Color Makes Me Happy

We had the opportunity to travel to Seattle this past weekend (think cheap airline tickets) so our daughter could help her dad celebrate his 60th birthday.  A fun time was had by all, so I thought I would just share a few of the flower photos from the tulip fields in the Skagit Valley.  It was a little cold, so they weren't opened up all the way - this week I'm sure they will be.

Well, I can't get the photos off my cell phone - they are on Google + but I don't know how to save them to my computer. Oh, I'd rather be quilting....



So I'll just post this little pic of my grandkitty - Copper.  She is absolutely adorable and this was my first chance to meet her. Meow.

Maybe I'll get the photos to appear here later. Maybe.

Barb

Second Quarter Goals for Finish-A-Long

Well, I feel good that I made two of my three goals I set for myself for the first quarter of the 2014 Finish-A-Long. They were big goals! Now to think about the next three months.

Since I have a lot of business travel and a vacation in the weeks ahead, I know I need to rein myself in on my goals. But what to do? What to do?

Okay - going to keep it small this time.

1.  Get the fabric cut out and top pieced for my niece's wedding quilt. If I get this done by end of June, I can get it quilted and bound by end of July and I'll be in good shape for her August wedding.

2.  My only brother just found out he has lung cancer. So I think I will set everything else aside and make him that quilt that has his name on it. This diagnosis came from left field and is leaving us all a little stunned, so it will be good to focus my energies on this project.

3. And on the slight chance I have more time, I want to get my Charm Pack Cherry Quilt quilted and bound. The top is already together and deserves to be finished.

That's it. My goals. Except I'm going to reverse the order and do my brother's quilt first. I don't want to show the fabrics for these since they are gifts and especially for my brother, I want it to be a surprise.

Remembering to smile as I quilt,
Barb

Linking up with The Littlest Thistle's Second Quarter FAL

Just for fun

Sometimes I just have to drop everything and do something different. Something for myself. Something for no other reason that it just feels good to do it!

So the other day, that's just what I did. I did this:

I made a little basket for 'stuff'. Quilty stuff. I had purchased a fat quarter from my LQS, The Sun Valley Fabric Granary, of this perfect fabric for quilters by Moda. Of course when I bought it, I didn't have the foggiest notion what I'd use it for. I just sensed I'd have a good reason one day. The gals down there are kinda used to me buying fabric that way. Hmmmm.

This was a super-easy pattern I found on a blog by Seaside Stitches for her Fabric Box Tutorial. You should check it out!  I used a 12-inch square of fabric and batting. You can make them smaller if you like.

I rummaged through my button box and found four great buttons that accented the sides. I had used gray thread for the stitching, so the gray buttons were perfect!

This took about a half hour to make, so what did I do then?  I made another!

These made me happy! They might become my Go To project for gift giving.  Just sayin' . . . . .

Quilting with a smile,

Barb

Linking up with:

Linky Tuesday

Needle and Thread Thursday