Family Vacation

 We've been on vacation in Washington, DC! This was probably our last family vacation together for a good long while. Here are just a few highlights.

First stop: The Capitol.

 The Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima Memorial)

(The Sunset Parade was awesome!)

National Museum of the Marine Corps

B-29 at the Udvar-Hazy Center

(Bill's father was a navigator on a B-29 during WWII.)

Marine Barracks at 8th & I.

(Evening Parade was rained out, but we talked to some very nice Marines.)

Are you sensing a theme? We had a great week, but we are happy to be heading home. Lots of quilting needs to get done next week, so stay tuned!

Ten Minute Table Runner

Even though I should be doing a million other things, I pulled some fabric for a ten minute table runner. Am I the last sewist to make one of these?

 OK, so it took me about 20 minutes, which is still pretty quick. I used this tutorial, but there are a bunch out there. Watch a video if you can't visualize it on "paper."

Now I'd better get back to the more important party prep!

Graduation Party Crafts

 I decided I needed a red, white and blue wreath for my front door for Pete's graduation party. I checked every craft store for a pre-made wreath, but no luck. So I bought a wreath form and a pile of flowers on clearance. It's not perfect (bow is too small, needs more white flowers, reds not spaced evenly). We like it anyway, especially on our red door.

 I saw this idea on Pinterest to make candy firecrackers. The original post used rolls of Lifesavers candies, but Pete is a Mentos man. How long will it take for him to realize there are a dozen rolls of Mentos in the house? You can see my graduation party Pinterest board here for more patriotic inspiration.

We gave Pete his custom made book last night. (We made one for Julia when she graduated from high school last year.) My husband, Bill, writes a poem and I lay out the book with lots and lots of photos. Their yearbook photos are on the covers. It's impossible to read these books without shedding a tear or two!

I used CVS Photo for these books. When I made Julia's, I liked their backgrounds the best. I wanted Pete's to be the same size (8" X 8"), so I used CVS again. I've used Blurb for other books and I like their service, too. I get a little obsessive when I create these books, staying up much too late moving photos around and trying different layouts.

Pete's Graduation

 My son, Pete, graduated from high school last night and I couldn't be happier! I don't have to yell at him to do his homework ever again! The Marine Corps drill instructors will take care of that for me.

As his name was called to cross the stage, he switched caps! He took off his mortarboard and put on the Marines cap that he has worn almost every day for over two years, including two proms. Everyone loved it! A few dads and grandpas greeted him with a "Semper Fi" after the ceremony.

Lots of party prep will be going on this week. Yesterday, I made this banner to hang above the dessert table. I love my die cut machine. I don't use it often, but when I do, it is totally worth the space it takes up.

Are you sensing the patriotic theme? Decorations and paper products will all be red, white and blue with stars and stripes. I'll reuse some of them for his Eagle Scout ceremony in August and his going away party in September. Yes, he gets three parties!

Random Wrap Up

 I received an email recently informing me I had been awarded a Gold Star Badge by the staff of The Quilt Pattern Magazine. My friend and fellow Ninnie, Barbara Chojnacki, wrote a review of my blog for the June 2013 issue. Thank you Barbara and QPM!

I entered the Friendship Star Mini in Ellison Lane's Modern Mini Challenge.

Hop over and take a look at all of the inspiring minis! 

I've been busy painting furniture for Pete's room (I'll show you soon). The only sewing I managed to do was two more Girl Scout pillowcases for Julia and her best friend. I cut these out last May, along with the ones I gave to the other graduating seniors from my troop. There were other priorities, and these had to wait. (Genevieve got a whole quilt, so don't feel bad for her.) When I went to pull fabric for the one I needed last week, I found these and had to get them finished. I was NOT putting them back in the pile!

 Julia is plugging along on the Old Italian blocks and has passed the half-way mark. Add eighteen to the twenty that were done for the last post. Each pair is our favorite as they are being stitched, then she pulls out the next pair and we love them even more!

It's senior week for Pete, so we attended the athletic awards banquet. He was on the swim team for 4 years (captain this year), and ran cross country and track for two years. He learned to pole vault this year!

Next up: Graduation!

16 Nines

We completed round two of the Ninnie Nines swap this week. Thirty three quilters participated this time. We have one last round coming up in July.

This portable design board is a large piece of foam core, covered with cotton batting.  When I lean it against the fire place, I catch glimpses of the project as I pass during the day. It makes me happy! I can't wait to combine these blocks with the other two rounds.  I'll have 48 blocks to play with!

WIP Wednesday

 Hi there! I didn't intend for an entire week to go by without a post. Lots of good stuff is going on around here, but not much sewing. 

Finishes:

Julia and I took a class last weekend to make these cute Peek-a-Boo bags. Julia's is on the left, with the cute quahogs.

I used an orphan block on the back of my bag. It was one of the only blocks I made during Jackie's blogger's BOM last year in Fall 2011.  This post says I'm keeping up with the BOM. Ha! That was the last block I made. Month #2!

Last week, there were Boy Scout pillowcases; this week - Girl Scouts. I made one for the last remaining girl in my troop who earned the Gold Award and one for the top cookie seller in our area.

I made 10 giant tissue paper flowers for our Girl Scout Bridging ceremony. Each color represents a different line in the Girl Scout Law. We had older girls reading the script, and little girls placing the flowers in the umbrella stand "vase."

And now my job is done. After 14 years as a Girl Scout volunteer, that was my last event. I'm happy to be moving on, but I hope my Girl Scout friends will still invite me to lunch!

In Progress:
Julia finished a dozen more Old Italian blocks this week.

She's up to 20 blocks now. I was tempted to mix them all up to see how it will look, but I'll save that bit of fun for her.

In family news:
Pete went to his senior prom. He went with a bunch of friends (no date), so we had to pose him with Grandma.

His band played on Main Street during a 5K race. They were supposed to entertain the runners as they passed by, but by the time they got set up all the runners were gone. Oh, well. They played their whole set to the ice cream eaters and innocent bystanders instead.

We're gearing up for graduation. He bought a patch to attach to the top of his cap and I bought a lapel pin for his gown. He is one proud poolee!

After all this running around, I'll be happy to sit with a glass of iced tea and visit the WIP Wednesday goodies.

WIP Wednesday

This week, all I have is a little bit of this and that. It's better than nothing, I suppose.

Finish: The only finish this week was a Boy Scout pillowcase for a new Eagle Scout. It has become a tradition for me to make one for each new Eagle in Pete's troop. I'll continue until I run out of fabric!

Before I put away the stash of BSA prints, I prepared some kits. The next time The next 4 times I need one, the fabric selection and cutting is already done!

Swaps: Sixteen 9-patches are ready for the next round of Ninnie Nines. A whole week early!

Last round, I pressed the last 2 seams open. This time, they wanted to whirl.

Bright hopes blocks are ready to be mailed to Jana for the Modern Stash Bee. She liked my little Low Volume Bright Hopes, and asked us to make 12" blocks. It should be a cool quilt.

 In Progress: Julia is making progress on Fred's quilt. Eight blocks done, 56 to go!

This is how she left things when she went to the beach. Machine turned on, pieces waiting to be sewn. Her college roommate came down to visit for the day, and the beach was calling!

Have a great day and visit the other fun WIP links.

Last Day of School

 Today is our last day of high school. Woohoo! I will never again need to ask, "Did you do your homework?"

Aww. Look how cute he was on the first day of school!

 

The backpack was almost as big as him!

 

Now he hikes/runs with 80 pounds of rocks in his pack. Yesterday was "rent-a-senior" day and he fireman-carried a friend to his classes. He's so cool.

No more bus riding for Pete. Now he drives the Marine Mobile.

 

 We're grateful to the Marine Corps for giving him a real purpose and reason to graduate. He is excelling as a poolee and can't wait to leave for recruit training in September.

Fresh Fabric

 I'm weak. I can't resist a sale! This is what I bought last week from Pink Castle Fabrics and Fabric Worm.

The reds and blues are for Pete's quilt (a few from each shop).

 And an assortment of stash builders.

I was lucky to catch this goldfinch in the yard today, the first one I've seen this season.

Thank you to everyone who voted for my selvedge quilt in the Festival of Strings! Voting closes in a few hours. If you haven't voted yet, please hop over. It only takes 3 clicks.

Quick Pic

We are in the middle of a crazy busy, fun weekend. All I have time for is a quick post from my phone.

I just finished a pillowcase which will be an Eagle Scout gift for a boy in Pete's troop. It is pictured on the chess board Pete made in wood shop class.

Enjoy the day!

Festival of Strings Finalist!

 My Emerald Selvedge Spiderweb is a finalist in the Festival of Strings being hosted by Stitched in Color! This was such a fun quilt to make, and I'm really excited that other folks like it as much as I do. 

 If you have a minute, please hop over here and vote.

Thank you for voting, and thank you to Rachel for choosing this quilt as a finalist!