Last weekend

Last weekend my BFF, Marjorie, and I went to St. Louis for the Mary Engelbreit Home Companion Workshop, organized by Mary herself and Barbara Martin, former editor of the MEHC magazine.  There were fabulous teachers, Charlotte Lyons, Kathy Curroto and Nancy Wethington, who guided us through lot of crafty classes! I had gone to two previous workshops, last year and this past June, but I think this was my favorite one yet.  Maybe it was the Christmas theme or the fact that Margie and I were together, but for whatever reason, I had the best time. We did a needle felting class with Kathy on Saturday morning and Charlotte snapped this picture of us modeling our scarves.

Saturday afternoon we decorated holiday sweaters with Charlotte, but somehow I missed taking pictures of that.  Barbara did take this photo of us with Queen Mary herself.

I can't tell you how nice Mary is.  Having the workshops at her studio is wonderful experience.  Everyone is so warm and welcoming and everything there is so CUTE!  After the classes on Saturday we had milk and cookies, and names were drawn for prizes. Look what I won!

 

And Mary even signed it for me...

On Sunday morning we made paper wreaths with Kathy, who provided us with a plethora of vintage Christmas ephemera to use in our creations. This is what mine looks like...

And in the afternoon we made little house ornaments with Charlotte.  Can you guess which one is Margie's and which one is mine?

I was thrilled to find this photo on Charlotte's blog.  We have been fans of Mary for over 20 years, so it was like a dream come true to spend the weekend together with her!

You can find lots more pictures of our weekend on Mary's website, Charlotte's blog and on my Flickr page.  And Tina has a fantastic slideshow on Knitting Contessa.  Enjoy!

I'm gonna be a grandma!

I know I have neglected this blog terribly.  Lots of excuses, none of them valid.  No new quilts to share, although I have completed a few more block of the month blocks...will try to post pics soon.

We moved my mom into a senior apartment complex on July 1.  I have made numerous trips up to Mansfield, trying to get her settled and get the house ready for an estate sale and then on the market.  Lots of stress there.

On the other side of my sandwich generation thing is good news...my daughter is 14 weeks pregnant with twins!   Here they are at 12 weeks. 

As soon as we find out their genders in a few weeks, I foresee lots of knitting, quilting and sewing of baby clothes to ensue.  Thinking about getting a serger...any advice on that?

I am leaving tomorrow to go to the Mary Engelbreit Home Companion Workshop in St. Louis.  It will be smaller that the one last year, but it is being held at the studio, a much cozier setting.  My BFF Marjorie is meeting me there...can't wait to see her and Mary and Charlotte and Kathy and all the other talented people who will be attending.  I promise to share our creations soon!