Blast Off!

The Crotons have really matured this year-they stay colorful all year

 but really have flourished with all the heat and humidity of the summer!

  (this stands about 4' tall)

I pulled out a few more Fall decorations, 

this wreath was made 22 years ago 

when my daughter had been recently married and lived in Chicago. 

 I took the train to go and visit her while her husband was away for work. 

 We had such a great time that weekend and each year when I bring this out, 

I have a few more repairs to do--see the bare spots?--but I fix it and smile at the happy memory!

Day 16 for INKTOBER--ROCKET  

This is for the space shuttle rocket we saw blast off while we were on Daytona Beach; 

 boy, could you feel the roar! 

 

Disconnected!

I had phone service early in the day yesterday but no internet! 

 And then there was NO phone-no texts, no calls--very silent and isolating! 

 Even more than usual! 

 So what did I do?  

I made the last of the Mystical Lanterns...now to find enough of black fingering weight yarn

 to make the half motifs for the top and bottom and to crochet them all together! 

 I think it will go well.

These are building right up-I even found some similar background 

so I can make enough to have a lap quilt for these Autumn Hunter Stars!

I even made the sleeve without a hitch! 

 I have all of my notes so the second one will go smoothly, too!

The red apple worked out differently than I anticipated but is okay, too. 

 I am recognizing where I want to be and mostly I caa get there! 

 (the orange tape is holding the postcard down on the painting surface to help control the way paper warps when wet;  I remove it when it is dried!)

(I'm glad to say the internet and my phone are now working as of 4 a.m.!)

Treasured

 David and Bill did a bit of cloudy day fishing.  Bill caught two and David is still waiting for his big catch!

(they were fishing on knitting friend, Linda's, dock)

 I finished another water painting;  this one of the American Robin.
My teacher asked that I take part in a showing for the Audubon Society and, of course, I had to try since I love to do birds!

 David and Will did a bit of treasure hunting and found something quite amazing;

an axe head!

It is quite large and heavy!

We had fun wondering how old it could be--

caveman?

Native American?

Spanish?

It was fun to laugh and wonder and after all-he wondering is part of the thrill of the hunt!

Studio Saturday

First thing to catch my attention was the  cross body bag I designed-it went without a hitch for the most part.  I lost my head a few times but no major detours!

This is the last of the flamingo fat quarter;  I sure got my miles out of it! 

The back also gets a pocket now and I added my little label!

Very cool, if I do say so myself!

Next, I finished my latest homework for my art class.

This is a peek at Crescent Lake which we had to draw and paint.

I labored long and hard with the sky and water and loved what I could do. 

But I have learned a fatal lesson for this picture-when you mat it, you lose 2" around and I didn't factor that in.....you see how I lose my sky-my little bit of blue is cut out when I put the practice mat against the picture?!

I'm not sure what to do.

So I will wait and turn it in next Saturday and figure it out with the teacher. 

On to other more successful endeavors-I put the binding on the butterfly quilt and through it into the washer. 

I am enjoying the freedom I am experiencing at the frame.

It makes it so much more pleasurable! 

I went right to work on the rainbow quilt and have the binding all cut and on in no time. 

This sure gives your brain a color boost!

Wow!

Washed, dried and in the donation pile they go!

Never Too Old to Learn a New Trick

I am loving the quilting on this modern style quilt.  It is my first one to do like this.  It's working out pleasurably, yippee! 

Today I went to a watercolor class.  Understand, I learn something new by myself not in a class setting.  It has been a long time since I took a class but it was so inspiring.

This picture is only half done...I had to wait for the basket and the left side to dry before I could add more detail;  it is homework because I am going again next month! 

This one was done with a different technique and I had to draw....it is so intimidating to put pencil to that big blank paper!!!!

I learned to be its friend!

I know I am a rookie, but I sure did love what I learned and can't wait for next month's lesson! 

On the home front, Bill and I have been working on the front gardens.

They so easily get overgrown so we thinned and defined and got it ready for adding mulch. 

The sun really bakes this front garden so the mulch helps to keep the roots moist and not parched when it is bare like this. 

We trimmed down the prickly pear cactus, too, and it is much more manageable now.

The mulch can't come soon enough! 

Friday, we visited Daytona Beach for our run to Sam's and to JoAnn's for restocking and then we reward ourselves with the NY style pizza from Saldo's Pizza in Ormond Beach on the way home.

They have the largest slices I have ever seen!   

We had a little rain and a beautiful rainbow over our house then we got home....it is a wonderful reminder of God's love!

Oh, Boy....

Last week, it seemed like a great idea to change my medicine.

The actuality is a bit different.

I am walking around like a zombie.  I have to wean from the old medicine (which feels like having my security blanket torn out of my hands) and slowly introduce the new meds which is too little for a lot of benefit right now!  

I can do this, right?!

I did a little puttering but my mind can't bear concentrating for too long. 

I added a bit of background to the watercolor, 

and I sanded the new resin sea animals, then drilled holes so they can be worn.

I am trying to make up my mind to put them all on one necklace or to have five individual ones.  

Today is not the best day for decisions. 

And I did a bit of this because I can do it with my eyes closed!  

Yes, this fiber is easy to spin;  even if it is Masham top. 

It is a new to me fiber and I am liking it just fine.

I didn't knit again today.......this is not a good pattern.

Tomorrow has to be a better day.

A Day Home

All of my Christmas cacti are in bloom!  It is beautiful to see all the plants covered with different shades of red! 

I stood and quilted at the frame off and on all day!  It is so nice to be home ;  to putter, clean, work on a project and lay down when needed....... 

The tutti-frutti quilt is off the frame! 

Speaking of fruit-I have been leaving my watercolor out so I can paint a bit in between other ideas.

It was a great day!

Non-fiber Pursuits

I used a dab of school glue to adhere the shark collection to this 5 x 7 frame.  I used some fabric that looked like sand for the background!  It is hanging in my studio to remind me of the great visit to Fernandina Beach! 

I've been watching YouTube to teach me how to water color.  It is very satisfying to see the different results just a little bit of water can make!  It is waking a part of my brain that has been waiting a long time to awaken!