2013 Year end summarization

Am trying to list these on 11/7/14 to recap what 2013 were finished in my creative process.

1- Lone Star Quilt finished just enough for a quilt show but really wasn't- ;(  I learned my lesson x3!
2-Camper Bird quilt finished just enough for a quilt show but really wasn't- ;( I learned my lesson x3!
3- Forty Diamond quilt finished just enough for a quilt show but really wasn't- ;( I learned my lesson x3!
4-Appliqued I'm a bit biased Jopurnal
5- Beading a Kumihimo Bracelet softer green with Magatama irridescent glass beads
6- Beading- a Kumihimo Black with bits of Gold Bracelet
7- Beading a Kumihimo Bracelet with bright blues/blacks and purples
8- Beading a Kumihimo Bracelet with a red/violet mix
9- Beading a Matte Blue Kumihimo Bracelet
10- Beading a serpentine Bracelet with purples and greens
11- Embroidery, Designed and Sewn - Stitch Me Up Blog Hop, Gardening Organizer

12- Knitting - Lime Basket weave dishrag

13- Patchabilities - Ball Jar with Coneflowers

14- Quilt - Twin Field of Flowers for PGD#1

15- Quilted & Embroidered - It's All About Me Blog Hop, Irish Table Runner

16- Iron pad/Caddy

17- Quilting - Pom Pom Cheerleader Pillow Sham

18- Sewing - 2 Happy Birthday table toppers

19- Sewing 2 Superman capes

20- Sewing - 2 sided 60 shades of Grey and Beer Apron21- Sewing - 3 pillow cases to match Field of Flowers quilt   

22- Sewing - A Little Something Jacket w/Tropical leaves

23- CXS - BOO Balsam Pillow w/pompom fringe  

24- CXS - Santa's Reindeer

25- CXS - Trick or Treat (witch's boots)

26- Embroidery, Designed and Sewn - Stitch Me Up Blog Hop, Gardening Organizer

27- Knitting- Lace Mug Rug

28- Sewing the Medicine Tote bag

29- Sewing- 4 Pot Holders

30-Sewing Tea Bag Wallet

31- Sewing The Tammy Bag for a sewing necessaire

 

 

Now to clean up my blog page with 2014 projects completed.  I love seeing all that was accomplished in a year.

 

Jane

 

 

Wishing you plenty of Christmas Sparkle!

I just wanted to pop in to wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Thanks so much for reading and leaving encouraging comments on my blog during the past year.

Thank you for keeping me company, I appreciate it very, very much!

 

Time spent with friends and family.... priceless.

 

Age 5  and receiving the switch and Go dino.

 

 

Looks like Mema/Meme and Papa/Popi did just fine with the gifting. 

Age 8 and getting her McKenna Doll she's been wanting.

Age 20 and doing well.  Great to see him just before the Holidays for his drumming routine.

SCORE!!!

 

Wishing you Joy, Peace and much Love.

 

 Jane

 

PS:  (We never were able ot catch PGS#2 on film, he's a sly one.....lol)

 

Full of Gratitude and

From our crew to yours,

We are wishing you a very

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

 

If you are the source of this photo,

please let me know so I may give you proper credit.

 

Starburst QAL

Just stumbled across a Starburst QAL and have asked to join in.  The plan is for scraps but a planned scrappy perheps with a patriotic feel.  Off to rumage through some fibers to make the first block.  It's still available through Allison at Little Bunny Quilts.    

My last list of four didn't happen, only two were completed which were the carved pumpkin and the pants  hemmed.   For the other two,  progress was only made on the Lil' Miss Shabby Embroidery beside s of course starting a counted cross  stitch fob designed by  Sheperd's Bush called Scaredy Sheep.    I must be having a case of startitus and plese be warned it's VERY contagious!    I never did even one quilt stitch on Tweet camping!   SO this week the list of four are:

• Quilt brown sashing in Tweet Camping- still auditioning what to quilt in that area, (that's my delay)!
• Finish embroidery on June's  'Lil Miss Shabby
• Paper piece block #1 on Starburst QAL- will be scrap stashing for this one.
• Listing a wild card here, leaving it open as my muse calls for I  will follow.

Happy stitching,
Jane

 

Datebook - Phi Theta Kappa

I'm feeling ... proud

I'm seeing ... house full of love

I'm hearing ... Tickle (DH is watching that program, Moonshiners-ugh!  )
I'm thinking ... please turn off that TV
I'm cooking ... nothing, done for the day
I'm planning ... breakfast, PGS#3 spending his first night here without his sister.

I'm reading ...  Icebound by Dr. Jerri Nielson

I'm wearing ... black slacks, burgandy sweater
I'm creating ... counted cross stitch of Scaredy Sheep scissor fob designed by Shepherds Bush
I'm enjoying ... life's moments

I'm sharing ... Photo of my daughter with her family when inducted to Phi Theta Kappa tonight.    (I'm so proud!   She acknowledged me as her mentor.  Way to go Honey!!!)

 

 

Quilt Show Entry #5

 
Was a Jack in the Pulpit wall hanging.

 

  

The main panel in this was stenciled in 1998 and then it sat.  After getting the borders on a radiant star quilt that shares these fabrics, I was finally able to select which fabric this one called for and am pleased.

This one was finished in about 20 hours worth of time.  Now why did it wait for a decade and a half to get totally done? 

I swear this perfectionism thing is so crippling when it comes to creativity. 

Done is better than perfect any day.

 

For finishing a dark green flange edged between the first maroon border and this batik was the final border. 

For quilting, a meander around the centered stencil's background with an 100 weight ivory silk thread and Superior's Bottom line in the bobbin. For the maroon border, it was just echo quilted 1/4" away from the seam lines with a dual duty thread that matched that color the best. That left the outside border of batik to be quilted with a 100 weight dark green silk in a vine and leaf freehand motif where again a Bottom Line thread was in the bobbin.

All in all this one is pleasing and I am so happy it's done.  It amazed me during the layering process of my hesitation to use "good fabric" for the back and how crippled I became.  Since there really was no time to hesitate in that step I called my Mom after wishy washing for over an hour contemplating which fabrics to use and/or how to do the backing.   Her response was classic.

She said, "On No Janie.  Don't use that fabric.  Wait until you die so your daughter or Wayne can throw it in the trash bin or give it to someone else." 

Obviously I became strong and cut the fabric I wanted.   Will have to frame those words for future projects and reference to stop this paralyzing hesitation.  lol  

Only 2 left to share for entries.  Not sure when, there is more quilting that needs to be done on all three large quilts.  Am currently working on the Tweet Camping, quilting the dark brown sashings and inner borders right now.  Will show all of that when it is totally done.

My list of Four this week is;

1. June's Lil' Miss Shabby embroidery block
2. Brown sashing in Tweet camping quilted
3. Hem work Pants for son's friend
4. Carve a pumpkin

Of course I won't be listing all the other chores needed like chauffeuring, cleaning, cooking and  other hot spots that need action but I'll be making efforts there along with letting my body exercise which it so desires. 

Enjoy your week.  
Jane

 

Quilt Show entry #4 - All because of Trudy

My friend Trudy is a remarkable soul.  Her Birthday is today and I feel privileged to have her as a friend and a mentor.  This quilt otherwise known as Dragonfly Carnival, my fourth submission for our quilt show is the result of this friendship and came to be all because of Trudy.   I will hang it with love for all to see. 

 

To explain, here's a short narrative of this wall hanging.  I think it was in 2010 our circle of friends quilting group gathered at Trudy's house on Lake Champlain to work on a Ricky Timms' style Convergence wall hanging.  Yes, she's very hospitable and gracious that way.  We all brought fabric to work on and Trudy was teaching us since she had made several of these already.  Yes, she's an excellent teacher, so wise and can read people intuitively.   My fabrics wouldn't work well enough and Trudy gave me some of her Ricky Timms fabric to make mine, yes she is that generous and she had just returned from another of Ricky Timms conferences with another friend Cathy.   So we sewed, laughed and shared our day each making most of this.  Now during that time in my life I was still trying to "work with " all the medicines I need to take for the spinal cord injury and my brain was and still can be in a fog at times.  Not too many troubles though with sewing on it this that day and like all other days it came to an end. 

Life goes on... you know the drill.  Anyway, fast forward to the next year and while at a quilting retreat in Odgensburg I brought my wall hanging to work on since it languished as a UFO. Thankfully, I was sitting next to Trudy.   I assembled the center top and knew something was wrong with it but truly couldn't figure it out.  I pondered for about half an hour and  finally mentioned that I knew something was wrong it but with the Rx's and health issues I was just going to let it be and continue on with it having it represent the struggles I was dealing with.    She also noticed something amiss but didn't say anything and asked if she could look at it to figure it out.  Yep, she's that kind of person that knows yet doesn't force herself on you until asked.  Well she found the err in the construction and kindly offered her insight.  Being receptive to it, we ripped out the problem and I continued on sewing it together and being much happier now it proceeded.  Another weekend of sharing wonderful times with close friends.  That brings it to the next year when I finally made the time to lay out the fabrics to align colors best so it could be finished with the borders.  I know, I'm a slow stitcher and finisher but that truly is okay with me.  It was sewed all together and there it sat again while I  dreamt on about it.  There it was as a top, now what to quilt on it? 

 

 

 

 

Ahhh, finally inspiration came, dragonflies! A spirited symbol that  she and I both admire. Off again on my merry way until the time to quilt the borders and there it sat. So I registered this wall hanging in June for the October quilt show to push me to get 'er done and stop this dalliance.

 

 

The above photo shows a dragonfly head that I wasn't super happy with and was working on.  It looked like a derriere(or breasts) with eyeballs stuck on it!   What's that phrase I use lately?  oh yea,  "perfectionism is a very crippling agent to creativity".  Anyway I progressed along with the deadline looming ever closer.  The next photo  shows a couple of the dragonflies and you can click on any of the images to get a better glimpse of the details if you wish.

 

Next came the finishing touches, piping and binding on it.  Here's where I shared a peek about it in a September post.   

 

 

The label was made when I was feeling silly I guess, it really stretched out my artist's skills, lol.

 

So here she is- the fourth quilt show entry and it's all because of Trudy- the Dragonfly Carnival.

. 

 

Thanks my dear friend and Happy Birthday!  I Love you loads!

Jane

October's New FO

While catching my breath after the warp speed of getting my projects done for the quilt show there came a time to create some New FO's that I've been wanting and needing to tackle.   First we were able to harvest 65 pounds of Concord Grapes fom our two vines.  While the youngest grand was at preschool, we cut almost all of our grapes off, but left a few clusters for him to cut when he got home.  You have to teach the young ones early about helping in the harvest right?  He had fun.

 

So I got about 30 quarts of grape juice and about 20 pints of Grape Jelly put up for the winter. 

That counts as a New Fo Barb, right?  lol  

A new to us recipe was tried with  a lower sugared version on half of the jelly,

hopefully it will be fine,  crossing my fingers. 

 

 

Next came some New FO's of a different version.  A couple of  arts and crafts projects to do with both grandchildren. 

The idea came from Martha Stewart and I printed out her pumpkin faces on card stock to have ready when the time came.   I tried to share the link with the exact same spot I got these from. but can't find it quickly, sorry.  
Coming back to edit since it was just found here.

 

 

Pretty cute right? 

 

Then my grand daughter taught me how to create a pumpkin with a craft she learned at Girl Scouts.  Her's is on the right and  mine is on the left.  She thought I did okay and she continued to make the centered pumpkin with an idea she had. 

 

 

I do love that she is so creative!

 

 

That brings us to the morning of Halloween, super woman (not sure if I am taking about her or me) here.                                                       Arriving 30 minutes before the AM school bus at my house, she has a broken superwoman boot and the homemade super girl cape I made her earlier this year or last can't be worn with her costumes' velcro parts.  The cape was made to velcro around her neck to close, not hang off a costume and the other type of hook or loop part was needed in one area of it to make it work.                                                                                    Anyways, she asked if I could fix it?  In 25 minutes?    Okay. I'll try, you eat your breakfast and I went to work.  One boot fixed, the velcro changed on the cape, great!  Perfect, got it done.  Then I heard from her, "Thanks Meme you're the best,  but could you fix my other boot like you did this one?"  10 minutes before the bus now....... I got busy, ripped the offending part off the other boot and sewed on new elastic.                                     Finished them all with 3 minutes to spare,  Phew! !!!                           Okay now I'll have my cup of tea.                                                            She caught the bus with a broad smile on her face. 

8:00 AM, That's when the lil' guy asked.  "Can you make a Minion costume for me?"  With the Halloween parade at his sisters' school taking place we had to leave at 8:30 am. 

SEW.....I got busy again

but at least with a cup of tea in hand this time. 

 

First the glasses, thank goodness I had some of my canning stuff not put away yet and  I had an idea......

 

The Ball canning rims for glasses with black elastic super glued in the right areas.   Papa had to search in his clothes for the right yellow tee shirt and Brody went to the mitten and glove box to look and see if we had some black gloves. 

And viola.....

 

  a MINION!   

 

vido, vido, vido......

 

 

He says he's Dave the minion. Too cute! 

 

I told them next year I need more notification though like perhaps several days. 

My daughter laughed with glee when she saw it and heard the story. 

Ahhh, Such is life. 

 

We all had a great time at his sister's school and enjoyed a turkey dinner lunch since Grandparent's Day was also being celebrated. 

When we got home, I had such a yearning for a nap though, I was totally spent!

 Happy Halloween Everyone!!!! 

Jane


Am thinking of making my November New FO one of these.

Quilt show entries, First one- "Tweet Camping"

Thank goodness our local quilt show isn't a judged show, otherwise most of my entries would have been shown to the door.  And no, I am not kidding!   Our show has many ribbons that people can win and people with all kinds of areas, expertise and backgrounds are asked to pick their favorite.  Of course some picks are spectacularly done quilts, well deserving of their awards while some others are nice quilts, but not as great as some that are just as well deserving IMHO.    The show kept taking my breath away with the many and varietied quilts shown.   I also would be remiss not to  mention that a good friend, Michele won a well deserved ribbon for her New York Beauty Quilt entry (Talk about Gorgeous!!!) and my granddaughter won a ribbon for her first Doll Quilt. 

Well done Michele, McKenna and fellow members of CVQG of NY!

 

I did the bare minimum for quilting because I procrastinated way too long.  

When I registered them in June, I figured they  would be done for the show.   

I had 5, Yep,  I said 5 UFOS that I entered. 

I figured that by committing them to be there, I'd get them done.  ROTFLOL!!!!

 

But I swear

I will never,

EVER!

I mean NEVER EVER!!  do this to myself again!!!

 

So this post will share the parts about

 

"Tweet Camping"

 

This quilt came to be  because I found this Bird fabric at my LQS and fell in Love with it.   The pattern design was inspired by a connecting threads kit I saw in their catolog but the dimensions wouldn't work because it was a baby quilt and the much smaller blocks wouldn't play well with this fabric so  I played with lots of math to make my own.  With the pattern, I really like the fact that all of those rectangles were being stacked and packed so to speak (a much needed choir when it comes to camping) so it seemed a perfect fit especially with the wobbliness of those stacks tottering.  Shopping my stash first,  then shopping for  a few more batiks to throw in for good measure gives this quilt a bit of color and punch.  I find projects made from different fabric lines is very appealing.  Quickly,  I even envisioned having shipping peanuts (circular shaped packing protectors) quilted in the white background areas with much more quilting done for the boxes, sashings and borders. So off it went.

 

 

 

What I was able to get done was quilt a "linking squares" meander  in the outside blue borders 

with the "peanut packing" for the white areas. 

Running out of time, I had to leave the rest of the quilting for when I have more time after the show. 

Thankfully it hung well enough at the show not to be too huge of an embarrassment.   A vanilla cream, minkee dot was used for this back which makes it a very cuddly and drapable quilt.  

 

 

Close up shots of the quilting in the border, white spacings while I was auditioning bindings.  

Quilting was done with a Universal needle without any problems

using the minkee dot backing, as for the threads, many were used. 

 

In the borders a Superior Lava Thread called KuKui Nut (soft browns) was used for the top and bobbin.

In the white background a Superior's Kimono white silk(color 373) for the top and

 Superior's White Bottom Line in the bobbin.

I'm thinking of dong a back and forth motion in the sashings and perhaps cross haches in the stacked boxes but am unsure what to do in the bird focal fabric.  Any and all ideas or suggestions are welcome.  What would you do? 

 

 

 

 

I love having piping or flanges on many of my projects, but elected not to on this one and just finished it simply by using the striped fabric that went with this fabric line called  "Love Lives Here" by P. Carter Carpin by P&B textiles.    I love this bird print and it fit the bill nicely for the For the Birds hop I participated in earlier this year.  Another tidbit to share is how a different label was made for it.  I folded 2 blocks with some sashing from that row I took off the quilt since it was really too long before borders and turned them into a label.  If there is any damage in the years to come, that label can help with many of the fabrics contained within.  Also a strip of the selvage from that fabric line was used too as to document more of the information and who wouldn't like the motto "love lives here".

Here's how it looks:

 

 

 

To the left of those stacked blocks is the date, quilt name, place done and maker's name documented centered with more brown and blue fabrics.
 This is the largest label I've ever made, it's huge 14"x 12".

 

 Finally I'll share a shot of "Herman" the weeping cedar bush near the pool deck, showing Tweet Camping in the backyard where love lives here.

Tweet Camping
88" x 88"
 

I'll share more of the quilts that were entered by me bit by bit. Sorry this was photo heavy but I wanted documentation for  future reference.  First item on my agenda this week will be to quilt the sashings on this quilt and read the book The Saving Graces which our club meets on Wednesday to discuss.  I totally slid on my reading while focusing on getting ready for the show.  Enjoy your Holiday. 

Jane    8^)

I think I can, I think I can...

All of the items that were listed this past last Monday are checked off my to do list and have been moved onto the to DONES list!  LOL 

Batik Reprieve aka: 40 Diamonds - DONE!
Tweet Camping otherwise known here as stacked and packed - DONE!

Next on my radar will be:

1. Quilt the Jack in the Pulpit wall hanging- getting to this next! 
2. Bind  the Jack in the Pulpit (I may stitch the binding by machine on the back and then turn and topstitch the edge down by the machine as well.  Will ponder my timeline for this while quilting it though I do want to hand stitch the binding on the upcoming Radiant Star project that's next though it's 102" x102" square so it'll be time consuming and that clock seems to be ticking faster!
3. Quilt Adirondack Radiant Star- Tonight hopefully I can start that after getting practice on the Jack and the Pulpit.  I did get this  ironed and layered on Friday yippee skippee!
4. Make 3 sleeves that will be pinned on the larger quilts in time for turn in on Friday evening.  Ican only hope I don't have to finish stitching it in the parking lot!

That leaves these 1-2 projects to get done this week by Thursday.  I think I can......

 

I'll be back to share some photos of these beauties.  Sorry the weather is so drab to grab a shot of them now not to mention the mist in the air.   

 

Jane       8~)

It continues

"Orange" Phlox bloomed this year and loved them.

 

I will share a snap of the Dragonfly Carnival wall hanging with the piping treatment she got.

Am loving how this looks, NICE!

I also am progressing on the quilts I need completed by the 11th of October. 

My list of 4 "chores" that need completion this week are:

1. Label the Dragonfly Carnival and finish sewing the binding to complete it.
2. Finish quilting the 10 minute block quilt I've named the Batik Reprieve.
3. Make binding and get it machine sewn on the Batik Reprieve and a small label done for it too.  Then next week I can start attaching the sleeve.
4. Rip out one row on the Tweet Camping, aka the camper quilt.  I have been hesitating putting all the borders on this one because it just didn't seem right that it was so long.  This will allow me to have all four sides with borders and with the top and bottom borders being narrower in  width than the side borders.  Hopefully by Friday I can get this layered at my grandson's preschool where I don't have to move that much furniture or crawl around on the floor to do it.  Just move a few chairs in the dining hall area and slide a couple of tables together.  Now why didn't I think of using them before? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the angel in the swing shot photo?  Guess what he did?
 

 

Yep!  He gave himself a HAIR CUT.  God bless.  He knew he did was wrong quickly.  You can tell by this expression that he got in trouble too.  So it went from a nicely style hair cut to a buzz cut given to him by his Papi.  His Dad didn't want him to feel bad so Papi cut Daddy's hair too,  (that's something I would never do unless a severe illness and then I would do it for solidarity to help with the healing).   

 

 

His sister had her first day at school.  For a minute or two that morning I thought, then asked if  McKenzie would be going with her.    And this was the answer I got. 

 

 

 Talk about an angel flipping her switch.

Meme, I am not bringing my doll to school!

On Wednesday, Papi and I were able to go on one more field trip to the local orchard.  This will be the last time for this younger generation with preschool.   We had a nice time and all the preschoolers were very attentive about the grandfather "snow" variety tree in the orchard when Brian explained it.

After the field trip we enjoyed a picnic near Lake Champlain, at the Samuel D. Champlain's monument with another activity of feeding the ducks afterwards.    The lake near the mouth of the Saranac River was a hive of activity with all the seagulls swooping down towards the water.  We think there was a hatch of lampreys just floating by since one seagull landed on a concrete abutment near us and had a 4" long resilient worm-like creature he was trying to kill for his dinner.   We should have grabbed the camera and snapped that photo.

 

Also I'm sharing a couple of the finished projects that PGD#1 completed.  She started these with her cupcake kids sewing circle group. 



10 minute table runner for her bedroom

 

We had a modeling session and both of us had a blast.


 

Anthology bag I shared on my blog previously without her.




 

 

She adds her own bit of style with the bag though, it's so much cuter!






Notice the band aids.and I'm not sure why she's closing her eyes,
perhaps her attempt at being coy.



Don't know what this pose was all about.

But it brought out a big smile though

 








 

 

 

 

PS: I'm smiling right now just remembering our shoot.  I Love you Girl!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your blessings, I do mine.

Jane

Also PGS#3 just started his speech sessions and I'm impressed by his willingness & attentiveness to go every time. 
Can only hope this trend lasts.

August is a Blurrrr rrrrr .....

Time seems so very short for me lately.  My best intentions to blog regularly are falling short so I am taking my lead from  Dana over at the Red Barn Co. blog to just give some highlights of some of the happenings that have been going on these past few weeks.   My start for these Bloggy bullets are being posted for my own sanity and journal. 

Met up with Mom in Glens Falls at the Hyde Collection for a Georgia O'Keefe exhibit.  NICE!
The exhibit consisted mainly of her works created when she lived in the Lake George area with the Stieglitz family. The series of Jack-in-the-pulpit really showed her development and interest as an artist.

My favorites were the Chestnut Grey, 1924

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and

 



          Starlight Night, Lake George, 1922                    

 

 

One of Mom's favorites was the Trees in Autumn, 1920-1921.

 

 

Many family gatherings have happened with siblings and cousins.  Our annual picnic was hosted by Doug, my brother and his girlfriend, Lyn.  Thanks so much you two, it was fun gathering especially with all the cousins and most of our siblings and their families in attendance.    But there were others gatherings and connections happening for a couple of weeks.  With Mom staying here,some came by to visit have a bite or relax in the pool.  Pizza parties at another sister's home and gathering at the camp on Lake Champlain with campfires and water sports.

Then the Dale Chihuly exhibit at Montreal's Museum for Fine Art was utterly spectacular.  Mom and I finally were able to go last week after a couple of failed attempts.  Flu, museum closed for example, etc....    Would you believe I didn't take my camera!   These photos of images I took at home via news clippings and post cards.  If you are interested I can give you their names and  forward the credits but just don't have time for all that now.  My regrets.




Le soleil / The Sun
 



Plafond persan d'Oklahoma / Oklahoma Persian Ceiling



Lustre du Mercato del Pesce di Rialto / Mercato del Pesce de Rialto Chandelier
aka; Orange Hornet Chandelier





Mille Fiori / One thousand Flowers

Mom the green black striped stylized leaf that you loved are on the left just behind those red columns.
This picture does not do it justice. These glass lengths were 7 to 18 feet tall.

Many pieces were shown and each seemingly more intriguing than the next. 



Barques de Flotters et d'Ikebana / Float and Ikebana Boats

  

My favorite was the boats with floats.

A more detailed glimpse of it.  I would love to make a wall hanging depicting this memory using batiks. 

 

We'll see......

 

 

Creativity wise some bits have been completed.

 

1. The 10 minute quilt top is a flimsy, I'll be using a brown minkee dot fabric for the backing.   
2. I picked up a vanilla colored minkee backing at Joann's in Vt when we went to Shelburne Museum for the Velda Newman Exhibit.  The minkee is for the camper quilt which only has one border more to go.   Need to commit to how this will be bordered so it's on the fence but will be done for the quilt show in October 2013!
3. The Serpentine bracelet from a class I took with Trudy in August is completed.
4. The 2  smaller  "Happy Birthday" 10 minute runners are done and just in time for lil' miss turning 8 on the 10th.
5. Another 2 Kumihimo bracelets have been finished.  One matte black with amber and metallic bits and the other one is a medium matte green with Magatama iridescent glass beads.    It's another attempt of mine at playing with the orientation and textures, sizes and colors with in these bracelets.  Can you tell I find braiding them fun?
6. Lil' Miss also finished another project of hers.  The 10 minute table runner in fabrics that look lovely with that quilt I made for her earlier this year.  This was the first project she started when she joined in the cupcake kids sewing circle.  The first two dates they met we were away camping.  The second project was this advent calendar panel where she had to fold, press and stitch to create the pockets.  I'll be doing the quilting and attach the binding but she will be hand sewing it on.  The photo to the right is of the circle while they worked on this project.
7. She and I also finished her name tag which a guild member kindly and selflessly embroidered per the childrens' orders from her cupcake kids sewing circle.
 















Kumihimo with Magatama glass



Kumihimo



Serpentine bracelet















 

Mom was staying here for a couple of weeks at the beginning of the month and I enjoyed having her visit.  She continues to amaze me with how much she gets done but I realize she just keeps keepin at it until it's done.  I am more fluctuating with other family members goings on and will allow myself to be put on the bottom of my list.  I am correcting that and realize I have many years to compensate for it.  I even told Mom I need about 6 months to myself just to catch my breath and catch up with my interests.   As if that will ever happen!  I can only imagine that if or when it does, I probably won't like it and will feel like everyone is ignoring me and will be lonely!  Ah balance that's what I'll cultivate and meditate on. 

 

Speaking of that, a friend and I were able to attend 4 nightly lectures for Intuitive Tools brought locally by Dr. Gail Myers in a 5 week time frame.  Despite all that was happening on my home front at the time, the time I took for this was my solace and a quiet time to appreciate all the blessings I have.  Very comforting and surreal in it's affect.  Can you say Synchronistic!

 

Our daugher gave birth to a kidney stone and had to have emergency surgery this past Friday.  Brought her to the ER Thursday night and was there until 2:30am when the ER admitted her.  The stone 7mm x 4mm x 5mm was lasered then  removed since it was too large for her to pass on her own. 

The grand children were here and I helped out with any transportation needed since her significant other doesn't have a license yet.  Hopefully in August 2014 that will be changed so she and I will get some help in that department.  With DH not driving because of his health and RJ not driving because of poor judgement on his behalf many years ago, any errands, appointments and such fall to the females of the family.  Since she was out of commission from surgery all the errands fell to me.  Luckily the good Lord blessed me with adaptability without being to biotchy!   LOL  And I am trying to be humble here too.

 

 

Our gardens continue to bloom and we are grateful.

Rose Mallow, Hibiscus

Purple morning glory, another one is blue!

 

Some of the lilies and other perennials

 

Burgundy Bee balms and dwarf cotton candy pink bee balm, the bright red ones I didn't capture in their peak.

Delphinium and hollyhock finally survived a winter and bloomed.  Yippee!!!
The secret, they don't like mulch around their feet, who knew!

 

I'm trying to pull at least 50 weeds everyday and it's keeping the gardens in order.  Typically, I'll do that when I place the kettle on first thing in the morning.  It's a great way to greet the day and also gets it done while it's still cool. 

We just picked up a few new plants to get in the garden, some Hydrangeas another ecchinachia. 

 

Lastly, I'll share some shots I took from post cards of the Velda Newman exhibit currently on display at Shelburne museum.  DH and I were able to have a picnic lunch in Vt before attending Velda's exhibit this past weekend.

 

 

It was on my lists of things to do with Mom but she really wanted to reconnect with another sister of mine who was able to get the day off on the planned for day, I gladly accepted to decline the outing which DH and I did this past Sunday.  Because of a banks' grant, Shelburne Museum was an all day free admission.  Figured the crowds would be heavy since it also was the dedication of the Pizzagalli Gallery opening, but thankfully it seemed fine and we thoroughly enjoyed the visit. 

 

 

Sorry just wanted to get some of these bits entered and realize it's heavy on the photos. 

You can see by some of the date time stamps some of the photos were from July 31st

and would you believe there is more I could share, that's how much has been going on.  

Oh well, enough for now and thanks for stopping by

 

 

Jane. 

 

PS:     So much for Bullets!! 

This was quite long and wordy!