Make-A-List Monday - And Away We Go!!

 Hi, all!

Well Monday has rolled around once again, and not just any Monday - it's the week of our trip to Italy!  We are so excited but I am working hard to make sure we have everything we need with us (and nothing we don't!)  But before we get to all that, here's how last week's list went....

1.  Continue making blocks for Lilli's annual quilt.

Done!  Check back on Friday to see what happened - but I'll tease you with this cute block!

2.  Remind Emmy to make me more drawings for her quilt.

Done, and she assures me that she has it all under control....

3.  Bind a quilt for the quilt ministry - the last one for our current project.

I didn't do this one, because my friend who's making it had unexpected company and didn't get it finished yet.

4.  Write up my packing lists for Italy.

Done!  Or at least started - I imagine I'll be adding to them for the next two days as I get everything completed.  

It's funny - I have a list app on my phone that I use constantly, but for trips, somehow putting all the things down on physical paper clears my mind so I can concentrate on the task at hand.  Is it like that for any of you?  

So for this week, my list is very short and sweet....

1.  Pick out a hand project to take on our trip.

2.  Write two blogposts - this one and one for Friday. 

(That will be all I will post until we get back on 9/10.)

3.  Prep the house for our trip.

4.  Pack!

I don't think I'll have any time to spare for the studio this week, but if I do, I'll probably cut up some of the scraps I generated last week.  I've been good about keeping up with the new scraps, even if the old ones are still stagnating in boxes under the quilt frame.  Baby steps, right?

I plan on taking lots of pictures of Italy to share with you when I get back, along with eating LOTS of good food!  

So now, I really want to know - - - what are YOU working on this week?

Hugs!

Sarah

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? It's Crunch Time!

 

Hi, all!

Friday is here once again, and we all know what that means - it's time for us to get our whoop whoop on!  I hope you are ready - so let's go!

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It's been a busy week in my sewing studio, as I buckled down to start working on the first of three annual quilts for my grandkids.  I'm happy to say I found the perfect quilt for Lilli this year - Crunch Time by Kelli Fannin Quilts.  

So I got started this week making the cookie blocks - they went so quickly!  Kelli really writes excellent patterns.

Once I got all of those done, I needed to make the specialty blocks.  The first was Cookie Monster - lots of tiny pieces but still easy to assemble....

Cookie was immediately followed by the milk block, which was significantly simpler....

And then last, but not least, the crumbs block! 

And with that, all of the blocks were complete!  I've laid it out on my design wall with the vertical sashing pieces....

...but tomorrow I will make the horizontal sashing pieces and assemble the top!  It feels so good to know that I have one of the three quilt tops this close to being finished...

So - - - can I get a whoop whoop?

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And now it's your turn!

What's got you whooping it up this week?

What's making you do a little happy dance?

Share!  We want to dance right along with you,

And it's always more fun to dance with friends!

The party will stay open until Sunday midnight.

Hope to see you there!

Hugs!

Sarah

Make-A-List Monday - Progress and Distractions!

 

Hi, all!

Welcome to another week of fun and games!  Our trip to Italy is just around the corner and it's starting to feel really real now - we booked the trip about eight months ago, and back then it felt so far away!  But now it's only a week and a half away.  My Italian feels so inadequate, but at least I'll be able to understand a little bit of what they are saying, and Google Translate can take care of the rest.  

In between thinking about what we need to do before leaving, I did get some of the things on last week's list done....

1.  Complete the vintage block top.

Done!  It turned out so cute, and went in the mail to our cousin today.

2.  Pull fabrics for Lilli's annual quilt.

I not only pulled them, but I cut out the pieces needed for most of the blocks, and today I made two of them!  This pattern is Crunch Time by  Kelli Fannin Quilts.

3.  Choose solid colors for Nathanael's annual quilt.

I went to the store and bought a few colors that required large quantities; the rest I will try to fill in out of my stash and scraps, only purchasing if I can't find something that will work.

4.  Clean up some in the studio.

Well, I did clean up a little but the stuff I didn't get to seems to have spread.....

5.  Work in the front flower beds (if weather permits).

I did it!  We had an easy cool morning, and I waded in - I wish I had taken a "before" shot, but you'll just have to take my word for it - the grass and weeds on the left side of the flower bed were about waist high.  I filled up three contractor bags with lawn waste, and could probably have filled up three more with what was under and behind the cherry tree, but I ran out of energy and it was starting to get hot.  So the rest will happen another day!

I also did a little baking today - I found a recipe for a blueberry ricotta galette that is so easy and so delicious!  Galettes are simple - you just lay out a round of pie dough (I buy mine ready made!) and top it with fruit mixed with sugar and seasonings and a little corn starch.  This one has a layer of ricotta underneath the fruit.  Then you fold up the edges, brush them with egg, and sprinkle it with a little sugar.  Thirty minutes in the oven at 400 degrees and you've got a simple but delicious dessert!

And now for this week - here's what I plan to be working on....

1.  Continue making blocks for Lilli's annual quilt.

2.  Remind Emmy to make me more drawings for her quilt.

3.  Bind a quilt for the quilt ministry - the last one for our current project.

4.  Write up my packing lists for Italy.

I'm going to keep it short and sweet this week because I'd really like to make some serious headway on Lilli's quilt - it would be wonderful to have one of the annual quilt tops finished before I leave - and honestly, my mind is so distracted with things I need to do!  I'm hoping writing lists will get it out of my head and onto paper.  Then I might have some brain power left to do other things!

And here's a special request - you know I mentioned Kelli Fannin Quilts earlier?  Kelli is dealing with a cancer diagnosis right now and is currently going through treatment, and could really use all the prayers, positive energy and good thoughts we can send her way.   I've tested some quilts for Kelli and made several of her designs and she is just the sweetest - the world is a better place with her in it.  So send up some good vibes, will you please?

And now, I really want to know - - - what are YOU working on this week?

Hugs!

Sarah