First Day of School for my Little Girls!

August 15th! Too early! It's still summer!

Although, I will admit that getting back to a schedule will be a good thing, even though I hate schedules.


Freshmen started at 8 am.

Juniors started at 10am so she went to her friends house first.

Where did the time go?! They were just in middle school together!

How do they grow so fast right before our eyes?

The first day of school is always a hard one for me. Mostly because its the end of summer and I feel like I lose them til next summer & they'll be another year older. Next summer I will have a 15 & 17 year old. That means possibly working & driving teens that definitely won't have time for Mom. It all came so fast but I'm glad I was home with them all these years!







CMQG WIP

This is my Chicago Modern Quilt Guild Art Challenge "work in progress".
We all chose a work of art, a piece of fabric and swapped bags with another guild member. I am working on a mini quilt based on a painting called "Party Trees" by Ellen Thomson for Kate C.
Here's the art, then my interpretation so far, subject to change in the next few days since its due back to the owner next Sunday.

I plan on adding a few sketchy chairs & outlining the shapes with thread drawing/painting. The heart needs to be wonkified so its not so cutesy looking. I will probably bind it with the fabric she gave me since I didn't use too much of it. I hope Kate likes it. I'm also excited to see what my partner made for me!

Maxwell Street Market (with Vogue Fabrics as a bonus)!!!

      Every summer I like to visit the Allstate Arena flea market just to roam the aisles to find unique items, but the Maxwell Street Market is a place that’s been on my list every year for a very long time!

So finally the stars were in alignment, nothing on the calendar, Jeff was around, Karli wanted to go too (to find a nice pair of sunglasses for cheap), & it wasn’t too hot or raining!

We found parking fairly close & walked with the excitement of being outside, in the sun, with the city as our backdrop, to a place we haven’t been before. The heat this summer has kept me inside way too long.

I was a little disappointed at the lack diversity in vendors considering we are in Chicago. Besides the usual Chinese & Mexican booths of sunglasses, purses, jewelry, electronics & produce, I was hoping to browse thru a little more garage sale crap! You know the fun to look at tchotchke kinds of things!

But as we walked further into the food vendor section the excitement came back. All the fresh Mexican food stands! So we picked one with a long line where they were making fresh tortillas & had a big menu in English & Spanish.

Karli had a plain quesadilla & a coke in a glass bottle, I had a pumpkin flower quesadilla with a tamarind flavor Juaritos soda, & Jeff had a carne asada (steak) taco. It was like a 2 hour lunch vacation to Mexico. Before heading back to the car, I just had to have a giant fresh hot churro with vanilla crème, nothing like those skinny greasy things you see at carnivals or fairs. Karli had a mango Italian ice that she said was delicious.  I can’t wait to come back again for an Acapulco style pina colada.  After reading some reviews on the Maxwell St Market on yelp, I completely agree now with all the ones that said it’s a great place to come for the exercise, fresh air, mingling and the food!

Now, for the bonus!

Vogue Fabrics  623 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago

I never would’ve made a separate trip here since I haven’t sewn any clothing for quite a long time. But walking in here made me want to run down the aisles grabbing rolls of fabric & yell out how many yards I needed like on Project Runway when they’re in Mood Fabrics! This was just one of the 3 storefronts.

Anyone need any buttons?

I walked out spending only $1.90+tax on a piece of muslin! But if the street parking meter was less, I could’ve bought some pretty stuff!

Overall, this was a very good day! And I wouldn’t mind coming here for lunch every Sunday!  <3

Finally nice enough to go outside!

Working on the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild Art Challenge. It's too nice to work inside so I'm out in the screenhouse. I'm so glad we have one!

Just walked out of the office!

Look... no braces for Mickaela! At 16, I still want to pinch those cheeks!

Heat Wave!

I've never seen my thermometer hit this high!

Graduation Gift

                                    
Started at the CMQG spring retreat & finished on 8th grade graduation day, the green & purple quilt for Karli is quilted, bound, washed & dried with only a little bit coming undone. Using the "2 for one" circle block pattern (http://allpeoplequilt.com/projects-ideas/throws-wall-hangings/circles-squares_1.html), you use both the positive & negative of the circles you cut out. I had collected the fabric piece by piece over the last couple years wanting to make her a quilt with her favorite colors. Couldn't find a pattern I really liked, this one was fun, quick & easy. Now, to fix all the spots coming undone!
I hope you love it forever, Karli! <3

Early blooming iris due to mild winter

Early blooming iris due to mild winter

Random Rejuvenation

Mickaela loves these shoes but they're getting really worn. On their way out the back door, this can of spray paint jumped in the way & said, "Wait! I can help!" Used to spray the mini pumpkins for Terry's 25th anniversary, it was never put away, so I thought, what have I got to lose?! They're almost as good as new if you don't look too close! See, there's always a good reason for not putting things away after you use them!

CMQG retreat @ Siena Center Racine Wisconsin

CMQG retreat @ Siena Center Racine Wisconsin. Before heading home, just had to see the lakefront since it was hidden by fog for the 2 days before. Too bad we couldn't quilt down here!

A Quick Trip Together

One of the few requests of Karli for the summer was to go blueberry picking in Michigan, which we did 2 summers ago with the Bachs  before Andy went off to U of Missouri. Well, the summer flew by & I didn’t think it would happen. When I mentioned Karli’s wish to Terry & how it would’ve been nice if we had more time, right away she asked, “Want to go Sunday for the day?” She said Ryan needed to see Oma before he left for Boston U.

Sometimes it’s the last minute plans that come together the best!

Amazingly, both of our families of 4 all were available & Jeff was in town. What a GREAT day! Jeff & Andy perch fished in Chicago early in the morning & met us up there. Blueberry picked in the afternoon at Stephenson Farms in South Haven, a walk thru town before dinner, a delicious roasted chicken dinner by Roman & Oma, & then we finished the evening with ice cream at Sherman’s not because we were hungry, just because you have to! Andy & Jeff headed back to Chicago & the rest of us stayed overnight.

Thank you, sis, for taking us! Thank you Oma & Roman for having us!

A Round Robin with the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild

Objective for 1st Round: Add rectangles to assigned member’s applique block & bring back to next months meeting to swap for another’s block & add next border for the next month.

I got my friend Donna’s, all patterned fabric block. Very beautiful, but I don’t have much of a stash, let alone metallicish print, worthy enough to adorn her block. If I look at something often & long enough, I eventually come up with an idea, but usually the night before its due!

Well, our next meeting isn’t for 2 weeks & I’m actually done! And I really like it. Simple but effective, keeping with the angle of the circles going yet also keeps the eye moving with the red accent.

Since I’m still reading Memoirs of a Geisha from my book club (Books & Bordeaux), I think the Asian frame of mind helped me on this one.

I love it! Too bad its not mine to keep. Each of our blocks will be passed around until November when we get to see our original block with the additions of 4 more peoples creative additions. I can’t wait!