Downton's Darlings

Are there any Downton fans visiting here?  I love me some Downton Drama! I am trying to be satisfied as I watch reruns in preparation for the January season opener.  This art to embroider is by April.  I HIGHLY recommend some of April's  Downton character art transfered to a cotton of choice for a little needle love during the repeats.  Your fav character is waiting for purchase and immediate download in her shop.  You can see that I selected the sisters 3 as I am one of 3 sisters myself.  You must pardon Lady Mary, I stitched in a bit of her characteristic stink eye.  We will not say anything about our dearly departed Lady Sybil.  Lady Edith on the other hand is fair game, butter would not melt in her mouth.  Matthew was included in my purchase but given last season's gruesome finale, he remains unstitched.  I would not count Matthew out though.  That dude has had more lives than a cat!  Stitching Downton!  Jessica Pearl

Weekend Necessities

The kids are coming home from college today for the weekend, yay!  I am ready!
Gilmore Girls for Em and I-check! 'Cause when Emily is home, Chicks Rule!
  Slice and bake Toll House cookies- check!  Tyler will want to bake for us.
  Favorite groceries for all 3- check!
  Laundry detergent- check!
They will he packing their appetites and their dirty laundry.  Yep, dirty and hungry and I will be thrilled for the sight of them!  Waiting!  Jessica Pearl

Christmas Quilt

I was not going to make a Christmas quilt this year until I found this vintage panel at the thrift store with the 12 Days of Christmas.  The panel (1.49) circa 1980's is actually a panel to make a fabric book.   Why not make a quilt with it?!  Well, it took me some time to recognize that each of the intended pages is a slightly different size because its supposed to be a book- duh!  But it is destined to be a quilt in my hands, a very wonky quilt, my specialty!  I love illustrations on this fabric.  The maid a milking and the drummer drumming are a cute pair side by side, no?  Of course, there will be a new Christmas quilt this year!  How many days do I have to finish this one, Lorna?  Making Merry!  Jessica Pearl

Happiest Place

Stephen Foster State Park in White Springs, FL is always a happy place.  This weekend is our guild's annual quilt show held at the park making it THE happiest place!  And after enjoying nature and quilts, I may have gone a little crazy in our guild's boutique.  My final tab was too long for one book receipt, it took  2.  And I won't show you the total haul in one post, for fear it may blind you.  I will share the ingredients for today's recipe for Happy: first ignore all household chores, take 1 yard sunshine yellow polka dots ($2), cut into 3 1/2 inch squares and mix with vintage precut feedsack prints ($2), chain piece and present simple 9 patch block (priceless).
Serves 1 quilter.   Very Happy! Jessica Pearl

Writing and Wishing

I am  a Lay Speaker in my church and I am presently writing a message  to deliver this Sunday.  In preparation, I was looking through a Bible that I used in my young Mommy years and I stumbled across this treasure, a church bulletin from 2006.  I was the speaker on this particular Sunday so I guess Emily saw fit to scratch out the Pastor's name and print, 'Mommy'.  So thankful that I never, if ever throw out the tiny momentos that are tucked in Bibles.  I must get back to writing!  Here's wishing that these scrappy stars motivate me to finish this message!  Writing with a prayer and wishing with a Mommy heart, Jessica Pearl

Market Day without the Downdog

Last week Tyler e-mailed us that he would not mind if we came for a visit on Saturday.  Heck, sounds like an invitation to the Mister and me!  I gathered some stitching for the ride and actually finished an embroidered quilt block on the way.  We took Tyler and his roommate to the Riverside Art Market and out for bar-b-q lunch.  Saturday was yoga festival at market.  I would have loved some yoga on the river but my yoga pants + ME sounded like it could be a recipe for Tyler's embarrassment.  I was more than content and fully inspired by the delightful company and the beautiful sights!  Next year,  I am wearing my yoga pants and packing my mat.  Namaste!  Jessica Pearl

Happily Ever After

These quilt blocks, once orphaned and adopted from the thrift store have been transformed into baby quilts with a wee bit of embroidery.  I think its a happy ending!  Jessica Pearl

Monday Morning Prayer

From yesterday's celebration of World Communion Sunday to this morning's World News, my prayer remains the same.

Talking Pillows

It's a sewing Saturday morning!  Fabric, ribbon and thrift store bling say, "Happy Fall Ya'll!". Jessica Pearl

WIP by hand

Hand quilting.  Jessica Pearl

Showing My Booty

Fabric booty, that is from quilt show and day retreat.  It's all about quilting cotton and not the other junk in my trunk!  I purchased a fabric kit  at quilt show to make an ironing board from a t.v. tray.  Believe it or not, this was the simple project that had me coming unglued!  Not fun, but it is done!  I won the pastel fat quarter pack and a pack of novelty prints at our day quilt retreat.  Love these!  Also at quilt show, I ran across a vendor who was closing up shop.  I purchased 1 bag of Tula Pink scraps for one dollar ( I know!), a huge bag of Lizzy House for 5 and one half yard of Anna Marie for 2!  Booty-ful, right?!  Jessica Pearl