Back from CHICAGO!

Six days in Chicago! Fabulous!!!! Hubby and I spent the first few days doing the tourist thing - what fun! I'd never been there before so I took every little thing in. We did the architectural boat tour, lots of bus tours, saw a play (The Last Ship written by Sting), saw the bean, the Crown Fountain, etc.

Here's hubby photographing the skyline from Navy Pier.

Then it was on to the Chicago Quilt Festival! This was the line waiting to get in - whoa baby! Lots of quilters!

I have tons of photos and stories to share over the next several days - stay tuned...

But for now I leave you with a photo of our dining room table after I unpacked my quilty stuff last night.

I have a LOT of putting away to do today! Oh, and look what that is in the lower right corner of the photograph! The manuscript for my book, MORE Quick and Easy Hexie Quilts, arrived while I was gone! I have a week to go through it and make any needed changes. YIPPEE!!!

I'm All Packed Up!

Aren't they a cute group? Here are the bride and her bridesmaids. (Daughter 2 is second from the right). I had such a fun time watching them get ready for the wedding. Then back home Saturday night. Took Daughter 2 to her airport shuttle Sunday morning so she could head back to Minnesota for the rest of the summer.

Now I'm shifting gears - all packed for CHICAGO! I'll be teaching at the Chicago International Quilt Festival at the end of the week - 3 Make It University classes and 1 Open Studios. Hubby's coming along and we're spending a few days sightseeing before the quilt show.

Daughter 1 and SIL are moving into our house for the week to water plants and feed the dogs and cat. Thank you to them!!!

This time tomorrow night we'll be attending a play: The Last Ship, written by Sting and inspired by his childhood. He sang the title song on the Tony Awards recently. The play will be moving to Broadway next year.

Should be a fun week!!!

I have reviewed a book (historical fiction) that has lots of quilting in it - check it out here!

PILE of Orange and Blue Fabric

Look at my pile of loot! I got this yesterday at my Birthday Block quilting group. We meet once a month for a lovely lunch and the "birthday girl" gets a requested block from each member, OR some fabric of her choice. I asked for orange and blue fabric for a quilt I have in progress. I got so much fabric that I'll be making a couple of more orange and blue quilts, I know! Great friends!

Now my birthday is not actually for another month - just so you know.... but, I was happy to celebrate it early. My birthday cake was a yummy Hummingbird Cake - oh, so good!

I leave tomorrow for the lake to host a big group of girls: a bride and her bridesmaids (one of whom is Daughter 2, who is flying home from Minnesota for the weekend). Hubby and dogs have been banned - we're making it girls only. The hair and makeup will be flying while they all get ready for the wedding Saturday. Yes, I'll take some hexies along!

I managed to fit in a hair appointment (much needed!) today. I'll be ready for Chicago next week - can't wait!

You've Got to be KITTING Me!

Kit, kits, and MORE KITS! I made 50 kits as seen above, with 7 precut circles of fabric, a needle, and a bobbin of thread. These will be for my two classes of Hexie Mug Rugs in Chicago next week. I've made 25 kits for my Hand Quilting with Perle Cotton class. Will you be there? Come by and say hello!

This afternoon it hit me that I need to prepare for my Open Studios: Funky Little Art Quilts. Need to get that stuff ready!

Tomorrow I'm driving down to Andalusia, AL to speak to the Covington County Quilt Guild. (I finished my slide presentation this morning.) Then back to Auburn Wednesday for a luncheon with my quilty friends. Friday Daughter 2 is flying home from Minnesota for a quick trip to be in a friend's wedding. I'm hosting 8 young women (including the bride) at the lake Friday night and Saturday. It will be fun watching them all get wedding ready!

Then Chicago next week!!!

And then I'll slow down.....

Mickey enjoys going out on a sunny day and rolling in the warm grass. But after about 5 minutes, he's ready to head back inside to the air conditioning!

Making Kits and a RECIPE!

I started kitting up all the bits and bobbles I've been gathering for teaching in Chicago. This particular kit is for my Hand Quilting with Perle Cotton class. Every student will receive a Pepper Cory Big Stitch needle, a ball of Presencia Perle Cotton in a beautiful variegated pink, AND a sample of Tiger Tape.

I've also made a small quilt sandwich for ever student. What fun!

And now for my new favorite recipe! Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce! This is from Martha Stewart and you can find the recipe here.

There's a simple yummy concoction of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, a bit of brown sugar, and some seasoning. Pour it over some cherry tomatoes and garlic.

After slow roasting for an hour it comes out like this, all dark and juicy and caramelized!

I had it over some spaghetti squash because we still doing the lowcarb thing around here. A bit of Parmesan sprinkled on top. OH SO GOOD! I think I'll have the leftovers for lunch and dinner today. It's that good!

I finished reading this yesterday. I really enjoyed it - the movie comes out this weekend.

My New Funky Shoes

I had a fun shopping day Saturday with Daughter 1 - we went to Columbus, GA, which is only about 30 minutes from here. While she was getting her hair cut, I went in a cute little bead shop. They also have gift items, accessories, and all sorts of things. And SHOES! Bernie Mev. shoes. Yes, there's a period after the MEV.

At first I thought they were a bit strange. They are made from a woven elastic-y substance. But I tried one on see how it felt. As soon as I got one on my bad foot (still recovering from all the torn ligaments from my fall several months ago) I KNEW I was going home with them.

Since my injury, I cannot wear most of my shoes. Bummer. I keep hanging on to them in hopes they'll feel good again, but I'm not that optimistic. But these Bernie Mev. shoes are amazingly comfy! The sales person told me that people with foot issues (including bunions) love them.

They are available in tons of colors and styles. I have a feeling I'll be getting more.

It will be a busy day today! I'm still working on kits for Chicago in a few weeks. And I'm determined to  start working on a slide show using Power Point. I've been putting it off too long. I've also been putting off unloading the dishwasher. Better add that to my list.

Welcome to my ZOO!

Here's a peep into my life. Feeding the doxies.

Watching Cooper sleep under the big ottoman.

Then it's upstairs to feed/play with/scoop litter with Leo. Oh Leo, what long whiskers you have!

Then outside to check on the baby blue birds - I think they're hungry!

Here are the two client quilts I made for a lake house, matching but different for a pair of twin beds.

I've been a busy bee getting ready for Chicago in a couple of weeks. Hubby and I are turning my teaching gig into a mini vacation. We've lined up house/animal sitters who will be staying at our house while we're gone (Daughter 1 and SIL!) They'll have their hands full with all these mouths to feed!

And before I go to Chicago, I have a speaking engagement in south Alabama - I'd better start getting ready for that!

I've posted the June Hexie BOM over on my other blog!