KNOW YOUR STRONG POINT

Even when things don't go as smoothly as I had planned, I can crochet cut critters!  From left to right--those stingray, a blue whale, two starfish, a penguin, and two Flip the fishes.  All are YouTube tutorials that I made using the plush yarn and a size 5 mm hook.  I used safety eyes and just a little bit of poly-stuffing.
 

EASING INTO THE WEEK

The Layer Cake slices top #1 is off the frame and waiting for me in the binding pile......

And slices of Layer Cake #2 is loaded and ready .

I made some stickers on the Cricut;  it went well and took too long.  I do hate being a beginner with expert ideas! lol

 

A SWEET CRICUT!

A friend came over yesterday to give me some lessons on using the new Cricut!  It sure does help to have a helpful hand with something new and complicated! I was able to cut out the front of a get well card, 

glue a colorful insert and 

print the verse.  

I didn't think to add a 'brand' on the back but I will do that, too.

I also had fun cutting out some layers to make some paper succulent pieces to layer and glue.

I also made some out of felt which was pretty interesting , 

if nervy! 

I am going to add these to a pipe cleaner stem and stick them into a little pot for decoration in one of my wooden pieces. 

 I will post the finished project tomorrow!

 

AND YET ANOTHER CREATIVE OUTLET

The rest of the Cotswold wool is spun!  I made 1168 yards of dk weight yarn--that's .76 miles! lol  I will be dyeing some of these skeins and use it for a weaving project I am planning.

Mary and I went to JoAnn's this past week--empty shelves everywhere....very discouraging.  

However, we did get everything on our fabric list 

and a few extras, too.  These gourds are from Hobby Lobby 

where you can get a wonderful Fall fix!   

I will also making this arrangement of painted boards myself--

isn't it perfect for we who love the beach-y look!

And last but not least, this beauty was delivered to me yesterday!  (It's a Cricut Maker 3)

I have the machine and supplies all organized and waiting for me to get going--unfortunately, it will NOT talk to my computer by Bluetooth or by USB.  I do have a computer geeky friend coming this morning to rescue me---I hope!  I have ideas you know! 

 

COLOR ME GREEN

These table runners will be getting their binding today so they will be finished!

I have these greens lined up on the design wall for a simple gradient gingham placement quilt.  I will be piecing the rows today, too!  Simple is good for Friday sewing!
 

MY WORK IS PLAY

The birdbath is set up again on its platform and the water is flowing!  Bill even weed whacked around the area 

so that it is very neat and functioning again!  

It doesn't take long to overheat outdoors so I was glad to head back inside and decided to face up to a much dreaded chore....winding a new warp.  I mess up the counting and get bored wrapping all of those threads so I can only work for half an hour at a time but I am 3/4 of the way done now 

and can't believe I was such a baby! I should've remembered my Mother's advice to give even 10 minutes a day to a distasteful task and it will get done!

There are so many threads for this pair of dish towels

 but I am getting excited for the next step which is one step closer to the weaving!  

(the next steps are winding, threading and sleying THEN weaving! lol)

When I couldn't stand any longer, I did a bit of this!  

Aren't they cute?! 

WOOD AND STONE

This bowl is from the other half of the little log. 

 It is so nice to work with the Black Walnut; 

 the grain is gorgeous and sands up so smoothly.

It was fun to make this one

 and the bark stayed on in every inch of the rim

 so that worked up beautifully 

with the finish to bring out the rich color!

Right now it is sitting on the table with a piece of green Jasper 

that I had found in  Washington.  

They make a great pair!

 

TOUCHING BASES

The bird bath fountain sprung a leak so Bill fixed the leak and put a new sealant on it and I gave it a new paint job!  I had to let the paint set up for 24 hours so today we will set up the solar fountain part again!  The birds and squirrels are really missing the fresh water!  (I had to do this first thing yesterday before the rains moved in and Bill brought it into the garage to finish drying when it got dark out and rumbling!)

For those of you interested, this is the Passion fruit. 

 It is about 2 1/2" tall and very aromatic.

Unfortunately, this one had lost its meat and was only seeds that looked like polliwogs so I wouldn't even try a lick ,even if it did smell good! lol  I will dry out the seeds and plant them.  I found out that I have an ornamental one and that is why my fruits don't fruit but I will grow this on the other side of the trellis arch 

and let them keep each other company!

In the studio, I put the dark border strips on the Sea Traveler quilts then loaded up a table runner on the frame.  (I have a large queue for the frame so I need a simple and quick project first!)

Last of all, I added the stars to the panel-plus-scraps QOV quilt! 

 I am pleased with the results.  I have one more step and that is to add the blue w/stars strips to the sides only to make this wider because right now it is only 60" wide and I like them at least 65";  I will probably make this one 66" so the final measurements will be 66" x 80" which is a generous twin sized quilt.  

I will be working on this at the quilting group today!

 

FORGOTTEN FINISHES!

Another cotton sweater has been added to the sweater drawer! 

 It looks good with capris or my linen skirt!

 

No, I am not tired of making the matching pair of dishcloths from each ball of cotton yarn!  

SLOW DAYS ARE GOOD

The quilt group QOV is off the frame and ready to turn in;  

another will apply the binding on this one.

The spinning is continuing;  there will be enough for another bobbin and at least two more skeins of the Cotswold wool. 

 It has been a very good spin!

 

MAKING SAWDUST

I like the look of the remade bowl-much cleaner lines!  The bowl on the right, the black walnut one is so smooth and pleasant to hold!

I loaded the other half of the chunk of wood and I am making a banana shaped bowl from this piece of wood.  It fell into shape pretty quickly;  it is so nice to be able to work in a comfortable wood working area!

I have this side sanded and sealed and am ready to turn it and hollow it out today.  I am glad to say, I don't have to get up and out of the house first thing this morning!  It has been a week of appointments but that's over and I am glad the week is behind me! 

 I will piece the last star blocks and put that top together. And I want to finish the last few rows on the QOV on the frame and load up something else from the pile!  It will be a good day!

 

WOOD AND FLOWERS

This little bowl (4" wide and 3" high) is almost finished, I will be removing the tenon on the bottom and sign it first.

I do love the beautiful grain and deep color of this wood;  it is from a little chunk from a tree my sister cut down at her home in NY and I rescued it from the firewood stack!  

This is going to her for a thank you!

And the 'odd' flying saucer bowl I made last week has had a bit of work done on it;  I cut off the flange 

and  I like the way it looks a lot better.

A bit chipped off the side where there was a knot and I just smoothed off the dip and like what it adds to the look! 

I took a little tour after filling the bird feeders and enjoyed the flowers--your hibiscus,

blackberry lilies,

Passion fruit vines,

and even a fruit from the vine, 

Crinem, 

and one of the many pagoda plants!!!!

 

SOME FABRIC AND WOOD

A bit of stitching to build all of the star blocks. 

 (the one on the right is going on the bottom row 

but I am lining them up here until I can attach them!)

I also loaded a little half log of black walnut 

and it easily developed into a sweet little bowl!

I love the deep color and there isn't even any finish on it yet!!! 

 Might I mention how wonderful it is to work in front of the A/C unit in a cooler garage! (80* instead of 95*)

 

THINGS WITH LINES

I collected a variety of small scallop shells with holes at the tip so that I can embellish a weaving with them!  The bottom two shells were just because I recently talked about them with my daughter!

And I have a finished pair of shorty socks.  

These are just the reverse colors of the pair I made before.  

The photo looks like aqua and black but it is brown stripes.  I am expecting some more sock yarn

 in the mail soon to cast on a new pair! 

 In the meantime, I need to get in front of that quilting frame!