On the Brink of June

Well, May certainly dissolved into "Huh?" Being gone for a couple of weeks certainly made it challenging to get much sewing accomplished. All the prep work of going away plus helping Mom get ready along with her weekly appointments ate up the majority of this month. I did manage a bit of sewing at the beginning of the month which I'll share. Also, there was a bit of hetel and car-riding time to manage some handwork.

In Janauary I took a class with Tina Craig through The Applique Society. She is known for her Wonder Window technique for English Paper Piecing. It was a great class so I decided to go ahead and make the bigger project. Instead of a mug rug/candle mat with one block, I went with the table runner making three blocks. Also, RSC friends, please notice all the green!

Tina Craig Workshop
Wonder Window EPP Table Runner

Close-up of One Block & Backing
Love the Green Grunge Binding!

My First Block
Kitties All Around

2nd Block with Doggy in the Middle
Leafy Triangles are Fussy-Cut Too!

3rd Block - Kitty in the Middle
Dogs All Around
(Ran Out of Dogs to Fussy-Cut. Rats!)

On to some handwork now. Recently I started cross-stitching Georgian Floral Basket. I've made some progress but this one is tedious. The pattern by JBW is postcard-sized and tiny. There's also a lot of counting involved with this one. I'm looking forward to finishing this one up because it so pretty though.

Progress Earlier

Progress To Date

While waiting during Mom's PT, hair, and podiatrist appointments this month, I've stayed steady embroidering Miss Jane's Best (pattern by Lori Smith).

Last of the Flowers Coming Along

My mornings start quite a bit earlier than Fred's & Mom's. When we're on the road, you can find me in the hotel lobby, drinking coffee and sewing. I had started this one a while ago and recently pulled it out and started making some headway.

Keeping Organized with My 4-Pocket Case

Green Hexie Block

Whoa! Another Green Hexi!

More Hexies Completed

I'm not real sure where I'm going with this one. Just enjoying the ride. The hexies are large, I'm using 1.25" hexies. If you look back at the picture with the organizer, you will see the turquoise hexies that I've prepped for connecting these all together. I'd like another green or yellow block to round out this set before I decide what's next.

When we got home, I started cutting for this month's clue to the Mystery QAL I'm participating in at my LQS. No pictures, just cutting. No sewing, just cutting. Ugh!

That's it for me this month. I see Angela has decided that orange will be the color for June. I'm ready for some sewing to happen around here next month. I'm thinking of a Halloween kit that I bought a couple of years ago that I've been wanting to start. I'm such a good starter -- need to work on being a finisher! Lol!

Linking up with Angela at SoScrappy.

Sunshine Finally!

We here in the Midwest have certainly seen our share of rain but this weekend -- Mother's Day weekend -- we have nothing but sunshine! What a joyful surprise! Have you noticed how a sunny day brings out the best in everyone??? Lots of smiles everywhere.

Not a lot of machine time for me this week. Truth be told, no machine time. So let me show you what handwork projects I worked on instead.

My take-along project when Mom has appointments has been this Lori Smith pattern that I've worked on for quite some time. I bought the kit several years ago from Lori's booth at the Paducah AQS Quilt Show. Here's the pattern and my progress.

Miss Jane's Best
Finished Size 14" x 17.5"
Block Size 3.5"

Working on the Last Block Here

Need to Embroider the Leaves
on the Bottom Left Block.
Forgot to Trace It Originally

While I watch TV with the family, I started another cross stitch project. It's a beautiful pattern but the pattern itself is not recommendable. It's itsy-bitsy and the symbols are similar and difficult to tell apart. At first I thought it might just be me. However, there are several of us doing this one and there are other similar complaints. Anyway, here's the pattern and also my progress.

Georgian Floral Basket
Beautiful, Isn't It?

My Progress So Far

While I watch TV on my own -- think Survivor which everyone else in this house BOOs! -- I started a hexie project. Nothing to really show so far but here's how I'm storing it. I think it'll accompany me on our next road trip.

This week we celebrated Cinco de Mayo. Mexican food is not a favorite of Fred's so I have to be careful. I made these Taco Stuffed Shells. I only used 1/2 the taco seasoning pkg and definitely no bell peppers. Instead of having salsa lining the bottom, I used 16oz tomato sauce. Then Mom & I smothered our shells with salsa for the "zip" that Fred doesn't like. Lol!

Cinco Yummy!

That's my world this week. I hope you have a sunshiny weekend too!

Sharing with my Rainbow Scrap Challenge friends even if I'm not actively participating right yet. Lol!

It's Been a While

I've been absent lately and I'm sorry about that. I feel like there's a lot to catch up on but at the same time nothing much has happened worthy to blog about. Has that ever been the case for you? Probably, I'm sure.

Last month we were gone for a week to Texas to visit my sister and brother-in-law. No pictures were taken as it was such a short trip and we wanted to enjoy the moments with family. Mom sure loves to see her "baby"! Lol We were also taking down a load of stuff that my sister wanted of Mom's. We're trying to shed some of her belongings without acting like her things don't matter. There's just so much that I can keep and, truly! We need to get her house off my shoulders. Unfortunately there's one more load to to take to Texas and maybe a couple more loads to bring up to me. Next step -- getting an estate sale set-up and then sell the house. So much to think about.

We leave later this month to take Mom to her 70th college reunion in Pennsylvania. Can you believe that -- 70 years???? From there we'll visit family in NewYork and then on to see the kids & grandkids in Maryland/Virginia. Let's see if I can remember to snap a picture!

I did have a little project that I started and finished the end of last month. Earlier I'd bought two flannel pieces that were 1.25 yards each. I washed them both, trimmed to make them the same size, rounded the corners and set about to make a baby blanket. Then I sewed both pieces right sides together, leaving an opening to turn right side out. Then I stitched all around 1/8" to secure the opening and then around again 1/4" in. I scrounged around in my yarn stash -- yes, I have fabric AND yarn stashes! -- and found something suitable. I button-holed all around the edges and then just crocheted an easy shell pattern. What do you think of this simple, soft baby project?

Super Soft Flannel Baby Blanket

Close-up of the Flannel and Crocheted Edging

Sneak Peek of the Back

This was also the first Friday of the month meaning time to join in with Friday Night with Friends. I had started a cross stitch project that I really wanted to finish up. The pattern is Rose Garden Mini Sampler offered by Melisa of PinkernPunkin'. I changed some of the colors and I think it's really pretty. Hope to finish it soon.

Where I was Friday Night

Finished this Weekend

This weekend was the 151st Kentucky Derby. Did you watch? It was a great race. I learned on Sunday morning that every horse that ran in the race was a descendant of Secretariat, one of the best race horses ever. I found that fact fascinating!

Mom & I Enjoying Our Hats & Mint Juleps on Derby Day

Close-Up of My Mint Julep & Hat

Hummingbirds have arrived and Mom's azalea and rhododendren bushes are in full bloom. In spite of all the rain we've been getting, I guess Spring has officially sprung!

I took a class last month through my guild. I love the Quick Curve Ruler by Sew Wonderful Curves. It's the ruler that I made all those pineapples! Anyway, we worked on Posh Penelope. So fun!

My Station for Class

Posh Penelope Project with Our Teacher, Norma

My Block

We've also been involved in a complete, total master bath renovation. I'll share pictures of that 3-week project another time. I think this has been more than enough.

I hope you had a good April. Time to pull our Green for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month.

Please don't get too worked up over what the media reports. Have a little confidence in our government leadership and faith in the Almighty. Stitch on!