hand dyed medallion

 Summer afternoon...

I just thought I'd pop in and say, "Hello!"  Hoping everyone is having a good summer.  Our kids are living in the pool- can you imagine anything more fun on a hot morning, afternoon and evening?  They're all getting as brown as little nuts.  Unfortunately, there are some not so fun side-effects.  Their toes are raw and poor Abe has a sore diaphragm and taking a deep breath is painful.  With some one else working the garden, my time is more my own than most summers.  And then the kids have camps- two each for the oldest two, John and Eva.  The two younger ones are planning a couple fishing jaunts with their daddy and a free movie at the library. There should be some perks to being left behind.  Their cousins have come back to Indiana for a month this summer so they are frequent visitors.  I came home last night to find that the combined crowd had eaten a raw lasagna... Didn't they notice the noodles were a bit crunchy and the cheese not melted?  Didn't keep them from eating the whole thing! Well, you know how hungry swimming can make ya.  At least I made two trays so maybe they'll give me a chance to bake this one.

This song is pretty much my aspiration...

 

 

 

I have a MRI scheduled, tomorrow, for my shoulder and then a follow up appointment with the surgeon for next week.  I sure hope they can fix me up so "I don't hurt any more."

leaders/enders

I think I need a new storage box for my 2" leader/enders, whatcha think?  That's actually quite a bit of sewing when you figure I only make one at the beginning and end of other things I sew... 

Start for coffee shop

 A wall hanging for Mary and Jacob has begun.  Jacob loves all things coffee and they've decorated their kitchen like a coffee house.  The wall hanging has some words appliqued on it- cafe, espresso, cappuccino, etc... I'll have to pace myself on all that applique- seems like I've been doing more of that, lately.  But it's a great way to thin out the scrap basket.



blue enhancement

  Speaking of scraps... I've got some new blues.  A very good thing as I just don't gravitate towards blues at the fabric stores.  How can I buy blues when there's nice warm oranges, greens, browns or reds just pining to go home with me? Oh, I notice that there's a couple things on the back of the sewing counter- of course there is.  If you have a young son or grandson, I know they'll love this book, "Sir Kevin of Devon."  I know I've recommended it, before, but here it is, again.  It's out of print but you can find a used copy on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_10?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=sir+kevin+of+devon&sprefix=Sir+Kevin+%2Cstripbooks%2C287  There's the link. The girl in the picture is me when I won the pig tail contest that the newspaper sponsored- only in West Virginia.  Not sure how old I was. My hair was half way down my thighs so it made some fairly long pigtails.

 

 

Being without a plan can be liberating

I started this quilt ages ago and I sew up a little 9" sampler block every now and then to throw into the box.  I don't have any kind of plan- wouldn't that be just too easy?  The fabrics are all from my hand dyed stash.  I suppose the large thingy in the middle will be a medallion, but whether it will end up on point or straight... if there will be sashing or alternate blocks... how many blocks it would take to make a queen size... See?  No plan.

 

 

Here's hoping that you remember to sit out in the warm summer air and watch the butterflies and bees dance from bloom to bloom and listen to the birds sing a sweet song, setting aside all the chores and work that are waiting... they won't go anywhere.  I promise.  But the days of summer will race away and we'll be huddled in the cold, drab days of winter dreaming of all the bright, sweet scented ones we didn't savor when we had the chance.  Live today. Much love and God bless! ~nines

Thank you, Sylvia!!

Birthday Loot!

I got home from Oregon in time for my birthday.  And look at what I got in the mail!  Sylvia sent me the sweetest package of orange batiks!  And can you see that small wool penny on a paper clip on top of the card? How fun!  Of course, the first thing I had to sew upon my return from Oregon was a block from them. I have enough to make five more blocks and I think with some sashing, borders and such, it'll be enough for a throw-sized quilt.  I just love the fabrics, Sylvia- It was beyond thoughtful and kind and good of you to bless my day!


My other birthday gifts:

so me...

The sewing machine(which needs a functioning foot pedal- no problem, I have plenty,) a vintage Ransburg hand painted pottery cookie jar and tin breadbox are from my sweet William and the pool float is from my dear sis-in-law, Rebecca.  I raked it in.  We had a movie night and ate cake. I had an amazing day.  God has been so good to bless me with friends and family who are so easily lovable and, for some unfathomable reason, love me.  

 Fabric purchase from Oregon...


Well, yeah, they're orange.  And they were on clearance.  There was a great quilt shop in Canby, Oregon.  I'm sorry I don't remember the name... but it's the only one there, so it shouldn't be hard to find.

Find of the decade...

Rotary blades for a dollar, each.  This little pack of two rotary blades runs $2 at Harbor Freight!  They are called "Carpet Cutter Blades" but they are the same ones we quilters use- they're sharp and stay sharp and with the price of rotary cutter blades- they are about $5 per blade, here- you can't beat this deal and we can afford to stock up.  So hit that store, friends!

Problem child...

Weird child.  Just plain ugly child... What can I say?  Not every quilt turns out to be... well, I'd settle for tolerable. I was using up these little bits of bleach resist fabric we made up a few years ago.  It sat in a bin for a few more years(time flies!)  I figured I could always cut the hideous thing into nubbin' blocks, but then... Truthfully, I think son #5 will dig it.  It's quite masculine, dontcha think?  OK, don't comment on this little foible. I quilted and bound it and I hung this small wall hanging(about 18" square) by his bed while he's working with his dad, this morning.  Hope he likes it when he gets home or else... well I haven't an idea of what else.

problem child...

 

 

Kelli's back yard

Home again, home again...

Jiggety jog! I sure did enjoy my vacation in Oregon these past two weeks. We spent every evening sitting on the back patio- until the mosquitoes came out- though, to be honest, Oregon mosquitoes are tame, indeed.

West Virginia carnivorous misquitoes

(Indiana mosquitoes are monster big and leave a goose egg size knot, but West Virginia mosquitoes are tiny little creatures, but don't let that fool ya- they'll nibble you to death and leave you itchy for weeks. I digress...Where was I? Oh, Oregon.) There's not enough room here to say what all we did- Krav Maga, kick boxing, hand gun training- I was merely a spectator- Kelli is the one you don't want to rile. We shopped, and ate at "plant-based" restaurants. I'm thinking our town could use a place like that. We went to the beach and ate Nepalese food- yummo!- and taffy. It was cold and windy, but beautifully sunny. Just plain ole had a wonderful, relaxing time.

Depoe Beach

Nines, Kelli, Ashlee