MY DAY

My daughter gifted me with 2 Calibrachoa hanging plants 

while in Georgia and I was able to find 5 more here at home--

I have 7 arches that need hanging plants 

which I change out every few years.

She also recommended these hanging plant 'saucers' to hold your plant;  this keeps them from losing their water out the bottom of the pot and keeps them from drying out so quickly. 

Looking south, these are three of arches 

with a bird house with a family of wrens, btw.

Looking north, the other 4 arches and their new plants! 

 This birdhouse is empty, unfortunately.

After we got home from the shopping trip, I soaked and blocked half of my magnificent round shawl I made many years ago! 

 I only blocked half because it is too big for my blocking board---

I will re-wet the other half and block it later today.  

I wore this to church Sunday and noticed that there were some pulled threads and even one chain broken on the crocheted edge which I repaired before blocking.  

I also ran out of pins trying to get everyone of those chains

 pulled into points!  

 

THE FABRIC CALLS

These blocks are completed but I need to stitch them into a top.  I am trying to decide if I want narrow white sashing

 between each block yet.

And I did load the new QOV on the frame.  

I'm hoping to get a lot of quilting done on this today!

 

A SPLURGE ON SALE!

I signed up for the pre-order of the new Liberty QOV box

 and it finally came!  (The price is reduced and worth it!)

Always exciting to open up one of their boxes

 because they are filled with beauty!

Time to dig in---

Fat quarters, hst ruler, metal book ends, stickers, quilt ruler holder, pattern and other quilt ideas! 

 Guess what I will be doing next week?!

 

AND SOME FINISHES!

I loaded up and went to work on free hand quilting which I rarely do because I have to think, and finished the quilt in no time.  

The backing I chose.

And another one went right on the frame 

and this time I did a meander for the quilting.

I love the backing fabric for this one! 

 Today, I tackle loading a big quilt for QOV!

 

STUDIO ATTRACTIONS

One of the charms on point tops were loaded on the frame for quilting.  I will tackle that today with a meander pattern.

I cut up several more fat quarters into layer cakes;

then cut two long strips from one side of the 10" piece,

and then two shorter pieces from the remaining piece.

These cuts yield this pile of pieces to sew up 

which happens very quickly when I chair sew!

And it was fun to throw them up on the design wall.  

I think it will be fun to cut them up with other fabrics and rearrange the pieces so there is less order--that is one of the things that is so interesting about quilting--just a little change can produce a block that hardly looks related!

 

*REWARD TIME IN THE STUDIO

It was nice to add the blocks we made at my daughter, Marsel's, house.  I added a few blocks to complete the row. 

 Now it is time to make another red star block!

I also started a new project--a way to use layer cakes.  I 'made' these layer cakes from two fat quarters and I will be using the rest of the fat quarters to make a bunch more! 

 9" blocks, unfinished.

*the reward is for getting all of my luggage taken care of and new homes found for all of the extras! lol

 

A SAFE ARRIVAL

Despite a lot of this....

I did get a lot of knitting time in and finished one sock and started its mate.  It is a very long drive (8-9 hours) but we did it. 

 While I will NOT say Lena loved the trip, she did remarkably well.  

 

GOODBYES

Goodbye to all of the woodland friends...

who have brightened our mornings

and afternoons

and evenings.

We will remember you until we come again...

 

THIS IS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE

Here is a family pic after church yesterday!  

My first grandchild, David, Bill, me, my daughter, Marsel, her husband, Bruce and first grand daughter, Abigail! 

And after eating popcorn last night, I finally finished this C2C blanket in LionBrand Mandala yarn. It is 40" x 48" 

 It gets a A+ for squish factor!

 

SEWING TOGETHER!

We enjoyed some sewing time yesterday--

we worked on adding to my string blocks for a QOV.  

They sure add up faster with sewing buddies!

Marsel went through some yarn supplies and decided that sock knitting is not for her so I have some new yarns! 

And I get to finish this pair for her!  

TOGETHERNESS

 A lot of cleaning outside took place--Bill taming the front garden and I can't wait to sit outside on the front porch and just watch the birds--more pics tomorrow!   A bit of sewing happened.  I have a ton of these string blocks to make so everyone finished means I can get closer to sewing the blocks together!

This afternoon we are going on a short hike --think of woods, a creed and some rock hunting!

GEORGIA HOME AND YARD

Bill usually does some intense trimming while we visit--this time,

 it was a much needed taming for the butterfly bush!

It is magnificent but out of control, so-

He gave it a good trimming and with the whole growing season before us, it will just continue to bloom and attract bees and butterflies all summer!

Bill also weeded the flowers along the back side of the house which is our apartment view.

Lena especially loves the bird feeder entertainment!

After dinner, I enjoyed some crochet with my daughter's cat sleeping near my feet on the recliner. 

I have crocheted the C2C this far, about 3/4 of the way done and I ran out of yarn!  I made this a lot bigger than the other one but it is very cozy now at 36" x 48".  It's a good thing it is a standard stock at WalMart so I will pick some up tomorrow! 

A TOUR

We went to see where our grandson is working

 and to meet his co-workers.

How wonderful to see how much he has learned about the big equipment he repairs!  We are very proud of him!

 

SLOW AND EASY

The early morning is full of light, sound and color!

I picked a gardenia from the bush outside our door.

I am crocheting a C2C blanket in the LionBrand mandala yarn in #4 weight.  It's at the halfway point now.

And I started another C2C in a new yarn from Hobby Lobby.