Old Glory, 1st block done

Last night I finished my first block of Old Glory - The Eagles.... I did find these challenging to say the least, especially their beaks and wing points, but I like how they turned out, now to the next block....

Here is a close up of each eagle so you can see what I mean,

Also took a picture of one of the fabrics I used - my favorite so far...

Well, that is it for today, Hugs, Mary

Auditioning....do you do this?????

I have been 2 days auditioning fabrics for this "other project" I am doing....and finally decided on this green - however, as is always my case I purchased this particular green fabric in 2007? So, now I need 3 3/4 yards of it and I have about 3/4 of one yard - typical right? So will start to try and duplicate the color at my quilt store. For some odd reason, I have a ton of reds and blues and creams but green, I don't have a lot of.

This is a really old pattern that has been on my to do list, so am going to give it a try., Also, have been working on my Eagle Quilt...oh the lessons I am relearning here - Eagles are not easy to Hand Applique!!! Those beaks and wings - OH MY!! Got better with the second eagle, the third is a still a work in progress..I think the second one looks like an "Angry Bird" but it's an Eagle??? I also gave them each an eye... they needed some personality right??

Then the Cold Wind Blows Block 2 is slowly coming around, have this much appliqued down, however have to fix that flower - see...

See these blocks are HUGH, and am used to Bigger pieces to applique - a Lot Easier (in my humble opinion). If you look at the flower - There is not supposed to be a space there but there is, so some ripping tonight on that one...How was your weekend sewing projects coming along??? Hugs, Mary

Annie Downs Bag

I picked this up at the Quilt Festival yesterday, it's a shopping bag but I thought it was really cute and I forgot to share yesterday on my post:

Isn't it the cutest??? Hugs and Happy Friday, Mary

Sometimes you just have to have a fun day!

Hi....today I attended the International Quilt Festival in Chicago. WOW is all I can say, Beautiful Quilts in Red and White. I brought my camera so you can see what I saw, now I am not a photographer so bear with me here....

This last one was my favorite - love the chedder! Primitive Gatherings Quilt Shop and Pieceful Gathering Quilt Shop were there, just to name a few...so I did spend a couple of pennies...LOL :) Anyway, it was a Beautiful Show they put on and enjoyed a day out with my Sister! Hope you enjoy all the eye candy, Hugs, Mary

Summer Weekend by Blackbird

Hi everyone, Happy Sunday!! Well, I started my Quilt Like An Eagle today, and I thought those eagles at the bottom were going to be sooo easy, I was wrong. I just know that the wing span on the left of the eagle and those little legs are going to give me problems! I am going to try one eagle and if I have problems, I am going to have to redraft those eagles as to fit better with the branch and flower and leaves. But I still love this quilt, hope all is well, with you :)

This just is really so beautiful...

Hi, We were in Miami Florida last weekend and so I brought 2 books: 1st one was "Three Wishes" by Liane Moriarty, very very good, 2nd one was "Dandelion Summer" by Lisa Wingate - which I did not finish, but am still reading, but what a Book - Great Read! While reading Dandelion Summer on the plane came across something Lisa Wingate wrote and it is just so beautiful I have to share: It's a letter from an absent father to his now grown daughter: Dear ..... "Words do not come easily for so many men. We are taught to be strong, to provide, to put away our emotions. A father can work his way through his days and never see that his years are going by. If I could g back in time, I would say some things to that young father as he holds, somewhat uncertainly, his daughter for the very first time. These are the things I would say: When you hear the first whimper in the night, go to the nursery and leave your wife sleeping. Rock in a chair, walk the floor, sing a lullaby so that she will know a man can be gentle. When Mother is away for the evening, come home from work, do the babysitting. Learn to cook a hotdog or a pot of spaghetti, so that your daughter will know a man can serve another's needs. When she performs in school plays or dances in recitals, arrive early, sit in the front seat, devote your full attention. Clap the loudest, so that she will know a man can have eyes only for her. When she asks for a tree house, don't just build it, but build with her. Sit high among the branches and talk about clouds, and caterpillars, and leaves. Ask her about her dreams and wait for her answers, so that she will know a man can listen. When you pass by her door as she dresses for a date, tell her she is Beautiful. Take her on a date yourself, Open doors, buy flowers, look her in the eye, so that she will know a man can respect her. When she moves away from home, send a card, write a note, call on the phone. If something reminds you of her, take a minute to tell her, so that she will know a man can think of her even when she is away. Tell her you love her, so that she will know a man can say the words. If you hurt her, apologize, so that she will know a man can admit that he's wrong. These seem like such small things, such a fraction of time in the course of two lives. But a thread does not require much space. It can be too fine for the eye to see, yet, it is the very thing that binds, that takes pieces and laces them into a whole. Without it, there are tatters. It is never too late for a man to learn to stitch, to begin mending. These are the things I would tell that young father, if I could. A daughter grows up quickly, There isn't time to waste, I Love You, Dad ......isn't that beautiful???? I am one of the fortunate ones, I had a Dad who did all of the above, he died 11 years ago and I still miss him to this day. I also married a Man that does or has done all of the above for his 2 daughters, I AM BLESSED :) Have a great day, Mary

Summer Weekend...

I just love blogland!! Honestly, Karen from Log Cabin Quilter Blog has send me her Summer Weekend book by Blackbird Designs, so I can start on my eagle quilt!! Thank you soooooooo much Karen, I love all the projects in that book but specifically Old Glory!! What would I do without you ladies, Honestly??? Hugs, Mary

(THIS IS NOT ME, BUT A GIRL CAN DREAM!!!!)

Pattern Obsession

Happy Monday everyone, This is the current pattern I am Obsessing About...I have dragged literally, my sewing room and can not find this pattern! UGG!

It is by Blackbird Design, called Summer Garden, can not find anywhere, have googled, ebayed, yahood, contacted publishing co., with no avail. If anyone knows how to purchase this pattern, please email me, Thank you so much, Mary Or leave a comment on this page, Thank you....