WOOD (SHOP) ON WEDNESDAY!

I went to my quilting group and enjoyed figuring out the piecing for the latest project.

I was glad to learn that the heavy plastic templates worked with a rotary cutter which will help with the piecing immensely!

When I got home, I only had a few pieces to add to finish the row.  Today, I will be sewing the two rows together and hopefully will have time to tackle another row!  I do need to take stock of how many units I need;  I always know what I need and then cut it out so this is a different situation for me!

Bill helped me put together a new shelf 

for my logs in the woodshop!

The little shelf wasn't sufficient for my supply of wood!

I used the old shelf to hold the hickory wood and clear the space where it was just piled on the floor!

I was able to see some order result 

and have even more wood to stack but it was enough for now. 

 It is still pretty hot in the garage not to mention the humidity!!

We finally had our WiFi restored at dinner time--it was torture to be disconnected! lol

TRIUMPHS AND TRAGEDY!

The borders are added to the Mini Petals quilt. 

 I have the backing for this so it will go on the frame next week.

I cut out some more squares for the disappearing 4 patches.

I had help along the way! 

I made another zippered pouch;  this time it is a larger size. 

 12" x 9"

The back is quilted for holding its shape better!

The inside is a pretty denim fabric.

So the putty had dried just as it was supposed to.  I sanded it and it will be very shiny after I apply the finish to the wood.

There were a few cracks that I needed to fill with CA glue (Cyanoacrylate Glue which is better known as Crazy Glue or Super Glue) and some sawdust because they were too thin to fill with the putty.

It was going well until I fumbled the bottle and tried to catch it before it hit the floor.  I missed but was bent over it when it hit the floor and splashed right up into my face and in particular, my right eye!  The eye and eyelids were glued firmly together! 

 I ran into the house calling for Bill to help! 

 After considerable water soaking, we could get the eyelids open but there was a bit of glue visible on my eye so off to the Vision Center we went!  The doctor used a saline wash and then contact lens solution alternately so he could work the glue off my eyelashes and lids.  It also took the lump off my eye but the good news was that the glue hit the white of my eye and not the cornea because Super Glue can eat right through that lens!!!  I went home with a script for antibiotic/steroid drops to use for a few days!  It is a tolerable pain-like a finger poked my eye and stayed there! lol   Never boring!

SITTING PRETTY

The mild temperatures here while I was in NY has produced a lot more azaleas!  There are pinks, very pale pinks and some whites so far.  The other side of the driveway takes longer to bloom because they are in the shade side!

I hung my cow in the dining room.  It is a good spot to see it all the time and enjoy the calm colors, too.

I knit a headband without a twist for anyone to wear but especially for men who wouldn't enjoy the twisted version!  

I will be making several of them this way and some more twisted ones, too.  The two hats are for newborns--one is lined in grey because I used up the end of two skeins!

  It was nice to be home!  

Today, I will be doing some time in the Studio!

 

MANUAL LABOR INTENSIVE!

See the green anole? 

 He is the only native lizard in No. America. 

 He is often called a chameleon because he can 'tint' to his environment but he is not a true chameleon. 

 We love to spot these guys!

So yesterday I asked for Bill's help in finding some of his reclaimed lumber to make a floating shelf.  I watched a YouTube video  several times and was ready to give it a go myself!  

He cut several boards to size for me and I began the job of sanding the 'aged' color off so I could stain it a light oak color.  Here it is being held together with clamps so I could then put in finishing nails!

For this floating shelf, you build the outer shell to size which will then fit over the 'framing' that is first attached to the wall with bolts.

I cut all of the inner pieces making them just 1/8" smaller than the inside of the outer shelf so I would have wiggle room to slide it over the frame when it is installed on the wall-

The inner frame is all glued and clamped and just waiting for me to screw it together when I wake up another day!  

My body was worn out with all of the lifting, 

cutting, sanding and nailing!

And I closed out the day with the rest of the skein of the print on one side and ivory on the inside for this beanie.  

Today, I am going to visit my youngest son after church because it is his birthday!  

 

GOOD WORK

While Bill mowed, I did a bit of piecing for the girl's quilt.  This is as far as I got but will finish piecing the rows today.

And then, there are two rows of borders to sew on.  

And when Bill was finished mowing, lunched and cooled off, he helped me rearrange the woodshop! I moved the old lathe out, turned my lathe and tool chest 90 degrees.

 Now there is so much more room to maneuver!

Here's a panoramic view of my tools all lined up with the wood shelves to make a 'room' in the garage!

  It's about a 15' x 15' area.

Now everything is open and roomy to work in 

and that makes me smile. 

 I have plans for two projects today!

 

INSIDE AND OUT

The piecing of the blocks is finished with the sock monkey quilt but today I will add the sashing.  I'm not sure how I will do it--grey with red cornerstones, beige with red or maybe grey? 

 You will see what I decide tomorrow! 

Bill rolled the new tool cart to the garage for me where I cleaned out the many places where lathe tools resided and put them all in this one place!  The other shelf by the lathe was open so every time I worked, I covered all of the tools with sawdust. 

 Now, if I remember to shut each drawer,

 I will keep everything clean and tidy.

The chest has a lidded top section, too.

  Now to get back into working on the lathe again. 

 The piece on the lathe now was when I played around with Eli.

  I don't know if it can be a vase or not but I will try.

We've gotten pretty good at spotting a gopher tortoise from afar.  He was out to nibble the green grass growing over our drywell!

Isn't he a handsome fellow?!

 

AN UNUSUAL SIGHT!

 

I am able to knit socks!  Boy, does it feel good to have the sock knitting in my hands once more.  I had a doctor appointment yesterday and I knit while waiting to be called!  Things are getting back to normal again!

Today I usually post watercolor or wood but today I would like to show you the new tool cabinet I put together for the wood shop.  This will hold all of my lathe tools and accessories.  I will be lost in front of the lathe pretty soon!

Soft and Hard

The cardigan is finished being knit and here it is drying because the lace part really needs blocking!  Comfy yarn from KnitPicks, 8 skeins, Size 5 and 7 needles, top-down knit with the pattern, Hyacinth Cardigan from Webs.  I didn't need this yesterday as the temps were up to a sunny 87*!  Don't worry, it will drop down again and the 3/4 length sleeves will be just right!

I did a bit of cleaning on my pile of wood that was just piled in the corner;  the shelf is from the house we cleaned out--it is neat and orderly now!  I'm pleased with the look and the organization of it!

While working in the workshop, I couldn't resist starting another little bowl-this one is made of Sycamore.  It looks a lot like the Magnolia to me and it did the strange coloring thing of the wood when exposed to air.  Who knew?  Come to find out, a lot of trees do that!  Interesting.

I will be making a live edge with bark on this one, too.  It's going to be a fun hour in the shop today!

Oh, and this is another one of the home projects I am working on!  The bottom of one of the doors came loose and about 15 slats had fallen out--it was a very tricky job to get the slats in place so I could hammer the side back in place to hold everything!  But I  did it!  (both eyes are pain-free and feeling normal--what a gift.  It's been a long 3 weeks!  I think the latest meds finally kicked in, thank you Lord!)
 

WoodShop

I made another square bowl;  this time out of Camphor.  

This is 6" x 6" and 3" deep.  

This one will be a surprise for my youngest son this weekend--we have our postponed Christmas celebration finally!  Since he is one who works in construction and remodeling, he 'gets it' about my love of wooden objects!

I can't wait to see his face when he opens it!

I spent a long time in the woodshop expanding my work area by cleaning and organizing Bill's stuff and making more room.  I have moved my lathe 'dresser' back by 4' ; 

 I have plans for the space I've made.

And last of all, I loaded a small section of camphor which is junction of several branches. 

 It should be an interesting little project.

I'm finding I can work best early in the day as my eyes are too blurry as the day progresses.  So that is what I can do and use the rest of the time for other kinds of work/creativity!

Here is something to make you smile!

My Dad celebrated his 88th birthday yesterday!

(he was on his tractor, 

snow blowing his driveway earlier in the day!)

And FYI, he is using the square bowl I made him

to hold his candy on the stand next to his chair!

Fit A into B.....

I did a lot of resting yesterday but I did add some ribbons to theses guys.

And made another star!

But first thing on the schedule for today--putting together my newest woodshop tool-a very large bandsaw!