Sunset

I took a time out last night and sat with a friend to enjoy a glass of wine and watch the sunset.    Something about being near to the water is a necessity for me.   I can step out my back door and a mere 15 feet I am in my pool; the river and the sunset are less than a mile away.    This just confirms what I always have known, I am a water person.

Humble Pie

Hot! This is the water temperature on Saturday afternoon!

I often reread my posts to remind myself of what I posted and what I need to follow up.   Well, I guess karma is bitch as they say......way to brag about a pristine yard a couple of posts back and now my haughty words don't taste so  good.......rain, rain and more rain, heat, heat and record heat and then a minor little mole removed and stitches with instructions for no yard work (because of the bending and lifting and sweating) until the stitches came out.    My yard is in desperate need of some TLC!   Dag nabbet! Stitches came out Monday and now I have a summer head cold.    It's all good, just a little pot hole in the road of my summer time.    Enough, woe is me, let's get to catching up and getting crafty.

I had great visit from William last weekend.  Just love watching the world through his little eyes.   Love how he calls  his uncle Steve - Steam instead of Steve.  Love that he can say Grand mom but I am still his Dam-ma.  We were in the middle of a massive heat wave and spent a lot of time in the pool.     But wait, when all were told to stay  in AC, we went hiking!   OMGosh, I really questioned my sanity when we loaded up the car and headed to Brandywine State Park.  A mile and 3/4's in, wading in the creek and then a walk out really wasn't bad.   It was an easy 15 degrees cooler in the canopy of the trees.  Wading in the cool creek water was a plus especially with a little guy that loves everything water.  When it was time for them to leave on Sunday evening, he was reduced to the biggest puddle of tears when he realized I wasn't going with him.   I don't think I have every seen such big tears.  He told his daddy his daddy was not his friend anymore.   And when they said they had to get home for his step-brother and their dog, there was a pathetic.....but I LOVE her.  

When is was time to leave, he took his clothes off and ran up the stairs.

.......just when I don't think I could be anymore in love with this little guy.    So blessed that we are able to travel back and forth for visits and use Face Time in between.  Next visit, end of August.

As for my for projects, I have finished up Hooray for the Red, White and Blue.    I have "placed" it in the frame but am not sure if I want to do something different with it.  

I am close to finishing Patriotic Poppies from With Thy Needle and Thread.   Problem here is working on the large count, it is eating up the thread like crazy.   I ran out of GA Endive.   I will first pull my ring of fancy flosses to see if I have something that is close and try to use up my stash.  If not I guess it is time to go to the LNS.     Plan is to make this into a pillow.  It's not the only project I have ready to turn into a pillow so I  need to get my machine stitching back on.  

With William here last week, the sewing machine got put away.   I had been on a great tear with my cutting mat set up on the dining room table.   I could take 20 minutes in the morning,  cut or seam pieces, and another 20 minutes at night and BAM!  I'd have a lot to show in one week with little effort.   If I have to pick between the sewing machine and the treadmill, hands down, the sewing machine wins.  

And I have been kind of happy with myself for all the projects I have moved from WIP's to finishes in the last year and gave myself permission to make a new start!    In true Jersey Girl fashion, we Jersey Girls are doing it as a SAL.   I think there are 5 of us starting it today!   I had to order 5 skeins of GA Cranberry that has not yet arrived so I started on the white.     It is called Sampler Santa from The Needle's Notion.

Thanks all I've got for now.....I think I am returning to the couch and a box of tissues.    Ugh, summer colds.  Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching.

Decompressing

After a 5-day weekend with my daughter's and intense stitching time, it is time to mellow out.    Not that it was not mellow and the best time with my girls....it is just back to reality this week.  As you can see, we were mellow with our wine sippy cups and our unicorn floating drink holders.

First, I want to go back to my last post and when  I told you about the historic Salem Oak tree that fell over.   This is a clever, well thought out obituary that a local gal wrote and submitted to the Philadelphia Inquirer.   It is very well written and gives one pause for thought.







So what did we girls do last weekend......
I did finishing of several patriotic ornaments.    

They are from several designers.    Heart in Hand, a souvenir from Williamsburg, With Thy Needle and Thread.

I also finished off this from my Basket 'o Shame of Unfinished Finishes.  (Staci I will email you about the edges! I haven't forgotten)

I cut out 80 1 and 1/2 inch strips of fabric for a new quilt

And isn't it pretty when all your seams are pressed the same way?   I managed to get all the strips pieced and cut into squares.    I need to square them up and then I can start the piecing process.   

Heather gave me a really good idea for the layout.   She said to arrange all the pieces, then photograph in black and white.   I will then be able to better see the color values and more blocks around to a better arrangement.

The inner border, outer border and bidding are at the bottom of the photo.

I also stitched up this project bag for a friend.   It was a thank you for all the stash she has been passing to me as she is downsizing.   Somehow the orientation got turned around and I disavow any knowledge that mimosa's were had on this morning of stitching.  

I worked on my Hooray for the Red White and Blue and even came up with a fantastic frame weight.  

Here is how far I have gotten by week's end........I am enjoying this stitch but I am ready to be done if you know what I mean.  I'm getting there.

Heather and Amy each accomplished a lot but silly me didn't take photos of everything.  Heather managed two dresses and one top (or maybe the other way around) and a pin cushion.   Amy made two dresses, finished all the blocks for a quilt top and made an awesome weekender bag that rivals Vera Bradley.

Heather's pin cushion

Complete with a strap to put over your luggage handle.

For me to wind down this week, I pulled out a quilt top I finished several years ago.   Since all the necessary 'equipment' was already set up in the dining room, I quilted this up and am left to hand stitch the binding.

Can you tell I am just in love with the colors and how this turned out?    No way near flawless but I am thrilled to have it done.

Had this framed at Michael's and love how the frame compliments the stitching.  Even more so in person.

And had this framed at new framer's this week.   It is ABCD from La-D-Da.

Well, that's all I've got folks.    Time for me to lounge by the pool and swing in my egg chair and maybe take a little nippy nap between stitches.    Thanks for stopping by and keep on stitching!

3-day Weekends

Got to say I am getting used to them.   And got to say that this is causing me to doubt my retirement decision.    Thing is, it never has been the job; it has always been the workload.   Since my replacement has taken the CEO off my plate as she is learning my job, it is so easy to do a normal and not a triple/double flip of a workload.    I think by January 10th I can convince myself that even a 4-day work week is too much.  It feels good to have a non-Herculean workload for the first time in about forever.

So, with this extra day off what have I been doing.......really too soon to make a difference.  I've been making Friday my appointment days - oil change, trip to the framer's, dentist, hair appt.  It does take the pressure off squeezing appointments in to the workday.  I feel like I've got the best of both worlds.  I can say the yard is in pristine condition.   Some closets and drawers have been cleaned.   Some reading has been done.  And a new to me thing, is listening to audio books.   In one three day weekend, working in the garden three hours each day, I managed to listen to The Tattooist of Auschwitz.   Three day weekends are proving to be a win-win for me.

For stitching I have been on a Red-White-and-Blue binge.    I hope to get this canvas piece, Hooray for the Red, White and Blue done by mid-July.  I have done very little canvas work in the past.   This is proving interesting and fun.

I find I really need to be in the right position for working on this one.   Like at a table with a frame weight or using my Lowery stand.  



It is fun seeing the plaid start to form.    Today I hope to finish the row of flowers and at least another row on the plaid.
















I am working on stitching up these cuties.   I'd like to finished the last little ones today or tomorrow and be ready to finish these as ornaments.   I have the house in the lower right to finish and a tiny little parade one to stitch still.  Don't you think you need to be in  the mood to do finishing?   I do and I credit that as the reason why that basket 'o shame of finishes is so large.

 Another I am looking to finish this week is from my basket o' shame of stitched and then left to languish.  Not quite sure how I am going to finish this.   Might dive into that newly sorted box of frames I have in the craft room and see what might work.

And, I always like to share if I find something that works.    Now this works for me!    I tend to sprawl  when I sit and stitch.   Whether as home or at a class.   I bought this little tray at Prim Stitchers Retreat for the obvious reasons.  Yardstick/stitcher.    I find that keeping this by my side it gives me a target to aim for placing my bits and bobs.   Better than needles in the arm of the chair and scissors between the seat cushions.  It measures about 5 by 9 inches and is perfect.    Next class I go it, I will be taking this for sure.  

The other good product I found and was easy to use is this Instant Antique spray.   I have no idea where I picked this up.   Some store where it was displayed near the check out and I thought, oh I have to have that!  I wanted to coffee/tea stain fabric for my patriotic ornament backing and the coffee dying didn't really make much of a change.  Mostly likely this was my fault for being overly anxious to see the result and pulling the fabric out of its coffee bath too soon.   Anyway, the light bulb went off and I remembered I had this spray.    Easy to use but I recommend a generous amount of paper towel lining the counter top because of the over spray.  The voice of experience here.

For the 4th of July, it is our 4th Annual Girls weekend and my daughters should start arriving on the 3rd.  I bought us all the same jelly roll of fabric and challenged them to come up with a quilt patterns to use.   It should be fun to see how they all turn out different.   And truthfully, we may go a whole other route....and considering I am not exactly sure where my jelly roll can be found..... it is whatever any of us want to work on.   We never really have preset project plans in mind but I know by the time they leave there will have been many laughs and a multitude of projects finished.  I'm thinking I might arrange a spa afternoon for us......but that would require we dress in something other than a bathing suit or pj's and stop crafting for at least an afternoon.    hmmm, rough decision.  

 Mr. W. is back on the road for the summer and this weekend I spent fixing my pond.   The 20+ year pre-formed shell sprung a leak.   Fortunately I had a large pond liner (like a tarp) in the attic.    Pond drained, plants and filters out, I lined the existing pond shell with the liner.    Things are back to normal now.   Having no major yard projects in mind for the summer working on the pond let me mind stray......hmmm, do I relocate my fairy garden around the pond?   Some thought is needed on that.    Pool time today is an option.   The water temp is finally out of the 70's and I admit to only being in the pool twice because Mr. William wanted to swim when he visited two weeks ago.

Thanks all I've got folks.   Time to stop lallygagging and get the laundry on the line and attack the day.

Thanks for stopping by and.....keep on stitching.

Trying to stay in contact....

I've got to admit I have been a slacker on blogging, blog following and floss tube viewing.    Just not enough hours in the day.     My time has been filled with being in the garden, reading, going out with friends and a stitching.      I think I need to learn to watch floss tube while I stitch to see all the good floss tubers that everyone talks about.

Of the books I have read lately I can highly recommend "The Only Woman In The Room" all about the life of Heddy Lamar.   A brilliant woman who you should thank every time you use your cell phone.  Also, "Beartown", story of a small town youth hockey team and sides taken when bad things happen.  This was written by the same author of "A Man Called Ove" which I read several years ago.     I also read "Lay This Body Down", a true story of plantation owner/s and peonage workers in the 1920's-1930's in Georgia.   It was somewhat nostalgic to read as it was all about the town my brother lived in and places I have seen in Georgia.  I also recommend "Inside the O'Briens" by Lisa Genova.   She has done another outstanding job capturing the progression of a disease (Huntington's in this book) and how the family copes.  And a tear jerker, "Everything I Never Told You" by Celeste Ng.   The prejudice felt by a Chinese-American couple as youth, how it formed their view when they become parents and tried to shape their children lives and the tragedy that resulted.  Lastly, back in January I read "Where The Crawdads Sing", never expected the ending.

I can see some Friday's relaxing here

Since I have lamented about work, I will give you the fabulous update.   I finally have the right person that I am training for my job!    Jen is a dream come true.   She is me, 30 years ago.   I keep trying to reign her in and tell her favors done are rights expected because I don't want her to burn out.   I negotiated to stay an additional 6-months with the caveat of a normal length workday and a four day week.   YeHa!  So nice to have a couple of extra hours each day.   It's only week two and I am not quite used to the 3-day weekends but I will suffer through.

Willie wanted pancakes, he got pancakes!

As for family, I had a fantastic visit from William last weekend.   He brought his mom and dad with him but you know I only had eyes for him.    Wow - starting at about 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. each day he never stops.

A trip to the playground to try to tire him......

Willie ate crabs with us

Such concentration on filling Dam-mom's pond

We finally did wear him out.

 For stitching, I finished Easter Peep Parade from Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle and Thread.    I stitched this on 18-count Fiddler's Cloth and think I will finish it as a pillow.     It was nice to be able to stitch without cheaters.

I started working on this SAL with my EGA Chapter.   It is called Hooray for the Red, White and Blue.  What I enjoy about my EGA is learning new techniques and trying things I might otherwise be wary of......I am learning to use a laying tool for the Neon Rays fiber I choose for the bunting.   It was cumbersome at first but once I got into a rhythm it is going well.

 Look at the fun, cool fibers I am working with.....

And now I must sign off and get back to cleaning closets......not as horrible as one might think and it will feel so good to have everything in its place and a place for everything.  I don't know about you but I get overwhelmed when everything is a mess and that is what happened with my craft closet(s).   Both spare bedrooms upstairs have small walk-in closets that house most of my crafts.   One is large enough to have a chest of drawers in it with much of my fabric.  The shelves hold large plastic tubs with everything from stained glass to basket weaving to Stampin Up to finishing supplies to WIP's.....you get the idea.    The one in my sewing room had become a catch all for anything and everything I didn't have a place for or I wanted to stow away quickly.   It is long past time to get these into a more logical order so I don't have to hop from room to room to search for something.    And I have recently received some crafty items from a friend that is downsizing not to mention my items from Prim Stitchers Retreat arrived and there is no where to put this items.  I didn't quite need a backhoe to get in there but close.  Between the two closets, I jumped into moving some items from one room to the other.   Today, I probably need half the day to finish up the sewing room closet today and take that large pile of 'yard sale' items I identified out to the garage.   It will feel so good to get this done and maybe all the 'stuff' on top of my crafting bench will be able to find a new home too.  By the end of the day, the entire upstairs will have had it's spring cleaning.   The downstairs may be on a quick train called the Hot Mess Express, but I will feel better knowing the upstairs is in order.

Thanks for stopping by.....and I promise to try to take an evening to catch up on all your posts.   Keep on stitching!