The Weekend

How was your weekend?  Mine was pretty fantastic! 

 On Saturday I got to watch my Spartans beat Michigan!  Yeah, that NEVER gets old, ever! 

 I received some awesome mail too. 

 A very good friend of mine is helping me complete Hocuspocusville (HPV not the virus), by Crabapple Hill.  She has exquisite hand work!  Wanna see?  I need to press it but isn't it fabulous?!  Thank you so much dear friend!

I was sent out to do some shopping.  They should know better then to send me out to shop!  

"Pick up a few things for me will you?" he said as he left to finish the peacock pen.  

Sure but don't blame me if other stuff follows me home!

How could I resist this amazing peacock door mat for Long Feather Lane?  Obviously I couldn't!

Bed Bath and Beyond, Marshalls, and Michaels, then on to the Salvation Army thrift shop.  

Lookie at what I scored!  

Shelby wanted one of these for the hot cider for her party on Friday, so of course I had to stop and see if I could find one.  

Luckily for me they happened to have one!  As you can see it is in the cart!

I did manage to work on this little quilt that I still can only show you sneak peeks of, 

but it is ready for gifting!  Hallie approved too!

I worked some on cleaning, laundry and such too.  

I did get my crayon challenge quilt cut out and some of it sewn too.  

More about that later.  

I just got a call and we are closing on my dad's house on Wednesday. 

 It feels good and also a little odd.  This is the house I grew up in. 

 My parents built it and we moved in when I was 5years old. 

 It is kind of bittersweet to be selling it but also a HUGE relief!  

It was the last part of "all things dad" that I needed to do to close the chapter on that part of my life.  No more being anyone's daughter. 

 It is a milestone I am sad to see come. 

 I miss my dad.

Today also marks the 2 year anniversary of Jack's passing.

  I think you have one pet in your lifetime that you have a very special bond with 

and for me that was Jack.  

I still miss him every single day. 

 It hurts less, but there is still an empty spot in my heart.  

RIP dad and Jack.  Maybe you are keeping each other company?  I hope so!

~XOP~

Progress Is Being Made

I promise you I am making progress on all the things!  

I have the second set of Polaroid picture blocks ready to send when the next round is ready to go. 

 I have all my Halloween 5" charms cut and posted!  

I traced 2 Hocuspocusville (HPV, not the virus) blocks and sent one to a friend.  

(Oh yes I did Dianne!!!)

I then turned to the last obligation I have before I begin the next round of making all the things.

I am doing a personal swap with a person I met on Flickr.  

He makes the most amazing Donkey blocks and they are so cute!  

He needed/wanted butterfly blocks in any colors, any size, but all solids.  

I chose a pattern from a previous bee that I had been in.   

Here is what they looked like in process.

After a little sewing they turned into these!

Quite pretty I think!  

I still need to put a white border around them and trim them but I am pretty happy with them.  

I hope he will like them too!

My plan for the evening was to cut out the Tardis quilt but I think it has changed.  

I am doing the kitty mini quilt swap and 

have been struggling to figure out what I want to do for my partner.  

Her favorite fabric is not mine but at least a color palette I can work with. 

 I have toyed with several ideas.  

I think I am going to use this pattern and change some of the words to work with her and her cat. 

 I am planning to do it in redwork.  

I have already made alterations to the pattern (which since this is a secret I can't show you). 

 I will frame it in with pieced work in her color choice.  

If you were receiving this would it make you happy?  

So tonight I will trace this onto fabric and begin stitching.  

I could not be more excited to do this for my partner.  

I hope you like this partner!

THEN, I will begin cutting out the Tardis quilt.  

Also, hubby bought the mother load of corn so apparently there will be canning in my weekend too.  DD2 is coming home from her up north camping trip to celebrate her birthday on Sat 

so it should be a jam packed weekend.

What are you up to tonight?  

~XOP~