Ready for the Beach

Seems like my blogging time gets further and further apart.  I hope to NOT have a repeat performance of last summer and my lack of blogging. 

I bumped into a very fun (and quick!) project earlier last week and it was on my mind for most of it.  So I gathered my supplies and went to town in my sewing room over the weekend.

Did I say this was a quick project to sew up?  Yes?  Well, trust me.  It was.  2 hours and I had a new bag done.

Isn't it CA-UTE??  It's big too.  If you want to make one... click here!

It really is a nice size and has six pockets on the outside.  I put two beach towels rolled up on the inside to give you an idea but there is so much more room for lots more stuff.

I made mine with a home dec weight on the outside and DS Quilts fabrics from Joanns for everywhere else.  I love that orange print that I used for the lining.

Now I'm ready for the beach!  Or at least the pool.  I love bags and totes.

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

An Apple for the Teacher

The end of the school year is fast approaching and of course, I am scrambling.  I had this mini quilt idea way back, when Lori posted her apple row in her Row Along.  I put it off and put it off: "I have PLENTY of time!" and look - June 1st is Saturday!

In between rainy days this weekend, I worked on this mini for Amelia's teacher.  Happy to have the top done. 

Here is my question... what color do I quilt it in?  I'm going to a simple straight line quilting of some sort but I don't know if I should go with a red or a neutral - like a gray or cream?  Thoughts?  I'll welcome any ideas because I need to hustle to get it done for the last day of school. 

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

To ease myself back into sewing, I worked on getting all the pillowcases made that I bought fabric for when we went away back in April.  Our weather for the Memorial Day weekend was terrible.  Raw, cold, and raining.  We were very happy that we decided to stay home and not go up north.  My in-laws went and New Hampshire got 4 inches of snow Saturday night.  I heard that upstate New York got upwards of 3 feet of snow!  It felt more like March than the end of May!

Thankfully, the sun found its way back and Monday it was nice and sunny.  End of this week, the weatherman is saying we are going to hit the 90s!  From winter to mid-summer with no Spring.  As usual for New England.

Question is... which ones will go on the beds this week?

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Picking a new winner!

Well, it's been 5 days and I haven't heard back from Reba on her win of the Large-Block Quilts book.  You know what that means!  I picked a NEW winner!  WOOHOO for you!

The *new* winner is....

Margaret!
"I love pinwheels to Yours is beautiful Thanks for the chance to win this book. I need it"

Congratulations Margaret!  An email is coming your way to collect your mailing address.


Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Vote for Hope!

Google is sponsoring a "Doodle 4 Google" contest where a doodle created by a school-aged child will replace the logo online for 24 hours.  And guess what?!  My cousin's daughter, my God-daughter, won FIRST PLACE and is representing Connecticut in the national contest!  Hope is 8 years old and I'm spreading the word.

VOTE FOR HOPE!  There is a week left in the voting process and it just dawned on me that I could blog about it!  I hope my blogging friends will cast their vote for Hope and bring her closer to the win.  She would get a $30,000 college scholarship and a $50,000 technology grant for her school.

VOTE FOR HOPE!  Here's the link.  You can vote once a day.  Here is Hope's doodle.

She and her school were also featured on the local news.

Please.  VOTE FOR HOPE!!

We couldn't be prouder of her. AWESOME job Hope!

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

We have a winner!

Thank you for all the great comments on my quilt top.  I'm sorry I didn't get a chance to reply back to all the comments but be sure that I've read them all.

And the winner is...

Reba!
I would love to win this new book. I am a huge fan of the big block quilt.

Congratulations Reba!  I've sent you an email regarding your win.

I hope those that didn't win will purchase a copy of Vickie's book.  You won't be disappointed for sure.

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)

Adding to the stash

* if you are looking for the Large Quilt Block book giveaway, check out this post *

Just over a week ago, we packed up the truck and took a road trip to Bird-In-Hand, PA.  My husband had a few things to get for the farm and corn planting.  Punk had Spring Break for school so she and I tagged along.

We spent a very nice few days in Bird-In-Hand and just hung out.  We toured a small pretzel factory.  Went to tour Turkey Hill and got free ice cream out of that deal.  Swam our cares away in the 2 indoor pools.  It was family time at its best.

What I did was spend some money and brought home some cotton goodness.

I went with a very detailed list.  There were a few things I was determined to find.  Couple things I did, others were a bust.  Ah.  Just gives me an excuse to shop online.

Charms packs, big and small.  If you can't see the minis, those are "Aspen Frost".  I had a generic catagory on my list called "mini charms".  These fit that bill. 

A few patterns.  "Flirt" was on my list and I'm happy I found it.  I bought all the yardage to make this wallhanging a few months ago but never got around to buying the patten.  Now there is no excuses on my part.  I just have to find that yardage I bought.  It's hiding in my sewing room somewhere..... Dilly Dally jumped into my hands; as did Winter White. I think Marmalade will be Dilly Dally and Odds and Ends - Winter White.  That is my thought right now.

This Riley Blake yardage is strictly stash.  I just liked it so I bought a few 1/2 yard cuts from the line.

The neutral peeking in is for a memory quilt and I need to get started on for my Grandmother. 

The rest?  Pillowcases.  The farm themed yardage (the cows) is Punkie's contribution to my shopping.  She and Daddy, according to her, needed farm pillowcases.  I did not get any yardage for myself since there is a farm line that came out earlier this month that I adore and I will make my pillowcase out of it when I buy some.

All the pillowcase fabrics have been washed and now are in waiting.  I hope to get a few done on Friday.  Again, work has been busy and the weather has finally changed to Spring so we've been working outside on our landscaping.  No sewing here.

Hope all is well where you are!

Enjoy your day!
Jen :)