Catching Up Once Again
I’m catching up once again, after being gone for a long weekend visiting my cousin and his wife in Chicago. It was good to stay with them and spend time chatting and laughing. I am now past the 6-week mark post-surgery, and I am feeling really good. I’m even in the mood for some sewing – more on that in a bit.
Since I’m catching up once again, this post will link up with Texas Quilt Gal for her To Do Tuesday linky party, and with LeeAnna over at Not Afraid of Color for I LIke Thursday. So you get a two-fer today – a little peek at some Thursday thoughts and an update of where I am on my to do list.
Let’s start with a few pretty views along our drive to Chicago. Rather than buzz down the freeway, we decided to drive along the river and bluffs. It was perfect traveling weather (last Saturday) and we took our time and enjoyed ourselves. Here’s our stop at Reno Bottoms on the Mississippi River. This is a favorite birding spot for BigJ and Molly during the winter months, but it looks completely different in the summer – so green and lush!
A little further along, we stopped at the top of a bluff in Iowa to admire the beautiful views. You could see for miles!
Those were all the photos I took. I just enjoyed the ride and my husband’s company. We did stop at a quilt shop, and I didn’t even think to take pictures. I did pick up some magazines and a quilt pattern, which has become a DrEAMi project (Drop Everything and Make It). I haven’t had one of those in a long time, and I’m having fun. Will I get it done for June’s DrEAMi linky? I doubt it, but you never know! Here’s Sandra’s original post, in case you have no idea what I’m talking about – just click here – maybe you’ll want to join in! Here’s a little peek of my progress:
Yes, that’s a lemur, not a squirrel. I might have initially thought it was a raccoon, but I digress. Anyway, the fabrics are from my stash, and I’m curious to see if this will turn out okay with that brown background. More coming soon!
In my last To Do Tuesday post, I had planned to work on some challenge projects.
- Keep working on the challenge quilt for the Endeavourers – Progress!
- Plan the improv piece for the next Quilt Improv Studio challenge – Playing with fabric!
I’ve made just a little progress on the art quilt challenge for The Endeavourers group. Here’s a peek:
Exciting, huh? That’s all I have done, and that’s all I can tell you. It’s due on August 1st, so you’ll have to just sit on pins and needles, waiting to see what I’m up to – haha!
Quilt Improv Studio has set the rules for the next improv challenge. The theme in Pop Art, so I’m pulling out the bright fabrics in my stash. Here’s a few I pulled today – these may or may not end up in the challenge piece. I do know that bright neon pink will definitely be in the quilt.
I still need to mine my stash for a few more fabrics. Once I’ve decided on them, I’ll post them.
The Weekly Wilbs
Some of you wanted to know if Wilbs liked his fish made with the purple feather fabric from my last challenge. This is right after I gave it to him. I think he likes it – must be the catnip!
Thanks for hanging with me as I’m catching up once again! I hope you find joy along the way this week as you stitch away!
Wendy
Thursday Thoughts
23 Comments
Stitchin at Home
Looks like Wilbs likes his fish! Nice bright fabrics for your pop art piece!
texasquiltgal
Love your fabric pull for your Pop Art theme, and that lemur print is so cute! Glad you had a nice getaway and are feeling so much better. Life is good indeed. Wilbs enjoying his fish is a good start to my day. 🙂
Thanks for sharing with us at To Do Tuesday!
Helen
It sounds like a lovely peaceful trip.
That black and white one… Wow! That’s going to be amazing to see!
Cocoa Quilts
Great to get in a little road trip with all the spring lushness!! A little shopping and visiting family is always a bonus.
Vicki in MN
Which quilt shop did you visit? Your black and white looks like a wonky log cabin style. You must use the mod flowers fabric in your next Improv project, so cool, reminds me of the 70’s! Yes I would say Wilbs loves his new toy:)
Barbara J Stanbro
Well, I like that black and white. It looks fun and interesting. I like your lemur blocks too.
The Joyful Quilter
Gorgeous photos from your trip, Wendy! Thanks for mentioning the next challenge. I’ll have to got take a look at the requirements. LOVE your fabric pull for it!!
karenfae
I love looking through big cities but not if it is really hot. I do like the shore line area of Chicago as i used to go there once in awhile many years ago when I lived in Milwaukee for a short while – I loved living there! Glad you are feeling better now and that you are healed from the surgery
lapaylor
we spent a summer in Chicago area for dh’s work, a few years ago and I had the best time! LOTS of good craft stores including a DickBlick. I sure like that black and white… now I want to pull out my black and white…
Diann@LittlePenguinQuilts
Oh, cute photo of Wilbs! Sounds like a lovely trip, too. My mom and dad are both from Iowa, and on our last trip there about 15 years ago, I realized I had forgotten how beautiful it is there. Fun seeing bits of your current projects and fabric pulls! I thought that was a raccoon, too… Fun fabric!
Colette
Great fabric pull. Chicago sounds like a good time, and where you stopped near the Mississippi looks awesome. I have yet to stop near it while traveling. Good to see Wilbs having a good time.
Laura
So happy that you were able to take a road trip and visit with family! Hubby and I also like to take back roads and enjoy God’s handiwork! Love the photo of Wilbs playing! 🙂
Tracie
Great trip photos and I like your Dreami fabrics. I definitely want to see more!
Sandra Walker
How nice to get away for a bit, and to hear that you’re feeling so much better! The sewing projects (YAY for a DrEAMi!) look like such fun, as does Wilbs with his fish. 🙂
rl2b2017
HAHAHA! Yes, I think Wilbs liked the fish, perhaps because of the catnip. heehee Sneak peeks of upcoming projects including a DrEAMi lemur, and hot pink fabric . . . it sounds like you are feeling pretty darn nifty. Enjoying the ride – that’s what we all need to do. So glad you did and got to enjoy your cousin. {{Hugs}} ~smile~ Roseanne
Sally
Wilbur made me laugh! Looks like a great trip. I like your blocks and pretty fabric.
The Morning Latte
Ah ha ha! Love the look in Wilb’s eyes! Tasha used to have that look when she was young–I called it her psycho look. I love to see you getting back at it! And lemurs! Too cute, and great colors too.
Jocelyn Thurston
I always enjoy seeing photos of your beautiful country, sometimes so diverse from state to state. I’ve driven the I-95 from Canada to Florida a couple of times and it was fascinating to me. Anyway, great that you are feeling well and ready for the quilting! Pretty fabrics you’ve played with and we all will enjoy seeing what you create.
Mariss Stevens
What a lovely, cheerful post full of new things and ideas. That set of bright fabrics is fantastic. I think you should use all of them!
Carol Andrews
Such a fun post, Wendy, filled with fabric, scenery and sweet Wilbs with his toy. So glad you are feeling so much better now.
Sue Hoover
Welcome home! Glad you had such a nice trip, both traveling and visiting. I’m very curious about the DrEAMI project. Looking forward to seeing what it becomes!
Quilting is in my Blood
That photo of Wilbs with his fish toy is adorable. I love the black and white project, and I can’t wait to see how your DREAMI project progresses.
Kathleen McCormick
Glad to see you are sewing and enjoyed the trip with Big J. It is so nice to be able to take the time to look at the scenery along the way. Love what I see of all your projects, the dREAMi!, the pop art and the Endeavor challenge. Lots of fun to be had in your sewing room. Love Wilbs and the fish…his eyes do look a bit catnipped!