Will Work for Fabric

I thought I was caught up

after the dishes were done on Thanksgiving (and a nap in the recliner) I set right in on finishing up the projects with a deadline, some real and some self imposed.  See, I'm a deadline driven person.  So first on the list is a small quilt swap.  I won't show that one til later this week when the recipient gets it in her mailbox.

Next on the list:  finish the October Pennies from Heaven block before the November one arrives.

So prepping was done and stitching got started.

So on the way home from our weekend in the woods, the last stitches were done.

And what do I find in the mailbox when I get home?  November's block!  So for like 20 minutes I was caught up.

Well, November is definitely going to have to get to the back of the line, there's Christmas stocking and presents that need to be made before those blocks.  I guess I better get back to Santa's workshop!

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

gratitude - today

Today I am grateful for today.

I have touched by so many hard and sorrowful stories so close to home over the last few months to not reflect on them by being grateful for each day.

So I am trying each day to be grateful for today.

It's early morning and here's how I suspect the day is going to go....

cooking in my pj until the in-laws arrive when the shouts of "oh crap your parents are 2 hours early" will send me the showers, followed by enlisting the help of inlaws and then invasion of more family and the smells turkey cooking, Macy's parade in the background, drinking wine, consuming WAY too many calories and then movie time with everyone semi-conscious in the family room.

we're adding a new event this year.  The twins each had to prepare the filling for one pumpkin pie last night.  We will award the prestigous Pumpkin Head Award to the best pie.  Twin #2 had some help from his lovely assistant so that may have to weigh into the judging...we'll see.  

a full schedule  for sure but could you ask for a more perfect day?

Hope yours is too!

Hugs and Stitches and Pumpkin Pie wishes!

Megan

gratitude - men

well you know I could not end two weeks of gratitude with out being grateful for the 4 most important men in my life.

they can be trying

they can be warm

they can be smelly

they can be sweet

for all the things that they can be, they let me be me

and for every moment that I share with them or spend thinking of them or worrying about them, I am grateful.

Even if most of them run when I try to hug them.

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

gratitude - passion

oh, I'm talking about our love for quilting....what did you think?

I see people everyday that seem to go back and forth between work and family without anything in between.   No sparkle when they talk about that thing that they love to do.  Goodness, how different is it when you get a quilter talking?  you can hardly get her (or him) to shut up about it!

We are so lucky to have this thing that we love to do!  Maybe we can't do it as much as we want or can't spend as much money on it as we'd like or sometime loose our way for a while....but at the end of the day, we have this thing that we gives us peace, that gives us something to pass on to our children and grandchildren and keeps us challenged, always trying new things (and usually buying new things).

so today I am grateful for quilting passion.

and thread of all sorts

and fabrics in every color

and of course ric rac!

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

gratitude - realizing that little things mean alot

Well sometime I just need to be hit over the head, at Ikea.

Saturday I was at Ikea with my eldest and his intended (the future Mrs. eldest) and we were shopping for couches for them.  It might have been more a case of them seeing what they could talk me into buying for them.  Well I am proud to say, I bought them meatballs. and some potatoes too.  But that's it.  no couch, no leather chairs, I did not cave!

But we were in the housewares and the future Mrs picks up a cutting board and shows me saying that I might like this one.  The eldest says in the most casual of ways "my mom doesn't need that, she uses the one I made her."  

Now I don't normally give much thought to the cutting board selection, but he clearly does, and it meant something to him that these years later after he made it, I'm still using that board.

And standing there in the kitchen section of Ikea, my little angel reminded me that everyday we have a chance to show the people in our live how much we love them not in a great big bow on an oversized present way, but in a one small slice on a cutting board way when we think they aren't even looking.

Thank you Mr and future Mrs for the little words and the giant reminder.  Today I am grateful to you.

Hugs and Stitches

Megan

gratitude - Sharing

sometimes, you just want a little help right?  you want to have the quilt come out just like the same as the sample, right?

well, I don't usually BOM it, but this time I did sign up of the Pennies from Heaven quilt at Kindred, egged on by Alicia and Mary (do we see a pattern developing here?)

This one really works for me since I don't have a whole stash of wool to choose from.

This quilt has embroidery on the wool.  Since I'm kind of new to this, I was not 100% sure what the best way to transfer the design to the wool was so I asked around.  

Well, you know quilters are also willing to help with tips with what worked or didn't for them.  One of the nice ladies in Houston suggested this mesh-like toile-ish fabric.

I know it has an official name, I just don't know what it is....

Anyway, she said you make a copy of the pattern and then trace it onto this mesh with a permanent marker.  Then lay it over the wool and run over the lines with a chalk marker and the chalk will go thru onto the wool.  Genius!!

 I'm sure there are a bunch of other ways to transfer too, think I'll try this one...but I know I can turn to more quilting friends if I need more help.

I am so grateful that quilters are so open and sharing with their craft, their skills, their tips, their tricks, and even their opinions.  But you know the thing that quilter share most is their hearts.

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

Update:  the meshy stuff is called crinoline...I knew it would come back to me eventually!

gratitude - books without borders

goodness, I'm addicted to books!  And aren't we so lucky that we can get books from all over the world????

I picked two new ones on the stitchery subject (cause two evil people made me start doing this embroidery thing)

This one is DELICIOUS!!!!  Ok, it's Japanese, but it's embroidery ....I think I can figure it out.

there are beautiful designs for every letter in the alphabet....oh how I wish I had an I in my name!

and luscious border designs

and sooooo much more.  I'm not going to let a little thing like language get in the way!

And here's another one I picked up

It's from Australia so I think I can handle the language!

I am so grateful to have access through wonderful book dealers to all sorts of quilt books from across the globe. ....so much easier than getting on a plane!

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

gratitude - internet

oh it's been a long week so I will be brief.  Today, I am so grateful for the internet and all my gadgets that keep me connected.   They let my kids text me when they get home or to a friends or to ask me if it is ok to each cheese that has green on one end of it.    The internet keeps me inspired by wonderfully talented people in so many areas that I am interested in and sometimes even answers the question:  where are we?

(although I must tell you that a certain teenager was not amused when he asked "how can I survive without an iphone?" I replied " I don't know, let me google it and I'll get back to you")

Do you remember life before the internet?....way back when before blogging, facebook, twitter, pinterest, amazon, i-everything?  I'm exhausted thinking about it.  Remember when you had to look up a phone number IN A BOOK or go to a store to buy something you wanted and if you wanted to write something, u wrote ltrs instd of txt msgs?

Well, let me just say Thank you Al Gore for inventing the inter-web and making my life easier/faster/morefrantic/moreconnected.

And thank goodness for all the friends I have made out there in the world wide web of the cyber world, maybe some day we will meet in the  real world.  But for today, I'm glad I don't have clean my house to invite you in to my world.

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan

Gratitude - stitches

Uh, what's that sucking sound?  Why, that's Mary and Alicia pulling me into the world of stitchery.  I was perfectly content doing hand applique and hand quilting.

But nooooo, we have to do red-work and blue-work and black-work and whatever else kind of work there is.

We have to buy Bird Brain , Crabapple Hill and Bare Roots Patterns and DMC floss of all colors.

Well, let me just say this loud and clear:

THANKS!!!!

this handwork has certainly helped to keep the stress level down.

But please oh please don't make me crochet.....I can't take on another obsession right now.

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan 

 

gratitude - coaches

My children have been so very blessed to have had sports coaches and scout leaders that have been extra ordinary.    These people who volunteer to give of themselves to shape young lives in ways that parents can't. 

This week we had the finals for the soccer season. Please excuse the moment of boasting, but WE WON, and someone I know (and gave birth to) scored the go-ahead goal!.

And seeing this team, not just a bunch of kids together, smile and enjoy their victory together, reminded me how very grateful I am for these people who influence my kids....it really does take a village.

Thanks Coaches!

Hugs and Stitches!

Megan