20 In Articles

a SIMPLY SPLENDID weekend

We had a delightful weekend and I spent a LOT of time sewing! I’m making ALL of our Christmas presents this year {there will be more posted on Christmas thoughts later} and I was delighted to spend time behind Kenny {the new Kenmore from DaddyBoy… which I LOVE btw}, Vicky {the Viking embroidery machine} and Sally {my Singer serger}. Yes, I had a full blown sweatshop running here and you can see my fuel pictured above. I wish I could show you what I was working on but those of you on my list wouldn’t be surprised… maybe I’ll give you a sneak peek later on this week!

After I finished up some of my projects I went back to that pesky quilt. Are y’all so tired of hearing about that silly little quilt? Well, I decided I wanted to LOVE it and not just LIKE it. So I went back and quilted it. Just X’s across all the squares. I washed it. And well, now I LOVE it. It’s wrinkly, soft, and even better than before. I came home from a baby shower today and Justin had John Martin wrapped in it… I thought my heart would melt!


Sometimes I leave y’all hanging on previous posts, one of which is the floors… we had an industrial dehumidifier in here for 5 or 6 days and it took care of most of our problems. The only person who notices what little “water damage” we have is me. So, we’re thankfully leaving well enough alone and the insurance people CANCELLED the claim! Praise the Lord! The 2nd thing I’ve left y’all hangin’ on is my Aunt Glenny. She is home and thankfully doing better than expected. Her speech is showing signs of improvement and she is comfortable. I look forward to seeing her over Thanksgiving! Thank you for your prayers for her!

Speaking of family and Thanksgiving, we are planning to spend the Thanksgiving holiday at the farm with Mom and DaddyBoy and the rest of my extended family. I have a mission while I’m there {I’m telling you so to hold myself accountable}: record some family history. I’ve been reading Rick Bragg‘s newest book The Prince of Frogtown and Justin and I listened to Ava’s Man {which I’ve previously read, along with All Over but the Shoutin’} on the way home from NC last month. Bragg has shown me just how little I know about my family. And because tomorrow is not guaranteed I intend to spend some time with my living grandparents and get some history! Bragg is phenomenal story teller. If you’ve never read any of his books I suggest you start with All Over but the Shoutin’. He grew up in Jacksonville, AL, which is not far from a place we hold near & dear, Anniston. We lived there for one very precious year; Morgan was born there. Anniston is a BEAUTIFUL small town in the foothills of the Appalachian mountains with kind people and a lot of charm, and holds sweet memories for us.

———————————————————

In other news, I cleaned up the blog this weekend… can you tell? Narrower margins and a new search bar! I was going to attempt to add “labels” to all my previous posts, but I’ve been at this too long and the time it would take to categorize all previous posts made my head spin. So, if you’ve read something on here before and want to find it again just do a search and hopefully it will pop up!

I hope each of you had a delightful weekend too!

You Might Also Like

  • becky
    November 16, 2008 at 9:34 pm

    i spied that search bar earlier today and found myself pea green with envy!! and strangely, i have though about your floors a couple of times in the last few days, but figured you would think i was over-stalking if i emailed you to ask!!

    PTL for aunt Glenny!! that is great news. i had a tape of my meemew telling me all about the “great depression” and can’t find it anywhere! so treasure all that historical yumminess you get during thanksgiving! maybe our cars will pass down I-65!! be safe!!

    and i DO love that polka dot material on your quilt!

  • Jennie-Marie
    November 16, 2008 at 9:57 pm

    I have a quilt of all my chi o shirts that you have got to see. Its awesome, not your typical “t-shirt” quilt. I will try to take a picture and send it to you.
    I did want to tell you, I know Dothan is not too far down the road but if you need a pit stop on the way to the farm we would love to see you!

  • Dianne
    November 17, 2008 at 5:05 am

    I LOVE your quilt now too. The X’s were a great idea. You are so smart. I have thought about your floors and your aunt. So glad you answered both here. Also, glad to hear you’re going to the Farm for Thanksgiving. I know your parents want to squeeze those kids.

  • erika
    November 17, 2008 at 5:28 am

    love your quilt! i want one! i wish i had spent the weekend in a sweat shop, instead i feel like i was in some sort of vegetative state from overstimulation of design work last week… and i’m headed out for more this morning… no rest for the weary (til next week!). can’t wait to see you! is Justin coming today?
    xoxo
    mommasis

  • Tara McClendon
    November 17, 2008 at 6:05 am

    Oooh I wish I could be in your sweat shop with you!! That’s my cup of tea…a weekend well spent! Never commented on your previous post about your ‘helpers’, but can you ask them both if they have sisters in Decatur willing to help me out?? I find myself asking my family (now that there are 3 kids in the house plus a husband who’s kind of like one) “did anyone get hurt” and they have no idea what I’m talking about. So then I proceed with “did anyone get hurt when that BOMB went off in here?”…anyway, I would greatly appreciate a few clones of your helpers if at all possible. Thanks. Oh, and I’m getting your stuff done (fingers crossed) today and in the mail to you!

  • andi
    November 17, 2008 at 6:52 am

    I LOVE the quilt!!!! It turned out perfect! Way to stick (no pun intended LOL) with it! See you soon!

  • Jessica
    November 17, 2008 at 6:53 am

    Love the quilt! They look (and feel) so much better as they get washed…and the X’s are great. Celebrating Thanksgiving on a farm sounds like fun 🙂

  • Kellie Patton
    November 17, 2008 at 8:19 am

    Love the twizzlers and DIET coke – people always ask why I drink DIET coke, then eat a ton of sugar – I’d rather eat my calories than drink them (and this all coming from a registered dietitian)!!!!I just LOVE splendid weekends!

  • Shireen
    November 17, 2008 at 8:27 am

    The blog looks great!

    Neat search bar! You’re so darn creative! 🙂

    Thanks for chatting on Saturday night! 🙂 Brought many smiles to my face and laughter to my soul! Twas good with my creamer and hot water! 😉

  • anna and geoffrey
    November 17, 2008 at 8:52 am

    Darby. . . . I just started sewing about a month ago and was thinking about making my gifts too. I’m sure mine will be pretty sad in comparison 🙂

    How did you make your margins smaller? It looks great!

  • Jen
    November 17, 2008 at 9:45 am

    I love the new website updates! I spent most of the weekend sewing too! Please share your ideas for Christmas sewing projects.

  • k
    November 17, 2008 at 9:50 am

    hi ~

    I found your blog a while ago and you actually inspired me to start a Christmas quilt with my youngest daughter.

    We bought the fabric, measured and started cutting out squares this weekend. (I’ve made 3 other quilts, but a looong time ago). I looked closely at your quilt and was wondering how you did the border?

    I have always done a little strip of fabric and sewed that extra bit all the way around ~ yours doesn’t look like that. (We will be hand sewing and quilting.)

    Thanks for the inspiration! :o)

    k

  • Joy and Ash
    November 17, 2008 at 10:32 am

    Darby ~ I am looking for a reasonably priced serger for my mom for Christmas. She can sew anything and has never had one, so anything would suite her probably. Any ideas would help me so much! I saw where you said you had a singer serger. Thank you!

  • Dawn Hudson
    November 17, 2008 at 10:47 am

    How do you add a search bar and a label do dad thingy? I have seen some blogs that have them on the side and I don’t know how to get it there. Do you? Thanks

  • the brown's
    November 17, 2008 at 11:34 am

    love the quilt [but i loved it before!] it is beautiful…

    since you love rick bragg, have you read j. wes’ [yoder] book: “carry my bones”? rick bragg has been a huge influence in j. wes’ writing–might be a book you enjoy. and you will recognize a lot of what he talks about–auburn references, etc…

    looking for some striped tights! will keep you posted on my searches…

  • Carly Winborne
    November 17, 2008 at 11:44 am

    Not sick of hearing about the quilt. Just jealous that I don’t have one and can’t make one. BUT my new years project is to FIND the sewing machine and then start using it again. You and several others have sparked some serious motivation in me. Looking forward to it!

    (I think I want the adorable little boy laying on the quilt as much as I want the quilt itself! What a dumplin!)

  • LeslieW.
    November 17, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    The quilt looks great and very snuggly. What made you get a new machine? Why did you choose the Kenmore? I finally got a serger this weekend, I got a Bernina off of craigs list. I love it so far and need some projects to use it on! Take a picture of your sweatshop! I want to see where you sew. I have been wanting to reorganize mine, I never have enough space.

    I would love to know what you’re making for Christmas, I could use some inspiration. Will you mail them to me? byrneslkb@aol.com

  • Laura
    November 18, 2008 at 6:31 am

    Sounds like you’ve been busy. Can’t wait for details on the gifts. I’m sure they’re wonderful! Also, glad to hear that the floors didn’t need to be replaced. What a mess that would be! Hopefully we’ll see you on Thanksgiving!

  • Melissa
    November 18, 2008 at 9:11 am

    Can’t wait to see you on Thanksgiving! Mackenzie and I can’t wait to get our hands on John Martin! I’m sure we will be fighting over him. He looks like he has grown so much. I wish for time back with Grandma to ask her more questions. You will look back on this time spent with family as very precious!!

  • Lindsey
    November 18, 2008 at 9:14 am

    glad you had a splendid weekend. i do love what you did with the quilt. i must confess i wish i was on your christmas list because i’m sure the gifts will be wonderful! i do hope ya’ll have a great thanksgiving with safe travels. i am attempting a 6 hour drive with both kids by myself?! i have no doubt it will take 12.