Back From Camping...

 Hi Everyone! I left Thursday night for a camping trip and just returned. Laundry's started and camping supplies are tucked back in the garage waiting for the next go around. We went back to our old stomping grounds from our high school and college days, Milford Lake. That was our home base for several little day trips in the surrounding area this weekend.

We took Jenna to the Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure just outside of Salina, KS. Lots of unusual animals and such a great setting. For dinner, we stopped at Salina's famous Cozy Inn to sit at the six stool counter and enjoy a few tiny Cozy Burgers. Yum!

On Saturday we visited Old Abilene Town. It was a bit of a let down with so many buildings in disrepair. We rode a stagecoach, watched a staged gunfight and saw a steam engine roll into town. It was a good time but we felt like the town could have presented a lot more information about the history of the area and buildings. Jenna was entertained so it was a success.

I took this photo out of a window in one of the old log cabin churches in town and discovered when I went outside that the fence contained a small cemetery. 

This headstone was a reminder of how wild Kansas was at one time.

I tried to get a little hexagon sewing accomplished by the fire last night but the smoke kept blowing my way. So my little helper and I moved to the table, but the wind picked up. I settled for working on them on the drive home today. I'm so excited about the project I'm planning with them! 

But first I need to finish hand stitching the binding on these two quilts. Hopefully, I'll have a little time tomorrow to work on them as we wrap up the holiday weekend. 


I've REALLY enjoyed reading all of your comments from the Sew, Mama, Sew Giveaway post about how you all planned on spending this or the past weekend whether it was Memorial Day weekend, Victoria Day weekend or even a regular weekend where ever you are! I had originally planned on responding to all of your lovely comments but at 275 comments, I was a bit overwhelmed and then I was out in the sticks with no cell phone coverage! I've read every single comment though. Now I'm enjoying peeking at your blogs. So much fun!


Stacy from Paint.Sew.Create was the pattern winner and I was able to drop it in the mail Thursday on my way out of town. Thank you all for playing along!

May Giveaway Day 2011

Hello friends! If you are visiting from Sew, Mama, Sew!....Welcome! I'm Melissa and I started this little blog a while back to share sewing projects with my own Mama (and Dad, and sister) who all live a couple days away in Tennessee. I've had fun making new friends in the blogging world and connecting with other quilters here in Kansas along the way.

Some of you remember "Seeing {Pink} Squares" that I made following the Seeing Squares Pattern designed by Shea from Empty Bobbin Sewing Studio. I thought I'd share a few more details and then offer you a little giveaway.

Here's a photo I took quickly one afternoon when the sun finally peeked out for a bit.

And this is the pieced back. If you've never tried a pieced back, Shea gives suggestions for a pieced back from leftover blocks complete with measurements and diagrams that make piecing pretty quick and easy.

Here's a closer look.

 Angela Walters quilted it and did an amazing job. Here are a few special spots that are accented with her very cool quilting designs.

I made a smaller version (48" x 56") of this quilt for my daughter and Paula made the beautiful solid quilt (60" x 84") on the pattern's cover. 

Shea kindly offered a pattern for me to giveaway to one of you lucky readers. You'll love her patterns! They are printed in color and have easy to follow directions and awesome illustrations throughout.

It's easy to play...

just leave a comment about your plans for the Memorial Day weekend! 

If you'd like an extra entry...

leave a second comment to let me know you are a follower 

(or just became a follower).

International friends are welcome to enter.

I'll draw a winner at random on the evening of May 25.

**Giveaway now closed**

Still here....

It's that time of year that always seems so hectic but exciting. Preschool activities, Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS), and soccer are all wrapping up and we are looking ahead to a fun summer filled with camping, biking, swimming and traveling. 


My irises were beautiful this Mother's Day. I transferred some from my parents home in Tennessee and last year I only had one or two blooms but this year they were plentiful. They were originally from my aunt's garden who got them from my grandmother's garden so they make me smile when I see them taking off.


I was really spoiled for Mother's Day this year. So much so, I'm I little embarrassed to tell how wonderful it was. One of my gifts was a weekend at home to sew while everyone else went camping. I love to camp but enjoying the quiet was a rare treat. So I finally got this quilt basted, quilted and the binding sewn on. I just need to turn the binding and hand stitch the back now.

 

Hope you are all doing well!