I am as ready as I’ll ever be for the eclipse.

Here in Western NC we should be pretty close to  THE “Eclipse in Totality”.  However, this won’t be my first rodeo OR my first solar eclipse 😃.  I recall when I was quite young, that  my mom closed all the drapes in both our living room and  dining room for fear that either I or one of my brothers or sister would peek out at the sun and go blind.  This photo is one I saw on the internet the other day.  It is from 1963.  Let’s see, I would have been in 2nd or 3rd grade at the time of this  photo’s eclipse. I bet that’s why I was home with my mom and the drapes drawn tightly closed. She was keeping her babies safe! LOL.  Anyhooo, look closely at the photo. WTH is the teacher doing? Watching the eclipse????

Here at our house,  we did purchase eclipse-watching glasses back in March but I’m not too sure I’ll trust them.  Have I heard this correctly??? I heard that IF your glasses don’t say NASA on them they are probably counterfeit?  Really??? I bet those darn counterfeiters could have the word NASA  stamped on their glasses in a jiffy …don’t ya think?

OK on to something a bit more sewing and quilting related.

I’m going to be hosting a party (a BIG YEAR birthday party) for my hub. I mean…I’m going all out… a band playing his favorite music and everything!! Now, if you know me, I’m a good idea generator but not so much of a good planner.  LUCKILY for me, one of my sisters-in-law LOVES to entertain and cook and ….well, you get the idea.  But get this…She has VOLUNTEERED to plan and organize (and cook for) the whole soiree.  FYI, I just Googled the word soiree, so that I would spell it correctly and it says:  an elegant evening gathering, usually at someone’s home. The jeans and t-shirt you wear to a regular party won’t cut it — a soiree requires far fancier attire.

Oopsie Daisy — MY soiree will not be quite so elegant…jeans WILL BE welcome as will formal attire if you so desire *wink, wink.  The band will be dressed in their usual beachy ‘uniforms’ .   Click here to see their fabulous song list.  Got a request? We’ll have them play it for you!!

OH, you are probably wondering where the sewing comes in.  Well, I have been busily sewing coasters for the party.  The coasters have words embroidered on them that are all about the hubster.  Here is an unfinished version to give you the idea.

Road trip to Foust Textiles

The fabric that I am using for the coasters came from a warehouse  called Foust Textiles in Kings Mountain, NC.  A group of us from our guild took a road trip there last week.  TALK about BARGAINS!! The only disadvantage is that you have to buy the whole bolt of fabric.  From what I understand, usually a lot more folks from the guild go at the same time so they can share bolts. Didn’t work out that way this time but I got some beauteous fabrics!

The following video gives you a glimpse into the warehouse. Sorry that I held my camera vertically rather than horizontally.

At the end of the video, I show the bolts that I purchased minus the brown brushed corduroy and a bolt of Minnie Mouse fleece and a bolt of Mickey Mouse fleece to make my twin grandbabies a blankie/quilt.

Well, I’ve got to end this. I have so much more to talk about but I’ll save it for next time.

Happy Sewing and Quilting,

PattyAnne