Rain, orchids, and other things

Two days without seeing the sun! A rare occurrence in my part of Florida. But I can  tolerate it because the rain is really welcome in the drought-ridden counties. Tomorrow the rain chances drop to 30%, so there should be some lovely sunshine.

I have the best sis in the world! She gifted me with two beautiful orchids for my birthday last week. Now I have to find somewhere to put another shelf! My orchids and African violets are taking over my sewing room.

Speaking of sewing, my blocks from the Luscious Lace RR are home. The ladies who stitched on them did a lovely job as usual.

I have begun two new RRs. The All About Birds block I worked on belongs to Paula. I added a folded fabric flower being investigated by an Anna’s hummingbird. The bird was embroidered on felt, cut out and appliqued to the background to add dimension.

 

My second new RR is themed Winter Scenes. I used the same felt embroidery technique to add a cardinal on a pine bough to Colleen’s block, A snowflake of beads, and some snowflake sequins add to the winter chill. A small child sledding , a snowman button and a porcelain head in hat and scarf finish out the motifs.

In my personal sewing I took a 6 inch block from an under-the-sea RR and used it as a pocket on a tote for Sis. She thinks you can never have too many shoes or bags.

There has been a hint of chill in the evening breeze, so I will get on with my next project—altering sweatshirts into jackets.  I hope everyone has a blessed day. Till next time, hugs and stitches.

Old Round Robins finished, new ones starting

 

Has been a while since my last post. Part of the reason for that is I have a new baby. He is named Jack and is 4 1/2 months old. He is a Schnauzer, French bulldog mix. I have been busy with “potty training”, sit-stay command and to walk on a leash.  The potty business he has down very well, except when mama waits to long to take him outside. Got to work on getting him to alert me. As it’s been several years since my last Schnauzer I am having to do some training reviewing.  He is a sweet natured fellow and it has been fun but tiring to teach him to be a gentleman.

He”s a goofy looking bundle of energy and love.

Here it is home safe and completed. This is my block for the CQI Tea Time  traditional round robin. It has been beautifully enhanced by the work of Carol, Darlene, Laurie and Lorrie. I want to make a wallhanging using the six small blocks from the dyob round robin.  Well, a pair of liquid brown eyes are staring up at me,which means a trip outside.  Until next time,

Hugs and stitches,

What a lovely summer

It has been a pleasant summer so far. Hummingbirds dartting in and out of the bottlebrush tree, the birdbath filled with bluebirds, a visit from a red-headed woodpecker and its larger cousin - a pilated woodpecker, and the birth last Saturday of the fourth new calf. The afternoon rains have come with only three severe thunderstorms with Florida's imfamous ligthning. Most importantly all the tropical depressions and storms have been out in the ocean away from shore. If that will just continue on for the next to months of hurricane season things will really be wonderful!

I have kept busy stitching. I had helped Sis make an animal print quilt for her bed. She had several strips left over so I made her a small bag. I trapuntoed a leopard head and used it to make a covered button to close the bag.

Three of my Round Robins are ending and I have three more about to start. I just finished with A Luscious Lace RR block for Arlene.My block completed the RR for her. I'm looking forward to getting my completed blocks soon. Here is the block I did for Arlene:

Sis is out doing errands and I'm keeping watch over my brother-in-law. He is much better, but still needs an occasional helping hand, so I had better see to him.  Until next time-happy stitching,

Back Once Again

After a few rough months helping my sister care for her husband, things have improved to the point where I am back to stitching and playing catch-up on things. John is now able to feed himself and walk with assistance, so I am mostly needed to watch over him when she have to go out on errands.

This has been a lovely week!. I received a phone call from a high school classmate, and we talked almost 2 hours catching up on 50 some years of news. It was a great pleasusre. Then yesterday I won $3.00 on a spur-of-the moment Fantasy 5 purchase. Then this morning I got an email notifying me that I had won a bag of goodies on one of the blogs I follow! How great is that? Small blessings to remind me that God and life are good.

My Luscious Lace RR is just about finished. I'm working on the last block. Here are photos of the finished ones.

 This lovely block of Cathy L's makes use of  vintage hankie corners. I am just learning needle tatting so my yellow tatted motif is a bit lop-sided.

Gayle's block below allowed me to used several different laces.

 Lisa's pink block is very feminine and took well to the laces I chose. I really enjoyed adding the little pink snail!

Nicki Lee's lovely bluebird silkie came about the time the bluebirds here around the house began nesting. So I enjoyed watching my bird friends while lavishing lace and bling on Nicki Lee's.

Well, since it is time to think of breakfast I'll  sign off for now. Hopefully I'll get back soon.  Have a blessed day.  Quitly hugs,

Relaxing week-end

What a lovely Memorial Day weekend! Lots of blue skies and sunshine. I took the weekend off from sewing. I relaxed with two Catherine Coulter FBI thrillers- The Eleventh Hour and Whiplash. Mystery and light-hearted romance--what could be better?

My Tea Time DYOB RR will soon be drawing to a close. These are the blocks that have been finished so far.

 This cheerful block is the one I worked for Cathy L.

Lorrie R's  contained a lovely counted cross-stitch tea cup and hankie corner. It was a pleasure to work on.

 Cathy K used my favorite colors to form her block so I really enjoyed adding to it.

 I added sequin flowers and dim sum to Kerry's block of fancy fabrics.
I am now working on Ritva's green toned block and this RR will be completed.
 
I'm waiting the next Gypsy Treasure block so I can begin stitching again.
 
Until next time, hugs and stitches, Pegsue
 

Back Again

Well, thank the Lord, my brother-in-law has recovered to the point where he can motivate a short distance with his walker, can now feed and dress himself, so Sis and I now have more time for other things.

Now that his children and grandchildren have gone things are back to normal pretty much and I have been back to finishing up the rearranging of my sewing room and back to stitching.

 I have begun a new Fairies RR in CQI. The first block was for Lorrie R. I added a button trail, appliqued mushrooms, pixies, an initial, kiko flowers and snowdrops. I'm looking forward to the next round.

 This is the first block in the Gypsy Treasures RR.  Lauri B has a lovely silkie which I decided needed embellishing. I used three different colored ribbons as her headscarf, plus used them as a seam treatment in the upper left corner. Lauri likes bling, so I added the silver and gold metallic trim with the golden dangles, a beaded seam and necklace. I have several ideas for the upcoming blocks-such fun!!!!

This is one of six lovely blocks that Nicki put together for the Luscious Lace DYOB RR. I added four different pieces of lace which I embellished with ribbon, sequins, beads and various embroidery stitches.  Eyelash yarn and a charm finish the work.

It is so wonderful to get back to stitching. I have some sewing to catch up on as I have two baby quilts to make two young friends.  I go for an eye exam the 2nd of June. Maybe glasses will made handwork easier and improve the quailty of my work.

Well, it looks as though it's lunch time already, so I will say good-bye for now and say happy stitching, friends.

Quilty hugs to all,

 

Happy New Year

The beginning of a New Year--and I'm already three months behind.  It's been a couple of months since my last post. The months before Christmas were busy ones--finishing my CQI blocks before the Dec. break, customer alterations, Christmas cards, special orders and finishing my own Christmas gifts.                                                            

                                                    

We had a lovely fall period this year- cool temps, beautiful sunshine.  It really brought out the beauty of my young Golden Raintree. I hope the abnormally cold weather we have had so far this winter has  not killed it. The cold was enough to make one think      they were no longer in FL.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              .                                                                                                 

Well, I didn't get much done, but it's a start. Time to start dinner. Hopefully I'll get back in a couple of days.                                                                                                 

                                                                                                

Till then, have a blessed day.  Hugs and stitches,