A Little Progress

I have not gotten much accomplished today, but I did get some done on this baby quilt. The fabric is from the Chocolate Lollipop collection by Anna Maria Horner.
As usual, I think I'll like the back better than the front
I've given in and ordered some more fabric --from Z & S Fabrics-- because I just couldn't resist.
I bought in half yards, which I will no doubt regret, sampling from Joel Dewberry, Tina Givens, and Denise Schmidt's Katie Jump Rope line. Sometimes I worry about my inability to stay strong where fabrics and books are concerned; I give in to temptation way too easily.

This is what I need to order:

I don't think of myself as a terribly materialistic person. Until I succumb to the urge to own more books and more fabric. Thank goodness for libraries. They do help solve my problem because with books it is not the acquisition for the sake of ownership; I just want to read them. Fabric is another story. You cannot borrow and return fabric.

Anyway, back to Unplug the Christmas Tree. I find Christmas more and more a matter of money and material goods. Commercialism and advertising pressure. Stress. And most of the people I talk to seem to feel the same. (I do want to point out that I have not brought this up in conversation AT ALL this year because I'm still trying to become complaint-free. But I have been around several times when the topic was discussed, and may have slipped up by agreeing whole-heartedly with someone else's complaint.)

However, since all of the above listed items involving pressure, stress, and materialism do bother me and one of "solutions" to the need to complain is to find a solution to the problem. In other words, it isn't a complaint if you add "and this is what I'm going to do about it." So I've been looking for practical ways to avoid the stress that sometimes ruins much of the Christmas Season and Unplug the Christmas Tree may offer some good ideas for relaxing and enjoying and for taking time for the spiritual aspects of the season.

I've found some other things that have helped relief my pre-Christmas stress, but I'm off to bed now, maybe I'll remember them tomorrow.

Of Mice and Men

O.K. -- I failed in my attempt to post every day in November. Yesterday, I just took a day off. Although I didn't meet the challenge of posting every day, I did post ALMOST every day, and I'm satisfied with that.

On Monday night, after Fee went to bed, I saw a mouse in the kitchen. In all the years we have lived in this house, we have never had mice inside the house. In the attic, we've had rodent trouble before, but not inside the house. I left a note for Fee. He left early the next morning to go to south Louisiana, but he did respond to the note!I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. But if anyone wants a mouse please let me know, my instructions are to give the mice away. Now Fee is out of town, and I'm alone with the mouse/mice. I have not seen the mouse again, but I know he's there lurking.

Yesterday morning I went to the doctor. About the failure to take the thyroid meds, he just looked at me intently and said, "You know that was a mistake, don't you?" Oh, yes, I know. Really, I do. I'm still recovering from that mistake.

He gave me a prescription for some sinus medicine and some Lyrica for my neck pain. Some days I am literally "a pain in the neck." The Lyrica is for nerve pain and has given me more range of motion in my neck and has reduced the pain considerably.

After the doctor, I dropped of the prescriptions at the pharmacy, then went out to see Laddie. He was doing well. This is a great relief. We've had two weeks of a calm, sweet temperament. We looked at a National Geographic book and talked about the pictures. As well as possible. He didn't protest when I left after about an hour, just kept looking at the pictures.

Went by and picked up the prescriptions, then home about 1:00. Took the Lyrica and the sinus med, read for a little while. Then slept from about 1:30-4:30. Both medications can cause drowsiness. Oh, yes, believe it. I generally sleep no more than 6-7 hours a night and sometimes less. Now, I sleep all the time. Bah!

I did piece the back of the quilt and laid it out with the batting last night. Now, I just need to put the top on and pin it.

Amelia called yesterday to tell me about her doctor's appt. The baby has dropped and other indications led the doctor to say the baby may be here in two weeks. That would be wonderful as then they could be home for Christmas instead of in the hospital on Christmas Eve, which is her due date. So the baby quilt is now a priority.

Have you been keeping up with Sew, Mama, Sew? I check in every day. The only thing I've actually made was the lunch bag, but there are links to such great tutorials for such a wide range of things. If you haven't been there, click that link!

Oops!

As soon as the pharmacy opened this morning, I was there to pick up my thyroid medicine, which I'd forgotten to pick up on Wed. and which I'd been doing without, not even realizing it--because I put all my pills and vitamins in a M-F two week container and just swallow them down in the morning without paying much attention. And there has been a lot going on, what with Thanksgiving and all. Things were really a bit out-of-focus.
Hard to believe that I became that exhausted over a 3-4 day period without them, but I did feel better this afternoon. I even managed to get on with some things; although still very tired, knowing what was causing the problem helped. Duh! Of course, I'd already called the doctor and made an appointment for tomorrow, but suspect that failing to take meds was the problem.

Worked on a couple of projects this afternoon. I'm ready to do the back of the latest baby quilt. Looking at these fabrics for the back. Also worked on putting some of my blocks together for the Lazy Gal's Winter Class. The idea of doing the rest of the quote in embroidery is looking dimmer by the minute. I'll be lucky to get the thing pieced together at all. And it needs something else...

Sunday

I have not been feeling too well. Have slept most of the day. It was cold and rainy outside, so while awake, I was grateful that I could stay in, cuddle up in my reading chair with Mac, and read and sleep.

The blue doll trunk is one I bought at a flea market years ago. Mila calls it the treasure chest. The treasure? Her mother's and her Aunt Mimi's old Barbie dolls. Max thought the amputee Ken doll was OK.

Another Post

I'm posting. I'm posting. Tired, but posting. Who knew how difficult it would be to post every day for a month? Not me. :)

The kids left today. Back to Baton Rouge in the cold and rain. A more difficult trip than usual (as, of course, was the trip up here) because of the well that blew out and caught fire, closing I-10 from B.R. to Lafayette. That 55 mile-long stretch over the Atchafalaya Basin (picture shows a segment of this highway; the Atchafalaya Basin is America's largest river basin swamp) has been closed since November 15 and will be closed until at least Dec. 4th. Alternate routes are few and terribly congested. What a mess.

I can't get my pictures to load to Picasa.

No sewing here for the last 4 days. Maybe tomorrow.

Want to know how to make a reindeer pop-up card? Here's the link.

The Day After

Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving!

A lovely Thanksgiving day here. Friends, Family, Food. Fire - big bonfire down in the country in the afternoon. Marshmallows on sticks. And in the dirt. Despite Uncle Chris's good intentions, as many ended up covered with dried grass and dirt...and well charred, as actually made it to the mouth. Treks through the woods and up to the cabin-in-progress, and lots of dirt (always with a toddler and a big girl of 4).

I've never been shopping on Black Friday and don't intend to begin that particular obsession now. Stores opened as early as 4:00 A.M., so by now many shoppers have made great headway in their Christmas shopping, filled their bags, emptied their pockets, and headed on to the next stores on their list.

The crowds have always been too much for me, but the parking can also be a problem when it seems the whole world is shopping at once. In our city, stretched mostly north and south along the river, there are only two main traffic arteries; this detail makes for some serious problems with traffic flow at the best of times. Add the trains that criss cross every route and the construction and delays (often lengthy) are inevitable. Add Black Friday, and running to the corner store for a carton of milk is an ordeal or an adventure, depending on how you look at it. The shopping phenomenon fascinates me, but only from a distance.

Discovered this list of 10 Fun Things To Do Instead of Shopping at Keri's (via Artsy Mama). Loving lists as I do, the compulsion to post it must be obeyed, even though I never have a shortage of things to do on the Day After. On this one, I will be entertaining (or entertained by) Mila and Max. Who are currently sound asleep.

Make some flowers.

Happy Thanksgiving

to all and sundry. I'm quickly making a post to be sure that I don't skip a day of posting; still an unofficial participant in NaBloPoMo. No prizes in store since I never registered.

Also still unofficially involved with the Complain-Free Challenge which, I must admit, is having a profound effect on my attitude. For the better, of course.

One more casserole waiting to come out of the oven. Then to The Cottage for a Thanksgiving meal with my brothers and Laddie. Then down to Raft Bayou and more food with kids and grandkids.

Giving thanks for:

a lovely, sunny day
friends & family (again and always)
36 years with Fee
the pleasure of seeing my grandchildren

Found this over at Angry Chicken:

Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful. —Buddha

WIP and Giving Thanks

Busy week from start to finish. I've already been back to the grocery store because Fee preferred the white chocolate bread pudding to my suggested dessert offerings; however, I went early and was home by 8:00 A.M.--thus missing the chaos that ensues on the day before a holiday. Hope that was the last trip!

I have a crock pot chicken dish in the works and a bean soup for Amelia. She is trying to get some dishes frozen for post-delivery, so I'm trying some new recipes to freeze (the chicken), and making the bean soup because it is her favorite.

Erin and her gang are expected tonight so I have several chores and errands in that regard. We were hoping to have Thanksgiving at the Raft Bayou cabin, but as with all construction projects, this one keeps its own schedule. Marty, Stephen, and I will have lunch with Laddie at the cottage (too many people agitate him)--extended family dinners will be later.

Here are some current WIP projects - just three, but the three I'm currently spending time on. When I have time... Might as well put them away for a couple of days.



Giving Thanks for:

family and friends
good food
good health
good books
changing seasons and holidays
the internet and all that it offers

enough for now...an endless list

To Do

Are you a list maker? I am. Too many. Rarely followed. But when I can mark something off the list, I have such a sense of satisfaction. Some items appear on list after list because I refuse to do them. You know I love "how to" lists and post them frequently. I am not only a list-maker, but I am a list-reader.

Sooo...what do your lists reveal about you? How many different kinds of lists do you make? Not just "to do," but lists of pros and cons, goals, chores, gratitude lists, how to lists, etc. Lists you make, lists you love to read?

Sasha Cagen has a magazine, a book, and a blog -- all about lists. Check out Marge and Mary's Thanksgiving list and Eight Surprising To-Do List Facts, especially number four which is my secretly satisfying habit.

Now I must return to some of the items on one of my current lists!

But first, while I am procrastinating, I discovered this great Procrastination Flow Chart.

And this list that I've been saving for you:
25 Ways to Pamper Your Body and Increase Vitality.

Two More Tag Blankets

completed. Fast and easy.

I have a tendency to let things pile up until they overwhelm me, and then I shut down. Knowing this predilection doesn't usually do me much good; although sometimes, I'm able to persuade myself to go ahead and get started on something, anything. If I can just get started, my confidence improves.

There are the projects I want to do, those that are already started, chores/activities that need to be done, and those that must be done. Procrastination and refusal to prioritize keep anything from happening.

Yesterday, very few projects or chores were accomplished.

Today, Christine Kane posted some Solutions for Procrastinators. They are nothing new, really, just timely, and sometimes that is all we need. So here is hoping for a more productive day.

This and That, Again

I got a little, very little, sewing done today, but I did manage to settle into some reading . My reading has been neglected lately; I have several books started, but have allowed them to languish, neglected and unfinished. Posting on my book blog is difficult when I don't read. Finished Ghostwalk by Rebecca Stott; unfortunately, it took me forever because, although a lot of people loved it, I did not. Still I kept on ...hoping that it would grow on me. The author of a new biography of Shel Silverstein sent me a review copy of her book, A Boy Named Shel. I am looking forward to this one-- Silverstein was a household favorite when the kids were growing up and a fascinating character to boot!
Yes, I'm still struggling to post every day. The first two weeks were so easy, but I'm back in the "whatever can I write about" stage.

Do you recognize Shakespeare in this sketch?

Not Much Sewing

Very little sewing done in the last two days. Friday, Amelia and I went to Deck the Walls, which was a disappointment; had lunch; then went to Les Boutique de Noel, which was a lot of fun. We spent a lot of time looking and talking to friends; we each bought a few things I got a long, sleeveless sweater with a shawl neck from Medina's that I just love. Medina's has the cutest clothes, and two of Amelia's friends were manning the booth so there was a lot of chit-chat going on. In another booth was a college friend of mine and her lovely daughter (we watched Jill & Ivy grow up), so that was fun, too. Then to JoAnn's where we each got some crafty or quilty things. By the time I dropped Amelia off and got home it was around 5:00, and I was pooped.

Today, several places with Robin and Katie looking at stuff for the cabin before heading down there to see the roof which went on this week. Food, discussion, decisions, measurements. Food.

Tomorrow, I'm staying home and sewing. I think.

I'm still trying to post every day, but this coming week is going to be difficult.

Lists, Cats, and Shopping

I love lists like these: The Natural Way to Clean Everything in Your House. Of course, I never know where the list is when I need it, but reading them gives me some kind of deep satisfaction.

melia and I are having another lunch and shopping expedition today. There are a couple of Christmas shopping events downtown:

Les Boutiques des Noel, selected merchants display their wares for an early shopping frenzy that raises funds for the Shreveport Opera Guild.

and

Deck the Halls at Art Space offers gifts created by local artists. The director of Art Space is William Joyce, the illustrator and author of children's books and animated movies (Meet the Robinsons, Robots,and Rolie Polie Olie).

Our original plan was to go to Joann's to use our coupons and see what crafty items were available, but I imagine that will have to wait as the two annual events mentioned above will take so much time.

Too funny! The first few seconds are a little slow, but then....!

Aren't Post Titles a Chore?

Fee brought home this lovely (massive, great big) container of biscotti. How do I love biscotti, let me count the ways...until they are all gone! Good man!I'm working on so many projects at once that I have to make a list to make sure that none of them are neglected. Today, I'll make letters "B" and "E" for the Winter Class of liberated piecing and cut some more strips for the newest quilt with Anna Maria Horner's fabric. If those 2 things get done, whatever else happens will be fine.

No real arrangement for the Winter Class piece has yet emerged, but these are the blocks I've done so far, photographed on different backgrounds. Actually, I'm still not sure this one will go anywhere, but I'm learning about pieced letters anyway.
This is a picture of my hutch, located near the door to the patio. The hutch serves many purposes including holding whatever might be wanted when taking outside breaks. Yesterday's high was 84, but today is much cooler, and outside breaks will soon be a thing of the past. The point is to show you what it looks like when the area is clean. Clean? you might say--it looks pretty cluttered. But no, it is as uncluttered as it will ever be; yesterday, I cleared off 90% of what was stacked here and will be stacked here again. By the end of the day, hutch accumulation will have gotten underway. When it reaches a certain level of chaos, I'll post an update.

Yesterday, I relocated 5 books and 6 or 7 magazines (into neat stacks elsewhere: by my chair, by the bed, in the sewing room), put my note pads and "hard copy" journal in the drawer, put most pens, pencils, and highlighters in the white container (which is always there, but the pens are often just lying on top of books), cleaned up crumbs from the dog biscuits that are in the blue and white bowl, moved my sun glasses, overlooked the binoculars (dark object in left corner) because the birds and the butterflies are so active.

Real Beauty

Wow! The following video is really going to make you think. Not that we haven't all been aware of the media's barrage about the need for perfection or beauty, but seen like this and knowing how impressionable children are, it carries quite an impact. I found this via divine caroline and there is more about the Dove campaign here.

Since yesterday's trip to the post office was a no go --and I did know it was Veteran's Day, I just had the post office and the bank on yesterday's list of errands without thinking. Actually, I don't think another couple of stops were in the works yesterday anyway because I was pretty tired.

Today, however, saw the book off to Amy and the beads on their way to ACey. What I want to do tomorrow is...not leave the house. At all. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know there is something I have to do, but I haven't checked my calendar yet so whatever it is just kind of teases me.

Latest addition to the onesie sets. I will probably make a burp cloth to go with this one, too.
I've also made a little progress on the letters for the Winter Class. The invocation by Dame Julian of Norwich posted a month ago has stayed with me; the repetition, rhythm, and simplicity of the quote are calming. I had planned to use pieced letters for "All shall be well" and then move to embroidered letters for the rest of the quote. Unfortunately, relying on my faulty memory, I thought it was will (no, it is shall) and made a w and an i and will now have to make the appropriate s, h, and a and discard my i. All I had done was the first two words and one of those was wrong, nevertheless:

All shall
be well,
and all shall
be well,
and all manner
of thing
shall be well.

dame julian of norwich - 14th century - mystic

Or I may decide on something else entirely. The pieced letters appear to be more challenging for me than for some of the other participants, but if there is ever an hour straight to work on them, maybe I'll get in the flow. "All shall be well" as Dame Julian said. Whether I stick with this plan or move in another direction with-- maybe-- only one word. And a short one at that.

The refrigerator is clean, left overs disposed of, sheets changed, living room picked up, sewing room re-arranged again, laundry almost done, supper planned. Life is good.

It Is Still Monday...

About two weeks ago I found this video over at 37 Days, and it keeps resonating with me. I think it has really helped me in the Complaint-Free Challenge. Then I found the video on Annica's blog and listened again. Now the mantra seems truly incorporated into my brain.

Yesterday morning, Fee brought me two tables to substitute in my sewing room. I was delighted with both of them, but it turned the clean & organize session on its head, and I'm still doing some rethinking.

Yesterday afternoon, I joined Fee, Marty, & Robin down at Raft Bayou. Had long discussions on cabinets for the cabin, had hamburgers, baked beans, steamed broccoli, cheese and crawfish soup. When I got home it was pretty late, and I didn't much feel like finishing the sewing room.
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Oops! I started this post early this morning and then was gone most of the day. When I got home, I had some chores and sewing that have kept me busy. Then I remembered that I'd never finished this post. And after realizing that I've posted every day so far this month, even though I'm not officially involved with the National Blog Posting Month in which you are supposed to post something to your blog every day, I didn't want to break the roll.

So I'm finishing this post before the day is over, near 16 hours after beginning it.

We Interrupt This Program...

because when I read Tonya's tree tutorial this morning, I couldn't wait to try the blue and white tree combination and quickly decided that the regularly scheduled program of cleaning and organizing could wait a while. I have left-over trees from this quilt, but I wanted blue and white...

So, after looking through my blues, I decided to use this fabric that I've had for several years. It has never appealed that much to me for some reason, but I thought it would work well for these blocks. And I gave myself a break from the cleaning and organizing-- because I didn't sew at all yesterday. I've also gotten two reverse blocks done (blue trees, white background), except for the trunk section, but I have to move on for now. These trees are so quick and so much fun.

Back to the cleaning; I now have more fabric to fold and put away, but I'm a happier camper.

Sunday

I'm still working on the Complaint Free Challenge, but I'm not sure what day I'm on -- and that doesn't seem to matter any more. Realizing that I can observe and track my tendency to complain (read: indulge in whining and self-justification) has had a subtle, but positive effect already.

I was gone most of yesterday and didn't have a chance to do any sewing. I did, however, make a significant dent in the chaos of my sewing room late in the afternoon. What a disaster area! It had gotten to the point that the only choice was to straighten and clean in order to get on with my various projects. It is such a satisfying feeling to see most of my fabric folded and neatly stored, to be able to locate all my notions and tools that have been scattered about (now hopefully, they will not require a search to find where they are hiding), to have a clear space on my cutting table without just sweeping everything to the side; it isn't all done, but enough progress has been made to encourage me to continue.

Ideas are coming thick and fast. Notes about what to make and what to use and how to go about it are burgeoning; sometimes too much information and too many possibilities, but since deciding some time in October to try to do some sewing/felting/fiber stuff every day, no matter how little, most days have resulted in just that. It might be a half hour of hand quilting at night, or playing with the embellisher, or having fun with the baby items, but most days I've been able to work on something fiber related. Don't you think cleaning and organizing the sewing space is fiber related?

And so--because there is already not enough time to do all I want-- I subscribed to Fiber & Stitch a couple of weeks ago--which has provided more ideas, techniques, and possibilities. Then Tonya offered Lazy Gal Winter Class, and I just can't resist it either.

Yesterday's Labors

Finished the burp cloth and added a flower to the skirt. Another complete set. Yes, Amelia, this one is yours. Now, I'm going to work on something for Ren's baby. I have her quilt, but think some of these onesies and burp cloths will be a nice addition for tiny Chloe Elizabeth. Isn't that a lovely name?Tag blanket. I put some still plastic in two corners that crackles.

Links and Thanks

Places to visit:

Cotton Spice for tutorials on last minute gifts; I just found this one and spent a lot of time there.

Jude, of course, to see the progress on her marvelous story quilt.

Bernice Enyeart's Online Quilt Gallery (oh, my gosh!) what gorgeous quilts! Xanadu may be my favorite, but they are all so wonderful. Or maybe, Fred and the Birdbath. There is also an audio tour!

I won this Traveling Seamstress light pattern from Sew Mad the other day, and have (rudely, but not intentionally) failed to mention it in my posts. However, many thanks, to Katrin, the mad hatter!! I really do appreciate it and plan to make one soon.

On to cleaning house and doing laundry, a few errands, and PLAY.

Wednesday Was a Great Day

Fee left me a note wishing me a happy birthday, then Erin called with birthday wishes, and we spent quite a while getting caught up on everything. A great way to begin my day.

Just as I was about to leave to pick up Amelia (I was actually tossing items into the back seat so she'd have a place to sit), someone said my name and I almost knocked myself out when I jumped to find a delivery man from The Wooden Spoon delivering this basket of home baked goodies. Now, Marty and Robin have keen insight into my sweet tooth proclivities, and I can only be delighted and grateful!

After taking the goodies inside, I left to pick Amelia up, and we went for an early (and long, chatty) lunch before setting out on our shopping expedition. Oh, and Amelia gave me my birthday gifts! Love them! The necklace even went with what I was wearing, and I needed a compact mirror, but never expected one so pretty!I wish I'd had my camera, because we saw so many cute things, and even bought several things including a pair of tiny red Mary Janes that I fell in love with. It was so much fun and the echoes of "that's so cute" -- that one generally hears in shops with baby clothes -- issued from the two of us too many time to count. I'm so amazed at all of the baby conveniences now; some are mostly for show, but so many are such wonderful and clever ideas that I WISH had been available when Erin & Amelia were born. Cool stuff, useful stuff, silly stuff, clever stuff, and just plain cute stuff.

I got home around 5:00, rested for a short while and then when Fee came home, we went to Amelia' and Chris' house for dinner. Delicious! Steak, baked potato, salad, chocolate silk pie. Mmmm.

I spent a lot of time in the nursery admiring everything; Amelia is so crafty and has such creative ideas. Again, I wish I'd taken pictures.

I did manage to get a few pictures:

Here are the prospective parents.How about these two? Similarities??My baby girl grew up. Lady Carolina Belle loves attention. And she's heavy enough to make sure she gets plenty. Just bulldozes her way right in. This is a family of female divas. Poor Chris and L.J. are overwhelmed with feminine personalities. Even husky Carolina Belle is very girly, girly.I'm going to have a glass of wine!
It was just about a perfect day!

More Later

I have a nice, long post for later today, but it will have to wait as I have to make another run out to the Cottage.

How to Make Errands Fun

Yesterday was a busy, busy day. I had several errands to run and duties to perform so to reward myself, I made a list with places I wanted to go that were "on the way" or "on the way home."

It works like this: on the way to the first unpleasant, unimaginative, or mundane chore, you stop at a place you enjoy on the way. Depending on the time of day and time of year, it might be (for me) stopping at Counter Culture for a Humphrey (yogurt and fresh fruit, mmmm) or Papa's for their delicious sandwiches on heavenly bread. That sort of thing. Food, however, wasn't the reward yesterday.

Yesterday's route, planned with more efficiency than usual, took me first to Ladies-In-Waiting to pick their stylish brains and purchase a little dress Amelia had fallen in love with. Newborn size and waiting for its prospective owner to arrive, it is being monogrammed.

Next stop. Boring.

On to Material Girl, a local quilt shop that is having a going-out-of-business (slowly) sale. Fat quarters for $1.25-2.00 and one yard lengths and most notions at 40% off. Hands full of stuff I didn't really need, but couldn't afford to pass up (?) , I took my grinning self to the counter. Where, in that serendipitous the way of the world, a flyer for the Red River Quilters made its way into my bag.I must have had baby girls on the mind because I bought plenty of pink!
Next stop. Mundane.

Next stop. Duty and confusion.

Next stop. JoAnne's to pick up some elastic, some linen, some more rick rack, and to enjoy another browsing experience. And I met someone who reads my blog and who also belongs to the Red River Quilters, another serendipitous event. Hi, Jacquie!

Last stop. Mundane.

Then home, to admire my new purchases. It was 4:30 by this time. A full day of rewarding myself for doing what had to be done anyway. Heh!

The only sewing I did yesterday was this little skirt, which took no time at all. I had already done the the top.

Today: lunch and shopping with Amelia. A difficult life, but one must work with what one has. :)

funkey munkey skirt

Yesterday, Amelia asked if I could make a skirt to go with the little onesie top. Voila! How easy is that? In fact, what I really love about all of these baby projects : easy and quick. Oh, and they use so little material.

I'm working on some things that may be the Pay It Forward gifts I will be sending to Caron, Debby, and Myra. Remember that I'll need your snail mail addresses.

Caron is going to make a christening gown from her wedding dress. Won't that be a treasure to hand down from generation to generation? And she's preparing to start a Dear Jane quilt. Debby has been in New York for the summer, then there was trip to Hawaii, back home in time to survive the California wild fires with her car packed and ready to go. Myra is busy making inchies.

Anyone who has missed a chance to participate in the PIF challenge might visit these three ladies and get in the game.