Last week I was fortunate to spend time in Huntsville, Alabama, with my Aunt Bertha.  We always have a wonderful time, and it never ceases to amaze me how much we are alike…the same food, the same TV programs, bird watching, and quilting!

And in case you need an intro to my aunt, here’s a photo from last year’s visit to Missouri Star Quilt Co, and of course that’s Jenny Doan on the right (another FUN time!):

Okay, back to this year!  My sewing time at retreat was mostly spent on this hugs and kisses quilt.  I completed the top, at last!

I love two-color quilts, but I have to confess, this was really boring to work on!  Next, I pulled out a UFO that is several years old…Four Patch Posies (a four-patch stack & whack).  I finished the framed blocks, and completed one row with the sashings.  This quilt is well on its way to being a finished top:

Bertha has several birdhouses in a little garden/sitting area behind her home, and the birds were so cooperative!  My favorite had to be the mom and dad bluebirds that were kept busy bring food to the babies:

My dear aunt sent home a quart of fresh blueberries from the farmers’ market for my hubby, as she knows he loves them.  Last night I baked a blueberry cobbler that was to die for.

Recipe from the Pioneer Woman’s blog (I just substituted blueberries for the blackberries).

In other news, I brought home a new stray sewing machine that needed a good home:

A Bernina 950.  She sews beautifully, and will be very helpful in my handbag making.  And speaking of handbags, my next project will be to continue working on this Swoon bag, “Charlotte”:

I’ve been holding off on construction until I got ‘Nina to help me out!  Thanks for stopping by, and for more sewing/quilting fun, check out what people are doing on Judy Laquidara’s blog.

KNITTING:  I’m up to 34″ on my crazy stripes scarf (26″ to go…)

HANDBAGS:  I’m going to make the Swoon “Maisie” bag next.  It’s a smaller handbag with some interesting vinyl accents.  The cream in the upper left of the photo is the vinyl I plan to use.

WOOL:  I’m working on a pattern called “The Great Pumpkin” by Becky Delsman, published in Primitive Quilts in 2012.  I like that it is an off-white pumpkin.  I am ready to blanket-stitch the crow.  Then there are a bunch of berries and vines that overlay the pumpkin.

QUILTING:  I have about half of this top pieced into rows.  It is sort of a modified hugs & kisses (or Xs and Os).

OTHER SEWING:  I was in need of a quick baby quilt pattern, and I saw this video by Jenny Doan for Shannon Fabrics just in time!  It uses Minky type fabric, and you are talking about minutes of time invested, rather than days.  And they are so cute!  This one is 30″ x 30″, just right for a little drag-around cuddle quilt for a special little girl.  So soft and snuggly…

That’s it for now.  Linking to Judy’s Patchwork Times.

–Sue

It’s been a busy time since I last reported in.

PURSES/BAGS:

I wanted to make a carry-on bag for a trip I took this month.  I decided to make Swoon’s Blanche in the large size.  It wasn’t too hard to do if you just take the directions a slow step at a time.  I love the bag, but it was too small for the amount of cameras and other “stuff” I like to have at my disposal.  I do plan to remake the short handles to make them a little beefier.

The tweedy looking fabric is Essex Linen (love it!), along with a map fabric and a crocodile print.

KNITTING:  Also on my trip, I started knitting a scarf.  The pattern is Crazy Wool Stripe Scarf, a free pattern offered by the Twisted Loop yarn shop.

No progress on my Cane Bay wrap.

TRAVEL:  Italy!!!  I was so fortunate to be able to go on a 10-day group tour in April (actually, I just got back *yawn*).  We landed in Milan and spent a short time there.  From there we went to Turin (or Torino, if you’re Italian), and then on to Alba.  This photo was taken in the the hills of the Langhe region, a rich agricultural area that is considered to be Italy’s garden.  In the distance are the Swiss Alps.

And for a totally different flavor, I’ll jump ahead several days to Rome, where the Colliseum and the Arch of Constantine were within easy walking distance of our hotel.