Sunshine Thursday...

Goodness .... It seems like it's been cloudy and yucky for ages and ages. But the sun came out yesterday and that always lifts my spirit. Maybe now I can concentrate on getting some sewing done for a change. I've been a real slug lately.
And .... I can feel one more grip coming on this morning ..... I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired!!!
There!! I got that out of my system!!!
(Nothing I dislike more than a negative - gripey - gritchy - growly - complaining all the time - person).
So.... I'm over that and moving on to more pleasant things to talk about.
This is me now putting on my happy face. hahaha

What are they doing here?????
The gold finches are here way to early. They usually don't come in for at least another month for their spring massing. I've been seeing several over the last couple of weeks and thought that was unusual.
But now .... they're here in mass!
Each spring they will come to our feeders and stick around and eat us out of house and home for several weeks while they prepare for mating and get their color. I love watching them gradually change from the drab quiet winter color into the bright flashy yellow.
I took this pic thru my kitchen window (screen and all) so it's not the best... but I wanted to catch as many birds as I could. And this wasn't even the most of them. More came in to feed even after I had taken the pic.
We also have three thistle feeders hanging just past the right side of this picture (out of sight) and the birds were all over them too.
I guess our spring must be closer than normal this year.
How nature knows that is amazing huh?

Back home again.....

A successful house-hunting trip to Joplin with D & J. They found one they liked and made an offer. The people accepted and everyone is tickled.
LOVE the house. It's big enough that lots of family can go visit at the same time.
They can't take possession until March so we'll be going back down then to help paint and unpack and organize etc. It's become quite a tradition. heehee

This has been a really good week.
The 'greats' came to our motel a couple of evenings and swam in the pool. We all got to spend quit a bit of time together. It was so fun to be all together again so soon after Christmas. I'll be scrapping some new pictures from this trip....but for now..... I'll just have to leave you with these happy faces.

2nd baby quilt

I almost had the 2nd quilt finished for guild meeting Monday night. All I needed to finish was the binding. Well....time ran out and I still need to get that binding on.
Thank goodness there is always tomorrow. :)
I did get the first one turned in. The hospital nursery will be well stocked now for awhile. We'll do another round of donations mid-year.

Back to the 2nd baby quilt..... I made this from a pattern one of the ladies from guild showed us a couple of years ago. It's a quilt as you go type.... but without batting. Using all flannel and sewing (and flipping) both the front and the back at the same time so when you get all the pieces sewn.... the quilt is done.
It's a really cool pattern. I did add one more round than the pattern calls for because I think originally it's just a bit too small to really wrap a baby up good and comfy. This one finished to about 39" X 43". Just right!

I also decided to make mine reversible. Most of the gals make theirs the same fabric font and back....but I just had to be different.
Truth was....I only had one yard of each flannel pattern and I didn't want to run out.

The pattern calls for 5" strips cut wof. I cut 4 strips out of each of the three different flannels that I used for each side. I still have to get the binding cut. I'm going to be doing it scrappy and using all the leftover pieces from the quilt.
Yep.... tomorrow I'll be doing the binding. Then it gets to go on my finished list. WooHoo!

A Walk In The Park....

That's the name of the pattern I used for this baby quilt. This quilt is the first of two I will be donating to our hospital nursery through our guilds commitment of supplying a quilt for each newborn baby.
I love this pattern. It is so easy and can be done in no time using scraps if wanted. I did buy the original quilt kit (and have already made one quilt last fall) and now this is the 2nd one and I still have enough fabric left over to get a 3rd baby quilt. I'll need to add a bit more for borders perhaps....and disregard this pattern....but the kit sure was money well spent.

I used King Tut Cotton Candy on top and white Bottom Line in the bobbin. The panto is Mini Swirl from Willow Leaf. One of my favorites.

I'm using the glue method to set the binding down and then I'll still need sew it to the back.
I'm debating whether to hand stitch like I do all my quilts.....or save time and stitch it down by machine. I think the machine will work out well with the glued binding.

So now I can add this to my January Projects A Month. One more baby quilt to go.....

I haven't been scrapping lately since I've not felt to well....but I do intend to get back to it soon.
Have a Great weekend everyone.

One Project a Month Challenge

I was blog hopping yesterday and came upon a couple of gals that have started a challenge for the year. The object is to complete at least ONE craft project by the end of each month. This can be something you've had partly done for a while (a WISP as she calls them, which means Work In Slow Progress), a pattern you bought ages ago that you finally get around to making, or a completely new project.
Now I'm thinking this challenge might be just the incentive I need to keep me going on all of my UFOs and planned projects and want-to-be quilts so I've joined their challenge. See the little bear badge on my sidebar? Cute isn't he? There's a direct link to Kris's blog if you'd like to check it out. I think this will be fun.

And a BTW.... I'm feeling a lot better today. In fact yesterday we both managed enough energy to take down and pack away all signs of Christmas. My living room always looks soooo big after that is done. Feels good!

Today my plan is to head to the frame to get that baby quilt finished. I think I can find the energy for that little bit.
So I'll leave you with a bit of sunshine and happiness.

New Day....New Year....

And by golly I do believe I'm going to get over this crud after all. I'm feeling a little better so I think I must be on the upswing. Both of us can't get over how hard this hit us.
I even started putting away the decorations yesterday. I didn't last long but at least I started. I'll finish today and then I can get back to my sewing room.

I've thought about making New year resolutions..... but...been there - done that.... so there's just no reason to think I would keep them this year either. And I already pretty much have my UFO's already on my list so no sense in changing that. It should be good for another year.
But I am going to commit to getting at least three of my UFO's quilted and bound this year.

This week my plan is to get both baby quilts quilted and bound so I can take them to guild meeting next week. I hope my energy holds.

still sick....

Well fish!! (that replaces carp which replaces cr_p wich replaces a lot of much stronger words that I choose to not use) This dang bug just keeps hanging on and on and on. It's just not fair!! Deb you said I would be better in two days. NOT TRUE! :(

And because I was in such a fog Wednesday I want to let you know that I didn't hit the right buttons on this keyboard....Suzanne really can count. The FQ number should be 39 <<< seee that's a 9 not an 8. Sheesh!!

Hi there LindaH. Glad you stopped by. My machine is a Juki. It usually is on my New Joy Gold frame but occasionally I'll take it off and use it on the table. That's the baby quilt I've made for the hospital nursery project our guild donates each year. Each new baby born gets a quilt made by one of us in the guild. I think I'll drag my body back there today and try to get some of it quilted. That is if the energy level will hold.
Criminy!! It's no fun at all when both of us are sick at the same time.
Oh but wait....maybe it is. This way he really does know how bad I feel. Thank goodness for the freezer and pre-cooked meals.
I'm off to take more meds.

Happy New Year!!

I will be glued to the tv this morning watching the Rose Parade. It's just one of those events that happen each year that I refuse to miss. I started watching it when we were first married and I don't think I've missed one since.
I remember the year it was first broadcast in COLOR. OMGosh!! Now that was impressive. It was better than watching a fireworks display. I just ooooo'd and aaaawwww'd

Here's hoping your new year is blessed and full of all you wish for.