A change of plan....

Well, I laid out all the flowers for my hexi quilt thinking I only had one flower and  gazillion connectors to go... what was I thinking?  17 double flowers with one row of connectors using 1" hexi's it not big enough!  So, I've started on more flowers... not sure how many I will end up with.  Here is photo of a 7 hexi flower I did (actually, mine aren't really completed until there are 12 more hexi's for double flower...still, here's photo.) 

First Blooms of my Lady Banks Rose

In addition to this little flower, I made 20 connectors and prepared about 15 more hexis to make more flowers.

Take a trip over to Karen's blog to take a look at her fun projects and for her linky with other folks' weekly One Flower Wednesday posts!  Journey of a Quilter

I took all my flowers and connectors to my Bee last night & Anne, a very knowledgeable quilter, helped me make some design decisions.  She has made two Grandmother's Flower garden quilts (one with 0.75" hexi's), and a Dear Jane quilt (in a year mind you!)  Now, I have a better plan for moving forward... for instance, decided not to do half flowers at the edges, but rather use the other brown fabrics in this line to blend, but add a bit of interest.  The upshot of it all is I best push forward with this project so I do not lose interest!

This past week I also almost completed a large applique block I'll make into a wall hanging and made progress on my embroidery Christmas project: photos to follow!

A note about the flowers... this rose, Lady Banks, is an heirloom rose with clusters of tiny yellow blossoms on thornless canes with leaves which seem impervious to the normal pests and diseases of roses.  It only blooms for a relatively short period (and has just started in the last 2-3 days) but it is spectacular as all along the top of the 12 foot long canes will be covered in blossoms!  Great for trellises.  Mine has outgrown its location, in 4 years... think I'll have to prune some this year as it is taking over the blueberry bush next to it.

I'll have to figure out the best time to trim as it is home to bird's nests!  I love the idea of my little backyard neighborhood.  I absolutely get Beatrix Potter's stories... I'm sure there are community dramas amongst the wildlife in my own backyard!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy stitching!

Spring

It is so nice being back home.  I have missed my yard; and honestly, if I miss a day's 'morning yard tour' I can't believe how much change happens.  Thought I'd share some of what I found this morning...

Cowslips

Years ago, I bought these cowslips because they reminded me of my Mother's garden.  Her's may have been more of a butter color, but they always remind me of her.

These pansies were planted last fall and are now just bursting out.  I dare say they have also been special treats for the gnawing buggers.  With our mild winter, I imagine we will experience tons-o-bugs this growing season.

Redbud

Redbuds are one of the first trees to bloom in our area, and one of the first to turn into their fall colors.  That English Ivy (aka "the plant you can not kill") was in the yard when I came.  It is hard to keep in check, and hard to get off the tree trunks without injuring the trees.

BTW, you can see the brand new 6' chain link my back door neighbor just installed to corral his puppies; the old 4' suggestion of a fence would not keep them in.  He was nice & asked me first... I love dogs, and certainly didn't want his to roam and get lost or worse, hurt.  It was clear even a real 4' fence wouldn't keep them in, so I said sure.  Now, this fence is much, much more noticable and shiny, more than I ever imagined; luckily he also took down some trees so that area will get more sun now.  I'll probably plant some annual vines to give some interest this year.  I transplanted volunteer camellia japonicas, but they are small and will take years to grow.

Hope you are enjoying the change of season in your area. I know some are moving into fall as we move into spring.  Happy trails!

One Flower Wednesday

Ironic that spring is officially here and I have no hexi flowers this week!  But, I DO have connectors....

Isn't that tulip something?  It is on a stem @ 14inches tall & the perspective makes the hexi's look small!  This is an old fashioned tulip which is not reliably perennial, but this may be it's 5th year.  I am fairly sure this is a Fosteriana "Red Emperor" variety.  It is an early bloomer.

As to my hexi's... I've got about 70 connectors made (the photo has 7 stacks of 10 each, but the perspective obscures this detail.)  I have about ten 2.5" WOF strips cut, which will become 160 more.  I didn't have many meetings last week, and I focused on other projects so although I added to my stash of completed connector hexi's, I already had a bunch made. 

Thanks for stopping by, and go see the great tutorials and link-ups over at Karen's Journey of a Quilter for more hexi fun!

March 14 One Flower Wednesday

Photos can really help one see.  I've got one lavender hexi made from a different fabric!  This cracks me up... I didn't see it until I looked at the photo.  I mean this is HAND work, not strip piecing!  What a hoot.  Now the dilemma, at an insane 22-24 stitches per inch & super strong knots, do I want to try to take it out?  Used to be I absolutely would, but then this attitude contributes to my difficulty in completing projects.   And although it is a bit humbling, it isn't what I think of as a humility block.  My understanding is one has to PLAN the mistake and make it intentionally... boy is that tough on perfectionism... tho I bet I could come up with a plan for the 'perfect' intentional mistake! lol  So, for now, I'll leave it.  If I can't live with it, I'll change... but the likelihood of me making a bigger mess and injuring the adjoining hexis is pretty dog gone high!

This makes number 17.  I only plan on having 18 for my largish throw.  There will be 5 rows: 4 flowers each in rows 1,3 & 5; 3 flowers each in rows 2 and 4.

This week, I'll work on the layout before selecting the colors for the last flower... keeping my fingers crossed that they'll all play well together and none will stand out.

Also, I'll concentrate on making connectors; some are made but I have boatloads to go!  Not even sure how many I'll need, nor how I'll finish the outside edges.  I've got 3 or 4 jelly roll strips (and 10" squares) of other browns I could use to fill in the dips in the sides.  Sixteen 1" hexis can be made from each strip.  Haven't used much of the 10" squares so do not know how many can be cut from them.  There are also 3 or 4 golds in the grouping I haven't used yet.  (This is when I wish I had EQ 7!)  But, as I do not, I guess I best get busy. 

Stop by Karen's lovely blog to see others who are making progress on their gardens... and Karen has the best links to tutorials so check them out and come join us!  Here's link: Journey of a Quilter

Thanks for stopping by!

Hop to It

It has been a while since I posted on progress made on my Hop to It quilt top.  I do not have photos of all the completed blocks, but do for the block I worked on while sitting with Mom last month.

I changed the design a bit: originally, the flowers had only the two outer petals, but to me the just looked too much like lobster claws, so I added the central petal.  I think they look more like tulips; I like them. 

Plus, the pattern only had 2 circles.  I added one and made them a bit smaller so I could use all three of my aqua fabrics.  Here's close up:

There is a tiny spot on the white background, so I only lightly pressed (and not at all on stain.)  I'll soak in Biz then rinse before I do my final pressing.  I love crisply pressed applique.

Although I use many different methods when I applique, most of this block was done using the freezer paper technique.  This top is the project in a monthly workshop.  Our fantabulous teacher/guru Kathleen brings us laser printed freezer paper (the good kind CT Advanced Paper Co, I think) which has all the pieces on it.  We just cut them out; no need to reuse an individual piece.

Although she includes the circles on the freezer paper templates, most of us use Karen Kay Buckley's Perfect Circles.  Just love them.

For the stems, I use clover's 1/4 inch bias tape maker and a TON of spray starch.  A lot of folks iron the bias after starching & before running through bias tape maker, but I iron the bias which has an angled end, saturate it, run it into the maker & slowly run the iron over the tape as it emerges, ensuring it is dry when I complete it: the bias always holds together and is crisp and even. Easy peasy.  Now don't be alarmed, the spray starch will be washed out.  I know some folks have had troubles because of the starch, but it won't remain in the fabric. 

Boy o boy do I love tools that work!

Tomorrow is One Flower Wednesday, but after that I hope to get more of my Hop to It blocks posted. 

Thanks for stopping by! 

One Flower Wednesday March 7 2012

Welcome!  We seem to have had a long spring of a winter here in NC and Virginia.  Not that I am complaining... with all the travelling our family and friends have done in February and March to the mountains of Virginia, mild weather has been a true blessing.  There was no ice and only a day's worth of snow (beautiful snow.)  My sister's driveway is almost a quarter of a mile dirt & gravel narrow road, though I could have sworn it was a third of a mile when I hiked up it.  So when they get their typical 6-8 inches of snow and ice every couple of weeks, navigating it can be a bit tricky, even after Swede has applied his fantabulous tractor to it.  If the winter had been as normal, Mom would not have had her precious time with so many of our far flung relatives.

While sitting with Mom in February, I stitched on a Hop to It block, a couple of my hexi flowers as well as making a bunch of connectors.  Handstitching brings great comfort to me... so timeless, I'm not the only one who has sat by a loved one's bed and stitched my heartache and hope into fabric creating beauty through tears.  Whenever I look at those blocks I will always remember where I was and whom I was with.... preserving memories and prayers with each stitch.

Here's a photo of the two hexi's I completed....

There are quite a number of folk who link in at Karen's blog to post our progress each Wednesday....To take a look, click here:  Journey of a Quilter One Flower Wednesday  Thanks for dropping by... so many of you gave us great strength over the last difficult month.... thank you.

Margaret Mauryne Prewitt Dugger

July 25, 1926 ~ March 4, 2012

Wash her in the holy font of everlasting life, and clothe her in her heavenly wedding garment.

Into your hands, O Lord,

we commend our sister and Mother, Mauryne.

It was only a month ago when my Mom and I were looking at old photos of her, including the one above.  She told me her Grandmother made this dress and veil.  The veil, she said, was Duchesse lace (I think that's right.)  So last week while by her bedside and reading this verse (from one of the Vigil's in the Book of Common Prayer) I was reminded of her in this photo.

Last Sunday, at 9 in the morning, she breathed her last, in her own lovely room with loving family and friends along side: a peaceful passing.  Her last days with us were filled with grace as she continued to teach us with her constant concern for others, her gentle words of gratitude and her warm love.  There was a sweet, slow but constant flow of gentle friends and family from all over the country who came to sit by her side, praying, reading, sometimes laughing or quietly weeping.  In early February she said her hope was that her passing bear fruit, and it certainly has, at great cost to her.  Our family bonds are strengthened: in our nuclear family, in our extended family and in our spiritual families.  It has been a time of deep healing, restoration and reconciliation... and we all thank her.

In my recollection, she always believed in God... a benevolent and loving God "whose property is always to have mercy..."  She taught me to think deeply and not be afraid to question what is taught about God... after all, even Paul the confident  said "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror...." 1 Corinthians 13:12    All her children have deep faith, even if our expressions differ. 
In many ways, hers was not an easy life... but she persevered and her heart grew and continued to soften right up until her last days.  She demonstrated how profoundly one can continue to grow throughout one's life.  In her later years she began practicing contemplative practices on a daily basis which nurtured her faith, her love of God and all His creation. 
Those who love her go well beyond her children and extended family.  A 24 hour vigil was kept since Thursday, February 9, it was not only her children and grandchildren who sat by her side, but friends as well, many friends, some came most days to tend to her and to be with us all.  From her bed, she graciously welcomed us all... asking "What have you been doing?  What's going on with you?"
A priest who had been told of our loss and had read things we had written about Mom, said "your mother sounds to have been well-nigh a saint..."  My response included, .."yes, the most hopeful kind... a redeemed saint." There is hope for us all.
As you may well imagine, my love of sewing, embroidery, knitting and handcrafts are part of her legacy... as is the love of a good gathering of folks in all walks of life.

Yes, we are heartbroken, and yes she is gone... and yet she lives on.  Bless you dearest one.  Love, B

Blessings and gratitude

Years ago, I started a practice of a daily journal in which I wrote at least 5 things for which I was grateful.  I did this for about a year and a half.  It is a wonderful practice; perhaps gratitude is like a muscle, it becomes stronger with use.  Now lest anyone be tempted to give extra credit for this practice, I must admit some evenings my postings were sad indeed, and really were not in the spirit originally intended.  Now if your sensitive, overlook this next part.  I think I once wrote: "I am glad I am not in the grave... I think."   You get the picture.  This is probably true of any practice, the point is to do it regardless; constancy and steadfastness, not perfection.

So, here in 2012, I want to do a reprise of a gratitude practice.  It seems to me, many times our unawareness of our gratitude is less a matter of lack and more just inattentiveness and forgetting in the rush of daily responsibilities and activity.  So in 2012, each month I want to focus on something for which I am grateful, remembering each day to attend to the blessings. 

This month, my focus is on my ability to see.  This is the sky I saw the other day here in North Carolina.... I pulled over on the side of the highway (way off I might add) to take some photographs. 

This winter has been spectacular: mild by any standards for NC, and fortunately we have been getting some rain, so to my knowledge we are not in a drought in the triad .  I am restraining myself from posting lots of photos of the sky as after a while (a short while) photos of similar images loose impact.... so just one.

When I returned from living in Key West, Florida for six years, I found a new appreciation for NC winters.  Prior to my NC sabatical, I just thought all the grays and browns were just boring and depressing.  Upon my return, I marvelled at the structure of the tree limbs and all of nature.  The limbs are like an inverse of the tree root systems: one can see their balance and design so well.  The subdued colors remind me that we all must rest.   Yes, we breathe out and are active, but we must also breathe in and rest and replenish our energy and indeed our spirit.

So, my wish for you dear reader, is that you also find rest and restoration in the winter's quiet here in the northern hemisphere; that each day, your attention is grabbed and held by the sublime beauty our eyes can perceive and our minds can comprehend.  May we all experience softening of our hearts.  Peace, b

Mom

A friend recently began a series on her blog called Folk Tales in which she reminiscences about her family elders: so tender and wonderful!  So, as I am wont to do, I think I'll follow her lead and begin to share about my family folk.

Recently, my Mom has been much on my mind and in my heart.  She has had a rough winter with 4-5 bouts of illness, the last being pneumonia about 3 weeks ago.  Yesterday the palliative care nurse (and close friend) told Mom she is improving, very welcome news indeed.

I don't really know where to begin to share my love and admiration for her.  As she has aged, she has grown in grace: amazing.  She began a practice of meditation and other spiritual disciplines in her seventies.  She continues to soften and enlarge her heart.  As anyone who has watched a loved-one age realizes, there are many losses to be endured.  Mom has an intentional practice of "letting go and surrendering."  I can imagine the angels singing her on as God delights in her willingness to dance this poignant, difficult and tender dance. 

Here are some of my favorite photos of her in her youth.

Blessings to you, Mom with profound love and respect, B

One Flower Wednesday

One would think it is March here in NC as warm as it is.  I've been taking the opportunity to get outside to make my photos for the blog... a great improvement!  Here's this week's flower:

The pale peach dotted fabric always seems to read as offwhite.

The Camellia is from a bush that was just tee-ninesty when I moved in; I think it was a volunteer.  We are in zone 7 for planting... to my knowledge folks have trouble growing camellias much north of here.  My sister in zone 6 can not grow them (even with her very green thumb!).

I do love mine.  They are of the Japonica species which, according to my records, are blooming a bit early this year.  Their blooms often peak through snow which will fall in February & early March.

Thanks for stopping by and hope all's well in your world!

Sign in for Janaury 2012 Quilt Square Quilt Along

Dear and fun Jo, at Jo's Country Junction is hosting a quilt along in 2012.  Our blocks are only 12" and come from the sweet pattern line by Lori Smith.  So here's my January 2012 posting of my first log cabin ever...  Over the years, I have collected reproduction fabrics, but for some reason rarely use them... so I used them in this block.  Here is a link to Jo's site, so you can see other blocks: Jo's Country Junction Reveal .  Here is website for patterns:  Lori Smith's website
Thanks so much to both of you.  (Once I figure out how to grab a button, I'll add it.)
 
The flower is a Lenten Rose from my garden.  The tonal violet goes well with the block, I think.  Lenten Roses (hellebores) often have very subtle colors and simple, fragile looking blossoms.  Nature's wisdom is evident in that these delicate flowers bloom when little else blooms here in North Carolina.  These flowers would be over looked in a summer garden with its riot of color. 

For others who love this flower, here is a tip for keeping them after cutting: cut the flower (you can cut a bunch & keep them in water until you are ready to process them them all.)  Dip the lower inch of the stems in just boiled water (read: piping hot... not kidding) then immerse them in tepid water (with flower perservative) up to their "necks" (the flower.)  I use a narrow tall cooler.  Leave them to "condition" over night.  I bet you could leave them until the tepid water got to room temperature.

Last year we used over 125 stems for table decorations for a women's retreat @ church.  We treated all of them like this and NOT A ONE wilted!  They lasted beautifully for over a week.  If you do not have any of these flowers, consider planting them.  Once established, they do fine in dry shade, even here in zone 7!

Hope all is well in your world... thanks for stopping by!

First One Flower Wednesday post for 2012

The flower with the lilac center and light outside ring is my most recent flower.  I was not tall enough to get them all in (and was too afraid to stand on the crumbly cement benches), so I recruited a tall (very nice) fellow in our office to get a higher vantage point.  He stood on the bench, perspective is a wonderful thing!  His photo follows....

Wasn't that nice of him?  I love working with wonderful folk.

Take a visit to Karen's wonderful blog where she has great links to hexi instructions and others who are in One Flower Wednesday:  here you go One Flower Wednesday link up. 

I did do some sewing & knitting over the Holidays (which starts in November and runs into January for my large, extended family.)  I gave some away, made progress on other projects, but only am now getting a new flower completed.  To me that means life is getting back to normal!

Our family is quite close... (and did I tell you LARGE?)  I have a son and a step daughter, between them, they have 8 children.  My daughter in law's family counts me as one of their own, and she is one of 4 children with 4 additional young ones.  I have 4 siblings with thier own children & grandchildren.  (My younger sister & her husband have 7 children.)  My mom is one of 4 girls, each of whom have 3-5 children of their own.  So when we gather, it is a happening, and we gather a lot.  My holidays include most week-ends away, but I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I hope you all had wonderful, joy filled holidays, and warm wishes for joy, hope, health and family in 2012!  B

One Flower Wednesday # 13 (but who's counting?)

A short post for today.... 
I am delighted to say that I find endless joy and satisfaction in English paper piecing.  Each new flower feels like a discovery as the color play unfolds.  Thank you to Karen who has hosted a most wonderful website to instruct and encourage us as well as helping to build community.... Go see her site as well as all the fabulous flowers at  Journey of a Quilter sign in page

So here is number 13:

Thanks for stopping by... and have a great week!  B  

One Flower Wednesday First of Advent 2011

Winter has arrived.  Yesterday afternoon, in anticipation practically freezing weather, I picked some of my last roses.  I must admit though, they looked better from a distance than they did up close! 

On a different note, I am delighted to finally have been able to "grab a button."  I learned how from Konda Luckau from her blog Moose on the Porch Quilts.  The link takes you to her blogging tutorial, so be sure to click to get over to her blog too!  She has other tutorials and a stars quilt-along happening too. 

My life has been a bit discombobulated lately, so not as much sewing or knitting getting done, but I do have a new flower for my garden...

Take a look over on Karen's wonderful blog for more hexis... Journey of a Quilter; she also has a wonderful tutorial page with great links too.

For those of us who celebrate Christmas in the western christian tradition, this past Sunday was our entrance into the liturgical season of Advent.  The word comes from the Latin "adventus" meaning "coming."  Advent begins the fourth Sunday prior to Christmas day and ends Christmas Eve.  It is a season in which we renew our focus on our faith in anticipation of a new birth of God in our hearts.  Despite the hustle and bustle and distractions of my preparations for all our celebrations, when I take a moment, that feeling of being grounded in the great mystery brings me great peace.  Regardless of your faith tradition, I hope you accept my wish for you: May you be filled with "...the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding."  Surely our loving Creator desires this for each of us.

Peace, B

Take a deep breath....

Thanksgiving has come and gone.... which means Christmas is fast approaching.

In years past I would make quite a lot of handmade gifts: knitted hats, scarves, cowls and Christmas stockings; reed baskets; linen and japanese print journal covers; pillows and other sewn gifts; spiced honey, vanilla sugar, decorated Moravian beeswax candles, della robia wreath candle holders out of salt dough, and North Carolina wreaths with mixed greens and natural cones with red ribbons.  Do you know when I REALLY want to start Christmas projects?  Right about NOW... and especially right AFTER Christmas... boy have I got a timing problem.

When I make gifts after Christmas, they are always long gone by the time Christmas comes around... so here I am on November 29, less than four weeks from Christmas wanting a hand made Christmas... but I can see on my calendar what is ahead: working more than full time, traveling week-ends and LONG days of continuing education (truth be told, I do get some knitting done while in class!)  Still, I guess there is still time to complete a few things...

So while looking around for seasonal images, I found this

Oh my, how cute are they?  And they are little (read quick.)  So, I think I may, I think I might have some little stockings to knit.... and just in case YOU too want to knit a sweet little stocking or two... here's the link:  Little Cotton Rabbits website with free super cute patterns...

So off I go to dig out my tee ninetsy double points... can't wait.

Thanks for coming by!

A Poignant day...

Such a poignant day... Today has been a glorious fall day in North Carolina with many of the tobacco-gold colored leaves still on our trees, stunning when surrounded by the rich deep green of the pines and brilliant against a classic cloudless Carolina Blue sky... the temperature is cool and refreshing.  (Sorry no photos today.) 

A little over a week ago, a friend, Ann, sent a flyer to me announcing a sale of an individual's sewing goods (Joyce.)  In her day (only a little over a year ago), Joyce was a highly accomplished quilter and appliquer.  She did most everything "except the binding" by hand according to our mutual friend Ann.  Joyce designed many, many lovely applique blocks and was a leader of and very active in both of her Greensboro guilds.  An amazingly talented, vibrant and generous soul... and now, she is quite ill and is in a nursing home...

Her husband (and family) have had to make what I am sure was a difficult and emotional decision to open their home and allow folks to come and buy her fabrics, books, machines, furniture, partially competed projects, patterns and notions.  Before I left this morning to go to her home, I sat down and wrote a little note to the family.  I could not (and still can not) quite get past how very poignant and difficult this must be for them on so, so many levels... so I wrote a little note.  I want them to understand that she was well respected and many of us who take her things home feel privileged and will remember her and them as we use her things.

Her grown daughter and son were there and I really enjoyed talking with them; they are both delightful and charming.  They did seem grateful when one acknowledged how sad this occasion is and how difficult this process must be for them.  There were times when I felt that her children might have been a bit baffled by her stash of fabric, books and patterns.  Those of us who do handwork and sew were less amazed by the stash than of how orderly everything was.  She had applique patterns and their templates all organized in 3 ring binders, with little envelopes attached to heavy notebook paper to hold the pieces that were cut.  Her original drafting of the blocks on graph paper was often included. There were notes about when the blocks were made, who was involved (even with email and phone numbers included); often they were guild projects.  She combined like projects in the same binder if room allowed.  She used some cool plastic things which allowed for booklets to be included in the binders (like in her Mola themed notebook.)  I sat in the floor for a very long time marvelling at her organization and attention to detail as well as admiring her exquisite taste.  She even had a binder with plastic sleeves in which there was a collection of oriental fabrics she had obviously used for fussy cutting.  Treasures all.

What was so difficult for me was realizing how so much of one's life can be dismantled in a matter of hours (not taking into account how long folks must have worked to get it all in order).... fat quarters all in boxes sorted by color (had she kept them that way?) small boxes priced with partially completed projects in them... grab bag like.

Now, I had to remind myself that her completed projects are in her childrens' homes, and many, many others have her creations... those will last; those will hold memories of her for family and friends. 

My sympathy for her family and the profound feelings of how transitory life is have slowed me down today...

After leaving about 1pm, I travelled from Jamestown down to Asheboro for the Randolph Quilters' Guild 2011 quilt show.  Really lovely, with some exquisite work... They have some amazing professional and amateur quilters... the tiniest flying geese blocks I have ever seen... one half inch, if that.

I also saw a wonderful Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt... I've been pondering how to finish mine and I liked this setting... double flowers, with connectors, and then 2 rows of outline connectors around the outside of the flowers in this largish throw.  The outer-most row was filled in with hexi's of the same color similar to the look of setting blocks... then the whole top was appliqued onto a border that was about one & a half times as wide as the one inch hexi's.  The corners were not 90 degrees, but rather angled, sort of like they were beveled.  I also realized I probably don't need as many flowers as I thought I would to do a large throw.

I got to see a lot of friends and was very inspired by the Guild's show.  I only bought one thing to bring home: a lovely rag throw rug for my guest room.  After being immersed in Joyce's family's sadness I realized (again) that I have a gracious plenty fabric.  I needn't buy another piece of fabric in my whole life and I still probably would not never use it up.  And, I haven't even mentioned my knitting stash!!!  Geesh.

I did buy a couple more tickets for their raffle quilt.  It is wonderfully HAND QUILTED!  (Please, please, please let me win it!!)   There is a big modern baltimore album style embellished basket with rouched flowers and embroidery... on black background and an appliqued and pieced border.  (I promise I would love and care for it... please?  I can be quite a lucky girl sometimes!)

So, as this day draws to a close, I think I'll head home for a quiet evening... and perhaps I best get on some of my UFOs! 
Thanks for stopping buy...  

Back again!

Well, long time, no see!  Being a CPA, I was swamped for the October 15 final due date for personal tax returns here in the US of A.  We even had some which were filed late!!! Eeeyikes!  This was followed by a complicated corporate real estate transaction... so no blogging, little sewing.

Still, now all's right with the world and I am resuming what I now consider "normal routine;" this includes blogging. 

Now, be warned, I think these photos were taken while I was in a daze, as they are a bit fuzzy...



Oh my gosh.... not only fuzzy, but where o where was my iron?
 
I also want to share with you all my mostest favoritest paper clips... they are rectangular, with a heart of sorts in the middle.  They are shorter than the normal "trombone" shaped clips, so they stay out of my way.  They are also a bit wider, so they hold my fabric a bit more secure.  One can get them at most office supply stores.  Hope you can give them a try sometime!

You can check out other folks hexi postings at Karen's One Flower Wednesday page on her fab web site Journey of a Quilter  Don't forget to click on her page One Flower Wednesday (different than sign in page) for fantabulous tutorials which ensure elegant and wonderful hexi flowers.  Thanks Karen!
Hope you are all well.  See you next week!

One Flower Wednesday Week 10

Well, I am excited to see my garden grow, but now I feel like I want to start to see them joined together.  I've been debating about this a bit.  They are scrappy and I want to ensure they look balanced once put together... So I don't want to start yet.

Still, I have some of the joining hexi's made.  I think I'll start making them each week... but not until AFTER October 17th (the final tax filing date for indiviuals in the US.)  I am an accountant and can hardly do anything but work for the next week and a half.

See all the wonderful hexi's folks are making by visiting Journey of a Quilter where the wonderfully generous Karen hosts us all. I had to laugh, that after writing about having a desire to start joining my hexi's several of the posts showed how they are joining theirs!  One person had just this week started that process, so I guess I am right on time.


Hope all's well in your neck of the woods!

First One Flower Wednesday of Autumn 2011!

Last Friday was the Autumnal Equinox, the first day of Autumn.  Autumn, a pensive second spring wherein the earth explodes in color, bearing seeds and fruits, all in anticipation of Winter: a season of rest... well, I don't rest in Winter, but if I took my cues from Mother Earth I would!

Still, I love the warm colors of Autumn.  I love how the light is different, with the sun in a lower trajectory the air seems clearer, brighter.  I bought local honey and quilted crystal jars to make up spiced honey for gifts for the fall.  Well, I could go on and on... perhaps another day.

For now: One Flower Wednesday!  Please check out Karen's inspiring blog where you will find great information about how to do English Paper Piecing as well links to the wonderful flowers posted this week... Click here for Karen's blogs with links 

And here are my flowers for today.  I usually do 2 row flowers (19 Hexi's) but I'm a bit over-extended, so I have two 1 row flowers (14 hexi's) this week. 

Hope you have a wonderful week!  We are expecting some cooler weather... and our trees are beginning to change... all good!

One Flower Wednesday

We have had a change in season here in North Carolina.  Today we are having a wonderful rain... soft, steady, refreshing our dry soil and rinsing the dust off of our plants and trees...most welcomed.  It is a bit cooler also.  So my desire is for fall colors, comfy sweaters and a good book.

Today is also our weekly check in for One Flower Wednesday hosted by our dear Karen... stop over at her blog and take a gander at the great English Paper pieced flowers folks are posting.  Karen's blog

This past week, my public English Paper Piecing has garnered lots & lots of interest... I gave a mini lesson to folks in my 3rd Monday applique group, and generated interest Tuesday while attending Sew Original's Block of the month.  This makes me so happy... I feel like an English Paper Piecing evangelist!  Join the fun!