I had never heard of it until this morning. I know now that I am to pass it on to five other deserving bloggers. I will need a little more time to prepare for the passing.

summer projects

I failed to mention some of the things that have kept me busy lately. I made the cutest little water bottle carriers for my daughter in law, Lori and two granddaughters, Alex and Caitie. I saw the pattern at the AQS quilt show and just knew I had to get it. I even monogramed their names on them. They love them.