Updating . . .

It’s been quite quiet this week. Hubby was exposed to COVID a week ago Friday (masking and distancing protocols were being observed, thank goodness) so we’re taking a 14-day ‘vacation’ from the grandkids. And we each got to take one of these - 

fortunately we are both negative. We’re planning to test again later this week, just to be safe, before the kids come back next week.

So how are we spending all our unexpected free time? In between reading and napping, I finished the General’s Stars top. This is a Guild challenge, due October 20, to make a quilt using a layer cake. 

 My photo “studio” aka “the upstairs hall”

It’s not the prettiest thing I’ve made but it will look just fine on our bed and I won’t worry if the grands get it dirty. Fun fact - today’s layer cakes almost universally have 42 10” squares of fabric. This one, purchased in 2012, had 52. This is the biggest quilt I’ve made at 80“x88”.

I’m also working on a quilt for Mary that features flying geese. 

I’m determined to get over my fear loathing dislike of sewing these. I tried a few tutorials (including this one for making 4-at-a-time) before deciding on this one by Bloc-Loc. 

It’s not the fastest method but making oversized blocks and then trimming them to size works best for me. And I already  had the rulers. Bonus!

My plan is to finish Mary’s quilt this week so I can take it, Stars and Leia’s Bears quilt to My Pal Debbie for quilting as soon as we are off quarantine ‘vacation’. Crossing fingers ... 

Happy Happy

Happy birthday to this guy,

who celebrated with a bit of clay practice - 

before starting another set of pottery classes on Friday -

and dinner with a few of his favorite littles.  

We’ll have another round of celebrating this weekend, ‘cause when you’re this old, you can’t handle all that excitement at once. 

A Quilt And A Ham

Leia’s quilt top is finished. 

We’re going backing fabric shopping Friday after school, then this will be off to my long-armer pal next week (fingers crossed). 

 The light fabric is blue, not white. Can’t get the colors right on my computer. 

Jac was spending the night so she came upstairs to help me with photographs.

So much helping. 

And laughing. 

I love this silly little ham. 

20 Minutes

As part of her 4th grade curriculum, 

Leanne is supposed to read for 20 minutes every day.

It’s not exactly a fight to get her to do it, 

but she will use any and every excuse she can think of to avoid it. 

She prefers to read out loud, rather than to herself, 

so Jac and I are her audience.

She also prefers being comfortable.

Silly girl is going to have a hard time adjusting to a desk and chair when she goes back to the classroom. 

Sew-Along Update

The Mini Maker Case sew-along officially ended this past weekend but - fortunately for me - the how-to videos will remain available.

I’m going to need them. This pattern is challenging my bag-making b*tt. 

I tried working ahead of the video releases, using just the pattern, which worked ok as long as I kept the seam ripper handy.  

But when it came time to sew the top and bottom to the completed side panel, and the pattern said ‘this is the hard part,’ and I’d already been struggling, 

this went straight to the time-out basket and I went to play with the tiny people instead.

Not giving up though! I’ll try again this weekend, AFTER I watch the rest of the videos.  

Fun House

The Great Donovan Sleepover was roaring success.

 Feeding his babies

He slept through 2 out of 3 nights and didn’t seem to miss mom and dad at all (shhhh, don’t tell them that . . .)

I’d forgotten how active a 2-year-old is all. day. long. And how old we feel trying to keep up. 

 Sword fight with emery boards

Leanne was bored this afternoon,

so she tried some bubble experiments, all on her own. 

Success!

Leanne also curled and colored Jac’s hair.

Jac is not fond of having her hair brushed (understatement!) but she **loves** how it looks when Sissy styles it.

Deal Breaker

For the next three days, Pop and I get this,

along with lots of hide-and-seek,

 Where’s Donovan?

while his parents get this.

Pretty sure we got the best deal - 

IF Donovan sleeps through the night. 

He kept Mary up last night from 0330-0630.

That’s definitely a deal breaker on “best deal.”

Love Notes

Dear Leia, love you too. I put ink in the printer - and bought more paper. Love, GofA

 

 This note I found in my craft room is signed, “From your favorite Leia”. And she is my very favorite Leia. 

Sew-Along

I’m late starting the Mini Maker Case SAL but I’m hoping to catch up this weekend.

Pulled my fabric this afternoon and cut the pieces tonight. Tomorrow we sew!

Fabrics:

For the top: Fox Wood by Betsy Olmstead for Windham Fabrics. 

Bottom and handle: Flame Orange and Metallic Gold From LUXE Collection by Hoffman. 

Lining: Tula Pink’s True Colors Hexy Rainbow 

And a teal zipper because I 💕💕 orange and teal together. Hope this looks as good IRL as it does in my head.

 Case by lillyella, Nicole Young

Zoom Zoom Reveal

It’s a pillow! Not a big surprise, right?

Jac helped me pick the backing fabric,

before I attached the zipper and made an insert for stuffing.*

Donovan helped me stuff 

(helped = pulled fabric out of the bins he could reach in my stash room)

then grabbed the pillow off my chair and claimed it for himself. The pillow’s comfortably oversized at 18x19”; I think it’s going to be very popular with all the pillow thieves grandkids.

* I dislike washing pillow stuffing unless I really have to. It gets all lumpy and bumpy and is never as comfortable afterwards.