Life

 This is life. Me and my little buddy got to spend a lot of time together on Monday. He was very interested in the machine.

We didn't stay inside. We also played outside riding Papaw Jim's scooter up and down the driveway, over and over and over and over.  Only pulling into the boat garage every couple of trips to sneak a G2 drink out of his refrigerator.  These children have the most beautiful eyes.....

Today he started preschool.  He was so excited. Mommy got a great picture down by the lake while they were waiting on it to open.

Busy Times

 Things are different around here, but I don't mind.  The grandchildren (and their mom and dad) are staying with us for a while.  After six years of living in the UK, we are thrilled. So I won't be doing a lot of marathon quilting in the next few months.  I'm too busy, playing outside, laughing, watching movies, making 'dog pens', giving baths and a whole lot more fun stuff.  They did 'help' me a little in the sewing room the other day.  I let them punch the 'cut thread' button on my machine, and pin up the blocks on the design wall.....

My sweet friend let us come over to swim.  They loved that!

Life is so good.

Ring Cycles

I finished all the 9 patch blocks and worked on the Y seams.  Such a headache!  I worked all day, watched multiple Y seam how-to videos and they still kept coming out "ruffled." It took me seven circles, before I figured out the problem. Seven!  That is what? 35 Y seams!!  The pattern came with a template and also instructions for cutting the setting triangles.  The instructions were not correct. I was having to re-do several seams in each circle taking bigger and bigger seams to get it to lay flat.  I am just very thankful that it finally occurred to me to check the setting triangles I cut, against the template.  They were 3/8" too big. So I'm actually a little excited to try to make a few more tomorrow afternoon, after church, while the hubby naps. They should go together much easier.

Blurry helps to see the rings better.

New project

Have you ever started a project that you just weren't sure you could do?  I've done that many, many times.  I started one yesterday that I think is awesome but I'm not sure I have the skills to complete it.  I am terrible at Y seams and this pattern has a ton of them. I plan to make oodles of 9 patch blocks (finish at 3") and then I'll either learn how to make Y seams or I'll use them in another pattern.  The pattern is similar, or maybe the exact same as an old one called Jack's Chain.  This one I purchased from Etsy, is called Ring Cycles.

               
I want to be sure my 'rings' show up, so I am going to make a few with the darker fabric running diagonal through the block, as in the green and orange below.  In the pattern, the 9 patches are all the same two colors. I'm using scraps so I think I might need to help the visual of it some.  Not sure yet.  I may just make some the same and mix them in the bunch too. Who knows what it will turn out like??

Just look at all those Y seams......yikes!

Also done a little painting and hiding this weekend.

Above is my Back to School rock to hide in our local Facebook Rock Club. And below is one I hid in our downtown area yesterday

I continued on the avocado......changing and adding.....

It's been quiet around here the last couple of days.  The kids went to the other grandparents for a few days to visit before school starts.  I miss this little people.  We sure had some fun for a couple of days.I look forward to more of it.

More Art then a homecoming!

First, just a peek at the ever evolving Avocado painting.  I removed the blueberries, added a marble table top, and worked on the background. Still have some things to do to it....stay tuned.

Now the homecoming!  I can't say just how thankful I am that this little family made it back home safely after six years living in the UK.

Additions to the Avocado

It really isn't a still life of fruit but I just added some other things one at a time.  Maybe I can eventually make it into something coherent.

This is what I love about painting.....you mess up...you can fix it.  As you can see my apple just wasn't the right shape. So I painted white over the top part to make it better.

Learning to Paint

When I started painting in March, I knew it would be something I'd like but I didn't know just how much I would enjoy it. There is so much information -- pictures and how-to videos -- to teach yourself how to paint. Avocado is my current favorite breakfast (on a piece of sourdough bread), and the thought occurred to me today, that it might be easy to paint.  I googled videos on how to paint an avocado. Here is the result.

I am nuts over shading, shadows, and trying to do texture.  This was a great opportunity to learn more about those things. I also did a little strawberry today.

Non painting news......I have sweet crispy pickles soaking in sugar and spices. I'll probably can them Sunday afternoon. It's an old-timer recipe that I just put up in jars with cardboard liners in the lids, for years. Now I'm a little afraid not to water bath can them.

.....and they have already been taste tested.....yummy.

A few more rocks I've done lately. 

Faux Apple

Watched a video on how to make one of these faux apples.  It was fun.  However, I've decided I've got to find some smoother rocks.  

On a roll with rocks....

Today's rocks included this patriotic one. I plan to give it to a friend who is active in the DAR (Daughter's of the American revolution) organization.

She is bringing me some polypropylene, I use as a layer in my homemade masks.  I know she isn't going to let me pay her for it. I thought she would like this.

The next is one I was challenged to do.  Well, not exactly. I was asked if I painted any birds. I have a friend who loves birds and I wanted to try. Not sure how I feel about it yet. I'd like to try again, but it was very difficult so I won't try for a while. Gotta let my mind rest a bit from this one.

I did a little tutorial for the monarch butterfly for our facebook rock club, and made two more.  Each one is a bit different, not on purpose. I still like the first one best.

....and I made a quick unicorn for the granddaughter of a friend.

More butterflies...

Today was a great day to stay inside and paint rocks.  Then it was also a great day to go for an ice cream and few groceries and hide some rocks for others to find.   Worked on the other two butterflies first.

I started out doing these with the Posca paint pens and micron markers.  I ended up doing just a little brush work to blend some of the colors.

My little butterfly garden...

A friend asked me if I could do one with a butterfly and a daisy for a friend of hers.....

Then back to the monarch, my favorite.  All done with paint pens and micron markers.  Except the shadows. My grey micron marker died so I used a brush there.

Then to hide some....an ice cream cone at the ice cream store.  A little girl found it within a couple of hours!

Left at the park.

Left on an old rock wall in the center of our little town.

It's been a blessed day....