Okay, now I can show you what I made for my sister.

I made this cute wall hanging using fabric from the Verna collection by Moda. Not only is that fabric a favorite for both my sister and I, but our grandma's name was Verna, so I thought that would make it special and the pretty button was from our other grandma's button box. Her name was Alyne. They've been gone now for quite a while, but Pam and I have fond memories of both of them.

I also made this bag/tote which was so much fun.

So you see I have been doing a little something around here.
Yesterday I treated myself to a new, easy hairdo...what do you think? Really you don't have to answer that....lol

There was a time in my life when I hated how I looked, but you know what...I really don't anymore. Maybe it's turning 50 or that I've realized how short life is. I've earned all the lines (hopefully they are laugh lines) and bags under my eyes.
It's time to go cook some dinner...Enjoy the weekend! ranette

I know I sound like a broken record, but I've lost several weeks....again!

How can it be the 12th day of August, already?!!! Maybe the heat has just fried my brain....lol....it's hot enough to do that I assure you. Right now my desktop says it's 104F and then you add the heat index to that and I'm sure it feels more like 110 outside...yuck. I know there will be a cool down next week because it's my birthday week and God always gives me a couple of nice days with just a hint of Fall in the air. I can't wait!

Speaking of birthday's...my sister's birthday is 2 days before mine and I've been working on a couple of small things for her gifts which is one reason I've not been posting. She likes to be surprised, but here's a sneak peek of one thing I made for her.

I'll put up pictures of her presents when she has them, maybe tomorrow or this weekend. I just hope you like everything Pam!
I finally am back to work on my Kaffe quilt and hope to get the top finished this weekend, but other than that I've not done much. Here are the last 3 completed Life is Beautiful blocks that I've finished stitching.

The sun was shining through this block.

Oh and how about some pretty flower pictures...

What a pretty red!!

Jay has done a wonderful job of keeping the flowers alive in this heat, oh and the Zinnia's attract butterflies so it's like walking through a butterfly garden to my front door...sweet!
I'm off now to get a little bit of sewing done! ranette

A quick finish....

It's Amy Butler's Sexy Hexy Love quilt and it was a fun one to make. Yes, my QADD is in full force....lol....it all started when my sister was here and she brought a kit to make this quilt. Well we got her started on her quilt and when she had enough fabric to make another one, guess who decided she had to make one too! Yup...me! Thanks Pam!!!

These aren't my normal colors or fabrics, but I really enjoyed working with them and it went together fast. Tomorrow I hope to pin baste it and maybe I'll get it quilted soon.

I'm not sure about this new background...what do you all think? Is it hard to read or distracting?

Time to get off of the computer now...later, ranette

I had to fight a bumble bee for these....

and I won!!! I think Zinnia's are one of the best things about summertime, don't you?

It's certainly not the unbearable heat we've had the last few days. Too hot to get in the pool for more than a few minutes even, although the fountain we have in there now does a pretty good job of cooling off the water.
So I've been inside puttering around and making a few more JanieBright blocks.

These blocks are prepped for applique.

We had yummy chicken nachos for dinner last night...well I had the veggie version.

My hubby is a nacho artist...lol...seriously serious about how he builds them. Mine weren't quite as pretty as his. The tomatoes on top are from our garden :o)
Oh and then my friend Kathy, just home from a wonderful quilting retreat in Rogers, Arkansas, brought me over some early birthday presents (see I told you I like to celebrate for at least a month) and added to my ongoing problem with QADD. Here's the book that has me wanting to start a new project.

It's everything I can do to resist and if this week weren't Crazy Days in Stillwater (which means lots of work for me) I would give in and start a new quilt! There are scrumptious recipes in the book too!
Have a great week!
ranette

I'm pretty sure that I have Quilter's Attention Deficit Disorder....

or "QADD" as I call it. I find myself thinking of other quilts or projects before I'm even finished with what I'm working on and it's distracting. I also have at least 6 or 7 quilts that I would say that I'm currently working on (which does not include everything, btw). Oh my, that really is too many! Does anyone know of a way to get rid of QADD? If you do, please help me...lol

I have been working bit by bit on my JanieBright blocks...keeping them in the sewing area right off of the kitchen helps A LOT!

I now have 5 rows together and I'm getting ready to pick fabric for the next two rows of blocks. I am behind on triangles, but I may devote 1 month of sewing later in the year to making those.
The weather is HOT and HUMID so I think I'm due some pool time this afternoon, but as soon as I get in the pool I'll start thinking about all of my fabric and quilts and I'll want to come in ....lol

Have a great weekend!
ranette

Quilt camp 2 has come and gone....

and I didn't even take one single picture while my sister was here! Bad blogger, I know, but we were very busy! I taught Pam to applique and worked with her on embroidery and making templates...oh and how to do set in seams. It was intense...lol...but lots of fun was had and Kara and Allie even joined in most of the time. I think we are all looking forward to "quilt camp 3" next year, just wish it was sooner because I miss my sister!

I was the surprised and delighted recipient of this lovely quilt made for me by my little sister. Isn't it beautiful!!!

I am so proud of her and I'm thrilled with my quilt. I've set the thermostat down fairly low a couple of times so that I can snuggle with it :o)

Pam also brought my birthday present to me, my 50th is in August (geez how did I get to be this old?!) Remember this striking quilt on the cover of Quilt Mania?

Well Pam ordered the kit all the way from Den Haan Wagenmakers in Amsterdam. Just look at the fabric would you....

Even the box is awesome.

Thank you, thank you, thank you Pamela, you are the best!
And last, but not least my niece Caylee sent a present for me as well, four charm packs...only three are pictured because I am working on a table runner with one of the Fandango packs.

Caylee is a beginning quilter and is doing quite well. She is also new to blogging so if you like cats, cooking and quilting, you might want to check out her blog sometime. Thank you as well Caylee for the pretty charm packs!
My hope is to get some intense sewing time in this weekend and make some real progress on a couple of things I've been working on. JanieBright is progressing and I'll show pictures next post. Try to stay cool, if you're in the Northern Hemisphere or stay warm in the Southern.
Until next time, take care...
ranette

Wow...let's play a little catch up, shall we???

It's been a long time...too long really, but it's the same old song and dance from me....busy, busy, busy...so if anyone cares here is how the last month has gone.

First off this lovely, first born daughter of mine turned 22 years old (how can that be?!) and her daddy and I took a short trip to Lawrence so we could see our girl on her birthday. Good food and fun was had by all. Oh that's Joe, Emily's boyfriend in the KU blue. Hi Joe :o)

Next up my Mom had a procedure done on her heart and hopefully she will start to feel better and better because of it.
Then my sweet hubby turned 52 years old...yikes!!! I think he had a pretty good day and I did what I do best and I cooked Tequila Lime Chicken, homemade flour tortillas and Pico de Gallo and he requested a Fresh Strawberry Cake and so I made that too. No pictures because it all went very fast :o)

I had a HUGE garage sale....that took a lot out of me, but I was very glad to get rid of a ton of "stuff". Kara, Jacob and Jay worked on this with me and we did have fun.

Then it was Father's Day and all of the girls were here to celebrate their wonderful daddy.

Here's the whole family including Kara's boyfriend, Jacob after church on Sunday.

Yes, I am the one with the spare tire around my middle (drat!)...there has been a lot of good food around the last month and there will be more...lol
Then we had all of our carpet in our home stretched and cleaned. Tons of work, tons!
But now we're putting things back and cleaning things out. Here's a picture of my clean carpet in the living room...not that you really care, but it's soooo nice.

Now I am busy putting my sewing room back together because everything had to be packed up.

Oh do you see the Kaffe quilt on my design wall? Well every now and again I get the chance to sneak off and sew a bit (keeps me sane) Here's a full on picture of the design wall.

And I also get a chance to go into my downstairs sewing area and work on these little babies sometimes.

and another one.

and in the evenings, if I'm not too tired, I work on these little lovelies.

I am enjoying the Life is Beautiful embroidery patterns by Helen Stubbings. Not sure if I'm going to make the quilt like she does or do my own thing. I'm using different backgrounds from my stash for an aged look.
Well that just about sums it up for now. Sorry I've been incommunicado for so long and I probably will be again as we have my family (mom, brother, sister and families) coming to our house this Saturday and Jay's entire family coming for a family reunion on Sunday. Also Emily and Joe will be home for the weekend and then on Monday afternoon my sister and I will begin "Quilt Camp Two".....I can hardly wait I'm so excited!
Thank you to everyone who has sent emails checking on me....I'm fine, although Jay is still unemployed at the moment. We're doing good though. It's amazing how God works through all situations and this trial has really drawn our family closer together.
Oh and I'm sorry for the picture heavy post...I like pictures on other blogs so I hope you all do to. Enjoy the week.

Blessings....ranette