![RettabugA_zpsytrpk9gj[1] RettabugA_zpsytrpk9gj[1]](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-FJzUW3gGR3U/Ve2LoRIy8CI/AAAAAAAASrk/YIBIKXppsCE/RettabugA_zpsytrpk9gj%25255B1%25255D_thumb.gif?imgmax=800)
Labor Day has always had such a melancholy feel to it for me.
It is the official end of the summer, although certainly not the summer heat!
We're to be in the 90's today!
I'm *Laboring* for a good cause this weekend, by making Christmas stockings for our military men & women.
![2015-09-06 001 002 sm label 2015-09-06 001 002 sm label](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bf2rhkEy4dk/Ve2Lpy1IMQI/AAAAAAAASr0/L-sxW9v4UAQ/2015-09-06%252520001%252520002%252520sm%252520label_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
A member of my KISS quilt guild, Valerie Liambeis spearheads this project every year.
She solicits donations of fabric then cuts the stocking shapes as well as the cuffs & tucks several sets into little baggies.
The KISS members take the packets home & sew the stockings together & once they are all completed,
a Yo-Yo gets tucked down into the toe of the stocking & they are then filled with candy for the troops.
I think we made over 400 last year & will probably do as many this year, too.
As Valerie says “Wouldn't it be nice if they weren't needed at all?”
Another melancholy note….I've gathered the last of my roses & a few hydrangea blooms for an impromptu bouquet.
![DSC_3368 DSC_3368](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-dtL2gel9LVU/VeifGJhxDSI/AAAAAAAASj0/w8220CAUeds/DSC_3368_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
I'm sad to see the flowers end, although some yellow mums are now opening.
![DSC_3275 DSC_3275](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SwOpGkbqJy8/VeifowGWGKI/AAAAAAAASpU/iCFoyt84c54/DSC_3275_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
My sewing buddies have kept me quite busy this summer, taking me to several different quilt shows & events.
I truly do not know how I would manage without my sewing friends!
![2015-06-04 001 001 2015-06-04 001 001](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b6wjFEpI4q8/VeifHokU7bI/AAAAAAAASkE/ksgB4uxbmTs/2015-06-04%252520001%252520001_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
These GORGEOUS quilts are from a trunk show by Pat Knoechel, the sister of Eleanor Burns. (Quilt In A Day fame)
What a delightful presentation...she is a sweetheart!!
I was enthralled...both by the delicious quilts she shared but also by the spectacular quilting done on each one.
![2015-06-04 001 007 2015-06-04 001 007](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-BagsmUWPxLk/VeifJRR2ExI/AAAAAAAASkU/4bZi_7eb3AY/2015-06-04%252520001%252520007_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-06-04 001 008 2015-06-04 001 008](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-gJjyFdvFpwI/VeifLBHJFkI/AAAAAAAASkk/KH7J2soiO5s/2015-06-04%252520001%252520008_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Such wonderful variety!!
![2015-06-04 001 028 2015-06-04 001 028](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-wcL5v6WZKdQ/VeifMPa8OyI/AAAAAAAASk0/LA1cjyyuWpM/2015-06-04%252520001%252520028_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-06-04 001 034 2015-06-04 001 034](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-yxHx0Stk2TQ/VeifNx1OBBI/AAAAAAAASlE/owdb6XO0PKA/2015-06-04%252520001%252520034_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
That is Pat, taking the time to explain how each one was made.
![2015-06-04 001 013 2015-06-04 001 013](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-EfKInBxx6xg/VeifPpAMuoI/AAAAAAAASsg/JA6SOf94Tlk/2015-06-04%252520001%252520013_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-06-04 001 040 2015-06-04 001 040](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-RExee10A9iM/VeifQ66wzLI/AAAAAAAASlk/9Z2zoYT9BoE/2015-06-04%252520001%252520040_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Every color of the rainbow!!
![2015-06-04 001 025 2015-06-04 001 025](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--HE25qVYA5M/VeifSI0oZWI/AAAAAAAASl0/DatjuZH-GJ0/2015-06-04%252520001%252520025_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-06-04 001 043 2015-06-04 001 043](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DcobuaQkhSc/VeifTQoQwSI/AAAAAAAASmE/lV5yiYSUmwg/2015-06-04%252520001%252520043_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Some modern....
![2015-06-04 001 048 2015-06-04 001 048](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-M22_8ebXZ-Y/VeifUhW9NGI/AAAAAAAASmU/3pz3Amaz5vQ/2015-06-04%252520001%252520048_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Some traditional...
![2015-06-04 001 061 2015-06-04 001 061](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-bsVLp6P5g_M/VeifWdq9BvI/AAAAAAAASmk/33EN70fQxKM/2015-06-04%252520001%252520061_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Doesn't that quilting around the leaves look just like wind, tossing them about?
![2015-06-04 001 063 2015-06-04 001 063](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-fiWGUqrRkl8/VeifXw3JgMI/AAAAAAAASm0/pyvP66KY4Pk/2015-06-04%252520001%252520063_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Some were very little, like the wall hanging below..
![2015-06-04 001 064 2015-06-04 001 064](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-vCJ37Ko1KBI/VeifbHXVcuI/AAAAAAAASnE/4KAeOTBgjLQ/2015-06-04%252520001%252520064_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
with embellishments of sparkles & pearls. (look closely at the white pine trees to see the pearls)
![2015-06-04 001 055 2015-06-04 001 055](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2zRtqT6sGRo/VeifcqsEIsI/AAAAAAAASnU/OyLG0aqRKHY/2015-06-04%252520001%252520055_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Some really BIG ones...note that pretty scalloped edge...
![2015-06-04 001 069 2015-06-04 001 069](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Pmm4VZsrpDI/VeifeWeLw_I/AAAAAAAASnk/v-7NwY6sYdE/2015-06-04%252520001%252520069_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
I adore the following color combination!!!
Purple, green & cream or white is going to be my next quilt, for sure.
![2015-06-04 001 071 2015-06-04 001 071](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-d0ufKDD5BpM/VeiffkVthnI/AAAAAAAASn0/m5n3zCvTkS4/2015-06-04%252520001%252520071_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-06-04 001 073 2015-06-04 001 073](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-oKapSc183zY/VeifhBfI0LI/AAAAAAAASoE/m9E8V1Ewaxg/2015-06-04%252520001%252520073_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-06-04 001 065 2015-06-04 001 065](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-VHHJihkmWx8/Veifi9xN3tI/AAAAAAAASoU/5gY_mrYflqk/2015-06-04%252520001%252520065_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
![2015-06-04 001 059 2015-06-04 001 059](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r_Mnuo6UPaA/VeifkbcZLzI/AAAAAAAASok/vP6mJwc1pP0/2015-06-04%252520001%252520059_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
Actually, this black, tan & creamy-white one, below, was my 2nd most favorite of them all!
![2015-06-04 001 020 2015-06-04 001 020](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UFRBKvws4nU/Veifl9T-9pI/AAAAAAAASo0/O-zyposa8xo/2015-06-04%252520001%252520020_thumb.jpg?imgmax=800)
I just love this classy combination & frequently find myself wearing it, too.
The quilting on this one was really special.
![2015-06-04 001 022 2015-06-04 001 022](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-DLQ2GMllVZg/VeifntFWK8I/AAAAAAAASpE/p1SJcbiWclY/2015-06-04%252520001%252520022_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800)
Time to put away the flip flops & hang up the beach wear....looking forward to some cooler weather & all the lovely colors of Autumn.
Thanks for visiting The Gazebo House! You're always welcome here.
fondly,