Scrappy September

The Carol Doak September BOM is complete.  Would I sound wish-washy if I said I'm starting to like the scrappy look of this BOM? 

When I realized I didn’t possess enough yardage for a two color quilt, I really looked forward to doing Carol’s “two color BOM” scrappy.  I quickly lost my steam when the first few blocks of scrappy turned out just “so-so”.  Not sure what happened, but I really like this last finished block.  Could I be in total denial about their weirdness?  Maybe so, but after completing the September block, I’m really starting to get excited about the finished product. 

September 2012

It's a Boy!

This baby quilt is for the Hub's son and daughter-in-law. 

I may be out on a limb here, but I decided not to do a traditional baby boy type quilt.  Let me give you some background.....the Hub's son is a big time hunter - deer, turkey, etc.  They've decorated the nursery in brown and green, complete with a hug tree painted on the wall with the letters of the baby's name hanging on the branches.  Very cute!  So, instead of using "baby" type fabric, pastels, baby blues or greens, I decided to do a mini version of a "hunter's" type quilt.  See for yourself......

The baby shower is this weekend, I'll let you know how it goes.....

It's a Girl!

I might be behind on my 'block of the month' quilty stuff, but I've been crankin' out the baby quilts!  Both of the Hub's kids are expecting babies in the month of October.  His daughter and her husband are expecting a daughter on October 19th, and his son and his wife are expecting a baby boy on October 17th.  Crazy! 

Finished top with backing and binding.

The baby's room is decorated in black and white with a splash of pink. 

 
 Is it possible to overdose on birthday cake? Myself, my brother, 2 of my children, and 1 of my granddaughter's are all born in October.   Lots of little goblins....

Once again, a Slug-A-Long

Not sure how it happened, but I'm behind on Randy's Sow-A-Long....again.  I took such pride in being caught up, only to let it slip away.  The really sad part, Randy took the month of July off from posting any new blocks while I stopped piecing blocks back in June.  Now the August blocks are posted, so I'm trying to get back into "sewing" mode.  It's not easy with all the summer activities going on - I went with my family (brother, SIL, niece, my kids and grandkids) to LegoLand.....

Does this look fun or what?

Me and Little Man on the Lego Ride - I had to peddle my behind off to keep that thing up high in the air!

 

My latest Slug blocks:

Too scrap or not to scrap?

In April I started a BOM with the Carol Doak yahoo group.  Now, I needed to start another project like I needed another hole in my head....but I did it anyway.  I've always enjoyed paper piecing, but nothing bigger than a small wall hanging or table topper.  Carol's block of the month mystery is about the size of a 'throw' or twin.  Who couldn't use an extra throw sized quilt, right?  In Carol's instructions - she clearly calls this project a "2-color quilt".  With excitement I thought - I've always wanted a 2 color quilt!  This is perfect - I'm in!  Well.....after spending mulitple evenings going through the "stash", I didn't have enough yardage for a 2-color quilt.  I've put myself on a fabric budget, so purchasing wasn't an option. I can't just scrap the idea, I've gotten myself all worked up over a new project.  So I decided to do a scrappy paper pieced quilt.  Eye-roll.  The group is 4 blocks into the mystery - and 2 color quilters are looking really good - mine is starting to look semi-ridiculous!  Part of me thinks I should stop while I'm ahead, the optimist in me is saying keep going, it may be fabulous!  But probably not.

May

June

July

August

For the birds....

Last fall, I formed two of the concrete elephants ears with deep wells in the center (smaller leaf pictured here).  I wanted to use for a bird baths, but I can't find a stand to accommodate the weight of the concrete leaf.  I have this small stand - which is really a plant stand, but it's so low to the ground.  I thought about using an inverted log, but it would have to be pretty big - not sure I've got the strength to handle that.  Any suggestions?

Oh, and this fern has doubled in size this summer, I don't

know how in the world it's going back in the house this fall!

Can you hear me now?

It seems like it took forever for my elephant ears to finally appear.  Now that the bulbs are producing ears, the sun and heat are torturing them.  I didn't grow enough super huge ears for my sidewalk project last year, so I added a few bulbs this season.  Unless we get some rain soon, and a little less heat - my project may have to wait until next year.

Here's one pot - but all almost all the ears in the yard have crispy edges.

This is a concrete leaf for the sidewalk project - I only need about 15 more.

Close up shot of the patio the Hubs and I installed last year.  I ran out of leaves to make the walkway to the patio.  Hopefully, I'll grow a few big ones to use for pavers.  Now.... if the weather would just cooperate.

Despite the heat, the tiger lilies looked fabulous!

I have to share a pic of my "birthday myrtle".  Simply gorgeous.