The Splendid Sampler™ Wednesday

The Splendid Sampler™ Wednesday
(...skip this part if you're not new here...)

The Splendid Sampler™ is an internet sew-a-long created by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson. It is an EPIC sew along...

• 83 fabric designers have created specific blocks that feature different quilting techniques. (paper piecing, fused applique, etc.).
• The blocks will be released each week, and are FREE to participants until March 2017. (at that time, they'll use the designs to publish a book).
• You can use whatever fabric you like.
• There will be pictures on their Facebook page, etc.

The new block designs come out twice a week....on Sunday morning and Thursday morning. I'm doing this with my TMBC...and, therefore, it is my pleasure to BLOG ABOUT IT every Wednesday. *******************

Sandy did both blocks...

One of these blocks was paper pieced...can you tell which one?

And, of course, LP does TWO VERSIONS of every block..

Two versions...of.every.block...

SO MUCH PRESSURE, PEOPLE!!

LK and I didn't have any blocks to share -- but we BOTH benefited from a gift of fabric.  To make more room for her Splendid Sampler stash, LP had to clear out some stuff.  EXCELLENT....I love, love, love my new 3 yd. piece of this classic green/blue flannel.  I think of it as our family plaid.  WHATEVER SHALL I MAKE??

Our First Featherweight Table!!

My sister Deb loves to sew...but for many years, her focus was on machine embroidery!!

She used to embroider all my jackets for Sew Expo

On this year -- SHE EMBROIDERED SIX JACKETS for me!!

One of the highlights of Deb's sewing life was meeting Simon Haskins for the first time!!

She has embroidered silk quilts with those complex, beautiful embroidered designs...jackets, home dec...

Barb, Simon and Deborah at the 2012 Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, Washington!!

To review, the week after our Missouri Sisters Sewing Weekend, Deborah bought her little white Featherweight off Craig's list.

She drove from Nashville to St. Louis to pick up Izzy...

Izzy had a bad belt, and needed a good oil and lube...but SHE IS BEAUTIFUL. And Deb was thrilled.

However, since Deb had been doing an exhaustive ebay/Craigslist search for a Featherweight, by the time she got to Iowa, (with Izzy) she'd also found a machine AND a table for sale in Davenport, Iowa. She asked me to meet her at the guy's house to take a look -- and I did. (Although I didn't take any pictures.) Neither one of us had ever seen a TABLE. Huh. This was so interesting for me...

The guy didn't know much about the Featherweight, and it had no case, but the attachments were all there.  And the table was in excellent condition...He was asking $675.  I thought that was way too much -- and -- hey -- remember??  DEB ALREADY HAS A WHITE FEATHERWEIGHT...

So she didn't buy it.

But then, two weeks later, I saw the very same sewing machine and table listed on ebay.  In Davenport, Iowa.  For $675.  It's got to be the same guy, right??

I sent Deb the link, and said, "look familiar?"...

Several days later, his ebay listing was running out, and he didn't have any bidders.  Deb still had his cellphone number -- so she called him and offered $325.

OMG...

This is Deborah's second Featherweight...it was born the same year she was. 1953. And PERFECT...

Not a greAt picture -- but this is Deb's table. Which is in PRISTINE condition, except for a water stain on the insert. Which, of course, YOU REMOVE ANYWAY.

So, Deborah is my second sister to buy a second Featherweight. But she WAS THE FIRST ONE TO GET A TABLE...

OH, YEAH -- there's more...

Channel Cat

This summer, Lilly and Warren are seven and three years old. I remember my own boys at this age -- and I know this is a MOMENT in my life. They are so easy to entertain...anything we do remembers like a day in Disney World. When Uncle Ross takes them to the local city park for a 30 minute romp, they talk about it for two days.

They are DELIGHTED with any kind of trip or activity. This is precious time...A blip on the screen of life, really. In the blink of an eye, they will be too old for slides and swings. They'll want to spend time with their friends, embarrassed to be seen with their Grandmother, and wouldn't be caught dead holding my hand...

SO I AM MADE THE MOST of this summer. And I decided long car trips would be a waste of our limited, valuable time. There are so many wonderful places to go, and things to see.

After our visit to the Botanical Center, we went to Lindsay Park in Davenport, Iowa.  Right on the Mississippi River.

We are standing on the Iowa side -- looking over at Illinois. And -- guess what? THERE IS A WATER TAXI...!!

The Channel Cat makes four stops -- two in Iowa and two in Illinois.

My plan was for us to ride the entire route...getting on and then off at the same stop.

And this Captain was a FAST DRIVER!! The speed created a great breeze, and lots of splashes..

The whole ride took about an hour...and we moved positions every time the boat stopped.

Every time the captain opened it up, and the boat would rise up, Warren would look at me and say, "Hold hands, Grandma..."

Oh, yeah. Precious time....

Grandma Camp - Botanical Center

One of the best things this summer was a new "locations" program at the Scott County Library. They teamed up with some local attractions -- and you could check out an "admissions pass". It was totally free, good for one week...

Once again -- my library card is one of my most prized possessions. 

On this day, I'm taking Lilly and Warren to the Botanical Center in Rock Island, Illinois.

Admission would normally be $6 for an adult, and $4 for each child.  Our pass is good for two adults and four children.

There were some giant trees...

As well as many GIANT ORANGE FISH...

Lilly wants to know -- did these fish start out as those little goldfish??

They had kids games set up throughout the center...

Warren and Lilly both LOVED IT.

It was a spectacular Grandma Camp adventure. THANKS AGAIN to the Scott County Library System. YOU ROCK!!

Summer Television

If you are not watching America's Got Talent -- THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE MISSING. Brian Justin Crum sings a song and changes the way you think...and I'm not kidding.

This was his first performance -- and what he did next REALLY blew me away. Check him out on YouTube.

I am showing you the long version of the clip, because he shares his story. How, as an overweight child, unsure of his own sexuality, he was mercilessly bullied, but his music saved him.
 

Our Faux Sister

Our FIRST EVER Sewing Sister Weekend at Ronda's house in Baring, Missouri will always be remembered as one of the highlights of my life.

We all LOVE TO SEW...Rita, Ronda, Deb (standing) and Deena....and it was so great to spend this time TOGETHER... But, you may have noticed there was a fifth person with us on this special weekend. The girl taking this picture!!  

THIS GIRL!! Our faux sister -- Barb.

Deborah is married to Rob. And for many years, Barb was married to Rob's brother. So the two of them were sisters-in-law, and over the years -- became best friends.

After Barb divorced what's-his-name -- she and Deb REMAINED best friends. And sewing together has always been a part of their rhythm...

Barb brought SO MUCH to the weekend. For one thing, she assisted Deena in laying out this complicated quilt...

I don't know how they did it...

The only picture I have of the FIVE OF US -- happened in the bathroom of Kathleen's house in town. Kathleen was giving us a tour...and I wanted a group shot...and nobody said, "HELLO?? WE'RE STANDING IN A BATHROOM!!!"

When I was taking a nap -- Barb FINISHED THE JIGSAW PUZZLE!! (HEY, BARB -- after I finish a puzzle, I remove the last 50 pieces or so -- so somebody else can experience that joy...I'm just sayin...)

This is my favorite picture of Deborah and Barb. Maybe the best picture I ever took. E.V.E.R.

Barb -- you were a JOY. We are so grateful that you came and were a part of our fabulous weekend. It would not have been the same without you. Deb is so lucky to have you in her life -- and SO ARE WE!!

The Splendid Sampler™ Wednesday

The Splendid Sampler™ Wednesday
(...skip this part if you're not new here...)

The Splendid Sampler™ is an internet sew-a-long created by Pat Sloan and Jane Davidson. It is an EPIC sew along...

• 83 fabric designers have created specific blocks that feature different quilting techniques. (paper piecing, fused applique, etc.).
• The blocks will be released each week, and are FREE to participants until March 2017. (at that time, they'll use the designs to publish a book).
• You can use whatever fabric you like.
• There will be pictures on their Facebook page, etc.

The new block designs come out twice a week....on Sunday morning and Thursday morning. I'm doing this with my TMBC...and, therefore, it is my pleasure to BLOG ABOUT IT every Wednesday. *******************

Sandy and LP are still keeping up with EVERY SINGLE BLOCK.  This is my favorite picture of the two of them, and they would be an inspiration to anybody!!  The Splendid Sampler should feature them on their Facebook Page.  (HEY -- WHAT A GREAT IDEA -- I'M GOING TO LINK THIS BLOG!!)

Linda, pictured with all their blocks this week.  Holy Cow!!

Fabric choices make such a difference, eh?

At some point, it was Sandy's birthday -- so we ate some cake!!

Great color selection!!

Love the whimsy here. Sometimes, I don't really see a block until I'm looking at these pictures...days later...

I'm rerunning this picture...because it's the last time I sewed blocks. AND I MISS IT..!!