We’re in Mourning Here ;-)

 

Ok, I’m kidding (I hope you got that, what with the winking emoticon and all), but I have to say that we’re terribly disappointed.  Not only did our Cardinals, after a tremendous regular season, get eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, but they were eliminated by their archrival Cubs.  Ack!  Good thing the Blues are playing … let’s go, Blues! 

 

I didn’t get in any sewing on Monday.  Since DD was out of town on her birthday (back in September), we all got together Monday to celebrate her birthday.  We spent the morning at Edison’s where we played the arcade games and laser tag … followed by lunch at Fire n Smoke.  Fun was had by all.  I spent the afternoon at DD’s finishing up the DIY Barbie house accessories … T#4 turns 6 tomorrow and all she wants for her birthday are Barbies and stuff for her Barbies.  I had just enough time to get to guild meeting that evening.  Needless to say, I was pretty exhausted by the time I got home at 10:00 (past my usual bedtime for sure! – ha!).

 

Yesterday, I made up for the lack of quilty productivity by getting into the sewing room good and early and finished up the remaining 9 Labor Day Stars blocks … all 18 are done. 

Here they are, laid out in no particular order.  Because I decided to put my own creative twist on this quilt failed to follow the pattern instructions properly, I have 4 fabrics in each block, instead of having just 2.  I finished up mid-afternoon, just in time for the baseball game.  My legs were (and still are) fairly achey from Monday, so I decided to pass on cutting out the pieces I need for the setting triangles and sashing/cornerstones and stitch on my Martha Washington’s Flower Garden instead.  Today’s assignment will be to cut setting triangles and sashing and start. 

 

I also need to go through my stash to determine what colors I’m short on so I’ll know what to shop for when I head to Homestead Hearth on Friday.  I had been short on greens, but I’d made a conscious effort to pick up more when shopping so I need to see if I now have enough … ditto just about any color aside from blues and reds – ha!  My 3-1/2 day retreat is coming up in 2-1/2 weeks, and it’s time to start thinking about what I want to work on.  I want to have everything cut and ready to go, so I need to be planning ahead.  I have already decided that I’ll take my Labor Day Stars along to finish it up.  I’m thinking that I’ll work on tumblers, too (the project for which I’ll be fabric shopping on Friday).  And I’ll take along my 14” foundation paper pieced pineapple quilt (it’s long since been designated as my retreat project). 

I’ll likely take my MWFG along, too, if I need a break from machine sewing. 

 

We’re starting to see some fall color here in SW Illinois … not too much yet here at Chez Nana.  Our dogwood is turning color … love the bright red berries.  And one of our maples is starting to give us a sneak peek.  I took a picture this morning, but it’s a little too early – both in the day (I suspect that when the sun is up all the way, the sunshine will make the red leaves even more vivid) and in the season (there are just a few leaves that have already turned). 

 

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