Catching Up

I seem to be in La-La-Land these past two plus weeks.  Tubs of kitchen things have taken over the living room, dining room, and elsewhere in the Quilting Condo.

The kitchen is finished except the new stainless steel appliances haven't been installed.  Hopefully that will be next week.  They stuck the old ones back in, but I think I'm going to wait to load up the cabinets again until it's completely done.  I'd hate for anything to get broken while they're banging away in there.

While this is not something I would have chosen, at least everything is new and fresh.

I always joked and said the perfect house was one with no kitchen.  Well, I've changed my mind about that now!  Geez, you can't even brew a cup of tea when it's all gutted!  And Penny was all discombobulated with her red bowls in the downstairs bathroom.  She just stood in the kitchen where they should have been and whined for two days!  Okay, I never said she was real smart!  Anyway, she found her way to her food and all is now well in her world!

I went to the St. Michael's Abbey Gala last night.  It was not held at the Mission this year, but at the Montage Laguna Beach hotel.  Oh, my, that place was gorgeous!  The reception and silent auction were out on the grounds overlooking the Pacific.  Such a beautiful view, but it was warm and humid out there.  I was really happy when they rang the chimes for dinner.  Oh, the hotel is dog friendly.  It would be a good get-away for Penny and me at some point in the future!  I'd love to see her playing in the sand and surf.  She's such a weenie!

There was a wooden Nativity that I wanted last year but realized I'd be bidding against my boss .... cooler heads prevailed!  There was another one this year and I was lucky enough to get it.  

 

 

 

I didn't realize that there was also a metal Merry Christmas as part of the auction item.  That will look great on the mantle at Christmastime.  The best part, it was all for a good cause! 

 

I tried to take a picture in the back of the limo on the way home, but the "disco" lights didn't photo very well!!  Of course, it might have had something to do with those cute blue drinks that they kept handing to me.  I swear, they tasted like a blueberry Slurpy.  Of course, when I mentioned to someone that my nose was numb, it was pointed out to me that I had consumed a couple of blueberry martinis!   Yikes!   Oh, well, I had a GREAT time!  I was even dancing!  And I bet you thought I was just a little old quilting lady sitting at home night after night with her trusty dog!  ROFLOL.

 

I'm going to start loading up the pantry today.  It shouldn't take too long because I threw away most of what was in there.  It seems I had quite a stash of canned goods that had expired.  Me?  Stash?  Naw............

 

Might work on attaching a binding today if I get the pantry loaded.  Why that caveat, you ask?  Well, the pantry stuff is on the floor in the sewing room blocking the way to my machine. 

 

 Honest to Pete, it's always something!

So Much for Sewing!

I had every intention of sewing for the rest of this month, but life apparently has intervened.

The renovations I anticipated back in May will begin on the 24th.  I have to clear out every cabinet, drawer and one of the two pantries in my kitchen.  I worked on it a little yesterday, but need to get serious today.  The hardest part is the pantry and the spice cabinet.  Lots of purging!  Once those are done, it's just a matter of boxing up the pots and pans, dishes, etc.  I can easily do that on the Saturday before if I have some help lifting on the boxes.

My kitchen will be out of commission for that whole week.  It's not too much of an inconvenience for me.  I'll just take my Keurig upstairs!  Take-out will be definitely be on the menu!  Paper plates, plastic knives and forks .... yep, I can do it!

Penny will be going nuts during this time.  I'll have to kennel her every day while the workers are here.  Maybe I'll take her kennel upstairs.  She'll still hear the commotion but won't be able to see them.  I have a feeling she'll be real skittish when I get home each night.  In the old days of the company I would have brought her to work with me.  Don't think I can do that now.

We'll work it out.  Penny and I are quite adept at making the impossible work.  As long as we can get hugs in every day, the rest is a piece of cake!

Baby Backings -- Done!!

For Pete's sake, why in the world did I procratinate so much on these?  It was one seam on each of them!

Oh, well, they're done!

Now on to Gail's grandmother's quilt top.  I have one seam left on the top and then piece the backing on it.  I'm going to grid quilt it myself, so I'll have to wait until I can get to the quilt shop to use their table to pin. 

Hey, I'm on a roll here!!  :)

Must Sew This Weekend

Must!  I procrastinated last weekend on those two backings.  Now I can't do anything else until those are done.  I need to get in there and just do it!

Darlene inspired me to finish up my Designer Mystery from 2008.  This was a wonderful BOM offered by the Fat Quarter Shop.  All of my blocks have been made.  In fact, they were made each month as they came in.  Why have I not set the blocks?  Procrastinating again?  I will admit something here .... I love making all the blocks for a quilt, and hate setting them.  LOL.  Not much of a quilter, am I?  But this is my next project - after the backings!

I'm so cramped in here trying to sew.  It might have something to do with tubs of fabric sitting around needing to be put away.  I can't lift on them now.  I don't want to take a chance on undoing my back surgery.  So I'll just have to walk around them for a few weeks more, or until I can get a strong back over here to help me.  (sigh)

But I keep thinking about having a wonderful studio when I retire.  I think this would make an adorable studio, don't you?  (sigh)

I seem to be doing a lot of (sigh)'g lately.  But it is fun to think about the time when I don't have to go to work every day.

(sigh)

The Long Weekend

I am so looking forward to this long weekend.  Sewing is definitely on the agenda!

I have to piece the backing on the Park Lane quilt by Bunnyhill Designs  Then I have to put the final borders and piece the backing on the bright baby quilt.  Those are up first.  The last quilt on my must-do-immediately list involves layering and pinning.  I'll do that at some point this weekend.

I pulled out a large queen top that I made two or three years ago from a Moda kit.  I put it aside trying to decide whether it needs a border.  I'll lay it on my bed today to check the drop on it.  I have a feeling it'll need one.  Hope I can find the border and backing fabric!

I'm real eager to dive into my French General fabrics.  I recently saw this bedroom and I'm totally inspired now!  

 

 

 

This was a summer quilt - no batting.  What I immediately noticed was that the background for this quilt is tan.  I probably wouldn't have used it with the snowy-white linens, but it works perfectly.  I need to get over being so matchy with everything!

 

Hopefully some progress reports this long weekend.