Some Giveaways

I came across a couple of giveaways you should check out. Debbie is having a unique art giveaway. And May Britt is having a second anniversary of her blog giveaway. So check them out. One more to check out at Farmyard Crafts-another Australian crafter. Sure are a lot of creative crafters and quilters in Australia.

And back at the sewing and quilt studio here I'm still getting somewhat distracted. I made a couple of adjustments on the lunch bag I made. I was not happy with the closure on the original pattern which was a couple of long ties to tie in a bow. So I ripped them out (carefully with a seam ripper) and did a loop and button. Much better.
Then just about everything needs a couple or three yo-yo's so here are a few with some of my vintage buttons. OK, now I can get on with other things.

Easily Distracted

I was easily distracted today. I fully intended to work on Return to Sender today but I got thinking about how I have to go back to work at the college I work at after having the summer off, and I decided I needed a new lunch bag. I got the pattern at the Fat Quarter Shop.


I had a bunch of Amy Butler prints on hand and I had to use a few of them because I did not have the right amount of any one fabric as suggested by the pattern. But I am on a stash busting journey so it works for me. It has lots of pockets inside for I don't know what. Maybe they're meant for chocolate bars!
In the meantime Return to Sender awaits and if I don't get distracted again I'll get back to it.

Something Quilty

You must think I don't quilt anymore but there has been some quilty things going on. Just got distracted by nice weather and a sick cat which have nothing to do with each other. Anyhoo, I made a baby quilt for a shower that is coming up.
I used all scraps in this quilt which is a big goal of mine this past year in order to use up what I have. I had several juvenile prints that I had used previously.
And you might recognize the layout as that same as I did in the vegetable quilt below.

It's such an easy layout to do by either separating the fabrics by value, as in the baby quilt, or by design, as in the vegetable quilt. So next up is the Miss Rosie pattern, Return to Sender with all scraps again. Lots of rotary cutting in my future!

Back Home

I'm back from vacation. It was really hot and humid in NH while we were away from home but we had glorious sea breezes every day in Maine. This is a family cottage that was built by my husband's grandparents in the early 60's and is now used by the family. We have about 10 acres of fields leading down to the shore. We are on a salt water river and the open ocean is just off to the right.
We saw some beautiful sail boats going home after a day of sailing. All those little dots on the water are numerous lobster traps. Make sure you click on the picture to check out the lobster traps. This is lobster country!
We have these wild roses, rosa rugosa, growing all over the property. I used to think my husband's grandmother made up the name rosa rugosa but that's really what they are called and they grow all over Maine.
Sometimes the water is all sparkly. Sometimes it's really foggy too and you never see the water but luckily this week we had perfect views.
Croquet anyone? My kids used to love playing croquet when they were younger. So it's back to reality and the hope that we'll get another week in before fall. I'll share some more photos later. But it really is good to be back to home sweet home.

Off to Maine

Well we are off to the cottage in Maine. That's it above. You can read about our time there last year here. I'll try and take lots of pictures but I may be too busy enjoying the million dollar view. Have a good week.

Summer in NH-Time to go to Camp!

Summers are short in NH so you have to take advantage of the short time and savor it all. A tradition around here is to go to "camp", which is what New Englanders call cottages on lakes. It's a pet peeve of mine that some people tear down these beautiful camps and put giant houses in their place. We have a cottage in Maine on the coast but this beauty belongs to my husband's cousin and we had a family reunion there last Saturday.

There's nothing better that driving up the the back of the camp and spying the pond through the trees. It was a cool and cloudy day when we were there.

This camp was built by my husband's grandfather. The deck is relatively new and a wonderful place to sit. It was cool enough to have a fire in the fireplace so some people sat inside near that but I loved looking at the lake so I stayed most of the time outside.

Here's my son and grandson having a conversation on the boat dock. A loon came pretty close at one point-I don't think Baby C will remember but my son got some pictures.

The inside has changed little over the years including the furniture. There's wonderful vintage wicker and a round oak table with press back cane chairs that have been there since the camp was built in the 40's.

So this is summer in NH. We'll be in Maine next week enjoying our ocean front cottage. I guess if it's lake front it's a camp and if it's ocean front it's a cottage. Except Martha Stewart who has a mansion. She probably calls it a cottage I bet! I hope you are enjoying your summer.