The Best Laid Plans

No matter how well we make plans, life has a way of changing things. I thought November would be a quiet month of holiday preparation and lots of stitching. We had our wonderful trip early in the month and then started our tree planting and yard projects before winter weather. THEN...my sweetheart got very sick and went the hospital for the first time in his life. This is a man who is very healthy and has gone years without taking a sick day. He spent a week in the hospital but he recovered well and the doctors have no idea what caused the problem and think it probably won't happen again. We are watching his diet and I'm making sure he rests but that hasn't kept him from planting trees and putting up Christmas lights.

It was truly a Thanksgiving for us since my sweetheart was feeling better. We are thankful for the blessings of health and the love and concern of loved ones.

Since then I've been racing to finish Christmas gifts I planned. I did some sewing, crocheting, and other needlework. Projects are completed and wrapped with some ready for mailing. In the midst of all, our great niece was born...mother and baby doing fine. So, the baby quilt I'd planned needed to be finished. Here it is ready for quilting.

I have the squares quilted and I'm ready to quilt the border strips and add the binding. I'm pleased with the way the colors came together and the baby's grandmother assures me the colors will go perfectly in the new nursery.

Today there's Christmas fabric in the washer...I'm hoping to get a little Christmas stitching done for our home...and probably to share as well.

Is anyone else making quilting "to-do" lists for the new year? There are so many ideas in my head and projects in my shelves. I need a plan!! And I must plan time to blog regularly, read blogs and COMMENT...I'll admit I read much and comment little. I know how much comments mean to me and I'm sure others feel the same. One of my resolutions for the new quilting year is to let others know how their blogs touch, inspire and delight.

Have a wonderful day and come back soon!

Autumn Arrives!!!

There's a definite change in the air, nights are cool, and the warm days seem different! It's fall and it's my very favorite season!! I love the colors, the smells, the events and the feeling that the work of summer is over and it's time to gather in and ready our homes and hearts to snuggle in for the winter.

We've already celebrated our younger daughter's September birthday and will celebrate our older daughter's birthday in November. What perfect planning that God blessed us with both of our babies in the fall :)

My sweetheart and I went to the Oklahoma State Fair. We love walking around and looking especially at the exhibit halls with all the quilts and other needlework. Last weekend was our rural electric coop's annual meeting and dinner. We enjoy going and seeing family as well as listening to a gospel singing group. There's always a booth from a local church featuring handwork the church ladies sell to help their mission fund. I found a sweet set of kitchen towels decorated with cows...I collect cows for my kitchen. They were decorated with fabric paint but I had to feel to tell it wasn't stitchery. When I started to pay, the lady who made them showed me the blue ribbon she had won at her county fair for the beautiful job she did on these towels. She gave me the ribbon!!! I think these towels will have to be decorative and everytime I look at them I will think of that sweet lady.


Our home is beginning to look like fall as well.




My sewing room is stacked with Halloween and fall projects. Since these are surprises I'll have to show you through October once they have reached their new homes. I'm also working on more blazers. The ones I made earlier made "older daughter" very happy and that just makes my day :)

My next quilt project will be a baby quilt. Our niece and her husband are expecting their first child, a baby girl, in December. The mother-to-be has chosen yellow, green, light brown and maybe soft rose. I found this combination that I think would look good and match the color choices. I HAD to use the rose color since it fit a baby girl so well. I'm still considering the deep rose and darker print..I think they will be the "pop" but I don't want them to be too strong. What do you think?
The stripe will be the binding.






I plan to use this pattern called Flower Patch from Fall 2008 Easy Quilts magazine.



I'd appreciate any comments or suggestions on the fabric combination. Thanks for stopping by for a visit.