I finished two more blocks using the left over fabric from the Designer Mystery BOM.  I'm hoping to make two blocks out of each month's fabric and that doesn't seem to be a problem yet.  I still haven't used up all of the extra fabric.

And this is the fabric that I'll be using for the Giant Granny Panties Quilt Along.  You can't see the fabrics clearly in this photo, but I love the post card fabric the best (beige in the middle of the stack).   I'm not sure if we start cutting the fabric this week or next...... I'll post when I have an update. 

This is the August Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery BOM.  Although the directions were easy to follow (as always), I did have a couple of seams that I had to rip out.  Easy directions, but a feeble mind.  And also as usual, there is ample fabric left over to make more blocks.  I just love this series! 

The autograph wedding quilt blocks are done.  Actually, they've been done for awhile but I was working on the presentation of the blocks and how to make it easy to manage signing the blocks at the wedding. 

Here's the stack of 110 blocks.  I had planned on making 100, then decided to make 10 more for a rectangular quilt.  The overall size will be a queen sized quilt, more or less, depending on how I finish up with the borders.  I suppose this stack is about 7" tall.  All of the blocks have a square of freezer paper ironed to the back of the cream center to make signing smoother.

Here's kind of a layout of the blocks for signing at the wedding.  There are two baskets, one for the blank blocks, and one for the finished, signed blocks.  This will keep them corralled and safe from getting lost in the chaos.  The frame in the background has the instructions for signing the blocks.  Patti is going to have someone supervise this whole process, but if no one were around, this explanation is simple enough to follow.

I went ahead and decorated all of the fabric pens with the hope that someone wouldn't accidentally put one of them in their pocket and walk off with it, thinking it was a regular pen.  I've glued and tacked the flowers to the pens.  I hope they will stay put.

 Here's the front of one of the baskets.  The baskets, the frame, and the mason jars holding the pens all have inspirational word rocks attached to them......"Love, Trust, Joy, Laugh, and Faith." 

Now I just need to get them in the mail so that Patti can have them ready for signing!



Like I need another quilting project...... 

Well, here's another one that I joined anyway!  The Giant Granny Panties Quilt Along!  (Click on the photo for details.)

It will be an easy sew along, very suitable for any level of quilting experience.  Use your stash or buy a very reasonably priced kit.  Come on.....join me!

Bart is home from the hospital!

Here's a plug for the Vermont Teddy Bear Company!  I have no affiliation with them, I've only visited the factory and I've purchased several bears.

Recently, I discovered that Bart, one of my Vermont Teddy Bears had a broken leg.  I have no idea what happened, as he is just a display bear and is never played with.  (Of course, we never really know what goes on behind closed doors in the middle of the night!)  In any case, his leg was disconnected from his body and he was quite a sight.  Here's the thing about Vermont Teddy Bears...... they are guaranteed for life.  Your dog can have one of them for a snack, you can drive your car over them, the cat can chew it to smithereens, etc....... Regardless, you just ship your bear back to the Vermont Teddy Bear Hospital and your bear will be restored or replaced at no charge to you. 

Bart came home today and was still sporting his hospital ID band.  He's back in perfect shape!

Before sending Bart to the hospital, I had to fill out a cute little form disclosing any health problems,  allergies, or special requests.  And of course, I had to give my permission for surgery.  They just do everything in such a sweet way to make bear ownership (adoption) such a hoot.

They are somewhat costly for a simple, plush bear but the way they are presented is just wonderful and is half the fun of owning one.  They come in several fur colors, eye colors, and many outfits.  If you have kids or grand kids that are a bit hard on their stuffed animals, the lifetime guarantee is great.  They'll have them forever!  So..... there's my plug for the day.  And ...... welcome home, Bart!

I've just joined a new blog hop, beginning October 1.  Click on the tree above for more details.  Sign ups will go until August 17th and as always, the more the merrier!

I've never participated before, so don't be shy.  If I can do it, you can do it!  There's plenty of time to get a block or two pieced and then show it off to the blog hoppers.  Come on.... hop in!

I'm home from a delightful mini vacation with three of my dearest friends.  We've known each other for decades.... since high school and then roommates in college.  Many, many years of friendship.  We don't get to see each other as often as we would like.  You know how it goes, life gets in the way, schedules are full.  But when we do get together, the years and months apart melt away and we just have a wonderful time together.  Lots of giggles and laughter and just being ourselves with friends that we can be completely vulnerable with, knowing our backs will always be covered and there will be no judgment.

These ladies mean the world to me and I'm so grateful that we have maintained our bond for so many years.  I know we will be friends until (and then beyond) our dying days. 

Here's Cathy, Pat, and Sandy in front of Cathy's cottage.  Even sitting in the pontoon while tethered to the dock is so relaxing and rejuvenating.  I know that I certainly wanted this time away and it was just what I needed to lift my spirits.

So here's to priceless friendships..... lifelong friends....... memories from the past, present, and future...... to times with loved ones that will be cherished forever!

(Hey....I found my missing knitting needle at home in the office.  It never even made it to the trunk of the car!  And, of course, this was after I stopped and bought a new pair at Michaels. Hee-hee!)