A BEAUTIFUL DAY

Here is the glamour shot of the latest bowl from 1/2 a log of Magnolia.  I've already started a different kind of bowl 

from the other half!

The doily is also a new one just off the blocking pad!

I only have this much of the quilt to finish and it WILL happen this morning!  I keep getting distracted by the lathe!  

And the grand- fur-baby is also here for a few days 

while our son is away for business!

And I leave you with this pretty photo of a Roselle bloom!  The stalk is 8 feet high--I had to zoom in to be able to see it!  

 

TWO DIFFERENT FINISHES

This paint-by-number is finished;  and I can't wait to paint another.  I must say that while you are painting all of the little spots, you kinda miss the big picture.  I love the point when it all comes together for you!

The blue one was the old doily and I did it!  I duplicated it with some #10 variegated cotton in the same weight, and I used a #10 steel crochet hook.  They are the same size!  
 

SPIROGRAPH DOILY

I was able to finish this doily with the acquisition of additional Artiste Thread in Cloud!  Doesn't it remind you of one of the spirograph designs.  I sure spent a lot of time with that craft! 

 I have some rocks I want to try wrapping a doily around! 

 Let's see what I can do!

 

A BIT UNDER THE WEATHER...

I have finished one sock on the new needles-things went well and no damage to my finger occurred with the sharp points! lol  I set right out on the second sock and finished the toe.  A good place to begin now for all of that foot knitting requires hardly any thinking!  I am down with a sore throat and headache. 

 A day off today is just what I need. 

 I have had too many days out and about!

 

I ran out of the thread for this doily.  I need to pick up several balls of this grey;  I really like it and am enjoying the doily renaissance that's struck me!!

FANS AND ROSES

Fans and Roses is the name of this pattern but I am calling it shells and roses!  I had a much easier time crocheting this one after the refresher of the Dolphin doily!

It looks very fancy on the dining room table

 with the orchid in bloom!

 

A DAY OFF?

I got home from the bridal shower, changed my clothes and got right to work making a casserole for the carry-in meal for tomorrow!  I did do just a little bit of the doily 

and then gave in to sleep!

The shower went off beautifully and it was a wonderful time to celebrate the coming nuptials!

As of right now, I do NOT have to go anywhere on Monday; 

 I hope I have the oomph to enjoy it!

 

FINISHED FRIDAY

It turned out to be 24' x 30"!  I have it drying on the floor on a towel!  It gives you a good view now.

I have these three headbands for a Mom and her two daughters.There is a fourth which will be with another trio for another family at church.

I went and had my nails done yesterday;  it has been years since I indulged myself.  The psoriatic arthritis does a number on my nails-splits that won't grow out, curved nails that dig in painfully and dead white areas that are unsightly.  I think the acrylic nails will keep it from curling and splitting and I'm happy to see pretty and not unattractive nails!  

The new charm pack table runner has been completed-all 42 blocks of Sunflower Garden.  I will be backing it and quilting it today!  Which means I have to finish the quilt on the frame! 

 But first, I am going to help decorate the fellowship hall for a bridal shower!

DOLPHINS!

The body of the doily is completed but I am doing the single crochet around the edge and I am trying to make the scallops more rounded than the instructions read.  It is going pretty well, just slow.  I hope to get it blocked today and then I will photograph it on a dark color background so the design shows up better!  I already have the next doily picked out to make!

 

ANOTHER RAIL FENCE

A good way to spend a few hours;  this rail fence quilt went together without drama and turned out so handsomely.  Now to tackle my quilting frame pile!  There are 5 quilts in the pile!  Have I mentioned that I do prefer piecing to quilting?!  

Eli and Bill brought me this bloom after their fishing trip out back yesterday morning!  I love these pond lilies!  Yes, there is a little blush of pink on several of the lowest petals.

Bill picked up some retaining wall blocks--he got a deal on the price and has an idea for the next 'project' to use them.   He has to pick up one more load to pick up to have enough blocks.  Time will tell!  Bill likes starting projects and not finishing so much.

I rarely have problems that way but yesterday all I wanted to work on was this dolphin doily instead of making sleeves for the baby sweater!!!!   I have a routine dr appt (to get results of my recent MRI) and I am bringing that sweater so I will be able to finish at least one sleeve!!!  I am determined!

 

EXCHANGE

I started the new dolphin doily!  It is an old pattern and let me say, the instructions are scanty-see the chart-that's it without a legend or key to know exactly what you are supposed to do!!!  I ripped it back twice but I think I have it now!  

It is worked from the middle out to each end.  I've done filet crochet before and it only had one dc in each space for a filled stitch--when the count didn't come out right the first time, I used my phone to magnify the picture greatly and saw they have 2 dc in each filet space--it made the difference!

And I am still working on the baby sweater--I am heading south on the first sleeve!  It has to be done by next Sunday so I have to take advantage of any downtime But---

We switched Ella for her brother so there is still a grandkid on the premises! lol

 

SPRINGS AND SUMMER

We took our youngest son and children to the springs at Welaka--what a treasure that place is tucked in like a hidden world!  The water was so refreshing after a long hike in to the water!

We sat and enjoyed the view and then would swim again--

a very relaxing few hours!

Everyone had a good time jumping in 

and swimming across the spring!

I came prepared this time to join in the swimming 

and had a wonderful time in the water!  I even swam over the springs--the water pressure is so great-

1.4 millions gallons a day-it holds you up in the water!  

My daughter in law sent gifts from her grandparents--very old bottles that he brought up when diving off the coast of St Thomas Island many decades ago--very cool to hold the bottles and feel the difference from new bottles!

  And the fabric is from grandma who is also an avid quilter! 

 I will enjoy them both very much!

 And look!  I even managed to finish the second doily! 

DONE BUT NOT FINISHED...

Yes, this has been the consistent temperature each day; 

 we did get 1/2" of rain last night 

but it doesn't exactly 'cool' down afterwards this time of year!  

So it is a good thing I have plenty of things to keep me busy indoors!  The doily on the left is two rows short of finished but I have run out of thread!  I do hope to make it to Hobby Lobby for some more and a few balls of another color to make the dolphin doily I wanted to make back in the winter!  

The neat thing about doilies is that they can be finished at several points in their making but often the last few rows make the truly finishing touches.  I wanted these to match so I am definitely going to work those last two rows!

 

#1 and #2

The first re-sock is completed! I am much happier with this one!

I took notes which is a good thing because it is the best fitting sock I have ever made!  It is a toe-up sock and I make a gusset which I increased from a count of 32 to 56 and who knew an additional 4 increased stitches (for 4 more rows) could make such a difference!  Who says you can't improve on an old plan?!

I also began the second doily.  I had to do a great examination of the first one to see where I 'goofed' to end up with only 11 points instead of 12 so that the two doilies will match! lol  I found the row and I did comteplate ripping back the first one but gave that up!  I will make this one to match and have a pair of unique doilies instead!

And a month late, the red curcumin is in bloom!  With many more buds in sight, I will be enjoying these flowers until and if, we have a frost!  (which is hard to imagine with the recent high temps!)

 

DOILY SUCCESS

Doilies like lace shawls must be blocked!

  I soak it, wring it out and pin it out on a board.

I spray it with starch and let it dry thoroughly. 

 When I was blocking it out, I realized I made a slight mistake-this has only 11 points and not 12.  When it was a wad in my lap,

 I never noticed.  I am not going to rip it out--

it is going to be unique!

 In fact, I am going to make another just like it 

for my other end table!

Picot Finishes and a Pile

 First, I finished the doily and blocked it overnight.

It is 24" in diameter-a nice table-center size.

This one will be gifted to youngest son's household.

Here's what I bought at the fabric store-

starting at the top of the pile-

backing for Winding Ways,

backing for the Flowering Snowball,

and the bottom three will be binding, backing and border for the LeMoyne Star.

The dark brown is faux suede to recover this footstool.

But more on that project soon!

Topped Off!

 The Flowering Snowball block with nine-patches is completed!

It measures out to 40" x 52"-another top that needs a  backing fabric.

That trip to the fabric store is getting close, I hope!

And here is something I pulled from the lanquishing pile;

a doily!

I only need to finish this row and work one more and it will be done!