Shabby Rose Quilt

 Hello friends. The sewing table has been busy. The quilt is finished..

I am so very pleased with the outcome. It measures about 60 inches square. Of course once one project is completed it is time for next on the list!

Just a sneak peek at the table topper. Still finalizing the placement before ironing it in place. Another hand stitched project. Today Dianna took me to FedEx Office to enlarge the pattern for the topper. It needed to be 200% and try as I may, using my home copier (which has that setting) I was not able to get it right. I also ordered 8oz packet of Emery sand to make a small pincushion. 

It measures 2x3 inches and I used about 4.5oz to fill. Just big enough to keep at the sewing table to keep needles sharp...and pins too. I had this 5 inch square and after fussy cutting had a bumble bee and cone flower to be the cover bag. The Emery is in a stitched close muslin bag. It is what it is.... could be worse. I will deal with it day by day like so many others. So nice to chat with you today. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

Go fly a kite!

 March has arrived....cloudy with rain storm expected and no wind...yet. When I was a little girl, my sescond grade teacher ( a sister of Mercy at St. Mary's) taught ways to remember various things. Like the months have a subject. January snow, February hearts, March winds, etc. Here is my March banner for my bedroom door. Another hand stitched project. My plan is to make a Sun Bonnet Sue for each month.

She has shamrocks growing at her feet...also for March, St. Patrick's Day. Did you know that he really was not a saint and that his name was not Patrick? I watched the Curious Traveler and she was talking about it on the trip to Ireland.

 I realized that I had not posted my February Sue. She was part of a blog hop that I joined and it would have possibly tipped off the recipient who made it.

 I enjoy applique projects.  Next is to finish my Shabby Rose quilt with a flange binding. Fabric is sitting in the basket waiting to be cut into strips. then on with the washing and drying to help the fraying.

Lisa and I went to our quilt shop and the mustard print is for the quilt the other for upcoming banners.

Here is another upcoming project, an applique table mat. Tea Pots.... The pictures were taken from my phone....so excuse the quality in the transport to the computer. Better pictures once I start the projects. Seems they do not copy well. Of course it very well could be my tech expertise! I must get back to more frequent blog posting. Glad you still visit with me...thank you for that. Thank you for your kind words and friendship.

Happy Valentine,s Day

 Once again Jo has organized the Secret Stitching Sweetheart blog hop. So, this is my valentine...hmm.. wonder who sent this lovely cross stitch. I love the soft colors. I can see this framed in a white frame...or as a pillow. Now it is time for me to travel around to the blogs listed and try to guess.

Did you watch the Super Bowl? I was hoping for the KC Chiefs to win. Good game, but I admit that I never watch the half time show but decided to this time. Guess it will be back to no half time show for me next year. The Navy flyby was not long enough. If you did not watch/know, it was the first all female pilots. I live nearby to Luke Air Force base where there were flying out of. We got to watch them take off to prepare then got the return to base. Loved it! Every so often I have gone to the base and there is an area you can park and watch take off and landing right overhead...I mean low and loud. 

Next for my quilt to to think about the border... and I have started to sew the left over flowers...and need to think about how I will finish that. So many decisions. Anyway, glad you stopped by. Thank you for your kind words and thank you for your friendship. Don't forget to visit Jo,s blog and see all the lovely valentine's... mine is listed too.

Happy Valentine's Day ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Super Bowl Weekend

 Today is starting out with a very cloudy sky and although the temp is around 63 heading toward 73, without the sun it is a little chilly. I know some of you have cold and snow, I should not even comment. there is a chance of rain for tomorrow...Super Bowl  with KC Chiefs  and the Philadelphia Eagles. I will be cheering KC. There will be a Navy fly-over and it will be 5 all women pilots.

Just outside my sewing corner window is a hummer feeder. It is so nice to look out and find one visiting. (the picture is taken through sheer curtain). Sometimes other feathered friends stop by. I have finally started to connect my quilt squares...

and it has already started to fray. Not the flowers yet just the seams. I am still thinking about borders or not...edging.... you know if you quilt that it takes thought and planning to finish projects. Now do not be misled, I am not a quilter really, but I do know how to quilt. I am finding that I am enjoying this change of projects very much. I love hand sewing. The squares are hand sewn but the seams are by machine. Special thanks to all of you who send cards and emails and Facebook wishes for my birthday.  Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you most of all for your friendship.

On February 9th, Alan and Lisa celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary....how times flies!

My Day

 Goodness, time seems to have slipped away from me. While I have been among the missing, I managed to finish the flower quilt squares. I finally found the fabric for the backing squares and now to cut them as well as the flannel that will be in between front and back fabrics instead of batting, Update on Hank...he has adjusted well to living alone. He started with waking around 4am and spitting the pebbles in the bowl against the glass which makes a pin sound and of course wakes me. He is quiet during the day and hopefully will start to be quiet at night.

Yesterday was My Day...my birthday. The new number is 76... I know, sounds strange for me to say it.  The other afternoon I sat and thought about all that has been during these years. Some sad, some uncomfortable to mention. There have been many more wonderful days thanks to Dennis. This year will mark 6 years.... another number. I received some lovely cards and birthday wishes and candy and flowers and a delicious edible arrangement and out for lunch with Dianna and Bobby. Alan and Lisa and I are going out for dinner on Monday evening. All in all it has been a lovely celebration. So nice to feel loved. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Most of all, thank you for your continued friendship. Quilt pictures next time around!

Hello Hank

 Goodness we have been having rain here in The Valley.... today the sun is bright and the wind is picking up speed. Glad to be inside sewing.The flowers quilt is progressing. Did I mention that there will be a second quilt from the cut pieces?

Once each petal is sewn the back is trimmed to eliminate bulk that gives a smaller shape of what was just sewn.
Of course it will be smaller and I will need to add a backing to each flower. Fun! Trimming the back has gotten easier since I purchased applique scissors. I am still debating whether to sew each block together by hand as it is how they are sewn now or to machine sew them.

Who is Hank you are wondering. Well he is a goldfish that is now living with me. His home (bowl) sits right behind me in my sewing corner. Murphy lost interest once it went into the bowl. He can not see it or reach it so that may explain it. Hank is quite handsome; orange with a black stripe along his back. I gave him a sea shell to hide behind and grass also. I know, why....just because.

I should report that my hand and knee are healing from recent fall. At this point the hand is still sore and the deep loss of skin is very sensitive. I will be calling the trainer the end of this week to set up sessions. Just need to heal a little more.  It certainly is nice to chat with you. Thank you for your kind words and words of encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

I lasted until the 5th!!!!

All Christmas decorations are packed and ready for garage storage.....Alan will do that. Always seems strange when after a month of trees and lights all is gone. Murphy did not seemed to care as he has full viewing out the front windows again. Speaking of Murphy....on Thursday January 5th....

Murphy and I started a walk. All was going well. The man in the golf cart was ahead and crossed our path. There was a woman walking toward us and then the man and his golf cart turned around and was heading toward us. Murphy was not liking this and so I decided to cross the street. The woman did also, once again to be on the same side of the street. Murphy began to bark and crossed in front of me. By now you should know what happened. If you guess a fall well you are correct. The nice man now exited the cart and started to walk toward us...Murphy barking and me down in the middle of the road. I thanked the man for wanting to help but asked that he please just ride away. The woman disappeared into the driveway up ahead. Murphy calmed while I tried to figure how to get up while hanging onto the leash. Skinned right knee bleeding onto the road and then I felt it. A patch of skin scraped off my right palm now bleeding a small puddle on the road. Finally back in the house...this occurred right in front of our house....did not get far thankfully. Bruising began immediately and I figured if I cleaned up real good, Alan would not notice. Wrong. Of course he saw the bloody knee as I hid my hand. Then I told him my tale of woe. Needless to say, I have been very achy and sore. My right wrist is very sore and now the black/blue is turning yellow. My shoulder (the fractured one still healing ) aches as does other parts of my delicate body that I did not expect.

No I am not angry with this precious pup. Look at that face. But, I will be calling back the trainer to work on a few things! Finally  I am back to my quilting. Not looking for sympathy and I am sure there would be a lecture or two. 

There will be no walks until we meet with the trainer. Glad to have you visit and listen. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. thank you for your friendship.

A new start

 Happy New Year my dear friends. I have never been so happy to kick the old year to the curb. It really had been a difficult year. There was a personal issue to deal with and once I admitted that I was not responsible or in control of, well it was much better. Not easier but better and filed away. Then I guess I should mention the medical stuff****. This year will be different. No running in the garden with Murphy...that injury was the only one I could have prevented. I contributed to many doctors/surgeons bank accounts  in 2022. I need to set limits for myself.

I ended 2022 with this sweet mamma doll and her baby. Lisa calls her Kim. The baby sling is Velcro so it can be removed. Then I started this year with

this quilt called French Roses but I call it Shabby Roses. I fell in love with the jewel tones in this Moda line and am using all 5 fabrics. Before you ask, yes I am stitching it all by hand. 

We had a wonderful gift filled Christmas and Murphy enjoyed tearing all the paper he could grab.  One of my favorite gifts is

Alan and Lisa wanted to get me something for my sewing and suggested a new table. I love this table! It is Sullivan's Quilt Design Table. It closes up to a nice size and fits perfectly in my sewing corner. Of course It has only been closed a few times since getting it...it has been helping me with my projects.

Christmas is still on display here but will slowly over the next week begin to disappear to the garage. I hope you all had a good holiday. I wish for all a healthy and peaceful 2023. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words. Thank you for your friendship. 

****right hand surgery, right Achilles tendon surgery, fractured right shoulder and spinal fusion

Three months

A beautiful day today, sunny and cool temps so Murphy and I enjoyed our walk. Well, almost, he still gets barky when he sees people and heaven forbid a dog! We are working on it.
These last 3 months have brought such changes. The Brother Alan and Lisa moving in. Lisa  added some things to the house décor and our tree was lovely with their additions. Then 1 month ago Murphy came to live with us. We all agree that he is the best thing to complete our new family.  I have lost some weight with the 3 to 4 walks daily, each about a quarter mile and I feel good.

Murphy is a big part of our lives. We share tasks.... I feed and walk and have him as a room mate at night. Lisa loves to play ball in the garden and snuggle with him. Alan is in charge of brushing as well as playing. We all love the playing and snuggling part.

It starts with one groomer then requires two!

We will be getting his first professional grooming soon...just a puppy cut as we love the mangy mutt look for now. He has plenty of time to look like a proper schnauzer. Lots of love in our house.

Lisa and I worked on the French Roses runner....

We did make a change before the sewing... the first in line ... we made the center petal a rose color.

The final order after the sewing! We washed it twice and dried it both times. It will need a pressing and a trip to the quilt shop for the backing. We are very happy with it and look forward to making others and variations; placemats and "doily" types. Lisa will begin one soon. She has not sewn in some time but we know she can do it!

So nice to chat with you...thank you for the kind words and for the encouragement. Each day is easier and I feel better. Thank you for your friendship.