Freda's Hive

I'm always so behind these days. My life continues to be kind of topsy tervy right now but I'm learning to be patient with myself.

I love red and Valentine's Day. I love that it is just a sweet day and I take it with a no obligation point of view. I choose to celebrate in fabric because the prints for valentines look so happy.

I have very fond memories of sending valentines to my classmates and enjoying the valentines sent to me. I used to keep the valentines long after February ended.

I hope you had a nice day. We spent it at home watching a movie and eating Chinese take-out with chocolate covered strawberries for dessert. I can't imagine a better way to celebrate.

-nanette

The time has finally come for Mason to leave to have his missionary training in Argentina. Because of visa problems, his departure was delayed several weeks. It was a little disconcerting to him to have that happen but he handled it well and the time passed quickly. At least to me. Mason takes things in his stride and I know that quality will serve him well while he is in Uruguay and away from home for 2 years.

I know every mother thinks her kids are special, and they should. Mason is one of a kind. As the youngest and with 7 sisters, it is a unique family placement for him. But Mason has always had this sense about himself. He is confident, fun and crazy, and also able to adapt and make friends wherever and whatever he is doing. And he came that way. No amount of mothering made him that way, he just is. He has wanted to serve a mission for the LDS church for as long as I can remember. This was his goal and not something I expected of him. You can read more about him (if you want) in this post. He is just a great kid. In the last 6 weeks he has been my chauffeur and going with me to all my doctor appointments and physical therapy. When things were tough he would come old my hand or tell me a story to keep my mind off the exercises. He's been a big help with the girls, too.

In the short time his mission was delayed, our relationship and friendship grew to a new level. I did shed the typical mom tears at the airport but I really have peace that this is perfect for Mason. He called me when he arrived and told me how much fun it was just being with guys like him and talking to people about our church on the airplane. Typical Mason - making friends wherever he goes.

This is the city of Montevideo Uruguay where he will be headed after his training. It is a South American city with a strong Italian/European influence. He will also, of course, spend time in the countryside of Uruguay. I do know missions are hard and the work is completely selfless. But I do believe he can handle it and it will make him grow in ways that will make him a strong man.

So I have 2 children serving LDS missions now with Laurie in Washington and Mason going to Uruguay. I miss them terribly but I'm a delighted mother to have them choose to spend time serving others at their young ages. They are doing things I could never have the courage or desire to do. It is incredible when we see our children move into the world and contribute.

Pam Kitty Morning sent me this Mason soda bottle. I have it in my sewing room. It is kind of whimsical to me and represents the silly part of Mason.

I'm still not sewing much or blogging. I miss my old routine terribly. My recovery from the bursitis and other complications will take me more months but I'm working hard to get to a full functioning life.

-nanette

I thought I had my Feb 2014 Sew Sweet Block finished but when I looked at my block compared to Clover and Violet's block, I realize I did something wrong. So I will probably be making another block.

I looked at the pictures and directions on Clover and Violet. I am not a newbie when it comes to log cabin basics. I think I cut the strips out okay.

But mine isn't exactly like the sample. Hmm. Oh well. It was fun to make with cute aqua and red fabric. I'll make a new one and pay more attention. I can always use this block in a new UFO sampler quilt when I get around to making a new one. I love that Donna included me in her bee. I had forgotten how fun a sewing bee is. You can always sew along with us at home and keep your own blocks as we make them. More is better. Right?

-nanette

I'm happy to be included in the block swap at Donna's Lavender Nest. January is Donna's month. We know Donna loves lavender so that is the color Donna chose and she asked us to use this Jacob's Ladder pattern for a 12" block. I had a pretty floral lavender fabric in my stash ready to make this block. I've got to mail it off (I'm late) to Donna post-haste. It was fun to just sew one block. It was a nice fast and complete project for me to make in my limited sewing situation. I hope Donna likes it.

-nanette

I haven't really sewn anything since before Thanksgiving last year. It has been so long since I've been able to live my normal life but I'm getting better. And I'm reclaiming my sewing machine.

I decided to ease with short spurts of sewing and with a simple project. I made this table heart above a couple years ago. I needed a gift for a friend and thought it was a perfect little project to remake.

I love working with 2.5" squares. And I really think valentine fabrics are so sweet. I used a combination of reds from my stash including some Pam Kitty fabrics.

I trimmed the heart and sandwiched the heart with a batting scrap and some valentine fabric. Then I machine quilted the blocks in an X pattern. Simple. Still, even with a simple project, I had some unpicking to do. I'm just a little rusty but I'll get it all back, soon.

All of you that are sewing along with Lori, you can put some squares together, too. See Lori's blog and The Jolly Jabber for instructions. Patchwork squares make me happy.

-nanette

So it is tree week in Lori's blog tour. I really want to make some trees. I haven't yet but I think they are perfect. I'm still not sewing yet but I'm feeling about 35% improved. I'm working hard to make it back to my real life.

I swiped these from the Jolly Jabber. The tree is really well designed. Of course!

This is Fat Quarter Shop's notion of the month. And I want one!! I can think of so many times I've needed something like this. What a great idea. It is on sale 20% off but also out of stock. However, I'm on a waiting list.

I'm off to physical therapy.

-nanette

At the end of the year I love to look around for fun calendars for the new year. Sometimes it is hard to decide which ones I like best.

I have to have a quilt calendar for my sewing room, right? This calendar is filled with photos of modern quilts. It's something a little different to hang on the wall this year.

For my desk at work I chose this calendar called Backstreets. It has photos of interesting streets and houses all over the world.

I love colorful houses in interesting shapes. I'm not much of a traveler so this calendar can take me to places I'll never visit.

I also got a little calendar to keep right by the phone. It is a vintage desktop calendar. I got it from this little Etsy shop called Writeables.

It can sit anywhere and I can look at the pretty reproduction vintage gift wrap that is behind each month.

The designs are really cute and just darling from the 50s-60s.

I think these months are my favorite. I'm ready for the new year now. Christmas is put away and 2013 is a memory of blessings and trials. I wonder what 2014 brings....

-nanette

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