Progress report

I have been working on my Storm at Sea quilt it seems like forever, and I am finally feeling like I am getting closer to finishing.  Here are some pictures of what I have so far.

I love the movement in these blocks.  I wanted to get a sea and water kind of thing going on. 

This is the border so far.  These swirls are from Angela Walters, and they are so fun to do.

Thanks for sticking with me and my sporadic posting lately.  I hope that trend does not continue, and I will get back on a more regular blogging schedule.  

Esther

No excuses

I don't really have any good excuses for not posting.  Life is good and busy, but there just hasn't been a lot of post worthy events going on.  Spring is beautiful, the kids are relatively healthy, and I have been working as much as I can on my Storm at Sea.

I did take a quilting break Tuesday when I was watching Holly.  She helped me make this granola.
Then during her nap I made her these bloomers and dress.

Sewing for these little girls is such fun.  I ended my nearly two months of no fabric purchases, and bought some fun fabric for summer dresses.  

And I continue with the running, progressing weekly, and I am pleased.  Thanks for your support.

Esther

Slow start

I have been struggling a bit with the quilting on my Storm at Sea, but finally think I have things figured out.  When I load a quilt, I need a plan.  That is just how I work.  I read other bloggers who just start quilting, and get inspired and figure things out as they go, and I just can't imagine.  I would love to do that.  But what happens when your plan doesn't work, or you change your mind?

I started with SID work, so no decisions there.  Then I started working on the brown diamond shapes.  I had this design figured out early on, so was looking forward to stitching it.

Well, I like it, but not really.  Or not really for this quilt, or not enough to do so very many of them like this.  But, I really didn't want to pick out the ones I had already done.  So, on to plan B, which I didn't have, but was working out on the fly.  The diamonds I had already stitched were all along one outside edge.  So, I could leave those as they are, and change the other diamonds.  As long as I remember to stitch all the outside diamonds alike, I think it will all work together well.  Here is my new diamond design.

I felt I needed to keep it similar, with the curved lines and general feel, but I like this one better.  I am thinking of the pearls, or pebbles, as bubbles.  Like under the sea, bubbles, and I am putting more bubbles in other areas of the quilt, so I think I am happy now.  After several days of trying to get started, I now feel like I have actually started, if you know what I mean.   Hopefully, things will go smoothly from now on.

And, again with the running.  Each week is a new challenge, but since there are times I repeat a week, I am now referring to the different challenges as levels.  Anyway, I moved up to level three.  I think I will stay here a week longer.  All in all it is going well, and I think I am improving.  Thanks to all of your encoutagement, it really helps.

Esther

Storm at Sea pieced

I finished piecing my Storm at Sea, and now am looking forward to quilting it. 

It is interesting to me how the focus points vary every time I look at it.  Initially the white stars, and the surrounding brown catch my eye.  Then I see the green circles, and sometimes my eyes fall on the green "X" shape between the stars.  This pattern was definitely a challenge to piece, but overall I am happy with my points and corners.

There will  be a lot of SID on this one, as I want my piecing to really show up well, then the fun will begin. 

And and update on my "running" adventure.  I put the word running in quotes because the actually amount of running I am currently doing is small, but I tell you what, it is pushing my limits just as it is.  Maybe it has to do with staringt a running program for the first time at age 57.  I repeated week one last week, but today I will start week two.  My goal in this is not to actually run a 5K, but to do more than I am doing now, push myself to something more.  I look forward to the day when I struggle less, the good outweighs the bad, and I can enjoy running at whatever level I get to for the joy of running.  

Thanks for your company, I appreciate it.

Esther

Happy Easter

He is risen.

He is risen indeed.

Happy Easter to you.

Esther

Micah turns 2

We celebrated Micah's second birthday this weekend.  She requested a "Bob and Larry" cake.  Bob and Larry are characters from Veggie Tales.

While opening presents, she came across a new helmet, and wore it the rest of the day.

Happy Birthday Micah.  Your Meme loves you.

We have been enjoying Spring like weather and it is wonderful.  I finished my week one of my new running program, and liked it so much, and was challenged enough by week one, that I am going to repeat week one before advancing to week two.  I am encouraged and very sore.

Thanks for joining me.

Esther

Cousins

I recently started spending my Thursdays with Holly and Micah (and baby Zeb).  I wanted to give the girls some scheduled time together, as well as time with me.  Below is an account or our day today.

I think this shot is adorable, two little girls walking hand in hand down a country road.  Priceless.

Then they had to stop and rest and examine rocks in the road.

Here they are modeling their new dresses I made them.  Reversible and alike, and the girls loved them so much they started to dance....

It was a great day.

Esther