Friday Finish!

 

This has been quite a week. We had the solar put in, so they were here on 4 different days to install equipment and today the panels went up, so it is finally done. When I had a few quiet days, I worked on a project and watched tv, it was nice to make something new and not hear banging all day.

This design is by Julie Porter and offered on Facebook as part of a free chicken series.  You can find the group page at Primitive Quilts .....

It is a stitchery and I decided to do the large chicken in applique. I also made the mistake of trying to add red marker to enhance the red and forgot it was still wet, so I messed up the comb on the large chicken. Luckily I was able to take out the original stitching and enlarge the comb to cover my mistake.

Last weekend we had the boys for the day and since I didn't have the pool set up, we got a better slip and slide with sprinklers, for them. They had a ball and I enjoyed watching them play. I also had them tonight, while my son took Ivy and Bill out for dinner, for their birthday. This weekend I will have a party for the boys to give them their gifts, lots of birthdays in one weekend.

Lots of activity this week, more babies are coming out and one hummingbird is coming to the feeder. She is the only one for now, and I hope I get to see more later on.

And ones I rather not see, they tend to demolish the food, a Common Grackle.

And today the yard was full of birds, the majority of them were crows and a lot of Starlings. The young were hungry and wanted to be fed. It got to the point where I had to chase more away, they were eating all the suet and attacking the regulars who come to visit. 

I hope everyone had a good week and enjoy the long weekend. 

Friday Finish!

 

A new month means a new design by Kathy Schmitz. This year she is doing another contest where we can make at least 8 of one type of item, from new or past designs. I have decided to go with hot pads, since they are fun to make, I have a ton of Insulation-brite and I will have gifts to give to friends and family members.

The original design is a robin, in red shades, I have gone with actual colors for mine. It also had a thistle type flower on some tops, but for some reason my brain stopped working and I traced them into smaller leaves. Mine is all leaves since I colored them before I realized my mistake. It still looks nice with all the green and the robin and I have a few nieces who love birds.

Last weekend we got a day with the boys. The weather was nice, so we took them to the Umbrella Factory, which is a throw back to the 70's. The boys got to pick something out in the shop and we walked around the grounds. They have Emu's and Chickens that roam about the property. 

We stopped at a couple of beaches and the boys had fun on one beach looking for treasures.

At another they enjoyed the playground. Nick ended the day, telling me he had a good day, which always makes my day.

And we got to spend a few afternoons at the beach. I enjoy the afternoons when the tide is just right to find treasures that get thrown up with the tide.

This week I will be getting ready for Easter. I have gotten the boys a few small toys and candy eggs to hide for our Easter hunt. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Friday Finish!

 

This week I worked on a new project from Cheri Saffiote, offered on her group, as a freebie.  The group is a wonderful way to remember Cheri and keep her memory alive. This week we lost another fellow designer, Sandra Caldwell. It seems we have lost a lot of designers and good friends over the last few years.

The original design has a pieced backing, but I had some old blocks that a friend gifted me, so I used those. One block has the saying inside, so I made a separate piece and sewed that on. It was fun to make and I may make more with the original design. I am thinking I may do hot pads as gifts for my family members, with designs to fit their likes and my brother and one sister, loves chickens.

I made these for myself, so I didn't mind if they were a bit wonky.

The weather has been all over the place, but we get out when we can, even on cool days. Last weekend we visited Moonstone beach. It is a long stretch of beach so we only did the area where the pond and birding was.

I spied quite a few birds in the dunes around the pond. most are shy so I had to take quick shots. A Sony Sparrow, Greater Egret and a Kingfisher.

On the walk back, I almost walked into these guys. They blend into their surroundings, which is why the beach is closed this month. The Piping Plovers are nesting there, so they keep it protected. The bird with the shorter beak is a Sanderling and the longer beak is a Dunlin.

And lots of interesting things left on the beach, not sure if they washed up or kids left them, but someone has piled them up so the ocean doesn't wash them away.

Along the rode we go, to get there, we happened to see two swans and stopped to see what else was at the pond. That is when I noticed the nest, looks like there will be some new swans this spring. Hopefully I can be in the area when they are born.

We stopped at another beach area to see if the Ospreys were back, and they were. The male was gathering sticks to add to the nest. He would hand them to the female who would decide where it went. This nest is double in size since I last saw it, they have been busy.

It seems Sunday is always the rainy day, but we were able to get some time in, at the beach. I never get tired of the different views since it is surrounded by water on three sides. The island where the lighthouse sits was an old fort and I spent a lot of summers with my family, taking the boat across for a picnic and exploring the island.

Beach combing seems to have dwindled lately, but still fun to look and get a good walk in. I hope everyone had a good week and can enjoy the weekend. It looks like we have another rainy Sunday.

This and That Monday!

This weekend was cold, way too cold for long walks. It was good weather to get out for some fresh air and play with Bean. I never have to ask twice, if he wants to go out, that is a given, lol. Our young trees finally turned and the winds blew a lot of the leaves on the ground, and Bean loves playing in the leaves.

He seems to lose weight, right before a growth spurt and today he seems a bit taller and  huskier. I use my waterproof camera for photos since it is easier to carry while we play, so not the best quality photos.

It could be all the exercise he gets, he really gets into play and has strong muscles for a pup. I have to be careful that he doesn't hurt himself, since he loves to do high jumps.

I was also able to get some sewing done. I started this quilt, last year and finally put the pieces together. I still need to do some stitchery and add another border so it is lap size. I used a free design and precut blocks that a friend sent me. Now it is a quilt for another friend of ours.

I sewed my punch needle pieces with backings and got them all stuffed. Now I am doing the finishing work with borders and staining on some. The chicken was a bit bright, so I added a touch of stain to tone it down. Unfortunately the flash lightened them back up. I just may finish in time, after all;)

Weekend Fun and Finishes!

We had another beautiful weekend and it was perfect for walks with the family and Bean. On saturday we took the whole gang to the bike path at the rail station in Kingston. Kingston is where URI is, for those of you who know that college.

I found out that Bean does not like big trains, since we got out just as one rolled in. There were a lot of people enjoying the path, bikers, roller bladders and strollers, so Bean was a bit over whelmed with it all. We ended up carrying him most of the time and let him walk when we got to quiet spots.

I always love stopping at the bridge and enjoying the views. We have paddled down this river, it was easier going down than getting back up.

A close up of my two favorite babies;) It was nice to spend time with nicholas and he loved the puppy and of course, Bean loved him.

The walk is nice since it is paved for bikers and there was enough foliage left, to enjoy some autumn color, as we walked.

Sunday was nice but windy. I needed to get some shopping done, so we did that first and then went to the light house for a walk. Bean was fine with the wind, but another thing he does not like is cars, so more carrying as we walked around the light house road. It was also too windy to walk, my hair kept blowing in my face and blowing Bean and I off our feet;)

During our shopping trip, I picked  up some goodies for Bean. Lots of Biscuits and chewies to keep his mouth busy, but he still keeps trying to eat my decorations. One smart buy was a large ball, he loves chasing it and then runs around the yard, pushing it with his head. It is a great way to wear him out. Though I think I am more tired than he is.

And last but not least, I actually finished a new piece today. I do think it needs an added border to frame it all, maybe a darker shade. I will also antique it a bit, what do you think? I might put this on a board with some nails for hanging pot holders, so will think on it. I made this one for a friend. It is a design from the book, Punchneedle Embroidery by Kemp and Shaw. I got my copy from out library, it has 40 folk art designs for punching.

Quilt Show Finale!

Here are the last of the photos. There were a lot of beautiful quilts and a lot of primitive and art pieces, but I didn't get shots of them all. These quilts just stood out to me and ones that I thought all types of quilters would enjoy.

The ones on the walls were the hardest to photograph. To be truthful, they really didn't hang the quilts that well, it seemed like they were put up in a rush.

This one is so beautiful, wonderful use of 3 D and art mediums.

Of course I had to take a shot of our state bird, lol.

A Barbara Brackman pattern, have always loved this one.

Imagine the work that went into this one, just gorgeous in person.

Beautiful appliqué work.

A block that I love and would like to do someday.

Two beautiful quilts, great fabrics.

And a very abstract quilt with lots of colors and fabrics. I think it is fun and great artwork.

This is the booth from our local Folk Art Quilt Shop. I was surprised that she had more brights and modern fabrics at the show. 

And this is Leslie from the Pfaff shop. She had lots of beautiful pieces and demonstrations, but this is a local store, so I can shop when I need something.

I hoped you enjoyed the show, and found some inspiration in some of the beautiful pieces. I have been lazy this week, Bill was away and then goes back out tomorrow, so we have been doing things together and I haven't been getting many projects done;)

Narragansett Bay Quilter's Show: Part One!

Today we went to the quilt show and I made a video of the show, but the quality is horrid and the photos are too small to really see the quilts, so I will show a set at a time. I wasn't as impressed with this show, as I was with previous ones, but there were a lot of beautiful quilts and inspiration. I didn't buy anything, but Bill bought a bunch of tickets for the Basket raffles. He filled them out, then gave them to me, to put in the ones that I liked the most, so heres hoping I win one, though I won't count on it, lol. I hope you enjoy the quilts.

I loved the use of shirting in this one.

This one is a basic nine patch, but made special, by the fussy cutting of the squares.

A fun quilt with a lot of piecing and wonderful use of fabrics.

Beautiful colors and designs

An interesting take on americana and nine patch

This is just fun

I really like this, unique piece of art in fabric

Truly gores, beautiful appliqué and quilting

A nice folk piece

What is so wonderful about this piece? It is a mini quilt, so much detail in such small spaces.

And the last one for tonight. This is a unique piece, love the idea of using a seed package as a design

My Quilt Challenge

I belong to a great primitive quilting group and this summer we had a quilt challenge.
We had to send a partner, 3 fat quarters and any embellishments we wanted.
This is what I was sent to work with.



I have been working on and off all summer and had no idea what I was doing, just added as I went and this is what I came up with. I will add some tabs to the top to hang it with, maybe on the kitchen window or it might be a present for someone who loves chickens and roosters;) It is hard to see on the quilt, but there is a lot of stitching with the thread she gave me, all hand done.