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!

August catch up

 

Middle of August already and I don't even feel like I have had a summer.  Mostly I feel like I have been unhealthy the entire time.  Covid in Mid June with a cough that never did go away, sewed through my finger recently which healed within a week, and now I have head congestion and my cough is at the level where I can't sleep and my chest is killing me.  Calling to see if I can get in with a doctor today- that is after calling all last week and not even getting the phone answered.  I am VERY upset with medical care these days.  

I absolutely have to be well in time for my vacation at the beginning of September!!!!

But, I did get a quilt bound that had been waiting for a great while.  It is on the wall in my dining area and I really love the colors!

And, this is the second of two large beach bags I have sewn in anticipation of our trip.  It came out okay.  I am not great with boxed corners.  Still need some practice.  I have a hard time making the seams line up with the side seams.  Better if there is no thickness.  

Here are two sides of a smaller beach bag I stitched- it is actually purse size.  It is an in-the-hoop project from Sweet Pea Machine Embroidery.  This is where I had more problem with the boxed corners not lining up with the side seams because of the bulk.  

Cosmo made sure to be up close the entire time in case I needed help.  This is the design that I was doing when I sewed through my finger- the flip flop beach bag.  It bled a little, stopped quickly and healed within 1 week so I have no complaints other than the medical cost.  

Cosmo turned one!  I stitched him up a birthday neck cloth which he chewed the entire time it was on, and my daughter made him a pupcake.  

I love this pup like crazy but he has been a challenge.  His Sheepadoodle behavior is crazy and we have had to resort to some very serious training to be able to live with him.  Not a breed I would suggest in the future.  He still frustrates my husband to no end.  And now that I am home instead of working, he is even more attached to me.  That means having him lay at my feet constantly- tripping hazard for sure, and walking with his body touching my leg, pretty much everywhere we go.  And, he behaves as if he weighs a dainty 5 pounds instead of close to 70.  

I have been doing a great deal of machine embroidery on my new to me Bernina 700.  This is the back of my swimsuit cover up that was purchased for last year's vacation and will be used again in September.  I also added some designs to the front.  

It stitched out beautifully on the thin terry cloth with some thin cut away stabilizer underneath and Solvy wash away on top. 

 And this is my first time ever making Free Standing Lace.  I am very happy with it and will be making many FSL ornaments for a church craft fair in October.  In fact, I should have the machines both going right now...

Underneath is a quilt (topper for my TV cabinet) I have been working on which has now been free motion quilted and just needs a binding.  Maybe it will be an August finish too!