How is it already September

Here she is...September Sue. I miss the New England leaves changing colors and falling to the ground....don't miss the raking though. There are some trees here that drop leaves.  

Found a tiny button for her bow and some leaves for her to hold....love making these gals.

Found this twig in the courtyard and it fit perfectly . Dianna suggested some kind of tree.

How about a Lisa update? She is doing great. Recently started Cardiac Rehab 3 times a week. She is getting stronger each day.  Lisa has the all clear to drive.... yes! It means soon we will gallivant. Thank you to all who have sent good wishes and thoughts for her.

I have been busy this past month.... some crocheting, making a Thimble Pip, some embroidery and button stitching...and oh I don't know. I just keep busy all the time. I will post about these adventures soon. We had a doozy of a monsoon storm last night. Today seems iffy for sunshine. Sending thoughts to all those in the path of the recent hurricane. For now, time to sit at the sewing table.....Thank you for visiting and your kind words. thank you for your friendship.

Happy 4th of July from Sue

 

Sue was going to make her entrance on July 1st...but sometimes other happenings interrupt. I love adding texture to these banners. Living in a 55+ community, we do not have the direct noise of fireworks. There are displays nearby but we do not hear them so Murphy is not bothered. Of course today the landscapers are here and he is not fond of the noise they make or them for that matter.

We are in heat advisory... the temperatures have been in the mid triple digits..... 116 yesterday and the overnights in the 80-90 range. Thank goodness for air conditioning. We do have a misting fan for outside which does cool you a bit.

I made the Pod Bag.... love it...but I did make changes to the pattern to my preference. It hangs on my bed post and is used for my pajamas. I made a tuck in the front and added a yo yo flower. Next I will make the smaller size.

One of my favorite sports has started and will be on all month, Tour de France. Yes, I do wake up early...between 3 and 4am.... to watch. This year I had to add Peacock TV to be able to watch it. It seems that so many programs are now on one of the pay stations. Also now on is Wimbledon...I love that too. They have had pouring rain so a few have been postponed.

Just look at last night's full moon. This is the actual color..no touch ups!

It is called the Buck Moon because this is the time of year that antlers start to appear on male deer/bucks. It will be visible for 3 days. A little blurred...did not use my tripod. As it happens it is also referred to as a super moon.

An update on Lisa. She is still having tests. Surgery is definite but no date yet. Please keep her in your thoughts.

Glad you stopped by today. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you also for your friendship.

Larry is really helpful on my sewing table! Everything right at hand.

There is a business on my fan

 Hello friends..... seems the days are here and gone quickly. Today I feel a sore throat and stuffy so it will be an easy day. Who am I kidding? Most of my days are easy and laid back thanks to Alan and Lisa. Speaking of Lisa, she is still having tests and I am sure her surgery will be next. So keep her in your thoughts.

Flies are flying in my room! As the ceiling fan rotates, the flies move about. The pattern is from Ann Wood...darn her for making so many wonderful and fun patterns.  Did you know the term for a group of flies is called a swarm...or...a business! Each fly is different of course.....I love quirky things. Just have to keep an eye on Alan with his salt rifle!

I found this pattern...can not remember where on line....and I was overwhelmed when it arrived.

It said a booklet which was only a single paper printed on both sides with minute directions. First I enlarged them to 200% and finally to 300%. All I can say is good thing I am am able to sew well.  No!)

He already is full of my sewing notions for everyday use. He is made from different parts of jeans that I saved from Dennis. I even included a few tags from the pants.  The inside bottom is a fabric I had with turtles. It has 6 pockets and I added one of the small pockets to hold my small scissors. The tail is a belt loop! Denny liked turtles...I do have a story about Denny and his turtle...another time if anyone is interested. 

Cox cable seems to be mixed up today...maybe a call to them...then again not today. Alan will be home late tonight so I will wait for him to check it out on a regular work day. I have music playing most of the day and if TV it is one of a few stations that I like....Britbox, Acorn, Amazon Prime and Freevee to name a few.
Today maybe be the start of July Sue banner...right now swishing and fluffing is happening in the laundry area. 

On a sad note, my friend Glenda has lost her fight with cancer on Sunday June 4th. She never gave up. Thoughts for husband Don ....

Happy to chat with you today. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

Tea, anyone?

 A beautiful day today...sun is shining and Mocking bird and House Wrens are singing, water fountain is a lovely sound too. Slider open so Murphy is in and out yelling at anything. Flowers are blooming here and there

Salvia for the hummingbirds

Lavender smells wonderful 

Yellow rose, one of 3 that are blooming. It is time to get a tomato plant and replace the Basil and see what else we would like to add to the garden.

I am enjoying my Tea Pot table topper project. Of course my mind is already thinking of what project next! I have few in mind.....Dianna started a Sun Bonnet Sue project and it is coming along. Will get permission to show you. We enjoy working on same type if not the same applique project. together. I wanted to make a runner for the top of my sewing table....but....it it always busy with a project! Glad to chat with you today. I think I will take my project out to the lanai to stitch a while. I have a tray that holds all necessities and a quick pick up and off I go. Thank you for your kind words and for your friendship.

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.

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.

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

Murphy likes the quilt

 Goodness, it is Christmas week. Are you ready...gifts? meal plans? I just need a few food items and that will be it. This week I will be baking and making ahead some of our Christmas Eve and Christmas day dinner. Christmas Eve celebration will be around 8pm. Both Alan and Lisa are working. We will enjoy an Antipasti tray, Crudite tray and baked goods. Christmas Day we are having Lasagna and Braciole and that will be depending on how the morning goes as to what time we will actually eat.

The Hexagon quilt is finished. Once again I sewed it completely by hand and no repeats of prints. It measures approximately 40x60. I was lucky that Dianna gave me some of the floral prints...we swap fabric when needed.

these 2 hexies are special. These 2 floral prints are special. The fabric was bought in Hawaii when Dianna vacationed there. The hot pink one is in the center of the quilt and the yellow hangs off the edge...just like the special Murphy hexie. What next? Not sure but I do know it will be another quilt. I have been thinking of Quillow ...maybe a French Rose quilt...maybe both! So ambitious.... we will see. This week will be plan time as I get ready for the holiday. 

Happy to have you stop and visit with me. Thank you for the kind words and the encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

              🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅🎄🎅

Advent Calendar Blog Hop

 It is that time of December for my post to the annual blog hop hosted by Jo. 

 Each blog hop ( Jo hosts several a year) we are given a topic to talk about. This year it is"afters"..... what is eaten after the Christmas meal. We also post a picture of something for Christmas or the season that we created

When I saw this pattern I knew I had to make it. "The Tree Farmers, block #2 of Woolie Christmas Gnomes"; from Red Button Quilt Co. 

First of  the gnomes are cute but more than that they are in a truck. When I met my hubby Dennis in 1970 he was driving...when it ran...an old pick-up truck. He found a few toy trucks around when we went  out and about.antique shopping. Here they are.

 Back to the gnomes..... it is all hand stitched applique with a few minor changes that more expressed me. The backing/border fabric I had already had and thought it would be perfect. Well,

look at the name of the fabric! Now you know it was meant to be. 

Now back to our topic...."afters". When I was a child Christmas was at Grandma and Papa Piccirilli's house...all of dad's family . Once dinner was finished there were trays of Italian cookies and an antipasti tray and always fresh roasted chestnuts for nibbling and fresh fruit bowl. As time went on and families grew Christmas was celebrated at each home with their growing families. I always had the same at my house many years later when Christmas Eve was held at our house with Sister Lyn and The Brother Alan and their families. Now, new traditions are forming with Alan and wife Lisa living here.  Of course Murphy is part of the fun. Here in Arizona, through the 17 years living here, chestnuts are not always available. It is something that I really miss. 

Special thank you to Jo for remembering that this date is special to me.

Happy Heavenly Birthday Dennis......

December 16, 1945- June 21, 2017

There is an elf in the house

 November..... one of my favorite months. Growing up in Rhode Island it meant the color changes on all the trees...acorns everywhere and the wait for Thanksgiving. Dennis and I loved this holiday best. Why? Well it was for gathering and sharing without expectation of gifts. We were the gifts to one another. This year we are having a guest, Patrick. The planning has started and today will put pen to paper for the list of have and to get. 

Our main bathroom reconstruction began yesterday. The plumber is next to connect the toilet and clear the sink drain. Freshly painted walls have brightened it up. Lisa chose the wall color...a soft grey and she decided on teal towels and rug..... pretty. Once the plumber is finished all the shelves and accessories will be back in place. Recently I bought 2 Christmas theme patterns for sewing. One of them was a little incomplete.

But I can and did take care of the problem. I feel for any inexperienced with sewing. The issue was there was no template for the arms. I read and looked at the pages of the printed pattern and no where could I find it. Soooo, I messaged the seller on Etsy. Her reply was that she no longer had the pattern and could not look but that sometimes the designer puts it in somewhere. Okay. simple solution was to measure his jacket and make my own template. Very simple and even though I knew that was what I would do, I thought if I was missing it I would like to have it pointed out to me. Anywho, he is complete and cute. The rest of the pattern is a sleigh on a pillow that he can sit in...maybe I will make it. Of course I have been working on the hexagon quilt.... soon to be completed. As always it is so nice to have you visit with me. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.

End of month

 Where do the days go? Seems to me that the days fly by... but wait; there are a few days that seem to linger. Part of it is that I am still restricted and when I think of something I have to remind myself if it is okay to do. Soon, soon they should be lifted. I see the surgeon on November 15th for x-rays to make sure the cage and spine are still okay, All in all I am doing okay and feel good. Happily I have sewing that has kept me busy.

Since I reached 100 hexagons it is time to begin to get it together. I started to lay out the hexies.. using my trusty old cardboard mat...if you sew you may still have one. It is making it easy to plan and will make sewing this quilt easier for me. I will just pin in place and rearrange as I think I should. I must start to think of what project will be next.

Friday I planted my herb garden; Italian parsley, oregano, chives, creeping thyme and rosemary. The pot is a large high one so no need to bend or stoop down. There is already a pot with basil although it is beginning to become straggly. Possibly a cut back would help. Our Arizona weather has been wonderful...no more 100s. Having my bedroom slider open is so nice. Of course Murphy likes going in and out as he pleases.

Still have some blooms on the Fairy Duster bush...the hummers love it and soon there will be berries for the Goldfinches and House Wrens.  

Since it is almost Halloween, I will leave this post with a bag of Zapp's Voodoo potato chips...New Orleans style kettle chips. Nice to spend time with you. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. It really means a lot. Thank you for your friendship.

Too busy!

 Do you ever think...How am I going to get this all accomplished? Well, that is where I am right now. We  just found out we have a problem in the main bathroom... a leak. Alan was able to find a restoration company and the insurance is onboard so now the work will begin. All I know is that things are going to be messy and noisy for the rest of the week. Murphy is not too happy but he did offer kisses to the guys! At the moment he is upset with the landscapers. so it goes.

I am busy with sewing but also trying to get all the necessary paperwork and clearance for the October 3rd disc removal/fusion surgery. Tomorrow will be the EKG and hopefully the cardiologist will not add a monkey wrench to the mix and give me the okay. 

Just look at all the floral fabric Dianna brought to me!the next few days I will be cutting the hexie centers....I have 6 to finish, and that will be 26 done.. I will plan the layout when they are all finished.

These are not sewn together yet...but I already love them. I think it may take close to 100 hexagons for this quilt. Sewing by hand is very relaxing to me....even with Murphy yelling at the landscapers....and soon there will be a bathroom tear up. Thank goodness for Alan, he has it all under control. I can just sit in my domain and stitch! 

Did you watch the Queen's funeral? I happened to wake at 2am (Arizona time) and it was starting, so I made a cup of coffee and watched. It was beautiful and the people...my goodness, it was a sea of people lining the streets. The finale was touching...the piper playing until it faded away...the removal of the scepter, orb and the crown from the coffin... the breaking of the wand over the coffin...symbol of his end of duty to the queen. I was just 5 years old when she was crowned queen...watching it was special and I do remember the pomp . Now 70 years later I watched the end of her rein. 

Nice to chat but should get back to sewing while it is quiet around here. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement, Thank you for you friendship.

Ta Da......it's finished!

 

My Cathedral Friendship Quilt is finished and on my bed. I am so pleased with how it looks. Thank you to the friends who joined in to send fabric to be included. (Names listed on the right sidebar). Fabric arrived from England, Germany, France, Surrey Canada and New Brunswick Canada, Pennsylvania Alabama, Wisconsin, Connecticut and Rhode Island as well as Arizona. Names are written on the reverse side of windows,,,, I will be adding a label soon. I began this project in April of this year...but really it did begin in 1991 in my mind. It took 5 months and completely stitched by hand.

The binding did not take long at all to attach. I took pleasure and pride  in each stitch. It is a very heavy quilt! These past few days I have been planning the next one....Hexagons. They will measure a 5 inch finish. It will be all floral centers...large print, small print and different colors. Time to look through the fabric bins for square that are 6 inches before cutting. The back squares will again be of muslin. It will be a little smaller than my bed quilt as it is for the living room. Once in awhile even in Arizona you need/want a blanket to cover up with. 

I join many in thinking of the Queen's passing. I send thoughts to all my friends in England and Canada who also mourn their leaders loss. Now to remember to say King Charles III. The royals all move up one to new roles.

不在中国....Bùzài zhōngguó

 Can you read Chinese? No...well the title says Not in China......

These are my new tools/gadgets. Malltoon Quilted Hexagons Templates. I ordered from this Chinese company because they sold different sizes. (Missouri Quilting offers only one size.) Anyway, I had been checking the tracking number and as of yesterday it said it is awaiting USPS partner for pickup! As you can see they have arrived. They range from 3 1/2", 5 1/2 " and the largest is 7" ..the finished sizes.

The sure make hexagons easy. This will be my next quilt...all centers will be floral only with occasional solid colors scattered around. The size will be a small throw... maybe crib size. I think I will be using the middle size which finishes at 5 1/2 inches. As with the Cathedral Quilt there will be no batting. You should feel how heavy that quilt is! This will be a throw for the living room.

So, you are asking what about the Cathedral Quilt...

Today I will be finished with the edging triangles. Then on to the binding. Yes, I could have used finished edge triangles, but I wanted the edge to be sturdy. This is going on my bed. And it also will be hand sewn on....I know it would be quicker and easier to use the Singe, but I want it to be completely hand sewn. I am so happy with the outcome with this project. Dianna's is almost finished then we will take a picture. 

On Friday I saw the Cardiologist...the glue is working so no further treatment at this time. Now onto the disc surgery...October 3rd. I will be starting the pre-op testing soon..... again. I did this all in May for the heel surgery.  With luck, and if I can stay out of harms way, this will be all for me. Thankful for Alan and Lisa helping me through all this.  Time to get back to my sewing.... well first I have a banana bread to make. Alan and Lisa's friend is visiting later today...Patrick loves my banana bread. Good chatting with you. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship. I am so lucky!

One of those weeks

A habit is starting to swirl around me! Just a week ago I woke only to have terrible pains in my left hip and leg...finally out of the sling and still dealing with shoulder mobility ...I think my Achilles is doing okay. Finally got an appointment with CORE for a pain assessment. MRI is Sunday. I told the MA and doctor that I qualify for  a CORE shirt...since January this is the fourth...4th doctor! I need a bubble to live in!

 I finally reached the final width of the quilt...now just to add to each end until I get to the finish. I have crumbled it up...can you see your window? I cannot thank you all enough for joining my friendship quilt.

These are some of the piles of your windows ready to add here and there. I still grab from my bin for the rest of the windows....

 

I shake it up and swish around and pull out a window. The only time it is rejected if it is too close to a repeat. I love the mix-up. I think I will be going into my fabric storage bin to see if I missed any print to include. 

TV mornings have been the Tour de France then Wimbledon. Down to the semi-finals in tennis and today was only Stage 7 for TDF of 21. If you are not familiar with the race, it spans 23 days and about 2,200 miles.  Cannot image cycling continuously for about 5 1/2 hours  and about 136 miles each day. Tennis is also grueling.... hours of play! 

Housemates are working... Murphy is napping on the bed and me?, going back to the sewing table. Next is making squares for the upcoming rows. Each row will be 13 squares with 25 windows. Still a way to go. 

Glad you had some time to stop by. Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Thank you for your friendship.