Just Add Insects

The newest porch quilt to be added to a growing collection; they're all from Kim Shaefer's Calendar Quilts and measure in at the same size; 20.5" X 28.5". This one just needs bugs. I messed up when copying the shapes onto the fusible web and forgot to reverse the images, my version is a variation on the pattern as published. Oh, well; it's an original.

I finish all the raw edges so that these quilts will stand up to the elements and won't curl or fray over time. 

A lady bug, butterfly and a bumblebee are pre-fused and added to the flowers and background. 

I need to get this quilted up now; as small as these quilts are, that takes no time at all, binding takes longer.  I love the touch of whimsy that these porch quilts add to our outdoor space. I hang them on our side porch just outside the door that leads out of the sewing room. Mr. Goodneedle and I usually sit out there every evening enjoying the birds and other visitors in and beyond the developing perennial garden space; things that fly, crawl, hop, run or slither on by, we see them all.

Speaking of garden "visitors". My shoes were so caked with mud the other day after working in the garden that I left them outside in the sun to dry. The next day I scraped the dried mud and dirt off the bottoms of my shoes and banged them, repeatedly and HARD, against the brick wall to knock off any remaining dirt. I picked them up to carry them inside and felt a slight vibration inside one shoe. I pulled back the tongue of one shoe and out hopped this little friend. I know he had to have quite a headache after all that!😲

Life is Good!

Marking Time

I have a new way of marking time in the Studio these days, the rapid passing of each hour is cuckoo here now; and I love it! (The cuckoo, not the swift passage of time!!) I have been quiet the last two weeks, absent from the blog for good reason; my Mom and Dad have been visiting, we had a wonderful time. They are responsible for this beautiful new addition to the wall. It is a birthday gift, marking a significant birthday (Medicare? Who, me?? That's definitely CUCKOO!) for me near the end of last month. I had seen this clock a few years ago at Keepsake Quilter in Meredith, NH when Mom and I were shopping there. I remarked to her back then about how much I loved it; and, because she's my mother, she remembered! I was very surprised and genuinely thrilled to open this amazing gift!

Our time together passed much too quickly. We did visit an Amish store and neighboring community one day and the Zoo on another. But, mainly, we stayed at home and visited. I did get some sewing done and will share that, as well as a video of the marvelous cuckoo clock in action, in upcoming posts.

The great-grandchildren were all here on several occasions which, naturally,  

is always wonderful for us but was an extra-special treat for my parents. 

I am glad that my mother suggested grabbing my camera for these two shots last Saturday.

My Dad is teaching Gregory how to count and peg a Cribbage hand. This is especially heartwarming to me, as one of my earliest childhood memories is hearing my Grandfather, Dad and Uncle count Cribbage hands on any given Friday night at my grandparents' home. (And, as mentioned above, we all now know how long ago that was!) Mr. Goodneedle and I play Cribbage every day at lunch, and most days at dinner too. In the future may be playing three-handed now, with our grandson!

All too soon it was departure day. We took this picture in the garage right before they headed for home on Monday. They were happy to welcome a back seat passenger, Pfaff, to accompany them on their traveling adventure! (Yes!! My Mom really did come to visit, somehow she didn't appear in any of the photos except for this one!😞)

Life is Good!