BEATING THE HEAT IN FLORIDA?!?!?

It's been a while since I have posted because we have been traveling to visit our 2 sons who live in Kansas and Florida.  We had a great time with our son and family in Kansas.  They have 2 boys and we got to go to several baseball games as well as a swim meet.  

Now we are in Florida and will be heading back to Oregon on Monday.  We missed out on the extreme heat in Oregon while we were enjoying the heat and humidity in Florida.  Actually, the temps were higher in Oregon than here during those days.  However, Florida also has much higher humidity and lots more bugs, so it's one thing or the other.

Our son and his wife, along with Abby, 12 years old, live on 2 acres and they enjoy gardening.  My DIL works in the garden a lot while my son works as a registered nurse.  They also have 11 rabbits (they were given 2 female rabbits- or so they thought) and were surprised with 9 bunnies!

Abby is 12 and is going into 8th grade.

The rabbits are a cross between the Rex and Lion head breeds.

I polished Abby's fingernails and she polished my toe nails.

Today we went blue berry picking and will be making blue berry cobbler tomorrow.

Abby likes to sew and I, of course brought my featherweight along on the trip with fabric cut and ready to sew.  I am trying to use up fabric and looked for some patterns that are scrappy with easy blocks.  These blocks filled that requirement and measure at 18".  Abby helped me sew these together and I will be finishing it for her when I get home.

                            

Here she is working on some blocks for another project.  

Thanks for visiting!  I hope you are enjoying the summer and are able to get some quilting too!

 

Strips, Strips and More Strips!

 I have been obsessed with making strip blocks lately.  I decided to make at least 5 strip blocks per day for a while and before I knew it, I had enough for a quilt!  These are totally random, mixed colors and I plan on 6 across and 9 down (I have more than that done now).  The blocks measure 8" unfinished and yesterday I went to my LQS to purchase sashing/border fabric and backing fabric.

Here's the sashing (left) and backing fabric (right).

My LQS has punch cards and when the card is totally punched, you can use it to buy $25.00 worth of fabric and notions.  The week of your birthday, you can also get 20% off regular priced items and my birthday is coming up next month.  I have 2 full punch cards that I'm saving!!

 

I also make smaller 4" or 5" blocks using civil war reproduction fabrics.  Here's a small one that isn't finished yet.

I'm always trying to find ways to use up fabric and found a couple more that are pretty easy.  I found the first one in a large book I recently got from Martingale - "The Big Book of Scrappy Quilts."  It's called "Pieces of Eight" and I cut out 12 blocks worth and have made one as a sample.  It's super easy and measures at 18"!

I love it because it's scrappy, large and easy!!  All the blocks will be different.

Another one that I started (testing it out), is from the Buggy Barn.  I think I got the pattern either at a garage sale or at the quilt guild free box.   I made 12 blocks.

You make 2 blocks at the same time and the star and background are reversed.  This one was somewhat harder, but by the time I had made 12 of the wonky stars, I pretty much had it figured out.  The blocks measure 9" x 14" and require 2 fat quarters.

And finally, I just finished this small wall hanging 11" x 14 1/2".  This will be a gift.  The flamingos are paper pieced (some unsewing was necessary) which is not my favorite method, but certainly is great for something like this.

And lastly, I have the first flower from my new clematis plant!

I bought this one because I wanted one that would bloom all summer.  I have another one that just blooms once in May and then not again till the next year.  My new purple one is supposed to bloom all summer!

Happy summer to all!  Hope you will enjoy some freedom for a change.