Sunday Stitchin'

Where did the weekend go?  Here it is Sunday evening already.  Marvin, Lily and I had a grand old time out on the back porch.  They people and critter watched while I sewed and listened to "The cuckoo's calling".  It is the debut mystery written by Robert Galbraith (a.k.a J.K. Rowling).  It is a very fun "read". 

 I managed to get a few more rows of my "Worry not" tumbler quilt done while I worked on my Jamestown Landing quilt.  I have 12 of the 30 star blocks done.  The stars are a bit difficult to see here.  

 

I hope that they will show up better once I get the other units constructed.  The fabrics for this quilt are from my scrap basket and many of my fabrics are medium values.  So I think that is the likely reason that my stars are not popping as much as I would like them to.  But ya know, it really is quite alright. I'm learning a lot about how these fabrics play with each other.  I've never made a true scrap quilt before and am really enjoying the process.  I think they are pretty even if they don't look like stars (giggle).  

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Saturday in the garden

I spent today working in my flower garden.  Flower garden quilt that is.  As much as I would love to have a beautiful flower garden, quilt garden's are the only ones that I can keep blooming.  The other kind of gardening is something I hope to dabble in when I retire.  Maybe I'll be able to get this black thumb of mine to turn to at least a murky green.  

This is the center part of the quilt so I just have the applique borders to go.  The yellow centers of the flowers really pop in this picture.  They are bit tamer in real life.  I can hear the giggles now...it is quite a bright quilt.  The colors were inspired by my hubby's wardrobe.  This is his kind of quilt.  The brighter the better.  And yes he really does have golf attire that is as wild and bright as these flowers.

These are just the tip of the iceberg (giggle).  We find inspiration everywhere.😎

Parched painter

I just got back from a fabulous time at the Parched Painter.  I really enjoyed being able to spend some time with my dear, dear friends.   As much as I try, I don't see painting as an art form for me.  I did not get the "painting" gene from my Grandma Graham.  She was quite the artist.  I think that gene skipped me and showed up in my kiddos.  All three of them really have a knack for that painting, drawing, and cartooning sort of thing.   I read recently that the latest stress reduction trend is to take up coloring.  And there are gillions of coloring books every where you look that are geared towards adults.  Now that I could get into (giggle).  But I think it will only be good for stress reduction if you don't get too hung up about staying within the lines..  My painting is starting to grow on me.   But maybe it's the glass of wine I'm enjoying and the fact that I am sitting across the room from where it is currently perched.....

National Dog Day

In celebration of National Dog Day, we treated Marvin and Lily to a morning at the spa (aka a visit with our favorite groomer and dog trainer Rachel).  Rachel is so awesome and Marvin and Lily just love her. She treated them to a wonderful shampoo and pedicure. Don't they look wonderful?

Here is lovely Lily 

And his royal highness.....Marvin

Sweet Sunday

Somehow Sundays have a way of speeding by.  That wouldn't have something to do with Monday being the start of another work week would it?  Again we had an off and on misty kind of day.  But perfect weather for sewing out on the porch again.  I picked up where I left off yesterday.  I now have 30+ of the first unit for my Jamestown Landing quilt completed and 4 rows done on my Worryy Not tumbler quilt.  I love Bonnie Hunter's Leader and Enders (for more info on leaders and enders go to Bonnie's blog....quiltville.blogspot.com). It is a wonderful way to make twice as many quilts.

I did have company out on the porch today.  Lily thought today would be a good day to lounge around and hang out with me.  She typically hangs out In the doorway of the porch patiently waiting for the next unsuspecting chipmunk, bird, squirrel, rabbit ( I think you get the idea) to wander by.  On occasion, she has been known to chase them into the house from outside.  My preference is that she play with her friends outside (giggle).  Her brother (Marvin) is still trying to figure out her fascination with those little creatures.  They don't seem all that interesting to him.

Happy Sunday!

I Love weather like this

It's been a bit overcast and cool here in New England today.  I just love weather like this.  It almost feels like Fall is trying to creep in.  I love Fall but I don't think I am quite ready for Summer to end.  No fear of that just yet since we have some lovely summer weather still in our forecast.  The basement of our little ranch house is the usual place of my pieceful ponderings but today I "spilled" out onto our three season porch.  It has great natural light and gives the sensation of being out in nature with all the breezes flowing, crickets chirping and birds singing.  It is quite peaceful out here and very conducive to creative productivity.

I've been spending my day working on a couple of things.  First being the units that will become my "Jamestown Landing" quilt.  This quilt pattern is from Bonnie K. Hunter's book....String Fling.  You can find Bonnie at Quiltville.blogspot.com.  I just love her designs.  

I'm also participating in Bonnie's Leader and Ender project for the year.  Bonnie's Leader and Ender for this year is a tumbler quilt.  You can get the lowdown on that at Bonnie's blog too.  I hope to make several tumbler quilts and add them to my stash of "Worry not" quilts.  I am truly blessed with the most fabulous family and friends and really feel the need to "give back".  I know people who quilt for various causes and often call their quilts "charity" quilts.  For some reason it just seems not quite the right name to me.  So I've decided that the quilts I am going to make are going to be call "Worry not" quilts. As in "worry not for you are in my thoughts and prayers".  We all encounter situations like a friend who was just diagnosed with breast cancer or just lost their spouse.  There really are no "right"words to say what we would like to convey.  I hope when I send a "worry not" quilt that when the recipient wraps it around them that they will feel that quilty hug.  A hug that says more than words ever could.  Here is the start of Worry Not quilt #1.

Happy Saturday!

Friday Night Hexies

I've acquired a real fondness for English Paper Piecing.  Fondly referred to as EPP.   My focus this evening is to work on my hexie flowers.  I've got 10 done...only 22 more to go.