Weekend Projects

Using the great weather to get several outside projects done before it get hot and humid for longer stretches. I usually get most of my outside work done early and after that I lose ambition to do anything new outside and sometimes by the end of summer my gardens look terrible instead of beautiful! One project is to make this entry door welcoming, would you feel welcome at this door? I have a few ideas on what I want to do but I know that I don't have everything here unless I go on a shopping trip. I haven't decided if I will use what I already have and change as I go along, still deciding.

Another big project is to finish pressure washing the front deck and getting it stained then set up my plants and sitting area. This project has been put off for several years and WILL NOT be put off this year.

I also need to finish cleaning up two of my gardens along the stonewall. They are both looking very neglected. Hoping to have this finished by Sunday and would like to have a quiet Monday?? I will post pictures when I am finished. My husband is busy moving rocks and clearing a few trees with our tractor, we have been doing this a little at a time since we built 25 years ago. For those of you that are familiar with Laura Ingalls Wilder, I think of this as my own Rocky Ridge Farm. Time to get to work.

Keeping Cool....

I am using the hot weather as an excuse to quilt (not that I need one), I do have many other things I could be doing. Instead I am working on the quilt I planned to work on yesterday. It is called Yellow Brick Road by Atkinson Designs, simple piecing and a great way to continue to get better at piecing and seam allowances, etc. I have been quilting for at least 5 years mostly simple stuff and last year I did my first BOM (will show picture at later date). I self taught myself and have been to one quilting class at the local quilt shop, I am a frequent flyer there and they are great about sharing all of their knowledge (if I figure it out I will post a link to their site later).

The border and binding are the paisley print and the backing is the bird print. Hope to share finished photos soon.

Ladyslippers

When we first looked at the land we built our house on (25 years ago) it had many of these beautiful wildflowers, of course after building many disappeared. Each year since I was usually able to find only a few on the other side of the stone wall that runs along our property. Yesterday when my husband told me that he saw some I went looking with camara in hand. At first I only saw 2 then more and more so I am happy that they are doing so well. I am not sure but I think they are only native to New England does anyone know? Gotta get a few things done before it gets too hot, then I plan to finish a quilt top I started yesterday. Have a great day.

Sew Ready!

Finished tidying the sewing room over the weekend and realized that even though I call it a sewing room, it is where I store all my crafting supplies. Here's what it looks like...

This small basket is all that I have left to cut and sort. But I "need" to be able to get back in and sew and I wanted everything in its place before I worked on my projects. I did cheat on Saturday morning and finished Block 1 from my Civil War Tribute BOM, but that was because of our monthly meeting. I will post pictures in the future, is anyone else working on this BOM? I mentioned in my last post that at this monthly meeting we have a goodie from the Civil War period, this month we had apple & onions cooked in bacon fat (which was substituted for sausage) is sounds "different" but was tasty. Speaking of food has anyone seen Julie & Julia? I watched it last night, it made me want to go out and find a copy (at the used book store) of Julia's book and see if I can recreate any of the recipies.

Time to get moving

Summer Reading

Beautiful sunny day today with more sun for the weekend, I plan to work outside some of this weekend.

I stopped by the local quilt shop, which is dangerously close to my house, to check out the sale fabrics. I know that I already have quite a stash, but it is always fun to add more! Here are the two pieces that I found.






























Here are some books from the local used book store that I added to my library, I love to have a stack to choose from since I never know what I will be in the mood to read. It is always fun looking around wondering what I will find and I was excited to find one of the Elm Creek Quilter series that I had not read! Where do you like to get your books from?

Well gotta go, I need to work on fixing block 1 from Civil War Tribute BOM, I have been struggling with this one and I am determined to get it done right before I work on block 4 & 5. I will be attending the Civil War Tribute BOM monthly group meeting tomorrow at the local quilt shop and hope to share a completed block! The leader of the group always bakes a goodie from the Civil War time period and we discuss the next block as well as the history associated with the upcoming block. It's a nice time visiting with other quilters and of course a chance to oogle the fabric! Have a great weekend.

Thank you, Thank you....

I apologize that I didn't publish your comments, I set up my comments so that I could moderate before posting them and thought they would come via e-mail.....I checked my Dashboard and realized I had some comments....so thanks for the encouragement and I am working on finding those of you I don't already visit and checking out your blogs.

Denise

Progress....

Yesterday was rainy so I spent a good part of the day in my sewing room. Slowly I am making progress cutting and sorting all the fabric that I have accumulated over time. I have also been using this time to cut and set aside projects, such as some heavy weight fabric that I really liked and didn't know what to do with is now cut and ready to become Grocery Bag Keepers for family and friends. How exciting when I find use for something that I already had stashed! As I worked and cleared out my scrap draws and began emptying them I also placed the various projects that are waiting for me and was amazed. As soon as I figure out how I think that I will make a list off to the side and cross them off as I finish each one. Some of the projects are Civil War Tribute BOM, Greenpiece BOM, an All Stars strip quilt, Thistle Penny Rug and several other smaller lap quilts. I also have one BOM that I need to sew the binding on and then it will be ready to wrap and set aside for the recipient.

Here is a photo of some of my waiting projects.

It looks like it's going to be a sunny day and I need to get some outside work done, maybe I will share what I did outside next time.

First Post & Organizing the Sewing Room

Today after reading several of my favorite blogs I decided that I would attempt to start my own. I have a new appreciation for those of you that have blogs, I have been working on setting this up off and on all day and hope that you will be patient while I learn the ropes.

Not sure exactly where I plan to go with this but I enjoy reading and seeing how others decorate their homes as well as the many things that are created. I have also been inspired and motivated by the blogs that I read, realizing that although we are all different we also share many of the same thoughts and feelings.

Hopefully, one benefit of blogging will be motivation to complete projects around the house to share with others. So I begin with sorting/organizing in my sewing room. I can't believe I have acquired so much stuff already, I have only had this room for approximate 1 1/2 years and now it needs to be tuned up.

I decided to refold and label any fabric piece that is 1 yard or larger. I am also sorting and folding 1/2 yard pieces and fat quarter pieces hopefully this will help when I want to start a new project using my stash. The other pieces have been cut to 5", 4", 3" squares or into 2.5" Jelly Roll strips. How do you organize your smaller pieces?

Here are a few other photos of my sewing room. I may rearrange or remove some furniture and plan to take everything out of the closet (to the right in this photo) and put floor to ceiling shelving (that may be in phase 2).

I have a few projects that I want to finish and I won't work on them until I get the fabric sorted and put away.

Hope to be back within the next few days to post again, thanks in advance for your patience while I figure out how to place photos and text, etc. I seem to have lost a few of the photos that I had on the page?? The preview looked good, so here goes nothing.

Have a great day.