Chirp, Chirp

Hello everyone!  I've been busy with a lot of projects, starting with some pillowcases made for  ConKerr Cancer.  Most of my LQSs support this worthy cause which makes donating easy, just sew them up and drop them off.  Each pillowcase made gets about a yard of fabric out of my stash thereby making room for some new fabric. 

I finished the binding on the table runner.  It's a nasty job but had to be done.  I hate hand sewing the binding but hate the look of it machine sewn so I'm stuck.  I know some of you like the hand sewing part (probably the same people who like applique, lol!) and I wish you lived next door to me.

I spotted this fabric at my LQS and was inspired to make a small quilt for my DD.  Her room at Oxford is strictly the bare essentials.  The bed linens are provided and are all white.  A little color was needed so I made a little quilt to hang up.  I was quite pleased with the results.

I made this a while ago in pinks and purples for a doll quilt swap I was involved in.  Here's a close-up of the free motion quilting,

and that bird fabric that got me started, in one of the windows.  I wished I'd put white in the other window once I was done, for balance.  Still cute I think.

I love these little labels.  I re-discovered them recently having forgotten I'd purchased them in the first place.  They are nicely finished an all sides,

And finally a picture from my iPhone taken in the bookstore just because it was so gosh darn cute.  I love chihuahua dogs and this little guy leaves me with cute-overload!  I'd love to get one but I don't think my 16 year old cat would ever forgive me.

Until next time, happy sewing! and thanks for visiting.

Thank You, Veterans

“For it has been said so truthfully that it is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us the freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the agitator, who has given us the freedom to protest. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, serves beneath the flag, whose coffin is draped by the flag, who gives that protester the freedom to abuse and burn that flag.”
~Zell Miller

Fall Weather

It looks like Autumn has arrived in my neck of the woods (West central coast of Florida), at least for the past few days, until we are back up to the 80s which are forecasted for the end of the week.  Thank goodness, I hate the cold!  And by cold I mean 46 degrees this morning with an afternoon high of 70.  Spoiled, I know.

After participating in the Year of Schnibbles I've lots of charm squares left over.  I used some from the Holly Jolly and Merry and Bright lines by Sandy Gervais to make a table runner.  Both lines work so well together.  Here's the back,

I figured today would be a good day to hand-sew the binding down on the back what with the house so cool.

I did a simple meander stitch on my Bernina.

My daughter was funny when I showed it to her through a Skype video chat, "blue  Christmas fabric?" She's a bit of a traditionalist, like her Mom!  I won the charm packs from a giveaway.

Hope everyone is keeping warm today, talk to you later.

Easily Distracted

It's been quite a while!  I apologize to my 3 readers. lol.  After my slow recovery from the Evil Virus, I couldn't wait to get back into my sewing room and I found plenty to distract me there.  But first some pictures of our trip to the UK.

We went on a tour of the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace.  Amazing what those Brits are willing to provide for their Queen! 

Not too much picture taking was allowed.  We found London very uncrowded, no lines at any of the tourist attractions we went to.  I was surprised by that. Here's  Big Ben at dusk,

and the Houses of Parliament before we rode the London Eye.  Taken without a tripod!  The weather was typical, cloudy, cool, and rainy at times.  We had one sunny day in London and Oxford apiece.

 We did the Tower of London and walked across Tower Bridge.

The Ravens at the Tower of London were quite cooperative!  The legend is at least 6 must stay in residence or else England will fall.  Clipped wings seem to help there.

Quintessential London, also at the Tower,

We made a trip to Liberty of London, too.  A lot of looking especially on the crafts floor, but I didn't buy any of the cottons.  I found them to be very pricey, about double for what I'd pay at home.  Beautiful store, though, I recommend a trip when you're in London.

I like this picture of Westminster Abbey with Big Ben and the London Eye.  A trifecta!

The last 4 days was spent in Oxford moving my daughter into her room at the University of Oxford and exploring the city of Oxford.

That's the chapel straight ahead and on the right daughter's dorm.  You get such a sense of history to walk amongst the grounds.  The University was established sometime in the 11th century making it the oldest college in the English-speaking world.  From what I hear from my daughter, the University's reputation is well deserved.
One of my favorite pictures from the trip, a red stinky phone booth

Pictures of sewing projects next time.  And if you'll excuse me right now I think I'm off to my LQS, thanks for visiting.

Sick Day

I'm here!  I've been back from England since late on October 5 and felt kind of Not Well for a few days, what I attributed to jet lag.  Woke up on the 9th with a bad sore throat, achy, sneezy, and blah feeling.  Sorry to say I still am not well and that's why I have been missing with no action going on here.  Just wanted to let you know I've been thinking of you and hope to get back to blogging once I get rid of this nasty virus.  Thanks for your patience!

Oh, Happy Day!

The Visa came!!!  Woo Hoo!!!  Thank you to everyone who emailed me with good wishes and all those finger-crossers out there!  We are doing some packing and running of errands with a bit of tempers flaring, but alas, no sewing.  I am going to try and schedule some posts before we leave on Saturday.
Thanks for visiting, see you in October!