Summer, at last!

It has been exactly one month since I have posted here. 

For those of us who have children still at home, we all know that May/June can be crazy months. The school year is ending, final projects need to be finished, the kids want to get together with their friends before the summer begins, there are parties to attend, final exams, and the list goes on and on.

As a home-school parent, I have the added responsibility of making sure that the children's portfolios are ready for the school district. Evaluations were on Monday, so we are all letting out a huge sigh of relief.

Yes, summer, at last!!!

It's not that I haven't found time for sewing, it's just that putting thoughts coherently in a blog post was simply not going to happen. My mind was in way too many places at once.Getting to sit at my machine at all was my daily Zen moment.

I had fun making another pillow cover for an Intro to Paper-piecing class and managed to get another gift done for my
Creative-Pay-It-Forward. 

Two done...three to go!

When Masha was the first to add her name to my Pay-It-Forward list, she commented that she would like to receive something with white daisies. I went to the internet and searched for fabric and was excited to find this. How perfect!

I made a mini wall hanging and quilted a big daisy on it. It made its way to Russia, and I think 

she was happy. 

I had a lot of solid and tone-on-tone fabrics left over from my Tumbling Block quilt and a drawer full of Kaffe fabric, so I pulled out a Judy Niemeyer pattern called "Waterfalls." I threw in a Happiness is...Peanuts zig zag fabric and went to work.

This was the result.

Well, it's hard for me to believe that June is already coming to an end. I don't even want to think that I have two months of summer before the school year begins again. I know how months fly by these days. It almost feels like a blink, and they're gone.

For now, I will simply try to breathe, be in the moment, and enjoy each day!

Spring break

So far, I've had a wonderful spring break. This is one of the few weeks out of the year when I don't have to drive children all over the place. I have been able to spend time with them...catching up on some school work, going to the movies, going out to eat, or simply hanging around the house together. When they have found things to occupy their time, I have been finishing up some projects that have been on my to-do list.

This is my first piece completed for the Creative-Pay-It-Forward project. The recipient simply told me that pink was her favorite color, so here's what I came up with.

For those of you who don't know me, I love piecing but I don't quilt. I have been hesitant to learn free motion quilting and have attempted very few pieces on my machine. Since this is a small piece, I decided that I ought to do it, so I did. I simply drew freehand with a disappearing pen and went to work,

and I'm ok with the result.

After I finished a pillow for my bed out of these fabrics, I decided to make a wall hanging as well.

I think I'll tuck this away until I learn to free motion quilt with a bit of confidence and then do this one myself. I'll never learn if I don't try.

I hear that Monday will be 59 degrees. Spring is clearly here. I am enjoying my early blooms that the rabbits have not eaten already. I guess they get hungry, too, but I wish they would find breakfast somewhere else.

WIP - Wednesday

Well, I am making slow and steady progress on this first Autumn Project block that I received. I feel as if I am almost there.
A few more stitches and I'll be done this one.

I am so excited to now have my list of five people

who will be recipients of a surprise gift from me in 2013.

1. Masha   
http://alovchany.blogspot.com/2013/01/creative-pay-it-forward.html

2.  Tina  
http://feedthedogs.net/spilling-energy-2013-creative-pay-it-forward/

3.  Leslie  
http://lesliesitchintobestitchin.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-creative-pay-it-forward.html

4. Kerrie  
http://prettyladybaby.com/2013/01/05/2013-creative-pay-it-forward/

5.  Iris  
http://agildedyarn.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/2013-creative-pay-it-forward/

I'm going to be spending some time on each blog, getting to know all of you better, and trying to make my gifts to you  as personal as I can. Now, to get to work!

I have also received my first two completed blocks back from the Autumn Project. Such fun! These blocks started here in my home and have been around the world making their way back to me.
This block was embellished by Masha...
Thank you, Masha. It is so beautiful!

And this block was embellished by Natasha.
Thank you, Natasha. Your work is lovely!

Stay tuned! A giveaway is coming up in the next blog post...

2013 Creative Pay-It-Forward

So, this has been flying around Facebook, and I thought it would be fun to bring it to the Blogoshpere:

"2013 Creative-Pay-It-Forward: the first five people to comment below will receive something from me within the calendar year. Your gift will be a surprise and will arrive without warning. The catch? You must post this invitation on your blog, as well.

Ready? Go!"

So, here is what I would like you to do:

1. Comment below that you would like to receive something from me within 2013.

2. Also, write in your comment the name of your blog so that I can learn something about you. In this way, I might be able to make your gift more personal.

3. Then go and post this invitation on your blog so that you can pay your creative abilities forward! 

3. Finally, email me your full name and address for mailing your gift.

I am seriously excited!

Now, here are the humble beginnings of my first CQJP 2013 block.

My mother, a collector of all things beautiful, gave me a bag of antique lace for my birthday (a week ago). When I opened the bag and saw this lace motif, I was astounded that it fit perfectly on the fabric I had chosen for this square. 

Then, after stitching the buttonhole wheels, I discovered a set of buttons she had given me,as well, that were the perfect color.

Thanks, Mom!