Too, too cute!

Okay, maybe I'm a tad bit opinionated when it comes to the most beautiful baby in the world, but isn't he absolutely adorable?!! Benjamin, you're gonna be a young man before I get to see you again if you don't stop growing so fast! One proud grandma here, yes,indeed!!!

DQS7 Goodies

DQS7 Goodies
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

Finally have my DQS7 swap stuff ready to put in the mail. A week or so ahead of deadline, so I did okay. It's going off to someone who lives in a state who's name starts with the letter "M". Hope she likes it.

Grandma's big boy

One word.
Precious.

Another giveaway! Last chance!!!

Rachel Griffith is doing another giveaway on her blog p.s.i quilt and today's the last day to get in on the fun! And who wouldn't want to order fabric at 25% off ?!! So check it out. And good luck!

Scrappy Christmas Block Swap

I know, I know, another swap! They're addictive!



The idea is that you will receive 12 scrappy 12 inch blocks to use as you'd like. Getting ready for Christmas and it's still summertime. Now THAT makes me feel productive! I saw a really cute tree skirt made up with these and I think that's what I will do.



This was my first effort. I like it. A particular participant likes it; but I don't think she's in my group. Then I found some other Christmas fabrics in my stash that I thought I'd work up, so not sure yet which ones I'll swap. I need 12 for trading. You had a choice of signing up for just six, or for twelve, and well, you know me! Okay, back to the sewing machine ...

Awesome giveaway/ V. and Co

Check out this awesome giveaway that I found on V. and Co's blog. She's one funny chick ...



Gee, Vanessa, my whining doesn't usually yield these kind of results! Maybe I need to take lessons from you!

SO glad it's Friday.
Oh, yeah, it's the little things.

dqs7 Almost finished!

dqs7 Almost finished!
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

Busy day.
Got the DQS7 swap quilt all free motion quilted, got the binding on. Now just need to label it so I'm not tempted to keep it for myself. I'm thinking I need to make another as near to "just like" this one as possible. The layer cake I used has a lot of other pretty fall prints, so it wouldn't be identical, but just as pretty.

dqs7 borders added

dqs7 borders added
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

Added a couple of borders.
Need to figure out what I want to do for the back.
Then sandwich and quilt.
Hey, there IS light at the end of the tunnel!

DQS7 Possibility

DQS7 Possibility
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

So with little to go on as far as my partner's tastes (no favorites, only 3 pics in her photostream), I went with the fact that fall colors were listed as a favorite and chose to make a design that I would like to keep for myself. Not sure if I'll add a border or exactly how I'll quilt it. I'm having a lot of fun with free motion stippling so that's probably the route I'll take. All in all, a productive day.

Bee Inspired August

Bee Inspired August
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

Krista's block is done. She was striving for an Amish two-color look and everyone received a packet with black and one other solid color. When I opened mine and saw orange, I thought "Halloween" and had a hard time wrapping my brain around what to do. This paper pieced pattern is what I came up with, but what a challenge. The points are anything but perfect and it ended up scant of a full 12 inch square, so I added a black border the whole way around. I'm just glad it's done. If you squint, it doesn't look too bad from a distance!

Productive morning

Raven pillows
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

Didn't have to be to work today until 12:30. Still got up at 5:30; too much life to be lived to just stay in bed! Rachel needed a birthday present for her friend Caitlin who is a Baltimore Raven's fan. So here we go. Hope she likes them.

Pretty in Pink

So I looked at Rachel Griffith's friendship bag tutorial, was inspired, and used that inspiration to go off and do my own thing with a larger, modified version of her bag...



Instead of using the 1 1/2" strips (as she had a honey bun and I had a charm pack...Charleston V by Judy Rothermel for Marcus Fabrics...civil war prints), I used the 5" squares, cut them in half, and pieced the body of the bag that way. I also added pockets to my lining, as I intend to use it as a purse, and made the straps (scrappy and pieced...love them!) longer, so I can sling it over my shoulder with ease. All done in one day (if you don't count the fact that it was officially the next day when I finished at a tad past midnight!). The toggle button is from my mom's button box; I believe it came off of an old car coat of hers, so it's extra special.

Nice way to start off August ... I'll call it an early birthday present to myself!

Friendship Bag Swap - Join in!!

My friend Rachel Griffith of p.s. i quilt has an awesome tutorial for a quick little friendship bag, and a link to a swap that sounds like lots of fun. (Okay, I'm technically challenged, but if you click on the p.s. i quilt, it'll take you to Rachel's blog which'll take you to the site. The picture/button is apparently just a picture because I didn't do it right!)



Registration is open until August 20th, so get the word out and then join in! I think it looks pretty easy peasy. Hardest part will probably be deciding what fabric to use, and then, what to put in it! I'd love to get my butt in gear and make them for my co-workers for Christmas, but now that we're a staff of about 25, that's a pretty big undertaking. We'll see!

Off to the Quilt Odyssey today at Hershey. Dismal day, thunderstorms, dark and gloomy, but it'll be all good inside that convention center! Oh, yeah, gotta remind myself that I do have a budget!