For Me Only!

Last Sunday I began cutting out another table mat for me from the fabrics I showed in a recent post.
I finished the binding Thursday night.  That has got to be some kind of record for me!  Of course, I used the same pattern as the one I originally had planned for the Relay for Life donation quilt, with the purple fabric.  This one is in my colors!

My 18-year old GS has always had an appreciation for my quilts, and he and my son were waiting at my home while son's car was in the shop.  GS, who is ALL boy,  kept watching me as I quilted on this quilt on my Singer, and finally he asked if he could try sewing on my Viking.  I was surprised, but I got some muslin and batting, made a sandwich, and gave him about five minutes instruction on the machine's operation.  He had never touched a machine before.  He stitched some very straight lines, turned the fabric, and made a box, and then back up parallel to the straight line.  Then he asked how he could stitch some curvy lines, so I lowered the feed dogs, and made a few other adjustments.  He watched all that very closely, and then began "free motion" quilting, and also some hearts.  He did much better his first try than I did after several tries!  Then he wanted to go back to straight stitching so he could stitch his name, with "Aggie" maroon thread, I should add.   He used my Frixion pen to draw it, then stitched it.  He was amazed that the hot iron removed his marks.  He may never want to try it again, but he had fun, and it kept him occupied for a while.  He took it with him to show his mom.  I told him there are lots of guys who make lots of money with their quilting, and he was impressed.  Maybe he will try it again sometime, but I don't really expect him to become a quilter.  We did both enjoy the afternoon anyway. 

I worked in the yard about seven hours today, and I'm dog tired!  Finally got some begonias around the tree in the front yard, and all the lawn, front and back, mowed!  Also planted some sweet potato vines in the hanging wash pot in the back yard.  Hopefully all the hail and wind is over for a while here! 

While I was mowing, a large white-winged dove flew directly into the sunroom window, fell down in the rose garden, and died.  The partner made it over the roof, but that one didn't get high enough quickly enough.  Made me very sad, because I do love those birds!  Later it seemed several birds were sitting on the electric lines and making their soft, sad sound, as though in mourning. 

Hope all of you have a great weekend.  I may --- maybe--- try to sandwich that stack and whack again.  I'm still dreading doing that!

---"Love"