Scott Hudson Day

The Hudsons had an exciting day this past Saturday - we all trekked to Chicago for Scott Hudson Day!
Hannah is obviously excited that Matt and Emily could make it, all the way from Boston!

Matt and Emily enjoying the giraffes at Lincoln Park Zoo . . . 

. . . and a martini at Hub 51!

Fun family foto - it's more fun, because you spell photo with an "f".

Our waiter was a very good sport! :)

February Quilt Along

Once again, Melody over at fibermania is hosting a February quilt along - called Quilt Along With Melody, or QUAM.  She picks a new project for us to do each February, and since it's just for one month, it's kind of nice - the project has an end date! Of course you don't have to complete an entire quilt, you can just try out a new technique or patter with a block or small quilt top.  

I credit Melody with helping me to get my quilting mojo back during QAWM in February, 2010.  Thanks, Mel!

This year's project is one of the current fave's of blogland, Scrappy Trip Around the World blocks.  I thought this was a perfect project to use my my many plaid scraps (from my previous project), and also incorporating other print scraps, old and new.

After cutting a bunch of strips, I went searching for something to arrange them on - I thought that Emily had a laundry rack in the attic - couldn't find it, but I did find an unused quilt rack! Perfect! 

I've finished three blocks so far - they go together easily, and are fun to do when I get a few spare minutes.  Wonder how many I will complete in the next week or so?

Love is All Around

Great minds think alike!



Love is all around our house this morning! Scott and I were on the same wavelength, it seems - he gave me roses and my favorite wine, Pinot Grigio, and I gave him this awesome Heliconia, and one of his favorite wines, Zinfandel. And it is a happy accident that my hearts quilt is in the background of this shot!
Happy Valentine's Day!



Second Finish of 2013

Gypsy John - my second finish of the year.  We finally had some sun yesterday, so I quick grabbed the quilt and ran out back to take some pictures (Scott helped!).
This is an original design, inspired by our friend, John, who is pictured on the t-shirt in the center.  You can read more about John, and how I made this quilt, here and here. Machine quilted (beautifully!) by Sue Pawlowski. 

I had the pleasure of delivering this to its owner today.  Didn't get any pictures of the event, but suffice it to say, he was surprised and pleased.

Rainy Day

After having a few days of snow this week, it warmed up and decided to rain today.  And what else to do on a rainy day? Besides sewing, that is?

Dismal view out my kitchen window today.  Perfect day to ...

... make soup!  This is Italian Sausage Soup.  I've got a chicken simmering on the back burner, which became broth for Chicken Noodle Soup.