This and That

Tuesday and Wednesday turned into busy days around here.

Today is granddaughter Sophia's 13th birthday.  Those kiddos just grow up way too quickly don't they?  She has a laser tag party with friends planned for the weekend I think.  We had some quality time with her last weekend at the basketball tournament.

On Tuesday afternoon our other granddaughter Olivia ended up in the ER with severe dehydration from the stomach flu.  Turns out my daughter's Mom Radar was on target, because it was a ruptured appendix, not the flu.  So Olivia will be spending a few days in the hospital getting IV antibiotics after her emergency surgery. 

About the same time as the ER visit, I was attending the "encore" session of Saturday Sampler.  It was actually kind of funny that at least 6 of us who normally attend on Saturday mornings were there Tuesday because we had missed the Saturday session.  We're doing a row quilt this year, and we got the pattern for Row 2.  We'll make 5 of these Stranded Cross blocks for Row 2.  It was really interesting to see the beautiful color combinations everyone used in the first row.  We must bring the completed row each month to get the next one for free.  Hopefully I'll get a start on the blocks today. 

The Saturday Sampler sessions are always fun - beginning with Show n Tell, where attendees can show any projects they finish or are currently working on.  It's always amazing to see other quilter's projects.  Then the shop does Show n Tell with new products, and announcements about upcoming workshops or events.  And they give away a couple door prizes, usually fat quarters.  If you brought a project to show, then you get a door prize ticket.  I won this beautiful butterfly fat quarter.  This one is too pretty to cut into small pieces, so it might have to become a bag or something similar. 

The March block for Circle of Friends is done.  I'm happy with my color choices, but less than happy with how those purple points met up.  I've been a fan of Best Press for years to help blocks lay flat and smooth.  But I tried out a new product - Flatten - and it is just as good, maybe even better.  Notice that bottle?  The scent in this one is Wild Mint.   

Yesterday I did a lot of sewing - in between chatting on the phone and FaceTime with Olivia.  She is getting very bored in the hospital.  

The last 2 piano key borders are assembled and ready to attach to the scrappy Make Your Point quilt.  Two more rows are sewn for the Buckeye Beauty Quilt of Valor.  The parts are cut for this week's Riley Blake block. 

And I picked up 2 quilts from the long armer on Wednesday afternoon.  The binding strips for both were cut and waiting, so I need to sew them together and press.  My goal is to bind the large quilt before the end of the month.