no rain yet-- some gardening, some sewing

I was looking forward to some rainy day studio time today but the weather changed a bit. It is cloudy, windy and just a bit damp, perfect for doing some gardening. After our leisurely breakfast over the paper, we went outside and tackled the garden that runs against the back fence. It would probably have taken me weeks but with Gord's help, we finished weeding and mulching. I get to look at it from my deck, kitchen window and studio window.
I found this moss(lichen?) on a piece of wood behind the garden. I need to look for a good reference book; I love to know the names of everything! This one looks like little bowls.

 I love the little bits of bright red.

 After lunch, (and two tylenol for arthritis) I finally got to some sewing. I got the first two horizontal rows sewn together on my quilt, which went pretty well, and I gave myself permission to do something fun. There are 7 rows, 6 seams, now 5. Yeah!
 This is a runner that I want for my own coffee table. I plan to free motion stitch down the leaves and outline the vines. I don't want to use interfacing because it is too stiff but I will need something. Perhaps I shall have to go looking for a softer interfacing and enough fabric to back it. I don't think I want batting in it, but I need some kind of support for the free motion work. The background fabric is linen. I hope I can find something in town.

a sunny day means outdoors

This is not the time of year that one can stay inside to sew when the sun shines. I miss my sewing time, but I also like to be outside in my garden. I was out doing errands a good part of the day; however, I did devote an hour or so to my garden later in the afternoon. With all the rain it is in dire need of weeding and mulching. I put in a few more seeds, did a little weeding and spread one wheel barrel of mulch. That is enough to make me pretty sore. This is my little apple tree garden with a Tiki mask that I also picked up at my friend's yard sale. I love it! It is perfect there and I can gaze at it from my swing on the deck as I watch the birds.

Before going out this morning, I made this rhubarb loaf with lemon glaze. It is delicious! Some of it is going to be delivered to my friends who are helping out with the yard sale tomorrow.

I dropped off all my sale items to the craft shop today. It looks lovely there this year--a few new vendors. I will get pictures when I go back next week and my things are displayed.
Tomorrow after making my food delivery, I'm going golfing with my husband. I believe Sunday may be not so nice, so I may get into my studio.

some beachy linens

Today, I went for my lap swim and then after lunch I spent a few hours helping out a friend who is getting ready for a yard sale. She is moving from a rather large house to an apartment.A couple of my friends, Anne and Fern spent the whole day and boy did they work cleaning out the garage. I spent my time in a bedroom going through linens and pricing boxes of assorted things.

 I brought home this set of linen place mats and napkins. I don't use this type of thing, but they were so pretty, I thought they could be made into something-- a table cloth, a runner, cushions, who knows. Aren't they pretty?
Tomorrow, I'm hoping to get my things organized to  take to our craft shop down town.
Oh, and by the way, I figured out my matching points problem on the blocks from yesterday's post. When the seams are ironed flat, they go together perfectly. Unfortunately, I'm on the last row. Now I have to join all the rows together, but I can't open the seams. I will have to iron really well and struggle with it.

block piecing frustration!

I really miss my art quilting! I pledged this week that I would finish putting together a quilt that I'm doing as a gift, so I could get it ready to send out for professional long arm quilting. It's a bit of a problem for my blogging because I don't want the recipient to see it and I'm spending all my time on it!
Well, I'm having such trouble putting it together, I've decided to show one block and vent! While I'm no expert quilter, I have made many quilts, but this one is defeating me. You can see that it's a shoo fly block in which I've changed the colors.  I don't really know what it is called-- may have heard it called Lifesaver.

 I have ironed the seams as opposing seams, but I'm having a terrible time to get the points of the half square triangles to match nicely. I've trimmed it,  ironed it, pinned it, carefully and still end up ripping out several times. I have one more horizontal row to put together and then I must put the rows together which could be even worse. I'm going nuts!Any suggestions?
I'm linking to the Needle and Thread Network.

time to smell the flowers

Sometimes the most miserable of nights can turn into the best of days.  I had a pounding high blood pressure headache again last night that I suffered with until I finally took a half of my blood pressure medication. After consulting with the pharmacist this morning, I'm going to adjust my medication so it should be better at night.
Since I didn't officially retire, but rather I left due to illness, I have this feeling that I need to account for every minute of my day. After a night like last night I gave myself permission to relax today and it has been quite a lovely day once I got myself awake. I met 2 friends for tea, did one quick errand and came home.
I already decided  that this week I would devote to finishing up some things because I'm taking my art to Chal Baie, our local craft shop on Friday. The first thing I did was to finish the little tiny bit (it took about 10 minutes but was sitting for months) of machine quilting in this baby quilt. Finally, done!

 Then I added elastic to a pair of pants that were too loose.
After lunch I tried a new recipe for rhubarb chutney which I will have for supper with lentil loaf.
I got my sheets in off the line; I will have a fresh bed to-night.
I've been walking around the yard taking photos of the latest blooms. The apple tree was in full bloom last week.
 
Today the lilac is at it's best.

They are just outside my studio window. If I could smell, I'm sure it would be wonderful!
The next thing on my agenda for the week will be to finish putting together a  quilt which I am doing as a gift, so I cannot picture it. Sorry, it won't be a very artful week for blogging!
I'm off to make a cup of tea.

in the garden

We've been having the most beautiful warm and sunny weather that I have no choice but to be outside. I potted up a few plants including these two gazania's for my back deck. It is a southern exposure with no shade and these love the hot sunny locals. I love the bright pink and orange combo, I seem to be using it everywhere I can.

 I did a little bit of weeding and mulching at my front walk. One thing i do is limit any one task so that I won't be up all night in pain.

 Yesterday, after I had taken the bird photos, these butterflies moved into the apple tree. I'd like to get a butterfly reference book so I can find out what they are.

I'm looking forward to some rainy weather so I can sew again! I'll get to sew all day on Saturday at our last guild UFO day..

the hummers are back!

I know the hummingbirds are back because the syrup in the feeder has been going down, my husband has seen them and I've heard one buzzing by my ear. Today, was the first time I've seen one though, and I can see I'm going to have fun with my new camera this summer. I took this photo from about 12 feet away; just wait until they get used to us and come closer! Those are water droplets on the line.

 While it is not a fantastic photo, it still amazes me that I could catch it in flight.

I also just discovered after all these years that the goldfinches like to eat the apple blossoms. I've seen the cedar waxwings do it; they visit us for the apple blossom time and disappear after that.

After lunch with Gord, I finally came into my sewing room and got back to some fun on my runner. I've almost finished the quilting.

 It's been a good exercise for me to do something that stretches me some. I'm not quite comfortable yet. I've been doing free motion for some time, but I've always stayed within comfortable meandering designs. Also, I'm very relaxed about doing thread painting on my gel prints.
I added the lighter green to each end of the runner. To quilt it, I sort of freely followed the design from the stencil, meaning that I didn't trace it, so now I have to copy it somewhat for the other end.

I used a meander with a 3 petal flower for the border and I even tried my hand at couching one of the lovely trims that Leslie sent me.

Today it is our 32nd wedding anniversary. I can hardly believe it! It feels like we've been married both forever and for no time at all. Isn't that the funny paradox of time? We're going out for a quiet dinner and maybe a walk downtown since the sun has come out. Our gift to ourselves this year are some golf clubs which we have on order.
I wrote on the weekend about my daughter's half marathon on the Great Wall of China. If you'd like to read about it from her perspective, check out the blog on my sidebar called My Adventures in Korea.