New opportunity

I was given an opportunity to give this quilt to the baby of someone I admire. My brother will be meeting him again soon and said he would make sure he gave this to him for his son for me. This person can afford anything he might want, but this is my way of showing my appreciation for the person that he is. I can't say who the person is right now. I will let you know after it has happened just in case someone's schedule gets change or a glitch happens.

I spent last night weed wacking and mowing for 2 hours. I was drenched. The yard looks a whole lot better since I had not done a thing to it - I was too busy watching the Tour.

Another new piece and adding the stash

Such a busy weekend and oh was it hot! My nephew's band did a great job playing at the festival, but halfway thru their set, my nephew had to sit down and get cooled off. He said he was about to faint. I was close to 100 degrees. After they threw the cold towels I had brought for the band for about 5 -6 minutes, he felt better and they finished their set. If you were in the shade with the breeze that was blowing it was tolerable, but if you were in the sun - forget about it!

I worked on this piece that I am making out of my volunteer shirts from the art museum. I am in the process of quilting it.


I went shopping Saturday morning at a quilt shop an hour away in the county where I use to live. Found some good stuff on the 50% off already marked down racks. I mean I paid $2.00 and $2.50 for fabric that is usually $9.00 a yard. Then the rest of the fabric was 25 percent off. It was hard to stop. Think I did buy more yardage of each piece than I needed, but since I don't know what I am going to make right now I would rather have too much than not enought.



Then of course it was the last stages of the TDF. Congratulations to all the winners.

The second top is done!

So here is the second top finished. It is pretty close to the same size as the yellow one - about 34" x 50".

Here they are side by side. I can't wait to quilt them!


While I was finishing the quilt top I was watching Stage 17 of the TDF. During one of the climbs a group of about a dozen sheep came up the side of the mountain and decided to join the tour! Thank goodness this happened on a climb when the riders were going only about 15 mph and not on a decent where they can reach speeds anywhere from 50 to 70 mph. The commentators said that the sheep roam free and they will move up the mountains when the clouds roll in. It was very cloudy, foggy, misty, and cold on the climbs yesterday. I have seen dogs run into the riders paths several times over the years, but this is the first time I have seen sheep. A few of them ran beside the riders for awhile. I just glad no one got hurt.



I have a busy Saturday planned. The Material Girl Fabric Outlet in New Philadelphia, Ohio is having a huge sale. I missed their 4th of July sale, but the discounts at the sale this weekend are even better so things worked out. The shop is moving to a larger building and the owner can't stop buying fabric so the store they are in is packed to the gills! I have no idea what I may buy, but I need some fabric for making more baby quilts. In the afternoon my nephew's band is playing at a big festival so I will go see them play and probably roadie after the show.

Sunday is watching the final stage of the TDF as the riders head to Paris and sewing. Have a great weekend!

More progess made

I worked on this piece again last evening and it is progressing along nicely. I added the pieces to the right of the jeans and sewed together the border pieces for the top and the left side. It is coming together quickly. I next need to think about what I am going to do for the backing and quilting.

I did get some weeding done - a.k.a. pulling out crabgrass - before it started to rain. It only rained about 10 minutes. It was a hard rain so now it is really humid out again. The plants needed a drink so I am happy that we did get some rain. I have the A/C on so all is right in my little world.

Multi tasking

After work was busy! Yesterday's stage in the TDF was a long one so I starting watching it while I sewed. I really don't like to do this because I miss some of the scenery and yesterday the scenery in the Pyrenees was outstanding! I needed to replace the zipper in these pants for a person I work with. She really didn't give me much of a choice as to whether I wanted to do them or not, but I thought it was in my best interest to fix them. She needs them for this weekend, so now that job is done and off the to do list.


I also worked on the second clothing quilt. I got fabric added at the left side of the pants. I always add more fabric than I think I will need. It is easier to trim it off than to add. It also gives me some flexiablity when I trim before adding the borders as to the size the piece will be. I don't think both quilts will end up exactly the same size - they don't have to be the same - so that is not a detail I am going to sweat over.



Here are the riders heading over the summit at the Col du Tormualet which is a 6900+ foot climb in the Pyrenees.


This is a switchback on the decent down the Col du Torumalet on the way to the climb at Col D'Aubisque.



The majority of the mountain roads do not have guardrails. I would not want to be on these roads at night!

Today is a rest day for the riders so that means I can get some stuff done around the house. Laundry, a little cooking, and starting another batch of yogurt are on the to do list for this evening.

New quilts from old clothes

I posted a picture on June 29 of a pair of jeans I was taking apart to make a couple of small quilts out of. This weekend I finished the top for one of the quilts and have the second quilt pinned up on the design wall. I spent a lot of time thinking before I started to free cut and stitch and I mean a lot of time. I just wanted them to turn out really cool and didn't want to mess this up. Besides jeans, I had old t-shirts and a sweatshirt I could use for these.


Here is the second one I need to make. It is actually a little farther along than this. Last evening when I was cleaning up the mess from the first quilt, I hung up pieces for the borders when I came across them. I am so please how these quilts are turning out.

Hitting the books

Next year Paula Nadelstern quilt's will be exhibited at the Akron Art Museum where I volunteer. I thought I would read her books and study up on her techniques so that maybe I could become a docent for the exhibit. I will be anxious to see her work in person. I don't know that I would have the patience to construct a puzzle quilt or a kaleidoscope quilt - I may have to play around and at least make a small piece.

Glad to see Mark Cavendish won Stage 10 of the TDF, although Thor is my favorite sprinter. The scenery again was beautiful and makes me wish I could move to such a beautiful place. The lavendar was in bloom and the sunflowers were standing proud as the riders raced by.

This weekend I wanted to just stay at the house and not go anywhere, but my brother is coming home from California for a week so I need to go over to his house and turn on the A/C, gather up his recycling and mail at the house, and pick up his mail at the post office. So in order to avoid leaving the house this weekend, I will go to the grocery and drug store after work tonight and after I take care of the stuff for my brother. I don't like driving around town after work, because the people drive like crazy people. Since the city laid off police, it has been a free for all on the roads. The police that are still working are too busy with robberies, assaults, murders, and drugs to pick up someone doing 45 in a 25. And stop signs - in these people's eyes they are just a suggestion! Oh well, I will get thru it. Sauturday and Sunday will be doing some cleaning, sewing, a little weeding, and of course watching the TDF. Have a great weekend!