Ugh!

Has a quilt ever kicked your butt?

We're on a deadline with this one and it is NOT cooperating!


We've already torn out 2 rows of quilting, but at this point, we need to just plow through.


There will be no ribbons awarded for this puppy.

There was some good news, bad news and no news in my extended family this past week.
We lost a lovely Aunt to a brief illness. We will miss her.

But there will be new life! My niece is pregnant with her first child!
The needle test says...

It's a boy!
(There will be ultrasound confirmation in a few weeks.)
I've only been wrong once. Dozens of tests and the only one I got wrong was Anna.

We still haven't heard from Pete at the Jamboree. I figure no news is good news, but don't you think he should call his mother?!

Swap Fun

I've been a little preoccupied (actually, obsessed) with the Boy Scout Jamboree. Before Pete left, it was all about preparing and packing. Now it's an all out internet attack. I'm jumping around between every possible Facebook page, blog, Flickr pool and sub-camp website. We haven't heard directly from Pete yet, but we saw pictures from their trip down and he was having a good time. No news is good news!

In between Jambo stuff, I did manage to sew something.


The Mod Bento Blocks arrived last week!
(Round 2 is starting on the flickr pool if you are interested.)
The blocks are like candy! I made 4 extra blocks to chop up for setting and corner triangles. This was my setting plan from the start so I jumped right into the piecing, and it went together in no time.
I love it! (especially because it has feet!)
I think it could use a border, which I will be auditioning fabrics for next week.

"mom. really?"

And here are the goodies from the paper bead swap.
There is such a variety of shapes and sizes, they are inspiring me to keep rolling.
You know what? Rolling paper beads is quite relaxing when you finally step away from the computer (or someone pries it out of your hands!).

I'm off to help Julia finish a quilt that needs to arrive at the New England Quilt Museum by Aug 4. Plenty of time! This morning, we finished the borders, pieced the back, layered it up and pin-basted. Time for her to quilt!

Boy Scout Update

Pete is packed and ready to go to the National Jamboree, with 18 hours to spare!
The bus pulls away at 6 am on Saturday, headed for a day of sightseeing in Philadelphia.
They will spend Sunday at King's Dominion and the Jambo starts on Monday!


Class A shirts are pressed and ready! They won't be clean and wrinkle-free for long.


I decided he needed a new pillowcase today, so I finally used some of the Boy Scout fabric I bought ages ago.
Jackie, thank you for keeping the pattern handy on your sidebar!

I've always admired the Turk's Head neckerchief slides that other boys had, so I found a tutorial and made some. Pete will be wearing the official Jambo slide, but he'll have these for back up.

We have some new Eagle Scout friends!
Fred...

and his brother Matt!
(See the Turk's Head slides?)

I'm really going to miss that goofball!

Weekend Wrap-Up

Pete finished Jazz Camp at URI on Friday afternoon. To close out the week, the kids perform in concert for their parents and friends. It's amazing how much talent we have here in Little Rhody!


This is the percussion ensemble which Pete named
Weapons of Mass Percussion.

He also played in a small combo (but the pictures were blurry).

Then Julia and I were off to Girl Scout camp with our troop.

Julia loved kayaking!

I can't decide if I prefer the dining hall full of campers or cookies!

In our attempt to make something everyday, I present a friendship bracelet Julia made at camp. Doesn't it look like a snake on the butterfly bush?

And more paper beads. I can't stop making them!
As I roll them, I thread them onto a wire. Then I can seal a bunch at a time and hang them to dry. I will need to wait a few days, because it is so humid.

And the most exciting news...

Learners Permit..................$11.50

Empty parking lot....................Free

Julia's first time behind the wheel....................Priceless!

And the winner is...

Lynne!
Congratulations, Lynne. I'll be sending out a package of goodies to you tomorrow.


Thanks to everyone who shared their 4th of July memories and past times.
I really should have giveaways more often! I had fun rolling up the entries to look a little bit like tootsie rolls.


So I made a couple of extra goodies this week:
a scissor fob with a sewing machine charm
and a fabric flower.


I hope Lynne enjoys her winnings!

On deck for tomorrow: a trip to the Division of Motor Vehicles, a jazz concert and Girl Scout camp. I thought summer was supposed to be relaxing!

200th Post Giveaway!

When I was thinking about the number 200, I immediately traveled back to 1976 and our country's bicentennial. I learned every patriotic song ever written! We sang them in school and my father performed in a variety show with a patriotic theme. There was a patriotic assembly the day of our school pictures, so we got to wear red, white and blue instead of the usual Catholic school uniforms. (I hated that scarf.)


Since today is the 4th of July, how about a red, white and blue themed giveaway?
So far, I made for you:

A coiled fabric bowl (candy dish size)
A paper-pieced star lapel pin
A paper bead bracelet
and every quilty/crafty blog reader needs some candy!


To win these goodies (and maybe more), leave a comment with your fondest patriotic memory or your favorite thing to do on the 4th of July. (Make sure I know how to reach you!)
I'll pick a winner on Thursday, July 8.

God Bless America!