Picnic Season is Upon Us .....

The weather in Southern California is beautiful right now ... perfect time of year for a picnic. The 4th of July is just a few days away and what inspires us more then the 4th for an old fashioned picnic? My parents weren't big on picnic's, I don't ever in my life remember a picnic with them. However, my neighbors had a lot of kids and they loved a Sunday afternoon at the park! They were great people and never minded having a few extra kids tag along. Along with a portable BBQ a lot of weenies a mountain of potato salad and a big juicy watermelon they brought a huge old bedspread to lay on the grass for everyone to sit on. I have so many wonderful memories of those childhood picnics and the great family who loved all of us.

In the recent edition of Primitive Quilters Magazine I found a quilt pattern that caused all those summer memories to come flooding back. "Picnic in the Park" is it's name and I just love the worn and faded look of the fabrics. It was the work of the Homestead Hearth Quilt Shop in Mexico, MO. I quickly went on line and ordered the kit, I've learned the hard way that you can not wait to order these kits as they will all be gone!

I went to work on it right away, if I didn't summer would be over before it ever got out of the shipping box. It is just about finished and will go to the quilters this week. I am sharing a few pics for you to see this great fabric, once it's done I post the finished product.

I love these new Molly B fabrics by Marcus Brothers ....

I was working on the pieced border when I took this picture ...

 

I love the color pallet, my quilting buddies fondly call this "mushy" ....

This quilt has a similar feel to the old worn out bedspread used so many years ago. I wish I knew what happened to that old thing, probably ended up in the trash when we all grew up and abandoned those picnics for boys, cars, and children of our own ....

A Little Hand Quilting ....

I have been busy creating a simple project for my friends to teach them how to "hand quilt."

This is so easy and actually relaxing to do while watching TV in the evenings. I purchased a piece of red checked fabric from Walmart and cut it to the size necessary to play a game of checkers. I searched through my blue prints and found the perfect scraps to use for the 3 inch borders. I layered a thin piece of batting between the backing piece and pinned the three layers together. I used very tiny stitches all the way around the boarder and also along the lines of the red check print.

You don't need many supplies to complete this little project. Just a nice sharp sewing needle, a spool of YLI thread and these little leather dots. I hate thimbles as much as I hate needle pricks in my finger tips! These little leather pads are just what this stitcher ordered! 

 

 

My three grand kids arrived last Wednesday afternoon for a weeks visit. It is always chaotic, noisy and the occasional tears. When they arrive their first request for grandma is a trip to Toys R Us. Of course I load them up and away we go. Thursday morning I came downstairs to this scene on the living room floor ...

All three of them are engrossed with my collection of 100 plus year old marbles. I have three large glass jars full of them. They belonged to my dad and my uncle when they were boys and several of the very old rock/clay marbles had belonged to my grandfather. The youngest, Alexia was sorting out all the orange ones, Austin was searching for all the rock/clay ones and Karlee was looking for the shooters. These kids have all the newest gadgets, electronic Ipads, and so on ... and here they sit with free, old tyme marbles.....

This just made me laugh so I decided to share it. My friend Amy, visiting from Wyoming was here along with my family (I had a FULL house!) This group of princesses from around the world were nestled on my stairs with Sofia and her special purple pony standing guard. Amy was heading up the stairs when she found this group of beauties and decided to get down to their level and have a chat with them! Alexia came over, wrapped her little arm around Amy's neck to hear what Amy had to say. By the time I got my camera out and running Lexi had taken off ... Amy was still chatting it up with the girls!

 Family ... there is just nothing better ....

A Wonderful Visit ....

My son was always very close to my mom, his "Mimie." He never knew his grandpa as he had passed away before Dustin was born. However, I know they would have been close as well. They are two peas in a pod without ever knowing each other!

Yesterday my son loaded up his truck with his entire family, including his sister and went to visit his Mimie.

My heart was so touched when these pictures came into my IPhone.

Searching for the right marker ....

Karlee is waiting to put the flowers on their grave while Austin scratches his head and wonders "why are we here!"

Now that's a load of kids!!

I'm so proud of my son for sharing his love of my mom with his kids. He's a keeper ....

Rest in peace mom and dad, your family loves you.

Spring Cleaning ... or is it Summer Cleaning??

My dear son on law was here a couple of days ago so I asked him to help me move my potting table. This poor thing was built by my husband at least 15 years ago and it has truly seen better days. Prior to moving it I was using the table as a wall to fence off the side yard. I noticed it was leaning forward and looking rather sad. I'm thinking with Shawn's help we can nail it to the fence to hold it up. Umm, nope. The feet on the front of the table had completely rotted away!! OK, plan #2. Let's move it into the planter to shore it up. After a bit of wriggling we got it in there and I love it!!

 

Here she is!! All nestled into the planter. She is warped, full of termite holes and missing some body parts but my sweet hubby made her and I just can't break her apart just yet.  Next to her is a wooden American Flag that I also have has for years as well as a heart shaped flag made from the tin off of a barn roof salvaged from a devastating tornado a few years ago.

See the bicycle?? That is where the potting table was standing. Years ago there was an actual fence there but it blew down during a Santa Ana wind storm. The bike is not a good fence so I think we will be needing a new one built here soon!

My little cast iron garden gnome is keeping an eye on things over there along with a couple of crazy roosters!

Notice the support beam behind the lower portion of the table? Yep, you got it, that is keeping the whole thing together at this point!! Otherwise I fear it might just lean all the way to the right and fall down.

A close up of my watering can and bird house collection. Four of those watering/oil cans came home with me many years ago from my grandparents home in Ohio. The large red bird house was made by hand by a couple in Wyoming, love it.

 Thanks for touring my yard with me!

 

My Sewing Son in Law!!

I love my daughter to pieces, she's a lot of fun. We laugh and we cry together, we play together ... one thing we don't do is sew together. Things domestic like sewing, cooking and gardening are just not her thing. But that's OK, plenty of other things are!

However, my new son in law Shawn loves to sew. He is fascinated with quilt making and the crafting I do. So Sunday morning I was finishing up one of the Americana Flag pillows that a friend couldn't complete. He was watching and asked if he could do it! Well sure I said, here ya go and turned the project over to him.

He did a fabulous job .... 

He had just washed the car and had his shirt off, he doesn't usually sit around shirt less! Do you notice he is a lefty ... just like me!!

Check it out, he has it pinned together and everything. He is just the cutest thing ever!

 

ALL Done!!

  So while he is busy with the pillow I got busy working on a new project.

OK, OK, if you know me you know I am a Mc Donalds coffee addict! I love my Vanilla Iced Coffee's. Mickey D's does not offer stylish cute coffee cups so I decided to make m own. Oh my goodness .... this was quite the project! There are over 1000 stones glued to this cup.

The pictures I take don't do it justice, it is so pretty and sparkly! It took a lot of hours to make so I don't think I will have a career in blingy cup making!

Actions Speak Loudly ....

My dad passed away over 30 years ago so Father's Day is a rather reflective day for me. This year, my newly married daughter, Tiffany called to see what Joe, her step-dad and I were up to on Father's Day. I shared that I was taking him to breakfast at his favorite place. Sunday morning bright and early she and her new hubby Shawn were at the house ready to go and join us to celebrate this wonderful man.

Joe came into Tiffany's life when she was a high school sophomore.  Both she and her brother quickly attached themselves to this man and their relationships have grown closer each passing year.

Betsy loves her dad too, the morning before breakfast!

As a high school senior it was Joe who escorted Tiffany to her father/daughter dance, it was Joe who joined her as she visited possible colleges and it was Joe, along with her dad that walked her down the aisle a few months ago when she was married. Joe has never been overly demonstrative in vocalizing how he feels. He "shows" us ... he lets his actions do his talking. We have all three been so blessed.

Joey is on the right! Happy Father's Day to an amazing man who has loved my children like his own ....

Flag Pillow making Class....

It was such a wonderful day. Nine ladies signed up for my Americana Pillow class today and They all did such a great job designing and making their creations.

It was such a fun eclectic group. My friend Amy arrived Thursday from Wyoming so she was here ...

Here is Ms. Amy stitching away on her white flag stripes!

And here it is!!! All done! Amy had to leave early to attend a graduation so she didn't get into the group photo!

 My long time friend (at least 40 years!) also came today to do a little bit of creating. I'm sure she thought this group of women we just plain nuts!

These are Gayle's stripes ... God is done being stitched ...

and bless is under way ....

Barbara's is almost complete, she needs to put in her pillow insert and stitch up the bottom.

Each of the ladies received a decorated bag filled with all the necessary items to make their pillows.

The work table is set up, snacks are ready ....

4 of the 9 ladies and their pillows! Gayle is on the far right, my loooong time friend! I think she was very happy with her creation! 

 Next month ... Americana flip flops! Thanks for joining me ladies, it was a great day.

Flag Day, Celebrate our Heritage ....

Today, June 14, is Flag Day! A day for Americans to celebrate our heritage and to remember the boys and girls who have given their lives to keep her flying high in the sky. Take a moment today and say thank you to our red, white and blue! If you have a flag ... fly it proudly.

From "Home in New England's Blog!

 

Longaberger is hosting a Flag Day celebration at the Homestead today .... wish I were there too!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summertime Siteings ....

With summer quickly approaching I have found myself making my decor transformations.I have attached just a few pictures from the back yard ....

My flat backed post basket is ready for the summer Americana holidays .... even the patio lounger in the back ground has a fresh new cushion!

 

The patio table set for a luncheon with the ladies ....

My funny birds ....

A new summertime center piece on the patio table. My dear friend Tanya gave me this fun "Moses" style basket. I tucked in a lantern, some succulents with a little quilt tucked inside. 

And what is more summer the baseball!! I have tucked two of the 3 Angels ballplayer Gnomes in a pot along with my little baby peek a boo gnome ....

Last but not least the new Longaberger Wine and Cheese basket set with my cute Ant print basket caddy and a monster and steeling some watermelon.

Hope you enjoyed my touches of summer!