There are no more colors of the month at RSC for the year, just "dark" and I have 8 colored blocks...
so I chose my own color, my neutral, "LIME GREEN"
the back after basting and hand sewing unit
I would rather have 12 colors, instead of 4 months to put the quilt together. Actually finishing a quilt isn't always my plan, I like to just look at color each month, use it, learn from it. So I plan to use these as my next 3 months focus colors
fuchsia
Gold
Gray
and went through my scraps to find great choices to enjoy. It feels great to know where I"m headed so I can relax and just do EPP when I'm ready
I used these to help me settle on colors
close up of some of the lime patterns
loved the tiny gate scrap, barely big enough but was
Daisies, dragon flies, and the cutest gradient color lime circle fabric!
The colors so far. Now how to set them... on a white or cream background? this orientation or turned to have hexies touching on side?
8 X 11" the embroidery stitching is done . I loved leaving some of the top right corner fabric unstitched as the fabric is so cool on it's own. I danced from image to image, trying out stitches with different threads. No plans. Just moving along. Now I want to sew it to a backing (no batting) on three sides, then insert a stiff board and close the last side.
then add in the beads for sparkle and the fun of doing it
I love the variegated perle cotton thread making French knots
DH who is a more concrete thinker asked what they were supposed to be. I didn't answer because they are just pattern and color. He said, pollen? bugs? I pointed to splatter on my paintings and said, that effect. Random color dots.
a variation of fly stitch with a flower on top. The stars were for fun, maybe little flying things
Isn't the background fabric cool? Maybe it's a hand dye... there was a small piece left
the purple blends in but I see it... lavender just sprung up next to the flower
So I hope to do my feather star blocks sing in the colors I chose to do in the next few months. They'll be easier to join, just next to each other I think. Traditional but not.
just for fun, I saw a quick tute video on simple drawing of a giraffe and did this on my calendar, where I try little things. He looked better before inking in but I love the quizzical look on his face
I love this little paint tute any one can do easily (by the same teacher)
we noticed someone in the neighborhood had a thriving peach tree! Just out of reach! The owner was doing yardwork, so we remarked on the lush harvest this year (none last year as a late flash freeze took out all the blooms) He said help ourselves. I told him we couldn't reach them, and he shrugged....
I didn't want to actually stand begging and ask him to hand us a few.... but we noticed them dying on the tree yesterday. I'm not in shape to jump a fence, reach up high, then jump a fence again...
Aren't they pretty? I want a peach tree in our yard. Our yard who's soil can't support grass.
a couple houses down had this pretty vignette
I love evergreen trees.
It's been in the 90's F still here. Waiting for Fall temps.
I ordered some mums which if they arrive alive will make me think it's Fall. 3 1 quart orange, 1 3 quart in red for the back porch.
my painting last week.
I like that another sparrow has taken refuge at night on our front porch wall of stones too. The real sign of Fall is the birds fly south so as long as he's here.... hot weather continues.
Quigong Tai Chi classes online
her style is similar to the one I used to do along the banks of the Hillsborough river, on the grounds of Tampa U. Saturday morning, free, the nicest group of people. We became friends.
I was coping with feelings from a recent break-up with my fiance, and this was like tonic. I made several male friends, which filled in the gaps... One was a dog walker, red hair, large.... as it turned out years later he walked me down the aisle when I married my now husband. He stayed at my house to watch my labradaughter Chelsea during my honeymoon, which allowed me to not worry for her.
One was a lovely Jazz lover, with a dog. He and I often did precision dog walking together for years. The dogs tangling them selves as we untangled leashes in between laughter. I was smitten with him in the beginning, we tried going out to hear music together but he was worried we'd be shot since he was black and I was white. The three of us these two men and I would often have breakfast together after Tai Chi. Others came along too. It was a safe place and our growing friendship bond forged a safe haven for us all.
Jazz lover read a poem at my wedding to dh 30 years ago.
Now and then a Quigong Si-fu (expert) came. I remember him telling me in broken English, to let the evils thrown at me by work flow past, how to dodge it, move away sway away and let it go past. To this day I remember him with appreciation and kindness and love.
They are all firmly in my past now, but love never dies does it?
reading the next in Fortune series by Jana DeLeon once I get hooked on a series, it's heaven to have lots of books to read. Same with TV, discovering a series that has 20 seasons is a happy dance!
good eating
it is like firm custard, and so delish! We make home made whipped cream to go on it. The bit missing there, was from my spoon to see if it was cooked and how it tasted. (Last two pieces to photo)
wanted some more custard/pudding and this fit the bill. Just like pumpkin pie where the crust fell off!
5 ingredients, I would add in some graham cracker crust crumbles on top next time for texture. DH and I disagreed about the sweetness. I liked it, he wanted more sweetness.
seems like breakfast food to me
Milo's Moment
Mama: Milo baby, why is it you refuse to keep walking when it's hot, but will come out back and lie in the full sun?
MILO: well Mama, not all dog logic is easy for hoomans to understand. Walking in heat is just exhausting and there are no waterbowls for me on a short walk. If we go outback, I'm just a short step into the house for water, plus I like the sun for short times. PLUS I can keep two poodle eyes on those pesky neighbors all around us who don't have the dog sense to stay in their houses.
Mama: well, I might not understand like you said, but I love you and hope you don't spontaneously combust out here.
now please visit these people to read what they liked this week
I am grateful that I found strength enough to paint and sew a bit this week! An improvement if not total recovery!
I signed up for a free online workshop called Art Soul Gathering. There were several teachers, but I wasn't inspired by more than two. I'll show you what I learned...
the quote is not attached yet, just trying out locations
the little bird was taught by Tam LaPorte. Mine isn't like hers exactly but it's like my way. It's so colorful with a cute gesture.
after it was done and dry, I added in a quote found online, printed it in italics, dragged a tombow marker along the torn edges and this is where I think I'll attach it
I like birds, in fact we have another sparrow sleeping on our front porch. It's a young fledgling and getting bigger every night. I'm happy he chooses to sleep here, safe on our front porch rocks.
The hand sewing is small, 8 X 11" and it's purpose is to provide a place for me to do meditative stitching. I ordered 8 spools of variegated threads on sale from Liz Kettle at textile evolution.
I have lots of other pretty threads too. I like variety. It is in progress... I've stitched the petals, stem, two leaves and grasses. I'm trying to decide how to continue.
I thought I'd do just running stitch but....
needs a filling stitch to go with the shading at the bottom
the leaf is done with dmc variegated, 2 ply in a loose back stitch
before starting I pressed on shirt tailor stabilizer to the back so I wouldn't need a hoop
the back at the moment
I also painted this meditating woman from the workshop
I would leave out the cardamom next time (I only used half anyway) I subbed in almond milk for half the milk. I added in more sugar as it's for dessert. Let it soak the way she says, you won't need more starch or eggs as it's so so SO good, warm or cold and set.
no pics, it went fast, so next time I'll double the recipe.
General
Reading and tv same as last week Weather still quite hot but I saw a brown leaf this week... means it's cooler at night, not in our house (outside temps never come in open doors or windows sadly.
I am slowly regaining some strength if not endurance. Sewing a little. Talking to Joy on zooms.
DH successfully renewed his passport this week, I painted my nails again a cheerful coral, we survived all the loud neighbors parking right next to our house over the holidays.
together we got the wood floors cleaned. Admittedly my part was mostly supervising and instruction. The rugs are washed too, it all looks so good. Like when you finally clean the microwave.
video Love.... love shared. I considered adoption when I realized I wouldn't be able to make a baby
The measure of strength of a leader is not who you beat down
The true measure of the strength of a leader is based on who you lift up. K.H.
Prompt: What calming exercises have you successfully used in the past to
maintain a level mood?
I take slow deep breaths, hold, then release, repeat. When really stressed I like to talk to friends about the problem (stopping the fear merrygoround in my mind for a momen) If my body is cooperative I take a walk although it's stressful in this 'hood'
I'm all ears! poodle humor! I'm listening... go ahead
Milo's Moment
Oh Mama! you're showing my too trimmed ears back there
Milo: hiya, I survived another grooming and am cooler again, I needed a lot of ear hair gone this time but for dogs sake they aren't as short as they look here! Look at the first pic...
I found out I love dates.
I'm not adventurous with food but like those things and remind Mama every time she has one, that she has another mouth to feed, heh heh. Oh I'm gentle not to bite the hand that feeds me, I am so gentle and have taken to drooling when I see a treat. I never did that before. Gotta dirty up the freshly washed kitchen floor or people might forget a poodle lives here.
please visit these people to see what they liked this week
