Things that I have been doing. . . .

The house has been much quieter since Bailey passed. . . . and Lacey is more needy than she had been. . . .I guess she feels the loss just as bad as I do. . . .even though the last several months Bailey mostly slept.


There has been some traveling, my niece got married in Tennessee.  We were not supposed to take pictures during the ceremony since there was a photographer on site.  But I helped my sister with the decorations and this is the head table.

The origami cranes were all made by my niece. . . .and there were quite a few centerpieces.  The owl centerpiece on the head table was made by my sister.


The wedding was held at Spence Cabin in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and is quite a well known location for weddings. . . it was a beautiful setting and the weather cooperated so the ceremony was held outside by the stream (which was quite a bit bigger due to all the recent rain).


We could not hear a single word of the ceremony because of the water. . . . but Maegan and Cody looked very happy and that is all that matters.


Other than traveling back and forth to Tennessee I did get some craft work done.


My quilt guild had a basketmaker come in to teach us how to make a garlic basket.  Steve had quite the time with the 10 ladies that took the class. . . . but he was up to the challenge and even though he was fighting a cold he got most of us through to the end.


Oh my. . . . I don't think any of us made a garlic basket that looks like what the original looked like! 


Here's mine:

And here is a side view:

It does not look like the sample at all! And, dang it, I can't find the original picture of what it was supposed to look like. . . .but what I made is nothing like it.  ha ha ha


I also did some sewing.


I once again participated in the Teal Mini Swap through EvaPaige Designs.  The fabric in the middle is the focus fabric that I received to make something for my partner. 


We decided to do mini quilts and I loved this table topper pattern so I pulled some other fabrics and went to town.  I think it turned out pretty well.

I also sent along a zippy bag:

And a "catch all". . .made from a placemat following a YouTube tutorial.

My partner received these items and was very pleased with them.


I have to upload the items that she sent me. . . but that will be for another post.


Several other projects have been getting worked on. . . I have all the rows done on my Four Patch Stacked Posy quilt.  I just need to get the sashings cut and sewn so that I can get the top finished.


Then there is the scrappy batik quilt top that I was supposed to get done at the quilt retreat that we attended at the beginning of the month.  Unfortunately I did not get to it. . but I did make a pillowcase dress for a ShoeBox Kid program for one of the women at the retreat.  And I was working on the Teal swap items as well. . .so I did get things done.


Need to get going, another weekend camping trip is upon us and I have some last minute preparations to make.


Have a lovely weekend.


In peace and pieces,


Sherry




This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any site other than the original or quilterblogs.com it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

Here's something that I CAN show you. . . .

My husband & I spent our 3rd anniversary visiting my sister & her family in Strawberry Plains, Tennessee. We stayed at a time share in Gatlinburg. . . mileage wise not very far, but with driving time at least 1/2 hour (but usually more) away.

It was great to spend some time with my niece & 2 nephews. . . .since they moved I haven't had alot of contact with them. . . .not like my other sister's boy whom I get to see on a pretty regular basis.

We took the kids to an attraction called, if I remember correctly, Outback Adventure, and there were alot of exhibits of animals from Australia (unfortunately the kangaroos were sleeping out of the sun so we did not get to see them), Asia, Malaysia, etc.

Here are some pics:







One of the days we were in Tennessee we drove to Asheville, North Carolina to visit Biltmore House.

What a case of sticker shock!! They charge $55 per person to see just a portion of the rooms in this house.

A couple of years ago we went to Newport, Rhode Island & purchased tickets to see 5 different mansions and I don't think those tickets were much more than that. . . and we got to see the ENTIRE house, not just certain floors.

My DH had always wanted to see Biltmore, and we had spent 3 hours driving there, so we went. I can't say that I was disappointed, but I think the mansions in Newport were done up in a much grander style and the tour guides there were a bit more cordial to those that were going through on their own with audio tours.

When we came back home I got sick --- could you blame me? In Tennessee the temps were between 72 - 78 degrees, when we got back to New Jersey we had 40 degree weather -- that's a bit of a shock to the system!

Between battling a sinus infection & bronchitis (why just get one illness when you can get 2?) I have been a bit behind schedule in getting my projects completed. . . but my Twisted Mystery #4 project has been mailed & received by Lynn. . . so I should be able to post pictures here shortly of that project.

The other project that I am working on is for the Doll Quilt Swap #5 (http://dollquiltswap.wordpress.com/). . . .here is the top that I am now quilting:



My partner said that they like bright quilts. . . so I hope that they are happy with this. . .it is not something that is usually my style, but it is growing on me, and DH likes it, so I would say that it is working out well.

I had wanted to have this already in the mail & out the door, but being laid up for about 4 days put that plan right out the window. The quilts need to be at their final destinations by December 1st. . .I'm thinking that sending it priority mail on Friday should give it plenty of time to get to where it is going.

Well, enough babbling, I have to get ready for work & get the DH up so . . . .

Until next time,






In peace and pieces,