What a Short Sheeted Week!

Not only was Monday a holiday (We worked at the inn demolishing closets - it felt like a weekend day and that threw me off - ) but the day I took to drive to Wallburg on Thursday also shifted things -

Guess what I forgot to do?

Draw for our Forever Mine winner yesterday!  I thought yesterday was going to be today.  DUH.

So today - we will get to that - at the end of this post.  Just follow along with me!

THIS was on my brain for yesterday -

It had been on my mind since Wednesday - when an idea struck me as I unearthed a baggie of left over "Silver Linings" parts and decided to turn them into "something small" in red, white and blue.

This little table runner isn't as long as it could be, and is probably wider than most, but it will fit my table or my island, and I am looking forward to using it through those flag waving holidays that fall from Memorial Day all the way through Flag Day, Independence Day, and all the way to Veteran's Day in November.

I love a good old red white and blue quilted anything. And as the block parts were mostly done, this came together in no time. 

I made the triangles for the stars on Wednesday.  I pulled the corners and centers yesterday and sewed them up rather quickly.

Once the stars were made - it didn't take long to assemble this - 

To load it in the long arm and start the quilting -

Even the quilting was done rather quickly -

I love how the sunlight coming through my side windows highlights the design!  I'm getting it ready to trim here before adding binding.

Even the binding application was a quick job.

Something fun and sweet on the back!

I was going to dig for something all stars and stripes - but this ice cream sundae and lollipops and sweets fabric called out to me.  It says SUMMER FUN!  And is reminiscent of 4th of July parades and happy memories of summer childhood.

Unearthed in the Wallburg run -

My brother Mark and I visiting my grandparents in Minnesota.  I had to be in Kindergarten here - that's my first pair of glasses. (I loved them - thought they were BEEEAAAUUUUTIFUL!)  which makes Mark around 2.

We are wearing matching gingham flannel jammies made by my mom.

See the cup that Mark is holding?  Grandma had the whole set.  I remember them so vividly.  We used to have root beer floats in them.

So later on when I spied them in an antique mall - the same set, with the carrier - they came home with me.

I'd love to get this photo restored.

And every time I use this same pink lined cup - I think of Mark. I can't believe he's been gone 2 1/2 years now.  The days, weeks, months and years are flying by.

Today I turn 59.  An age that Mark will never get to see.  But I still feel him with me with every milestone reached.

My sincere thanks go out to those who have sent cards - I saved them all and opened them over breakfast this morning.

Thank you, everyone -  my day is starting on such a happy note!

59.  Holy Moly.  How did I get here?

Happy to spend it with this girl!

The plan is - more storage room re-do.  The Hubs has already headed to Lowes for things we need.  I know there is much power sanding in our future complete with loads of dust.

Painting may not happen till tomorrow - but I'll take photos so you can see the update.

I haven't started stitching the binding on the red, white and blue thing yet - maybe tonight.

I'm still going through the tubs of stuff I brought from Wallburg on Thursday - Good grief.  SO.MUCH.STUFF.

One bin is full of denim pieces - Casden love's Jeff's denim quilt, so I think he needs a couch sized version all his own.  That should sew some of that down!

But still.  On the one hand I am grateful - I have had enough on hand to be creative through a very long pandemic year.  Without making much of a dent! LOL!

On the other hand - sometimes I feel like I can't breathe, but don't want it to to away either.  I know I'm not the only one who feels this way.

We just keep working at it!

Okay - let's do that drawing thing, shall we?

We are going to gift away a Forever Mine PDF pattern including both the wall quilt/topper and table runner to one lucky winner! 

Not only that - because Valentine's Day is about love, appreciation, friendship and sharing - I'm going to also send a free Forever Mine pattern to the winner's friend of their choosing!

Irene at Cotton to Quilts will also be sending a Facets of Red fabric roll and a red String Time strip pack to our lucky winner!

As you can see from this photo, she's got fabric rolls in reds, pinks, aqua/turquoise and our much beloved and sought after neutrals available in the Cotton to Quilts online shop. 

The String Time strip packs are just what they sound like - String Time packages come with 180 different 10" long strings of varying widths cut from 20 different fabrics providing variety and convenience!

Who is entry 2096 of 6970 entries?

Jayne Werren!

Jayne, please reply with your shipping address to the email sent to the address you provided with your entry!  

And don't forget to include the name and email address of the friend you would also like me to send a Forever Mine pattern to!

Your fabrics will be coming directly from Irene at  Cotton to Quilts.  Congrats!

And there is more Forever Mine Gift-Away fun to come - be watching for my next Gift-Away post coming next week!

Okay - tie to get this show on the road!

Zoey is wishing everyone a splendiferous weekend!

As am I.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Don't sit passively by waiting for what this day will bring. 

Get in and discover!⁣

We'll catch you back here on Monday!