Mid July

It seems as if I can only get to this once a month.  It is too hot to do anything else except sew.
I have been working on a kit from Missouri Star with Tiger faces in different color ways.  I am making 9 blocks and as of today have done 5.  I must say I have taken out many seams which were not exactly 1/4 inch because the unit would not fit others  My goal is to make at least one block without having to unsew.

Here are the first four blocks.  Love the attitude on the face.

The other project this spring was to put in flower beds in the back.  This is a picture of the tithonia that Lily gave me and they are on steroids.  That fence has to be at least 10 feet high.  Now the plants are on top of about 12 to 14 inches of soil but still. I will only have one of those next year because they are crowding out everything else.  Those orange mexican sunflowers are stunning though.

This is my 2019 Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt.  I did change the border to make it long enough to go over the pillows.  Now I just have to bind it and put on a label.  Arrrrgh.

My nephew does custom wrappings on fishing rods and he made me one with blue and turquoise line and finished it with a reel with variagated blue, white, and turquoise line.  It is beautiful.  This was a fish I caught on the pier in my sister-in-laws subdivision.  Yea.

So that is about all that is going on unless you want to see plates of food from local restaurants.

Fishy quilting???

s

Picture post

It is all about the flowers in my new backyard bed.  Keep in mind my back yard is about 10feet by 30 feet.  Thanks to my niece it is full of flowers. 

The first picture, the upside down one is a large pot Lily found for my neighbor who did not like it.
Since I have never met a blue pot I did not like I took it and I love the "cabbage" begonias and pentas.
The next 6 are plants in my new bed against the fence.  I love my trumpet plant which has lavender
blooms.  The tall ones are tithonia? or mexican sun flowers which grow like bamboo. Had to stake then against the fence b/c there is a strong breeze often back there. 
The final picture is my privacy fence and I have crammed all I could there. My herb flower box and petunias box off what I call my half-patio.  When it is not raining I enjoy sitting, reading and looking at my flowers. 
I call this living life abundantly.
I did manage to finish my Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt top and get it to Heather to quilt.  Now for a Christmas quilt, baby quilt for a new to be born great niece, and finish one for her brother.
Happy quilting,
Sally
Rainy quilting.

A new year late

I don't know what happened to January, wait yes I do.  Dr appointments and physical therapy and just stuff. It does not look as if it will be any better for the next two months. But I always have "Bonnie"
to occupy my time.
I like the colors this year but I will have to say this is the most involved setting I have done.  After the last clue there is still a lot to do to get the block made not to mention the sashing.  I know: "no whining it is a mystery."

Can you tell what is wrong with this picture? The block on the left was made first obviously without looking at the directions.  The one on the right was made at a later time obviously looking at the directions.  So a lot of unsewing to fix the first one.

Six blocks and I finally have a process.  I  use the units of the next block, which all have to stay together, as leader enders for the previous block and it keeps me going. I suppose I could use the 

sashings as leader enders.

Last but not least I finally found a groomer who could work with Cecil who is nearly 16, blind and deaf.  This is the best he has looked since I moved here.  He is so sweet I want him to look nice.

Lots happening this month and to avoid more problems with my hip muscle I am limiting my driving long distances until the last of the month. I will also be starting vein work so lots of sewing time I hope. I would like to get bindings on and work on some of the kits I have.  It is a challenge not to open the quilt shop emails.

Rainy Saturday quilting.

Sally

Post Christmas

What a week! I know everyone has a lot going on this time of year but really.  I think I can finally
breathe today.  Yesterday was recovery.  Today is coming out of a fog and looking forward to the
new year.  But first some pics from this past week.

La Vonne and me at Peter and Lilys for Christmas Day Brunch of Strawberry Crepes

My younger nephew's wife Joy and me

My sister-in-law LaVonne and her daughter-in-law Lily and LaVonne and Win's for Christmas night dinner

My Nephew Luke, LV and brother Win

Luke's wife Joy, Bambi sister to Lily

Joy and Luke

LV, Bambi, me in our Walmart cozies and Mason Lily and Pete's Aussie-Doodle

LV and son Peter Donat

We had drinks and apps at my house with Luke and Joy as hosts for a wonderful start to our festivities then piled into cars for the 8pm choir concert and Eucharist service at St Pauls downtown 

in Wilmington.  It was a wonderful Christmas.

On Boxing day I drove to Wilson to visit my brother-in-law and his large family.  This is his grandson Henry in the state jammies and his younger grandson Dallas.

Well the others from that day will have to wait.

Enjoy the 13th month and rest up for new year.

Celebrating quilting.

Sally

PS

This is baby Edward Kemp Pope and his great Aunt Sally.

this is his brother Dallas and his new etch a sketch.

So good to be with them.

Sally Out.

It is nearly Christmas!!!

I don't know why it is always a surprise that Christmas is so close.  It is not as if we have not been
bombarded with this information since July but it still seems to have sneaked up on me.
Our altar guild team has December 22 which also means we have the week following.  I really enjoy
this service to the church and like my team. 
Some catching up since mid November without all the medical stuff.

This is a gift from Lily who gathers the greens and with her handy wreath maker is able to make this beautiful green wreath.  I just have to add the extras.

I have so much Kaffe material and I saw this pattern on MSQC.  The circles are so easy to do

with Jenny's instruction.  I have never been able to make such smooth curves before.

We attended the Airlee Gardens light show again this year and under threat of rain walked around

to see all the displays.  It was misty but no rain and crowded.

Cecil is thinking about what he wants for Christmas.  Or maybe just when he will get his treat.

Pete and Lily helped me get this tree and set it up.  Pete who is 6ft 3in had to stand on a ladder

to put on the angel.  Either the tree leans left or I was leaning left!

I hope the weather stays seasonally cool and everyone stays safe and I can keep up with BH mystery.

Merry Christmas

Cooler weather is welcome

I know I rag on about the weather but it is so wonderful to put on sweaters and warm clothes and go walk Cecil in the cool air.

Some of the blocks for a new quilt which by now I have finished and am taking to Heather.

It was from the MSQ pattern "Wandering stars" without the stars.  I could not believe how easily the

curves went together with her method. All the fabrics are Kaffee and are from a layer cake with some additions (lights) from my huge stash of Kaffe. 

I love to get flowers from HT and love the sunflowers but they do not last as long as the lilies.

They do look nice with the table runner and my pumpkins.

My "niece" Lily and LV came by to help me fix my garden (about the size of a card table but just right for me) for the fall.  Pansies and cabbages (kale). 

I have a small space in the back which is bordered on one end by this privacy fence.  Just perfect for 

climbers and these extra effort zinnias which I probably will lose by this weekend to the cold.  They have been amazing. 

Had a really nice time at house warming for C just north of Selma.  Such a wide range of ages and 

relationships to share in this new home.  And the food was awesome.  Bundt cakes, ham biscuits, cookies etc.  Was just wonderful.  Can not wait to see her sewing in her new space.

Off to exercise and Heathers/

S

Cooler weather at last

What a time with hot weather.  I will take low 80's after the high 90's.  And my water bill. Yikes.

This is the neonatal workshop quilt for September.  It is really cute and goes together quickly

once you have done the string piecing.  They want us to put on the binding by machine.  I really do 

not do that well so I think the next ones i will make the tops, quilt it and let someone else do the binding.

I love the colors in this Stonehenge quilt.  Finally got the binding on.  I still had rather do the hand

work than try to make a machine binding look good.  

My biggest problem has four feet and long hair.  I am trying to get him groomed and he just is not
happy even with meds.  I am going to try a different med the vet gave me and take him in on thursday. He is so sweet but 15+ years old, deaf, and blind.  We will see how it goes.  The next step would be an injection and grooming at the vet's to monitor him for his heart murmur.

Old is not easy for any species.  He is good physically and his bloodwork is good so now he needs to look good.

Time to be off to take Australian quilt to Heather's.  Can't wait to get it back.

Boo time quilting.
Sally