making preparations for Hurricane Isaac.

So it looks like this Northern California girl will be experiencing her very first hurricane.  I am actually a little excited about it.  I don't like the devastation a hurricane brings, but I have to confess, the power of nature thrills me.  Whether it be the crashing of waves on the shores where I grew up, the jolt of an earthquake, the wonder of falling stars and meteor showers.  Just all of it. 

Being 40 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico (as the crow flies), we can expect a good bit of rain and wind.  I have worked my tush off in the yard, cutting branches and building a burn pile from the like.  So I plan to get that burned before the wind scatters it all over our property.

Baking a couple loaves of bread and laundry are on my short list of things to do as well.  We can anticipate loosing power for a little while.  I don't expect it to be very long.  This may only end up a Cat 1 or 2.

I was able to get the larger pieces of my hexagons sewn last night.  I am thinking, after I fill in the gap, trimming it and sewing a border around the sides.  I am surprised at how big it is.  I didn't realize how much I had sewn. 

Much of it was while caring for a dear elderly friend of mine, who has since passed away.  My heart tugged a little while working on it last night.  Remembering the doctor's appointments I would drive him to and the time we chatted and laughed while in his home.  What a precious Godly man he was and I am so thankful to have had him and his dear wife in my life. 

revisit.

The past couple of weeks have been busy with out door chores.  Thankfully, the weather cooled some last week, so it was more bearable.  Vacuuming and washing vehicles, trimming trees (which then turns into hauling branches to burn pile), weed eating, lawn mowing, etc. are so much easier in 80 degree weather, rather than 90 degree.  Ugh.  No fun.  But I am not here to complain.  Quite honestly, I am hoping the much needed property detail will provide some unwanted calorie burning.  Boy, after 40, those are so much more difficult to get rid of.  Can I get an "amen" out there?!

All that said, not much sewing machine time.  Instead, the evenings (I work in the yard and house during the day) are filled with handwork.  I have finished some crochet and some handquilting that I am aching to show you ... and I will ... all in due time.  My box of hexagons came back down.  I am looking over all the special fabrics and wondering what to make from this large piece.  I had every intention of going large.  But now, I would rather finish it.  So I am thinking a square.

Have you made something with hexagons?  Please do tell and if you have a link, please share.

By the way, there is still plenty of time to enter the Shabby Apple Giveaway.  Goodness ... $50.00 gift certificate!!   

I wish I could enter!!  

This dress is too cute and there are some delicious leather flats calling my name.  (between you and me ... I have never spent that much on shoes in my life)  

over the moon

 

When I won the Moda give a way, I could hardly wait to tell you!

Such cute cute fabric and I have really enjoyed this fabulous book.

Here is a little glimpse of how the hexagons are coming along.  They really are the perfect carry along.
Thank you for sharing your craft of choice when you are not quilting.  It was so fun reading all the different preferences.

Aw ... no more running for a few days and so will spend time getting all the blocks for our king sized bed sewn together.  I have wanted to do this for some time now and so thankful for these free moments.

on the go.

 

I have had a lot of running lately and this sweet box of goodies has been keeping me company along the way.  The sewing machine has not been turned on for over a week, but I just need to keep my fingers in fabric ... hence the hexagons came back out from hiding.  

I have been told that ladies who quilt also have other crafts they do in between.  

Mine would be crochet and cross stitch.

What is yours?

x is for

 stitches

I know that the word "stitches" does not start with the letter "x", however when I think of "x", well, I think of stitches.  

I recently brought out a little hexagon project I had started a long time back.  It is one of those projects that I have accepted as not being finished until I am 80 years old.  Ha!  However, I finished my crocheted blanket and like to have something to do with my hands in the evenings, hence, the hexagons came back out.  

This is a very scrappy project, and I have not decided if it will become a very long table runner, a baby quilt or eventually something larger.  I suppose when it is time to call it quits and begin the quilting process, I will just know.  As much as I love hand quilting, I have no desire to do so in this case.  So we will just wait and see how it all ties up in the end. 

Easter immediately had to come and check out what I was doing.  It was tough getting these pictures, he kept wanting to snuggle me and the hexagons. 

en route

I thought I would give you a little glimpse into where some of my gifted, bartered, and purchased fabrics are beginning to take shape. I am really enjoying the hexagon quilt process. It is so easy to carry about, or pick up between chores. I just adore scrappy quilts and will be so pleased when I can cover my family with this one!

a : fabric was a gift from Renee at Sewn With Grace ( I have other beautiful fabrics she sent as well that are taking shape else where)

b : fabric from my husband's shirt (bless his heart, I wander through his dress shirts way too much!)

c : fabric is vintage from the quilt I showed a while back that I was doing for a friend. She said I could have a few scraps so that her grandma in law will be in my quilt ... so sweet of her!

d & e : fabric was purchased from Vanessa at V and Co. who cleaned out her scraps for me. I had so much fun working with her and asked that she keep me on stand by for the next time she wants to do some fabric destashing.

f : fabric is from Angela at Country Scrap Quilts, we have bartered a few times and I absolutely love all the fabrics she has sent! This black has been such a fun pop to what I am using. There are so many other fabrics of hers in this hexagon (it would take the alphabet to show you ... hee hee hee)

g : like this fabric ... I love it and it is from Angela!

check out my new barter button up at the top

a bartering story - with Angela

Oh my goodness - am I a blessed girl!

Angela and I are in the process of bartering handcrafted jewelry (by me - wink) and fabric scraps from her stash. And I just had to share what arrived in my mailbox! Such beautiful fabrics that are going to be just perfect for my hexagon quilt and other future quilting projects.

THANK YOU SO MUCH ANGELA!!

I.cannot.wait.to.start.cutting.my.squares!!

here is a little peek at my progress so far
before my goody box arrived-it will be so much fun to
add the new fabrics to my stash

If anyone else is interested in bartering my
handcrafted (heirloom quality) jewelery
(made with only the finest crystal, pearls, sterling silver, etc)
for your fabric stash/scraps be sure and leave a note and we can talk shop!