Going In Circles

 All last week

I was either running in circles,

 cutting circles,

or baking circles.

First,
I finally got a copy of the
 newest Quiltmania magazine, and

I decided to start part 2

of Di Ford's mystery quilt.

I spent a lot of time

 making piles of circles

to applique.

If you want round perfect circles,

there are multiple steps.
I do the steps,

but mine are far from perfect.

Close enough.

I loved Di's suggestion of marking the
individual 48 squares on the background fabric,
appliqueing the circles,
and then cutting the squares apart.

 Here's what part the second border looks like
with all those circles.

Other quilters, doing part 2,
have basted their circles in nice rows,
8 of each fabric in one neat row.
 Well,
this is what happens when

 you try to do this while
 watching  "The Voice".

****

I have one more week at home,
before I leave to 

spend the weekdays in Denver

caring for my newest grand baby for a few months.
There seems to be so many things I
need to do before I go.

One thing on the top of my list was

to invite my "Quilty Buddies"

over for a day of stitching,

and friendship.

Every celebration
needs cake and
I decided to bake something unforgettable.
I don't want them

 to forget me while I'm gone.

I made a three tiered polka dot cake.

If you google it, there are quite a few

sites that can give you detailed instructions.

Sorry my photos aren't
wonderful,
we were all giggling too much!

The best part is cutting into the cake,
and Tah Dah....

 perfect polka dots.

This was just too much fun.

 So my "going in circles" ended as a good thing.

Especially, when you are circling with people

 that you hold dear.

Until Next Time-

Send A Little Warmth

 I know many quilters have

already seen 

Victoria Findlay Wolfe's,

of Bumble Bean Inc., appeal and drive

 for quilts and blankets for those

who were affected by Hurricane Sandy.

I've donated to this group before.

It was easy.

And it made me feel like I was making

a difference in someone's life

with a token of warmth and friendship.

I'm sending this quilt.

54" X 72"

Yes, it is Halloween motif.

But I figure, some kiddo will think that it's fun.

It's was a pattern that was available from Maywood Fabrics

and the fabrics were designed by Bonnie Sullivan.

I made it in 2007 as a store sample and 

it's never been used.

It needed a home.

Check out the information HERE 

if you would like to contribute.

It's a small way to help.

Quilter's have such big hearts.

 Until Next Time-
 

I'm Draggin'

 Some people get jet lag.

I have party drag.

It's not a bad thing.

Just a tired thing.

We had a wedding reception 

for my daughter and her new husband

at our home.

They're the ones who live in Florida

It was a beautiful day.

Lots of helpers.

But lots of work.

I couldn't have done it alone.

Family and friends all pitched in.

When you invite your quilt friends to come

they are more than guests.

They are more than just quilt friends.

  They are life long friends.

 Thanks for all your hard work!

 Until Next Time-

A little Vino

 All of Running Man's family

is originally from Italy.

It's a beautiful place to visit.

Ancient History

Art

Natural Beauty

Exuberance

Delicious Food

and 

Spectacular wines.

My father in law shared stories of

when he was a kid, he would

stomp grapes for wine in the basement of 

their home.

 Of course, no one ever did that better than Lucy.

Over the weekend, we made our own wine, but

there wasn't any stomping involved.

With coordinated help from our friends,

we bottled,

corked,

 added our custom labels

and took home

bottles of

Montepuliciano
and
Viognier

 It was a fun new experience.

And now we have an excellent wine 

 to accompany an excellent meal

 with wonderful friends.

Cincin!

 Until Next Time

Caring About Each Other

My friends are all 

part of the sandwich generation.

We are the ones in the middle caring for

aging parents and children and grandchildren.

Sometimes those situations can be

extremely stressful and seemingly never ending.

Our dear friend, Liz, has been squeezed for

quite awhile.

It was time for friends to 

give her a "Quiltie Buddy" surprise.

Doing what we do best, we made her a quilt.
Just for her.
Just to tell her we care.

Everyone pitched in and contributed fabric and time.
Using Terrie Atchinson's pattern, Texas Two Step,
we stepped up and sewed,
stitching our thoughts and prayers into the quilt.

This is a wonderful pattern for a group to
do together.  We had so much fun
having a sew day.  We hoped we sent those good
times forward to Liz.

My machine quilter, Kathy H., added her touch too with
big whimsical feathers to make it cheerful.

Our super embroider, Becky, made a label
that says it all.

"

Forever Friends"

Just for you,
Liz.

Until Next Time-

Holiday Countdown, Friendship and Pie

Here we are, December.

The holidays are just around the corner.

The word FRIENDSHIP is a wonderful December word.

Spending time with girlfriends is an activity to cherish.

The Quilting Buddies met to celebrate the season

with fun, friendship, quilts and, of course, pie.

A couple of weeks ago while I was gone, our Pie Diva,

was Michelle.

She was ready to get us into the Thanksgiving spirit

with the classic Pumpkin Pie.

But her pie crust was anything but traditional.

The crust was flaky and tender.

Her secret...vodka.

Michelle is always on the cutting edge.

If you want to try it, check here.

I have tried this before and it's excellent.

Don't worry, the alcohol vaporizes in the oven!

Last night we met again. 

This time Lillie was our holiday hostess.

 

 She met us at the door ready with the holiday spirit

and the Diva apron.

It is so wonderful to have friends that are more like "sisters".

In our quest for pie knowledge and diversity, 

Lillie made a pie with all the right ingredients.

It was called Chocolate Velvet Butterscotch Pie.

It was delicious.

Yes, it's back to the treadmill today, but

it was so worth it last night.

Count FRIENDSHIP as an important word in December.

Share some time with the people who enrich your life

and, of course, will serve you PIE!

Until Next Time-

Gathering and Gabbing

Many of us don't entertain very much.

It seems like there isn't enough time to plan, 

find an evening when everyone's available

and then just gather and gab.

Quilter's have  special opportunities

to enjoy time together.

We've just planned it into our schedules.

 

My special quilt group,

The Quilting Buddies,

gather, gab and sew twice a month.

This year to tie things together we continue to

celebrate "the pie" and honor our

abilities to be a "Domestic Diva".

 

At our last meeting, Terrie, modeled the

Apron of Distinguished Diva.

She took the time to be prepared for her guests.

And served a delicious pie for dessert.

Terrie had heard that chocolate slows down the aging process, 

it may not be true,

but she didn't want any of us to take any chances.

Thank you, Terrie, 

for thinking of your friend's well-being.

You were a divine hostess.

Find some time to gather and gab with friends,

it will be a blessing to everyone.

Until Next Time-

Friends Plus Pie

Quilting Friends,

and Pie.

It can't get much better than that.

.

When my quilt group made the declaration 

that this is the 

"Year of the Pie",

we all were anxious to see what our next  hostess,

Norma, had planned.

It makes me smile when friends play

along and even

model the vintage apron so demurely.

Norma out did herself.

  How were we suppose to make a choice?

 There is something special 

about "girlfriends".

It takes a long time to grow wonderful friends.

I looked around the room tonight and there were my

friends, the women,

who reach for my hand and touch my heart.

And the Pie?

Needless to say,

there were no complaints.

Until Next Time-