Seed Success

My Seeds of Kindness quilt (hand-cut and hand-pieced) as of 10 minutes ago. It is now 18 rows by 18 rows (that's 324 cores so far). While it was laid out on the floor of the porch, I planned 2 more rows. The cores I have cut out that are as-of-yet unused are all greens, reds, and golds. If you could donate some blacks, blues, purples, and oranges, I'd be so grateful. This is the screened-in porch where I stitched this AM. Since everyone (except for me) has been staying up w-a-a-a-a-y late, I am usually the first and only one up for a while. In a few hours it will be too hot for me to be out there. Now it's only 70 degrees.

I continue to be amazed at how flat the Seeds of Kindness quilt is staying. This is my first hand-pieced project, and I've been told that this is a difficult shape. I am stitching one set of cores together, flipping the quilt so that the "smile" side is facing me. So every other set, I have to flip the quilt around. It makes a much flatter seam. I picked up that trick from Shar somebody on www.quilterstv.com. We don't have a TV at home, so I'm not familiar with all these folks' names. I think her quilt is called Apple Cider.

My DH is taking the girls to the lake today. That means the boys will be here playing video games, swimming, eating, more swimming, watching movies, etc. I get to be chief cook and bottle washer for them today.

Hope your day is a blessed one.

~Joan

Blessed Beyond Measure

My DH's cousin's family has allowed us to stay in her home while her family is on vacation elsewhere. The house is beyond beautiful. It is very large, and when there are ten people "visiting", that is valued as well. Here is a pic of the kitchen from the back door. This is looking from the kitchen into the dining room...
Looking out the back door over the pool...
A wonderfully-planned-out screened in porch with full bath and full-sized frig off it...
We have enjoyed the "facilities" so much. We are leaving them some goodies in appreciation...some consumables, a homemade meal ready to eat when they arrive home (in an etched baking dish, a la Kairle), and a family movie night basket (complete with movie, popcorn, peanuts, etc.).

My children have enjoyed swimming, jet skiing (at a lake about an hour away), and many movies. I have been doing most of the meal prep and cleanup. I do love to cook. More than I let on (the girls do nearly all the cooking at home). My 3rd daughter packed most of our cooking supplies and food. She did a wonderful job. Made it very easy for me.

I just watched a Poirot movie while I hand-pieced more of my Seeds of Kindness quilt. I'm still looking for donations for that (4" x 5" rectangles of Thimbleberries scraps). Email me if you wish to be included. Picture after I get home, most likely.

More later!

~Joan

Hello from Vacationland

Plain Jane flower... Pistiled and stamened (I think I made up those words)...
The finished product, unironed, but freshly finished...

We are far, far from home, enjoying a few days in another atmosphere. We arrived after 1 AM, so that threw our whole schedule out the proverbial window right from the get go.

If you're awake, you're probably wondering what the above pictures have to do with vacationing. Very astute of you!

Way back (when I only had 3 children) my sister lived right next door to me. Well, she actually moved in the day my 4th was born....really! On a pre-birth-to-#4 trip to a craft store, I ooo'd and aaahh'd over the above cross stitch kit. I love signs that have "welcome" on them. They're all over my house.

Unbeknownst to moi, my sister bought it that very day, and started cross stitching it. The year was 1993. It's on a very small ecru evenweave fabric (translation for non-cross-stitchers: the most difficult stitching to do!).

YEARS later, when I was visiting her for the birth of her 3rd child, she casually opened a drawer and asked, "Would you like to finish this?" She pulls out the partially finished cross stitch. That was the first I knew that she had been working on it for me. As far as I recall, about 2/3 of the cross stitches were finished (well, she had been working on it for 4 years). That was about 11 years ago!! (My sister just emailed me today, 7/10/08 and told me it was indeed '97!!)

My daughter, Emily (of former piecing fame), finished the cross stitching and all the back stitch, except for the flower stamens and pistils French knots and backstitching. Somewhere along the winding, dusty trail, the stitched picture, threads, and directions had been separated. Then they were found...then lost again!!

Well, I am thrilled to announce that this AM, the picture--she's finished! That was my vacation goal, and I'm happy to say it has been reached.

I will have this matted and framed after we get home (when Hobby Lobby has a 50% off framing coupon, of course!). Even after all these years (my 4th-born child is now 15), I still like this picture! Good thing the name is still correct ;)

~Joan