Finally got these little things together to go to a friend's first grandchild. (don't know if it's a girl or boy - they won't tell!) ..but I fell in love with a little pack of fat quarters, probably broke most every rule in the quilter's world (I'm hiding from the quilt police now!!! but they all get mailed tomorrow). There is the crib quilt, a crib pad, the little cradle blankie and board book. Saw the hourglass pattern for blocks on some blog somewhere and the rest was just 'sew as I go'.....and kept sewing and sewing because I was obsessed and ended up using every scrap of those fat quarters!! Now I've promised hubby to LEAVE my machine put away and do some cleaning and garden work......oh dear. Not sure I can do this.......................

Well, I had planned on it! It was to be a nice break from nursing my DH, who had an eyelid and brow lift last week. His stitches came out Thursday morning. But just after midnight Friday a.m., a call from an ambulance - my son was found unconscious, next to his bicycle. So off to the trauma center. Son will be fine, but he has severe contusions to his left eye, chin, right hand, and left knee, as well as general bruising all over his chest. THANK GOD he was wearing his helmet! Friends riding a few minutes behind him found him and called 911. As he posted on his Facebook page (with a gory photo) "Face versus Pavement: Pavement ALWAYS wins." We were in the ER for about 8 hours, and then brought him home so we could watch for evidence of concussion. And cosset him, of course, LOL. So having been up for more than 24 hours, I took a nap!!

Aww thanks for the wishes! This is really a special group of people who became friends. My DD asked my today if she thought we would ever all meet and I told her that I thought we all probably would. We seem to be that type of group. What fun we would have! The town would not be same! NOW...DeeMarie's gifts were WONDERFUL and perfect! The first gift I opened was a BEAUTIFUL scarf that looks great with my black jacket. I wore it today. The next gift was a small red purse. I LOVE IT! Once again, DeeMarie you were right on. I would have picked out something like this for myself. The last gift I opened was two books about ITALY! Now I really need to go and visit. The photographs were gorgeous. Thank you DeeMaire...your gifts were great. I had a great birthday as I am entering my last year of the 40's. I was able to have all my children with me today. My DS came in from CA and my other DS came home from school and ofcourse DD was here too. I have not had all of my kids with me since I moved to Chicago. It was truely a memorable birthday. The SO is planning on buying me a brithday gift that will cover this birthday and next. We have been looking at very sparkley things...Has anyone ever been a Movado store?? They are well known for their watches but OH MY GOSH they have the most beautiful jewelry too. I really like jewelry that you don't see in every jewelry store. I like white gold or platinum and they have 18kt white gold. I was drooling..so we shall see what happens. So thank you again for your birthday wishes and words...BJ you have a way with words...thank you! Catch you all later and thank you! Gretchen

I'm excited to have found a longarmer just 15 minutes from my home and will be delivering two tops with backs to her on Saturday. Last week I picked up the first one she finished for me, and it's beautiful, so I hope to get the binding on this weekend. I'm naming it a Rose for Lauren. I'll post a pic as soon as I finish. I hope to continue on another scrap project, that I occasionally pick up. It's a small paper piece block, so I need lots and lots of blocks to make a quilt of any size, but I'm loving this old project if only to clean out scraps. The not so focused pic shows the first dozen and I have another doz or so finished....it's a long term project, but a relaxing one a few blocks at a time. Happy sewing everyone!