Warm Wishes

Remember the "Warm Wishes" link from last week?

Well, one of my quilting buddies, pieced one for her son's wedding gift.

Didn't it turn out beautiful?

I'm sure the Bride & Groom will love it! 

Look at the perfect "love" fabric she found.

The chocolate brown color adds such richness.

And the striped inner border, a perfect accent.

At our August "Saturday Sew Day"

I demonstrated how to make bias binding

using my favorite "tube" method.

By Shelly Rodgers.

Doesn't the diagonal stripe bias binding add zing to the quilt!

Notice the perfect backing fabric?

Check out the bowl she made using

fabric covered clothesline.

Don't ya just love when a project comes together.

Perfectly.

Last weekend we had a "family gathering" at my son's home in Tomah.

It was so nice to see family and catch up on their lives.

Hard to believe I'm one of the "old aunts" now.

Where have the years gone?

I was able to corral my grandbabies for a picture.

They had such a good time, jumping on the trampoline, playing whiffle ball,

and, of course, a water balloon fight.

 After all, isn't this what life's all about?

***************

I'll leave you with a little campfire entertainment.
The beautiful voice belongs to my niece Ariel.

Don't forget to check out my new Buy-Sell Shabby Chic group on FaceBook.

Family Gathering

Please bear with me as I post family pictures

from our 4th of July celebration.

Family & friends peek at my blog for updates.

My Dad, from Las Vegas, brother & sister in law, from CA

and Uncle from MI were here for the long weekend.

It was wonerful to see my Dad, so healthy and strong.

He will be 80 in October and goes to the gym

3 days a week and loves to swim.

Puts me to shame.

I met my sister in law, Maria, for the first time. 

We are kindred spitits!

Wish we lived closer to each other.

She loved my quilts and took pictures to show her friends!

I shared my recipe box and a few old church cookbooks. 

Nothing better than bonding over recipes.

She has such a kind and loving heart.

I'm so glad they found each other.

I hope they come back to visit every year!

Used a quilt for the back drop.

Wanted to cover the swing set.

I just couldn't resist this photo with Aiden making a face.

It's soooo cute!

They are both growing up to-to fast

I tried 2 new recipes I will share soon.

But I've spent way to much time on the computer the last few days.

Creating a new look for summer.

Do you like it?

Won't be so long between visits next time.

I promise.

Healing Time

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY.
DR visit to remove the stitches and
get the go ahead to quilt again.
My arm is definitely on the mend.
I can feel & see daily improvements.
Luckily, I still have movement in my elbow,
wrist and fingers.Which was a concern after surgery.
But hey, when a girl can pull up her own undies
it's a score!

I want to share this super QUICK and EASY
tea towel apron pattern with you.
I found both written instructions and a fabulous video at
Missouri Quilt Company

Love my vintage blue towel.

This is a stack of 19 aprons made at our
Friendship Stars Quilt Guild Saturday Sew Day.
Each sewer made an apron in support of
National Tie one On Day
November 24,2010

While I couldn't actually sew, I made a great supervisor!

On Sunday our latest addition was baptized.
Isn't she just the cutest baby!
And so good natured, just like her grandma....

This is my favorite photo at the church.
Little Piper smiling and cooing for the Priest.
She's the best baby!

I hope your enjoying the fall weather.
Love the sunny days and crisp nights!

Apple Butter House sale this weekend!!!

A Girl!

This is the little bundle of love we've been waiting for!

Mommy and Piper are so happy to finally meet in person.

I do believe it is heaven on earth to cuddle a newborn baby!

More to follow........

Hugs, Karen

Baby Watch

I've been on "Baby Watch" for the past 10 days.
My bags are packed, handwork ready for the waiting room,
cookies baked (grandparents need nourishment).

We did have a "false alarm" on Sunday
or
"trial run" as I like to think of it!

The suspense is killing me!
Daddy & Mommy decided
NOT to find out the sex of the baby.
Healthy is their prayer.

I've been quilting like crazy.
I'll have a quilt show for you
as soon as this grandbaby (#7) is born.

Also, coming up
**recipe for a ice cream dessert that will make you scream
**my 150th post give away



Have a safe and Happy 4th of July L-o-n-g Weekend!

Sharing Your Gift

"What you are is God's gift to you,
what you do with yourself is your gift to God."
Leo Buscaglia


I want to introduce you to a very special young man.
His name is Christopher.
Christopher's gift is his voice.
He loves to sing for the residents of the local nursing home.
And records books for those who can no longer see the written word.
Here he is sharing his gift with us at
his high school graduation party.

And I want to share his uplifting gift with you.

Enjoy.

Hip Hop it's Spring!

Easter is on it's way.
Which means Spring can't be far behind!

Here's an easy no bake Easter treat.
Bird Nest Cookies.

The recipe makes approximately 24 cookies.
All depends on how large you make your nest.
Mine seem to get bigger as I go.
Bunny plate from Home Goods. My Uncle Johnny and I in 1957 on our way to church.
He is only 4 years older than I am.
More like an older brother than Uncle really.
Check out my cute hairdo.
I'm sure the perm was especially for Easter.
To go with the short bangs.
Man, I needed a hat that year!

Here are two new pillowcases I made for the kids.
Charlie Brown, no trim.
Pink & green bunnies, with trim, of course, so girly-girl.
I love crocheting at night while watching TV.
It's all coming back to me now.

Here's the latest quilt I'm working on.
It's for a summer wedding.
The colors look washed out in the photo.
The fabric is Moda's "Gypsy Rose".
I purchased the layer cake for $13.33!
Even with the $5.00 shipping it was a deal.
It was a Quilters Daily Deal a few weeks back.

This is the pattern I used.
Quick as a wink.
I just noticed Camille has her blocks turned every which way
and I have mine alternating.
I need to "play" on the design wall a little longer.
Check out Camille's blog Simplify.
I love her red & white polka dot chair!!!

What's for supper?
Pasta salad. A summer favorite.
Ohhhh...can't you just smell the chicken on the grill......

Happy Easter Honey Bunnies
stay safe!

All Gone.....

Pillowcase fever
Chocolate cake and
Company
all gone.

Here's my finished crochet edging.
I can't believe how nice it turned out.
Considering I haven't crocheted in
20 years!
I'm not happy with the green color.
To sagey. Wanted more of a lime green.
Oh, that's right, you thought I was going to use
the sugar & cream variegated yarn.
No way. It was way to clunky.
This JP Coats was the perfect weight.
Not a lot of color choices in town
but great selection on the web.

This is the quilt I'm working on (2 weeks now).
It was due last April.
My customers have been so understanding.
Waiting for me to get back on my feet.
Slow but sure.....

I saved the last piece of cake for you.
Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting.
The best combination!
It must have been good.
My SIL got up in the middle of the night to "sneak" a piece.

Look at this cute chalkboard I found for my front porch.
My DDIL took me to Kirkland Home.
What a great store!
This beauty was only $8.99.
Now I'm not sure which I like better.
Home Goods or Kirkland Home???

We had such fun, catching up with all the family news.
On Thursday night we grilled out.
Beautiful weather, no wind, low 60's.
Friday, nice, a little cooler.
Saturday. Snow.
I'm not kidding. SNOW.

We had so much fun playing Uno.
That Anna is a fierce player.
We ganged up on Uncle Mikey.

Mikey and his baby sister.
We hope they come back real soon!

Is it spring yet in your neck of the woods?

Surprise-Surprise!

Isn't it exciting to hear the UPS man drive up and ring your door bell?
I had been waiting all day for him.
My high school friend from CA sent me a birthday present.
Yep, high school.
She told me I had something coming and nothing more.

Aren't they beautiful!
8 dessert plates.
So delicate looking.
Thank You-Thank You.
Makes me want to have a tea party.

I came across this picture of my maternal grandparents
while cleaning out a box of old pictures.
Taken 85 years ago.
My grandmother was only 19 and had been married 2 years.
What surprises me is the comment she wrote on the side of the photo.
Written with white pen on the right side
"Somewhat happy"
For some reason it makes me sad.

I'm off to Milwaukee tomorrow morning.
To visit the grandbabies and give my DDIL some adult conversation.
My son is out of town all week for work.
Going to try and lighten the load a little.

I quilted some small customer quilts this week.
After that raffle quilt I needed a break.
I didn't get pictures of them. Darn.
I had to hurry to get them to UPS before they closed.
Alright, truth be told, hubby had to hurry to town.

Nothing much else going on.
It's snowing.
Like that is something new.

I want to leave you with a smile.

I'm Back.
Oh, don't you just hate all the laundry after a trip?
That's what I've been up to since my return.
And grocery shopping.
Being gone a week I pretty much cleaned
out the fridge before we left.

Boy, do I have some great news to share.
I'm going to be a Grandma AGAIN!!!
My youngest son and his wife are
expecting #3 end of June.

Before we left for St Louis Papa and I
spent a few days with the grandbabies.
Here's our sweet boy showing off the Pilgrim hat
he made at pre-school.

Doesn't she look like a little angel?
Don't be fooled!
The little stinker gets into everything!
Here she is helping her mama fill the dishwasher.

Mike's sister and her sweet hubby.
Our Thanksgiving host & hostess.
We had such a wonderful visit.
It's hard to see her cute apron.

Fall in MO

The weather was perfect for traveling.

Thanks for stopping in to check on me.
I tried a new recipe
Country Chicken & Biscuits
will share it with you next post.

Have you started your Christmas decorating?
I've not opened a box.
Yet.
It's on my to-do list.