Life is Good!

 I had my very first mammogram since my breast cancer diagnosis and treatment last year.

To say I was nervous is an understatement!

Here I was before the mamogram

I remember taking a similar picture a year ago as I was heading into my mammogram.

I was full of confidence.

It was just a routine mammogram.

Then they found my tumor, and my life was turned upside down for a year.

As we all know, life seems to go on and so it did.

We got through it, and are living our life.

I am forever grateful that I kept that appointment and that God had me back!

This year, all was well.

No tumors detected!

I met a woman in the waiting room just beginning her journey.

I gave her my contact info and told her to message me or call me if I could help.

She told me she had no one to talk to about the whole process.

We had a long talk inbetween both of us getting called out and then back into the waiting room.

I finished up and got dressed.

As I walked past her she rose from her seat and gave me a BIG hug.

She told me I was an inspiration.

I think god put me in her path to help her as many others helped me along the way.

I will keep in touch with her and make sure she knows someone cares about her.

I'm considered No Evidence of Disease.

Life is good!

~XOP~

First Finish of 2023

 I used to donate plasma twice a week for about 2 years.  

Sometimes my right arm was difficult to hit, enter Brittny.

She was always able to hit my vein on the first try!

Spending so much time at the plasma center I got to know her pretty well.

She and her hubby were wanting to have a baby.

I had to stop  donating because of the breast cancer medication.

She emailed me to let me know they are expecting a baby!!

They are doing the nursery in Winnie the Pooh.

So of course I had to make some stuff for the nursery, right?

I got the quilt top done before we went to NC.

That meant I was able to get it to my LAQ before I left too.

I used a great Winnie the Pooh Minky for the back.

I was also able to make a few other things for the nursery.

I made some self binding blankets, using WTP Minky and pink flannel.

They came out really cute!

I made 2 crib sheets, one flannel and one knit.

I used the leftovers to make burp cloths and reusable wash rags too.

I got the quilt back all quilted up with Bees!!!

It turned out so darling!!!

I really wanted to use this panel for the center but I didn't have one.

I went online and traded to get it.

Look how cute this Minky is too.

Bonus that it is super soft.

I messaged her and asked if we could meet up on Saturday at her work.

I told her I had a little something to drop off for her.

She was completely blindsided and so thankful.

I think she loved all of it!

I took a pic of the two of us.

Isn't she so cute too??

And guess what the baby's name is going to be?

AVERY Jane.

Can you believe that?  

Baby is due next month and now her layette is ready for her!

~XOP~

I Am So Far Behind On My Blogging

 Life seems to be moving at warp speed lately.  

We left for Berlin, OH in September then on to NC for a few months.

  I will catch you up with what we did in Berlin.  It may take a few posts.

We were camping in Berlin, OH by our friend, Kailie and her parents.  

We had a really great time. 

 I did some sewing with Kailie and her mom and finished my Trick-Or-Treat Midi bags.

These are the 4 bags I made.

The first one is for Avery and the other three are for Our friend, Amy, three girls.

We stopped in at Holmes Brooms.

Mel still makes all these corn brooms by hand!

The process was amazing.

The skies were so cool when we were there, 

Not every day looked like this but this one was very cool!

Quilt shop hopping with Kailie.

I scored some awesome vintage table cloths at one of the antique shops in Berlin.

Found those great Big Ten glasses for a Christmas gift too!

Amish buggies.

I never get tired of seeing these!

More soon!

~XOP~

Camping Adventures

 We went camping last week and had a great time.

I visited one of my favorite quilt shops while I was there.

It is called Bittersweet Quilt shop in Pinconing, MI

I saw this sign and thought it was SO appropriate.

Something we quilters should remember

"Beautiful things are never perfect".

SO TRUE!

Some of our friends were in Oscota which is pretty close to where we were.

We met them for lunch in Tawas and fond a new friend, LOL.

I could have stayed at his exact spot for a LOT longer.

On the way home our truck was shaking a bit so we stopped at a rest area to check the tires.

There was a bulge in the rear tire.

The lock to get the spare out was corroded and it probably took Chris about 45 minutes to get it open.

I got the boys out and put them in their pet tent.

It was SO hot in the truck,but very noisy at the rest area.

The boys were not happy.

They would have been more unhappy in the truck though.

Never a dull moment around here!

~XOP~

AQS Grand Rapids

Last week Friday I went to the AQS show in Grand Rapids with my SIL and my friend, Cori.

We had such a great time! 

I didn't think I *needed* anything but apparently I was wrong!

LOL

I bought a couple of patterns and some of the new Kona Sheen.

I got to meet up with my friend Donna.

It was the first time we met in person.

She is so much fun and she spent the entire afternoon going through the show with us!

Here are the three of us.\

We had a great time looking at quilts and shopping.

It is always great to spend time with these 2.

Here are a few of my favorite quilts from the show.

I think this one was my favorite!

Such a great day with my friends!

~XOP~

Reject's Retreat 2022 Part 1

 It's that time again.  

Time to head out to Kansas City for the annual Reject's Retreat. 

 This year my friend, Kailie was joining us. 

 She and I decided to drive from MI to MO. 

 Hubby mapped out several quilt shops for us to stop at along the way as we progressed.  

He even put the times they opened up for us. 

 We started at Shipshewana. 

 Kailie had not ever been there. 

 First stop was Yoders and then Lollys.

Next was Betty's Quilting and Fabrics in Burnettsville, IN

The next stop was closed so we continued on the Chilothe, MO to spend the night.

We had a beautiful sunset on our drive there.

In the morning we went to Cuts and Bolts.  

They opened late and we just managed to catch them as we were ready to head out.

After that we were traveling on the the Missouri Star Quilt Company in Hamilton, MO\

This was the main shop.

Can you read the sign above us?

"Spends too much $$$ on fabric"

With an arrow pointing down, LOL.

This was in the Pennys building.

There are 4 shops inside there.

It was pretty incredible.

The iconic Hamilton sign.

There was a little Amish man selling fry pies near here too.

YUM!

Cheersing with our cherry fry pies!

On our way to the retreat!!

Next up our arrival and activities at the retreat!

~XOP~

Quilt Retreat

 Every year, to celebrate my birthday and my friend, 

Cori's birthday, we go to a retreat at Creative Passions.  

This year was no exception. 

 I went with my friend, Cori, my sister in law, Mary and our friend from WI, Traci. 

 We had a blast, as usual AND we were all super productive! 

 Win-Win! 

One of my goals was to finish making my Ocean Waves blocks. 

 I think I needed 36 blocks total and was down to my last 4.  

These blocks have a LOT of pieces so take me a long time to sew, but I got them finished.  

The quilt will be too large to try to lay out at retreat so I just opted to finish the blocks.

Here is one of the blocks.

I did finish an entire top but it was a super secret project so I can't share it just yet.

Trust me when I say you are totally going to want this new pattern!

It was a pattern test for Apples and Beavers.

We all took a trip to Seven Sister's Quilt shop as we usually do. 

 I bought a kit for the cutest Coo by Art East Quilting

Me and my sweet SIL

The people that own the retreat now have a new quilt shop.

We, of course, had to go visit that too.

It was a cute little shop!

I found some adorable fabric to use for lining a mondo bag!

Of course I brought Jack with me.

He so loves to hang out with us ladies!

We ended up in the basement of the house this summer.

Usually we are in the back side of the church but we had a date glitch.

The basement is where we usually go in February.

This is the set up we have there.

We had to try out the new Mexican place.

Check out that Margarita!

Since that following Monday was my birthday, this was the gift from Cori.

I use SO much white thread she gave me a whole pack, plus some pretty teals.

Also, that adorable bunny fabric!

Traci gave me this cute kit to make a hanging pod.

She knows me too well.

Look at that Heather Ross fabric!!

Traci brought us all a kit and me an extra kit.

I made mine, and Mary's and Cori's for them too.  

Then I made one out of the cutest cat fabric too, once I got home!

I am so far behind on my postings.

I hope to catch up soon though.

So much to share

~XOP~,