Baby Brother Bill is 50!

Tomorrow, my only brother will be celebrating his 50th, with a little soiree at a Holiday Inn, and he is inviting all of his Cleveland area friends and relatives, and all of our southern and much northern ones too!  We all gathered for my dad's 80th last year, and I think he decided not to wait till 80 to do the same!  Smart idea, celebrate while you are still young enough, to remember it!  Should be a great time, and I get to see one of my great nieces, born last winter, whom I have only gotten to know through Facebook!  LOL Can't wait to give Zora and Leah a big hug!

I have been working extra hours as the shop owners are at Bernina University in Texas.  They will bring back lots of great ideas and new stuff from the mecca and we are celebrating this with a fun day August 4th.  If you live in the Cleveland area, sign up (for a small fee) to participate wearing western garb (homage to Texas) and enjoy goodies and drawings to boot!  Wear boots if you have them!  Of course, I am hoping the weather breaks by then, our heat index is well over 100 degrees these past few days.  We probably should add bathing suits to the requirements.

I have only had a few stolen moments to sew or create, and certainly blogging has been sporadic.  I so appreciate those folks that stop by my linky parties, I haven't had much time to promote them, so I might drop for a few weeks, and focus more on new things I am learning in the world of sewing and quilting.  So many visitors and tourists have stopped by lately, each bringing with them their regional requests for fabric or patterns.  So much fun!

Well I mentioned I have been working on a snowball quilt, I probably have made 24 patches to date, and I have been using the different models of machines so that I can try out how each works.  And today I began to make a top using Serendipity Patterns from the book Kate Whit wrote last year. Here is the book pic, Sew Serendipity check out Kay's blog.  In a past post, I showed a skirt I made with her book.  It turned out great, though I have some sizing issues.   I have a signed copy of her book!  I am making one of the tunic tops with Lily and Will fabrics, so pastel and trendy.  Hope to finish to wear this weekend! I'll post when I finish.

Thanks to my faithful followers who have been posting their links.  I am grateful for the support, even though I haven't had as much time lately.

A few parting garden shots, with lots of rain, and before the heat started to take them down...ahhh, I miss spending time with my garden, until Sunday...:)

My newest project, "Snowballing"

Doesn't this quilt colors and design look fresh?  I have kept the picture and link, from Twin Fibers for over a year now. 

Why you ask, am I suddently infatuated with the snowball?  First of all, it is summer, and second, I work at a quilt store and get to look at the beautiful quilts surrounding me as I work around the store.  So my first paycheck bought me some fabric from the Habitat collection, (kind of contemporary prints.)  The sample above the fabric collection and display was a snowball design.  It seemed to work so well with the prints, and it just so happens that I have been collecting pictures of my favorites from around blog world.  To make it economical, I am making a scrappy version, similar to the beauty in the picture.  But instead of whites and pastels, I am going with the black and more contemporary look.  My poor hubby of 33 years...as of today, (anniversary) has had to live with my shabby chic and cottage obsession for a long time.  Our bedroom sports 50s furniture from his parents painted in black.  I have been unable to find black and teal or black and blues and greens in bedding.  And now that I am in the quilt world, I need to create my own.  So, be watching as I explore quilt design and construction.  I have a Bernina on loan for home use, so no excuses, right?   Look at some of the pretty fabrics, in the collection; below left; not too feminine but soothing.   To the right,  check out one of many embroidery motifs I created, while teaching myself on the top of the line machine Bernina 830!

And as I am working 6 day weeks for July, I have been a good girl in bringing my lunch each day,  this salad is half from my garden, raspberries included!  So refreshing, while it lasts!

Well, be watching as I return to quilting as another one of my favorite past times.  What have you been up to this week?  Please post a link to your latest creation, and if you aren't a follower, add yourself and leave me a comment.  Love all that I have seen so far, and thanks for making blogging for me so special!