A few more Project of Doom blocks

 

Have I told you that I hate paper piecing? 

 I HATE PAPER PIECING!

But I am so happy with my singing mermaid egg!  You can't tell from the picture but the white part is actually sparkly metallic silver.  However this is not even the best one....

Enter Hedwig... I actually simplified this one deciding that some of the detail will be done with quilting rather than fabric.  I am a bit frustrated because I couldn't find the fabric I originally purchased for her.  It was about the same color combination but the texture was more feathery rather than mottled.  I looked.  I gave up.  At this point, done is better than perfect.  I want this quilt finished!  She will sit on top of the book case, thus the different back ground.  

I am currently working on the Monster Book of Monsters that will join her in pride of placement.  Then I just need two more book blocks and will start assembling the book case.  

My major home keeping task this week was to paint the garage trim.  We have had the new garage doors for about a year, making the trim look awful!  Finally got it done.  Now the window at the front stands out as nasty so it will be next.  The red front door could use a redo as well.  I think it will end up a dark shade of blue.  There will be no stopping point.  

I will leave you this morning with a view of my faithful companion, Cosmo.  He is so calm in the mornings, preferring to snooze in the chair, until I try to get busy with something.  Then he is Mr. Needy.  

If ignored, Mr. Needy turns in to Mr. Naughty. So, a brisk walk may be in order on this brisk October morning.  

October

 I can't believe it is October already!  And almost half gone at that...

Helping us to move into the Fall mood, we brought home quite the haul from the church pumpkin patch.  My daughter has already baked that "pink" pumpkin in the foreground and it is delicious!  She made a pie that is half gone- I may have had a piece for breakfast this morning- and there is plenty of pumpkin left for more delicious treats.

We had a blue pumpkin last year and it was delicious so we grabbed another of those.  The swan necked gourd will be just for us to enjoy looking at, and the fate of the "warty" beauty in the back is yet to be determined.  It was my daughter's favorite though, so it had to come home with us.  

I have been rereading the Harry Potter series, about to start The Order of the Phoenix- again.  So, I have been inspired to pull out my "Project of Doom" that has been decades in the making.  

14 blocks made.  Currently Working on the Singing Egg block.  Then I want to add Hedwig and a few other book blocks.  Then I will put it together.  Can't just keep making all the cool blocks or it will never end!

My daughter has been helping us to get in the mood for Halloween.  Watching scary movies and creating this lovely piece- a challenge given to her from her work.  They provided the skull and employees were encouraged to decorate as they saw fit.  

She added this lovely snake that she created out of air dry clay.  then moss and stones and paint.  

It is currently at work for judging but I hope we have it back by Halloween!  

I have also been trying to get into the Halloween spirit by taking part in the Sweet Pea Halloween Sew Along.  Here are two of the many blocks I have made.  3 more to go and I will start sewing it together.  I will be doing well if I get it hung up by the 31st!

I am also working on a shower curtain and window curtain for my bathroom, done with machine embroidery and some sewing.  Would love to get that done, including towels to match.  

Lots to do, never enough time!

I am determined to have some nice finishes by the end of the year and hopefully to have my house a great deal more organized!  

Happy Fall Stitching!

Last few days of summer

So, its back to work for me on Monday, so I am trying to make some progress on the huge "to do" list this week.  I should be able to get this Harry Potter quilt ready for quilting later today.  It will eventually hang in my office- the school Media Center office that is.  Would be nice to get it finished to hang by next Monday but that is a pretty lofty goal.

In addition to the space being my office, it also houses the school ID machine so it has to be student friendly. 

This is one wall.  the blue square to the far left is the background for the ID machine.  The machine and camera will go on that grey desk.  This picture is taken from my side of the office. 

Eventually, I hope to finish my Project Of Doom quilt for the third available wall.  Here is a not so great picture of the blocks I have done so far.   I haven't decided how many more blocks I will need to make but am aiming for getting this done so only a few more. 

We spent a lovely weekend in the Jemez Mountains, a place that is a big piece of my childhood. 

Here you see little speckles that are actually Elk in the Valle Caldera.  I am hoping my husband got some better pictures with his fancy camera but haven't had a chance to look at them yet. 

These pictures were taken a Fenton Lake, which is definitely smaller than it was when I was a kid and I am not sure that is all due to me being bigger.  It seemed small!  And the area was naked of trees due to recent fires. 

We like to stay at the Aspen Ridge Alpaca Barnhaus.  Its a lovely little home away from home, stocked with everything you could possibly imagine needing.  The weather was so nice, a cool respite from the hot weather we have been having here at home.  The evening showers were refreshing and wonderful.  It made it a bit more difficult to return home to the 100 degree weather. 

My insomnia seems to have returned just in time for the school year to start up again.  No surprise there.  You would think a 6 mile run and cleaning/sewing all day would earn me a good night's sleep.  I do my best not to make enough noise to wake up my bear...I mean husband.  He turns in to a bear when his sleep is disturbed, mostly because he gets so little of it with his own insomnia bug. 

Next summer we are planning on an island vacation, lets hope the coffers agree when the time comes.  For now, its back into librarian mode to kick off the school year with lots of energy!