It's September, Let's Catch up

 Yikes! Where does the time go??? 

It's been hot-Dilly has been helping with yard work.

And we got a basketball hoop for him-he shoots hoops every day!

There have been a few windy storms pass through-we lost some small branches and one bigger one.

I got them cut up and burned one batch then we had another blowing storm and had more! So now the fire bowls are full again!

We went to a "Flea Market" at Huibbard Park-unfortunatly the only things there were clothing resellers. Who Knew there were so many people selling used clothing-I swear they had a Hawkeye shirt for every man woman and child in the county there!

There were a few selling artwork and little jewelry, but nothing worth the time it took to park!

We've had some good park time!

I like these playgrounds that have the rubber mats on the ground-they are so much nicer!

And I've started this quilt. I bought this pattern many years ago, like 25 years maybe?  and it was the most expensive pattern I'd ever bought. $15.00

It's not a great pattern in my opinion-I'm glad I didn't start it 20 years ago!

You have to trace off all the pieces and cut the templates out and then the 2nd blocks have paper piecing-which I kind of like.

I'm using a pile of batiks that I got a couple of summers ago at a yard sale. 

These first blocks are kind of wonky, but I think it will work out in the long run.

More to come on this one!

And the Electrician came and did the check up on the generator. It's ready when ever another storm comes along!

And the saddest news too, My Mom is dying. She moved to Iowa River Hospice this week. Iowa River Hospice Is a really nice facility, they have been so accomodating. She is suffering with congestive heart failure and kidney failure. 

This was back in July, not lomg ago at all and time just keeps rushing along.

Love those smiles!!!

HOT T Shirt Quilt

So, my cousin Kathy, in Florida, sent me a box of T shirts from her Dad, who passed away in 2018. They are very stylish shirts with most of them having designs by Guy Harvey. I had to google him. He's an artist, scientist and environmentalist who supports care of marine habitats. So a good guy.

SO I go the shirts ready to go while I was thinking about what pattern to go with. It takes a long time/lot of work to de-bone shirts and get them fused to lightweight interfacing. Iris helped. 

She was helping flatten them out.....anyways, I got some really nice interfacing off Amazon, here.

It is the perfect weight, and adheres really well. 

I got them all trimmed to 19" square. Most of them are in good shape, but I had one that needed some work, so I mended that one and moved on. 

Iris likes the pattern I chose-a shadow box design. I had a nice day shop hopping with my other cousin, Robin, we got all the fabrics I needed for this project and another project that is coming along too. 

I got it loaded on Freddie, that pretty blue backing was so smooth and nice to load. 

And I chose this design that looks kind of ocean-ie to me anyways. It's actually tribal something or other, but by the time I got done playing around it's more ocean then anything I think!

I struggled with Freddie a little bit, but changed the needle to a bigger one and gave it a tiny turn to the left and it looks pretty good. 

I keep seeing this little thread pull at the points of the design, but I hope it will relax after a nice washing.

All done! Off we go for a trim and binding.

The back is pretty!

And the front is pretty too!

I like the shadow box effect. THe dark fabric is Licorice from Confetti Cottons. The blue map-like print is from Riley Blake's line called National Parks-topographic blue.

On the porch it does look good! It's around 90degrees today, so the sun was going down and it was cooling a tiny bit. 

I love the way it came out, I hope Kathy loves it. 

ANd with the pockets, I put together this pillow, and the back is the one duplicate t shirt she sent, I didn't want to use it in the quilt, because it's the same picture. 

And lookie at those points after a quick wash-almost perfect! Just as I hoped! 

I always learn a few new things with every quilt I make, and this one was a good learning-it's been awhile since I made a t shirt quilt. And this was a first for Freddie. I gotta remember that bigger needle helped a lot to eliminate the broken threads issue I was having.

Chores, Chores, Chores

 I just finished listening to this book. Highly recommend! The audio book is really well narrated, and while it is a long book it's hard to put it down!

And I tried these cookies. I was feeling festive. Pass. The filling is not very good and doesn't taste like anything. They are festive looking though!

I've been using up my stash as fast as I can! This bundle of 30's reproduction prints is next on the pile. 

I used a cute pattern from It's Sew Emma Called Tail Feathers

And here's the design I used for Freddie to quilt it. 

I cannot get a good picture, no matter what !! Shadey stripes....

Kind of not bad, but not very true colors....

I used up almost all the fabric on the back.

I do love the quilting design!

Indoors is a little more true color I think. The solid is really a nice pink. 

And look at this! I cleared out the container cupboard.

Uggghhhh! Where do the lids go??? Why are there so many containers??

There all done until next time. It seems like I can get about 6 months before it's out of control again!