Fabric Stash!

The quilting shop that I have bought the majority of my fabric for my quilting is closing at the end of this week. It suddenly dawned on me that I won't have a resource that is easy to go to in order to get modern, designer quilting cotton, so I dropped in to pick up a little more for my stash. Don't you love the colors? Now to decide on a pattern!

House Updates-Part 3

Oh my, so if you are contemplating a reno and those who have done it already tell you that things will take longer and cost more than you are expecting...I will join in that chorus and agree! Besides our appliance being late, difficulty sourcing cabinet finishes, and out of square doors and windows, everything is going well. Our original deadline of mid-July seems a pipe dream at this point but end of August is not too far and seeming more realistic. Here are some updated pictures of the progress. the tile at the front door, back entrance and laundry room is complete, which has been very nice.

The front rug with the new tile!

The pillow covers are done for the living room:

The Office/Sewing Room:

Laundry Room with new Tile!

The front door looked a bit dingy with the new tile and trim:

But no worries. There's nothing a quick coat, or 2, or 3 can't fix!

The only completed room on the entire main floor!

Back entrance with new tile:

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood

Despite the recent take-over of our yard by the evil mosquitoes, I have been out enjoying the plants as they bloom. I love the peonies. Two of four bushes bloomed this year. When I start to see the blooms get fatter and fatter I can't help but check them everyday waiting for them to bloom. There is an anticipation I feel when i look at them as if somehow if I stare hard enough, I can force them to open. I took a few shots after the rain (and when isn't it after the rain right now?) Enjoy!





Pots of Pansies in front of the Front Door:

My new lilac topiary tree:

Ok, this is a bit self-indulgent, Diego is so cute, isn't he? ;)

Is this still considered soon??

I promised pics soon on April 8. I don't think this is considered soon. Oh well, these pics were taken soon after the promise, so I'll post them and then have to take some more (no promises this time on how soon they will appear!)

Quilt for Baby Ava

My cousin Stacey had a baby in March. This is the first baby for the girls cousins on my Mom's side. There are a whopping 8 girls on that side (and one boy).

I wanted to make her a quilt for her new daughter. I had seen a pattern on a blog that was similar to this one. Stacey had already made bedding and curtains in yellows, greens, and blues, so I thought I'd add some pink and purple to the mix. This was a really fun quilt to work on and it came together pretty quickly. I backed it with a fun patterned flannel and finished the binding on a perfect Sunday afternoon on the deck.

Congrats to Stacey and Keith, and welcome to baby Ava!

Happy 30th Derek!!

This is the story of the surprise party that wouldn't be.

I was torn about how to celebrate Derek's milestone birthday. While in renos, I knew that a full-out invite-everyone-you-know shindig was not in the cards. Derek suggested a July fete after completing the renos was what he would prefer, but a friend suggested that I couldn't let his birthday pass without a little party, which confirmed what I was already thinking.

So I thought of what would be most "him". Derek is not a fancy dinner party guy. He isn't into anything fancy for that matter. I decided to plan what Derek would like without worrying about what others might like. I cam up with golf and food. Derek had mentioned that he would like ribs for supper, so I found a favorite recipe for ribs and baked beans and then added in 3 salads, Dad's Rootbeer in bottles and desserts including cheesecake, pie and store-bought cookies (he doesn't ever eat my homemade cookies which, I have to say, is more a reflection of his taste than my baking abilities)

Anyway, it was to be a semi-surprise party. Semi-surprise because this would keep his schedule open, but allow my to do what I wanted in planning without interference and to preserve a bit of surprise. He knew that there were people coming on Saturday, but not who and/or what the plans were. One day before the party, one of his friends called his cell telling him that he wasn't going able to make it for golf!!! GRRRR...I officially uninvited that friend, and then re-invited him (note: he admitted this isn't the first surprise party he has spilled the beans on, as if this was to make me feel better...seriously?)

I think the guys had a good time as they stayed pretty late. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. Warm, and barely a breeze for golf and weather that allowed for dinner on the deck. The food and the rootbeer was a hit and we celebrated Derek's entrance into the thirties with a bang!!!!

Today I...

...touched up nail holes in the baseboards
...finished painting baseboards and trim (I hope)
...tidied up the kitchen
...finally cut some fabric for my next quilting project
...got ready for my seniors presentation next week

*more updated pics coming soon!