What a week!

Busy and fun! Summer produce is in full swing here in Illinois and it doesn't wait for an "appropriate" time. Tammy and I canned spaghetti sauce this past week with her lovely fresh tomatoes and some of my overabundance of cucumbers became dill pickle sandwich slices. I had never made pickles before - I am so excited about these! Now I'm hoping the cukes keep producing because I'd love to do more of these. This week we'll be working on apples and grapes . . .

On Thursday Jamie & Preston arrived! They flew into St. Louis, spent that night with Amy at her apartment, then we picked them up on Friday morning and brought them to our home for the weekend. It was our first time to meet Preston and it was a fun and magical time.

Isn't he a cutie? We had so much fun!

Having an expanded household was certainly different though - when everyone was gone on Sunday evening Randy & I said whew! and we headed to the country for a camping night!

It was quite a hectic week - every free moment between canning and preparing for company I spent sewing for Preston. I almost made it! I finished the book gift after they arrived, while he was here sleeping. These are reversible baby bibs -

Doesn't every kid lug around a special pillow? (I'm thinking of you GG and your floppy!) Bright kid colors are so much fun. A one candle cupcake to celebrate Preston's first birthday on December 30th.

Every page on this "quiet book" has respositionable pieces. For instance, the bear's bow can be a bow tie or be moved to between the ears for a girly, momma bear look. The bird and cloud can be moved on the house page, as can the bumble bee and the worms. The front pocket can store the pieces - or something else.

Okay, this one was for Jamie -

I was pleased and relieved when she seemed to like it. (I struggle when I try to guess someone else's taste.) She did say this was her favorite picture of Preston, so that was a good guess!

So -- don't you agree, it was quite a week?! Catch you soon - J

Happy Birthday to George!

Today is someone special's birthday. George, my mother-in-law's special friend, is celebrating today so we took him a coconut pie I made for them. No, they didn't get the pretty placemat nor the wrought iron stand, just the pie!


And I did something for myself today! Isn't it funny how you get so used to something you overlook it? I picked up four Duncan Phyfe chairs at a yard sale several years ago to match a dining room set I have. My baby sister is now using the dining room set but these extra chairs (this one in my sewing room) are in use in various rooms throughout my house with the same dingy worn seats they had when I bought them! Today it just occurred to me it was time to do something about it . . .

Before and after. The fabric is pretter than it looks in the photo - it's a floral, with maybe a bit of an Asian-flair (?). I love the rosey color and it has a gorgeous sheen.

I did these towels on Monday. They are a belated Christmas gift for my sister. I know - Wow is that late! But it took her forever to pick out what she wanted on the towels and then it took me a while to get around to doing them but I like the way they turned out. (She did too.)




And the latest bag --
The polka dot is a Heather Ross print from her Lightning Bugs line. The bow is on a velcro wrap-around tab so it can be removed.



So much for today!

Here it is . . . we'll see how this goes

Yesterday I stumbled into this idea of creating a blog. Is this a good idea? I hope so. I'm thinking it can serve a couple of different purposes. I know there are some girls out there who've been keeping up with what I create by checking out my webshots. That's been a good thing for me but you know, it's just gotten too big and mixed up. I continue to add photos, dumping the new in with the old and now it just seems like a jumble of too much stuff! (Y'all know how I hate too much stuff!) I think a blog will let me document what I'm doing and keep it in some semblance of order. I feel like my work is changing and evolving and a blog will reflect that too. In chronological order, of course. :)

On a more personal note, I'm thinking what a cool way of staying connected! No pressure, just check it out if and when you're in the mood.

Soooo anyway, here's what I've been up to this week . . .

It's cherry season in south-central Illinois! My friend and I did some serious cherry picking -- and endured a few bug bites, one at the base of my neck welted up about the size of a nickel and stayed there for 3 days! I looked like a leper but it was worth it as I do LOVE cherries. We'll have cherry pie this winter and here is one of my favorites . . . cherry preserves! Don't they look pretty?!

Of course I had to do some sewing too! Here's a

nursing cover-up my friend asked me to make for her. It's a pretty interesting concept - a boned casing at the top holds the fabric up and away from baby's face. Now he can breathe and Mom can see him!

A couple of little girls' bags . . .

Now . . . isn't this cool?! Sarah's mom wanted her to have something to store her pajamas in during the day. Remember when we were kids and the pajama pillows were popular? Retro recreated. Although Sarah is just 7, anyone who knows her know she is a little tween diva. I think this will be right up her alley. If it's not, I'll change my name and keep it, I think it's adorable!

Here's the zipper pocket in back.

That's all for now.