Summer in Charlottesville

It has really been hot here this summer. Too many days in the triple digits. It's a challenge to keep up the watering of my potted plants on our deck. Here are some pictures of how pretty they were before the heat.

Renee came to pick Morgan up for a visit with her in North Carolina. I had all four girls here at once and that doesn't happen very much any more.

And yes, this is suppose to be where I can display my sewing projects. I forgot to take pictures of the burp cloths that I made for Jenna but, they are very similar to the ones that I made for Bree. In fact one had the same material from this dress that I made for Bree. I have to get this mailed soon before she out grows it!

We have a deer in the back yard that has been emptying the bird feeder. I am amazed that the birds have any food left after the deer and the squirrels.

Aunt Marilyn, Morgan and I had lunch at a Greek restaurant for my birthday. It was very good. But, I really miss enjoying baklava.

I am leaving tomorrow for Dallas for our Mary Kay Seminar. And then after that we are heading to New Jersey for a few days at the shore and then to celebrate Joe mother's birthday.
I'll have lots of pictures to post on my return.

Wedding Dress Progress

After much agonizing about ruining this beautiful fabric and the reassurance of the wonderful ladies at Le Fabrique I finally set my mind to finishing the dress. Or at least get the skirt started. Renee is coming up for a last fitting at the end of the week. I have been busy in my sewing room for the past two days. I have to do the hemming and attach the pick ups. All of which needs to be done after Renee tries the dress on. I really enjoy working with this fabric. It feels very luxurious.

Next --- the bridesmaid dresses.

Quilt Finished and Wedding Dress

Baby Girl McKay's quilt is finally finished. If it will stop snowing for a few days I can get it in the mail. Actually I'm looking for a box big enough to mail it and some other items.

And boy have we ever had snow this year. We are have broken an all time season snowfall record with 55" of snow so far. There is still several weeks of winter left. The kids in the city schools missed 2 days last week and 3 days this week. We have been lucky with the last two storms as the biggest part of those storms hit further north of here. We still have enough snow here. It will be here for a long time.

Silly dog in very deep snow. He has found that with snow this deep he can get over our low fence in the backyard. He used to be afraid to jump over it. Even after Joe dug around both sides of the fence, Sebastian is still jumping out. I guess now we'll need to build a higher fence. In the meantime we have to leash him to take him out. He hasn't wondered far, but he is going further and further away each time. Sometimes he ignores my calling him back. Then I have to say loudly, "Good girl Sophie. Sit. Touch." She can't hear me but, he can and he knows that those are the words used when "treats" are being handed out! He doesn't want to miss out on that so he'll come back.

With all these snow days I am able to get more sewing time in. I made the big "cut" yesterday and cut out the top to Renee's dress. I've really been nervous about cutting that expensive fabric. (Joe said that he's nervous going anywhere near the sewing room with that fabric in there). But, I love the feel of the fabric. It is so soft and luxurious feeling. Here is some of the progress that I made yesterday.






I have more hand basting to do. Then I can start constructing the top. It is going to be very pretty.

Some more Christmas Stuff

The End Of Christmas and the Beginning Of A New Year!

We went to Kevin and Mary Beth's house for a New Year's celebration. It was fun and the food was wonderful. Mary Beth is an excellent cook. She made lamb. Yum! Their new house was still decorated for the holidays and it was fun to see their Christmas trees. We had a very nice visit.

I also had some time to do some sewing over the holidays. I worked on the Brown Bear quilt. Instead of quilting it on the machine or by hand, I decided just to tie or knot it with colored pearl cotton embroidery thread. The quilt is rather large. It will fit a toddler bed.
Hopefully it will get a lot of use for a long time.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear What do you see?

These are burp clothes that I made. They are so much nicer than the ones I ever used for my babies. Joe said that the pattern on the fabric would be enough to make the baby spit up!
They are very colorful.

Renee came home for a few days and I was able to get some work done on her dress. The top of the dress is the part that worries me. The skirt will be very easy as the fitting won't be as much of an issue. After we got the fitting right, Renee started playing with the idea of embroidering tone-on-tone lilies at the top and the bottom of the front panel of the bodice. I think it will be very pretty. She found a design and I am taking a class to learn the software to edit the stitch out so that it will fit. Then, I should be able to get started on the construction. Finally!

Here you can see where we pinned the paper design in the approximate on the bodice. I have to edit out a few flowers and leaves and swirls to make it more simple.

Morgan also had another piano recital.
This one was in Covesville at the Coves Presbyterian Church .
It's a lovely old church established in the 1800's.

I love the big windows and they have a beautiful piano. Even though it was very cold that day it was warm in this old church probably because of the big windows.

The pieces that she played were Ivan Sings and Important Event, op.15 no. 6 which sounded wonderful in the church. There were some other very talented kids playing as well.

Cayla came with us.