Summer Time!

I have no idea what has happened to the summer!  How I have loved having my girls home from college and graduate school.  We had a wonderful weekend in Cape May, N. J. the end of June.  If you have never had the opportunity to visit this lovely Victorian town and stay in a Bed and Breakfast - plan a trip now!!!

 Love my new bike in front of the Saltwood House Bed and Breakfast.  What a great place to stay! 1/2 block from the beach and 1/2 from the shops and restaurants.  Just perfect!

During the summer season you need to have your beach tag before you can go on the beach.  It was the perfect accessory for my signature hat.  And because my family is not always wild about the beach (I married a mountain man who dislikes sun and sand!) we splurged on a cabana for our beach days.  And you know what comes with cabanas?  Cabana Boys!  Well not really, but they did bring a nice cooler of drinks!  I felt very fancy.

 

Here is one of my Beach Babes!  The water was freezing, but the sunshine was very fine.  

Hard Working Cabana Boys!

We had some great food in Cape May.  I had fantastic scallops at Trish's Restaurant. But the most fun meal came from Hot Dog Tommy's!  Here are my darling girls waiting in the line to place their order and then the wiener man himself!!

May Day!

Since I was a young child I have always loved May Day. I do not mean dancing around the May Pole or the celebration of the International Workers Day, but the idea of sharing garden flowers with loved ones- most especially my mother. Even as a child I remember picking flowers from her garden and presenting them to her with pride. I do not know how this idea was planted in my mind so many years ago, but it has taken root. Perhaps it was a sweet story or a children's poem, but it was such a lovely idea. So today I went into my garden and picked lilacs, azaleas, and tree peonies to take to my mother to honor the day. I hope that you have also enjoyed this first daily of May!

Busy... Busy... Weekend!

Such a fun weekend!  It was QUILT RETREAT for my chapter of the Quilter's Unlimited Guild.  We had such a great time in Winchester, Virginia.  

I am sticking to my New Year's Resolution to finish some UFOs.

Look at the beautiful pickle jar quilt made by my beautiful table mate, Diane!  Here is my view of her working away on her blocks!  I just love her quilt and it reminds me that I have a pickle jar pattern and fabric selected.... somewhere!

My Big Project

This quilt was started in 2008 when I fell in love with Tula Pink's Flutterby fabric.  All seemed to be going well until I got it on the design wall... and oh my goodness.  I think I will call it "Calico on Crack!"  It is fairly busy and if I did it again I would not match my four patches and make the blocks totally scrappy.  It is together and I just need a bit of yellow for an inner border and, of course, I have another pink for the border!

Our Bee Blocks!

Look at our wonderful Bee Exchange blocks as laid out by Diane!  I love how the jewel tones work together.  I am so glad I finished all of my blocks.  Check another to-do off the list!  

Remember the wedding and baby quilt we laid out a month ago?  Well here are the two tops all put together!  There was a lot of group work on these two beautiful quilts!  And here are lots of other beautiful quilts in progress by quilters at the retreat!

 I LOVE THIS BAG!  It is the Bailey Island Hobo by Two Aunties.  I have already broken my resolution and ordered the pattern! I think it will be a fun summer project with my girls!

The Ride Home:
Now that was not all that happened!  I had a lovely drive down Route 50 home from Winchester and stopped for lunch in Millwood, Virginia.  I had not been there for over 20 years and it did not disappoint.  The antique shop where we purchased the needlepoint covers for our dining room chairs (before we HAD dining room chairs) was still there.  But much more crowded and absolutely overpriced.  I am not sure that the owner actually wants to sell any of his items!  Here are a couple of jockeys from the front of the store.  

 And then I stopped at a darling shop in Upperville, Virginia!  Here is a topiary chicken... a must have for every garden.

The Big Find!

Finally, I was generously rewarded for my efforts to help clean out my in-laws home with the discovery of a Singer Featherweight sewing machine.  I confess, this will be my third, but I love it and cannot wait to give it a turn.  My mother-in-law is not crafty at all, so I have no idea how she came to have this gem, but I will ask her so that I have some history for my new baby.

A Quilt - What a Beautiful Gift!

 Last night's project is for a dear friend who was married in 2011 and is expecting her first baby ANY MOMENT NOW!  It is a group project to make coordinating quilts to celebrate her wedding and the birth of her first child.    So a we are using the same pattern in two sizes to create these beautiful quilts.  I have never been a huge fan of grey.... but it looks just stunning in these quilts.

Here are all the donated blocks ready to be laid out!  It is just wonderful to have the advantage of so many fabric stashes.   

Here are a couple of the girls laying the baby quilt out on the design wall.  Everyone pitched in to balance the blocks.

 The Baby Quilt laid out!  The pattern (which I cannot recall - sorry) calls for additional 1/2" strips that run horizontally through the quilt.  We will piece the rows and then add the strips as we piece the quilt.

Laying out the queen size quilt! 

We are all in agreement that we are doing a block exchange so that we can make one too!  So FAB!

Saturday Adventure!

Yes.... I had a million chores to do... but I knew that Ekster Antiques was having one of her fabulous barn sales and I just could not miss going! And to make it even better we were having snow flurries.  It seems to snow some everytime Ekster has a barn sale, and that just makes it even more beautiful, but freezing! I do not claim to buying a lot of items at the sale, and as a matter of fact some of most unusual purchases (a mounted antelope... an enormous trophy vase) have come from the barn. But is is just so different from any other antique sale...mmmmm love!  So here are a few photos from the sale, 

I really wish these old life preservers were not $69!
 I know Virginia would love to decorate with them!

And since I was already 6 miles from Purcellville, Virginia, I had to make a stop at Web Fabrics.  I could not resist picking up a couple of bundles, some Kaffe ribbon (beautiful!) and the bundle of the day on the counter was just my style... and my price at 10 fat quarters for $10.  What a deal. 

And if you are in Purcellville, then stop in for a bite at the Magnolia Inn.  I met some lovely quilters from Fairfax, Virginia who are members of the Vienna Quilters Unlimited who invited me to join them for lunch.  So kind, but my chores were calling me and I just wanted to grab a quick bite.  But it totally reaffirms my feeling that quilters are just the most lovely people!

Home Show Flowers

In the cold of February it was great to get a chance to enjoy a few gardens at the Capital Home and Garden Show in Chantilly, Virginia.  My sweetie bought me a bouquet of flowers (pink, of course) from the flower ladies and I just love the bubbling fountain from the beautiful landscape display from a Haymarket landscape company.  They had a lovely booth!  It was a very busy show and we had a great time.  

How I Loved the Valentine Brunch!

The "Smuttlies" on the Deck!

Every year I get together with a group of college friends to celebrate Valentine's Day.  Usually we include our spouses for a romantic dinner and we take turns hosting the event.  This year our busy schedule forced us to celebrate with a Sunday brunch and it was just lovely!  Pink Mimosas and Bloody Mary's were a hit and everyone brought something to share.  How lovely to take the time to spend a few hours with those who have shared your life with you.  There is a great story about our relationship with each other... but perhaps that is for another day.  I hope you were able to enjoy your Valentine's Day with loved ones.  Hugs