Celebration days

Barbara & Terri at the scene of the crime

The days since my last posting have been flying and filled with happiness.  My son had a birthday this past week and I was left scratching my head, wondering how this handsome man could be 38 years old and I still a mere sprout.  Ooops...until my birthday yesterday, that is, when I found myself staring on line at the application for Social Security I am now entitled to. 

Terri, my friend from TX, has come back to hang out and quilt with me.  Her birthday was Tuesday, so on Monday we grabbed my long time sewing buddy and dear friend Barbara, and sailed off into the wilds of San Diego to "kill" some fabric.  A great time it was!!!  Lunch followed, at one of my San Diego favs...DZ Aikens, a huge Jewish restaurant and deli with fabulous food.  Weight Watchers be damned!

Urban Art fabric

Make Quilts from Urban Art

We hit Rosie's Calico Cupboard, which Barbara tells me is the largest quilt store on the west coast.  I believe it!   They have a new buyer, and the selection is now including some of the modern quilting designers' fabrics, which is a happy thing to find.  I found a selection of fabrics I didn't expect to find and went, well, a bit nuts over them, if you must know.  I've included some photos of the evidence. 

And now, back to my quilting.  Thanks for stopping by!

How do they do it????

Moms that have lots of kids, that is.  I am babysitting my two grandchildren this weekend and I found myself wondering, after a mere four hours yesterday morning, how my daughter in law has the strength and grace and sanity to do all that she does in a 24 hour period.  This is hard work!  One is 6, one is not quite 18 months...one is completely and utterly absorbed in games on my iPhone (I do not approve of so much of this, but yes, I've caved in, big time).  The little one, who walks like a little cartoon character, is all smiles and laughs and is just a hoot. 

The Flying Macaroni Circus

But...just moving about is really a lot of work...car seats (I'm not doing so well with the buckles), making sure I have diapers, wipes, snacks, toys, you name it.  I am sure this would get a lot easier if I did it more often, but for now, I'm just tickled I get to be the Mimi, not the mom, and leave all this yard work to someone who is a whole lot younger and has a lot more energy!

Stashing

I've been up to no good again, buying fabric for my stash.  In all fairness, I have a lot less fabric than my quilter friends, so I don't feel out of control (yet).  I'm starting to also build little stacks for special projects to come. 

One of those stacks was started when I got all those shirts at the thrift stores in Taos a while back.  I've been pondering where to go with them, and what to add.  Then the other night, courtesy of another quilter's blog, I found SoSoVintage.Etsy.com.  Eureka!!  The owner, Jennie, has a great selection of fat quarters cut from vintage sheets.  The package arrived yesterday, and they were so pretty wrapped in little bundles that it was hard to make myself open them.  Also, Jennie was so prompt and polite to work with...yay for people with manners!

Anyway...here's what I got.  All but the Kliban cats will go into the proposed quilt.  The plaid yardage was purchased yesterday at Quilt in a Day (they always have a great selection of sale fabrics).  Not sure I'll get to these on this trip, but they're sure going to be fun when I do.

Silly me

After a couple of days of getting re-oriented to my "other life" here in CA, I finally found my way to the sewing machine on Saturday and Sunday.  No matter that I have lots of quilt tops that need to be put on their backs and finished, and no matter that I have a list as long as my arm of new quilts I'm anxious to make, I found myself drawn to that pile of Rocky and Bullwinkle fabrics.  By the end of yesterday afternoon, I had four finished place mats ready for us to use here on our little red table.  I know...I'm weird; but I loved The Rocky and Bullwinkle show and they will make me smile to see them in my little kitchen.

What's next?  Last trip out, I fell prey to a stack of Maxine fabrics.  I laughed so hard when I saw them and then after I brought them home, wondered what in the heck I was ever going to do with them.  Well...I have decided a lap sized quilt for a friend who is having surgery soon.  I have also decided that Maxine would not be offended if I don't use a specific pattern or precision cuts...so I'm off now, scissors and fabrics in hand, to see where she takes me.

Hope you have a good week!

PS  If any one of my readers has any idea if donation quilts would be welcomed for the tornado victims, and where to send them, I'd love to know.  Thanks.