A Finish, A Start and A Getaway

"Flowers for the Table"

designed by Rebekah L. Smith

kitted by Wheaten Woolens

using Rustic Moire Wool Threads

I am so excited about this finish! 

I am thrilled with how it turned out. (Although now I see that I should have made sure all the tongues were laying nice before I snapped the picture.)

Beth Anne did a lovely job kitting it. My favorite part? She used hand dyed velvet for the tan background! I love the combination of textures, it adds so much.

And I continue to enjoy using the Rustic Moire Wool Threads. 

Another wonderful rememberance of Rebekah, Beth Anne, and the wonderful times at Wheaten Woolens. You can find this kit and more here. 

So you know that I had to immediately start something new:

"Autumn's Choice"

design by Maggie Bonanomi

for Country Sampler Girls Club 2016 

What a perfect design for September as Summer turns to Autumn.

I don't think that I will finish it in September with only two days left...

I've finished a few more diamonds for my Temecula Quilt Co Insta-sew-along.

They are going quickly!

And I don't think that I will be able to sleep at all tonight!

Tomorrow morning it is time to hit the road and meet the Bittersweet Stitching Sisters!

It has been an entire year since we have been together. 

I am sure that I will be back with much to share about our adventures.

Several of the sisters have already started their adventure and I can't wait to hear all about it!

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

~1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Blessings, Patti

Hexie Love ~ Part 2 ~ A Start

In 2015 and 2016, I visited Temecula Quilt Co. - a quilt shop with a very distinctive signature look that I love. 

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to win one of their  giveaway scrap boxes!

Wow what treasures!

A large flat rate box filled with fabric scraps, patterns and the two gorgeous collection rolls in the first picture!

They recently shared a blog post about a Insta-Sew-Along that they are doing for English Paper Piecing using hexies. You can read about it here.

Count me in!!!

Although their version is very scrappy, I decided that I wanted mine to be more cohesive.

I bought this fabric bundle on one of my trips to Temecula Quilt Co and decided that it would be perfect for this project.

Here are all the fabrics in the bundle cut and ready to go.

I'm using one inch hexies as I had the paper pieces on hand and they worked well with the size fabrics in the bundle. They feel giant after my big project with half inch hexies ;) 

And what better to use to store my pieces in than one of my Temecula Quilt Co. boxes. :)

The diamonds are going quickly!

I've finished several already.

It's fun to see how each turns out...

I think that this is my favorite so far...

Will you join in the fun? As they mentioned in their blog post,

they are sharing on Facebook and Instagram.

I'll be checking in with my progress!

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

~Romans 12:14-18

Blessings, Patti

Hexie Love ~ Part 1 ~ A Finish

Eighteen months ago, I visited Yellow Creek Quilt Designs on a day trip with some friends.

You can read about it here.

I purchased their "Stars in the Garden" half inch hexie kit and couldn't wait to get started!

 Before I knew it, my first star was finished!

I was hooked!

I made progress and enjoyed each step, but sometimes I would put it down and would forget about it for a few months. 

Before I knew it all the full stars were completed and I only had partial pieces left...

When Mom was headed to the hospital, I had the quick thought to grab this project bag to bring with me. Mom and I did some color planning as to piece placement while there.

And now the big reveal!

"Stars for the Garden" is complete!

I don't consider it finished until it is in the frame and hanging on my wall lol ;)

Oh Jan! I will be contacting you soon...

If you are interested in this pattern/kit, you can find their website here and their Facebook page here.

It's funny, as I started closing in on this project, my mind started wandering to my next English Paper Piecing project. That will be in my next post.

I never do this, but I had to share the back - it really intrigued me.

Since the half inch hexies are so small the fabric fully wraps around.  I thought that it was pretty.

A close up of the back.

I have to share some happy news! 

Mom is done with chemo! We are now gearing up for the next step - radiation. 

I think that the hardest part is behind her. 

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support! 

They are greatly appreciated!

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

~Romans 12:9-13

Blessings, Patti

A treasure of an Antique Shop!

This summer I took a little ride to check out an antique shop that I had heard about:

D+M General Store Antiques & Gardens

You can find their website here

and their Facebook page here.

I was smitten before I even got out of my car.

Not only was the shop lots of fun, there are meandering gardens and out buildings

filled with more antiques that seemed to go on and on...

Some sights were positively eye-catching

Instant collections waiting to be purchased

Displays I would love to recreate in my own garden

Wonderful graphic displays

And so many intriguing out buildings

And the gardens were so pretty - I really need to allow more time for my next visit!

Two treasures came home with me...

Some wonderful vintage zinnia fabric to remind me of the pretty gardens

And this cigar box turned make-do sewing box

with a padded fabric lid/pincushion.

I love how it was painted red.

And a fabric lined inside lid as well.

It is now housing my current English Paper Piecing project that I will have to share soon.

On the way home, I stopped at another antique mall and found this pretty inlaid wood box with a fabulous original latch. It was even better when I opened it up...

It's a Clark's thread box. The original threads were gone,

and instead it was filled with vintage sewing notions. How fun!

 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.

~Romans 12:3-6

Blessings, Patti

Will you be in the area on Saturday?

If you will be near Bartlett, Illinois on Saturday, September 9th,

be sure to stop by Bartlett Heritage Days!

I'll be at the Bartlett Bazaar in Booth 85 along the Metra train tracks

with my sister-in-law and niece.

It looks like it will be a beautiful day!.

And my sister-in-law and niece are both fabulous artists.

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
    to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
    and your faithfulness by night

~Psalms 92:1-2

Blessings, Patti

A stroll thru the Lincoln Park Zoo

Happy Birthday to my Dad in Heaven!

This year of firsts is rough. 

So much has happened in 2016 and 2017 that there has been no time to digest it all.

Thank goodness for our faith.

And the peace and serenity that comes from nature and the beauty of God's creations.

A few weeks ago, my oldest son took me on a tour of the Lincoln Park Zoo.

(His middle name is my Dad's first name, a wonderful continual reminder...)

I've been to the zoo countless times, but wanted to see it from his perspective.

Last summer he performed a research fellowship at the zoo

studying wild Black-crowned Night Herons.

Most of the adults have begun migrating, but he showed me where the juveniles tend to feed.

Do you see the one patiently fishing above?

He showed me the many communal nesting sights hidden throughout the zoo.

He pointed out native plants like the obedient plant.

While you can see the City peeking out in the background,

we enjoyed the Nature Boardwalk around the pond that used to house paddle boats.

They are returning it to a more natural existence.

Last summer, our son would row out to the island to take a census of the turtles that have returned to the pond. 

He pointed out the towering Cup Plants.

And the Ironweed.

He told me all the Latin names, but I can't remember a single one. :)

The Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond at the Zoo is another hidden treasure.

Can you spy the Green Heron fishing in the picture above?

Even thought the Zoo is right in the middle of the City, here you feel a hundred miles away.

A wonderful way to spend a few hours with both of our sons.

And enjoy the peace of the trickling water.

Although the Zoo is known for its wonderful animal exhibits - there is so much more to see... 

And the wild animals and birds like this wood duck that have voluntarily taken up residence here are such a joy.

Mom wasn't up to joining us on our tour, but maybe next year...

People don’t light a lamp and put it under a bucket; they put it on a lampstand. Then it gives light to everybody in the house. That’s how you must shine your light in front of people! Then they will see what wonderful things you do, and they’ll give glory to your father in heaven.

~Matthew 5:15-16

Blessings, Patti