Trying to remember to breathe.....

As summer ends, life seems to go into overdrive.

There is a very cute teacher who needs help moving into her new school and new classroom.

This same sweet teacher is a bit overwhelmed at her changing body and I got the frantic call "Mom can you possibly sew some maternity clothes....nothing in my closet fits".

So I appreciate any and all moments to breathe and relax, and want to share a place that fits the bill perfectly! Just a small drive from this lovely ocean view......

....is Roger's Gardens in Corona Del Mar. Certainly the Disneyland of retail nurseries and a lovely place to spend some relaxing time.

Along with some beautiful plants and flowers, there is also a gift shop that fills my mind with inspiration.

The flowers feed my soul.....

But there are gourmet goodies to feed the body too!

There are lots of Fall decorations which tells me that cooler days can't be too far away.

Time is coming to decorate tables with pumpkins and Fall quilts....

But can Christmas be that far behind????

There are things that are whimsical and fun.....

....and lovely ocean colored items to extend the summer dream for a while longer.

The flowers are breath taking...

....and we couldn't resist bringing a few things home for our own gardens.

But the sweetest flower still has to be this little darling....dressed in ruffles and more ruffles, and just as cute as can be.

So if you are feeling as overwhelmed as I am this week I think the perfect antidote is ocean, flowers and baby hugs.

Wishing you all as restful a week as is possible!!!

On a hot summers day.....

I am testing a theory. If you cut out quilt kits with sherbet colored fabrics......

.....throw in some beachy looking fabrics you won in a blog contest, and put the ceiling fan on HIGH. Does it make you feel any more comfortable????

I guess the answer is YES!!!! Bailey and I are getting lots accomplished. I have a quilt retreat to go to in a few weeks and am even more excited now that my kits are cut.

Stay cool.....if you can.

Sew Delightful....

Ruffles.....

and bows.....

make for such a sweet dress....

for a deserving little princess!!!!!

Mary and Breit.....

I am very good at making quilts.....never so good at finishing them. But I do have a system.

I finish the top, cut the back ( or piece to fit), create the binding and then hang the whole kaboodle in the closet on a hanger.

My thought is....when there is that pocket of time to machine quilt, I will be ready to go.

So last week gave me those moments to machine quilt and it became a very productive week!!!

I worked on my Mary Englebreit stash of quilts in preparation for a "Isn't it great...Oma is 88" party that we are having for my Mom next month.

I think the quilts will be a bright accent for a very fun and festive day.

My dear friend Miss Polka Dot ( who needs to get back to blogging....please) shared with me the most fun pattern.

This quilt began as an assortment of 5 inch squares and then using a template, you swiss cheese the heck out of it and it becomes THIS!!!!

I won't tell you WHEN we worked on this...but it is now quilted, bound and makes me remember our fun time at camp each time I see it.

Sometimes it seems you will never use up all of your scraps...but this quilt is "very merry" too.

A girl can never have enough hearts....and I love to quilt hearts into most of my quilts.

Yep....still another ME quilt. I just love her cheeriness and miss her creative magazine very much.

I used a new stencil on this one.....flowers and leaves. Very Mary like, don't you agree????

Miss Bailey said this one was her personal favorite. I have a hard time choosing because each one was fun to make and I am overjoyed they are no longer on in my UFO closet.

But there are LOTS more hanging there....time to get SEW busy!!!

Always a reason to celebrate....

Oma loves celebrations....and a great meal too!

So recently she said "we need to celebrate Dustin and Meghan's happy news" and Las Brisas in Laguna Beach was where she insisted we go.

It was the same place we celebrated our first child to be....and there is a sweetness to life coming full circle.

The brunch is the yummiest and the view overlooking the ocean is the best.

It was a time for two Oma's to enjoy a very sweet guest....

.....for Gramps to show how he excels at taking care of Clare.

....for Meghan to practice her Mom skills.

We love that many generations can join to celebrate together.

Oma loves nothing more than to be with her Grandchildren...and now her

Great Grandchildren.

One more photo to document a day that we will always cherish....

Some final hugs and kisses....

...and our Mom to be even found a cute shop to further inspire the nursery of her dreams.

....looks like the perfect rug for the perfect baby. So much to celebrate, so much to look forward to.

Talk about SEW BLESSED!!!!!

I have shared before how I love the Blog world...but I really LOVE blogs. Even more so when I find out I have WON a wonderful giveaway!!!!!

This picture shows the Moda goodness I will be receiving!!! A delightful gift from Fat Quarterly magazine and you can't even imagine how excited I am!!!!

....and I won this too, from the French General!!!! This prize I won in July, but I am still waiting to get my goodness. I follow the blog The Warp and the Weft and am guessing they are all still in France enjoying their summer Chateau. Now that it a prize I would LOVE to win....a restful stay in the French countryside, sipping wine and eating cheese.

But I am still very grateful to be blessed with all of this fabric goodness. Lovely to win and feeling very grateful.