THANK YOU SO MUCH KATA!!

Today when I got home from work I opened my mailbox to find a package from Hungary. I was so excited! Each day since I received an email from Linda with the Bag/Bucket Swap, I couldn't wait to get home to check the mail. My package is from Kata.

Look what Kata made for me. I LOVE MY GIFTS!!! She made a bucket, which is going to be perfect for me to get organized. Here are photos of the 4 sides of the bucket. She used her embroidery machine on the pockets. My bucket is made out of denim and she used 9 patch squares on the sides. And, on the bottom Kata quilted flowers. Great details. I can't tell you how much I love it.

I love sewing
A Sewing Machine
Thread

Quilting Bee

Then, Kata included an embroidered piece made by her Mom. In my note from Kata, she told me this is traditional Hungarian embroidery. Absolutely colorful and perfect. Thank you Kata's Mom for the special gift. I will treasure it.

Beauty So Close to Home

It has been a long time coming but the nursery a few blocks from our home finally finished their waterfall. Campbell's Garden Center does fabulous work. We are lucky to live so close to enjoy their landscaping design.

Just outside my front door is our hydrangea bush. In the Spring and the Summer, it has beautiful white flowers and in the fall the flowers turn a dark pink. I love the colors the bush produces this time of year.

It's Not too Early to Think of Christmas

Connie and Kate are my models for new Christmas Aprons.

When I was in Georgia visiting my sister, I found this Christmas panel from Mary Engelbreit's collection at Beaver Creek Quilt Company. The panel is from the Isn't Christmas Jolly line by Moda. I used the large portion of the panel to make an adult apron. The three smaller panels can be used for quilt labels, trim or on a child's apron, like I did. The panel also has red polka dots and if you cut carefully you can use the dots for trim.



Now on to my next Christmas project. I'm using Jelly Rolls to make a Christmas quilt from...yes...the same collection of Mary Engelbreit's Isn't Christmas Jolly. This will be the first time I've worked with the jelly rolls and I'm looking forward to this project.

Sept. Guild Meeting & Wedding Shower Centerpieces

This week was the first program for the Lincoln Quilter's Guild 2008-2009. Our guest speaker was Mary Sue Suit from Sidney, Nebraska. In the photo, Mary Sue is pictured with "Sawdust" which was juried into IQS Houston Quilt Festival in Fall 2007 and she won 1st place. Mary says when she is designing a quilt she starts in the middle of the quilt, works until her fabric runs out and then that is when she decides the quilt is done. LOL Mary works a lot with geometry and triangles. Her work is amazing.

This is Mary Sue's Nebraska quilt.

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The guild is also selling raffle tickets for Habitat for Humanity. This batik quilt and two other smaller quilts will find homes to the winning tickets in October.

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My friend Joann asked me to make centerpieces for her sister Sam's wedding shower. The cake centerpieces are make from 2 bath towels (base), 3 hand towels (middle), and 2 washclothes (top). I made ribbon flowers and added leaves. Sam's wedding colors are a burnt orange and brown.

My Bag Is Complete

The bag I made for Linda's All Stiched Up, Bag/Bucket Swap is completed and on its way to Bonnie in Texas. I used The Miss Benson pattern from Purse Strings. I changed the handles and the closure. Bonnie asked for reds and neutrals.

Georgia on My Mind

I had a fantastic time in beautiful, green Georgia. I love how the vines grow on the trees. I have been told the vines don't hurt the trees.

We landed in Atlanta and rode the train to the luggage pick-up. Here are my sisters, Nancy and Connie. My sister, Kristine, and her family, Blaine, Heather and Dustin, live in Canton, GA.

During our visit we went shopping in Blue Ridge, GA.

We found the cutest shop called, SSSHINEY BAUBLES. This shop has unique clothing and jewelry...lots of fun shopping there. If you visit, plan on spending a lot of time there.

One of my favorite places to have breakfast is at The Flying Biscuit. I saw a documentary on PBS about biscuits, and they highlighted this restaurant. The Flying Biscuit, of course, has great biscuits and a wonderful atmosphere.

We had a pizza night where we each made our own pizzas. My sister, Kristine, was clearly the winner for being the most creative.

I got a window seat on the way home. I thought this view of the clouds was pretty neat.