Friday, October 26, 2012

Stitchy Stuff and Homecoming

Thank you so much for treading your way through my last post!!  I never thought people would make it through my rantings!  I can't believe some of the comments and emails I got on that one!  But being as most of us are moms, I know that we can all relate to those crazy moments where we want to slap someone, choke someone or lay ourselves under a bus.  It happens - it's part of the territory, right?  But it passed and all is well (at least until the next doctor's appointment in two weeks), and I'm not typing this with tire tracks across my body.  And of course, Catie opted for the new dress over the dress that caused so much freaking out!  Figures!

The Homecoming dance went well except for the fact that it rained cats, dogs and small children that day and night so we couldn't get pictures of the event outside with all the beautiful fall colors.  But here are a couple of the cute couple taken at Max's house where everyone met.  Catie had a wonderful time even with the boot and I think that it definitely was a time to remember.  They didn't go to any parties after as seems to be the norm these days (praise the heavens above), but opted to play X-box instead.  Gotta love them.

I didn't get the best pictures, but here are just a couple.  The pinning of the boutonniere - get a load of that tongue.  Reminds me of when she was so little sitting in the kitchen chair deep in concentration when coloring (when did you get so grown up?):


The boot doesn't look too bad, does it?  She decided not to decorate it as she felt there was enough bling on the bodice of the dress - probably a good choice.


And Catie acting the fool, as always.  Max has a look like, "Here she goes again!"


In other news around here - well not much - sad, but true.  I honestly don't know where time goes sometimes.  But once I got over my feelings of choking or doing someone bodily harm and felt that I could be trusted with sharp implements like scissors, needles, rotary cutters and the like, I accomplished a little bit on what seems to be the three never ending projects.  Are you getting bored of these yet?  But I'm having fun with all of them and haven't tossed them aside yet.  Not that I'm not dreaming of what comes next and having moments filled with thoughts of starting new things, but I'm actually restraining myself - for once!!

First up - the Cotton Club - three rows down, two to go:


Oops - I shot this picture from the wrong end and it looks like I've got upside down basket blocks.  Well you get the picture anyway.  I thought that I'd fly through these rows, but not the case.  Trying to put these rows together and then get them to match up where the red and brown meets the tan and pieced block is hard even on a good day.  Don't know what is up with that.


Charlotte is moving along at a slow pace.  Don't know what's up with that either.  Well, yes I do, I haven't been putting as much time into her as I would like too.  The only nights I seemed to get much done was during the Championship games and World Series games with our beloved Tigers!!  Unfortunately, they lost the first two games in the World Series against San Francisco, but I've stayed up until the bitter end.  Fingers crossed - there are more games to be played!!  And while watching the games I made it to the half way point on Charlotte (with the exception of the over one words - I need to be in the mood to have my eyes cross for half the night putting those in).

I love that couple in Eden:


In fact, I love working on entire this piece, but made a major boo-boo.  Am I fixing it - NOPE!!


It's the vase - it's levitating - and it's not suppose to.  Guess I've been out of school too long and no longer seem to be able to count!  When I got down to the bottom of the vase it wasn't sitting on the grass as charted.  BUT, would you have known that unless I told you?  Probably not (except for those of you who have stitched it), so this is my spin on being creative and making the piece my own.  Sounds good, doesn't it??  And Charlotte will never know, will she?  I just have to remember to do the vase on the other side of the tree the same way - better write a post it note so that I don't forget!

And then there are the baskets - the never ending baskets.  I managed to get a few finished up over the past few weeks - only 16 blocks - but better than nothing.  This tends to be my carry along project when I'm waiting on something - like doctors - so I don't get as many finished in a week that I had hoped to.


And all the blocks so far:


46 baskets out of......gulp..........about 300.......I guess I better get my you-know-what moving.  But there are more waiting in the wings.  I have about 40 baskets on backgrounds, probably 100 ironed onto fabric (maybe more) and some more waiting to be starched - it's quite a process, but so much fun:


I don't think I'll ever get sick of this quilt - I am just loving all the red fabrics!!

So that's about all that is going on around here.  I did manage to get out for one of my fall road trips this week and spent a wonderful time at a new quilt store and antiquing, but you know, I can't seem to get the pictures to come over from my phone to the computer.  Well, I can, but then I seem to be at a loss as to posting them on the blog.  I'll have to wait for one of the kids to be around to post them.  They've told me how to before, but you know.........must have lost some brain cells with my rage of a couple weeks ago!!  LOL  I'll save them for next time.

Again, thank you for all your wonderful comments.  I truly thought that you would get bogged down in a quagmire of words!  But I truly enjoyed reading each and every one of them.  And I see that I have some new followers!  Welcome!  So happy to "meet" you and I have enjoyed making my way around to see your blogs.  Always so much inspiration.

Well, the pork roast is in the crock pot,  blog post done and house clean (somewhat), so I think that I'm going to go sew.  I hope that everyone has a great weekend!!!


36 comments:

Annie said...

The cutest couple ever! Catie looks gorgeous in that dress and the boot looks like some trendy accessory. She'll probably spark a new fad or something.

Looks like a lot of nice progress on your projects to me. Personally, I never fix small boo-boo's. Life is too short... I'd rather spend the time eating dessert.

Have a great weekend.

Diane (di) said...

Cotton Club, Charlotte and Baskets, oh my!!! lol I'm lovin' every single one of them. With only two more rows on the Cotton Club you'll be done in no time. Gorgeous! As for the 'levitating vase'? I would never have known if you hadn't told me. Your stitching is wonderful.

Oh my goodness Deb... Catie!! She looks absolutely beautiful in that dress. (Dang, I feel old.) :) Oh and what is that stuff you were talking about at the end of your post. Cooking?? House Cleaning??? Now that's just crazy talk! ;) ((hugs, di))

Catherine said...

Your daughter looks beautiful! Sounds like it all worked out in the end!

Love seeing your projects ~ and I love that you are leaving the vase ~ now the piece is uniquely yours!!

Rugs and Pugs said...

Deb ~
DD is just too cute :) Looks like she was having a ball. Oh, to be young again...sigh!
Lovin' all your projects. 300 baskets??? I'm glad you are enjoying them.
The cross stitch is beautiful and I wouldn't be frogging the vase either.
Hugs :)
Lauren

Cari said...

Deb...your daughter is just darling. She and her friend sure look like they have a lot of fun together!! I love your progress on Charlotte, and I would not have noticed the vase. I say..who the heck cares...and who has a cat that is 10's larger than that pamper dog?? That's why I so love this piece. Your quilting is coming along too. I love the red baskets. You almost make me want to start this quilt too....almost but NO !!

Hugs dear friend,
Cari

Cathy B said...

Beautiful homecoming pics. I never get tired of looking at your quilts, upside down or right side up. And yes, you are right ... I would have never noticed the problem with the vase. I don't always correct my mistakes and usually I find that I don't remember where I made the mistake after a few months!!!

Margaret said...

Loooove the homecoming pics! Your DD looks so cute! she would have looked great in either dress. The boot looks fine too! Love your cotton club quilt, and Charlotte too. lol about the levitating vase! Yes, make a note to yourself about the other side. I would forget if I didn't do that! And your baskets -- wonderful!!!!!

Patty C. said...

Glad the homecoming went well ....
I'm in red quilt top heaven!

Nicola said...

I have been looking forward to seeing these pictures. Beautiful!! Your daughter is stunning.

Your sewing and stitching is amazing. I guess we all have to do some adjusting now and again and you are right, no one will ever notice.

marly said...

*%#& blogger. Third time I'm commenting! Ahem.
She made the right choice on the dress! Beautiful. Charlotte is so nice. I've done that before with missing the spot. Why not do a bigger base or column in another color beneath the vase or just extend the vase itself? No? OK.

Jackie's Stitches said...

Your daughter is so pretty! She looks amazing and the boot doesn't look bad at all. I loved that they played X-Box after! And Mom survived, right? :)

Your Cotton Club looks great! As I've shared with you before, it's not been easy for me to get those areas to match up either - and in some spots, they don't!

Siobhán said...

Love the homecoming pics! Did Catie kill you for taking the pic with her tongue out?? LOL--my kids do that, too. Actually, so does Dh. Awkward. ;) LOVE your WIPs, the quilts and Charlotte! I am going through serious withdrawal, I don't know the last time I was able to get anything done. I love having my mom here but I go to bed each night wondering what it is I did during the day.

Have a great weekend! I'm going through withdrawal not being able to email.

Brigitte said...

I can totally understand why you stay with your three projects (although starting something new is always around the corner, lol), they are so so beautiful. I'm already very curious to see which of them will be the first to be finished.

Me and My Stitches said...

Your DD is so cute - isn't it amazing how quickly they grow up!? Love your Cotton Club - maybe if you continue to show your progress, it will inspire me to finish mine too! And your baskets are spectacular. I want to make that quilt too, and red is my favorite, so I don't tire of this one either! Love your stitchery too - and I think your levitating vase is just fine - I wouldn't have noticed it at all if you wouldn't have pointed it out.

Susan said...

Very cute couple. Hmm, I thought it was my Mom that I heard groaning after the Tigers' games, but suppose it could have been you. The quilts look amazing! I doubt I would have the patience to do all those baskets, but I am enjoying watching your progress.

Mary said...

Deb, if you hadn't specifically mentionrf the fact that the vase wsn't anchored to the ground, I would never have noticed it either. Now you have a story to tell about it! This piece is so interesting.

Homecoming - such a rite of passage at that age! Your daughter looks beautiful and her young man is a prince.

Sherry :o) said...

dd is beautiful and the tounge thing is so common - I do that! I agree on the vase, wouldn't have known unless you told us. Progress is huge! As is the progress on your cc and baskets.

Gotta love those crock pots!

Sherry :0)

Loraine said...

What a fun post Deb! First off, your DD is just drop dead gorgeous. Her dress is beautiful, and even the boot is sylish. I'm glad she had a great time at the dance.
Your quilt is so WOW! I love the fabrics and patterns. You are getting some great practice on pieced blocks. I'm sure even on a good day, I'd be cutting off points and struggling to make it look good.
I love your fix for Charlotte Clayton, and there is no way we would even know if you hadn't said anything. It's all looking wonderful
Hope you have a great weekend, and many hugs to you.

Carol said...

So glad all turned out well in the end, Deb--your Catie looks so pretty and happy. Love the photo of her pinning on the boutonniere--my youngest son used to stick his tongue out in exactly the same when when he was in deep concentration :)

Your stitching and quilting projects look wonderful--amazing that there will eventually be a total of 300 blocks in the basket quilt--wow!!

Chris said...

Catie looks beautiful. I hope that they had a wonderful time.
Charlotte Clayton looks beautiful. You have made a ton of progress.
I am still loveing those red baskets.

Sally said...

Beauitful photos of homecoming. Catie is so pretty.

Lovely stitching and quilting.

Giovanna said...

Great stitching and quilting, and I'm so glad the homecoming went well - great pics.

Charlene ♥ NC said...

Darling couple! The dress and boot coordinate perfectly :).

Nice stitching - and if the vase still bothers you, stitch the bottom down to the grass?? Or leave it as is... looks fine this way, too.

Great quilt progress. You HAVE been busy!

Anne said...

Yup, she looks like Bella!! Love the dress with the boot!! Beautiful progress on your samplers and I think the levitating vase is perfect!! Fabulous quilts too and you've done a lot of work on them!!

Jo who can't think of a clever nickname said...

Your daughter looks lovely and your quilting is amazing.

I agree about the vase, it looks fine. Anyway the ENORMOUS cat draws all the attention his way!

Vonna Pfeiffer said...

What a darling couple in their Homecoming Attire :) Gorgeous!
Fabulous quilts...green with envy here...
Super sampler...gorgeous from top to bottom...green with envy here...
:)

Barb in Mi said...

The couple looks too cute!
Love all your projects and admire your hand stitching - just quilting for me

Gillie said...

She looked smashing and so did the boot! Heavens to Betsy - 300! It is going to be a wonderful quilt though!

Tammy said...

Beautiful couple and beautiful projects! The stitching is just lovely!

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

oh very beaitufl pictures !!!

have a good day my friend

Karoline said...

Great pictures, your DD looks gorgeous.

Your quilt blocks and Charlotte Clayton are looking lovely

Chocolates4Breakfast (Terri Malinovich) said...

Catie is gorgeous! I love the pic with her tongue sticking out!

Awesome, amazing progress on the basket quilt. Baskets and red, OMG, what's not to love?

Great progress on Charlotte, too. I'd just add a bottom pedestal to the urn if I didn't like it floating but then, I wouldn't mind it floating so I wouldn't add the pedestal. LOL!

Carin said...

Your dayghter looks lovely !!!

I love your red baskets, they are so pretty and you stitching is so beautiful.
Even the picture is the wrong way taken your cotton club looks fantastic !!

Mary said...

Cute couple!!

Your sampler and the quilts look amazing!

Poussy Stitches My Love said...

TRES BONNE ANNEE 2013 !

BISOUS FROM FRANCE ! Marylin

Bertie said...

The best pictures are the ones taken unnoticed! In years to come Catie will cherish them!
Love your Quiilts, agree that you will never get tiered of them, treasures! I love your dog, I would sit on them too!