in with the new . . .

Do you know what happens when you make up your mind to back-post before you current post again?

Nothing.  LOL!

And the longer I put it off, the more daunting the task became.  So, here's what happened this past weekend:

I switched out my patriotic decor that went up in time for Memorial Day (and stays up through Bastille Day—July 14) . . .

For summery, sun-shiney sunflowers!

I love changing out my accent pieces for the seasons.  More and more, it's become mostly pieces I've made or been gifted.  I love that!!  Once I got everything out, I decided I needed a sunflower mug rug to finish it off, so I whipped up one in wool.

Makes me happy.

Makes my tea mug happy, too.

It was an easy stitch.  And my own pattern, to boot!  If you'd like to make your own happy sunflower mug rug, shoot me an email and I'll send you the templates and simple instructions.  Linking up with Kathy's Quilts Sunday slow stitching post.

:)

evidence of absence . . .

I would say that I was horrified or blown away by how much time had passed since I last blogged . . . but saying such seems rather dramatic, considering I've known precisely well that I *wasn't* blogging and that June, July, AND August had all passed by with my knowledge and without a word from me.  A word on here, at least.  

Unfortunately I have to admit that I've enjoyed the bit of bloggy break. Over the past three months I've spent time with family and grands, both here and in California, lots of time in VBS, Fridays with Todd out on the lake, getting our first cabin at the camp (!!!!!!!!), and time helping my folks get settled in their new home, right here in good ol' Alabama! Toss a 40+ hour work week into the bag and it's been a pretty busy, albeit very enjoyable, summer.

So very pleased to have my folks nearby!  It was a HUGE move for them. Mom and I have enjoyed going through boxes . . . especially the ones that net this kind of reward:

Aren't they beautiful??  Both of my grandmothers collected teacups. One box netted several pieces of china that belonged to my great-grandmother -- how special!

I've done some stitchy things, though quite honestly, not a whole lot.  I did finally finish the bloomers that I started for Everley in May. 

I finished up the sixteen sets of Civil War print swap blocks (including a set for myself) and got them dropped off.  I *still* have not picked up the blocks that come to me!  But I have a picture of them . . . 

Which is better than I can say for the ones I stitched myself!

I stitched up some huge pillows (26" pillow forms) for a dear friend of mine. Don't they look great in their new home?! The upholstery fabric was interesting to work with.

I finished up an Irish Chain wall hanging for my mom (housewarming). I'd done one for a swap a couple of years ago and knew it was perfect for my mom.

Note to self.  Be super careful when trying to get 'artsy' by hanging finished pieces from the top of the pontoon's cover.

Glad we keep a net handy.  (I did wash it before gifting it!)

I got started on a new wool project.  With a little help from a dear friend!

Isn't it cute?  It screams summer!  Now that it's fall.

I've not purchased the first bit of fabric since I was on here last. Not. One. Inch. I find that to be either most impressive or incredibly depressing.  I haven't decided which.

I'd like to say I'm current with my two-ornaments-per-month-challenge. But I can't. C'est l'été? Actually, I'm probably most disappointed in that -- I need to get on the ball! And when I do, this will be my next project . . . 

Isn't it darling? Simple but very pretty.

With summer days waning, I'll try to be a bit more consistent on the blog.  For my sake as much as anything else! Though I MUCH appreciate those that have checked in over the course of the summer!

I've got a three more days of a long, four-day weekend stretching out before me; wonder how I'll fill it?!  Happy Labor Day . . . bring on Autumn!

:)

cruising into august . . .

We are so enjoying these lovely fall days.  Ummm...only it's summer.  Trust me, I am NOT complaining!! We had some of the most beautiful weather ever this past month . . . hard to believe it was July in Alabama. In fact, we set a record low temp this week . . . the record -- 61° -- was set in 1914.  One hundred years ago.  And the low that broke the record?  A whopping 57°!  C-R-A-Z-Y!

More of the same here.  Enjoying family and grands.  

I think . . . in this picture . . . Sawyer's telling the two girls about giants in the camp. June paid absolutely NO attention to him. Ellie rode around the camp for the rest of the evening with her hands over her eyes because she didn't want to see scary giants.

Look how big Miss Olivia has gotten!  And she's just started smiling on purpose -- it's such fun!!  She is definitely a Sawyer/June sibling, too . . . they all look very similar at this age!

Also studying lessons and preparing for discipleship classes. Keeping up with turtles and other camp-related things.  

July is usually the slowest month of the camp, because generally it's so hot, humid and mosquito-ridden, that no one wants to be up here.  Not the case this year!  

I have been working on a couple of little things. And one big *surprise* kind of thing that I need to wait a while to share. I think I've decided that the space in the new RV is actually better workspace than what I had in the old RV:

I love the counter top space in the kitchen ... perfect for rotary cutting!  Haha!   took up a challenge to make some bookmarks.  Good way to use up scraps!

They were easy and whipped up really quick.  The tutorial for the book mark is HERE and the tutorial for the fabric flower at the top is HERE.

Joc called me on Tuesday of this week from Hancock's (fabric store).  She was looking for material to make curtains for Ellie's "big girl" room.  Yes, that's happening . . . Everley is due in a MONTH.  Anyway, Joc is talking to me on the phone and realizes she's lost track of Ellie.  Where does she find her??

Girlfriend had found the fat quarter wall!  She is my granddaughter, there's no denying it!  Joc said her little hands were so full of fat quarters that Ellie was dropping them.  Too cute!  And Ellie didn't want to put any of them back, either!

I told Joc to tell Ellie that if she would just pick her favorite TWO fat quarters, Neesey would make her a little purse with them.  It was tough, but we finally managed to come up with these two.

And don't you know, Ellie has reminded me every time she's seen me and every time we've talked on the phone, that I'm making her a purse.  Joc even mentioned that it was the first thing out of her mouth the other morning.  I gotta make good on this purse!

So, here it is -- not too bad, eh?  Just a simple origami-folded drawstring purse . . .

With secret pockets for treasures (and things you might want to hide from a baby sister) . . .

And coordinating accent pieces . . .

With a pearl for the center.  For Miss Eleanor Pearl.

It's how this Neesey rolls.  Happy Friday, y'all!

:)

stitching and summer fun . . .

Friday Night Sew-In.  Right.  Well . . . I didn't get a whole lot done on my quilting last night.

I solidified my thread color choices, I finished outlining the fan and one blade, and that's about it.  But this morning I'm heading off to our Stitcher's sew-in, and this is all I'm taking, so hopefully I'll get a bit more finished this morning!

I won't be staying the whole day . . . just until lunchtime, probably.  Tomorrow is our day to provide breakfast for our church fellowship and I've got to do some shopping and some baking!  I'm making sausage balls, mini pigs-in-a-blanket, fruit salad, monkey bread, and no-bake cookies.  Plus we're having a potluck lunch after service -- so I'll probably make my Strawberry Delight for that!  Whew!

Today's Foto Finish theme, sponsored by Cat Patches, is "Summer's Here".  I couldn't share just one photo ... I have *three*!

To me, summer means family trips and trips to visit family.  These first two are from our summer trip to visit my sister in 2005.  Of course we got some beach time in:

And then the cousins all played 'capture', which of course requires cammies and camouflage makeup:

I love the reversed role play between the two photos!  They are such clowns.  And I have *no* idea where they get it from!

And from just yesterday . . . 

Daddies and their sweet little babies!  Although I was a little shocked by how *grown* both Ellie and Sawyer look here!  And I love how Ellie's got her little hand on Sawyer's shoulder.  Kim said it looked like she was saying, "Hey! Be still for one second!"  LOL!

Have a great Saturday!!

:)

design within reach . . .

Saturday evening I returned home from a long day out and about, and decided I needed to put away the red and pink and white quilted heart that had been adorning my table since February, and work on a more "summery" design.

In less than three hours, this is what I'd come up with!

Even with a cute little back -- I could probably reverse it if I ever felt so inclined! I'm so infatuated with orange right now. It's my color of choice. Why is that?!?

Ta dah! I love what I can accomplish if I put my mind to it. And what's even nicer is that this is an original Design by Denise. LOL! :)

My BOM's are what's on the design table cloth right now. First, here are the two blocks I completed just in the nick of time on Saturday, for a turn in win! (I'm determined to NOT use my Ooops! card this go 'round!)

So now there are ten blocks completed, six to go. I have two sashed and quilted and I need to audition the rest. Well, first I have to decide whether I'm going to do the four corners in the purple, or do the whole thing in the orange (like I'd originally planned). I just think the four corners in the purple would create eye interest.

I do believe that if I go with the purple corner, this block that I finished this weekend will be a purple candidate:

While the other block I finished this weekend will definitely go orange!

Head over to Judy Laquidara's Patchwork Times to see what other creative genius is flowing in the quilting world!

Last week I watched Sawyer on Thursday, so Kim could run some errands.

He's gotten so big -- he hardly looks like a baby anymore!

He was all about holding that spoon while he ate, too. He held it in his right hand, and ate with his left hand. I wonder if he'll be a lefty or a righty?!?

He loves, loves, *loves* his books! My favorite thing is to sit in the rocker in his room and have him bring me a book and climb into my lap!

Without a doubt -- Neesey heaven.

:)

keeping it cool . . .

Where else? By the pool!

Sawyer, Kim & I headed over to Jocelyn's yesterday afternoon. Joc's community has a nice little pool, and she was gracious enough to invite us over for a swim. With the temperature hitting 100 degrees yesterday (not including the heat index) getting relief by a dip in the pool sounded heavenly!

Sawyer was ready to make the trek over there. He's so darling in his little hats -- and he's so good about keeping them on his head!

We got over there and found that we pretty much had the pool to ourselves. There was one other group of four, but they left not too long after we got there. It was like a little private oasis!

This was Sawyer's first dip in a big pool since last summer. He didn't want to have anything to do with sitting in his floaty, but he was perfectly content to swim around with mom holding him. And he got a big kick out of splashing Aunt Jocelyn!

BUT . . . what he *really* wanted to do was ROAM!

Yeah -- he walked every inch of the pool area.

And explored the landscaping.

Gave the mulch a taste test.


Enjoyed a swing in the big wicker porch swing.


Enjoyed a strawberries and juice break.


Went through Neesey's purse (now *that's* dangerous)!


And managed to successfully open Aunt Jocelyn's water bottle and get a drink from it, too.

I'm willing to bet that little man slept like a ROCK last night!

And so did his mama and his Neesey!

:)