My Son the Blogger!

Our Son Jon has been miserable the last few days.  He has a terrible ear infection, but his computer broke in the middle of his redesign of his new web site and blog, This Camera is a Weapon...
That was even worst for him than the earache!  Dad stepped in and got the computer back to work
and Jon got some meds for his ear...
Jon's feeling better and back to working hard. 
As you can see,  Jon caught our hummingbird at the feeder, and featured this photo on his beautifully redesigned web site and new blog. I hope you'll check it out. Jon has been working a regular job, unrelated to his first love which is photography. He still has the opportunity to "shoot" cool events and concerts. You'll see just a fraction of Jon's beautiful portraits, places, bands and event photos. I am so impressed at his redesigned web site, and Jon says that he was inspired by my blogging, to start his own.
 That's pretty cool!   I'm a very proud Mom.
Happy blogging Jon, your work is amazing and I'll love the chance to visit you everyday, and to see what beautiful photo you'll post next on your blog.

Waiting for Hummingbirds

A couple of days ago I saw a hummingbird in the backyard. Plant zinnias and you'll be rewarded by these little gems. I'm convinced that it is the same hummingbird that visits every year, and things that I've read about hummingbirds seem to agree with my theory.

Someday I may be quick enough to take that the little guy's photo, but it's a challenge just to spot them, they are so fast and never seem to fly a straight line like other birds. I've been telling our little bird about hummingbirds, she helped to make the sugar water for our feeder. I told her if we sat very still and watched very closely we might see one. An almost impossible task for a small girl always on the go. When the hummingbird finally came to the feeder, her face was priceless. She couldn't have been more surprised, with a look of total wonder... When the hummingbird left, we jumped around on the deck in celebration! A hummingbird came to our feeder! One of those magic moments you get to experience with a child. Enjoy this beautiful day.

A Hint of Autumn in the Air

It was a busy weekend, with a strong storm on Saturday afternoon that kept us inside.  The weather turned a little cooler, with just a hint of Autumn.  Historically, (or as my Dad would say, hysterically;-) my most prolific time.  I made these pillowcases for my SIL Elizabeth who will be celebrating her 29th birthday, AGAIN.  Betty as we call her, has been a fan of  the southwest style for years.  She recently destashed and gave me a bag of her fabric.  I hope that she'll like seeing some of it again as pillowcases.

We have talked about making a hypertufa planter together for a few years.  It's made with cement and vermiculite, and we just haven't had the time to try the process.  When in Elizabeth Illinois during our vacation I found several hypertufa planters, and a small change purse with "Elizabeth" embroidered on it.  My shopping for dear Betty was done.  Happy Happy Birthday dear Betty, I love you so!

We did visit one rummage sale on Saturday.  I found this leaf plate, and liked it...but loved it after I turned it over to find the name, Irene...my Mom's name in beautiful script.  The doily is one of many given to me by my dear pal Carmella.  She brought me a stack of beautiful doilies, dresser scarves and such.  She also brought me several beautiful sweaters for the fall and winter.  Thanks dear friend.

                                                   

 I put the plate to work holding my hand made soaps.

I found a match for a fabric I have benefiting the St. Jude's Children's Hospital.  We are not able to us it for our service project because it says St. Jude on it. I spent a few hours sewing them up and now I will be finding good homes for them. 

The last project I wanted to show you is "Leaves".  I'm saying "Leaves" with a Vanna -like flourish of my hand! That little joke is for my Kristen... She sees leaves and thinks of me.  Never met a leaf I didn't like.
In fact it was a emailed photo more than a year ago from Kris that gave me this idea for the favor.  When the bride's Mom said, maybe a coaster... I remembered the photo but wasn't sure where I put the printed photo. Kris was able to pull up the email using the keywords leaves, and Penny in seconds!  I would have looked for the photo for hours.  My girl knows her computer, and what Mom likes.  Thanks Kristen!
                                      
I have till October to make about 60 leaf coasters.   I love to do handwork, especially small projects...instant gratification.  This Autumn themed wedding is small and to be held at a rustic location.  Don't you just love, LOVE!  I'm so happy to be a small part of this young couple's happy day.

Now, add a son sick with an earache, a doc in the box visit,  Jon's beautiful Charlotte visiting, 2 computers that needed repair and you have an idea about our weekend. Never got to the flea market like we planned, but never a dull moment.  Have a wonderful week dear friends. 

Jelly Roll Fever

Have you seen any of the Jelly Roll Quilt Races on the web? It just looked so cool I wanted to try. My first stop was to the local quilt store, where the average jelly roll (precut strips of an entire fabric collection) cost about $39. I have sticker shock when I see fabric prices today. Boy, do I sound old or what? I didn't buy one, just couldn't. Then I went to the big box for paper towels and oatmeal.  I stopped in the fabric department...remember when every department store had a fabric department? They had these jelly rolls for $7.00. I bought them and came home to make a quilt top in under 2 hours...and I did. I only used one of the jelly rolls. It doesn't look like something from Moda, but the technique is so cool and easy. All you do is sew all of the strips together. I mitered the ends so I had the added interest of the angles. Then you take both ends and put the right sides together and sew the whole length to the end and then snip them apart. Then you do this again...until there are 4 rows...  And so it goes. Check out one of the videos for complete instructions.

The colors are very nice, the fabric quality was not as nice. There was a lot of fraying, and strings to trim when I was finished.

I think I will buy a quality jelly roll for my next project, and return my other bargain roll.  It really was fun to see how easily it all went together and so quickly became a quilt top.

A great reason to get in touch with my friend who does long arm machine quilting. She makes my simple quilting projects look like I really know what I'm doing.
I am in the middle of a full fledged sewing frenzy, hand sewing and crocheting too.  It happens every fall, but is a little early this year.  Maybe all the rainy days lately.  More project reports on Monday, pillowcases, leaves and some one's birthday!  Happy Sunday!

Jennifer Rizzo in Country Living

I just got my copy of September's Country Living in the mail. I was eagerly awaiting it's arrival because one of our very own Illinois Bloggers, Jennifer Rizzo has an article about her kitchen makeover.

Jennifer started having events for bloggers in the Northern Illinois area a couple of years back. She is a talented designer and I'm so glad that all of her hard work payed off with this two page spread in THE lifestyle magazine. Check it out!

Have a great weekend dear pals...these summer weekends will be gone soon, so enjoy!