STAND AND STITCH

The mountain fun quilt is done! 

 It is very masculine and will make a happy lap quilt for someone.

The fabrics are fun and interesting.

I immediately set up the next quilt on the frame!  

This one is going to be quilted with these meandering dragonflies!  

 On the yarny front, I made a dishcloth 

(and will make another and another

 until the yarn comes for the girl's sweater!) 

and completed the third block for this month.  

Today, I am going to start a new block!

LABORS

The quilt is loaded and on its way to being quilted.

I am using a pattern with this triangle shape that looks like a campfire or a branding iron

...well, I'm using it anyway on this camping, woodsy quilt! 

 I'm hoping to finish this one today then load and finish another!

 

SOCKS ON SUNDAY

One pair of socks now completed!  These are knit with KnitPicks Vancouver Hawthorne Multi sock yarn

 on 2.5mm needles over 64 stitches.  

Here is the hall that I painted on Friday--it has a 9' ceiling 

hence the workout on the step stool! lol

And here is something I haven't done in a long time! 

 Machine knitting on my LK-150.

I'm following a pattern on YouTube. 

 Hope to finish it on Monday to show you what this is!

WRAPPING UP LOOSE ENDS

The Country Woods quilt has been sewn back together--I am pleased with both the size and the arrangement this time!  Now it is   41"  x  50" and a bit more interesting!

This is what it looked liked before I upgraded it!  Small and plain!

 I bought the rest of the paint I needed to finish the hall from the dining room to my studio, so I also painted yesterday!  It was too gloomy to take a picture by the time I finished (it rained all day!) so I will get one today for tomorrow's post.

 But I also did a bit of this during rest times!  I need to make one more of this block for this month's installment and 3 more of a new block!  I do find I have to look at what I am doing more with crochet than with knitting which forces me to listen more than watch yet sometimes, you have to look up to see what is going on! A bit challenging but fun to conquer a more complicated stitch!

EXCURSION

Here is the finished quilt that my friend, Mary, made!  She completed every step herself and I am so proud of her!

I asked her to pose for posterity!  66" x 77" 

 Mary went with me to drive me to my arthritis doctor's appointment -

...and then we had fun by stopping at the fabric store!  I mostly bought fabric for backings for the three finished tops but a pattern and some fat quarters were added for fun!

She dropped me off just in time to batten my hatches 

before a very furious T-storm hit!

This is where Lena spends her time while it is LOUD outside!

And to end my day, I learned how to crochet a new block 

for the Casablanca Afghan!

A SECOND LOOK OR MAYBE A THIRD

I wasn't happy with the look of the country quilt I had made

 so I rotary-cutter-ripped the border off .  

See the cat in the window asking to come in?  

She refuses to use the cat door and will stare at me forever!

And added a few more! 

 I haven't sewn them back on 

but that will happen later today, I hope.

I played at the lathe a bit and 

finished the third square grapefruit wood bowl!

They are similar in size-the new one is the one on the left.

I has the spalting and coloring of the other bowls 

and even has a knot--all bonuses as far as I am concerned!  

 

A BIT BEHIND

When I have several days in a row that are go-go-go, I stall!  I've enjoyed a home day yesterday and will have another one today that will help recharge my batteries!  I work at the lathe yesterday-yes, another square bowl but they are a joy to make and I need several to give to all of my kids and some grands, too!

Even though it is still in the 90's and very humid, there are signs of Fall and I cling to their encouragement that weather will let up eventually!  The red ginger cones are popping up and they are so pretty!  

The magnolia cones are also growing very reddish and their seeds are maturing;

and if you look closely, you can see some here that will soon pop out of the cone to the ground and it will make the squirrels very happy!

And I have been knitting--I ran out of yarn--I sure read the instructions wrong!  But the next skein is on  its way and I will get to work on the second sock while I wait!  

 

NAILED IT!

After church today, I stopped at Home Depot 

and bought some Behr Marquee paint in the color I thought

 I had picked out back in March! 

 Since I had the paint and a friend to paint it,

 I just went with it at the time

 but I haven't been thrilled with missing out

 on the sage green I wanted. 

 Well, this is the color I wanted and it's perfect.  I painted all day and will have the sore muscles tomorrow

 to prove it but I LOVE IT!  

Then in the evening I knit on the second sock, turned the heel and knit the ankle.  I am ready now to begin the leg ribbing. 

 I head to help Mary put the binding on her quilt today 

and I will bring the sock to work on while she stitches on the quilt!

 

PLEASURES

Lena helped me set out the knitting--one top done and the second one (in a smaller size) is well begun.

I bought a new flag and put it up on a bamboo pole.  The old one was faded and tattered;  kinda like our nation's leadership.

Look at the footprints I found on the driveway--any ideas ?  they are about 2 1/2" in size.

I played with some watercolor, too. 

 I find it very relaxing to play with this medium.

(I also note the desire for cooler weather-well, mainly weather without humidity!)

 

QUILT ACCOMPLISHMENTS!

My friend, Mary, finished quilting her top--she did it all herself and we did a happy yip when she was done!!!  What a great job she has done!  Monday we will add the binding lesson to her skills!

While she was working at the frame, 

I sewed the borders onto the charm squares. 

 I decided it needed another row so I added the gold strips.  

This makes me very happy--the colors are so bright!  

 

CLOSING ON GOALS

The size 6 girl's sweater is close to binding off at the bottom and then I will have to pick up the sleeve stitches and rib those and bind off.  Sweaters in Florida have short sleeves to get the most use!  I'm looking forward to casting on the second one in size 2 which will go much more quickly!

The Desert Rose is sending out its first blooms for the winter-they are beautiful!

I stopped off at my local fabric store after my monthly doctor's appointment to pick up some material for two borders for the charm pack quilt.  I will attach them today while my friend Mary closes in on the finish for her quilting work at the frame!

I did happen to look for some interesting fabric to make an adult Jar Collection quilt while I was there!

 And was surprised to learn I had earned this gift certificate;  Miss D's still offers one for spending $200 over any amount of time!  I can't wait to savor special trip to shop 

next time I am in town!

DRIFITING FROM ROOM TO ROOM

Bill found this chair put out with someone's garbage...I gave it a good cleaning and then recovered the seat.

Look at the cool feature of this chair!  It opens for a little storage area!  I don't know what I will do with it but it will find a good spot, you can be sure!

I did a little bit of stitching;  

but spent more time in other rooms today.

I finished another square grapefruit wood bowl!  

This one moved right along-only a few hours of pleasure!

I did work in the kitchen the longest again yesterday -the last batch of muscadine jelly was successful.

See what the ripe grapes look like?  Delicious as jelly but not the best for eating fresh unless you have some cheese to go with it but I can't find a polite way to spit out the seeds! lol

 

WATERCOLOR PLAY

I set up a little tv tray in the living room to play while watching YouTube--it's been relaxing.

I like the different ways you can make watercolor look-

bright or subtle.

Here's something fun I bought-

it is real quality watercolor paper;  thick and thirsty!

And the back is printed, 

ready for mailing as soon as the paint dries!