Quilt top done

I have been working off and on all summer for a gift for someone special for our family, the lady who watches my kids while we work. She is so good to the kids and to her family. She had it hard when she was raising her own kids, and now she gives back to them by watching her grandkids while the parents work. We're not family, but we're close enough in my book. It was a tearful day when I decided to take my oldest out of that setting and into a pre-school.

I have finally finished the top to the quilt. I am planning on quilting it over the next two weeks or so, so I can finally give her the quilt. I had hoped it would be an end of summer gift, but life got in the way of the final finish.

Each hand represents a child had in her house this summer. The age group is very large, so the older kids helped with the younger kids. I hand embroidered each one's name under their hand.

When summer started and most kids were back to school, I asked her if it was too quiet. She said it was nice, but she did feel like a lot of her help left!

As for the fabric, I bought a jelly roll of the Flutterby line for the strips. The brown is croduroy. I am hoping the contrast in fabric type will work ok. I think it offsets the hands nicely. Anyone had experience mixing fabric types in their quilts? I'd be interested in knowing how it turned out.

Fall Color Anticipation

Fruits of our labor. Fresh, warmed by the sun, home-grown tomatoes. Yum. What a nice treat to enjoy with dinner.


I am awaiting fall color from this plant. I'll have to look up the exact name, but this is some sort of hardy geranium. I was not sure about it, but was told it would have great fall color. Last year was the first year I had put them in. They were AWESOME flowers. At a time when there is not much flowering going on, when the garden's summer colors simmer out, this plant puts on its show. I am awaiting with anticipation some more color! See those buds? It's FILLED with them.

Stepping back, you can see they have a great mounded shape. I planted them behind some peonies...I'll probably move them after they bloom. The peonies are taller, so you really have to peer around those peonies to see what's going on with these geraniums.

Check out this combination! This was an unplanned combination that turned out well. I love the way the yellow from the Black Eyed Susans mix with the purple-ish color of the Sedum 'Autumn Joy'. It works well with each plant's bloom time, too. The BES bloom while the Sedum's green buds come out. Then, just as the BES yellow begins the fade, the Sedum begin their show!

And, while I am purusing through my gardens, what are my little helpers getting into? Anything and everything they can.

Refreshed yet?

Table Cloth Skirt and Dinner Party Top GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Woo hoo! Maybe I'll have a chance to win a new, cute outit or Corinne!

Table Cloth Skirt and Dinner Party Top GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

First Day of School

There she goes again, on to school again. She had so much fun last year that it was easy to take her again this year. I am so glad that she is learning so much, and has fun doing it. It sure makes it easier on me when I drop her off!

The best part of school is that every day is a new adventure. Some new activity, or new story, or new friend. We have enjoyed seeing her flourish in a school-like environment.

She is now in "Pre-K", but I think the curriculum is about the same as last year. ABC's, 1, 2, 3's, etc.

This picture was taken in our front garden, what she calls "Mommy's garden". I was going to take it by the light pole with the black eyed susan's still in bloom and the sedum Autum Joy starting out its fall show. But, nope, she wanted the picture to be RIGHT THERE. And, of course, Morgan got right on in the action!

Another year, many more adventures to come!

The dress she is wearing was made by my sister, Stephanie, using the Oliver and S Tea Party Sundress pattern. The dress was a gift. I have not been convinced that I like this pattern, until, of course, I saw the final product in person, and on it's even better! This is a very flattering dress, with a cute flair at the hips. It's perfect for Corinne, who I think has a long torso. She likes it, so that's what really matters.

I may attempt a winter dress of this pattern in Corduroy. I think it will be really cute with a matching long sleeve shirt and tights. And with Mary Janes, of course....

McCall's 5369

I made a special dress for a certain someone who had a birthday party recently. It took me almost every night for one week straight, but it got done in time for the party, which was my goal.

I loved how it came out.

I realized, though, at the cutting stage of this dress, that I am not good at critiquing the patterns I choose to sew. I need to improve here. Had I realized that each ruffle would need to be hemmed, and then sewn on, I am not sure I would have chosen this pattern. It took a lot of time.

In the end, it was worth it. She loved the dress. She wore it with no problems, and I was ready to hear the "I don't want to wear that" argument. Nope, it was her party dress, and she knew it, and she loved it!

She posed so great, too, for my pictures! Wow, it's amazing that she has become such a sweet little person.

I had to add two buttons to the bag, rather than the one it called for. The dress, size 4, was WIDE at the top. The two buttons I added enabled the bodice of the dress to fit better. I think it came out looking just fine.

This dress, size 4 came out a little short on her, so she wore some small shorts underneath. If I did it again (which I won't - nope, this was a lot of time), I'd add one more ruffle for length. I ran out of fabric for that.

Is it September Already?

Although my blog has been quiet during the month of August (and for the most part all summer!), it's not been quiet here. It's been a busy summer. August flew by.

This summer we've:
* Had two long vacations
* Visited DC
* Had a birthday party
* Hung out at home
* Enjoyed time on a boat
* Seen a helicopter up close and personal
* Ridden horses
* Introduced our little ones to fun on two wheels
* Gotten some crafting done

Back to reality this month...

More Summer Fun

I have yet to share some of the great stories and related photos from our trip to PA in early July. Below is a handful of pictures from that whirlwind trip!

We went to Hershey Park, PA, on July 4. What fun. The kids, obviously, were looking forward to a fun time!

Yeah! We are finally here! Let's have some FUN!

Waiting in anticipation for really fun rides. (Holding balloons, of course.)

And enjoying the rides when they got on. Lots of enjoyment. Corinne in the middle, Elissa to the right, and Ryan to the left. They all loved it. Look at Ryan! Can't you just eat up that smile?

We also took a train ride on a real steam engine train! I knew this would be a winner. We have a few train lovers in this house!

Isn't he a big boy, mounting that train stair all by himself?

This was before the train took off. That little hesitant smile should give away how much "fun" we had on that train ride. It started out GREAT. But, we had a meltdown in the middle. Not just a small meltdown, no, the big, all out, I am mad and going to let everyone on this train know it and too bad you are all stuck on this train with me. With nowhere to go. And no no way to make me happy. Nada.

Luckily, in the middle of the train ride, there was a place called Cherry Crest Farm. What a lifesaver! And, what a fun place to go! They had live animals, two huge jumping pillows, one for adults and a smaller one for kids. I have no pictures of that because, well, I was just having too much FUN jumping on that thing. Talk about AIR. They also had a large corn maize, a farm tour, games, and other fun, outdoor, things to do. And slides built into a hill that were the length of a snow tube ride. Again, no pictures. Too much fun going down those on a burlap sack! Corinne said this was the best part of the whole trip. She went down the slide, by herself, countless times!

We all held live, day old baby chicks! I wish I had a camera of Ryan's little GRAB of the chick. He picked one up like it was a baseball. Poor guy.

Yes, a good time was had by all.