Views of Egypt

I'll show a few pictures of Egypt in this post and then the next post I'll share some of Paris, it was hard to only pick a few photos...I have soooo many. Then I'll get back to quilting posts, after all this is a quilting blog. The Great Pyramids are incredible, DH went inside one of them, apparently I didn't miss much.

View from the front of the Sphinx.

Egyptian cat taking a rest.

This temple was on an island, they had to move the entire thing when the Dam was built.

Spice market.

Abu Simbel, this temple was almost completely covered in sand when it was discovered.

Our camel ride in the dessert, those camels do nothing but complain the entire ride.

Taking a rest after a long ride.

Can't remember the name of this temple.

Egyptian script.

Interesting sign.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures.
Until next time.

Home Sweet Home

Bonjour,
It's good to be home after 3 weeks of busy traveling around Egypt and Paris. We were very lucky the volcano didn't interrupt our vacation one bit, we arrived in Paris only hours before the airports closed and by the time our departure flight came along the airports were opened again. We heard some pretty bad story's of people trying to get home for as long as 8 days or more. The first 10 days of our trip we tromped around Egypt visiting some amazing temples and pyramids. It was an experience like nothing I've ever seen or done. We sailed in a Felucca, cruised the Nile, went for a camel ride in the dessert and slept 2 nights on a train. Egypt is an amazing place but it also has it's downside with Cairo being so crowded and noisy. Can you believe a city with 40 million people and no controlled intersections? I took a picture of one traffic light we saw and it was broken. I could go on and on about this place, more in another post.

I LOVE Paris, we had another 10 days to stroll around Paris. It's even more beautiful and romantic than I imagined. We rented an apartment for the entire stay and did day trips around and about the city. Our little area was one block from the Seine river with it's many bridges and right in the middle of some of the best shops, Brasseries, Patisseries, tea shops, chocolate shops, everything was walking distance. The streets are amazing and every day we found new places to walk and things to discover. For the trips farther away we took the Metro. Paris has one of the oldest subways in the world with 14 lines and we found it easy to master even with having few mishaps with getting through the turnstiles. We hit the record for the number of pictures taken for this trip, I think we hit over 1,400 pictures. I won't bore you with all of them, maybe just a few.

Anyway I'm still exhausted from the flight, we got in late last night which would have been 6am Paris time. It'll take me a couple of days to feel normal again.
More in the next post. 
au revoir

Late Birthdays

I love it when Birthday gifts arrive late, especially because I was completely caught off guard and had NO idea why Sharon would be sending me something. Woohoo....what a fantastic surprise! My Birthday was 2 months ago why would I suspect anything, she even included a big birthday candle, you should smell it.....Mmmmm coconut, as soon as I opened the box I could smell it. She had everything wrap separately in tissue paper....it's just like Christmas....oops it's my birthday. The Hi! customer card looks interesting, wasn't sure if she accidentally dropped this in the box but it turned out to be a needlebook, it has needles and threader inside. I have a few antique ones I've been collecting. The note pad is funny, it says "Making a List and Chicken it Thrice", I don't often check my list 3 times. Sharon must have remembered I collect chickens. There's a cute tray with flowers, maybe I'll use it in my living room for a pretty place to keep pins and needles. There's some funny M&M's tucked in the box, I've never seen Strawberry Peanut butter M&M or Wildly Cherry either for that matter, I better hide these quick so my DH doesn't see them, he has a big sweet tooth or three. Oh my, I had so much fun opening this box, thanks Sharon for thinking of me.

Look at this sweet little package all tied up pretty.....it's a little quilt. Awww.....I LOVE IT!

Okay....now to stop playing and get back to packing. The temperatures in Cairo this week are mid 80's to 90's....oh boy that's warm. Sat is coming very fast!
Happy Stitching and have a great Easter weekend.

Weekend Project

I spent most of the weekend prepping these Wool Garden Blocks, my new favourite sewing notion is Misty Fuse. Now I can start stitching without any pins to get in the way or worry about glue not sticking. The first 2 blocks pictured, I had previously finished, the next 10 I'll be stitching on the long flights coming up soon. The wool in these kits is outstanding and I'm enjoying making each one. Now to start packing!

Happy Stitching, until next time. Wendy

It's been a rough week so far with an unpleasant accident between my finger and rotary blade and then waking up looking like someone had taken red paint to my eye ball, it doesn't hurt but it looks like I've been in a fight or something....not sure what happened. I hope I don't scare anyone.....I get scared when I look myself in the mirror....eek, maybe I should make a patch....yeah....the first quilted eye patch....I could patent that and sell lots....LOL. Anyway, my finger is recovering and the doctor said it will be about a week for the red to go away. I had big plans to finish the alternate blocks and sashing for the Cobblestone Lane quilt, it's still in progress and really nothing to show...my big plans fell apart.  Well onto more exciting things.....In just over a week, I'll soon be half way around the world visiting here and here....maybe riding a friendly camel...LOL. No sewing will be going on but I have plans for stitching while on the plane.

Have a good weekend, Thanks for stopping by, until next time.

Spring Is Here!

Happy first day of spring. I stitched this pattern and did a little of my own customizing to fit this frame. If you haven't seen The Painted Quilt free designs each month check it out here. You won't be disappointed, her designs are wonderful.

My second wool block is finished. I'm really enjoying these blocks, each one is better than the last one.

Until next time, Happy Stitching.

Weekend Update

Quilting retreats are so much fun, not only do you get to spend the weekend with other quilters who are just as passionate about fabric and quilting as you are, but they spoil you with goodies too. Here are some of the goodies given to each person at the retreat. One of the ladies made two potholders for each person, I love the green potholders I received. I can see there are a few things missing....the obvious item being chocolate, there's only one little chocolate nibble left and I gave the cookies to my DH. Also missing is a piece of reproduction fabric that I've already made into 9 patches.

Why does that pink fabric look orange....Grrrr....I need to learn how to take better pictures. This fabric is from the new Fig Tree line, I'm using two charm packs to make these stars. Not sure yet how many I can make, I'll keep making them until I run of of squares.

This project has been sitting in my closet for a very long time. I was hoping to get the top assembled but forgot there are six ladybugs to applique on the background squares and I wasn't sure if I liked the red fabric I had....so it all came to a screeching halt. I'd like to add the ladybugs before putting the top together.

I have to take a new picture of the wool block I was working on, so hopefully I'll have that ready for the next time.

Happy Quilting, until next time.