What we've been up to lately:
A quick trip to Iowa to visit my parents. It had been over a year since we had been able to go out there so I'm thrilled that we could squeeze in a visit before school starts again. We've been back for almost a week but there is still an unpacked suitcase on my bedroom floor...
I can't remember if I posted about it here or just on IG, but the boys were taking care of a swallowtail caterpillar that they nabbed from my garden. They were very excited when it formed its chrysalis, but the timing was such that we had to take it with us to Iowa to release the butterfly.
 | |
| It's a boy! |
Hopefully we didn't upset the balance of the swallowtail universe too much by moving this guy 350 miles west.
While we were there we also made a side trip to Moline and took a little tour of the John Deere Pavillion. I'm pretty sure this was one of the highlights of the trip for my boys, especially Roger.
One of the highlights for me was finally getting to play around with mom's longarm. That sounded a little odd...But seriously, this was so much fun! She has probably had this machine for at least 10 years and last week was the first time I had used it. I took two baby quilts with me to work on, but you better believe that next time we go I'll be taking some big ones!
Before we left I placed an order with Pink Castle Fabrics and just for fun I bought one of their random fat-eighth packs. I love the little surprise of not knowing what I'll be getting, and I was thrilled with what they sent. I adore that Madrona Road print in front and see that yellow crosshatch in the middle? I recently ran out of it in my stash and the day that I placed my order, I was actually searching online to find more of it because I like it so much. It is called Haybale from Riley Blake and I had it in two colors, this yellow and a cream. I also just used up the last of the cream one in my Modern Maples quilt that I've been working on. Some people become attached to their designer prints...me, I like my blenders.
Speaking of Modern Maples, here is what I've got so far. It has been laid out like this on the floor of Jill's room for about two weeks now. Hopefully this morning I can finish my bee blocks and get back to this baby. But first, I'm going to go make this Blueberry Cake that my friend Cathy just posted. Yum!
And since I finally remembered to do a random post on Thursday, I'll be linking up with Cindy at Live a Colorful Life!
I like the colors of your maple leaf top! Must be fun to quilt on a longarm. Once I hope to have the chance too!
ReplyDeleteHope your cake is delicious!
How lovely to have a longarm to practice on!
ReplyDeleteGreat luck in getting that used up fabric and I'm with you on the blenders!
The modern maples looks great - love the different sized blocks which leave more room for quilting!
Wow, you were busy!
ReplyDeleteWhat fun randomness! Hope to be back to my Modern Maples quilt in another week or so too!
ReplyDeleteYum! I hope you like the cake!!! My brother, at age 54, would be just as happy as your boys at the John Deere pavillion!
ReplyDeleteYour mom has a long arm?? Cool!! Have fun with it in the future. The leaf quilt is looking great Toni.
ReplyDeleteBlenders are my favourite, too! Looks like you had fun on the long arm!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a fun trip! And that's so cool your mom has a longarm machine! Does she have a business or use it for fun?
ReplyDeleteI know where I am pointing the finger when global warming and all thing ecological go haywire!!
ReplyDeleteYour trip looks like so much fun (for everyone!). I have that crosshatch print in yellow and cream too and I hate when I run out of my favourite blenders!
ReplyDeletePoor wee flutterby's probably thinking the world looks totally different after you take a wee nap and start flying about ;o)
ReplyDeleteYep I live with/ used to live with boys who'd love a John Deere factory tour! Love the maple leaf quilt. My cousin married a Canadian and they are expecting a baby in November so I thought I'd make the bub a maple leaf quilt out of all different red fabrics in honour of Kristens heritage.
ReplyDeleteLove the maple leaf so far! I also get overly attached to my blenders. haha, I thought it was just me that loved those more than special prints. And I'm glad you had a great vacation in Iowa--jealous of your longarm time!
ReplyDelete