Celebrations!

John and I had our 30th wedding anniversary on the 26th, and we had a wonderful time. The kids decided to make us dinner instead of giving us money to go out, and it was the sweetest thing. Melissa couldn't be here, but she helped to pay for it, and Chris and Sio cooked. They made steak, lobster tails, baked potatoes and Sio found a recipe for really delicious cornbread. It really was a wonderful dinner and I think we have really thoughtful kids. They know what we like, and dinner cooked for us is so much nicer than going out.

John and I went to the casino for our own little celebration, I broke even and he lost $60. It was a lot of fun, too, and we haven't been in months and months, maybe even a year. But for me the best part was the gift I got from John. After losing my wedding ring and being without for years, he bought me a new one. It is the greatest gift, ever! He also bought me a watch, which is something I wanted and was going to eventually buy my self. I bought him dual channel memory for his computer, which is ok, but not nearly as nice as what I got.

I also did a little more sewing, I made this top from hand dyed hemp and a pretty cotton print I got at work and listed it in my Etsy store. It's made from a vintage pattern from 1973 that I got on E-bay. I owned a copy of this pattern back in 1973, I guess it goes to show that things go in and out of fashion all the time.

I sold the elephant bag, but the dress didn't sell so it's now in my Etsy store.

Wrap Skirt

Well, I just finished this wrap skirt and I think it is so amazing! I did it like I would do foundation piecing if I were making a quilt. It has taken the major part of my free time for the last 3 days, but it is really cute. I'm not sure if I should list it on E-bay or not, I really need to get some major $$'s for it, at the very minimum, $80, just because of the work involved.

I also dyed some hemp to go with a piece of cotton I have, I am going to make a top for my Etsy store. Holly and I each had a sale from there so that was nice. I have 6 people watching the elephant bag on e-bay, and 2 watching my dress.

Rainbo stars!

Well, I made this dress yesterday and today. If I were much younger I would keep it. Since I'm not it's headed for E-bay.

Elephant bag

I finished the elephant bag yesterday. Siobhan says the random patchwork takes away from the elephant; she might be right, there does seem to be a lot going on. Still, I think it's ok.

I have about 5 yds of hemp and I am going to dye some today for a top. I have a vintage pattern I got on e-bay that is the same as one I had when I was a teenager. It's kind of cool to use those patterns again, although now I wish we had kept them in the first place, then I wouldn't have to be searching for them. I'm also going to move some more stuff downstairs and start the rainbo stars dress. I don't have to work today so I get to go to the quilt show, too. This is the only time I will have been able to actually go and just sit and watch. I've always worked them before.

Quilt Picture

Ok, here it is, the finished quilt! It has some issues, I am not the best machine quilter, but it will have to do. I actually have 3 more tops to practice on, so I think I am going to start a new one soon. There's a 4 patch with black and tan checked homespun alternate blocks and border, I made it several years ago, at least 5, and I think I am going to do it next. The original was quilted in an allover fan pattern, and with all those curves I should get pretty good at free motion. But first, I am making a bag with the elephant applique and revamping my Etsy store. I made the random patchwork panels yesterday, so I really am more than half way done, they take the longest. I also am going to make the rainbo dress I picked fabric out for, and start moving some of my bins downstairs. This move is going so slowly, although if Irene comes to stay with us for a bit while her house is in the market I'll have to speed it up.
I was at JoAnn the other night and I bought a cute cotton with teeny red roses on it, I think I might take some time to make Chatty a cute new dress, too.

Finally Finished!

The quilt is finally finished! I am going to see if I can get a good picture of it when John comes home, maybe at the store where the lighting is better. Then I will post it.
For the rest of the day I have a bunch of catch up stuff to do, plus I am going to move a bit more stuff into the basement. I have a nice little sewing area organized down there now, and I want to improve on it.

Quilt progress

I haven't posted in awhile because I've been busy with the Heritage quilt, and moving my sewing area into the basement. I start quilting today, I'll try and get some pics up layer of both the quilt and the sewing nook. Chris and I cleaned the back closet out in the basement on Saturday, and I found my elephant collection, I set them up on the back of the bar. Since we don't drink much or do a lot of entertaining that would involve using a bar, I've incorporated it into the sewing area too. The fridge down there works and I am going to keep juice and pop in it so I don't have to keep running up and down the stairs.