TAST and CQJP catch-up

This is Aunt Gladys's block.

It was at her house that the sisters met on Wednesdays to quilt. I started attending these meetings after my first daughter was born until I went back to work full time.

I love this picture of Gladys. I think she was about 16 years old. Just love the little plaid dress & scarf.

I added some pink to the blue flower on the linen. The trim is from one of the old linens. It's a commercially made lace but it's probably from the 1950s.  The embroidered flower is another one of Debra's contributions. I did a French knot on each point to straighten out the trim to its full effect. Then I did a fly stitch in between. Some of those buttons I got at an antique shop in Savannah last week. 

A little more detail. I love the way those tiny white beads look on the seam treatment. Wonder what I should do on the other side? 

Here's something interesting I spotted in Savannah. This window had a crocheted circular window treatment.  Pretty neat.

If you'd like to peruse the photos from our trip, you can find them here.

I can back to quite a but of turmoil but things have settled down a bit, and I refused to let it ruin my time off although I'm having an especially hard time getting back into the groove. Only two more days to go, however. 

Added: Here is a shot of the cute things I found at the antique shop in Savannah. All of this was about $10.00.  There are some really interesting old buttons in there.

Gone Fishin'

Well, not really, just a brief hiatus down in Savannah. But, we're near water and sometimes do see dolphins jumping about.

So I'll post when I return, or maybe down there if one of the daughters brings her laptop (HA. as if they could be without it). My camera is packed.

I've got my stitching packed and I hope I can get a lot done in the evenings.

The weather looks good; it's very chilly here this morning, and overcast.

I was checking out the CQJP blog for inspiration and found Plays With Needles, the blog of Susan Elliot. My goodness, what a skilled stitcher she is! I could look at her work all day long. What an inspiration.

Looking at her photostream on Flickr, I thought: what a great idea, a quilt based on your favorite movies or books. She is a genius.

Happy stitching, everyone!

It's Quarter Past Two, Why Am I Awake?

We are leaving for Savannah at 9 am. Why am I awake?

I've been busy: I made pimento cheese for lunch on the way down; I have dishes washing. Of course, I have been internet surfing. I would upload some photos but my camera is all packed up. And since I've been awake for about an hour so naturally, I'M HUNGRY.

Last night (a few short hours ago) my daughter brought me a pair of jeans and asked me to cut them off and make her some capris. Which I did. I took out the fabric Deb sent me for pillowcases and got it ready to sew when I get back from vacation.

I am not even packed; in fact, I have clothes in the washer that I will need to dry before leaving in about 6 hours.

And I am driving all the way down. It's not a long drive (about 4 hours) but my husband and I usually take a couple of hours each. However, last week, he took a fall at work and as a result, has a hairline fracture in one arm and a chipped bone in the other. He's also very sore and "stove up". So, he cannot drive for any length of time. I am hoping he will be recovered enough to enjoy our vacation which always involves a lot of walking.

We have been looking forward to this trip for awhile. We try to see one new thing every time we go to Savannah, our favorite place. This year we hope to see the
Mercer Williams House which might - unfortunately- be best known for the notorious murder which took place there and was the subject of John Berendt's book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. But it has a much richer history than that. For my birthday (on Wednesday) my daughter wants to take me on one of the many ghost tours.

Last night my older daughter said that a member of a friend's family is missing. He was visiting family in New Orleans and hasn't been heard from in several days. He was last seen at a bar, I believe she said, and when he left, was observed going int he opposite direction from his hotel. I don't know him at all but know the family so it's pretty disturbing. I hope he is okay.

I feel the sleep monster creeping upon me and I am getting flakey so I will try and doze until it's really time to get up.

Have a productive week while I'm away. :-) Meanwhile, look at these adorable Quilts for Little Girls at the Quilting Gallery.

Savannah is Calling Me

Skylark
Johnny Mercer (1909-2009), Hoagy Carmichael

Skylark,
have you anything to say to me?
Can you tell me where my love can be?
Is there a meadow in the mist,
where someone's waiting to be kissed.

Skylark,
have you seen a valley green with Spring
Where my heart can go a journeying
over the shadows and the rain
to a blossom-covered lane?

And in your lonely flight,
haven't your heard the music in the night
wonderful music
faint as a will o'the wisp,
crazy as a loon
sad as a gypsy seranading the moon

Oh, Skylark
I don't know if you can find these things
but my heart is riding on your wings
so, if you see them anywhere
won't you lead me there?