Tuesdays with Emma~Six Sleeps~

This is the official "last" Tuesday with Emma this school year as her dance classes come to a close for 2013 and she will have her recital on Saturday~♥

We stopped by Michaels on the way home today to replenish some art supplies and found a bunch of new projects for Emma and Tara when they come for a summer sleepover.

Here is Emma working hard to get her homework done so we can do some watercolors of one another~

I asked her how many days till school gets out.....

see below....

This is all she could muster...LOL! I think school always ends in the NICK of time.....♥

Gently used Quilt.Wool and Punchneedle Patterns for SALE!

My Dearest Bloggy Friends~

I have listed LOTS of gently used quilting, wool and needlepunch patterns for sale in my Etsy shop today! Link to your right~ reminder that the punchneedle designs are pattern only!

Anniversaries~Wedding Quilts and Left~handed hookers~

First of all~Happy Anniversary to my best friend and husband~ 41 years....who's counting....Its all good..

With a little bit of SUN peeking through I am putting the binding onto this wedding quilt~

These jewel tones are so pretty~ I will try get a photo of the beautiful bride with her gift

 I have some new hand~turned rug hooking hooks for sale in my Etsy shop~One is for a LEFT hander!!

Full plate and ZEN places......~♥

Dearest friends~

Kate and I finally were able to put a few days together so she could get started on her first quilt~

I found a design using a one jelly roll and ALOT of straight stitching practice....

This ganddaughter is very comfortable using the sewing machine and this particular pattern will really get her into the groove....

As I work on my wedding quilt on the longarm Kate is moving in and out of the sewing room, bringing in snacks and cool drinks~watching her favorite movies ~ She really gets into her ZEN space just like her g'ma...

 We took some time to stop by some of our favorite places~ As we entered this shop our favorite song was playing......serendipity.....

I took a picture of Kates' mom years ago at this same site so we had to stop....

Here is the picture of her Mom amd Uncle many years ago.....

Cooking up a storm.........

 When I glance over into the kitchen and I see Kate cooking by herself now I realize that she will be one of my replacements.......

HaS AnYoNe SeEn ThE SuN?

My dearest friends~

I am searching everywhere for a little light today~all lamps are on in my quilting space but I think I could use a miners helmet to keep an eye on the stitches......we are making hay today without the sunshine~♥

 My flowers LOVE this weather....

 My books waiting patiently for me on the porch....

 Is she done with the wedding quilt yet? Is she close?

You know those quilts that you turn and turn and turn? ~lol! This couple better stay married.....

UnDeR A QUiLt.....

Dearest Friends,

In case you don't see me around the town please know that I am working on a deadline for this beauty to be put into the arms of a lovely bride.....

 I think this quilt could have been a little bigger a longarmer NEVER said....lol!

Look at those pretty stars.....and the white on white quilting....my favorite......and now off I go......have a great week!!

BoOkStOrEs, QuIlT ToPs AnD PuPpIeS!

My Dearest Friends~

Today has to be one of the nicest days EVER here in New England! We have had the heat on and then off and then on again but today seems just right~

A great day to take a peek in one of my favorite bookstores in Concord Ma. They often carry the beautiful Australian magazines that I love......

 I could literally SWEEP this shelf of books right into my pocketbook.....so many good books.....

 Here is Millie Vannilly waiting for the arrival of 8 PUPS! When she is not sleeping she is looking around for a snack...lol!

 This is Frans beauty all done and ready for shipping! Batiks are a conundrum for me~They want to hide the quilting stitches from plain sight! I fold and play with the quilt to show you that I did indeed spend some time with her.....

 HiDe And sEeK...

 any threadwork??

 Ahhh...there it is...

BeHiNd ThE LoOkInG GLAsS.....

My Dearest Bloggy friends~

I have a treasure that I keep in my Quilting room and that is my grandmothers mirror...

Along with my cousins I would always stop for a quick pose in front of it when it was hanging in my grandmothers house on Clinton street. That mirror captured images of all who walked by it~my pretty aunt checking her hem before rushing off to work~my grandmother fixing her hat before church~

I'm quite certain my Dad checked his hair in it before rushing out for a date with our Mom~

I never remember my grandfather in front of it....he must have checked in with the chickens in the barn to see if his hair was alright for the day....

I grew up in front of this mirror and so you can imagine how happy I was to have it given to me years ago~ It was a wedding gift of my grandmothers so it holds, now, four generations of images.

Twenty three years ago when we were losing our home in a fire one of the Firefighters leaned out the window and asked me if there anything special he could hand out the window to me.....I said oh yes.....on the wall to your right ...is a mirror....

It was Christmas Eve and out of that window came the best. present.ever.

I walked across the icy front lawn and tucked it in the backseat of our car.

And here we are all these years later 

I rarely see myself in this mirror....I see my family. ♥E

April was full.....and good~♥

My Dearest Bloggy friends~

April was such a busy month for our family~My husband retired from the Police Dept. after a long wonderful career~ with mixed emotions but mostly relief from MY end.....

I don't think I truly appreciated how much underlying stress was involved for all these years, yet I thought I knew....

But that first Sunday drive to Maine after retirement we found ourselves COMPLETELY in the moment~ relaxing...talking...seafood...indian pudding... (only in New England..)

The world has changed since my husband was a young officer. Now a seasoned Sergeant he has seen so much...it's time...

I am so glad he is home.

This little Minnie Vinnie had a birthday.....age one.  I can't stand it...he is pure JOY! He and his brother and sister spent some time at Nana E's this April while his Mom recovered from a spinal fusion. 

We brought Mom home as well!

Here she is saying goodnight to her Vinnie who weighs just OVER the limit for lifting right now....

A cake to celebrate one week of recovery!

Remember the "pixie" quilt I made?

Well here is LUCY with her new quilt!! How cute is she?

 And for today everyone is back home in their own nests and Spring has snuck into the house by way of flowers and Kimballs~♥ We all have a minute to take a breath and get back into that moment.