When You Just Can’t Focus

Today is a crazy day. So much to be done and my mind is just wandering from one thing to the next with little actually being accomplished.  Baby Girl is just far too content on the inside and my daughter-in-law is having labor induced today.  So far things are going just fine but I am excited for the baby’s arrival and, as any mother would be, empathizing with my DIL and remembering how it was to deliver the first child. Exciting, nerve wracking, lots of unknowns. My DIL is a physician which means she has less of the “unknowns” than I did but still… until you experience it, you don’t really know what it will be like.

So I am distracting myself and playing in the sewing room. It is so cold out – we got a dusting of snow which often seems to happen just when my daffodils are blooming.

As for projects, I have a number of things stacked up in the sewing room!  My first priority is a bunting I am making for Baby Girl. I have each flag ready to go. I will applique her name on it when I find out what it is. Until then, I can’t really do anymore on this.

I am using gray fabric for the letters. I suspect I will be working on this tomorrow!

Over the weekend I started to cut out a shirt. I didn’t have quite enough for the entire layout and figured I would run over to the store and pick up another yard of this gorgeous charcoal gray knit.  However, they are out and it isn’t coming back.  🙁  So, I am changing plans and will make the sleeveless version. It is cute and will be a good way to make sure the pattern fits correctly. If I am happy with it, I want to make it with the three quarter length sleeve and a cowl neck. I love the  version with the cross over in front.

When I got the pieces cut out, I realized I didn’t have the right needle for my machine. Clearly, this just wasn’t in the cards for me and set it aside. I will go pick up needles later today!

Moving on from the shirt, I decided to cut pieces for a baby quilt I am making for my niece. Her third child, a girl, is due at the end of the month. I am using the pattern, When You Wish, by Kristy at Bonjour Quilts.  It is a free download when you sign up for her newsletter.

I had plenty of fabrics to choose from and they create a nice rainbow effect.

This quilt is just a very effective arrangement of HST’s. I have most of the HST’s completed and have begun stitching them together. I love the look.  I am saving my HST trimmings. Some time ago, I saw something on Kitty Wilkin’s blog, Nightquilter.com, about leaving the trimmings out for the birds and seeing them in nests in the spring.  We are just coming into spring and we have a plethora of birds so I want to see if we get any colorful nesting going on!

I plan to gather a few more and put them out in a suet feeder. I will let you know if I get any results.

Ok – last thing for today — I made this awesome frosting over the weekend! (Talk about jumping into a completely unrelated subject!)  Julia and I were making a treat for my husband to celebrate a (work-related) special accomplishment. But he can’t have dairy products so I was looking for a new way to ice a cake. The cake was chocolate and it seemed like this Peanut Butter frosting recipe would be a fun one to try. Oh. My. Gosh! It was amazing.

Peanut butter, coconut oil, almond milk and powdered sugar. Amazing. Not at all healthy and three zillion calories, but for a treat? So yummy.  Here is a link if you would like to give it a try.

That is the latest and greatest. I will be on pins and needles (ugh, terrible play on words) all day. Hoping for a swift delivery of Baby Girl and that her amazing mama does well throughout the process.

26 thoughts on “When You Just Can’t Focus

  1. karen s

    I think you’ve got a great excuse for being distracted! But you’ve still got a lot of great projects underway when life settles down a little. That top is adorable, BTW. You’ve got to show it off when you finish up your versions. (I don’t have any dairy issues, but that icing would definitely be welcome at my house 😉 Keep us updated on the new arrival!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Thanks so much Karen! The icing was amazing!! It was fairly rich so I didn’t put it on terribly thick. Know what I mean? But it was great with the chocolate. Yum!
      I have high hopes for the shirt. I will get to work on it asap — and I will post it whether good or bad – Hoping it turns out well tho.

      Reply
  2. Kitty

    Oooh sounds like a legit distracting day—best wishes for a smooth labor and delivery for your DIL! Looks like you are doing a great job of staying busy! <3

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Thank you Kitty! It is hard being so far away from the kids. No baby yet — hopefully soon. First babies certainly take forever. 🙂

      Reply
  3. Brenda Ackerman

    You have every reason to be distracted today. Best of wishes for a speedy, smooth delivery for your DIL and for your Son handling all of his unknown excitements and worries also. Everything you have shown are very pretty and will all be wonderful when they are completed. Have a great day thinking about your new Granddaughter! Congratulations!!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Thank you Brenda – yes, so exciting and worrisome all at the same time. Hopefully I will hear some news soon. No baby yet. 🙂

      Reply
  4. Yvonne @Quilting Jetgirl

    I will be thinking of you all and wishing for a quick, uncomplicated delivers. We had a slight dusting of snow overnight as well. When You Wish looks like a great project to work on for today. <3

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      The snow was a treat to wake up to this morning. It has melted off the for the most part now though. Keeping busy today, waiting for baby girl to arrive. 🙂

      Reply
  5. Kristi

    I popped onto your blog this morning to see if there was any news. I don’t think I would be able to focus either! Sending lots of positive thoughts for a smooth delivery.

    Reply
  6. JanineMarie

    We are definitely benefitting from your distractibility today with all the goodness to see here. The birds will love your little scraps, and it will be fun for you to see them in the nests. The baby quilt is so pretty. It will be fun for your family to have two little girls so close in age. I definitely have to try that frosting–bring on anything with peanut butter! Okay, back to sending good thoughts for that little grand baby that’s just taking her sweet time. Looking forward to the happy news of her arrival!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      I think you will love the peanut butter icing – it is crazy good!
      I will let you know when baby arrives — she is taking way too long in my opinion! (probably in her mama’s opinion as well!)

      Reply
  7. Lisa

    I’m not surprised that you have been on pins and needles. Is she here yet? Does she have a name. Well you did have a lot to keep you busy. I think the sleeveless version of the shirt will be very nice and I love the rainbow star.

    Reply
  8. Linda

    I can’t wait to hear your wonderful news! Hopefully you will update us on IG – sending prayers for the Mom and baby – and for you. 😉
    That top – soooo pretty! I’ll look forward to seeing the sleeveless version. I can’t believe you already have most of the HSTs made for that quilt. I downloaded it and am going to try to make it this year. It’s just so neat, and I can’t believe it’s a free pattern.
    Omg that frosting looks amazing. I’m not vegan (or even healthy for that matter), but that website has some really good sounding recipes on it. Thanks for the link. Did your hubby like it?

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      He loved the frosting Linda and vegan does not equate to healthy, at least not with this recipe!
      The star quilt goes together quickly. You’ll enjoy it. I want to do one with shimmery holiday colors- wouldn’t that be cool!
      No baby yet- her poor mama is getting tired!! I hope it isn’t much longer.

      Reply
  9. Mari

    Well, no wonder you can’t focus! The quilt will be lovely and so will your top when you get back to it. Hope you are distracted by baby pictures very soon!

    Reply
  10. Kristie Cook

    Congrats on the new addition! Waiting is always hard to do but I’m sure it will be worth the wait! I’ve never thought about leaving my sewing “debris” for the birds. Since I save them all in little baggies {for a project I have in mind} I’ll make sure to share some this Spring. Looking forward to seeing how your shirt turns out – I really like that pattern!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Hi Kristie:
      I haven’t ever tried this with the birds. I hope it works though. It would be kinda cool to see the strips worked into a nest or two. I will post about it if I see any results.

      Thanks for coming by!!

      Reply
  11. Kaholly

    Thinking of you….waiting….and waiting…..and waiting! Hope all goes well! Love your projects, and will definitely try that frosting! Looks so yummy! XO

    Reply
  12. Abigail @cut&alter

    Oh I totally get the busy all day and yet not focussed thing – my last week seems to have been just that. I love fabric you have chosen for your rainbow start quilt – it will be lovely. In previous years I put trimmings and wool threads in a suet feeder exactly for this reason – they have always remained in the suet feeder until summer untouched – will be interesting to see if you have any takers!

    Reply
    1. Bernie Post author

      Abigail — that is so interesting. I hope some birds will use the trimmings. It remains to be seen! I will let you know though.

      Reply

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