Once in a BLUE MOON

Would you believe that I was able to complete the August UFO before the end of August.  That happens as often as the  "Blue Moon".  But it actually was done back in April after I got that month's  UFO out of the way.  Now don't get too worried that I'm becoming super efficient and getting ahead of the game.  I promise to still revert to my procastinating ways despite also trying to eliminate it. Now that makes me a true oxymoron I guess.    I also was glad I got a jump start on August's since through out the summer I really didn't get too many other wips, UFOs or  PHD processed.   Oh well, here comes September.

 It's such a cute little thing that I had hanging on around here since I'm not sure  when.  I see Judy Laquidera has pulled the Number 11 UFO for September.  I have to check my list and see which one that is.    Oh it's three baby quilts to finish.  Now where ever did I shove place them? 


Carry On But Have FUN,

Jane

I'm back!

All I can say for this quick post is when electronics work it's wonderful, but when they don't it really puts me in a tail spin.  Especially since I am so electronically challenged!    Thank goodness my neighbor and friend is computer saavy that he talked me through what to check on and what to be careful of.  Something we did actually allowed me to sign in and have the fully featured editing bar in blogspot again.  Phew!

Since I can now  log on to my blogspot again AND will be able to  post photos, I'll be sharing more with you shortly.

Jane

Planting, reading and cleaning

I've managed to read a couple more books since my last post. I "borrowed" these pics because I returned them to the library too soon.

They are:

The Uncommon Reader     and drumroll.......  Shades of Grey  ( I've been trying to turn this title into a shade of grey without success so I am letting it be after 6 tries.)  

I'm learning this new blogger and have figured out a couple of things But haven't yet figured out how to insert a pic.  COuld anybody help me?

Jane

Busy, busy, busy

It's hard for me to believe that 2 months have passed since I last shared what was happening around here. What a whirlwind of activity but my creative projects have surely taken a back seat recently.
So exactly what have I been up to.



*A quilt retreat weekend. Great time with friends and productivity to boot.

*Gardens worked on and a new garden constructed for the "Viney" vegetables.

*A little repairs on items which I'll share on another post.

*Grandchildren have been here most days, but after this coming week they'll be going to their day care provider through the summer.

*I still have to haul the camper up to the house so it can be cleaned and be readied for next weeks getaway.



I'll be back to really share more info on the above. With all that happened, it was nice to immerse myself in reading during some downtime. Here's a couple of my recent finishes.

JANE


I'm not used to this Google chrome so I can only hope I'm doing this correctly. If anybody has hints on how to get spacing done correctly on my posts I'd appreciate it. Everything is getting smushed together without new paragraphs.

Stash Report for 4/15/12

Absolutely love, Love, LOVE  this Crow quilt design.  The pattern is called, "Cobblestone Crows" and was designed by Sheryl Mycroft of Random Threadz.    The dimensions wouldn't work for the cathedral wall space above my back kitchen door. so I'm thinking of purchasing the pattern and then revamping it into a size that would work for that space.    Since the space is more vertical than horizontal, I'm not sure yet how it could be worked into a different dimension.  Perhaps this week, I'll find some time to play yet still get some more of those UFO's off my list.   
Without further ado here's the most recent calculations.
Stash Report for this week:

Used this Week:   Only  .5 yards  but two projects were completed,  Yippee!!

Used year to Date: 13.5 yards

Added this Week: 0 yards

Added Year to Date: 68.625 yards

Net for 2012: A gain of 55.125 yards


If you have a chance, check out Judy Laquidera's blog to see how many fabrics other participants  have used out of their stash.  Their numbers really put me to shame despite my feeling of success by beating my addiction of buying more fabric.  Yikes, I just had an honest thought, my friend was redefining her fabric stash and purged a box of silks, velvets, brocade and fancy fabric pieces to me for a crazy quilt that I'd like to do on my bucket list.  Do I need to figure out how much yardage is there and add it to my growth of stash?   Oh No Lucy, I could be in trouble.  lol


Enjoy your day,
Jane

"Procrastination is

 attitude's natural assassin. There's nothing so fatiguing as an uncompleted task."


-William James

Ain't that the truth!  So with appreciating that recently read quote, I decided to tackle a project that's been going through my head and wearing me out.  Are you recognizing a theme here? 
I've carved out some more time to play besides auditioning those stones Ithought would work great as a piped area for  the table top quiltlet "Inukshuk".

 What do you think?     I am at a quandrary and I thinking that this won't work at all.  It doesn't seem to enhance it, only to cheapen it.    I really appreciate you stopping by and leaving all the lovely comments.  So don't be afraid to give me your  honest thoughts about this.  Keep going? Or abandon the stones and bind it as it is.   

I also have some ocean rolled stones from our trip to Nova Scotia in my work area of the garage that I hope to make a Stone Inukshuk cairn for someplace around my home.  Either inside or out in the garden.  I will be tackling that soon. 
After posting the links and what the term means, perhaps I should start calling  this my  Inunnguaq.

Jane

Finally

Spring Patchabilities is done.  What was the holdup besides my natural tendancy to procrastinate and to overthink a process, you might ask.  Well I had a vision of daffodils dancing in front of the embroidered gate and I finally made got some time to play.

First I tried coloring the recyled Tevlar (sp?)  mailing envelopes to hold onto the color.  That was a bust.

So I then  cut out diffferent sized circles to heat shrink it.  Thinking I would paint them afterwards with an acrylic paint.  Some shrinkage did happen but I wasn't satisfied with the end result so ditched that option. 

May have to try that out on another project with more shapes baked in molded cups before using the heat gun.

Then I thought, perhaps I could fuse 2 fabrics wrong sides together to make my imagined dancing daffodils and use some of those Shiva Paintsticks and the other brand of fabric markers that I bought at Michaels to blend more colors.  So I played around with that for quite a while.  I couldn't manipulate the fabric to come out like I envisioned, so ditched that.

Then I thought perhaps some silk flowers could lend their way into helping me to create those daffodils.  Natta!

This is her, SPRING PATCHABILITIES.

That's when I called it done and proceeded to quilt, bind and hang it on the wall. Now you know why I am slow to finish things. I am my worst enemy for finishing as I always am thinking more and what if I tried that scenerios. Seems like I start with a baby quilt and before you know it I get a king quilt done.

 

Despite having thatunseasonal 80 degree weather several weeks ago the gardens and landscapes are really looking like Spring is here. These two pics are where I tore up my garden and transplanted , weeded and mulched last year. Can't wait to see how much better this will be. Crossing my fingers now.

Next gardening focal point will be to revamp that section  that sets behind the gas tanks and the garage.

Jane

.

Happy Easter!

Enjoying life.



PGS#3 petting his first rabbit at preschool, age 3.



Getting together with friends.

 A nice visit with two wonderful friends, Trudy and Catherine from Canada.

Perhaps I'm enjoying life too much.  And I thought adding that scarf over my orange jacket would add a slimming touch. 
Yeeks! I must get serious about my weight and my health. 
That's why I'll be leaving this not too well photograghed pic on my blog for my reality check.

They're Done

No bragging here, but I was finally able to find time to sew and get some of these projects Finshed!  Yippee!  Not that I want to boast but here's the list:

The first to report is that Viking Knit bracelet is done and  it is gorgeous!

The next project I'll share  is a finished  embroidery of the February block of Miss Shabby Chic's  BOM 2011 stitch along.   Next up will be the  March's block. ( I hope to catch up this month with getting both  March's  and April's block finished.)

Then the Spring patchabilties is quilted, bound and Hung!  Now why did that take me so long?   I'll never know. (Actually did finish on April 10th.)

Then the little pincushion tool holder I have wanted to get done for my sewing room since forever  is also done.  How cute it turned out and it's so handy while I'm in my studio sewing.  Why did I ever put off sewing that  for so long?  Another mystery to me.

Of course the last to report  is that little Inukshuk table quilt  that I wanted to accessorize by stitching little gemstones along the "piped" area of the binding is also completed.  TOOT TOOT!!!!  Can you hear me tooting my horn.  Of course I am feeling so smug.

Also did finsh that cabled dishcloth end all tied in and all. (Finished on April 11th.)

I AM YELLING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS OF HOW GREAT I FEEL AND HOW CREATIVE I HAVE BEEN.

Enjoy your day.
Jane


PS:  I'd post photos of all of these as soon as they are finished.  Did you know that today is April's Fool Day.  LOL
Now I'd better get busy so I'll be able to actually report that they are done relatively soon.