While I was sewing

Last month while I was busy sewing, this Calla Lily was blooming in my garden. I forgot to post a picture then, so enjoy it now. Also the second picture is a work in progress. I'll show it later when it's finished. Hint, it's small and I like simple things.

Little things

Ok, I've been busy sewing, so that's why I haven't been here. You can see the results below. The houses were supposed to be pieced, but I made templates of them and appliqued everything down. My favorite way to sew and go.   I gave myself a challenge to use only homespuns (plaids) for the houses. I love how they turned out!

The other one is a version of an old pattern that just spoke to me. In fact, I have 2 other versions of that same pattern, that I plan on making sometime in 2014. Ahh, projects to dream about. That's why I love to quilt. Enjoy!

Baking Day

I recently tried my hand again at making sourdough bread. I didn't have such a great time with the starter the last time I tried (many years ago). But this time I had success. The loaves didn't rise as much because I used part whole wheat in the starter, but the bread turned out so nice! Yum!!

 

I also baked banana walnut muffins and bread. Double YUM!!

 







 

 

Happy July 4th!

Happy July 4th to America. Wave your American flag to show how much you care for our freedoms.
Enjoy my little Patriotic vignette.

Lunch with Friends

Recently I made lunch for 3 of my knitting friends. I served quiche, homemade yeast crescent rolls, tossed salad, chocolate brownies, and shortbread cookies in the shape of little Scotty dogs, along with vanilla ice cream. Two of the ladies are English born, so the Scotty shortbread cookies were a big hit. I had pieces of lace, a pair of lace gloves, a long strand of pearls, and my Mother's watch on the table along with Mom's china. I also cut blue hydrangea blooms from my garden and put them into napkin holders that also served as vases. It was a very nice time having lunch with friends! Enjoy the table view.

A quilt for a friend

This is my neighbor and friend, Alice, who is completing her 3rd quilt. This quilt is for her friend who soon will retire. Alice has sewn all the blocks by hand, and is now going to quilt it by hand. She has done a wonderful job with the quilt, and I got to see it in the making. How exciting!

Peony

These are the first blooms of our Peony in the garden. Such a lovely soft pink color and the fragrance is divine. Because I didn't stake the blooms, they were lying on the ground, so I had to cut them and bring them inside. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Oxalis

Our oxalis are blooming their little "hearts" out! I just love these little flowers. They make me smile.

Pictures from my garden

This Clematis is blooming for the first time since it was planted 2 years ago. I guess it took awhile for it to like the place where it was planted. I can see it from our screened porch and I love looking at it when I'm out there.

Jewelry pouches

I've been sewing again. I made these jewelry pouches for my sister and two cousins for our retreat this year. They were fun to make and quick and easy. The blue one (inside and out) is mine. I made it as a prototype for the others.

Sister/Cousin reunion

Every year my 2 cousins and sister have a "girls" reunion. Our Mothers were sisters, so we keep the reunion alive for them. We just completed it for 2013 and had a blast. We shopped, laughed, and laughed some more. Here we are about to eat dinner one night at my house. So fun! Can you tell which one is my sister?

Little houses

This is my current project I'm working on. It is machine appliqued, homespun houses. I should have it finished very soon. Come again and see the progress.

Socks again

Since we are still having "winter" here (more rain and cold weather), I decided to finish a pair of socks. I love knitting socks! This pair has 3 baby cables running down the middle of the sock. Fun yarn too, isn't it? Enjoy!

Valentine's or just hearts

This is a gift I made for a quilt friend. We celebrated Christmas in February this year. She loves blue and yellow colors and hearts. This table top quilt will bring her smiles all through the year. It was so much fun to make for her.

Quilt made for a male

I finished this quilt recently, and it will be for a male. My quilt group gives our quilts to the Wounded Warriors  for use to anyone who has served our country or for family members of those who served. This quilt is made up of fabrics that I had from an "ugly" fabric swap online. I added more bright fabrics and I hope the person who receives it, will like it.

Daffodils are blooming

As you can see, my daffodils are blooming. I think it's a bit early for them but I do love seeing them in my garden. I have been busy sewing and I'll show you the projects in a few days. One gift goes out the door on Saturday, so I need to keep it a secret until then. Stay tuned.

Special ornaments

 

Do you have special ornaments on your tree? This one my hubby made for me in 1974. He was a pilot and our plane was similar to this design. It's been on our tree every year since then.

Gifts for family

I made these little table top quilts for my sister-in-law for Christmas this year. She enjoys having them out on her kitchen counter during the year. I think when I'm through, she will have one for each month. February and June are now ready. They are so much fun to make for her.

Angel ornament

This is an Angel ornament that I made for a neighbor. I resized it to 4 inches finished. It was fun to make and I'll make more next year. You really can't see her "dress" well, but it has a musical score on it. So nice for a little angel.

Gifts to friends

 

 

 

I made the gifts above for some of my knitting friends for Christmas. They are interchangable knitting needle and one double point needle cases. The first photo shows the parts before I sewed them. The second photo shows a completed case and I'm trying to decide how much larger to make the last case to fit double pointed needles. The last photo shows the cases finished. These were so fun to make. The ladies all love blue and white and have use for these cases. We all have the same type of needles. 

 

 

 

Still sewing

 

I'm still sewing gifts for Christmas but I'll show you some ornaments that DH will take to other volunteer members tomorrow. He volunteers at a no kill cat shelter and these ornaments are for the other volunteers.  The ornaments are a "modified" cathedral window design. I'll be back soon with other pictures of gifts that I've made.

Decorating for Christmas

 

The first decorations I usually put out, even before December 1st, are my Santa collection. I love seeing them, and they get me into the mood for the holidays.  Who wouldn't smile at these cute faces? More pictures of the collection to follow.  

Thanksgiving lunch

 

I am always thankful for family and friends. I'm so glad you are part of my life. This is my table set for Thanksgiving lunch. We were supposed to have 6. It was only hubby and me because the others were sick and couldn't come. Please remember to say a prayer for any sick people you may know. A holiday can be so lonely for anyone not well.

Quilt Group quilts

 

These are the pictures of all of my quilt group's quilts that we have been making together. The design is from Kim Diehl. I posted about these quilts a few weeks ago. All of them are similar but each different. One of the ladies even has wool flowers. Nice!

45th high school reunion

Last night was my 45th high school reunion for the class of 67'. Here is a picture of the classmates who attended. 24 out of 67 were there and we still have fun being together. Wonderful evening.

Falling Leaves

Have your leaves fallen off the trees yet? Ours are just beginning to turn color. Enjoy this colorful time of the year!

Shoes!!

 

Just in time for Halloween. This litte quilt is a table top quilt. I love the shoes, don't you? This pattern has possibilities for Christmas shoes, Spring shoes, even patriotic shoes!! The imagination can go wild!

Young needleworker

This is my young neighbor who is learning to do needlework. She has almost finished her first project, all sewn by hand. Now she is learning to quilt it. She has done a great job on her first project and I can't wait to see what she starts next.

Garden Art

This is garden art that my hubby made for me. The cup and saucer are the very first ones we used in our married life. The old bottles were found when my hubby did metal detecting as a hobby. They were found in Los Angles at an old house that was being demolished. Now I can enjoy all of them in our garden.

Surprise Lily

Seems like I'm full of surprises lately. The flower you see blooming is commonly called a Surprise Lily, Magic Lily or a Naked Lady. It's scientific name is Lycoris radiata. The deer ate the first buds over two weeks ago (see the empty stem on the left ). I was so disappointed because I've waited three years for this to bloom. (We've had very dry conditions for the last 3 summers.) Anyway, after the deer ate the first blooms, the bulb sent up another stem with buds and the deer haven't touched it yet. It is lovely and well worth the wait! Now about those dang deer...don't get me started!!

Knitted surprise

I have been knitting lately. This is what I'm about to finish. Can you tell what it is? Hint, it's a pattern from Elizabeth Zimmerman.




Yes, it is the Baby Surprise Sweater! Isn't it great? Only two seams to sew up (top of the shoulders), and I'm done. It was so fun to knit!

Finished Little Quilt

I finally finished the binding on the little quilt. Here it is finished. What do you think? I think the binding "brightens" it up a bit. Enjoy!

New little quilt

I made this today between rain showers and thunderstorms. It is a Buttermilk Basin pattern, and I bought the pattern at a new quilt shop, Lone Star Merchantile. The fabrics are mostly Jo Morton's fabrics. It was so fun to make, and tomorrow I'll machine quilt and bind it. I'm getting ready for fall.  Can you tell?