Nearing the End of Yellow

Today & tomorrow. That's all there is to the little month of February. It may be small but it packed a brutal punch in the weather department. The Midwest had so much snow and bitter cold, but we made it! Just around the corner is March and Angela will announce the next color in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. So what did I work on this week? Not a whole lot to talk about.

I played with a new ruler, Mini QCR (Quick Curve Ruler), that I got for Christmas from my BFF. I saw a pretty sunflower block in the book using the same ruler so I thought it might be a good small project to try my new toy on. After all, sunflowers are yellow and February's color is yellow ...

This is what it looked like three days ago.

We progressed to this stage by Thursday evening.

Last night we got to this and obviously it's not quite done. I'll have that last corner stitched down by tonight! This Sunflower table mat measures about 17" square. It's the cutest little thing!

I had a lot of fun playing with the quilting. I went fairly heavy because I wanted it to lay very flat. Not too many bumps. Wouldn't want to spill coffee on it because my cup upset due to an unexpected "puff"!

I found the binding fabric in a bin of scraps that I bought off a relocating quilter. Any idea what it is? Here's a close-up of the texture of this fabric and a better picture of the actual color. Oh! Did I mention how soft it is too? I never would use it in a quilting project but the color was perfect and I'm only using it on the binding, right?

Besides sharing with Angela and my fellow RSC quilters, I'm also sharing this on Joy's Table Scraps Challenge!

I have one more yellow block to sew and I'll be officially done with yellow. March 1st isn't until Monday so I do have ALL weekend to finish my Sunflower binding and get that last block sewn together. Wonder what color March will bring?

Linking up with Angela at SoScrappy for RSC and Joy at TheJoyfulQuilter for Table Scraps Challenge.

Have a fabulous weekend!

RSC #26

Today is Thursday and it's time to join LeeAnna at Not Afraid of Color to get your weekly "happy fix"! Go on, take a peek!

I'd like to start off by saying I like rainbows and that includes fabric ones! These are my Rainbow Scrap Challenge Awesome Land blocks from last year. So pretty!

Last week I had a birthday. Here is one of my greetings. Complete with Veggie Monster shirt and Monsters, Inc slippers!

I like numbers too. My hubby shared something really cool with me. My birthday fell on the 21st day of the 21st year in the 21st century! Because that wasn't amazing enough and because we're a team, I said, "Yes! and when you add up those three 21sts, you get 63 which is how old I am on this 21st day of the 21st year of the 21st century!" Aren't we clever!!??!! Haha!

I love cardinals. I think they're one of the prettiest birds. My daughter sent me this huge concrete cardinal stepping stone for my garden. Unfortunately, although it was clearly marked "Glass FRAGILE", someone dropped it on its side and it took a little beating already. But it sure is pretty! And it sure is heavy!

Even the paper it was wrapped in was pretty!

I also like using new sewing tools. My BFF got me this Quick Curves Ruler and a book with all kinds of projects in it. Honestly though, I got this from her for Christmas and I'm just now testing it out. I'm using it for my own rendition of the Table Scrap Challenge. You'll have to wait to see that this weekend!

A while ago I finished reading "The Law of Innocence" by Michael Connelly. It was enjoyable and current with the times of masking. However I didn't really care for the political touches he threw into the story. I don't care which side he stands on, I just don't want it in my fictional reading. Especially right before bed which is when I mostly read.

I did start a new book. It's called "Blue Moon" by Lee Childs. I've heard of Jack Reacher but don't think I've read any of the books. This turns out to be the latest Jack Reacher book (#24, who knew?). Thankfully it's also a stand-alone book so I'm not missing anything.

Here's part of the write-up from Goodreads.com.

Reacher is on a Greyhound bus, minding his own business, with no particular place to go, and all the time in the world to get there. Then he steps off the bus to help an old man who is obviously just a victim waiting to happen. But you know what they say about good deeds. Now Reacher wants to make it right.

An elderly couple have made a few well-meaning mistakes, and now they owe big money to some very bad people. One brazen move leads to another, and suddenly Reacher finds himself a wanted man in the middle of a brutal turf war between rival Ukrainian and Albanian gangs.

So far, so good. I'm about halfway through and I'll keep you posted.

Until next time, make it a good week! And don't forget to check out other positive posts on Not Afraid of Color!

RSC Yellow and a Finish

Last weekend I had a sewing date with 8 other ladies. We met on Friday & Saturday to sew by day, then go home to sleep at night. I've been enjoying these mini retreats but it may come to an end for me. Marion, our fearless leader, explained that with the vaccinations rolling out in our area, several of the "senior" members have said they'd like to rejoin sewing with the group. There used to be 25-30 of us but we've had to relocate due to COVID and the new place only allows 12 to meet. I joined this circle late and may get bumped off the calling list. WAH!!!!! Oh well, that's how it goes. Who knows? We may be able to increase our group by next month due to the vaccines and I'll get a call.

But that is not what this post is about. I started this because on Friday I got to the sew-in only to discover that I still had my walking foot on my machine and not my sewing foot. So glad I brought handwork in case I ran out of machine work! That night I went home and immediately stuffed my sewing foot in my purse so I'd be good to go. On Saturday I managed three yellow Irish Courthouse Steps. They are so much fun and they easily go together three at a time!

I've started planning my Table Scraps Challenge as well as cutting out pieces. Hopefully I'll get to that this week.

The Australian Open tennis tournament has been very exciting. I've been doing wool applique while watching and last night I finished Reindeer Dance.

You can read the full post on this sweet table mat HERE if you like.

When I couldn't sew last Friday, I cut out these letters and now they're mostly sewn down. This is called Peace Love Joy pillow and I got the kit from the same place as Reindeer Dance -- Primitive Gatherings. It's wool on flannel. Those inner snowflakes were definitely a bear to cut out. Now I need to find the courage to tackle sewing their edges down!

The Aussie Open ladies' final can be seen today and the men's tomorrow. I've got handwork at the ready for full enjoyment! Let's see how far I can get this weekend!

I'm linking up with Angela at So Scrappy. This linky party has been having over 40 weekly participants lately. You should pop over and see all the amazing yellow happenings!

Friday Night Sew-In

Third Friday of February = Friday Night Sew-In! I've been working on a couple of wool applique projects lately and I knew I was VERY close to the finish line with Reindeer Dance. Wouldn't it be great to finish it tonight? That would be another check on my PHD2021 project sheet!

This morning I made a run to Michael's to pick up more embroidery floss. One of the reasons that this project has been delayed was that I needed more floss. I also needed to put the backing on. This project was a kit I'd bought a couple of years ago from Primitive Gatherings. The wools were divine to work with and I loved the homespun that was included for the backing. The other day I secured the backing to the top using Heat N Bond Feather Lite. I'd never heard of it and had a hard time finding it. It was the notion suggested by the creators of the pattern. My mother will confirm that I can be very persistent. That's a good thing -- I found some and got that step completed.

This evening, I did the button hole stitch while hubby watched the start of a hockey game. Then I stitched while watching Magnum P.I. Love that show. It takes place in Hawaii on the island of Oahu. We spent five years there while we were a United States Air Force family. So fun to see familiar sights! Anyway I continued to stitch the outside edge, attaching the backing to the top.

And this project is done. Ta! Da!

I think I'll be gifting this gorgeous table mat next Christmas. Not sure to whom yet. Isn't it lovely?

Thank you, Wendy, for gathering us all up for Friday Night Sew-In. I'm linking up at Sugarlane Designs to share my evening with my global blogging friends. Catch me over there enjoying what the others did Friday night!

I Like Thursday #25

Happy Thursday! One day closer to the weekend and one day closer to a thaw! It's also the one day of the week that I can dedicate all things I'm liking right now.

Let's start with the sun. I like to see the sun. He brightens my world and, even if the thermometer reads in the teens, he can start things melting. We got about 7" of snow on Tuesday followed by maybe an inch on top of that last night. I had already shoveled the 7" Tuesday morning so was not really happy about another inch.

I like my snow shovel! I'm so glad we have a snow shovel to get the snow off the drive. I like to get it done before we have to drive over it. Fred helped me shovel some but he's not supposed to do any heavy-lifting until we get his hernias repaired.

I like that Fred is a good and determined driver. When Mom called Tuesday to say she didn't want to stay at her house in case the electricity went out, he didn't hesitate to say we'd come get her. The snow had come down all night and was still coming down when we went for her, but we did.

I can't say that I liked taking Mom back yesterday. I had to shovel her driveway. I think Mom got a little bit more snow than we did. Ugh! Fred made a run to the grocery store for me and Mom while the shoveling took place. I like that Mom is comfortable, safe & cozy, back in her own bed. I like knowing that she knows she can count on us and actually will call if she needs us.

I liked Valentine's Day. Sweetie gave me yumminess.

I like getting Valentine's Day cards in the mail. My sister-in-law, who lives in Loveland CO, always sends us the most special card from Love-Land with a special poem stamped on the envelope.

I like that my daughter reminded me that the end of Mardi Gras week is not only Fat Tuesday but Pancake Day. I like that she suggested making a Dutch Baby which I did. I topped Mom's & mine with a cherry topping and Fred's got strawberry. All were topped with powdered sugar and given a thumbs up.

Fresh from the oven

Fred's with strawberry topping

Mine & Mom's with cherry topping

If you're interested in making your own Dutch Baby, here's the recipe I followed. Easy peasy! The DB cooks for 20 minutes giving you time to cook some bacon or sausage to go with it!

Dutch Baby recipe by Simply Recipes

I like knowing the temperature outside with our digital thermometer. I didn't really like the reading the other day.

I like the snow plows coming through and clearing the roads, including the cul-de-sac we live on.

I like my heated bird bath, probably not as much as this little bird. Do you think the rock is warm under his toes from the heater?

I like being able to get out with the dog again. We missed 2 mornings. The cold doesn't stop us but ice will. If you remember, I fell HARD a couple of years ago and it took almost a year to fully recover. I won't go if there's a chance of slipperiness. On those days, I take Gracie all through our back yard and she got to run loose while I shoveled.

I like getting to the bike trail again. There's no shoveling/plowing done on it so it is a HARD walk. I let Gracie run off-leash the 1/2 mile there and back and while we're on the trail. This morning we walked where no one but deer have been.

They went thatta way!

For a rather strange week with not a lot of sewing done, I still managed to have a great week! Did I mention I like Tylenol? After shoveling our driveway and then two days later shoveling Mom's, I really like Tylenol! Lol!

Have a great week! I'm linking up with Not Afraid of Color and will be dropping by to see loads of fun stuff. You should too!

I Like Thursday #24

Thursday is such a great day. It's almost the weekend and it is overflowing with likeable things. Discover what I mean on LeeAnna's blog Not Afraid of Color where others share their LIKES!

I'm still liking to watch the birds at my bird feeders. We've had such cold weather lately. Some days we don't even break 20 degrees! As for snow, we've had maybe 3" total in the last couple of days. The weather predictors say we're going to be in this for a while longer. The birds (and squirrels) have really appreciated the full feeders and suet cakes. This fellow visits daily either on the suet or the peanuts further out in the yard.

I'll be running a few errands today. It's good to keep my driveway-kept vehicle driven every few days with this cold weather. I'll be getting my hair trimmed (I like that), getting more bird seed, and dropping in on my mother. Her Internet is out and I believe I can fix that with a quick modem reset. I'll drop off some of our dinner from last night with her while I'm there -- Corned beef with boiled carrots & potatoes. She's got a lot of Irish in her so she really appreciates a dinner like that!

Speaking of cold, not everyone  dislikes the cold.

This girl LOVES it! She runs all over with that tail just a-wagging! She just returned from the spa and posed for this picture before shutting her eyes for a nap. Isn't that bandana the sweetest with the hearts and roses?

Something I learned to like this week: stitching embroidery designs through Press N Seal! One can't use a light box with wool (too thick) but one sometimes needs to mark a design, say of antlers on 8 reindeer.

Markings on Press N Seal. It stays in place on the wool beautifully!

After stitching, you trim with scissors close to the stitching, followed by pulling the Press N Seal sideways out from under the stitching. I found it worked best by trimming VERY close to the inside curves and pulling off on the outside curves. This technique is shared by Lisa Bonjean of Primitive Gatherings. She's a brilliant designer and shop owner. Anyway, I'm all done with the antlers and am debating on the French knot eyes or not. Then I'll be on to the backing! I actually like finishing projects. Who knew?!?! Haha!

Speaking of finishing, I shared my Tiny Tuesday quilt with my UFO Challenge Club at my local quilt shop.

Cindy, our fearless leader, picked from the hat our next project number -- #4. Yay! That would be my Shark Bite quilt. This was such a fun Leader & Ender quilt and I just fell in love with that turquoise fabric that makes up the shark teeth. The fabric was a Jinny Beyer piece from her Safari line. It actually has giraffes printed on it!

I'm very excited to finish that one up. Now if only we could warm up a bit so I could get it basted and ready to go. I do that job in the basement and it is very cold down there -- 55 degrees by my thermometer. Definitely will have to set up a space heater. I like those too!

I have been enjoying the Australian Open Tennis which started this week. While watching the other day I chuckled as I was rooting on Stephano Tsitsipas, a Greek tennis player. He's very good and he obviously follows the Rainbow Scrap Challenge as February's color of the month is yellow!

I also like a kitty curled up between my feet. So warm!

Yesterday I baked cookies. I've got a 2-day sewing retreat coming up Friday & Saturday so I'll be bringing some of these there to share.

Peanut Butter Blossoms are one of my husband's favorite cookies. Early Valentines for him! And since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, I've been lighting this up in our front window.

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone! And don't forget to visit the other bloggers sharing their LIKES this week!

Friday Night with Friends in February

Cheryll has gathered us up to stitch together again this first Friday of February. There were 21 of us this time! You can see what this group busied themselves with at Gone Stitchin'. As for me, I wanted to make some progress on Reindeer Dance. It's such a cute table mat but I'm finding it a bit tedious. Here's where I started.

While I thought that I needed to finish sewing down the reindeer legs, it turns out they were finished earlier and I had moved on to the tree trunks. If you notice, I've got a few of the middle tree trunks done but oh! So many more to go.

I worked on it this evening and managed to finish off a total of 20 trunks with only 4 to go. Then I'll have to read and figure out how to embroider the antlers on. Something about using Press 'n' Seal.

I wish I'd finish the trunks tonight but I already fell asleep once here on the couch. I keep waking up at 3am and not able to fall back asleep. It'll be a good thing these upcoming couple of weeks. The Australian Open begins Sunday and I'll be happy to be up in the middle of night here to watch it live there! Until then, I need some shut-eye.

Don't forget to see the fun at Gone Stitchin'! Good night!

I Like Thursday #23

First Thursday of February. Let's do it!

No secret - I like snow. So far this year, this was our biggest snowfall, about 2". Whoopee! I'd like a little more, please. This picture was on the bike trail. That's Gracie up ahead of me.

I tried to get a picture of Gracie's iced up snoot and chin!

This little junco was eating the dropped bits of suet from the feeders above on my deck. I love these little fellas in their tuxedos!

My daughter sent this wine to me (one bottle of 6, if I remember correctly! Sarah loves me!)  during the summer while my hubby was going through the kidney ordeal. I broke into the bottle this past weekend with the snow and while Mom was here to help me enjoy it. I heated it up and we thought it was yummy and I'm sure we'll finish it off this weekend when the weather is promising to turn FRIGID!

It snowed in Maryland this week and I got this picture of Brody & his snowman. I think he did a spectacular job! I think he thinks so too. Just look at that happy face with the rosy cheeks!

I like unexpected surprises too. My BFF Vickie sent a surprise package to me this week. She enjoys working the tar out of her embroidery machine and she made TONS of Valentine hearts. She kept some for herself, she sent some to her daughter, she sent some to her mother, and she sent some to me!!! Mostly they've been hung in the window with suction cups but I decided to hang them here in my kitchen where I KNOW I'll see them every day and know that she was spreading love. Thank you, Vic! I love them!!

As for my reading this week, I finished "Anxious People" by Fredrik Backman. Did I already tell you this? I can't remember but in case I didn't, I'll let you know that it wasn't my favorite by this author. I'd strongly recommend one of his others. Did I like this one? It was OK, not a waste of time. There were redeeming parts which left me laughing out loud and parts that made me stop and think. True to his stories.

I have started "The Law of Innocence" by Michael Connelly. It's another Mickey Haller (aka Lincoln Lawyer) novel and it looks to be good.

Per Goodreads.com, this book is summarized as follows:

Defense attorney Mickey Haller is pulled over by police, who find the body of a client in the trunk of his Lincoln. Haller is charged with murder and can't make the exorbitant $5 million bail slapped on him by a vindictive judge.

Mickey elects to defend himself and must strategize and build his defense from his jail cell in the Twin Towers Correctional Center in downtown Los Angeles, all the while looking over his shoulder--as an officer of the court he is an instant target.

Mickey knows he's been framed. Now, with the help of his trusted team, he has to figure out who has plotted to destroy his life and why. Then he has to go before a judge and jury and prove his innocence.

In his highest stakes case yet, Mickey Haller fights for his life and shows why he is "a worthy colleague of Atticus Finch...in the front of the pack in the legal thriller game" (Los Angeles Times). 

I haven't really gotten into it but so far, so good.

I did finish my first audio book ever. It was "The Chain" and it had a weird & scary concept. I enjoyed listening to it while quilting Tiny Tuesday followed by sewing 48 of these.

I liked the idea of "The Chain", scary & powerful. I thought the ending was a bit over-the-top and I really didn't think the language at times was necessary. Go ahead, call me old-fashioned. Maybe just shows that it was written by a man of a younger generation. I liked this book enough to want to read more by this same author though. Stay tuned!

That's pretty much been my week. I'm linking up with LeeAnna of Not Afraid of Color . There are others that are doing the same and you should check them out too. So much to like around there!