Beginning of Gardening Season 2024

 My apologies to all those who suffer with allergies, the pollen count has been very high.  The dogwoods have bloomed brilliantly this year.  

Each spring AppleJack’s cousins gather together for Spring clean-up and maintenance of their family cemetery.  A large tree had fallen, we aren’t quite sure what caused it to fall:  a lightning strike, high winds, age.  

This terra cotta pot of violets sits just outside my kitchen window.  Their bright cheery colors just starts the day off with a smile.

It’s time for me to collect the tools and get to work.  The to-do list is long, the weeds are in abundance and the rewards are worth the hard work.

Spring 2024

                                

         Was watching Carol, Saltbox Stitcher latest Flosstube and Carol says “I stitch bunnies.”  I also stitch bunnies.  A stitched bunny is far more enjoyable than a bunny eating my garden.  Speaking of bunnies, Stacy Nash’s latest animal cracker, Maggie Mae will be making her way into my stitching rotation.  

      

          A reward for spring cleaning.  While cleaning out closets, found this stitched towel and thought it was perfect to display with the bunnies.

Still having many cool nights so not quite warm enough to start planting flowers, but always warm enough inside for them.  Don’t think it ever gets cold enough to stop the weeds.  

Those bright blue flowers are sure a welcome sight after the winter browns.  Grandmother Bessie loved flowers and the color blue so I stitched the letter “S” which will be the back of her purse.

Warm temps forecast for today, time to put on those gardening clothes, get those flower beds weeded and prepared and maybe even a trip to the garden center.  

Stars and Bars

 Stars all stitched, sashing added, backing fabric purchased, ready for the long arm quilter to work her magic and time to begin a new quilt or three.  

While tidying up the craft room, found this bag of scrap mess and decided it was time to do something with them.

Ahh the beginnings of a court house steps.

 

Winter 2024

 Winters in Nashville are normally very mild.  Last Sunday 7.6 inches of snow fell.  More snow in one evening than the yearly average for our area.  Then the temperature dropped and then it dropped some more.  Single digit temps for days.  I’ve cooked, baked, stitched, quilted, binge watched documentaries and worn two layers of clothing.  

For those hardy souls out there who are accustomed to winters like these, I salute you.  

Shooting for the stars

 Finish one quilt, start another.  Quilters, they are always thinking ahead to their next quilt or three.  

The stars stitch together quickly.  With lots of blue fabric in my stash, blue starts on a white background seemed like a good choice. 

This is a hooked rug from Minnick and Simpson.  Yes, I am easily influenced by things I see in books, magazines, Instagram, Flosstube.  

 After weeks and weeks, 24 blockheads have been completed.  This project started back in late September.  Have I really been working on it for two months?  Block one was a self challenge, just to see if I could make the block.  That challenge expanded into color combinations from my stash which expanded into stash reduction which finally ended with “can I make the blocks into a quilt?”  

Much has been learned.  A class in color would have been very helpful.  Yes, tones play nicely with each other and yes chocolate brown and pink is a great combination.

Organizing fabric by color family would also have been helpful.  No more organizing fabric by designer or manufacturer.  (Almost all my fabric is Civil War reproduction).

What’s next?  Cleaning the sewing area, adding the sashing and setting the quilt.  Borders?  How many?  What color?  Width of border?  And. . .I saw another blockhead challenge for a star, there is lots of blue fabric in my stash.  

Veteran’s Day 2023

 in remembrance of all those who have served and sacrificed so I can enjoy freedom.  Thank you for your service!