Bits and Pieces

Where to begin? How about with another baby quilt? I finished one last night, after I finished binding my Ruth McDowell project. I promise pictures, I have not been able to set up a place that has enough light to take them. Cross off another UFO. hip, hip, hoorah!!

Today felt like a lazy day. I had a quilt-for-hire to work on (you haven't heard that for a while, have you?) but I didn't. Instead I puttered. I told you I finished my project. Finishing involved a lot of trimming in the effort to make it square. I saved the scraps and reassembled them to make this.


And this

The first measures approximately 4.5" x 9", the second 3.75" x 6.125". To find the influence in making these two unconventional items, check Deborah's blog. She does everything by hand, I did everything (except the beads) by machine, but she's my inspiration.

As I said, it was a lazy day. Edgar and Charlie spent HOURS sleeping on the cat perch. I had to take pictures. They looked adorable. (I think I got Edgar with the flash. Either that or he's winking at me.)

Finally, you'll remember that we redid the yard? Some of the plants in the back have bothered me since the day they were planted. I've waited months for them to "grow on me," but they haven't. There were 9 silver liriope planted in the back. yuck. They look like native plants or desert plants. They do not "feel" like the tropics, which was what I wanted.

Yesterday I bought some dwarf agapanthus (Peter Pan), today I replaced a few of the liriope.

Here are the three I pulled out:

In this picture, you can see the remaining liriope in the center. Directly behind it, at midnight and 10 o'clock are two Peter Pan replacements. ahhh. Don't they look SO much better?!!


I call this my "Dr. Seuss Corner." These plants just look Seuss-y. The sago had 5 liriope in a semi-circle surrounding it. I've replaced the first one (on the left) with a Peter Pan. Again, SO much better!

Until I replaced the plants, the first thing that caught my eye every time I looked out back was the shriveled up liriope. The Peter Pans? I don't even notice them, which is a beautiful thing. Tomorrow I will be buying 6 more. I can hardly wait!

This n That

Who is this cat? This is my yard, this is my mossy pillar, this is NOT my cat. Charlie has more white. Charlie has more hair. Charlie has more fat and less muscle. Who is this cat? He showed up on Sunday, and has proceeded to make himself at home in our yard. Sorry Cat, we have enough cats. We don't want any more. People already think I'm a crazy cat lady. You are NOT my cat. Please go home and stop hanging around. You're making Edgar nervous.

Over the weekend, I went to the quilt show. While I was gone, the menfolk were busy. They cut down the slide. Doesn't this look nice? I took the picture just as the sun was coming up. I should have waited until the afternoon, but I liked the reflection in the pool. I thought it was very nice.

Yesterday I put up my basting tables and got to work. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5: All basted and ready for quilting. The one on top is for-hire, the other 4 are for moi. In Perfectland, 1, 2, and 4 would be quilted by the end of tomorrow. #3 would be finished next week, and #5 would be done whenever. (I'm counting top to bottom.) Goals are good and all that. I'll let you know how it goes...

And on that, I'm going to meet again with the Landscaper, to see if we can so something about the eyesore we call our front yard...

I Promised Pictures...

Sorry I'm so late on posting. I've been doing the run-around, doncha know?

But the backyard is DONE, and it's BEAUTIFUL!!!

Here are some more before/during/after shots...

Southside of the yard before:

Southside during:

And southside after:

Many of the plants around the relocated sago are 1 gallon size. They should grow to a lush 2' diameter, filling the space with a lot of interest. There are two Rose of Sharon plants to either side of the sago, that will grow and add a LOT of height rather quickly. I look forward to that!

Next is the westside of the yard before:

during:


and after:Isn't it so much better?!!!

Now to tackle the front yard.

I've got all kinds of bulbs that are popping up flowers here and there. These crocuses decided that now is the perfect time to bloom...

Those of you who like cat pictures might enjoy this shot of Charlie. He decided that my priority should be loving him, NOT focusing on the computer. My camera was right at my elbow. Is that a look of pure contentment or what?

Finally, lest you think that I am no longer quilting, I made this little birthday card on Wednesday. It measures 7" x 5". The leaves and flower center are steam-a-seamed in place (they were made from scraps from a project), the petals are raw-edge applique.

It was a gift for Gwen, seen here in Panera yesterday afternoon...

Today I've got a few errands to run, and then I've got 4 baby quilts and a wallhanging to baste. Tomorrow I'm off to the Bakersfield Quilt Show. Should be fun!! 'Til then...stay busy!!! :)

A Transformation

For the past week, our backyard has been undergoing a serious transformation.

We've lived in this house for 15.5 years, and have not done much with it other than pull out what had been planted when we moved in. My husband and I do not see eye to eye when it comes to landscaping. That's putting it mildly. While I love things lush and exploding with color, he prefers nice and orderly. Extremely orderly. He does not like plants that "explode" in any way.

And so, for 15 years, I've watched him remove plants that require attention and replace them with...basically nothing. I've attempted to add color by planting bulbs that "mysteriously" sprout in the Springtime, and seeds that produce flowers if they're not hit by Round-up.

This year, I've decided it's my turn.

Actually, I gave him a heads up last year - I told him I was dreaming of hiring a professional landscaper to do the backyard. He thought I meant for him to do it. I did not. I most definitely did not.

Well, he finally agreed that the backyard had gotten to the point where it was devaluing the house. (And in these economic times, that's surely saying something!!) The landscaper drew up plans to my specifications, and his crew has been implementing them since last Wednesday.

Every day has been a great and glorious improvement. Today they are laying sod.

I have LOTS of before and after pictures, I'll break them down into more than one post. Here are today's treats:

First, we had this 2-headed sago palm in the front yard. I've always considered it an eyesore. It has now been relocated to the back, where it looks SO much better. You would be amazed by how small the root ball is. How does that thing stand up? It must have a VERY low center of gravity!!!

This is the "before" of the eastside of the yard:

Here is the "after":

Here is the "before" of the corner with the slide and pool filter:

Here is the "after":

The landscaper assures me that the plants may be small, but within two years they will grow up lush and green. I can hardly wait!!!

And while the crew has been busy outside, I've been inside working on the quilt show. And I've taken some time to piece some baby quilts. I hope to have pictures some time soon.

Stay tuned until tomorrow, when I'll have more transformation pictures...

P.S. We've converted the backyard from sprinklers to a drip system. Not only are we now looking good, we're also conserving even more water! yay!