Busy summer

Well in the last two weekends we've had a funeral and 2 weddings to go to. I had no idea how tired I would be after two weddings (Saturday and Sunday) in the heat and sun. They were both lovely and fancy and I'm so happy for the couples... but it was very Hot!

My garden: Hanging basket to replace dead flowers I forgot to water for several hot days.

 My tomatos are reaching up soooo high. This cherry plant I had to use 3 stakes to try to prop it up.

 We have used some basil from our garden, it just keeps on growing. 2 of my bean plants sort of got pulled up (i assume by the chickens?) But one is climbing the walls, and the other 2 have some small new leaves so they may do something.

 Not much has happened craft-wise but I have made a little progress on the cat embroidery.

 Sorry for the washed out photos. These are vintagey fabrics from my mother-in-law who finds great stuff at yard sales. I think the blue paisley is silk. I have never sewn with silk before so it would be interesting to try. In the bottom photo there is also a textured yellow cotton fabric that has several yards to it so i could practice making a dress or skirt. I have so many Colette patterns I have hoped to do but have not yet worked on. It is so hot in the sewing studio, and frankly we have been to busy with family health issues and weddings we have barely kept up with basic housework and life.
Hopefully some things will slow down a bit and I can make more progress.

Continuing with Cats...

This cat sampler project is pretty fun. I have been taking it with me to work sometimes to work on my lunch. It also goes with me when we visit my father in law who is in hospice care. I have been trying to figure out the outlines. Sometimes it makes it look more pixelated. I love all the mice and birds. I will have to re-learn how to do French knots for the eyes. 

 Here is a photo of my grandma's hydrangeas. So pretty. She lives at a lake and we had 4th of July there and ate way too much food, including huckleberry cobbler. Yum! 

I thought I would share a previous cross stitch project. It was a pre-printed pattern. I made it for my husband before we were married. I chose the colors (brown, blue, orange, gold) to match this 1970's-ugly ship painting he has. I mean, it's so ugly it's cool.

Baby Blanket update

                         First, some flowers from my garden. Yay, so nice that they are blooming.

Here is the baby blanket. It is supposed to end up 30x30 in. I have one mistake and some things could be better, but after it is blocked it will probably be awesome! I got a lot of knitting done this weekend at a beach retreat. And the baby quilt shown previously is done, I just need to add my initials. (Which I should have done prior to finishing it...)

Next up: maybe working on the sorbetto? or a denim quilt? I also have a tablet cozy to make too...

Summer is coming.

From 5/13:
I planted Lobelia and Geranium in pots and am glad to see they are starting to bloom. At the front of the house are huge bunches of Iris and at the back, beautiful pink roses. Today I am replacing a broken zipper in a pair or jeans. I have also already spent a lot of time fighting the ants in our kitchen. I may also work on the baby quilt binding.  Perhaps I will even bind on for a knitted baby blanket that I bought yarn for. (In hopes that it will be a more portable project, lunchtime knitting?) Change is in the air as we may be moving sometime soon and right now I love this spring to summer moment.

5/14:

I have started to knit the baby blanket. The pattern called for size 8 and worsted yarn. My yarn seems thin, and I don't know quite yet how I like the feel of it. It is an Ivory color. I will keep on going and do a few rows of the pattern before I decide if I need to change needles. 

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So pretty

Just a view of the tree in my yard!

Springtime

One more glimpse of spring. I bought some flowers and planted them in a hanging basket. I also washed our windows and did a little spring cleaning. Yay!

Crafting dreams: I bought digital versions of Colette Pattern's Sencha and violet?? They are both Beginner patterns, which hopefully will help. I then spent a while trying to get them to print the right size and print all the pages of the versions I wanted. It is very true I have too many projects going on. But slowly some of them get finished. I just really hope some day to sew at least 1/3 - 1/2 of my wardrobe. I don't really have a desire to sew jeans but dresses and skirts and blouses sound good. I think it's hard because if you sew it yourself and then grow out of it (size-wise or style-wise) it seems hard to pass it on. 

Currently working on: I sewed one side of the denim quilt border and then cut more squares for the baby quilt.

PS: trying out a  blogger ap from my phone so I can post more often. Not quite sure yet how it all works. 

Spring?

We were on vacation for a few days. Flew to Indiana for a wedding. Now back home hoping to get some crafting done! Lately I'm so tired from work I can't work on anything in the evening.  Here is a glimpse of spring! Time to get started on dinner and clean up a little.