Yet Another Project

First, my favorite thread for applique: Mettler Silk-Finish 100% Cotton. So smooth - slides through cotton fabric like air. Aren't autumn colors lovely? And the new project: I am just the stitcher on this one. This piece is one of what I believe will be 10 banners that have been designed by Vermont artist Bonnie Acker - she is one of the most inspiring people I have met in years and is so generous with her time and talents. I think these banners will hang in the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf in the old North End. Bonnie had groups of kids and others cut out the vegetables and helping hands. I'm stitching them on by raw-edge applique, maybe adding some stems and tendrils, along with borders, backing and quilting. The black letters spell out Welcome! in what will be a total of 50 different languages. Did you know that there are over 80 different languages and dialects spoken in the Burlington School system??? That number just blows me away. Isn't this precious baby hand so cute?
--cds

A New Obsession

Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, DC, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee. Those are the states we have driven through in the past four weeks. I think I'm going to try to drive through all 50 (well, maybe not Hawaii) states before I expire. We have always liked road trips, but, oh my, that's a lot of public restrooms. Here's a tip for I-95 and I-80 travelers - stick to the interstate rest areas for your "rest stops." There's been a lot of reconstruction and upgrades lately. These wind farms are another new change on the midwest landscape.
There is a farm in Iowa that must have a hundred turbines scattered in fields along I-80. Close up, those things are gigantic - but somehow they do not seem out of place.

So now we are home and missing the grand-girls so much already. This Little Miss is such a happy baby - smiling and cooing all the time.




We had great visits, but now I'm ready to spruce up the house and yard, cook up some good food and sew like a mad woman. We'll be ready for winter guests in no time! --cds

Again With The Traveling

We are off to Vermont this weekend to visit with this Little Miss Bright Eyes. Ruthanne is three months old already. I can't believe it and can't wait to see the Vermont family. I get to take care of Ruthie (or "Ruby" as Evie calls her) all week long. --cds

Traveling

Guess where I have been? We spent eight days out West visiting with the Utah family. This is Isabella's second day in Second Grade - she is so pretty and grown up looking all of a sudden.

I love this series of Evie pictures. Could this child be any more girly? Check out the sparkling pink shoes - these are her "Twinkle-Toe shoes" that she got for her birthday.




This is my favorite: --cds