Jersey Boys

Deb came to visit. We quilted like we always do. We are working on a quilt for our niece who is getting married in October. We have the top together, now I just need to sandwich it and quilt it.

Craig took Deb and I to a play, The Jersey Boys. It's the story of Frankie Valli and his group the Four Seasons. I had forgotten how great their music was. The music was fantastic. I was a bit dismayed at the language. I don't know why people think that word is acceptable or funny.

Before the play, we did a little bit of sight seeing.

A Buddhist temple in China town. Craig dropped Deb and I off while he went around the block. It gave us time to take pictures. I wish it had been open, it was amazing.

The amazing carved columns and guardian at the doors.

The painted doors. I was sad about the shadow, oh well. We were there at the wrong time of day to not have it.

Then we went to where the show was. In the next block was the Walt Disney Concert Hall. We were especially excited about this because Craig absolutely loves the movie Get Smart. This building is featured.

The name.

I forgot to take off my sun glasses.

Craig and I.

The amazing lines of the building.

This morning's project

Deb came up to quilt. Yesterday we made 18 blocks and put the top and back together. This morning we sandwiched and gridded the quilt. We are on a dead line, so we have half the binding done. 

There is still the quilting in the individual squares and the hand work on the binding to go. 

All before our neice's wedding just before Christmas. 

If you look close, you can see the quilt I am doing - trying to get it done before Christmas also. That is two quilt to do in 4 weeks. I believe in miracles. I wonder if this will qualify. 

We think it is fabulous!  

Quilting, quilting, quilting

Deb came up for a visit Monday and yesterday. Once we got into the sewing room, we hardly left it. We had a ton to get done. 

I've had fabric that my mom picked out for years. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with it. It's not really my pattern or my colors. And I was always so far behind on my Christmas quilts. 

This year I am finishing my last Christmas quilt. I am almost done with it. 

Last time Deb came up we pulled out mom,s fabric and sewed the top. Deb found the pattern. It is simple, but very pretty. 

This time we sandwiched it and quilted it. All on Monday. We also sewed the binding on. Deb took it home to hand stich the binding and finish the thing. 

Some of my favorite fabrics are in this quilt. I love the sunflower batik and the water color batik. The horse fabric was given to me for this quilt by a friend way back in Oregon. It works well with the original fabric. I am so happy to have it done. 

Yesterday we started Opal's quilt.  Opal, our niece, is getting married in December. So we are feeling rushed to get it done. There is no way I could get wedding quilts done for nieces and nephews. But Deb wants to do it. So together we try and bust them out. This one was a total stash quilt. I bought a bit of neutral fabrics, but we used mostly what we had. 

Debbie has mom's stash from years ago and she is trying to use it all up. I admire her for being able to use someone else's fabric. This quilt will have a good mix of both of us. 

I took a few pictures of the sweat shop yesterday. 

This is the neutrals chair. 

This is the Reds chair. 

I sewed and Deb pressed and cut. 

We finished 24 blocks - 12 inch log cabins. The picture shows one on the ironing board. Each one has a cheery yellow center. 

Possible fabrics yet to cut. 

The Reds. 

Deb is better at using up scraps than I am, so I cleaned out my scraps and gave them to her. All the left over fabric from previous quilts. Little pieces, strips, triangles that are too small for me to d al with. I like at least an eighth of a yard to work it into a pattern. 

I am grateful that she wanted it. It's hard to throw away. But I had such a mind block on how to use it. She seemed thrilled to get it. A win-win. 

She said she will come back and we will bust out the remaing 18 blocks. 

Something to look forward to.