Hot, Hot, Hot!

I added the last of the whole tiles to the chimney face.  I started working very early because it was a steamy 97 feel like temp already!

Bill will help me cut the partial tiles early this week! 

Since I was on a 'mosaic' mode, I pulled out a treasure of a plate to use on another stepping stone.  This is from my Mom, it was the only one left of I believe my great grandmother's and she gave it to me to use!   

Here is a pic of the back for anyone interested. 

I put it in a baggie and did some gentle and specific breaks and then laid it out on the stone.

I added some other old pieces and voila!  I will have to let it dry for 24 hours then I can add the grout. 

I moved into the studio for some sewing and added the sashing to the butterfly blocks.

Ahh, sometimes sashing really sets off a design!

It still needs just the right border fabric.... 

I have quite a few quilt tops backed up on the quilting frame pile....I took forever to decide what to do with the hexagon quilt and the first thing I tried turned into a complete bust.

Ripping out is not a ton of fun but I had to knuckle down and do it.

I am having a terrible time with my vision and this really tested my coordination.

I would work on it and then take a break, work some more, etc until it was all done. 

I'm so glad I did because the new work with new thread and a better idea was much happier.

Now to work out the central design....

Snowflakes, Florida Style

Even Stormie is looking to the future~  she thinks we can't see her there.  Too cute.

 I worked on the chimney on New Year's day.  I was just going to work on drawing the grid but ended up putting up a few tiles and then a few more.....I am loving the way it looks.  I only put up the whole tiles and didn't do any cutting but I sure did cause a flare-up in my right arm!  It is hard to only have one arm....and the wrong one at that!  (the black pieces are spacers and will be removed when the tiles set!)

 All of the Christmas cactus' are out in full bloom-what a cascade of flowers!

 The camellias are all in bloom-white, pink and red ones line the driveway!

 The Turks' Cap hibiscus are still blooming but the frost anticipated later this week will probably send them to flower slumber.

 That is why I enjoyed the front yard walk while I could see all the color.

 The pencil cactus is very happy with the cool nights and warm days-very desert like!  The pink tips are his flowers.  Very creative...

 I did a bit of spinning in the morning before I messed with my arm.  I am still filling bobbins with angora!

 But I did finish another pair of boot toppers!  As long as I don't move my elbow, I can knit.  My left arm does all the maneuvering and it works!

 Today my arm works much more freely so I went into the sewing room to make this table runner.  It is wool with wool appliques applied with my embellishing machine-no sewing!

 I did manage to do the blanket stitch edge by hand off and on all day-it just took a lot longer but it was nice to be able to get the stitching on so it is on the table!

Round and Square

 If you have never tried a 'in the hoop' sewing project, this month's Creative Machine Embroidery has a very cute chapstick keychain idea!  I cut out piles of coordinating fabrics with the bit of ribbon and hair elastic for a closure to assemble....you guessed it, in the hoop!

 I removed basting stitches and carefully removed the finished embroidery each time...

 so I left a hole but did not disturb the whole piece of stabilizer.

 This way, I just added a piece to cover the hole and then made the next one....

 I did this over and over this week!  By cutting them out with pinking shears, I also cut out the curves so they require no 'clipping the curves'!

 This is a view of the hair elastic placement after the pocked has been basted in place.

Then the top fabric goes on the whole thing right side down and it stitches leaving an opening for turning.

Thankful I remembered to use my tube turners because trying to turn the first few without it was a misery!  (made worse by the diminished hand strength!)  I cannot tell you have many hours this tool has saved me!

 After poking all my corners and sewing on the button-voila!

I just kept making them ....

 and making them.......

until I had enough for all the kids at church!

I also have enough eyeglasses for all the ladies, too!

 I finished the grout on the last windowsill!!!!!  

When it was dried this morning, I put all the decoration back in place and smiled!

 The quilt is getting near the finish line!  If I stop playing with other things, I will get back to it!

 I made a loaf of banana bread with some of our own bananas....this is an experiment in using whole wheat and and the bread machine.  I must admit-it turned our yummy!

This is what kept me busy today!  The top and focal point of our chimney outside on the porch!
(No, the chimney is not crooked, the photographer is leaning from exhaustion!  lol