A BIT OF CARPENTER WORK

We started yesterday out with a bang!  

Bill hefted the large sectional up and out of the way so I could finish the baseboards!  Remember I did the rest of the house several years ago (2021) but couldn't move the big stuff at the time and did what I could reach but the time finally happened to get the whole job done!  

I worked behind one section and when I had finished, 

Bill moved the other half out of the way-

and I finished that side!  I will note, the nail gun was a huge time saver and I wish I had one when I did the other 8 rooms and 2 halls but hey, now this room is really done and

 It was also good to get to clean under the sectional 

and find all kinds of kid toys and cat toys! lol

As long as I was in the sprucing up mode, I spray painted this old table that had lost its coloring.

I even cleaned both sides of the heavy glass top and set it back in place!  Overall, it felt good to get the room put back in order and know that it is done deal!

Now the only place in the house that needs finishing, is the wall behind my huge and heavy king-size bed/frame

 but that will be saved for another day!

 

A STITCH IN TIME

The boys' quilt top is completed-38 x 40"

And I have purchased some fabrics for backing all the latest lap sized quilt tops.

I will be putting the girls' quilt top together today!

 

SOCKS ON SUNDAY

Another yarn finish! 

 Fraternal twins--64 stitches on #2.5mm needles 

Yarnalia brand of yarn in the color Cherry Blossoms.

 

WRAPPING THINGS UP ONE AT A TIME!

Cloudbreak Tee is ready for blocking!  I lowered the lacy part so that it fell below my waistline.  I liked learning how to do a top down sweater with a 'set-in' sleeve! 

 The yarn is Drops Cotton Merino in black.

 

And I have finished the granny square rectangle blanket!  It measures 40" x 48".  I crocheted this with Mandala DK yarn.  

BEAUTY

My big and wonderful sewing machine has had a hiccup and it is going into the repair shop.  I am glad that I at least have my little portable machine that I take to classes.

These are the pieces that I combine to make the corner blocks--

See, I told you it was a very fancy border!

All of my caladium are up and glorious!

I try to add another variety each year.

They are so colorful and interesting!

These are the first two I bought and they are so full and beautiful!  I love the color they provide!

 

THE PIECES ARE COMING TOGETHER!

Nice time spent in the studio!  I loaded the 250th anniv quilt onto the frame and started the panto design.

I cut all of the pieces for the first QuiltsForKids project.

And I did a lot of major work on this quilt--the border is going to be amazing--if all goes according to plan!

 

STUDIO TIME

I do miss sewing pieces of fabric together when  I am away from home! lol  I have this 45" x 60" top finished and will be loading it on the frame today.  This is going to be for me--most likely a wall hanging during our summer months to celebrate our nation's anniversary!

I also received two kits from Quilts for Kids, which I haven't made in a long time, so I thought it would be good too make a few to send to that charity.  The Sesame Street print will be used for a border and also is for the backing.

It's off to a fun start with 4 striped rail fences!

 

NEEDING TOUCH-UPS

This is first pbn that I am not happy with the outcome.  I don't know what the gold globs are supposed to be on each side of the ship and I don't like the 'monster' holding a gun rising up on the right!   So I am going to do a major touch-up on the background and foreground of this picture.  I hope to show it to you in its improved condition next week!

 

JUST ROLL WITH IT

I made my second Clam Up bag and it went much more smoothly!

Until I zipped it up and realized a huge mistake!  See it?!

There was nothing for it but to make another one 

with the right side out!!!!

 

TIME TO FOCUS

 Too many works in progress!  This is very unlike me. 

 I usually start a project, finish it and begin another! 

 Now having a sock on the needles and one other project happens because a sock is much more portable than a sweater in its final stages or an afghan nearing its last rows but this is just chaos to me.  I am going to pick one and get it done over the next few weeks!  Here's hoping!

CLAM UP!

Another clam bag--this one with a pattern from  ByAnnie.com in the XL size.  I bought this fabric because of the joy of the flamingo and palm trees in a pastel!  I also bought a print in darker colors which I will be making today!

Love the lining!  

 

STUDIO UPGRADE

I wanted to greatly enlarge my ironing area on the sewing table in my studio so I asked Bill for an appropriate piece of board to use.  The tape is highlighting my inability to measure and then transfer the measurements to the board in my wood shop--Yes, I had to glue the boards back together and the tape was holding it in place for the overnight drying period!!!  Bill was a good sport and helped me trim it again on the table saw

 but this time it was spot on accurate! lol

I spent a good chunk of the morning covering it with two layers of cotton batting and then making a cover for it.  I put it on like a pillowcase and then had stitch the opening closed.  It was worth the effort because it is  so much easier to iron fabric on the larger area!!  (See Lena on her designated spot?!  I give her a good brushing and then she naps!)

Another view of my stitching station--36" of cutting space

 and  36" of ironing space now.

Here is a fuller view of my studio.  No, I didn't clean it up first--there is a variety of piles on the quilting frame because it is not loaded with a quilt right now and I was pulling out the piles

 I want to take to QOV Sew Day tomorrow!

Here is the center with the borders ready to stitch to the panel.

  I will be bordering this with some red fabric. 

 I think this is going to be a wall hanging for the summer!

 

WOOD ON WEDNESDAY

I enjoyed a different kind of wood building project!  I purchased the round 'tray' from Hobby Lobby and the added the piece of pallet wood to the underside so that it could anchor the tray next to me without it tipping each time I get up or down!

Then I stained and sealed the wood. 

 I have several more 'building' projects in mind

 for the coming weeks!

 

PLEASANT STITCHING

Turning a panel into a quilt!  

Two rows on the top and then borders will be added.

I also started on my string block stars!  I had so much fun playing with the strips I have been collecting for months now!  The blocks are 6 1/2" so the completed stars will be 24" in both red and blue.

I'm always glad to see the heliopsis shoot up and bloom!

I think it is a bit ahead of my Dad's, though! But in a few months, his will be a lot taller than mine!

 

MARCHING STARS

The Winter QAl from Alycia is absolutely finished and ready to hand into my QOV sew day on Thursday.

I love the way it turned out!  

 

A SOCK FOR SUNDAY

It's a rainy morning, which is wonderful, and the colors in this sock remind me of the coquina shells we watched on the beach Friday!  Such a beautiful colorway to watch slip through my hands while a sock emerges! 

  

50 YEARS

May 1, 1976 Phoenix, NY

May 1, 2026 St. Augustine, FL

After shedding our wedding day duds,

 we enjoyed several hours at the beach!

I enjoyed finishing the first coral beach sock. (Yarnalia Stormy in the Cherry Blossom colorway but I like my name better)

The ocean was turbulent--

wonderful to relax to the rhythm of the surf.

The colors of my latest blanket in Mandala yarn perfectly matched the colors of the sea and sky

especially as the day drew to a close. 

 You can see that the crowds were not a problem for us!

What a beautiful day we enjoyed together!