I Finished 2 Spring Wall Hangings Today

I didn't think I would get these two done today, but I did.

Spring Garden Rabbit is ready to put on my door in March.

She measures only 10.5 inches by 13 inches but is big enough.

I enjoyed making her.  I can use her for Easter as well.

Dillie the Baby Dragon is my favorite of the two.  She's tiny enough to be in the garden finding the first Daffodil of the season.

This one measures 13.5 inches by 15 inches so is a good size for my door.  Another one for spring as well as Easter time.

As soon as I figure out how to finish the WH of my dog Penny, which means drawing in her eyes, I will get that one done as well.  No hurry on her since its not seasonal.

Nice day today, sunny but only in the 30sF.  We never got that rain we expected and tomorrow is to be sunny and warmer.

Have a good day.

Current Wall Hangings Are Cut To Size

I am working on my wall hangings today, even though our temps are in the low 60s and its sunny and a lovely day outdoors.  But its soooo muddy from all the melt.

The Easter/Spring rabbit has his eye and I've cut the background to size in this photo.

The same for Dillie Dragon.   So I am making good progress and my back isn't aching too badly at this point.

I have since layered the batting and backing to these two and pinned them in place.   The next step will be the quilting.  Always decisions to be made at this point.  I am keeping them simple so it won't be difficult, just time-consuming.

I still have not bought the ultra thin sharpie to finish Penny's eyes in her wall hanging but I have cut the background to size.  I hope to find one in my shopping adventures tomorrow.

I made some skillet lasagna earlier which I will eat today and enjoy after Penny and I go out for an extended walk around the block and away from the muddy areas.

Have a good day.

Three Wall Hangings In Progress

I spent another good day sewing and made progress on my 3 wall hangings.

The first thing I did was redo Penny.  I did NOT like how the eye turned out.  It was too big and dark and I was not pleased.  Today, I replaced the section with her eye so I can remake it.  I did not do that today.  I am still thinking of how to proceed with that.

The Easter/Spring Rabbit in the garden I satin-stitched today.  There's, of course, more to do with this one like shading the nose adding the eye, trimming the whole thing to size, adding borders, adding the batting and backing, quilting the piece, trimming a second time,  doing the binding and adding my label.  I could not finish it today.

Dillie, my Spring/Easter baby dragon is coming along.  I satin-stitched most of it but have the daffodil to finish with the satin-stitching.  Then the usual steps that finish up a wall hanging can begin.  Not today.

Lovely day out today, in the high 40sF and snow is melting quickly now.  Warmer tomorrow, maybe 60s, and til this weekend at least.  We only got a bit of that rain they predicted so far.

Have a nice day.

Wall Hangings in Progress

Last nite I got enough sleep that I woke up feeling so good I wanted to sew.....and sew.
Today I managed to work on 3 wall hangings.

This in my ongoing one, of my corgi Penny.   I am making inroads on this one.

This one is Dillie the baby Dragon.  The background is green but looks otherwise here for some reason.  She will be looking at a yellow daffodil.  I can use her for Easter time and for the whole Spring season.

This one is a little rabbit in a garden and will have a couple of carrots in front of him.  Again, dual job, Easter and Spring.

We are having a nice day today.  The sun is melting those 6" of snow we had from Noah the other day.  No ice, thank goodness.  The rest of the week will reach the 40s, 50s and even 60sF so a really warm and unusual week for us in southern Maine but rain falling tonite and tomorrow.  I like this kind of weather except it will prompt budding of trees and perennial plants that may be frozen over by the end of the month.  We need to keep our nites much cooler.

Have a nice day.

Snowstorm Noah Came To the Northeast 02-18-18

Snowstorm Noah didn't pass us by in the Northeast.  Penny and I went for our early morning walk and I took my yardstick along.  Measured it at 6" of new snow.  Went indoors and got my camera and came out clicking.  Its so beautiful just after a soft snow storm.

This is how I found our patio area this morning.

The tall Pampas grass golden, dressed in white, and leaning.

The river with its guardians of trees, just lovely.

The two stalwart pines across the river, covered is soft snow.

The bridge, quiet and dusted with snow.

The view of the bridge thru the paper bark birch

Even the dam looks good this morning

The trees across the river are so lovely in their finery.

One can't get enough of such beauty.

The garden walk pristine and buried

Even our oldest resident, this tall monarch, looks bright and beautiful.

I am not a skier, skater, or a sledding person so I will enjoy the loveliness of today from the warmth and comfort of indoors, thank you.  I'll leave the fun and cold to the youth and energetic. 

As for cold, it won't be too bad today.  We're expecting it to reach high 30Fs today, maybe even 40.  I know what that will do to our lovely snow.  Melting time is upon us.  Especially in days to come.  Tomorrow in the 40s and on Thursday, an unprecedented 60s on our thermometers.  

Have a nice day my friends.

Drawings of 2 Easter Wall Hangings

Firstly, lets get the veggie beef soup out of the way.  I cooked the carrots and celery first, then by the time I peeled the potatoes, it was ready to add those to the pot.  When the taters were tender I added a can of mixed vegetables to get some corn, peas, string beans and lima beans added to the soup.  It is delish!

I had a difficult time not overeating tonite.   I usually have 2 full bowls, and I mean FULL, of my soup for a meal, but with me watching my intakes, I managed to keep it down to 1 1/2 bowls of soup tonite.  I know that's still baddddd!  I just could not resist eating more than I should.  That's OK, because tonite I won't eat anything for my evening snack.  I won't make my pizza until tomorrow morning before my son's arrival and plan to have him bring home most of it for him and my grandson.  I'll just keep a slice for my evening snack tomorrow nite.

Here's the bunny drawing I was going to add to my Easter group of wall hangings for my door, but without any Easter eggs, it can also be used for Spring in general.

This one I had to go over again with black ink so it would show up in a photo.  It was too light in pencil.  Here is my baby dragon with her bow on her head.  She's looking at a bright daffodil.   I have to think of a cute name for her.

I probably won't be checking in tomorrow.  I'll be busy with company and I hope to get some more sewing done.  Either that or I will catch up on watching the Olympics programs I'm recording each day.  In any case, I will keep myself busy.

Have a good day.

A Little of This, A Little of That

Its overcast right now with rain to come later this afternoon.  Temps aren't bad though, in the high 30sF so that's pleasant when out walking the dog.
As for the dog, she's my sweetie pie.  She's a shadow that follows me from room to room and stays close when out walking.

While I was in the kitchen getting my veggie soup started, she lay nearby on the rug.

When I ventured into the bedroom to take a photo of the latest WH with the eyes added, she was right there.

Here's that wall hanging in progress.  

As for the veggie soup, I started the beef and it will simmer slowly for 2 1/2 hours.

It only the beef broth, beef, onions and seasonings at this point.

The fresh carrots and celery will go into the pot at that time and then shortly afterwards, lots and lots of cubed potatoes.  We love veggie beef soup in my family and when my son drops in tomorrow to visit, I will send him home with enough for a couple of days for him and grandson.

The Olympics programs have been keeping me busy as well.  I record them so I can watch them at my leisure so that will take up some hours today.

Earlier I drew a few pictures to make into wall hangings.  I will post those another day.
Have a good day.

"Look What I Found!" Easter Wall Hanging Finished

It was a good day today.  I limited my machine-sewing time and that worked out fine because to finish it I needed to do some hand sewing, like the label and the binding.   I do not include that in my sewing-machine time.  Sitting at the machine is the work that brings on the aches and pains, not the hand sewing.  So far the baby fingers that curl up are not in pain and I don't have arthritis in my hands so I can hand sew just fine.

The little gal finished at 13 1/2" square.  Just the right size to hang on a door.

I think I will tackle another Easter one tomorrow if I have time.  I have to go grocery shopping and that takes 4 hours on the Parks and Recreation Bus.  Then I am having some company in the afternoon.  A niece I have not seen for a few years.  It will be wonderful to see her.
Have a nice day.

Our Latest Snowstorm Kept Many Off The Roads.

With our usual February weather, we had another snowstorm.  This one wasn't too bad in inches, with us getting about 8" of the white fluff, but it was the sleet afterwards coating the roads that caused havoc.

There's a bit of open water showing on the reservoir, but most of it is covered in snow.  Yes, snow.  The snow mixed with the sleet made for a covering over the water that floated at ease.

By noon today when I had to walk my dog, maintenance has snow-blown the pathway which made easier going than last evening when we went out in the mess.  Luckily we did not have to go far.  Penny avoids deep snow when she can, so she was fast and did her necessary close to the patio.  It made for a fast 'in and out' for us both.

The day today is warmer, in the 20sF and sunny.  A good day if one has to go outdoors.
Have a nice day.

"Look What I Found" Easter Wall Hanging is Ongoing Today.

I sat down in front of the snowy window and sewed a bit more.

The borders are on so far.  It will measure approx. 13.5 by 14.5 inches when finished I think.

I feel that two hours at the sewing machine each day will be workable.  I won't get too achy breaky and I can accomplish enough to satisfy my creative spirit.

I have since layered and pinned this wall hanging so that tomorrow I can begin quilting it.  It won't take too much time to finish if I keep at it daily.  I'm thinking possibly Friday if I don't come home too tired from grocery shopping.

Our snow storm's numbers have changed again.  Its snowing now and so lovely outdoors.  Now they say it will last til sometime tomorrow.  With sleet to follow which will add less than an inch of ice on top of the snow.  I hope that is not enough to make our power lines go down or tree branches to break off and pull down a line or two.
Wishing, too, that the accidents are kept to a minimum and no more than a tow out of a ditch.

Have a nice day.

Easter Wall Hanging, "Look What I Found" is started.

I had to rearrange my bedroom/sewing room after our building inspection because my desk with my sewing machine blocked a window enough that I was told a fireman would not be able to remove me easily from my room in case of a bad fire.
Well, that meant shuffling furniture around and when that was done, I liked it better than the original placement.
I got my Mojo back!

I had drawn a few pictures of things I wanted to make so I started with those.
With Easter coming I thought I needed to get something on the drawing board for that Holiday first and foremost.

My first idea was a colorfully-maned Unicorn since I adore them but that's not really an Easter symbol.  I drew a small one, and then drew a larger one I could work on more easily.  I think I will make both when the time is available.

For my current project I played around with this drawing.  I liked it, but in the end.....

...I changed it up a bit.  I also adore fairies and like to place them in my original WHs, so I did a little change for this Easter Wall Hanging.  Here is my latest wall hanging, "Look What I found!"

Its not finished yet.  There are the eyes and nose and tongue bit and the pink inside the ears but I have made a start, and that is what's important today.  Then the final bits; satin-stitching,  borders, layering, pinning,  quilting, binding and then it will be finished.

Our sky is getting mighty gray now with the promise of 5"-8" or snow predicted starting tonite and thru tomorrow.  I will, as usual, hibernate during this storm.  I have enough food in the pantry so I won't starve and sandwich makin's if the power goes out.  We have to expect this weather here in Maine during February, which is our month for big storms and lots of snow, more than any other month.

Have a good day.

New Shower Stool

My new shower stool arrived a couple of days ago and it sat on my dining table while I pondered putting it together.
Then easily enough, I managed it with just 5 washers and 5 thumb screws placed in the proper holes.
Easy Peasy.

It fits in my tub nicely and now if and when I need to sit a moment or two, I have a place to do so.  I needed something tall since I have longgggg legs that were once upon a time, quite nice.  They still are since they still work for me and I don't yet need a cane.  I also needed something narrower than a regulation shower chair, which I also have from my Mother's days and kept 'just in case' it was needed for this next generation, mine.  Its too wide so it goes in the walk-in closet to use as a table instead.

With this new stool, its nice to have a place for my keister when I'm feeling extra tired after a long day.

We got about an inch of new snow yesterday and this morning and it makes the world look so nice and pristine and beautiful.

Have a nice day.