Glitter glitter everywhere-

Another area I enjoy decorating through out the year are the wreaths hung on two doors of my home and then at Christmas time especially - a spray is hung over the garden gate doors.
I have a system in the garage for storing all of my seasonal wreaths since it's quite an investment and it's easy to decorate hen they are not all dusty and squished!  With pulling out the December items, they needed attention.  So I started un doing and redoing and made a couple of purchases with more items than I needed as long as I could return what I didn't need with a recent being asking during the transactions.  As long as the items are returned before the Holiday I was told.  No Problem!

The one that was there was so DONE and had served us well for the 15 years it's been there! The photo above on the left shows how bare the decorations were after years of weather, wind and time.  The ribbon started as a burgundy but was so aged all the sparkle was gone, what to do, revamp all of them!
First the front door with the little counted cross stitch pillow was removed from the wreath and all the other bits, then it was decorated with new bows, ribbons, and red and lime Christmas tree balls of different sizes.    The wreath now has white lights allover with a lit red bow.  Adding plenty of candy cane striped doodads to make it even more festive makes me feel wonderful seeing it on the front door.  Very traditional looking scene with the typical red/green colors of the Holiday sign on the outside porch and the Birch wood Reindeer with a coordinating red bow around it's neck welcoming all.

Now for the family entrance side and on the driveway entrance Fuchsia was the color theme.  The spray over the garden gate will be up all winter.  So luckily I found a silver gold ribbons, pearls, fuchsia ornaments, glittery doodads, and varying ornaments made this one really unique.  What do you think?  I think it could easily segue into the Mardi Gras season and beyond!    It truly is OVER the top!  pun intended...

Using many of the same style of decorations for the wreath that hangs on the kitchen door that had to be revamped.  I used plenty of bows,  multi-sized ornaments (some dangling), different flower picks of glittered drums and sprigs, as well as the same "cow udder things" (as DH mentioned last year that were recycled)  to add movement each time the door is used.

It looks really nice and am so happy with those results!  

It's a blessing that even with the recent snow squall that came through, it's holding up perfectly!

This is the system we use to store them.  All of the wreaths fit into monthly marked containers.  The swag and Christmas wreath with those ball hanging down thingies are stored on the garage rafters in plastic bags which require a ladder.   DH and I built two shelves over the garage doors.  One for summer stuff and the other one for winter items.  

System in the garage for storing all the door wreaths.  DH bent some garden hooks and put up a suspended left over  curtain rod.  I can get at these without having to use a ladder, just a nice little hook on a long pole
makes it easy to get down and easy to get back up!

Just had to share with the grands being here last week while school was out, here's a giant Furby cleaning off the car when he arrived at 7:30 am in his pajamas.  That boy runs HOT! and doesn't like to wear a coat.

PGS#3 arriving with here during the school's  Christmas break.  Just turned  7 on 12/8 and is in the first grade.

He's a great little worker.

 Editing this on 1/3/16 since December flew by!

Community quilts quilted

Another Project I wanted to clear up in December was quilting a community quilt for the WFQG was realized.    That's two of the three done and in the busiest month of the year.

Yippee!!!!!

I used Anne Bright's design as inspiration to do a meandering crayola with a brightly colored variegated thread.  Since there are numerous ladies who only do bindings for the guild, this will be shipped off to them at the January meeting.  I actually had this finished before the December meeting but with the excitement of the Christmas party, auction and other happenings, I left it on the living room chair when I left in the morning. ; (  It's only a 90-100 minutes away in one direction - so it'll have to wait until January to get out of here.  But Yee haw, Another one done!
Linking this up with AYLoF since that goal was met.

Am thinking of listing my goals come January with AYLoF and Angie at a Quilter readers garden because by continuing this practice, it's realized many times and it's a gentle push to get things done with the chance of a nice reward AND since I do have that procrastinator gene that I have no idea where I got it from it just what I need!
Editing this on 1/3/16 since the Holidays were super busy and I have con't health issues trying my patience again!

Enjoying my day with December dreams shared and learning...

This is unusual, It's Saturday morning and I am home and alone.  Ahhh..., the quiet is pure heaven. There is no television droning on in the background just hearing the ticking of the living room wall clock, no one to make a meal for or chaperon, the day is mine for a little while anyway to do as I like.
With so many possibilities then what is my intention?  Of course it's to write a simple blog post with some links on my December's intentions.  I'm linking up with Melissa of A Lovely Year of Finishes and Shanna of Fiber of All Sorts. 

First up is this that needs to be completed by the 20th hopefully.  I did start it this summer and was going along until I saw that the lettering was puckered for PGD#1 name.   Not being sure what to do to fix it, it became a K-UFO.
While my sister Beth visited while her husband was working on the deck recently I shared it with her and asked her opinion.  Rip it out?  Start a new one?   Cut some of the connecting yarn carries?... were the options I had considered.  She said I was being way too picky, I just needed to continue knitting it as it was.

Thanks Beth!   I am proceeding now but am so out of practice knitting wise that I continue to TINK (that's knit backwards, LOL) rather than make any headway but the rhythm is slowly coming back.  I recently joined a knitting group at the local Senior Center to be able to ask for help since this is my first sock.
At the group, a lady said "Oh, you're doing Intarsia knitting."  Of course I've heard of that term before but didn't realize what it was.  So another tidbit learned.  She also shared that the puckering seen on Intarsia knitting was a common sight for newer knitters and was good enough.
Finished by the self imposed 12/20/15 deadline that was shared here.


Then there is this community quilt that still needs quilting and hopefully binding before next Saturday.
That way it'll be turned in and not hang around here any more! Tomorrow is the day I've slated for that, so will be linking up with Kathy at Slow stitching Sunday.
Finished by December 12th and was posted here.


Another little project I thought of clearing up this month is this Christmas Panel.  Either I'll be gifting it away (there's a quilty auction going on at my guild next week or making it into an apron to perhaps give during the Chinese/Yankee gifting exchange at my December Book Club Gathering or perhaps even create a little something that it screams at me to make and keep.
1/3/16 editing this as this wasn't completed due to having more medical issues along with the craziness of the Holidays.  I will be placing this on my January's WIPs be Gone with Angie of A quilting Readers Garden.

This will be a surprise for both you and me.  LOL


The counted cross stitch is at a stand still for now until my thread order arrives from ABC stitch.  I've run out of one of the main color surrounds of Cocoa so took advantage of the black Friday sales and purchased numerous threads and a couple more patterns.
The only thing that slightly irritates me with doing business with them is they don't back order all the items from your order/purchase.  If it's not on hand, then they eliminate it all together and adjust the invoice accordingly instead or trying to fill your order completely.    8 (  
That being said though,  I do agree to their policy so I can get the supplies I need - that's why it's rated as a  minor irritation.


My last intention which is slated for today is to finish reading this month's book selection of Delicate, Edible Birds written by Lauren Groff.  It's a compilation of stories which has me befuddled most of the time.  Each story is about 30-40 pages and with each one it seems to start out with some characters named, her, him, the old lady and then on the next page your some place else with the Doctor and the sunset and swimming in Key West, then in NYC with a child and an imaginary friend, what, uhh?  The author writes well but I personally don't care for her style of writing stories in this manner.  I love a good read that just sweeps you in, intrigue, clinical even , drama and plot twists are all appreciated but not this one for me, thank you very much, it was just too disjointed with each story delivery that I was flipping back to learn the characters better!  Would you believe I created some personal "Cliff Notes" for each story on my cell phone so I could remember the whats, whys, who-s, hows and wheres were as a handy note for the discussion during our book club gathering!  Just a personal FYI- in my book, reading is suppose to be fun and not work!  Finished this by the 13th! (edited on 1/3/16)

Another activity that has kept me busier than my normal is the additional cooking being done.  I've found out at the ripe age of 59, alright y then, recently turned 60, that I'm gluten intolerant and perhaps Dairy sensitive too- the jury is still out on that last bit.  So I have been learning to cook and bake differently.  I ordered this set of three books from Amazon and they have shed some light on this recent journey.  Nice books and so far so good.   My cupboards have been getting striped of gluten products and stocked to hold the supplies needed since I enjoy cooking and will oft try new recipes.  It makes it difficult when I don't have the pertinent ingredients in, so have been shopping wherever I can find them; here, out of state and on the net.  If you have ever eaten gluten free bread from the grocery store, you'll know why making them yourself is so much better and it has a much better texture and flavor than what is available on the shelf.

Julie from the blog Mennonite Girls Can Cook where she shared her GF (gluten free) flour mix and some delicious recipes that I've made is a beautiful soul. When I commented on a post to thank her for sharing her knowledge, I mentioned I had some bananas over ripe and was there any magic formula to consider while cooking GF.  Would you believe she wrote back with in 24 hours had a new recipe of a GF banana bread muffins she whipped up that morning before a meeting!  Unbelievable and I am really grateful.  I tried that too and SCORE!  Another winner!   Thanks Julie!
This post actually links to another of her recipes   I would like to try before the Holiday season arrives, the GF lemon butter ice cookies.  8~ )
Another blog found that sounds hopeful with GF recipes is Barefeet in the Kitchen.

Recently I tried another King Arthur Flour Rustic bread too and that came out beautifully from the book How Can it be Gluten Free Volume 2 (page 158).  So two loaves were made at once and I was able to freeze the second loaf for ease later.

All of this takes time since I've had to grind my own navy bean flour, or needing almond flour immediately so had to grind up some of that too. Seems like each recipe takes forever!  Am hoping this will be easier as I practice and hopefully be able to streamline the production.


So much for a short post! Ha!
I'll share a favorite tool of mine ours in the kitchen since DH likes to cook at times too.  It's this slotted fingered spoon that we've had for years. While Thanksgivings Turkey leftovers were being cooked into stock, I threw in a couple of scrubbed Russet potatoes in the pot to not only cook, but too share the nutrients with in it and so I cook have a dairy free mashed spud for hot turkey leftovers so used it to fish them out in a  timely manner with it.    We both use this spoon practically every day twice. I always need to fish it out of the dishwasher to use for another dish.   This spoon is so handy that I'd love to acquire another one as a gift for a good friend, if you happen to see one somewhere, please let me know, I'd appreciate it.  The source I got it from no longer carries them.

Getting off this thing to get busy, TTFN
Jane

Slow stitching today, ahhh....

Golden tamarack trees just brighten up the views everywhere.  Gorgeous contrast with the spruces deep greens.

This Asparagus on the roadside is so colorful that on Friday I did a U turn to capture it's brillance.
 I never knew the seeds were this color  -  RED.
The sky was a perfect blue and we had a great visit and beautiful 3 hour ride.

The tamaracks are spectacular on our ride to visit the eldest grandson in Tupper Lake this past Friday.  He is doing wonderfully with this transition and we are so proud.   Duh....., bad Grandma never took a photo of him while we visited!   The staff are impressed with how well behaved he is and he likes this new place immensely.  He's only there for 60 days during the intake process and then perhaps he'll be assigned to a home.  Fingers crossed.  It's nice that he is closer and it'll be easier to visit him.

Life has been fast paced this past week so not too much more has been completed on the WIP-be-gone or my Q-4 list.  That being the case, I seriously need to just be and breath today; so am planning on stitching February's design for the Red Thread.   Here's how it looks this morning.

I find hand stitching very soothing and zen-like.  When I stitch  I totally zone out and stop this monkey mind of mine besides progress some more on a project.  Ahhh....
Will be linking this up with Kathy's Slow Stitching Sundays and the stitchery link Party over at Super Mom No Cape.

Another day this past week the youngest grandchildren came after school.  We needed to dispose of the mammoth Sunflower that is in the lower raised garden bed and I urged Popi to leave it so the youngest one who loves Giant AND Jack and the Beanstock could use an ax and chop it down.








Of course the older sister wanted in on the action too.  Clearly you can see they got right into it!








Enjoy your "Funday", whatever your plans.  And remember to send praise for the many blessings you have. My brother is hosting his dirt bike invitational today so am happy it's warmer this weekend than last despite the drizzle.  ; )

WIPs be gone

Am plodding along.  My WIP and the Q4 list  #17- The Red Thread made progress this past week.

April's is done so now am stitching March.   : )

The Braid Quilt (WIP and #3 on the Q 4 list) I've been able to get all the blocks made.  37 blocks done which is enough since am thinking of using a 6 x 6 block grid layout with frames, pieced sashes and several different borders so this project will go on the back burner for now.  Am still auditioning what fabrics will be used.  The solid blue and that yellow print 'were' for sure with perhaps a nice white thrown in for crispness too. While looking at these photos for this post, feel that the yellow print washes out a bit too much.  Will let this percolate and I'll ruminate.

Purple fountain grass and other plantings are all transplanted and am hardening them off.  Talk about a lot of work bringing them in then out, then out to the in, (anyone remember the movie HOME?   giggles) etc... so much, but am ever hopeful this will pay off.

 

This year am hoping to winter the grasses, geraniums, mandeville, vines and annuals.  We live in zone 4, so many can't survive without bringing them in.  I've wintered the geraniums before without problems.  Also a couple of the palms and the desert rose cactus too so wish me luck for this year with doing so many more.

Personally I am tired of spending hundreds each spring to fill the planters - so am hopeful by wintering these, they'll be off to a great start come spring and I'll have more moola in my purse.  We have a unit of shelves set up in the basement for starting seeds in the spring which I need to purge, clean and set up for this winter plan. That chore is on this week's agenda besides storing the summer clothes and footwear.  I'll have to take a whole day to see what brings me "spark-joy" and purge that along too.

Hunting season is here and I love that the men in our family can provide natural game if need be.   DH is actually suiting up too and going our back to see what signs are showing up.  Won't be long now before we have some fresh venison and some game birds.

Son and PGS#2 taken the weekend before Josh's 19th Birthday.

Happy Fall,
Jane

Am linking this post up to WIPs be gone at a Quilters Reader's Garden.

Finish Along for the last Quarter of 2015

Adrianne from the Windy side hosts a quarterly challenge to finish up our WIPs.
I'm joining this last quarter of 2015 in an attempt to get ahead of what could be done already.

Hopefully come 2016 I will have a fresher perspective with most of these off my back.  Fingers crossed!
Here' my Q-4 list of 2015:

1. The BQ Quilt Borders finished (current WIP and I have an idea....)
2. Patch-a-bilities St. Patrick's Day Wall Hanging WIP
3. Braid- aka How Does Your Garden Grow = Made into a quilt top - WIP
4. Wool Pumpkin Candle Mat, designed and sewn (PIG out and ready....)
5. September Red Work - Small Quilt Wall Hanging (PIG out and ready....)
6. October Red Work - Small Quilt Wall Hanging (PIG out and ready....)
7. November Red Work - Small Quilt Wall Hanging (PIG out and ready....)
8. February Red Work Small QUilt Hanging started (PIG)
9. Fall Table runners for sofa table (PIG & A WHIMM)
10. 2 Fall Table Runners for end tables (PIG & A WHIMM)
11. Fall accuquilt candle mat (WHIMM)
12. Halloween Wall Hanging *WILD CARD* (Have 2 PIGS in, a patchability and another Frankenstein Wall Hanging)
13. BAG - *WILD CARD ***PIGs and WIPs ( I have many started and set aside.....)
14. Purse  - *WILD CARD ***PIG and WIPs ( I have many started and set aside.....)
15. Pillow   - *WILD CARD ***PIG and WIPs  ( I have many started and set aside.....)
16. Community Quilt for WFQG finished and turned in WIP
17. The Red Thread Counted Cross Stitch all months finished January through December leaving only the word surround for 2016. WIP  
18. Halloween Game-board Table mat (PIG) 

Here are photos of the first three only,

BQ #1

Braid Quilt aka How does your garden grow #3

St. Patricks Patchabilities #2

The other projects I will share as I work on them.

And we're off....... With that list I think I'm off my rocker, BUT, I can produce when I need to and if it's not listed then I'm off in many tangents....... oh look, squirrel.... oh no make that a pretty bird.  LOL

Jane

My first focus will be on Projects 3, 6, 12, 16 and 18.

Forty Diamonds Finished!

Finally...... the Forty Diamonds Quilt is done - DONE.

84" x 102"

Made of batiks with a Minky backing

Quilted with Superior Lava,  #210 Coconut thread for both the top and bottom threads

 

 

Notice this is being done free hand. 
Disregard the old lady's hands, who in the world is she anyway?

Continued quilting with my version of a feathered Fat Comma (coined by me) and the whole kit and caboodle is quilted.   Started out by marking the squares and had such a time marking them that I ended up just quilting by free motion quilting. 

Not too bad if I do say so. 

Used the Quilter's Tips for the first time too for quilting and found them helpful.  Would you believe my nails broke through two of them already so they don't last long but at least my hands weren't overheated and clammy while quilting, a huge plus in my book.  If you remember this quilt was already in our Quilt show in 2013 but the only quilting I did was to echo the sashings for the show.  I know, How Embarrassing!  I will never do that to myself again....EVER!  Only two more quilts that need more quilting now.  Think I'll pick up the Tweet Camping next when I return from the quilt retreat I'll be attending shortly.


 

 

Note to self: When using minky, it's directional so make sure to keep the nap in mind if a back needs piecing together. 

 

When bringing the grandchildren to school this neighbor's property inspired me to stop.

The front of my home this am: About 3 more inches of that white crap.  It's Pretty, but am tired of this color and am thinking of some lovely green would be perfect right now. 












Their Mom had one of her early days so they went out to follow rabbits tracks while Meme made their pancakes. 
This is our back yard at 6:30  am.  I did take a couple of photos of the grandchildren out there too, but they were all too blurry so I deleted them. 


And yes Susan, this isn't a park but our back yard. We do appreciate it and love its' beauty when we rest since we're home gardeners and like to garden and landscape our turf.  We just don't care about mowing it all come summer since it takes about 4 hours+ to do with the trimming and we're not talking about the weeding yet.   We own a couple of waterfront acres in the Adirondacks, our slice of heaven (and sweat).   Notice the patio bar set lined up and waiting  under the eaves? 


Patience please patio stuff, not yet..... but soon....I hope.



Next on the agenda will be to use the hot tub.   It's close to 40 degrees outside  right now at 5 pm and besides being a really long day it'll be wonderful to de-stress.  I really don't know why I work myself up so over the quilting of my projects like I do.  TTFN....
Jane

April and Q-2 2015 Goals

Slated for my April finish with A Lovely Year of Finishes will be the Tweet Camping Quilt.  It will be in May's quilt show and I need to get this one quilted to be totally finished.  

The white sections are quilted with circles.  Initially thought of naming this stacked and packed since that's the first order of business when going camping.  Those pebbles reminded me of Styrofoam peanuts.

The blue outside border is quilted with a meandered square and rectangle shapes.  

Only the Brown strips and bird fabric and those tippy inside boxes left to quilt.

Looking for ideas on how best to quilt this fabric.....Any ideas would really be appreciated! 

HELP!!!!

First up though is to finish the March's 40 Diamond quilt.
Today I will conquer 7 more colored sections.         Promise.


As for the Q2 challenge my selections are:

Tweet camping Quilt, pictured above

Mater Strip Quilt Top finished (hopefully quilted too!)

Top made of the BQ Woodland Fairies

Finish Lizzie Kate Winter Alphabet, this month!

60 degree bird table runner

Irish Patch-a-bilities wall hanging

Wool Heart candle mat

Summertime table runner for sofa table
Cut out Fox Quilt

Magic Eyes Bag

Fourth of July Pillow

A Patriotic Wall hanging

Top of the Day to ye!

Top of the Day to you!

May love and laughter light your days,

and warm your heart and home.

May good and faithful friends be yours, 

wherever you may roam.

May peace and plenty bless your world,

with Joy that long endures.

may all lief's passing seasons

bring the best to you and yours!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Slow Stitching Sunday 3-8-15

Linking in this after noon with Kathy's quilts for a slow stitching Sundays after spending most of the day in Saranac Lake at a Hockey Tournament for the youngest grandson.   He did well, scoring 6 goals.  Yeah B!

Since it's late and now approaching evening, this is what I've been working on.  Not too much more to go before this one gets done.  Thinking of using beads instead of french knots which the pattern calls for.
Will need to audition which will be best.  

March's Plan and a surprise

Feeling really good about what I did get done last month and not focusing at all on what I didn't get to.  Can you tell I'm getting really relaxed about letting those unrealistic expectations free?

• This month I plan on getting the 40 diamond quilt totally quilted for my ALYOF project cheered on through Fiber of all sorts  and as part of the Q-1 challenge with Adrienne from on the Windy Side.  Maybe this month I'll finish sooner rather than later.  That would be awesome!
• Make some yellow HST units for the RBSC with Super scrappy.
• One or two bird projects for the tree Bird Blog hop coming from Sew We Quilt and being cheered on by Lana.   I do have a bird panel from the fabric designed by Elizabeth's Studio which I've looked hunted for but can't find.  My day to share is the 17th which is St. Patricks day AND National Quilting Day, what a coincidence.
• Something for a March theme home goodness.
• Read the Book The Hotel on The Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford.
• Make 15 blocks for a class I'm taking next weekend.
• Finish all the cross stitch on the bottom left corner of Winter's Alphabet.

That's enough even though there are a few other projects I'd like to get too besides.   For an example of what's also spinning in my mind are making a purse/bag (for the let's book it challenge), make another snap bag, start/finish quilting the Tweet camping quilt that I'd like to totally cross off my list this year besides another doll quilt for the stuffed animals community project for the guild.  All of this and that's not mentioning wanting to start the Jenni Beyer 2015 BOM or the New Hexagon millefiori that I just received templates from the Paper Pieces in KY from in the post this morning.    Okay, that's enough of that monkey brain spinning out  of control Janie, just breathe and stay on track.

Speaking of mail in the post, imagine my surprise when I received a nice squishy package in the mail this am. It was from Tonia who blogs over at  All thingz sewn.  Thank you so much, I love the prints and that pattern is cute which I also have an idea of making a perfect something from it.   Maybe I could squeeze that in this month too!   

 lol   

Also, thanks for those Babushka Scissors!  SQUEE!  What a sweetheart and how did she know I collected scissors?  With all my scissors I didn't have any like them at all,  I heart them Tonia,  THANKS!!  You really made my day. 

I saw in my email this am a daily inspirational  which quoted a saying something like "Perfectionsim is the killer of creativity".  I concur.  

Enjoy your day and follow your passions.  Jane