So the kids have all been back to school now for a week (college, high school, middle school). I have been trying to catch up on some sewing. But as my recent projects are surprises - I can't show anything.

One thing I did last week was to clean the vintage sheet I had bought from the antique store. It turned out nicely, much brighter. I also used my pink card at my lqs. The pink card is stamped when you make a purchase, when it's filled up - it worth $25.00 of merchandise!

I've had my eye on this pattern and was glad they had one left. I'm thinking of doing it in 'pink work' - or wouldn't it be fun to do some of the blocks in wool. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll have something else to show.

Tomatoes

We have lots of tomatoes here, lots and lots. My favorite tomato dish? A tomato sandwich. I bought some fresh bread from the bakery - with one whole tomato sliced, some salt and pepper and mayonaise (Dukes - the mayonaise of the south) and well - it's what summer is all about. I've been eating a lot of them. So in honor of my love of tomatoes I made a new table topper.


Speaking of summer - I think it's over here - because the kids went back to school today! Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy them being home - but I'm glad to get back into a routine. Already this morning I've done laundry, dishes, took the dog on her 2 mile walk around the lake, blogged and now I'm off to play tennis. I'm even going to get some sewing in this afternoon!

Antiquing - part 2

Another stop we made was to a shop call French Connections www.french-nc.com . They had a great selection. They sell african fabric and french fabric (in addition to antiques and many other things. What a selection of beautiful fabrics.




I definitely need to go back and buy some baskets.

This is a wall of African fabrics. I have a wip that I started using scraps from African Fabrics that I friend gave me for Christmas. Again I need a visit back here to buy some more African prints to finish it up.




Some pictures of the French fabrics they offer.

And yes I did buy something.
A package of charm squares and a bag of scraps - which I am very excited about using.

Antiquing - part one

I have had my sister visiting the past few days and today with dd#1 settled at college and the other kids occupied for the day we went to the town of Pittsboro, North Carolina for some antiquing. It's only 25 minutes away and although I've driven through it I've never stopped until today.
It's a quintessential southern town, complete with:
barber shop

old time soda fountain (we have a couple of them around this area)

Courthouse with a clock tower and bell that chimes out a medley of southern tunes

and of course a memorial to the Confederate Army Soldiers

Our first stop was at an antique store - 3 floors but most notable was this back room filled with linens, buttons, patterns. It was so much I couldn't take it all in.

Look at this old washing machine

More tomorrow and yes there is fabric involved!

Sometimes when you have a big project to do and lots of smaller ones to complete it's fun to start - and finish something small - a potholder for dd#1's new apartment. 20 minutes - start to finish.

Front


Back

My oldest UFO

I've shown this before - it's my oldest UFO - I started it when I was 9.

I found it several months ago and had planned on finishing it until I realized that some of the transfer lines had faded. Stephanie www.loftcreations.blogspot.com listed this pattern on her ebay store and I bought it!
And then she directed me here http://www.keepsakequilting.com/products/search/Holly%20Hobbie.htm
After 30(some) years I can finish it!

Where did my list of "blogs I'm following go" - it just disappeared. Anybody else have this problem?

Blogging when I should be quilting

The top of my daughter's last minute quilt is completed. I've spray basted it and have begun quilting it. I used a very cute flannel on the back which she will love. But it is heavy and very warm. Maybe not a good project for our 105 heat index today!

Aaargh

DD#1's quilt is coming along - I have the top together and am pleased with it. I added a border onto it to take care of the size issue and I like it even better. But today's problem I cut the backing and forget to leave extra on the length - aaargh. I'll deal with it tommorrow. For today I changed my blog to something more peaceful and meditative. With all the calculating mistakes I'm making - I need that.

So due to a lack of quilt related pictures - I thought I'd share these photos from something remarkable we saw during our vacation - sea turtle nesting.
In this first picture - you can see the tracks the sea turtle made during the night coming out of the water. They estimated that she weighed around 200 pounds!

They sometimes have to move back the nest, away from the high tide lines.

Then the eggs are counted and reburied at a safer distance. They looked like soft. leathery ping-pong balls.

Lastly the area is roped off - hopefully no one will bother it.

Anyone?

I have 11 days until my daughters quilt needs to be finished. So far the top is completed, but I'm not sure it's big enough. So, I am debating whether to add another row and make it larger. The mattress is full size, and being a college apartment - it's not very thick. The top currently measures 54x75. Does anyone have any suggestions on what size to do a full size quilt?

I won one of the giveaways that Ryan from www.imjustaguywhoquilts.blogspot.com was offering a couple of weeks ago. If you haven't read his blog - you should it's jam-packed with fantastic quilts and so much more.

Speaking of jam-packed - this was what I saw when I opened the box.
Look at the 'hotpad' - I was so excited when I saw the 30's fabrics - my favorites!

And then a box crammed with goodies

When I opened the box - what a wonderful scent from the candles - a lemon pound cake candle!!!

So much to look at - candles, tea towel, that darling wreath, that star and so much more.
Thank you so much Ryan for such a generous give-away!

Amandajean from www.crazymomquilts.blogspot.com posted about her sewing space and has asked others to share theirs. My sewing room was in the only finished room in our basement when we bought the house a few years ago. We redid the rest of the house, moved in and then began on the basement. It was a scary, smelly, ugly - did I mention scary place. We finished all the rooms and I think this - which was the worst in the house is now my favorite.

You can't tell but it's a nice view from the window - easy to get distracted from sewing.

I usually hate clutter - but my sewing room is the exception. I have many things dear to me, family photos and of course seashells( I have lots of those).

I have a small closet in the room for boring stuff - but I keep most of my stash and much more on these shelves.

My ufo basket and my wip basket. The pile in the ufo basket is actually getting smaller.
Notice the lack of anything on the walls - I really need to hang some of my quilts!