I had a mini Christmas yesterday! Michelle and her darling hubby, Louie, were in town junkin'. We had a very enjoyable meal out together. We have so much fun with them. =) 

Michelle has such a generous heart. Look at the loot she brought over for me! Yes, pink Pyrex! Along with two cute vintage looking napkins and, on top of all that, 11 1930's fat quarters!! 

Seriously!

Before she left, she was showing me her loot from the day and she said that she wasn't sure she wanted to keep this sewing chest/stand. It was only out of the kindness of my heart *cough cough* that I had to take it out of her hands for her. I mean, what else could I do? 

It's perfect to store my long arm stuff in it. =)

Thanks, Shell!! 

I got the second colored blocks baby quilt pieced together. I'm still debating on a whether or not to add a boarder or just go ahead and bind it. I am leaning towards no border and binding it as it is. 

With the beautiful weather we are having, Russ and I went on a short bike ride to Mt. Vernon. It was a wee bit too windy, so the ride wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been. Still, it was nice being in the town were I grew up and seeing familiar, and not so familiar places. One big change is the old middle school, where I went to school, is now open for shops and is a community building. It was so odd to walk around and remember when I would roam the halls with my classmates. I could remember what room I was in where we had study hall and I got in trouble for *gasp* chewing gum. That was a big deal way back then. 

Moving on...I was wandering around in the antique store called Room 222, when I saw this....

It's a film can. About 8 inches in diameter. 

What is the big deal, you ask?? 

Well, the big deal is my mom painted this Kodak film can. Those are her strawberries!! There was no way I was going to leave it there. I held it up to show Russ and he simply stated, "Your mom painted that." I nodded. I can spot her style of toll painting anywhere...However, this was the first time to find something she painted in a shop. I have to admit, it shook me up a little. I was in my home town where I grew up and already the memories were swirling and then to find something of my mom there, well, it's made me feel a bit sad...

I miss my mom....

A long time ago, I used to write a meme about my memories of my mom. I think I need to go back and re-read them....Someday, but not now. 

Someday...

Have a great Sunday, friends...

I had a mini Christmas yesterday! Michelle and her darling hubby, Louie, were in town junkin'. We had a very enjoyable meal out together. We have so much fun with them. =) 

Michelle has such a generous heart. Look at the loot she brought over for me! Yes, pink Pyrex! Along with two cute vintage looking napkins and, on top of all that, 11 1930's fat quarters!! 

Seriously!

Before she left, she was showing me her loot from the day and she said that she wasn't sure she wanted to keep this sewing chest/stand. It was only out of the kindness of my heart *cough cough* that I had to take it out of her hands for her. I mean, what else could I do? 

It's perfect to store my long arm stuff in it. =)

Thanks, Shell!! 

I got the second colored blocks baby quilt pieced together. I'm still debating on a whether or not to add a boarder or just go ahead and bind it. I am leaning towards no border and binding it as it is. 

With the beautiful weather we are having, Russ and I went on a short bike ride to Mt. Vernon. It was a wee bit too windy, so the ride wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been. Still, it was nice being in the town were I grew up and seeing familiar, and not so familiar places. One big change is the old middle school, where I went to school, is now open for shops and is a community building. It was so odd to walk around and remember when I would roam the halls with my classmates. I could remember what room I was in where we had study hall and I got in trouble for *gasp* chewing gum. That was a big deal way back then. 

Moving on...I was wandering around in the antique store called Room 222, when I saw this....

It's a film can. About 8 inches in diameter. 

What is the big deal, you ask?? 

Well, the big deal is my mom painted this Kodak film can. Those are her strawberries!! There was no way I was going to leave it there. I held it up to show Russ and he simply stated, "Your mom painted that." I nodded. I can spot her style of toll painting anywhere...However, this was the first time to find something she painted in a shop. I have to admit, it shook me up a little. I was in my home town where I grew up and already the memories were swirling and then to find something of my mom there, well, it's made me feel a bit sad...

I miss my mom....

A long time ago, I used to write a meme about my memories of my mom. I think I need to go back and re-read them....Someday, but not now. 

Someday...

Have a great Sunday, friends...

I chose to add very narrow red boarders to it and bind it in red with a few scrappy pieces of the batik navy blue dots tossed in. 

I don't prewash my fabric and I was a wee bit concerned about the batik bleeding, but it didn't at all. Whew!!

Now that its finished being quilted, all the little mistakes don't seem to matter. It won't win any awards and it won't pass a critical quilters eyes and that's okay with me! The joy is in the process and the learning of new skills.  

I started this journey of learning to sew and quilt two years ago, with my Mom's Viking. I've since upgraded to a newer Viking a Platinum 770 and bought a Juki TL98Q.

For the last few weeks, I've been mulling over in my mind whether or not if it's okay to call myself a quilter instead of saying, "I am learning how to quilt," because aren't we all learning more and more about this craft each and every time we create a quilt?

Then I made a collage of most of the things I've made this last year and I realized...

  I am a quilter. 

My only wish? That my Mom could know how much of her has rubbed off on me....

Happy New Year, everyone!! 

I chose to add very narrow red boarders to it and bind it in red with a few scrappy pieces of the batik navy blue dots tossed in. 

I don't prewash my fabric and I was a wee bit concerned about the batik bleeding, but it didn't at all. Whew!!

Now that its finished being quilted, all the little mistakes don't seem to matter. It won't win any awards and it won't pass a critical quilters eyes and that's okay with me! The joy is in the process and the learning of new skills.  

I started this journey of learning to sew and quilt two years ago, with my Mom's Viking. I've since upgraded to a newer Viking a Platinum 770 and bought a Juki TL98Q.

For the last few weeks, I've been mulling over in my mind whether or not if it's okay to call myself a quilter instead of saying, "I am learning how to quilt," because aren't we all learning more and more about this craft each and every time we create a quilt?

Then I made a collage of most of the things I've made this last year and I realized...

  I am a quilter. 

My only wish? That my Mom could know how much of her has rubbed off on me....

Happy New Year, everyone!! 

I don't know exactly when it happened, but it did happen a few years ago. One day, I woke up, looked in the mirror and realized, I was my mother. As a teenager, the thought of being anything like my mother was horrifying. These days, I am proud be more and more like her.

For example...Buying this,

...however, envisioning this in my mind's eye.

(Sorry, honey, for getting some pink spray paint on your motorcycle...)

My mom would so do this. 

Darling, no?

Close up of the Moda goodness.

For $5, I couldn't pass this up. My mom was never one to pass up a good deal. 

Pieces of my mother are in my sewing room. She painted this in 1984. 

The Indian girl was in my mom's sewing room for as long as I can remember.

 I bought the shelf for a $1. I found this note inside the salt drawer. Cute, huh? 

Yes, I am my mother...A bargain hunter and being creative. 

I miss you, Mom...

I don't know exactly when it happened, but it did happen a few years ago. One day, I woke up, looked in the mirror and realized, I was my mother. As a teenager, the thought of being anything like my mother was horrifying. These days, I am proud be more and more like her.

For example...Buying this,

...however, envisioning this in my mind's eye.

(Sorry, honey, for getting some pink spray paint on your motorcycle...)

My mom would so do this. 

Darling, no?

Close up of the Moda goodness.

For $5, I couldn't pass this up. My mom was never one to pass up a good deal. 

Pieces of my mother are in my sewing room. She painted this in 1984. 

The Indian girl was in my mom's sewing room for as long as I can remember.

 I bought the shelf for a $1. I found this note inside the salt drawer. Cute, huh? 

Yes, I am my mother...A bargain hunter and being creative. 

I miss you, Mom...

It's hard to believe that my mom died three years ago today.

This is the one and only picture I have of her with all of my children. I wish the picture was a better quality, however, it's better than nothing, right? :o)

It's hard to believe that my mom died three years ago today.

This is the one and only picture I have of her with all of my children. I wish the picture was a better quality, however, it's better than nothing, right? :o)

I have my Mother's Day cards sitting in front of me, unopened. I couldn't open them when I was sick. I'll open them tonight when we can all be together. I'll even leave the chocolate *gasp* unopened.

Stephanie of A is for Aiden, made a lovely mother's day tribute. When I sent in my few pictures to contribute to her montage, this one made me cry....

My wedding day...I asked my mom, who owned a flower shop at that time, if she would make my bouquet for me. Though it was my second marriage, I never had a bouquet. I told her to make it anyway she wanted using any colors she wanted. She went above and beyond making me a gorgeous bouquet, she made all the corsages and boutonnieres, too.

Thanks, Mom, for making my wedding day beautiful...I miss you...

I have my Mother's Day cards sitting in front of me, unopened. I couldn't open them when I was sick. I'll open them tonight when we can all be together. I'll even leave the chocolate *gasp* unopened.

Stephanie of A is for Aiden, made a lovely mother's day tribute. When I sent in my few pictures to contribute to her montage, this one made me cry....

My wedding day...I asked my mom, who owned a flower shop at that time, if she would make my bouquet for me. Though it was my second marriage, I never had a bouquet. I told her to make it anyway she wanted using any colors she wanted. She went above and beyond making me a gorgeous bouquet, she made all the corsages and boutonnieres, too.

Thanks, Mom, for making my wedding day beautiful...I miss you...

Today we are going to explore my Momma's massive "L" shaped front porch.

This corner is where her family and friends did a lot of sitting and talking during the long hours of her last days on earth. The porch swing was a favorite place to rest.

I love the old church pew.

Come join MommySweetMom for Things In My House Thursday and share the things in your house!!

Today we are going to explore my Momma's massive "L" shaped front porch.

This corner is where her family and friends did a lot of sitting and talking during the long hours of her last days on earth. The porch swing was a favorite place to rest.

I love the old church pew.

Come join MommySweetMom for Things In My House Thursday and share the things in your house!!

The Bridal Suite...This room had it's own private bathroom. This was the room I stayed in the last few days of my Momma's life. Originally, since I live fairly close to Mom's house, it was assumed that I would go home every night and come back the next morning. Not wanting to cause an issue and invite myself to stay, I bought an air mattress for the back of my van and I was going to sleep there at night. I didn't want to leave her during those last days. When Mom found that out, she told me I was to forget that idea and sleep in the Bridal Suite room.

Come join MommySweetMom for Things In My House Thursday and share the things in your house!!

The Bridal Suite...This room had it's own private bathroom. This was the room I stayed in the last few days of my Momma's life. Originally, since I live fairly close to Mom's house, it was assumed that I would go home every night and come back the next morning. Not wanting to cause an issue and invite myself to stay, I bought an air mattress for the back of my van and I was going to sleep there at night. I didn't want to leave her during those last days. When Mom found that out, she told me I was to forget that idea and sleep in the Bridal Suite room.

Come join MommySweetMom for Things In My House Thursday and share the things in your house!!

On to the kitchen...Would you agree that the kitchen is the heart of the home? I know I spent more time in my Mom's kitchen in my life time than in any other room.

Have you noticed that there in never a place in her home that wasn't filled with stuff?? Every nook and cranny had something. You could spend hours looking around and come on another day and see stuff you missed the first time.

Through the doors is an enclosed porch.

I've always loved this yellow cupboard.

Don't you think this belongs at my house!! :D

The backside of the counter. The cookies are made of salt dough. She was into that for a while.

A tucked away corner of her kitchen...More stuff. ;)

A shelf with, you guessed it...More stuff. :D I love the glass jar on the end.

As we leave the kitchen, I leave you with this important reminder:

Come join MommySweetMom for Things In My House Thursday and share the things in your house!!

On to the kitchen...Would you agree that the kitchen is the heart of the home? I know I spent more time in my Mom's kitchen in my life time than in any other room.

Have you noticed that there in never a place in her home that wasn't filled with stuff?? Every nook and cranny had something. You could spend hours looking around and come on another day and see stuff you missed the first time.

Through the doors is an enclosed porch.

I've always loved this yellow cupboard.

Don't you think this belongs at my house!! :D

The backside of the counter. The cookies are made of salt dough. She was into that for a while.

A tucked away corner of her kitchen...More stuff. ;)

A shelf with, you guessed it...More stuff. :D I love the glass jar on the end.

As we leave the kitchen, I leave you with this important reminder:

Come join MommySweetMom for Things In My House Thursday and share the things in your house!!