all the grands . . .

The Panter crew headed back to school this week . . .

I cannot believe how quickly they're growing!  And I absolutely canNOT believe that my Sawyer is in middle school.  Say it ain't so!! It's just been a month since we saw them last ... and it still feels like way too long.  

I took the Merkel girls the picnic quilt.  We wanted to take it out for a test run, but settled for a living room test run . . .

I'd say it was a hit!  We'll look forward to picnicking on it sometime soon (maybe when the weather cools a little and it's not so RAINY!

Burrito quilt!

Peek-a-boo!!

We also played upstairs in the playroom.  The girls insisted on pulling out their princess tent and decorating it lights . . .

They were pretty proud of their setting up.

Everyone in their crowns!  They have the sweetest smiles!

These girls ... they also know how to make a face!

Leia joined in ... well, she hung out on the outskirts and made it look like she wanted to be sociable.  She didn't, trust me.  ;)

And now, finally, we've got a NAME!! And I was entrusted to do some special stitching on a special little cap . . .

Ezra Paul, we can't wait to meet you!!

:)

multifarious mug rugs . . .

This week has been a bit topsy turvy with a lot of personal stuff I won't go into (you're welcome). But I *did* manage to stitch up two more little acorn mug rugs . . .

I think I learned lessons from the first one and I was most pleased with the construction process the second go'round. These two still need to be quilted, and I'll get to that this weekend (the good Lord willing).

I got my hexie pumpkin mug rug sandwiched and started hand quilting on it . . .

I still have a ways to go, but again, there's this weekend.

Evey had a terrific birthday and enjoyed all of her presents . . .

She's so precious!! She really enjoyed her "Ella" topper. After she opened her gift and thanked me, Ellie sidled over to me and whispered, "Will you make me a special topper?" Bless her heart! Of course I will! :)

I decided that I needed something on which to display our sample mug rugs at next week's guild meeting. I got a blank canvas frame and a cheap price-reduced, flannel backed tablecloth.

Cut and stretched the tablecloth, flannel side up, over the canvas frame and stapled to the back.

It makes the perfect table top display!  I'll do another one (because I've got more mug rugs to display), but I think this will fit the bill perfectly. Yes?  And makes a great personal small quilt design board, to boot!

I got a little happy in the mail . . . but it deserves a post of its own, so I'll just give you a little sneak peek . . . 

Ooooh!  English paper pieces!!  What could it be?!  Hahaha!

The autumn season has finally made it's way to my office space . . .

Up until yesterday, I still had red, white and blue up and about. I celebrated with a pumpkin spice latte. A venti, even. Whoa!

I'm going to let Leia do my goodbyes today . . . 

I love how she drapes herself over the steps. I think she knows precisely what a step hazard she is! Leia the neck-breaker. Linking her up to sarah did it! and Feline Friday! And on that note . . .

Enjoy the week's end!

:)

this, that and the cat . . .

Our guild's year-end party was quite fun and we had a good crowd! 

My offering for our potluck was two dozen mini Gigi's cupcakes.  Served on fine china, of course! Unfortunately, the serving plate only held 23 cupcakes . . . 

No telling where that 24th cupcake went. LOL!  It's also at this meeting that the incoming president announces her board:

We're a good looking group of ladies if I do say so myself! I'm on the board as a co-chair of a newly created committee, the QIC.

I'm pretty proud of that logo, too! :) We'll be in charge of Secret Stitchers, a mystery quilt, and a seasonal, bi-monthly mug rug swap.  Fun stuff!

I've been slowly, steadily working away at my hexi basting.

I'm down to two colors left to baste and then I can start whipping flowers together. My plan is to whip the individual flowers together and then to lay them out to join together. It will be easy to mess up, so I want to take it slow. The only problem is, the deadline for entering quilts in our guild's show is less than a year away now!  Yikes!

I've been sitting looking at this lovely piece of fabric for several months.  

It was gifted to me and I left it up as a backdrop to my laptop because (1) it was patriotic, which covers May, June and July (for me), and (2) I wanted it to tell me what it wanted to be.

It finally did . . .

Something hexi-ish, of course! Which seems only fitting, given that the gifter was Sarah, from Sarah Did It!

I love table mats and this lends itself quite nicely, with a little fussy cutting, to show off those stars! 

EQ to the rescue again, to help me visualize my thought process. I couldn't get the fabric to quite get to the dimension I needed it to be, but close enough. I'll use something a little more subtle for the blue and red, but again, you (and I) get the idea. Maybe I can whip this up really quick and have it ready for Veteran's Day.  :)

Lastly, just wanted to share a little glimpse into the life of Leia, who started life as a two-human cat, and now is a five-human cat . . . 

Three of whom are little girls.  Leia will be ten this year -- and still playing with dolls!! And the only little people she tolerates are *her* little people. As is evidenced above.

Linking up with Sarah Did It's linky-versary for her HeLP (and for Feline Friday)!  I was there for the first one and I thought I should be there for this special anniversary, too!  Plus she's having a giveaway, so you should definitely hop over!  Also linking up to Kathy's Quilts slow Sunday stitching post.

Have a great finish to your weekend!

:)

felines flying . . .

Well not really . . . but not keeping their paws on the solid ground, either!

Leia may pretend she's well 'grounded' . . . 

But in actuality, I think she's got a thing for heights . . . 

Rather dizzying!

Or perhaps it's just chair backs?  Like here:

And here:

OH!  Perhaps she's actually in training to be a tightrope artist!

Or perhaps she just likes being able to look down on people.  Like Ellie and Sawyer, in particular?! I think she was quite happy to see Sawyer leave her home with me, this morning!

Check out what the other felines are up to over at Sarah Did It! and Feline Friday!

And if you're looking for the traveling stash, click HERE!

:)

fe-lion and fnsi . . .

Leia was pretty laid back when I visited Joc and Ellie this week.  

It was a grey and rainy day, and she was content to just kick back at the window.  She didn't even come help me with the quilty project I'd laid out on the table.  Lazy girl.

I tried to get a close-up of her.  Leia, look at me!

No.

Please look at me!

I said no!

Leia, Leia, Leai . . .

FINE!

Yikes!  Uhhhh, nevermind.  Not your finest smile there, girlfriend!

Grey and rainy days are nice days for rolling over and taking a nap.  Ya' know?
Going . . . 

Going . . . 

Gone!

Isn't that sweet?!  But don't be deceived.  Joc has a saying for this stretch.  It looks like an invitation (to pet that soft, furry belly), but it's really a TRAP! Because the minute your hand gets close, you're bound to feel the Leia fury! Still, I give into it pretty much every time ... it does look incredibly inviting!

And of course, I'm linking up with Sarah, over at Sarah Did It! for Feline Friday!!  

Ah, and speaking of Friday, tonight is also a Friday Night Sew-In!  

It's not too late to join in on the fun.  Just hightail it over to Handmade by Heidi and sign up.

I'll be working on my wholecloth project.  I'd love to finish this first quarter of the center.  I'm really excited to get this project underway, and I can't think of a more-fun thing to do on the evening of a Friday the 13th ... up in a secluded campground ... surrounded by acres and acres of woods and creatures.  Oh yeah!  Bahaha!  (Or should that read, Mmwaaahahaha?!?)

:)