Another Day

Wow posting 2 days in a row.  I know, I know what a surprise. 

Today was boy scouts.  We went to a local marsh for a program.  It was very cool. 

 The boys dip netted, and then looked at what they found.  Now normally in Michigan it would be cold, possibly snowing, but this year we have had unseasonably warm weather.  While it may have only been in the low 50's it was great being outside.  Oh Xander found a damsel fly.

The next thing was to dissect an owl pellet.  Um ewww, but so cool.  We also did a short hike through the marsh checking out the mute swans, sunfish, Canadian geese, the eagle nest and some other cool things.

Before heading out with the boy scouts I had time to sew.  I got my binding all put together and sewn onto my quilt.  Now I can sew it down in the evenings.  I still need to figure out a quilt name, and label. 

I also had another purchase arrive.  Craftsy has been having flash sales, and when I saw this fat quarter bundle at 1/2 off I had to have it!

It is called Pie Making Day and I have been eyeballing this fabric for a while.  Now to figure out a fun project to put it in. 

Overall it was a great Saturday, even though DH worked until late, I got to binge watch Skylander Academy with the grandson.  

Another Month

Another month has whizzed by and I haven't posted. 

The Ancient Ones have been to an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat Dr.) since their Dr. was too busy to clean her ears at the last appointment.  After 2 weeks of me trying with the OTC medication, hydrogen peroxide, and other things, I finally gave up in frustration and found the ENT.  The AU went to a cardiologist and he is down 1 heart med and had another decreased by 1/2 , and after having his second monitor he is doing great.  We have also visited a Gastroenterologist for the AU esophagus problem and the swallowing, GERD, a scope is scheduled for the end of the month.    DH and I also decided after several weeks of trying to get them into their preferred physician, calling in medications that had no refills and taking several days to get them refilled, that it was time to find not only a new primary care physician, but also a new pharmacy.  As of the last appointment we are off 3 more medications and have decreased the dosage of another for the AU.  The AA the doctor is going to review her medications list because we cannot figure out why she is taking several different medications and she is unsure why also. 

Add to the innumerable doctor visits, the two oldest grandson's father passed away suddenly at the age of 27.  While the boys had not had a relationship with him for a while, it is still very tough on them, and their mom.  The funeral mass, memorial service, burial service, and internment were very difficult for all of us.

On the sewing, quilting front I have done a little.

I finished quilting the layer cake quilt I made from a Moda Bake Shop.  The pattern is called Big Love Layer Cake Quilt, but I am not a fan of the name, so I am contemplating a new name.  The layer cake I used was a Mama Said Sew, and I did add a little stash but it was still from the Mama Said Sew line, but I didn't have enough to use to make binding.  So I bought some Mama Said Sew II.

I thought the stripes would be a fun binding.  I started to cut and had a Doh! moment.  The stripes ran the WOF instead of the length. 

Yep, not going to work.  I should have ordered more than a yard, but I can make it work.  May have a few more seams than I like but it will all be good.  Once I make a label the binding will be ready to go. 

While there has not been a lot of sewing going on-- there is planning....and retail therapy.

Fabrics.

Pattern and a ruler.  I blame it on Shabby Fabrics have you seen their snowflake table runner?  The pattern is free.  Scroll down to the snowflake table runner.   Anyway the runner needs a sidekick ruler so I had  to buy it.

Of course I also saw this cool wall hanging quilt which is laser cut kit and had to have it.

 I have had an urge to make an orange peel quilt.  Missouri Star Quilt Company enabled me.

All 3 sizes a size that can be made from a layer cake, another from a charm pack and another from a 2 1/2 inch candy pack. 


I had an opportunity to go to the quilt guild charity sew day.  We recently received a couple of dozen large totes, full of fabric to make  charity quilts.  There were scraps, larger pieces, and some big enough to make quilt backs.  It was decided to cut them down into 10 inch squares, 4 1/2 inch squares, and 2 1/2 inch strips.  I ended up coming home with 2 shopping bags full to cut up. 

The end of the year is fast approaching and I got my bag lady quilt blocks back at the last guild meeting.

Aren't these blocks and the fabric fun?  Now to figure out a setting....I have a plan!

Remember to Say Thanks

Summer's Last Gasp

I know, I am learning how to post using the IPad and my phone to take pictures.  I think yesterday may have been our last gasp of good weather.  We were still sunny and in the mid 70's which is uncommon for Michigan in late October.

I have Veronica still blooming and lavender too.....and weeds.

I love herbs and perennials.  That is why the daughter calls my flower garden the 'hippy garden'.  This is borage.  I planted 4 seeds and they were all planted from seed in July.  I transplanted them to my berm about a month ago.  They struggled with the very hot, dry weather, but they have made a turn around now.

I keep hearing about purslane.  While many consider it a weed I have read that the leaves are edible, and they have beautiful flowers in many different colors.

I still have roses blooming!

I even managed to get a couple of small zinnias.

I had some time to wok in the sewing room.  Look what Infound!  The teflon pressing sheet for appliqué.  I have looked and looked for it for quite a while.  Moving was fortuitous.

Pumpkin Carving

The boys, DH, and I carved pumpkins this weekend.  We had to harvest our pumpkins at the end of September.  They were some that were actually starting to rot on the vine.  The vines had died back a few weeks before, which surprised us since the weather was gotgeous and warm.

Finn's pumpkin.

Gabe's pumpkin.

My pumpkin.

Finn started a pumpkin gut fight.  He was using the scoopers we were using as a catapult, to nail people.

I wonder if I posted this on Facebook in 16 years he will sue me?  Lol

A Little Bit More

II had a wee bit more time and had an opportunity to sew a wee bit more.

The Friendship Block for quilt guild.

Bag Ladies block

I also finally finished the charity quilt binding!

Unfortunately I didn't get to take many pictures of the Monroe County Quilt Guild show the weekend of October 7 & 8.  The guild had a rowboat full of fat quarters, and scrap bags too that were donated by guild members to be sold at the show.  There was some left over and so I picked a few up at the last guild meeting.

A couple fat quarters.

A gallon ziploc of neutrals.

A gallon ziploc of greens.

I really need to just delete my emails with sale notifications.  About 1 month ago a store was having a sale on Northcott Stonehenge.  I bought several in hopes that I can use the in future projects that I have planned.

Finally Pink Castle Fabrics was having a Columbus Day sale.

I would love to work on something, I just need some time.  When I do have a 5 minute chunk I have been working on the quilting of the Big Love Layer Cake quilt.

I do know that having some time to sew does help relax me.

The New Normal

Wow it has been over a month since I last posted!  Life has a way of spinning out of control at times it seems.  Since my last post the AU (Ancient Uncle) has had two stints in the emergency room as well as a huge fall.  The fall was the final straw and the AO (Ancient Ones) were moved into our house.  We are starting to get a routine and almost a new normal.  Still not much sewing time for me though.

I did manage to get my sewing room cleaned up "just enough" after the big move that I could get my Guild friendship block for the month of September finished.

I squeaked under the wire getting the bag lady block finished late the night before guild.

Even though I Amy not be sewing I have been planning and shopping!

I have wanted an Accuquilt studio for a while, and I have weighed the pros and cons.  After discussing with DH I realized I would only really want the strip dies which you could then subcut into squares.  Also many patterns I make start out as strips which are cut down.  I then saw the Stripology Ruler.

Now years ago there was a ruler out which was similar, but it was kind of flimsy and I could see myself knicking that one with the rotary cutter and ruining it quickly.  When I saw this I watched YouTube videos and decided that it may better serve my purpose.  Last month at guild the speaker designs patterns for creative grids and she had the Stripology ruler there with a 15% discount!  I have yet to use it, but I can't wait to try it out.

I also bought some of this cute fabric from Birch Organics called Wild Land.

Now I don't have a lot of time to sew, also I have a roadblock to blogging, my computer died.  I did appropriate the boy's tablet, but I have fought with it for several days trying to write this post and add pictures.  Trying to read blogs on my phone, blog and add pictures is very time consuming, something which I just don't have much of.  Today I was going to help DH with wood, but the pouring rain started, and I was sent into the house to stay warm and dry. The AU needs some cookies, and it is almost supper time for the AO.  I am happy that I can manage to afapt to rhe new normal.