A beautiful wedding....

My nephew Brian and his beautiful bride Jessica exchanged vows Friday afternoon in a simple outdoor ceremony held at the Allenberry Playhouse. I wondered to myself why they chose to have the wedding on a Friday, as Saturday is more traditional. Maybe it was because Saturday turned out to be one of the rainiest days we've had in months...in fact, it's still raining!



Anna and Avery looked adorable in the pillowcase dresses Lisa made for them. The children were all very well behaved for both the ceremony and the reception. I'd say their parents are doing something right!



I was so pleased Shannon was able to come and meet some of Tim's family. He's right, he does look quite handsome, and Shannon looked lovely. Maybe the next wedding? Who knows!



It isn't very often that Steven has to fly solo, but Ashleigh couldn't get out of her field hockey match, so wasn't able to attend. He looks a little lost without her!



Here Brian and Steven try to "out-handsome" each other. Oh, those Weible boys! (And actually, Tim decided he was the most handsome of them all!)

Wedding Present

Old Red Barn Company Quilt Along 006
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

Now that the wedding gift has been presented, I can blog my finished product! Jess said that the colors will be perfect in their house. They seemed to really like it. I should get ambitious and make one for our house. Seems like for the amount of quilting/sewing I do, there isn't much here to show for it ... because I give it all away!

Ann's Wonky Red Stars for Bee Inspired .. 3 so far!

Ann's Wonky Red Stars for Bee Inspired .. 3 so far!
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

I packaged up five "wonky" stars for one of this month's Bee Inspired members. I had steered away from this kind of block because it just went against my grain to do something that was purposefully not "normal". Then I had no choice, because this is the block Ann from Denmark (I know, cool, huh?!!) chose. So I looked up some tutorials and found one that really worked for me. And lo and behold. These stars are made with about as much precision as you'd ever care to use in putting together a quilt square.

I started by giving some thought to how big I wanted the finished square to be. Ann requested a variety of sizes, but none bigger than 12 1/2 inches unfinished. The block is basically a nine patch, with the center block being a different color from the background blocks. Then you add various sized triangles to the outer blocks, basically using the flip and sew method. Assemble your nine patch block, pressing as you go, and voila! A Wonky Star Is Born! I've discovered that a little spray starch makes for a lovely finished product. These are going in the mail this morning on my way to work. Thanks, Ann, I've discovered a new favorite! (I like the name "Maverick" star as well.)

Sponsored Giveaway at V and Co

Vanessa Christenson has a pretty cool blog. I enjoy following it and reading about the everyday stuff she gets herself into. She's pretty amazing. And amazing would also describe the fantastic giveaway being sponsored by The Quilt Shoppe.



This is one generous giveaway. I've never won one yet, but there's a first time for everything, right?!! And I think it's like lottery tickets, "you gotta play to win!" So check it out and sign yourself up. And if YOU win, I'll pout a while, but I'll be okay.... and if I did this right, just click on the title to this post, and it'll take you right there!

DQS7 Received!

DQS7 Received!
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

So today was like Christmas. The FedEx driver was at the front door while the postman was at the backdoor. The postman brought me back my Old Red Barn quilt-along quilt which is now ready to be bound and washed/dried/crinkled and gifted to my nephew at his wedding in two weeks. And the FedEx driver, well, he got away before I could tell him how much I loved him ... brought me the most amazing package from Tiffany (aka: Tigglegiggles) with a beautifully feminine doll quilt that is embellished with yo-yo's and buttons, a matching pillow that is every bit as gorgeous no matter which side is up, a pincushion from the same fabrics, a honey-bun of Moda Object of Desire fabric strips, a canvas tote bag embellished with yo-yo's, a yo-yo maker (I can make some, too!), beautiful quilt themed greeting cards, and burp cloths for Benjamin! (Whew, that was quite the run-on sentence!) When I saw pics of this project in process on flickr, I'd think, wow, if only I could be that lucky. And I was! Thank you, so much, Tiffany. I am thrilled.

Tranquility by Moda

So I'd never purchased a "layer cake" before. You know, the Moda pre-cuts that are so much fun to work with. Well, these projects all came from one Tranquility (by Sandy Gervais) layer cake (for Moda). 40 ten inch squares, one from each selection of fabric design in this particular line.





The best part ... I still have enough left to make something else! Maybe another table runner; maybe another purse, I'm not sure. And I think I want to make a little pin cushion to include when I send out the friendship bag. Ahhh, isn't crafting fun?!!

Bee Inspired September- Karla's turn

Bee Inspired September Karla 006
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

Karla chose disappearing nine patch blocks from the Botanical Pop fabric line. I love the fabric and I love making disappearing nine patch blocks. And I couldn't resist taking a picture of my new camera (birthday present from my eldest and her family) to show how it matched Karla's fabric! My sixteen year old said yes, mom, you'd do that! Other pics on my flickr. Now I'm waiting for Ann's red and white fabric to arrive for wonky stars. Hip-hip-hooray!! And now this old lady needs to get some beauty sleep!

Friendship Bag Swap

I signed up for a swap that started from a tutorial Rachel Griffith of p.s.iquilt had done for a friendship bag. Well, you know me. I took the original idea of how to construct a bag/purse, whatever you want to call it, enlarged it, embellished it, and this is what I came up with.



I do like the ruffled pocket on the front, if I do say so myself! Ashleigh said her mom would like it, so I'm thinking of doing another one, even bigger, for her birthday in October. We'll see...

Christmas Block Swap All Received!

Christmas Block Swap All Received!
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

I now am the proud owner of twelve assorted scrappy Holiday blocks that I intend to make into a tree skirt. This was a fun swap to be involved in. Such a diverse assortment of fabrics were used, way more than I would have come up with within my own stash. That's what makes these swaps so great. Now to figure out how to lay out the tree skirt...hmmm? Any suggestions?

September Swaps Completed

Terri, from California, wants snowmen and Christmas blues and greens for her blocks, so this is what my stash yielded. Not snowmen per say, but snowmen accessories! I hope she likes it.

Susi in Germany wanted polka dots, so this was my version. It'll be interesting to see what the recipients do with their blocks. Only one more month [as two people dropped out :( ] and then this swap will be finished. I've some other projects to be working on, a friendship bag swap that I need to double-check the send date on (Got my SIL Peggy involved in that one ... her first swap!) so no problems staying busy.


Show and Tell A quilt for all.September 001
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

September's swap blocks for the Show and Tell Quilts for All are now done and ready to be mailed. I've discovered that you can't send internationally from the automated machine at the post office, so I'll get these packaged up and head out to work early Tuesday. I have one to Germany and one to Canada as well as a couple within the U.S.


p.s. Ooops, Rachel, no, I didn't forget about our Bee Inspired swap, but I haven't even received the fabrics yet, so obviously can't be done with that one! Eagerly awaiting..... "No, Mr. Postal Delivery Person, I am most certainly NOT mentally unbalanced!"

A fashion statement

Rhonda bought Steven some fancy outdoorsy britches for his birthday and when I caught that he was wearing them, I thought I'd grab a picture for her.



And these were sitting on the step at my elbow, so I thought, why not? So here's a little taste of Autumn color soon to come...



Of course, according to Steven, the photo SHOULD be of his new gun. The first one he's purchased all by himself (so now he's officially a registered gun owner.).



He came home from work on the run, said "Brian (his cousin) wants me to meet him at the state game lands in Newville. They're supposed to have the best dove hunting in the state!" And before I knew it, he and his dad were both geared up and out the door! I just shake my head and say "whatever." !!

quilt from France

One of the quilt swaps I joined evolved into a kid's quiltie swap, and since I don't personally have a little one, I suggested that my secret partner make something for Benjamin. As my daughter is fond of classic Pooh, this is what we received from Vivie in France.

quilt from France
Originally uploaded by A peek at Donna's World

I didn't know if to keep it here at my house in Pennsylvania until he came for Thanksgiving or if to send it on to Washington state so he could enjoy it now. I'm glad I sent it on to him. Aren't they both adorable?!!