Here is Georgia, and of course, a peanut! We have actually bought more apples and pecans than peanuts since living here, but the peanut charm was so cute, who could resist?
4.30.11
Here is Georgia, and of course, a peanut! We have actually bought more apples and pecans than peanuts since living here, but the peanut charm was so cute, who could resist?
4.29.11
Here is Florida. On my childhood bracelet, I had always wanted an orange crate and I bought one, finally, when I was in my 50s. I thought about removing it and putting it on this bracelet but it really belongs with childhood. It was the prize I finally gave myself for growing up. What do you think of the charm I chose for my new bracelet? Not too far from the original!
4.28.11
Here is New Jersey. What can I say? J said it is the Garden State, so I chose flowers. One memory I have is the beautiful leaves in the park across the road from our apartment. We did not get to go often but the loveliness of the leaves lives on in a painting my father made. He put me and first Little Brother in picture, too.
4.27.11
Here is Maine. The moose was an obvious choice even though I do not remember ever seeing one in the wild. If I could have, I would have gotten a Jersey cow or a milk can. Those are among my favorite memories of Maine.
4.26.11
Part 2 of the Charm Bracelet series.
This is New York. I didn't want to do something typical of NYC because I had never been there until I was a teen and even then we just drove through--in a hurry. I remember a few things about New York and among them are grapes and Niagara Falls.
This is New York. I didn't want to do something typical of NYC because I had never been there until I was a teen and even then we just drove through--in a hurry. I remember a few things about New York and among them are grapes and Niagara Falls.
4.25.11
This will be the first of my charm bracelet series of blog entries.
I have state charms for Washington, New York, Maine, New Jersey, Florida and Georgia. I also have a tiny representation for each state.
Here is Washington with a cherry charm I constructed. I know Washington has apples and lots of other things like the Space Needle, but cherries go with the state's namesake and they are so pretty, too. I think cherries are my favorite fruit.
4.23.11
Work continues on the red, white, and blue challenge quilt. If I get the binding on, I will turn it in today. I will take a picture of the final project to put right below these words. Then, on to more projects!
4.22.11
These pretty flowers are bigger than my fist.
4.21.11
The view from the road. We live near a TVA dam. That is, Tennessee Valley Authority. Actually, we live near several TVA dams. This is Nottley Reservoir. It was built in 1941 and crosses the Nottley River with about 2,300 feet of roadway. The name comes from the Cherokee village, Nadhuli, which was on the shores of the river. If you click this link, TVA, you can see a list of the TVA reservoirs. Not only that, if you lightly move your cursor over the names on the right of the map, a little square will show up on the map giving you the location.
Lake Nottley was quite low a summer or two ago. In fact, we had drought conditions. You would never know that now. The spillway is open and people are concerned that the 61,100 acre-feet of storage in the reservoir might not be enough.
4.20.11
A new friend, K, took me to two quilt guild meetings. The first one met in the United Methodist Church and must have had 300 ladies there. It was every bit as organized and hierarchical as the guild I briefly joined in Orlando. It is a very busy guild and has a lot to offer if I can overlook the rigidity of some of its features.
The second one met in Blue Ridge, in a community room of our bank. It is sponsored by a quilt shop, Country Stitches, in Blue Ridge and had about 25 ladies in attendance. It was a friendly and happy group and I really enjoyed myself. The leader of the day showed several samples of what was new in the shop, there was show-and-tell, ladies turned in blocks they did to be assembled into a charity quilt, there was a reminder for a local challenge fabric contest, and then there was the fat eighths pieces challenge which I will write about another day.
The fabric picture at the top is the Shop Hop challenge fabric. I was reluctant to attempt a small quilt for this contest since I only had two weeks to get it ready and everyone else has had months. Not only that, I did not really find the fabric inspiring for a small wall quilt. The shop ladies and my new friend urged me on with it so I dove in. I managed to find fabrics in my stash to round out the palette, created a design, and drafted it out on the first day.
On the second day, I cut and began some of the piecing.
On the third day, I finished the piecing and found batting and backing in my stash and applied the borders.
On the fourth day, I basted.
On the fifth day I quilted and then took out the quilting since I did not like the effect. Luckily, I had hand-quilted and four hours of work only took one hour to remove.
Day six, new experiments with quilting and a new direction. Today is day seven and I expect to do some more quilting. I probably will not put the binding on today but I might. It is early still.
The second one met in Blue Ridge, in a community room of our bank. It is sponsored by a quilt shop, Country Stitches, in Blue Ridge and had about 25 ladies in attendance. It was a friendly and happy group and I really enjoyed myself. The leader of the day showed several samples of what was new in the shop, there was show-and-tell, ladies turned in blocks they did to be assembled into a charity quilt, there was a reminder for a local challenge fabric contest, and then there was the fat eighths pieces challenge which I will write about another day.
The fabric picture at the top is the Shop Hop challenge fabric. I was reluctant to attempt a small quilt for this contest since I only had two weeks to get it ready and everyone else has had months. Not only that, I did not really find the fabric inspiring for a small wall quilt. The shop ladies and my new friend urged me on with it so I dove in. I managed to find fabrics in my stash to round out the palette, created a design, and drafted it out on the first day.
On the second day, I cut and began some of the piecing.
On the third day, I finished the piecing and found batting and backing in my stash and applied the borders.
On the fourth day, I basted.
On the fifth day I quilted and then took out the quilting since I did not like the effect. Luckily, I had hand-quilted and four hours of work only took one hour to remove.
Day six, new experiments with quilting and a new direction. Today is day seven and I expect to do some more quilting. I probably will not put the binding on today but I might. It is early still.
4.19.11
One day last week I happened to bring my camera with me to the library. I was glad to see the pink dogwood up close. When I was almost finished taking pictures, I saw a robin beneath one of the white dogwoods.
He posed very sweetly and didn't seem at all afraid. If I had had food and time, we might have become friends.
He posed very sweetly and didn't seem at all afraid. If I had had food and time, we might have become friends.
4.18.11
In our own front yard. The oak and the maples are showing leaves and we have had visits from quite a few birds: gold finch, titmouse, cardinal, hummingbird, and a new one I don't recognize.
In case you forgot what dogwood blossoms look like close up!
4.17.11
4.16.11
But soft! What yarn from yonder box revealed? Chocolate brown for R's owl hat and socks, purple for my dickey--I am already on ball two and all is going well--and some variegated brown gold just because it was on sale and made great hats for sailors last year.
4.15.11
Yes, in our own front yard.
I was ready to immediately run out and buy more dogwood trees. I decided to research best planting practices. The flowering pear trees were beautiful this year, too. I will have to figure out when to put those in. I have not bought them but I know where there is a very good nursery.
4.13.11
I transplanted some of the irises from the west side and found several more on the eastern most border of the driveway. Also...WE HAVE DOGWOOD! watch tomorrow for pictures!
4.12.11
Oh, MY! I was lazy about transplanting the wild iris and it made new blooms! Beautiful! Actually, I think there is a second one. Maybe I should let them finish their season and transplant later.
4.11.11
Wild violets in front of the house. They seem to be a different variety from the wild violets on the west side.
West side violets seem to have leaves of a different variety. None have the blooms of deep violet I remember in my own grandmother's garden in Maine. BUT... I have a WILD IRIS!!! If the weather is good tomorrow, it will be transplanted, too! When the Day Lily lady in our neighborhood has her sign out, I will fill the rest of my front garden with more bulbs.
4.10.11
My 4 onion sets. We were in Big Box Depot and I saw them--Georgia Sweet Onions--only $1.68 so I thought I would give them a try. I will let you know how they work out. I haven't had a VIDALIA onion in over a year now. I miss those things like crazy. I hope this will be a better season for them than last year.
Finally put the daffodils and tulips in the ground. We will see how they turn out. I spotted some lovely wildflowers on the other side of the house. J sprayed for hornets over there so I will begin some transplanting tomorrow. I DID have wild strawberries but I think the deer got them before they got very big. I will scout around again tomorrow. Gotta get some snake boots, though. 4.9.11
Today was a good knitting morning. I set up my computer to play my favorite movie and used this sock heel method. Lifestyle. That is the name of Charisa Martin Cairn's take on making short rows. Worked for me--easy as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
Hah! Don't believe it. I did and redid the heels about seven times until I got it just right. Then I did five in a row with no problem. Part of that was doing it during the day light instead of by the light of a very dim reading lamp. I will say one thing, though. This is the best short row method I know.
Anyway, check out her website and click the HOME button. See what else she has to offer.
Hah! Don't believe it. I did and redid the heels about seven times until I got it just right. Then I did five in a row with no problem. Part of that was doing it during the day light instead of by the light of a very dim reading lamp. I will say one thing, though. This is the best short row method I know.
Anyway, check out her website and click the HOME button. See what else she has to offer.
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