Saturday, April 18, 2015

Time to Crash

 

What a busy week it’s been … which would explain why I haven’t been blogging.  And very little of that busy-ness has included any time with needle and thread … but that’s ok. 

 

Tuesday, DH and I decided to take a road trip to Mexico … no, not the country but a town in Missouri.  ha!  It doesn’t look like there’s a whole lot to see or do in Mexico, MO … except Homestead Hearth, my very most favorite quilt shop.  It’s a little more than a 2-hour drive, so I don’t get there as often as I’d like … a fact for which my budget is thankful.

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I went searching for some blues and reds for the BOM being put on by the handquilting group on Facebook and for some fabrics for sashing and borders for the blocks I was gifted back in February.

I remembered to take some samples of the red and blue I used in April’s block … but I completely forgot to pick up the gifted blocks.  Surprised smile  When I mentioned that I’d forgotten the blocks, the gal who was helping me steered me to the black, advising that black is often a good choice for scrappy repros and suggested that the cheddar would make delightful cornerstones.  I just loved the fabrics … I haven’t had time to audition them with the blocks, but even if they don’t work, I’m not worried.  Worst case scenario, I use the fabric somewhere else *and* I have an excuse to make another trip over to Homestead Hearth!  Winking smile  I also picked up a package of some Hiroshima handquilting needles … I’d been reading so much about them that I decided I’d like to give them a try.  Alas, they aren’t working for me … after a couple of hours of quilting with one after we got home that afternoon, the needle had already begun to bend.  I really liked quilting with that needle … it glided through the fabric so easily, but those needles are a little on the pricey side … they would have been worth the price had they not bent.  So back to my John James.  And as you can see, I picked up another couple of fat quarters of neutrals … I’m a firm believer that you can never have too many neutrals. 

 

On the way home from Homestead Hearth, we stopped at our favorite restaurant – Zia’s on the Hill in St. Louis.  I should have stopped after the salad, but when they brought my entrée (seafood ravioli), I just had to have a little … and the rest went home with us.  Gotta love getting two meals out of one. 

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Wednesday through Friday found me spending my days at DD’s.  Her former step mom (with whom she’s still very close) was hospitalized, so I reported for duty at 6:30AM before DSIL left for work and was relieved at 6:00PM when he got home.  It meant for some long, exhausting days … but I loved every single minute. 

 

While I was at DD’s Wednesday, DH was “in charge” of our mantel makeover.  For the longest time, I was wanting to do something to that wall or the fireplace to make it pop, to make it more of a focal point of our great room.  I had decided that when it came time to have our great room repainted, I would have that wall painted a darker shade … to provide more contrast with the granite surround.  All of a sudden, about a month ago, I realized that we could really add some interest to the fireplace by adding an entire new mantel.  Here is the before:

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If you can’t tell, the wall the fireplace is on is an angled wall.  Nice, but nothing special … maybe even a little boring?  And here’s the after:

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Yes, the framed photo (of our favorite beach) needs to be moved up. 

 

I’m thinking that today is going to be a fairly lazy day here at Chez Nana.  I have a pie to bake – for tonight’s swim team end-of-season banquet.   Otherwise, I have nothing on the agenda, and that’s just fine in my book.  Not only will it allow me to “recuperate” from my busy week … it’ll allow me to reacquaint myself with my needle and thread.  The Blues play Game 2 this afternoon, and I’m planning on quilting while I watch the game … hopefully with a better outcome than Game 1.     Next week looks to be just as busy as this week, so I’d better take advantage of this time to crash.  Winking smile

 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy ... have a great day!
Kathy

12 comments:

  1. Love your new fabrics... sorry your new needles aren't all you hoped for... I also use JJ and can't find anything else that doesn't bend on me either! I am so happy you got lots of T time in this week and are recouperating now from such a busy week! I am slow stitching this Saturday and hoping to have something to show with Kathy tomorrow.. but we shall see! lol Kathi

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  2. Love your new fireplace mantle! Wow, such a big difference! can't wait to see what you do with the blocks. I am hoping to visit Homestead Hearth in person later this summer when we visit hubby's folks in Missouri. I have been so please with orders I have received from them.

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  3. i wondered how those needles would work - we all have our favorites and so many of the brands I have tried out to experiment didn't work for me - so many bend! love your mantel it is always fun to redecorate. I really need to drive to a quilt shop one day just for the fun of it - I avoid it because they are all close to 2 hours away because of the curvy roads - but I shouldn't let that stop me - I don't mind driving on those roads - I guess it is just the disappointment at times that when you arrive at the store they don't have the kinds of quilting things you want.

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  4. I love, love, love your new mantle!

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  5. Love the change to the fireplace, it really pops now!

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  6. I do enough damage online at HH, I would be overwhelming being there in person. But I sure want to try it someday. Your fireplace is lovely. DH did s fantastic job. I've bought some of the Hirosham needles as well, but haven't given them a try.

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  7. I really need to visit some of the quilt shops you talk about - I've never been to Mexico, MO. Love the fireplace makeover! Hope you have a relaxing day - we are! Last night we were at the University of Wisconsin Spring Concert (BIG deal around here) and it was VERY late by the time we got home. I might even take a nap! ~Jeanne

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  8. I love the new look of your fireplace and hope your day has been a relaxing one!

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  9. My favorite shop is that same distance from my home. I make it once or twice a year, if I'm lucky.
    I think they steered you well to the black and cheddar. Always good choices for a scrappy repro quilt, in my book.
    Too bad the needles didn't hold up. I am always bending needles when I hand quilt. I am currently using the John James needles, too.
    Sounds like you have had some exhausting days.
    Great redo on the fireplace. Really nice!

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  10. Love your new fabrics! I am so envious! I am sure I will never make it to Mexico, MO. Love your new mantle too! That seafood ravioli looks really yummy! Taking care of little ones can be exhausting, I hope you get some rest over the weekend. Will you be watching them next week too? I hope your DD step-mom is doing better. Sending prayers your way.

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  11. I need a nap just from reading about all your activities! Glad to hear you were able to fit in a fabric purchase. Get some rest, so you can do another week! Love the new mantle, and the picture on it.

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  12. Love your new mantel!! What a great way to make a space look new.

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I am SO glad you stopped by! No proving that you're a robot here ... I want to hear what you have to say! ;-)