This n That

 Ahhh.  Another post before the end of the month.  That is good news, because it means that I've spent at least a few minutes communing with my sewing machine.  I don't have a lot to show, but I have finished a few quiltlets and postcards.

First, the postcards:

For these sets, I cut up a panel, added a back, and zigzagged around the edges.

This one was made from scraps in my scrap pile.

These quiltlets were quilted and embellished, before adding the self-binding backing.

Yesterday, we celebrated two birthdays.  One for Henley, one for her mama.

Other than that, last weekend, I hit another estate sale.  I do love to find good embroidery, and I'm a sucker for pillowcases.

And these Sunbonnet Sues?  What was the quilter thinking, when she chose that orange for the arms?  What was it called?  Coppertone QT?  for quick tan?  In high school, I remember a lot of girls with that bright orange skin.  Then again, I do not remember them dressing like this!

Finally, I found 5 beautifully embroidered basket blocks, sporting pink ribbons.  I'm hopeful that they will wash up beautifully.  I might also put them in Retroclean, if the background remains discolored.

And I guess that's going to do it.  I am happy to report that I've been interacting with fabric.  I'm hopeful, that with the holidays ahead, I'll get even more studio time in the not too distant future.

Happy Quilting!

Still Here

 This COVID stuff.  The days run together, along with the weeks, and now months.  Days are filled with this, that, and not a lot of anything.  It is hard to come up with content for posting.  One would think that with all of this time on my hands, I would be uber-productive.  Not me.  sigh.

I did make a couple of little pillowcases this week, for two little pillows that had been on my studio floor for almost a year.  Imagine how much space that left behind!  yay!

My DIL asked for a green mask, to match a dress she plans to wear to a wedding.  She indicated that embroidered flowers would be really pretty.  I made a plain mask, an embroidered mask, and a third mask with a floral print.  I'm sure she will find the opportunity to use them all.

Over the past month, I learned to cure olives.  yummy!

I made my first cheesecakes in decades.  I mean, since Costco, who bakes their own cheesecake anymore?  I have to say, these may be ugly, but they were tastier than Costco's!

I was quite happy when estate sales began opening again.  Lots of mask and entry restrictions, but sometimes?  The amazing deals are still available.  I bought this shell collection for $5.

Last weekend, I stumbled in at the end of a sale that had a table full of shoes left.  The shoes were all size 42.  If you've ever looked for 42's, you know that they are not easy to find.  When I chose the boots and a pair of flip flops, they offered me the entire collection for $25.  wow!  I feel like Imelda Marcos now!!  Only a couple of the thongs are uncomfortable.  The other shoes?  Are now residing in my closet, waiting for an opportunity to be worn.

I've also spent a lot of time with our local grandchildren.  Tea party, anyone?

These cousins are 2 months apart.  They are as different as can be.  One is all into physical activity, the other will sit for hours, as I read book after book after book.

And our grandson?  Is a busy boy.  Here, he's helping his dada by loading the tractor.  Such a good worker!

And finally, the project that keeps my attention.  I have been hand quilting this one since April.  I am closing in on the last portion, which is just amazing.  I truly thought this quilt would always remain a top.

Happy quilting!!

A Little Bit of Progress

I've gotten back to hand quilting.  Yesterday, I was excited to quilt my way to the second corner of my current project.  woohoo!!  Perhaps I will be able to finish the rest this year.  I am SO excited to make visible progress!

Huh.  I thought I'd taken a picture last night, but I guess not.  Hopefully I will remember for my next post.

This year, our county fair had a drive-through fair.  My son took his family, and reported that it was "okay, but really short."  He prefers the in-person fair, where they can spend hours and exhaust children, rather than have them stuck backwards in a car seat, trying to point out the "sights."

They had a quilt competition, with 14 entries.  I entered two in the Professional Quilters category.  I had the only quilts in that category, so was awarded 1st place and BOS, Professional on one, and 2nd on the other.  I have not received any ribbons, though they said they would mail them.

"Sunset Stroll," 1st place and BOS, Professional - Tulare County Fair 2020

"Two Beauties," 2nd place, Professional - Tulare County Fair 2020

I really wish I had more to share, but I've been spending a great deal of time babysitting.  Our oldest local granddaughter turned 3 today, so I thought it was worthy of note.

She received a brand new bicycle, and tools.  Apparently the bike wasn't up to snuff.  She spent the evening working on it, before it was ready to ride.  Happy Birthday, little girl!!

Busy, Busy

 I don't know about you, but I am currently challenged to keep track of the days.  I know when it's Wednesday, because I babysit my grandson.  I know when it's Sunday, because of church.  Other than that?  I have to check my phone.  And the date?  Why is it even important any more?

Oh!  Dates are important, because birthdays are celebrated on them.  September we have three birthdays, so we're in the middle of celebrating. I've made a few cards, but, as usual, have fallen behind.  I feel like most of my time is spent with grandchildren.  With 4 locals, aged 2 and under, well, I need to pay attention when they are here.  No doubt about it!!

I've made more masks, for Fall.

And I made my first potholders, as a gift.

I quilted some Komforters for Kids, our guild philanthropy.

I baked baklava.

My husband's garden keeps producing, which keeps me busy making Mediterranean stuffed bell peppers and ratatouille.

And, finally, we had our first shake of walnuts.  If you've ever wondered what a good year looks like, take a gander of all those nuts!!  I've never seen so many before.  Outstanding!

As you can see, there has been plenty to occupy my time, though nothing overly exciting.  I guess the biggest news is that my hand quilting project is 19/25 of the way complete.  I've got about 6 square feet of hand quilting left to finish.  I've been quilting on this project since April, so I am excited to think that I might actually have another finish before the end of the year.  Goals are good!!

And, It's September

 Talk about the days rolling by with no signage.  It's hard to know which day of the week it is, let along which month.  I don't know about you, but I seem to have hit a bit of a malaise.  Without deadlines, it's hard to stay motivated to do anything.  sigh.  I've been reading a lot, not sewing much.

This past month, I've finished a few cards.  Unfortunately, I neglected to take pictures of all of them.  Here are some of the highlights:

They are all birthday cards, for friends and family.  I like the palm tree on the last one.  It was carved from a coconut shell.

I've also made a few postcards:

This is the only one finished and sent.

Yesterday, I made some masks.  It turns out that the first masks that I made were defective.  I used the elastic I had on hand, and it recently lost its stretch.  I guess it's good that it lasted this long.  Who would have thought we'd still be wearing them?

Other than that?  I've been doing a lot of babysitting, and not much else.  I am hopeful that I will post more, because I will have more to post.  But for now?  Who wants a selfie of me reading?

Hopefully, you have all been more productive than I!

Happy Quilting!

It's Been a While

 huh.  In the past month since I've posted, apparently Blogger completely revamped itself.  I hope I know what I'm doing.  It's so strange to look at.  I feel a bit lost.

Let's see, what has happened in the last month?  We went to Cambria again, and delighted in the cooler weather.  I wish I could go back today, since it's predicted to hit 105.  It's just a prelude to a week of 109.  ugh.

When at home, I watch my grandson every Wednesday.  He's a very busy boy, and playing in the dirt is one of his favorite things.

This past week, I've also been watching my granddaughter.  Her birthday is next week.  She's a real sweetie.

My husband has been tending his vegetable garden.  We've been delighting in the abundance of fresh bell peppers and tomatoes, as well as cucumbers, cantaloupe, and eggplant.

I found a great recipe for Mediterranean stuffed peppers, which I've been making fairly regularly.

I've continued to work on my handquilting project.  Well, I was, until August hit.  I need to get back to it.  I haven't done much sewing at all this month.

Yesterday, I made a birthday card, but I'm thinking I should wait until after the birthday before sharing it here.

And I guess that's it for the update. 

I hope that you all are staying safe and finding time to create.  Creativity is good for the soul.

Until next time...

P.S.  In looking at the preview, I see that only portions of my photos show up.  I hope that you can see the full shot if you click on them.  Obviously this upgrade is going to take some getting used to.

Where do the days go?

I can't believe it is mid-July and has been WEEKS since I last posted.  How is that even possible?  In June, I guess we tried to make up for what we'd missed out on in March, April, and May.  Now that it's July?  We're back under wraps.  ugh.

Back in June, we celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary in Cambria.  What a lovely weekend!!  We ate in restaurants and stayed in a hotel and had a fabulous time!

 We walked up and down three different beaches, and had a delightful time in the 66 degrees.  At home, it was 107.

 We drove north of San Simeon to see the elephant seals.  Do these guys know how to snooze or what?  No social distancing here!!

 A nose only a mother could love. 

It took all month, but I finally finished some postcards that were begun in May.

 I mailed them out in June, but to date?  I've only heard from 3 people that they were received.  odd.  One arrived yesterday.  wow.  Almost 2 weeks from CA to CO.  What's with that?

 I also took the time to bake a few blackberry cobblers.  I got the recipe from the Pioneer Woman.  Simple and delicious.  Or simply delicious.

Finally, I continue to work on my hand quilting project.  Quilt, quilt, quilt.  I'm not yet halfway through, though I try to quilt each day.  So far, July has been less than productive.  Oh well.  I've posted today, so that's something, right?

Stay healthy and enjoy life!!
Until next time.

Birthday Weekend

 We spent the weekend celebrating, before the world turned upside down.  It began with a day out, which was SO nice after the months of staying home.  We visited an estate sale, then an antique mall, and ended up near the entrance to Sequoia National Park for lunch.

 We sat riverside and watched the Kaweah flow by.  It is much lower than I've seen before, but it could be time of year.  It was hot - 91 - and a bit muggy, but, still, getting out to eat was a treat.

 They had a unique avian scavenger, in addition to the usual sparrows.  This one waddled onto the deck, just as we were getting ready to leave.

On Saturday morning, I went to the Farmers Market.  It was a shadow of its former self, but I came away with fresh flowers, eggs, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, apricots and fresh tomatoes.  I hope that they are there again on Saturday, because I want to make it a habit to shop there.

My sister came to visit for the weekend, bringing a cake made from scratch.  She'd asked what my favorite cake was, then found that none of her bakeries were offering lemon cakes in their limited inventories.  She baked the cake layers, made lemon cream cheese frosting, and homemade lemon curd.  Oh, yum!!

Our sons and their families came for dinner on Saturday.  Two of them came back for breakfast on Sunday.  They gifted me with these beautiful flowers.

 My sister thought I needed some succulents in my house.

 Can one have too many plants?  I don't think so.

 Yesterday was my actual birthday.  The day was quiet, spent at home, listening with horror to the reports coming in from around the country.  So much can change, literally overnight.  I remain hopeful that good will triumph over evil.  God is in control of all things.  Perhaps we should look to Habbakuk:

Look among the nations! Observe!
Be astonished! Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days—
You would not believe if you were told.

He always has a plan, whether we can see it or not.

And with that, I will leave you with my birthday picture, taken before the world turned upside down.

May God have mercy on us all.