New Quilt Start, Embroidering Flowers, Journeying On

The garden and outside in general does call to me these summer days which answers LeeAnna's at Not Afraid of Color question of hammock or digging when it comes to gardens. I get up close with my flowers as I do a little weeding almost every day. There are many beds here and there is usually a point each summer where they "get away from me". I'll start out with them very trimmed but mid way, the growth takes over, especially in the heat, and I will admit it all becomes unmanageable. But since it's just us looking at it, I don't really mind. I also enjoy veranda sitting many days as well. Below is a very hot Ned in the back yard. We have had heat wave warnings and high humidity both of which are hard on dogs. Those are the three dead trees on the list to be cut down this summer, before an ice storm takes them down.  

Did I hear correctly that so many of you truly think I should finish the quilt top I shared in the last post? It's not that large so I think I could manage it. I'm giving it a good think. But I really need to get into the closet in the old sewing room and see if I have batting of any sort. I don't know why that sounds like such a big deal when it's just down the hall....  

I'm making progress on my embroidery Floralies piece...this part involved filling in a few satin stitch areas. I love working on this. 

With not enough purple to participate in another RSC month...that's two in a row, I picked up my Propeller blocks to work on. SO how did I get started with these???? Squirrel Alert!

 

Back in February I'd seen Samelia's Mum hand stitch a version of a propeller block that I loved. She's finished her quilt and you can see her very colourful start HERE. I think she used Jen Kingwell's pattern. 

Up till then the propeller blocks I'd seen had rounded edges like this one that Rose Prairie Grass and Farms shared ages ago. 

And that led me to search in Karen's, Quilts, etc. archives to find that she had stitched a Retro Air Ship Propeller quilt...to see her pretty blocks go HERE. Just gorgeous!

Some propeller patterns involved adding more blocks inside the block like this one free here at Quilting Daily...

But I wanted/needed something simple. While combing through so many scraps looking for blues to make strings, I realized I had scrap pieces that were just large enough to make four propellers. So I made my own template with longer propellers and started a rather wonky version of a propeller quilt. Each of the small four blocks is being stitched by hand and then joined on machine. I notice that last bit is speeding these up which is a good thing. Here are some of the blocks I've made to give you an idea of what I'm talking about. I'm trying for colourful here and it's nice not to be working with all blues plus a real bonus is using up more of those pesky smallish scraps. But I've just this minute realized I may be making a version of a Windmill quilt. What do you think? Oh dear, I can't go down another rabbit's hole...

A first for us here at the Wooden House! The Phoebe pair are raising a second brood in the same nest on the back of the house. What industrious little birds! Even Tony noticed their activity and wondered why they were still around. I read they can raise up to three broods a season if the nest site has been successful for them. Below is the view from my stitching chair. Their nest is on the sound box above the furthest light. Tucked away nice and safe. And they take advantage of the bird bath which is just in front of them there on the left of this photo. I make sure the water is changed and nice and cool for them.

A mosquito was buzzing around my head in the night. I slapped at it a couple times and went back to sleep. When I looked in the mirror this morning, guess what was plastered on my forehead. Tony said well, you do have a knack for getting those guys. It's good to be good at something!

Thank you all for the very kind comments and emails; I'm very sentimental and often read them with a tear in my eye. I had a poster years ago that said "Life is a journey, not a destination" and I believe that. I've always been open to change and, like so many of you, loved travelling far to make a home in different places. In this blog space, while living here at the wooden house, sharing my ups and also some of my downs is important for me. Putting things into words helps make aspects of this leg of my journey more manageable for me and hearing from you with your "along the journey" stories too is also really helpful to me. So, to all of you, a huge thanks for listening, sharing, commenting...  

Also thankful for linky parties...Quilting Patchwork Applique, Kathy's Quilts, Alycia Quilts,   Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Songbird Designs, The Inquiring Quilter, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework and Art Quilts Whatever. Thanks ladies for hosting!!