Wednesday, March 09, 2011

I'm Baaaaack...with belated Valentine's Day Projects



We are home from spending 6 glorious weeks in Florida & boy, did I miss blogging with my friends!!
I didn't have any internet access at the place that we stayed & couldn't access mine or ANY other blogs from the library or Panera's.
It kept saying "You don't have permission to access this site on this server"

Grrrrr!!! I was SO frustrated, you can't imagine!!


We had a wonderful time though, visiting with old friends,
meeting new ones & catching up on everyone's adventures.
We ate lots of fresh seafood & we walked in the warm sunshine every single day.
I think I might have lost a pound or two, as well from all the fresh air & exercise.


One of the highlights of my trip was getting to meet up with two fellow bloggers!


I met Carol from "Serendipity"  and


What a fun pair!! We talked & talked & ate & ate & shopped & shopped & shopped some more at

Sew Worth It...a FABULOUS quilt shop near Carol's home.




FL trip 084
Here is Donna again on the day that I met her at Panera's.
I brought along some pleated fabrics so I could teach her to smock,
along with several books & instructions on the subject.
I'm a horrible teacher but she's a GREAT learner &
I don't doubt that she will be turning out smocked items very soon!

It was just like we were old friends...so easy to talk to & LAUGH...what a hoot they were! We have much in common with each other, besides our love of beautiful fabric & stitches.
If you ever have a chance to meet up with other bloggers, don't hesitate...just GO! Meeting them was the highlight of my trip, honest. Thank you to both ladies for taking the time away from their daily lives to meet with me. I can't wait to do it again next year!

I did get some sewing done while away. I completed the little heart runner you see me holding above. It is for my baker's rack in the kitchen. You can access the free pattern below so you can make it next year:



Free Heart Runner Pattern

It was easy...its all 1/2 square triangles plus borders!
Its the color combinations that make the heart shapes show up.

The little daisy flowers were supposed to be applique but
I found a machine embroidery design that I liked & did that instead.


Below is my friend Anne's version, done in pinks &
the appliques per the instructions given on the original.
We worked on constructing these at my house before I left town &
each of us completed the quilting later.
I have not seen her's done, yet.

I used my machine embroidery unit to do some heart shaped designs specifically made for quilting.


Let me also show off Anne's latest quilted vest that she made for her granddaughter!
I just
it & have purchased some slightly similar fabric to try to duplicate one for Ms. C.




Isn't it darling??
Anne always puts her little signature flower inside her creations...
what a clever & cute touch!



It is SEW nice to be back into my normal routine. We missed our little nest but getting away did us both a world of good. Hubby is feeling MUCH better & looks great with his tan & beautiful white hair. We are both looking forward to the start of golf season at the end of March. I was thrilled to see little shoots of green poking up through the ground...my hyacinths & tulips are sprouting!

I have tons of photos from the trip to share but I must get some more memory installed on this
home computer before I can upload them. Its FULL!!!

I'll be catching up with all your blogs this coming week. Thanks for stopping by The Gazebo House & for all your sweet comments & best wishes for our anniversary. Next year will be our silver wedding anniversary & I'm already thinking of ways to celebrate!

Hugs all around,
fondly,

Photobucket

22 comments:

  1. Rett,

    We were the lucky ones to get to meet you. It really seemed that we had known each other for years.

    I have put the borders on "our quilt" and will try to get it quilted in the next couple of weeks. Can't wait to see what you and Donna have done.

    Glad you are home and getting settled.

    Carol

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  2. Welcome back and what a great break. So glad you got to meet some friends along the way.

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  3. Rett, SO HAPPY to have you back!Glad you had a wonerful get-away! But, you were very missed!

    Thanks for sharing all the quilted treasures!
    xo Yvonne

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  4. Sounds like you had a great trip Rett! Cute runner:@)

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  5. I was wondering where you were. It sounds like a wonderful way to spend 6 weeks to me! That is so neat you got to meet two of your sewing blog buddies too. I love the valentines jacket that,it is so cute! Welcome back!

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  6. Welcome back! Hopefully, spring is right around the corner for you......we're having a dilly of a snowstorm right now. UGH!

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  7. Hi Rett - Welcome back. I'm so happy that you had a wonderful, restful vacation and got to meet several blogging friends while you were gone. Love your quilting projects.

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  8. Welcome back! You were sorely missed. I had a feeling you were stealing some Southern sunshine. You look wonderful and I bet Ern does to. Isn't it amazing what some "D's" can do for the psyche?

    Your runner is darling as is everything posted today. I envy your ability to meet with fellow bloggers and would just love to meet you one day! You just never know.

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  9. Welcome back, Rett - so good to see your blog pop up on my reading list! I look forward to seeing what else you've been up to over the past weeks.

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  10. Hi Rett.
    Welcome back! Sounds like a wonderful time in Florida ~ you picked the perfect winter to go that's for sure!
    Have a great day.
    Sue

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  11. WELCOME back! I just got back from 8 DAYS in Fl. and enjoyed every minute! I envy you being there that long....but no internet would have been HARD! Thanks for sharing the quilted pretties!!!! XO, Pinky

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  12. Well, now that you have had a little vacation...it is time to get back to blogging! Glad to hear you had a great time, welcome back.

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  13. Hi Rett, Glad you had a nice get-away to the sunshine state! Love your quilted runners - both are stunning. What a talented lady you are!
    Blessings and hugs, Beth

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  14. Hi Rett!!! So glad to see you back and so glad you had a wonderful, restful time! Those runners are too cute and what an adventure to meet new blogger buddies!

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  15. Welcome home, Rett. I've missed you! Glad you and hubby had a great vacation. Walks on the beach ~ yes, I'd love that. ~ Sarah

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  16. Welcome back to lovely, dreary, rainy Ohio! LOL I'm sure your weather is no better than ours down here, right? Glad you enjoyed warmer weather down in Fl. and happy to hear that you met bloggy friends in person. :-) Sue

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  17. Hi Rett, Welcome home and glad you had a fantastic time. How wonderful to meet other bloggers and you all had to much in common. I love your table runner. I will get you the pattern for he Twisted Table Topper. I am also, work on a very simple table runner, two pieces of fabric and four seams and a little pressing and all done. Take care, hugs, Jen

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  18. Welcome home! Though I admit I would have liked to have been in FL this winter. It has been brutal.

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  19. And you were missed...sounds life is good as you look good..always a good sign.....blessings

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  20. It looks like you had a wonderful blog break, Rett! It's always fun to meet blog friends. You are such a wonderful seamstress ..all you work is so beautiful!

    I recently came home form a trip to Sydney, Australia...I'm also trying tio catch up with everyone. It was a fast but fun trip!

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  21. Hi Rett!

    Nice to meet you! I found you over at someone's blog from Marty's cloche party. I read your comment about not being able to find cloches. Do you have a HomeGoods store nearby? If so, that is the place to find them. Also, a catalog, called Tenderheart Treasures (you can order online) has them in a set of three sizes. They are very reasonable. I hope this helps, and that you can find one. Your quilting is beautiful! I loved your Valentine table setting. The lemon pie looks scrumcious, and you made such sweet memories with the little tea party. Very sweet!

    Debbie

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  22. It's so great to have you back, I've missed you big time!!!! Oh and I'm beyond jealous that you were on the gulf coast AND got several projects done AND were able to meet up with some of your favorite bloggers.

    I'm just sitting here pouting in the snow. Welcome home.

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment. I read them all & each one is so very special to me & I try really hard to return the visit!

fondly,
~Rett~