When I was two my father died in a boating accident, leaving my mom with a two month old infant and a two year old.  My mother's father, who we all called Poppa, helped raise my sister Cindi and I. We spent our childhood in his restaurant. By twelve I was hostess​ing, and by thirteen I was working as a waitress.  The restaurant was closed one day​ a year on Christmas day;​ it was the only day my grandfather took off. 
​The employees took one day off a week. Since I didn't know the difference, I thought it was the way everyone else in the world worked too.
The busy days at the restaurant were Friday, Saturday and Sunday after church.  All the staff worked on those days, on Sundays, we would go to church and then go to work.  Usually it was the same folks that always stopped after church. It was pleasant for us, serving people we liked, and giving them things that made them happy like fried chicken and cherry pie among the many offerings.  
We will be repeating what my grandfather did so many years ago. Although we won't be serving any food, we will be greeting old friends and new in the afternoons on Sundays at Prairie Quilt.  Stop by ​between 1 pm and 4 pm. I will be here most Sundays and look forward to you visit.

What is the 9th Row?  It is a special row pattern and kit that you can get from participating quilt shops that are part of the Row by Row Experience. 

Any shop participating in this event, and their are over 3,000 of them, gives away a free pattern relating to the theme this year of Home Sweet Home.  If you are participating in the Row by Row Experienceand wanting to win the prize of 25 fat quarters, you are required to put in eight rows in your quilt from eight different shops.  The 9th row cannot be part of the 8 rows required but can be included in the quilt.  To find out more about the requirements of the Row by Row quilts go to their website. 

Shops who sell this pattern and kit have generously made a donation to The Rescue Mission. Prairie Quilt is also donating funds for the sale of this pattern and block to the Enid YWCA for their women's crisis center.  
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​It is nearly 9 pm, another night I will not get to my sewing room.  All week I have been going to meetings, cooking, working in the garden, numerous things that have not allowed me to do what is a necessary part of my well being.  Maybe not necessary for many people, but at least 30 minutes or more a night of running a needle and thread through fabric calms me down from the scurry of the day.  If I don't get to do that I don't really feel calm before I go to bed.  Unless you are an avid sewist you probably will have no idea what I am talking about.
 
To be honest, most of the time it doesn't even matter what I am sewing on.  It could be intricate or simple.  I have been making blocks that I cut from the Go! Big machine lately.  I absolutely love making these blocks because they go so fast using this cutting method.  They fit perfectly every time, I keep thinking something won't fit right but so far every single block is perfect. 
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My best friend likes to sew in the early morning.  When is your favorite time to sew?  What is your favorite project to sew on when you just want to get into the Zen of sewing?
 
Below are some of the 6" blocks I cut from the Go! cutter.  My blocks go together so quickly without needing to draw a line from corner to corner and no need to clip dog ears!  Although it comes in many sizes, I personally love the tiny blocks.