Not Much to Show

 The above picture shows that I've done a bit of stitching.  Not much, just a bit.  This is a birthday card, made for a friend.  I used to try to make them for everyone, but the past couple of years?  I just don't seem to make the time.

Instead, I do crazy stuff like clean the rain gutters, hoping that this will be another bonanza year for rain.  hahaha!  Anyway, when I was in Missouri, my son had just finished cleaning out his gutters and filling them with Gutter Stuff.  It is a triangular wedge that keeps leaves from entering the gutters, and allows water to rush through and flow as it should.  I bought some at Home Depot, then found it to be much more affordable on Amazon.  Of course it was.

 This is the "before" of my gutters.  They'd been cleaned about 2 months ago, and it's not yet time for leaves to drop.  Then again, the camphor tree drops leaves year round.

 Here is the "during" shot.  I have one high area that I just couldn't reach with the regular ladder.  After I hoisted the extension ladder up against the house, I realized that it was just too heavy and awkward to use.  My son had to help me attack this part of the gutter system.

 Here is the result, with the gutterstuff newly installed.  I am hopeful that the days and dollars invested into this project were worthwhile.  It also says it discourages mosquito breeding.  We've had more mosquitos this year than the past 5 years combined.  Anything to combat mosquitos is worth a try.

As to the quilt I was quilting for Daytona?  It shrunk so much that it no longer fit the size requirements.  Isn't that the way of it?  The quilt is finished.  Or was, until I realized that one side swoops in.  I need to take out the stitching and try again, to make it square.  Perhaps, eventually, I'll have a picture worth sharing.

In the meantime, I've been cleaning, cleaning, trying to prepare for the holidays.  hahaha!
or perhaps I should say ho ho ho!

Lots to do between now and then.  Stitch faster!  Stitch faster!

So Hot

I spent the last couple of weeks moving bark.  Then I bought 1.5 yards of dirt, and moved that, too.  To date, I've moved 12 yards of bark, and 1.5 yards of dirt.  whew!!

I'm thinking that I will need to purchase at least another 12 yards of bark to finish the backyard, but with the temps in the triple digits?  It can wait a while.  I'm taking a break.

Unfortunately, I have not had much sewing time to fill that break.  I've made a couple of birthday cards, and that's about it.

 This second one looked a bit plain,

 so I added some embellishment.  It looks better in person.

When looking at my photos, I realized that I have done other mindless sewing, as well.  Way back in '06, I cut too many bias strips to make bias squares.  I wanted "plenty" for my Hoffman Challenge.  I had enough for that challenge, enough for a second wallhanging, and still more that have been languishing in a shoe bin for years.  I decided I wanted to empty that box.

Here is the result:

 And here is what I have left.  I still have that bin of odds and ends, but it's not quite as full.

 And, in case you were wondering what the bark looks like?  I have finished the front yard.  Mine is the blue house, the Tudor is the neighbor's.

And that's about it around here.  Next week, I am hopeful that I will have a lot more to share.  Goals are good!!

Keeping Busy

I've been busy, putting together more baby quilt tops.  sew sew sew.

This one was composed from leftover blocks from other quilts.  Most of them are recognizable from recent baby quilts.  The star points were made from binding trims.  Things rarely go to waste around here, that's for sure!

 This one was also made leftovers: some Double 4-patch blocks, some 4-patch, and some 4.5" squares.  I think these are really cute.  Some baby somewhere will love them.  :)

 My bin filled with string strips was overflowing.  This picture does not capture the color.  The center blocks are a limey green.  A friend says, "That looks like Giverny!"  I've never been there, but I love the comparison.

Rather than quilting these at this point, they are hanging with backs, waiting for basting.  I've chosen to focus on some handquilting.  I'm more than halfway through one of my quilts from the Katie Pasquini Masopust class that I took last year.  (or was it the year before?)

Block of the Month for guild continues to go well.  These are the blocks turned in for the July drawing.

 I asked everyone to make a second block, to be turned into a Quilt of Honor, for presentation to a local veteran at the county fair in September.  They rose to the challenge.  Just look at this nice stack of blocks!

 Here are my samples for next month:  Dutchman's Puzzle.

I made the Flying Geese units using squares on rectangles and then trimming.  I couldn't let those trim triangles go to waste.  I am behind on birthday cards, so I stitched them together.

See that piece of applique above the bias squares?  I am in the process of inserting it in the frame.  It's turning out to be a delightful piece.  I'll be sure to take a picture before I send it off.

And, lest you think I'm focusing on quilting, no, not really.  My current project is bark.

 I had 6 yards delivered on Friday.  I was able to clear out and fill my "secret garden" area on Friday.

 On Saturday, I cleared out the "island."  I added the bark yesterday.

 I also worked on this area, between our house and the neighbors.

Temperatures have been above 100 for the past several days, so I limit how long I'm out there working.  I make sure to stay in the shade, and when I can't take it any more, in I come.  This morning, I focused on a patch in the backyard.  The sad thing is that the pile of bark does not seem to be getting any smaller.

This afternoon?  I will be doing more hand quilting.  Goals are good!

And Another One

A few weeks back, I spent a day at Calico Mermaid, at their in-store retreat.  10 hours of sewing, and two delicious meals later, I came home with a finished applique and the blocks for another baby quilt.  Over the next week, I put the blocks into a top, and then quilted it.  Yesterday I finished, even the binding!  wow!  I hope to get it into the mail next week.

 I showed you some UFO blocks in my last post.  I waffled back and forth about borders, then decided to make a bold choice.  oh my!  This diagonal stripe was tricky, as I needed to cut it both length- and width-wise to get the effect I wanted.

 It completely changes the feel of the quilt, but I don't mind.  I kind of like it.  It's still a "winter" quilt, but it's not as "cold" as it felt before adding the drama.

Fall has come in earnest, to our little pocket of California.  The gingkos began dropping their leaves last week.  In anticipation of the rain on the horizon, I took Babykins over to the park for an impromptu photo shoot.

 Little Helper tried to put the lens cap back in place as I tried to get a picture.  When I set her down, off she ran, squealing all the way.  Too much fun.

 The next day the rain poured down, bringing with it more gingko leaves.  This is our front yard.  The beauty is fleeting, but it sure brightens a rainy day!!

Tomorrow is December, beginning the big tick tock until Christmas.  Time to get busy in the workshop and see if I can get a thing or two under the tree before the 25th.
Happy December and Happy Quilting, one and all!

This n That

The Studio continues to be in disarray.  Or not.  I guess it depends upon one's point of view.  I've been gradually sorting through things, bringing them back into the Studio.  If I can't find a place for it, back it goes into The Annex.  I'll make a decision later.

But I've made enough progress that I've been able to sew a bit.  Last week (or was it the week before?) I made a little 6" quilt.  But I'm getting ahead of my story.

Months ago, I bought a quilt, from New Zealand quilter Lisa Call.  It was one of 100 6" quilts that she made in 100 days.  I can't find a picture of the installation, but here are the quilts, as offered for sale.  I bought "Stillness."  I love it.  It is mounted on stretched canvas, which has been painted black.

I showed it to my Art Group, Sew Eclectic, and we challenged ourselves to create a 6" quilt each month, until the end of the year.  It's a lot of fun, and it goes quickly, if one can only get started.

Last week, I finished my first and second 6" pieces.  I've yet to mount them on canvas.  I bought the canvas, I just can't seem to remember where I put the bag containing it.  yep.  It's been one of those weeks.

Here are Study in Green #1, and Study in Green #2:

Both were made from bits and snippets leftover from "The Early and The Late Rain."

I thought it would be boring if I continued to make green pieces...then again, that could be the title of the series:  Greenpiece.  hahaha.  I crack myself up. 

Anyway, I remembered stashes here and there, of leftovers from this project and that project.  I dug through a bin, and found pieces from Lesson#3, Abstract Still Life, from the Katie Pasquini Masopust class that I took last year.  I quickly pieced them together, appliqued leftover seaweed, and began embellishing.  It took a while, to remember where I'd stashed my fish buttons, but eventually I was successful in unearthing them.

I love this little quilt!!  Look at the goodies I stitched along the bottom.

This was great fun, and just what the doctor ordered.  It makes a mess, but not like the messes made from working on a large quilt.  Or is it?  Here is my workspace, upon completion of Study in Fish.

 (The mug rug by the machine was made by Jan Krentz.  The matching mug is in the dishwasher.)

So, the studio may be a mess, but it's a healthy, controlled mess.  Or so I tell myself.  I can still see carpet, so that's something!!

And I've been busy outside, as well.  My old patio chairs have been sandblasted and powder coated, and look amazing.

The result inspired me to spiff up my yard flamingos.

I suspect that what is really going on is that dealing with my dad and his home of 53 years is daunting.  I can't do much for him right now, but I can take care of the things right here.  These things are under my control, and it's up to me whether or not I control them, or allow entropy to reign. 
Down with entropy!
Up with organization!

Goals are good!