Look what I found on my walk, this morning!!

I used to love walking along the River Road

and picking wildflowers.

I especially loved the Queen Ann's Lace.

I would bring home the flowers and make

lovely arrangements.

Now I have a personal shadow who does

all my planting and I just have to pick.

 This bouquet was picked Tuesday for our

Cave Girls sewing day in the PeacedGoods studio.  

I brought it out of the studio to freshen it up (the Poppies had all lost

their petals) and I noticed that the

spider wart had bloomed in the vase (aka jar).

I think it looks nice next to my pin keep (designed by Sue Spargo).

I love all the fuzzy stuff in this arrangement.

speaking of fuzzy stuff,

This little Daisy loves to follow me around when

I get out the camera (or go to the kitchen

or the bathroom).  You are never alone when you have a dog.

But, look what I found on my walk!!!!!!!!!!!!

I only picked a few that were hanging into the street and

almost dragging the ground.

Really, more of a rescue than a theft.

This is a real vase my sister (the other Jack) gave me

years ago.

Well, as I said, the Cave Girls got together to sew, Tuesday. 

Below is a pic of Debbie's latest (almost finished) table runner.

I just love her idea to put sparkly gold rick rack down the

middle.

I am so lucky to have such talented and photogenic friends.

This is what I worked on.  It is a table runner,too.

Another photo of our flowers.  

 Just look at all the little maple

trees growing in the bed.  I have never pulled so

many of these "volunteers" out of our beds as I have this year.

If left to grow, we would be living in a forest this time next year.

You never know what you really look like till you have

seen your reflection in a gazing ball. 

Now, I know have red geraniums  growing out of my feet.

Anyway, when I go for my walk tomorrow,

I am going to take some scissors.  It is gentler than breaking off

the stems of whatever I find to rescue.  

But, maybe I'll ride my bike, instead.  I have a lovely

Nantucket basket on the handle bars that would be

perfect for picked (pilfered)

blooms. 

 Plus, I can make a faster getaway.

FQ London Sewing Retreat 2012 Linky Party

I am a linky party  virgin, but it sounded like fun so I'm gonna give it a shot. 

It doesn't start till Friday, so by that time, I might have an idea what it is. 

Wonder if I need to get a plane ticket? 

Will I need a passport and a name tag? 

Stay tuned and when I find out where the party is, I will let you know and

we can all go together.

Meanwhile I will leave you with a pic

of a top I just finished.

 

The fox in the window block is from a

verykerryberry block pattern.
I can't get enough of it!!!!!

The Jack and Jenny block

(they really named a fabric for me and Jack)

and Babe on the new baby.

the cute post card is from the
etsy planetmonkey shop.

See you in London!

I never promised you a rose garden

I married Jack because of his

ability to wield a shovel (and a watering can) and I wanted a border

of perennials.  He was also pretty funny with the

(garden) hose.

Of course, the trees in our neighbor's yard soon

shaded the border and we've had to

move stuff around, and every year is different.

I snapped a few pics (73) but had a problem with the

sun either in my eyes or sending my shadow through the middle.

For those of you who don't know me,

I'm really much taller and thinner.

Mushrooms make pretty cool shadows, too.

I love the white dots of clover in

the grass.

A mound of really good smelling honey suckle.

A lone poppy.

All of our bird houses are occupied.

this guy does not trust me.

Daisy waiting for a chipmunk.

A little pot of something.

We usually kill our clematis, but this

seems pretty tough.

Blue and white spider wart.  Only blooms in the morning

so I get such a treat with my coffee.

What's this?

My new rose garden planted by....

the other shadow.

Spamhaus has blocked my IP!!!!!!!!!!!!

this is not good

I tried to respond to an email from

my sis and it was returned.

Come to find that Comcast has blocked

Suddenlink.  So now this is my only means of communication.

I had some blocks left from the doggy quilt so
I decided to put them together and make a quilt for
my doggy.

I decided to pin-baste it to save the planet from

whatever might be in the spray-baste.

Here are some shots in progress.

About half quilted.
Below is a project I just started on that I had to move out of
the way. 
Pretty Cool???

 And now, I am still working on getting a new printer.

But,

as you can see,
I was able to print a pattern on pattern paper that
I cut to size.
Just goes to show that when you spend $40
on a printer, you get the equivalent of the
energizer bunny, it just keeps
printing and printing and printing....

but, as long as I can print

a pattern,  I will be happy.

I have so many things I want to make and
finish before I start my new bed quilt, and with four machines, I can work on
four projects at a time, if I had six more hands, there is no telling what I
could accomplish.

 This evening I will be "at the auction". 

The auction is for what could be machine #5 and ends at 8:20 our time.  

 If I get it, how many

more hands will I need?

I have a calculator, here, somewhere.

But enough of this.

Today is Mother's day and I got the sweetest card

(and look, two more hands).

I can use my printer to

make a pattern out of this

and turn it into a quilt block

and just

keep sewing and sewing and sewing.......

by popular demand

I talked with my sister , today, and she wanted me

to update my blog because she finds it amusing.  I told her

it is not amusing till something amusing is going on

but to humor her, here goes....

A priest, and rabbi and a monkey were sitting at a bar-

no wait-

a priest a rabbit and a monkey-

no

ummm?

enough humor.

My week started out with a headache from falling asleep on the sofa. 

I'm a firm believer in sleeping when you can

and paying for it later.

Anyway, after some Advil (gulp), coffee, and a coke,

I was ready for a Monday morning of making stuff.

A week or so ago I received this lovely mug rug in

the mail.

The artist had posted a pic of it

on Flicker and I expressed a desire to have it

and now it is mine!  It has the most amazing label on the back.

As you can see, it has a place of honor next to the Featherweight.

So, to reciprocate, I decided to make the giver a little something.

Sew, sew, sew. Cut, cut, cut.

And, I (copy cat) decided to try printing a label to put on the back. 

I am one of those people who thinks you can do anything you want with

fabric and anything else you want with a computer.

I designed my label, ironed the fabric to freezer paper, then let the fun begin. 

(viewer discretion is advised)

This does not look good.

Nor does this.

It is at about this time, I am wondering

what kind of cool printer I will get

to replace this one.

A wireless one, for sure.

Well, I got it out.  then plugged the printer in and tested it.  I put the paper in,

and it just rolled out the back.  I tried a few more times before I

noticed this on the table.

So I popped it back in, and everything is good as

new.

I did end up with an acceptable label, but I decided to iron it and sprayed on

a little starch and it bled.  (I know this is gory, but wait till you see

what else I have to show you)

The little house quilt with a fox looking out

the window is ready to go (once I fix the sidewalk).

OK

Ready for some more gore???

Here are the innards of the featherweight.

First, at a distance,

Now, a little closer,

now, up close

I know, enough, already.

Now, this is interesting.  I took some stuff (technical terminology) apart so I

could soak the parts and make them shine.

Only one problem, I put two parts in and got three parts out.

Fortunately, I knew what the third part was, and was

able to get it all back together. 

There are about 48 places on this machine to

oil.  There is no place to oil the new machines.  

And no parts to soak in a bowl.  

Here is the quilt top I pieced using her.  It's doggy fabric and will 

look better once it is quilted.    

this is a doggy

 the other doggy

and both doggies.

Life is good