Helpers and More Numbers

I did a few more numbers last night.  I had BOTH boys "helping" me.

This was my view from my machine.

This one is the biggest PITA.  

He wants to be to the left of my machine, which is were I do my cutting!

This is the good boy.

He goes right to the "cat quilt" to lay down and keep me company.

I got the following numbers finished, 5, 10, and 12.

Still need to do 6-9 and the words and hearts.  

I really want to have them done before my retreat on the 9th of July so I can finish this at the retreat.  

~XOP~

A Project For Baby

I have embarked upon a new project for the upcoming grand baby.  I had bought the cutest pattern for a baby photo mat.  You know what I mean, right?  The one where it has weeks/months and you indicate the baby's age with the baby on the mat.  This is the pattern I bought.  I was going to make them for shower gifts.  I didn't know at the time that I would be having a grandchild so soon!

My daughter send me this picture asking me if I could make one like this.  Well I could, but it's not very cute now is it?  This particular one seems very poorly made too.

That's when inspiration hit me!  I have an idea for a mat that involves me paper piecing the numbers, the words "Weeks" and "Months".  I am also going to FPP some hearts.  I'm not ready to share exactly what I want to do but will share the numbers I have finished so far.  I started on them last night and sewed for a few hours.

I managed to get 1-4 and 11 done.

I am so excited to be able to use some of the great "love" fabrics I have collected.

After all the gray and white quilts I have made I have lots of gray scraps!

The pattern is by From Blank Pages.

I love her numbers and the heart is from her too.

The pattern shows them all from the same fabric, but I really love the scrappy version.

Click on the link to go to the pattern.

Finn and Cole were both trying to help me last night.

Cole is a good boy and lays on the blanket I have for cats.

Finn lays wherever he wants, usually where I am trying to work!

More to come!

~XOP~

Pattern Testing

I recently had the pleasure to pattern test for Pitchers Boutique. 

 I chose the Spartan Helmet.  

I thought I could make it into a cushion cover for my son. 

 The pattern was awesome and went together very well.  

I love to paperpiece and this pattern was an easy one.  

I finished the whole block and realized only after taking a photo that I had actually missed a piece.  

I ripped out the parts I needed to and fixed it.  

SO much happier with how it came out!

You can see in the photo on the left that the right eye is not right.  

The photo on the right has the corrected helmet.

 Yes it was a pain to rip it out but I like it so much better!

This is the front of the pillow cover after I quilted it.

I used Snow White Grunge for the background.

It has bits of green in it and it was the perfect color.

I used Spartan fabric (of course) for the back.

I put in a covered zipper too using the same fabric I made the helmet with.

Isn't that so cool?  My friend, Pam Gavin taught me how to do that!

Speaking of Spartans, I was finally able to gift the graduation quilt to one of my favorite Spartans

She loved it and is going to decorate her dorm room around it!

It always makes me so happy when my quilts are so loved!

~XOP~

WERE GOING TO BE GRANDPARENTS!!!

I have not announced it on here but our middle daughter and her husband 

will be welcoming a little boy into their home in October!!

We could NOT be any more excited to become a Gigi and Papa!

I'm not allowed to show her bump or any ultrasound pics so cat toes will have to do.

I am planning to try to make this milestone mat for the baby shower.

Also, I am also only allowed to make ONE quilt

(How cruel is that???)

So I have one planned

(for now, LOL)

May 23 was national Drinking with Chickens Day, and also my hubby's birthday.

Our eldest daughter brought a chicken over for him to celebrate with!

This guy is going to make a great papa!

~XOP~

Yard Work

 During the quarantine time we went over to the farm to help put up netting so my daughter could move her pea fowl out to the "big" pen.  

We social distanced, don't worry!  

Those posts we are trying to get the netting over are 12 foot high! 

 Quite an adventure.

 This is what my front yard looked like pre weeding and flowering

 This is the side yard next to my garage.  I ripped out ALL of the wild rose bushes and other stuff.  

I left only the Iris and Peonies.

The lillies around the apple tree are about to bloom.

I planted some annuals and you can see the Peonies in the background.

I planted some zucchini and some yellow squash and some annuals along the border.

The Peonies were beautiful when they began to bloom!

Just look at those blossoms!

 This is my wild rose bush that I left in the front garden. 

I am still trying to decide if I want to dig it out.

This particular Peony plant is just bursting with blossoms!

I couldn't resist and cut a few to bring inside.  One of my favorite flowers!

 I planted tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in the front garden.  

Hoping we have lots of luck with them!

 What do you have in your garden?  

~XOP~

Block of The Week

Over the Covid quarantine I started on a block of the week through Bits and Pieces quilt shop.
I chose pinks and golds as my color theme.

These are the blocks I have finished so far:

I remembered to spin the seams on this one!

I have been having so much fun with these blocks! 

They are only 7 1/2" though so not sure how big this will turn out.  

I may have to make a few more blocks.

~XOP~