Scrabble

Has anyone ever made a Scrabble quilt? I have seen quilt boards for other games like Monopoly and Life. But never Scrabble. That might be fun to try.

Summer in pictures

Even though the purpose for this blog was craft related, I decided early on that it would also document our family. Many family members and close friends look towards this blog to keep up to date on our activity.

After multiple attempts trying to download photos from a new camera, I finally got it to work. Over the next several days, I will post images. Best part of our lives. Family and friends.

More Summer

Great ice cream in Stillwater Minnesota with Aunt Carrie. A must!

Feed my starving children. Filling food bags with Girl Scouts.

Ice cream with great grandparents after soccer tourney. Thanks!!!

Out for a stroll with great grandma.

Cousins training for triathlons. Good going!!!

Summer, summer and more summer

Our golf prodigy.

Ice cream again. This time in Excelsior. Yum!

Kayaking on Minnetonka.

More Inspiration

Stained glass windows are always a wonderful source of inspiration for quilters, and vice versa.

Love these windows made by a local artist.

Inspiration

Have you ever been someplace and come across a design you want to make into a quilt? This summer I toured the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Saw these amazing tiles in part of the clinic.

Tried to take a few photos with my cellphone. Inspiration for a quilt? Someday? Hope so.

My find!

Each year our local guild has a picnic in July. Great time, wonderful food, and for the past several years, a auction of UFOs. Everyone brings their projects that they no longer want. Those that will never be finished. Those that no longer have a home. Those that we are frustrated with. Most end up with a new home, after a lively few minutes of bidding.

This year I gave my unfinished jacket to the cause. Homespuns and stars. Many pieces quilted. But it has sat in my sewing room for nearly 15 years, and I finally realized it would never be finished. So off to the auction it went.

During our picnic we have a chance to look over the tables full of UFOs. Eye those that we think could have a new home. Decide which one is that special project that we would finish. I helped during the auction, showing the wonderful projects. Some I wouldn't look at twice. Others I couldn't believe were even in the auction.

One of those was a group of blue and white blocks, along with a border print. I knew I had to bring it home. And after some nervous bidding, they did come home with me. Little did I realize that I didn't have any blue and white fabrics to add to the blocks. So during the Minnesota Shop Hop, I located a few fabrics to add to the blocks. Can't wait to see the finished quilt!

Summer garden

How many of you have a perennial garden? How many of you know where every single plant is located? Know which are weeds? Know where you can plant new plants?

I thought I knew. But when those plants started to come up, I began to question whether or not they were perennials or weeds. Tried taking photos and making a drawn map. Will that help for next year? Hope so.

July 4th

Our day at Groveland Assembly Grounds begins with the flag raising. This year the local VFW post presented the colors. Minnetonka High School quartet sang. A wonderful way to begin the day.

It was followed by the neighborhood parade. This year's theme was "Big Screen, Little Screen and everything in between!" So we did just that. Dressed as screens. Everyone had a grand time.

Then it was time for the races. Categories for every age from toddlers to adults. Always a big deal for the kids. Everything from running, three legged races, shoe flipping, and the egg toss.

More races

Kevin and Lucas running the men's race around the lakeshore.

John and Haley running the wheelbarrow race.

Three legged racing by Haley with Kevin, and Lucas with Rasmus.

Summertime at the lake

July 4th festivities last for several days at Groveland Assembly Grounds. This year I was lucky to have relatives from Denmark here for a visit. On July 3rd, we sat down by the lake, sang songs, and ate s'mores. A wonderful evening for all.

New pillows

I made a quilt for my parents using oriental fabrics. My mom asked me to make pillow covers to go with the quilt. Luckily I had a bag of the red fabrics used in the quilt. All precut into strips for the different blocks.

I decided there was no need to make the same blocks over again for the pillows. You wouldn't be able to notice them. I think they will look wonderful with the quilt.

South Dakota quilt

I have tried to make a quilt for each one of my nieces and nephews when they get married. I am behind on several of the quilts, as I had five to make in less than two years. Very frustrating for me, as I truly don't like giving belated gifts. Two of those five quilts have been delivered. Two more are ready to be quilted. Last one is in the piecing process. These wedding occurred in 2007 to 2009. Do they still remember that a quilt is coming? I hope so.

Fast forward to 2011. With my husband's side of the family covered, or the quilts are in the process of completion, I figured I had a few years before my brother's children would marry. Not the case. My niece married this past weekend. My nephew is getting married next year. Dare I make them quilts? Will they move in line with other quilts being made? Can I break this cycle?

I decided I couldn't add another wedding quilt to the list of unfinished quilts. Instead I made myself pick a pattern that I knew could be completed soon. And I picked fabrics that read "South Dakota", where my niece and her husband live. It definitely reminds me of that region. And it was finished and delivered on their wedding day. One quilt that won't go in the line of WIPs.

Grandma's Marathon

Our son Kevin has participated in Grandma's Marathon for several years. This year I decided to head up to Duluth with him and his children. We camped at a state park, which would have been wonderful if it hadn't poured for hours and hours. We ended up rising at the wee hour of 4am, and headed to the drop-off location. Raining and 48F not exactly a happy way to start a marathon. Luckily it warmed into the 50's, and the rain stopped.

Grandma's Marathon

Clock time is for those that started right at the gun. Kevin's chip time was actually 4:54:08.