So Much to Do, Yet...

It is almost time...just 15 days until 'load truck and leave Wisconsin' day.  I have so much to do, yet.  Luckily, I should be able to get it all done with a minimum of stress.  HA!  No, really, I think it's all manageable.  One of the most important of things on my list was to spend a bit of time with the Princess Kaylynn.  That happened yesterday.  (Kaylynn and her family live about an hour from here, so our usual manner of getting her here and back is to meet about halfway.  I love that Kaylynn's Mom has been so helpful with our visits.)  We met at our usual exit off the interstate...Kaylynn and I ate lunch together at the self-proclaimed 'largest Culver's in the world',  

It was a great time...eating and chatting about school (Kaylynn's going to be in the 5th grade!?!), summer vacation, my move, and many other things.  Of course, the time went by all too fast.  I will see her when I come back to visit friends/family in Wisconsin...and we will FaceTime.  AND, her Mom is perfectly willing to allow her to fly to visit me.  

She is getting to be such a little lady...and such a sweetheart.  

    
I have a big sewing project to start and finish this week.  The very last one on my list of things I really needed to get done before the move.   I'll tell you all about it and show photos in my next post.

In the meantime, have a great Sunday!




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

This Week's Finishes...

My granddaughter, Princess Kaylynn, is coming for an overnight tomorrow.  Her 10th birthday was on the 4th...this is the first I've seen her since then, so we will have a small celebration.  Pizza (or some other foodstuff) and movie.  

Look what I made for her...a pink paisley mid-calf length nightgown. 

I learned something new when making it...how to make a thread loop (instead of a buttonhole).  Easy peasy, but I had never been asked to make one before for anything.  

Also, this week...I finished a quilt top.  This morning, in fact.  I had started it last fall (click here) and when I got to the "ohno!  I ran out of fabric and I need two more blocks!", I set everything aside so that I could ponder my choices.  Well, apparently, I was unable to make a choice.  Because, there it sat.  I debated using just the background fabric and stitching a little poem on the two blocks.  I debated making those two blocks with pieces of a few different colors.  The problem was...I was short on background fabric and short on leaf fabric.  In the end, I made two pinwheels and called it good.  

Here is a closer view of the background.  I love this background.  I had been using it very carefully for 5 years and finally decided to go ahead and use the remainder of it on this quilt.  

So, now...the flimsy will be put into the box with the other flimsies that are waiting to be quilted.  

Moving on...on to the next few things on my list.  

Have a great weekend!
 

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

In the Mail and A Finish and Princess Kaylynn...

You all know how I love getting packages in the mail...even when they are expected!  So, yesterday I received a box of stuff from Cathy.  I love getting packages from her!  This time, she sent some stuff for dolls (one of these days, a doll will be made) and some fabric pieces.  

Here is what she sent...

yarns

flannel

velours

cottons

And, of course, I love it all!

Thank you so very much, Cathy!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Those of you on FaceBook already saw these photos, but here they are for those of you who did not.  My granddaughter, aka Princess Kaylynn, was here for an overnight last night.  Here are the photos...

playing with flashcards

kisses

just laying around

sweetness

more sweetness

night-night

Kaylynn helped me out by holding my wonky charms quilt top so I could get a photo of it...

A Walk in the Woods wonky charms quilt top ~55" square

Kaylynn drew pictures and told stories, sang songs and played with Tag.  We watched the movie, "Super Buddies".  And, we ate.  Kaylynn has always been a good eater.  She will eat anything I fix her, though that's not saying much cuz I am not a very adventurous eater.  Here's what we had for supper (taco stuff on a bed of Fritos - Yummy!)...and I must tell you, she ate more than I did!  And, she had dessert! 

Kaylynn left this morning.

Tag is sound asleep.

My head is full of ideas of doll stuff.

Have a great Sunday!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Going on Nine!

I had a wonderful weekend with my dear granddaughter, Kaylynn.  She is such a bright spot in my life...I know you've read this before, but I gotta tell ya...she truly makes my heart sing.  

Kaylynn will be nine years old on May 4.  WOW!  Already?  I gave her a few gifts while she was here...some cloth napkins to take for using at home (she thinks it is way cool to use cloth napkins when she is here!), the skirt I made back here, a white t-shirt and the promise of another skirt (I wanted to see how this one fit before making another).  Here she is modeling it...a perfect fit!
  

 We watched the movie, 'Frozen'...

went to Rocky Rococo's for birthday pizza...

and ate these for dessert.

 

Tag, of course, was ecstatic that she was here.  Wherever he was, she was...

Resting after time spent playing.

Kaylynn does beautiful artwork...

see the brown dog?

She is hoping to receive a bitty baby for her birthday.  If she does, you know who will be busy making clothes for the doll.  ~grin~

It was a wonderful time and was gone in the blink of an eye.  Now that I am retired and things have settled down both here and there, I should be able to spend more time with her.  She lives about an hour away, but her Mom is very willing to meet me halfway for the visits.  That makes it so much easier.

I hope you had a good weekend, too! 




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Fun Friday...

When I woke up this morning, I decided that I needed to have a fun day.  Way too much seriousness going on around here.  

So, I did!  I had a fun sewing day.  These simple skirts were fun for me to sew and will be fun for the girls to wear.
 
This one is for my granddaughter, Kaylynn...

I put a fancy stitch on the hem...even though I knew it wouldn't show up very well...just having fun...

This one is for my sister Joyce's granddaughter, Ashley...

Love me some rick-rack!!!

I cannot decide which one I like best...but I know I will make more!  With ruffles and layers and trims.  These are very easy and quick to make.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Getting It Done...

After losing last week to headaches, I was really looking forward to getting some things done this week.  Luckily, no headaches have descended upon me, so I have been fairly productive yesterday and today.   

  I finished this little quilt...

and listed it in my Etsy shop here.  I rather enjoy making little quilts...they are quick to make and  it's (almost) instant gratification.  Also because, ya know, they're so dang cute.

I started working with the new doll dress pattern that I purchased from Bonnie at mybonbonboutique.  I made a dress for Aubrey (my 14" Waldorf doll).  I thought blue would go well with her hair...

Isn't that just too cute?  The dress is a medium, and just a tad big for Aubrey, but she's so happy to finally have a dress that she has not noticed.   (I've got the dress snugged up quite a bit in back, so it looks as if it fits her better than it actually does.)

(Please excuse her hair...Kaylynn was playing with her and got a bit rough, methinks.  Aubrey definitely needs a new hairdo.)



And, I made this for sister Joyce to gift someone...

Do you know that, with all the Kleenex cozies I've made, I don't have one for myself?  Isn't that funny?  I have made over 100 of these things (I'll bet the number is closer to 200)!   And still, not one for me!  ~grin~ 

I'm not sure what I'll be working on for the next few days, but I have my list in plain sight, so I will keep focused.  

Kaylynn is coming for an overnight this weekend.   That makes me very happy.   

What are you up to this week?





"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Nothing Much...

Haven't done much this week.

So, all I have today are some photos

that I've not shown.  

I did get a bit of quilting done. 

(a very little bit)

From last weekend...

kisa allowing Kaylynn to touch her.

Also from last weekend,

Kaylynn kissing Tag good-bye.

 I have a few projects that I need to work on...

perhaps they'll be finished within the next two days.

Only time will tell.

Have a great weekend!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Happy Mother's Day!

 Wishing all you Moms and

Grandmoms a very happy day!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Catching Up...

Wow...where does the time go?  It's been almost 4 weeks since I last wrote.  Guess I have not been paying attention.  

Where do I begin?  


I think I'll just take a deep breath and jump in.  I might have lots to say, so get comfy!

My granddaughter, Kaylynn - aka Princess Kaylynn - came for an overnight last weekend.  What a delight that child is.  I do nothing but smile when she is here.  This was her first visit to my apartment.  We didn't do too much...watched a movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks - The Squeakquel"...the one where they meet the Chipettes (who sing "Single Lady" by Beyonce...so darn cute).  ~grin~ 

Made mini pumpkin pies...in a muffin tin...that was fun!

And, they were very good!

Course, Tag and Kaylynn fell asleep together...

I took a lot of pictures...and came up with this one.  I so adore this girl...

The visits with Kaylynn...excuse me...Princess Kaylynn...are always too short.  

Tag thinks so, too.  He thinks she comes just for him, you know.  ~grin~

I took my latest quilting projects to show off at work.  I am always so pleased to receive feedback from my coworkers.  

Let's see.  I seem to recall that I was going to talk about living with a cat.  Yes, indeed.  I have a cat.  Not solely by choice, but rather more of necessity.  Julie's cat.  Kisa.  When Julie was moving, she couldn't find a home for Kisa, so rather than have her go to the humane society or to a rescue, I offered to take her.  What was I thinking?  I have never had a cat.  For a reason.  Because I didn't particularly want one.  Not a cat lover.  Not a cat hater, though.  Sort of ambivalent, I guess you could say.  So...Kisa has been with Tag and I since we moved here and I must say that I am pleased that she has decided to become part of the family.  She is now more a participant than an onlooker as she was when we all lived in the country.  She is a good girl...doesn't climb onto tables or counters...uses her litter box, tolerates Tag (and me, too) and loves to talk.  Little chatterbox sometimes.  Takes her cues from Tag as far as eating time goes...what a nuisance those two are together!  ~grin~

Here are a few photos of her...

That is me under the quilt.  When Tag lays next to me in the big easy chair, Kisa feels that her place is on me.  Funny girl.

If they're not with me in the big easy chair, they're laying on the sofa...Kisa is the indentation on the left...on the back of the sofa...

 

She really is a pretty cat.  A Pixie-Bob.  

OH!  And, I won a giveaway!  I rarely enter them, anymore.  But when Erin, over at Why Not Sew? was having a giveaway for the Quiltmaker's 100 Blocks magazine, I had to enter...and I won!  woohoo!  ohmygosh...the blocks are all amazing!  There are several I want to try.  Someday.

                                 

Why was Erin having a giveaway?  Because...she has a block in the magazine!  I am impressed!  That girl rocks, for sure!  Here is her block...can you say WOW!?!?!       

  

 
Other than work and getting settled into my small apartment, I've been working on gifts for birthdays and Christmas.  Nothing to show just yet.  Lots of knitting of face cloths, which are nice to work on before I leave for work in the a.m. (actually relaxing to sit and knit for the last 20 minutes or so before I need to leave) and in the evening while watching tv.  Getting down to "get serious and put your nose to the grindstone" time, though.  Always one to work best under pressure...that's me!

OH!  And, the 2Sheep hooked rug...the current header of this blog...the rug that took me forever to complete?  I sold it!  Yes, I did!  It doesn't really go with my stuff and my friend, Claire, has always admired it...so I sold it to her.  YAY!!     

And, for those of you who are keeping track...I have now read 81 books this year...and will surely surpass last year's total of 84.  Can you believe it?   

I think that is about it for now. 

Have a great weekend!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11