Caught on Camera

You know we are getting ready to move from CA to WI (California to Wisconsin). So we want to torture ourselves by remembering, through pictures, our lives here... to review during the icy winters and wonder about our decisions...LOL

These are some of the locals:

Probably an Admiral Butterfly sunning on the Passionflower Vine that grows over our fence where the neighbors water the plant, and we get all the flowers. There is a whole colony of butterflies that love this plant. Hard to grow in Superior WI...

 

He opened his wings for a second.

And one of the huge Bumble Bees that took over the spot.

 

Then the camera claimed to be full, except these three were the only pictures in it!  Anyway, this nature moment is your weekend wish for gorgeous weather (going to be hot here) and lots of fun!

 

Hugs,

Terri

Pictures from the first birthday party.

See my grandson and parents on another's blog.  They are expecting a little girl sometime in February.

Here are the pictures I took at the party. BEWARE!!! Much Grandma bragging to follow...

#8 - a lucky number in the Chinese culture.  He got into a tussle with a toy truck right before his first birthday! (Makes him ruggedly handsome, don't you think so?)  Oh, and his Mommy on the right.

Behind him the purple stripe package with the lime green accents (I ran out of paper.) is YOU KNOW WHAT.... Shshshsh.

 Here he is with his Daddy, my son #1. They live next to a big modern church, which rents them their house. They have 2 chickens in a pen (lower far right) who have all of #8's attention right now.

(He just got up from a nap here and isn't quite himself yet.)

Here's the cake... so I'm showing this and naming him #8 - goofy grandma.

It was a themed party. Even the napkins were Giant's themed.  Auntie Laura was in Oakland attire.

 His own birthday cake.... Mess to follow!!!!

 He really seemed to like the frosting as paint, and ate the cake for a few bites - then it got thrown and the family dogs came in for clean up!

The paternal grands.

Dad and Mom (expecting their second, a girl!!! I see pink in my future.)

 

The only gift opened, wasn't wrapped. He had a grand time with it.

See him opening the gas port? We watched him put water into it several times from his tippee cup! Now Dad and Mom say he's never seen them do that, but he must have watched the customer ahead do it. (Not quite 1 year old - Genius!!!!)

So that's my report on the party.  We didn't get to see his reaction to his quilt.  No gifts were opened. I've had a couple of days to try to get over the heart ache of thinking that his maternal grandma got to play with him and his quilt that I made. (Made me want to only make quilts for charity.) Has anyone else had these feelings? or am I a bitch?

I've had a hard time trying to go back to work on the grey, black and white quilts. It's so dark and cold. I actually did some cleaning instead.  I did sew a little on the pink hexie blankie last night, but that is for charity.

Hugs,

Terri

#8's 1st birthday present done!

Good thing, too... the party is tomorrow!

Here are the pics.

I used a very textured brown for the binding. Blocks are paper pieced and are 3.5" finished. 

Love this little alien along the outside.

And this angel is representative of his auntie who he will not meet until he, too, passes on.

 

And the back... yes, I quilted each square separately. (Please don't let me do that again!)

 

My grandson has 2 dogs, so this backing seems appropriate.  I just hope the quilt doesn't become the dogs' bed, it's a game, and because of that I put on a hanging sleeve so it can be hung in his room and played.

So this is my Friday Finish.... I've been working on it for longer than a year, so does that still count?

 

Linking up with the Whoop Whoop (Sarah) at Confessions of a Fabric Addict (see her button on the side bar) and listed at 116, I think, on Amanda's Crazy Mom Quilts.

 

Have a wonderful weekend. (I'm going to a birthday party tomorrow!!!!)

Hugs,

Terri

Teaser two

Strips cut and organized

 

 

 Another view

 

Some blocks, the inspiration and  the math.

 

Hugs,

Terri

New Project Teaser/Wordless Wednesday

It's Friday!

I guess Friday's are the day of reckoning for me. I did stuff again today!

I made 5 blocks for the QOV Big Blowout Block Drive over at Alycia Quilts. You make 5 blocks and send them in and you are registered in the drawing for lots of prizes! Every 5 blocks is a chance to win... Hop on over there  to see what's what.  I enjoyed making these - based on a foundation piece. There are two other kinds of blocks requested.

 

 

In other news: I've almost finished the new grandguy's first birthday present - the I Spy quilt I've been working on for longer than he has been alive! Putting on a hanging sleeve this afternoon, as I am hoping that it will be used as a game rather than dragged in the dirt, or used as a dog bed. I'll take pictures to show off. Come on back to see.

 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs,

Terri

I did stuff this week!

There have been some weeks when reading your blogs was the most worthy thing I did ... (Thanks for being there for me.) and I really didn't do that much this week either... Well, here, you decide.

For Mary Lou's hubby. He has terminal brain cancer. (They want blocks with a car on a light blue background... here's my offering. It's the Ford Anglia from the Harry Potter Paper Piecing blocks on
Fandom in Stitches.) The tires are yoyos that are turned in... I couldn't get mine smoothly round, but I think they look like mud and snow tires this way... extra tread for mudding.

 

And I got back to my grandson's I Spy quilt, finally! His first birthday is coming up at the end of the month!!! I wanted to try the machine sewn method of binding, so I sewed it onto the back - it went on quite smoothly, but then for some reason, I thought I was going to have lots of trouble with the sewing onto the front. Left it for about 6 weeks. Yesterday, in an attempt to get out of painting on the patio, I got back on the horse, and just did it. Except for one corner, it went on easily. I don't know what I was so afraid of...

Yes, that is brown binding. (You know I don't like the color.) I'm quite proud of myself for stepping away from my prejudice against the color to bind - in a practical color - number 8's first quilt from Grammy.  I'll show you the whole thing once I get the label made... say in a month or two? LOL

 

I love that you can use the clips even on the sewing machine. They work better than pins, except at the corners... then I used pins. I will be using this process again! It was sew easy.

 

So that is what is going on here... Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

 

Hugs,

Terri

Hexie Friday

Hello  Lovely Readers!

I have been doing a little hand sewing at night. From a distance I love how they look, but the hand stitches don't look good to me closer up. Maybe when I quilt it I can disguise the uglies.

At least a little progress to share at Hexie Friday.

 

Have a lovely weekend!

Hugs,

Terri