Best Wishes for the 4th of July

Fireworks #48
Fireworks #48

On Wikipedia, this holiday is described as “Independence Day, known colloquially as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States of America.

My wish is that people reflect on what it meant to write the Declaration of Independence. It did not mean, in my reading, tell lies and do whatever you want to get people to do your bidding.

Let’s be kind, work together, have robust but civil discussions and respect the choices of others.

Birthday Extravaganza pt.2

2024 Birthday Cake
2024 Birthday Cake

I spoke about my wonderful birthday gifts a few days ago. Gifts continued to arrive after I posted, so here we are again.

Julie wrote a post about our days out together. It was good to hang out. We always have good talks.

First, Amanda is responsible for my cake. Isn’t it cute? I asked my Mom for another Beatty Cake and she said she couldn’t make it for my birthday, but would make it for me another time. I was disappointed, but understand. I was, thus, super happy when Amanda’s card came and it was a cake. I have been enjoying it on my desk while I work all week.

Gifts from Allison
Gifts from Allison

I sent Allison a New Year’s card and she texted me one day, which turned into a wide ranging text discussion. A few days later a book and some fabric arrived. I had wanted the book, which she offered to me around the time of the last retreat, but I wasn’t expecting fabric. It is a half yard pack of fabric designed by my man, Phil (Philip Jacobs to you).

Philip Jacobs FQ pack
Philip Jacobs FQ pack

I have some of the prints, but don’t think I have others.

I have an idea for the black background print on the left.

I also don’t think I have the green on the right, so I will have to see about making something special with that. I love these Chrysanthemum prints and the new colors each year are great!

Handy Seam Guide
Handy Seam Guide

As I was tidying up the wrappings after the birthday breakfast excitement, another gift from Friend Julie fell out. It is a seam guide. I have a standard sewing version, which I never use. This one is designed by Carolyn Friedlander and specifically made for quiltmakers. She has a post about how to use it on her website. I have already started to study the post and think I will be able to use this version, especially in bagmaking.

My Dad got me a gift card and I can’t decide what to buy.

What a great birthday! Thanks, everyone. 😉

Birthday Extravaganza!

No, today is not my birthday. It was a few days ago. I am so thrilled that I have such nice friends and family. You would not believe the number of texts I received! Dozens! As an added bonus, I had fun AND I got a lot of nice gifts.

Thanks, everyone. You are awesome.

Gifts from DH
Gifts from DH

The first things I opened, at breakfast on my actual birthday, were gifts from DH.

As you can see, he doesn’t usually go for the quiltmaking supplies. He usually leaves that to me. I am not quite sure about the Peppermint Chocolate tea, but I’ll try it. I am a huge fan of Milka chocolate and that spread is A-MAZ-ING!!! The pin is a happy birthday pin and, yes, he got me a stocking hanger. We have more stockings than hangers and sometimes the stockings are too heavy for the hangers when there is more than one stocking on a a hanger. The hangers we have are from the Pottery Barn, but are old and no longer sold. I don’t know where he got this one, but it matches the others. I am super happy we will be able to spread out the stocking love.

2024 Gifts from Julie
2024 Gifts from Julie

Next up was Friend Julie. We haven’t been able to spend much time together lately, so she came up to hang out for my birthday and do quilty stuff.

She wiped out the progress on fabric usage I have made this year with the fabric. It is amazing , however, and I am super happy to get to use it. She always picks the perfect fabric for me. I already have an idea for it, so stay tuned.

She also got me some zipper pulls, which I can always use. I don’t have to use my fancy Split Ring Tweezer tool to put them on the zippers, because they come with a tiny baby lobster clip. There is also a lighted seam ripper, which I can’t wait to try, though I hope it is awhile before I have to use it. So many cool things! A bobbin boat, some buttons, some Tula Unicorn pins and some silicon dots for Sew Tites.  What a bonanza!

Gifts from Mom
Gifts from Mom

It was a Tula birthday as Mom got me some Tula thread. The Dragon’s Breath had been on my list for awhile and I am thrilled to finally be able to use it. Next to it is my great grandmother’s diary. Apparently there are some entries about me and my sister. I’ll have to take a look. It probably says what rotten little monster we are!

Gifts from May
Gifts from May

My sister-in-law also sent me some quiltmaking/bagmaking items. The mesh will come in handy. I’ll have to make her a bag with some of it.

I can’t wait to write a review of the books! I looked through the one on the right and it is fantastic. It is an updated version, sort of, of Around the Block**, which is one of my all time favorite books.

I received a few other gift cards and am expecting some other gifts, but if none of them come, I am super happy and feel very lucky.

 

 

 

**Obviously, you should shop at local quilt shops and small businesses. However, if you are too busy or can’t find what you need there, I use Amazon affiliate links and may be paid for your purchase of an item when you click on an item’s link in my post. There is no additional cost to you for clicking or purchasing items I recommend. I appreciate your clicks and purchases as it helps support this blog.

Celebrating Gratitude

Thanksgiving-thanks to http://emmastrend.com
Thanksgiving-thanks to http://emmastrend.com

As per usual, DH and I are hosting about 1,000 people today. Not really. Somewhere between 25-30. I am not really sure. The result is that I can’t play with fabric.

I hope that you are having a wonderful day and are feeling thankful for the good things in your life. I am very thankful for YOU fabulous readers. I appreciate you joining me on this journey.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Birthday, Grama

Portrait of GramaMy Grama has been on my mind lately. Today would have been her 98th birthday and I just wanted to celebrate her. She is one of the people I always saw doing needlework, so she influenced me greatly.

She mostly did crochet when I knew her. I have a small afghan in a chevron pattern that she made for me. It is super warm. She ran out of yarn. Being young, I didn’t understand about dye lots, so couldn’t understand why she didn’t just go get more yarn.

Grama's Birthday 2013
Grama’s Birthday 2013

After her second husband died in around 2004, I started spending a lot more time with her. I went down for a surprise party for her and someone snapped this photo. Her face conveys a lot about her personality.

Happy Birthday, Grama!

Happy Independence Day!!

For those of you who celebrate, Happy Independence Day! For those of you who do not celebrate, have a great day.

Happy 4th!
Happy 4th!

 

My wish, again, for this 4th is that we return to kindness, civility and working together to make a better future for our children. I have wished this before for various reasons. Post pandemic, I hope it will be easier to incorporate some of these traits into our lives as a society.