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.  

 

A TRIP

Yesterday, we were loaded up and headed north-goodbye for a bit to our Florida!

And hello to north east Georgia to see my daughter and family!  It's been just over 2 years since we made the 8 hour drive!

It is exciting to see the first glimpses of Atlanta,

but the winding traffic lanes full of vehicles becomes a lot more nerve-grinding instead of fun very quickly!

We made it safely and are now settled in the the renovated basement/addition to daughter's home which now includes an apartment for guests!  

And yes, Lena made her first    L   O   N   G  trip with us!  

She did great!  

And there are birds outside the window for her to enjoy and flowers for me to learn--she has hellebores!

 

WELCOME JUNE!

When the rains come in their season, the rain lilies bring forth their blooms!

They are a cluster of tangled long leaves most of the year until the rains come and wake up the bulbs.  They are a tall plant and bloom for a month.  They even have a lovely smell!

 

PLACEMATS

The new Fat Quarter fabrics came from my local quilt store

 and I sat right down and stitched the project immediately! 

 A cottage look for red/white and blue table settings!

I like the look for a good summer celebration 

for our country's 250th birthday!

 

AN IDEA

I'm not thrilled with the boring patio door covering in my studio.  Once I saw the gorgeous pieced curtains that Kate of The Last Homely House made, I knew what I would love to see in my studio!

There is a gridded stabilizer that I thought could help me in the ambitious piecing project.

I have been collecting 2 1/2" squares for a long time and decided to play with the pieces.  I  can press them to the interfacing so that I can keep them in place for actual piecing.  This panel is 48" x 72" which will  mean I will need two to cover the patio doors.  This won't be a quick project but it is nice to have one that I can savor for a long time!

 

PLEASING COLORS

One of the lilies have bloomed.  I was hoping it was one of the tiger lilies I brought from NY but it didn't come up this year. 

I loaded and quilted a small lap quilt, another one to add to the donation pile.  It was fun to see it turn out so nicely!

I took a few tries but got a photo to show all of the crinkly after it was washed and dried!  I have another two quilts like this to do.  Maybe I will get another one done today and tomorrow!

 

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

The boy's quilt is finished and even washed and dried!

I quilted it with a puzzle piece and some loops to echo the edge fabric.  I will send the two quilts off in the mail today!

 

TO THE REPAIR SHOP

My sewing machine shows this message every few seconds which makes it very hard to do any stitching so I took it to my repairman.  It was an hour drive there and then another one to home so the trip was tiring.  The good news is he is pretty sure it is only a mechanical problem and not a hard drive one

which is encouraging!

I finished this C2C (corner to corner) blanket using a DK yarn

 using a G hook;  it is 40" x 48".

The Granny Square blanket is almost out of yarn but more is on its way!  I am going to start stitching this by turning it after every round because I read it will help to keep it from going wonky.  

We will see!

Just a few blocks from the sewing machine store is a WalMart so I stopped in to buy some more Mandala yarn in DK but the only cake they had was the one I already used for a blanket so I opted for this kind which is a worsted weight one.

I used a much bigger hook, an I hook (5.5mm) , which gives

a nice drape to this new C2C blanket!

 

AFTERMATH

The quilting is completed on the Quilt for Kids girl's quilt--

I used the Ginger Snap E2E pantograph from Urban Elementz.

The quilt is even washed and dried and ready to ship out 

as soon as the boy's quilt is ready, too.

I did load it on the frame so it will soon join the return package.

The rest of the day I spent doing laundry and remaking beds after seeing my West Coast family members off.  

 

MEMORIAL DAY

The panel wall hanging was finished in time to hang outside our door to give a patriotic greeting to all guests!

 

My oldest son, Jared.

We had to say goodbyes yesterday; 

 it was wonderful to be with them.

It's hard to see them go especially when I know it will be a long time before another visit happens!  

Seattle (Tacoma) is a long way away!  

FAMILY GATHERING EVENT

We swam, ate and laughed and told stories...

a wonderful family gathering day.

The Patriarch and his sons!  

 

SPENDING THE WEEKEND WITH A VETERAN!

This grandma is very happy--I'm spending the day with several of my grands--a great gathering with burgers and all the fixings befitting the weekend.

And my Seattle sweeties are here and it is wonderful!!!!

 

STUDIO RESULTS

The big winner is the completed panel. 

 See why I fell in love with this border?!

I finished the quilting on the small for-me panel 

and just need to get the binding on it!

I added a few more string blocks.

And loaded the girl's Quilt for Kids onto the frame!