Sunday, May 29, 2022

Slow Sunday Stitching, Busy Week

It has been a busy week for me, a lot of physical work.  I was waiting for my COVID test to turn negative, and restricted to the house, even though I have had no symptoms.  Happy now I am negative.  

I have spent every day for the past week working in the garage, cleaning it out, so that when I take over the co-chair position of Community Service in my guild, I will have a place to put the metal shelves, with the bins full of fabric for our community quilts, backings, bindings etc.  Our garage was always John's woodworking shop.  I never really parked in there, it just held tools and wood.  

Anyway this past week I was able to uncover the planer and parts, and one of the guys that came to my garage sale last month left a note on my door he was still interested.  So I sold that, and the band saw, plus I gave him a belt sander that had issues.  

One day this week grandson Jaeger came over and helped me get all the odds and ends out of the garage rafters strips of wood, foam from cushions John made for the boats, and various other "stuff" I no longer need.  

We set out stuff in the side yard wood and junk pile, plus added to the metal pile I had out there including the old boat keel and rudder, broken ladders.  My side yard looked like this.





Friday afternoon some metal recyclers came and picked up the metal pile and gave me a little bit of cash, and somehow in the process, I ended up taking an order a baby quilt for the one of the guys new baby girl.  I explained I had 3 graduation quilts to finish first, but they didn't care.  

Saturday morning a junk guy came and picked up the junk pile, plus an old BBQ that didn't work.  

Since the wood and stuff is out of the rafters what I am working on now is getting the cobwebs and sawdust out of the rafters.  I also had this table to go through, in which John had dozens of bottles and peanut jars of nails, screws and other things, just random stuff.  I decided to put everything in a box and put it out for the metal guys.  



In the afternoons, when I feel up to it I have been trying to work on two projects.  One is a graduation small quilt.  She likes elephants, and the color blue.  I found this panel, and am going to surround it with Goose Tracks blocks.  I cut them all out on my Accuquilt.  This is Jaeger and Cali.  He came home from college one weekend to take her to her high school prom.

I need to have this done next weekend for Cali's graduation party/dinner.  



Another thing I am working on is my brother's Lighthouse quilt.  I plan to put Storm at Sea Blocks all around.  When I was working on it last week, I found that I had not not cut enough parts out for the 22 blocks I need to have done for the perimeter.  I had hoped to have the top when my brother comes up on June 11th to show them, but I don't think that is going to happen.


What I will be working on this week for Slow Sunday Stitching is my friend Jandra's Boho Bag.  I would like to get this done.  



I will be linking up for Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Head on over and check out what everyone is up to.  

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, May 22, 2022

Foodie Blog Hop Begins, My Day




The Foodie Blog Hop starts today, hosted by the fabulous Carla @Creatin in the Sticks.  In Carla's words, the challenge was in her words to:  

                                                           

"Create something to do with food.
It could be anything from a quilt with a food fabric, to a tea cozy.
A mug rug for coffee to an apron.
A Corn and Beans Quilt Block to a drying rack for the kitchen.
Maybe you are trying to raise money for a charity that supplies food.
You decide!"


I really had no food fabric in my stash, and I am trying as much as possible to work from my stash, so I decided to make items related to food.  


Earlier this year my quilt guild handed out challenge baggies for us to make items for the guild community service or boutique.  


Both of my baggies reminded me of Autumn.  So I decided to make a table runner, 4 napkins, and I also had leftover fabric, and I made 4 mug rugs also.  




I also took a second challenge baggie and with the leftovers from the quilt I made, I also made another table runner for the guild boutique.   I used my Accuquilt tumbler die to cut out this one.  




One of my favorite things to make is mug rugs. These are some of my favorites.l  








Another thing I like to make for gifts, especially for single people are microwave potato bags.  They work really well.  The instructions can be found here at Spruce Crafts.  The instructions for use are here.  





Thanks for stopping by.  Be sure and visit the other bloggers below and see what they have to show.  


Monday, May 23rd


Tuesday, May 24th


Wednesday, May 25th


Thursday, May 26th


Many thanks again to Carla @Creatin in the Sticks for another wonderful blog hop! 

Thanks for stopping by!  

Hand Quilt Along, Slow Sunday Stitching, Long Post

It is the three week check-in for the Hand Quilt Along.  A lot has gone on in that three weeks.

May 4th I flew out with my daughter and son-in law to granddaughter Kyleigh's graduation in Boston.  It was a long trip across the country.  We got to the airport at 4 a.m, but unfortunately for some reason we sat in the plane for an hour and 45 minutes as they had to reroute our plane because of weather.  This meant that we missed our connecting flight.  We were able to get another flight out of Dallas but 3 hours later.  We finally arrived in Boston and went to visit Kyleigh.

Thursday was her nurse pinning.   Friday was Baccalaureate, and Saturday was the graduation in Boston in a tent near the port, wind blowing up a storm.  We Californians were ill-prepared and freezing.   We were at the event for about 5 hours, 1-1/2 early to get a good seat, and then the event took awhile.  I figure it we were in the freezing weather for 5 hours.  Daughter Katie went and bought some hats and sweatshirts.  I finally put on my mask to keep my face warm.  It was a fun-packed 4 days, and then time to fly home again on Mother's day.

Regis is a beautiful campus, and all the flowers were blooming.  



Kyleigh's other grandparents also came and also her boyfriend Drew.







Sunday morning we had a little time on our hands and visited Boston Commons Gardens.




I was really looking forward to having some seafood while we were in Boston, but Kyleigh is allergic to shellfish.  While Kristen and I were waiting for our plane we were able to stop by Legal Seafood and have lunch before we took off.  I had a delicious mini lobster roll and a cup of clam chowder.  


When I got home last week I quilted and bound by last two Hands2Quilt offerings this year.  


Kyleigh and her dad drove her car back from Boston with all her stuff, but they made a few stops along the way including a roller coaster in New Jersey, an aquarium in Georgia and New Orleans and somewhere in Louisiana where they saw some alligators.  

Friday Kristen and I flew into New Mexico to drive with grandson Jaeger back to California.  

On my road trip I was able to get some slow stitching done.  I only had done January and February of this Gathered Blessings stitch along by Kathy Schmitz.  I was able to get caught up to June.


I was also able to finish up this one.



This will be my next slow stitching project, another Kathy Schmitz's One Stitch At a Time Embroidery Club.  




Be sure and check out the Hand Quilt Along links below.

Hand Quilt Along Links


This Hand Quilt Along is an opportunity for hand quilters and piecers to share and motivate one another. We post every three weeks, to show our progress and encourage one another.  If you have a hand quilting project and would like to join our group contact Kathy at the link below.

KathyMargaretDebNanetteSharonKarrinDaisy and Tracy

I will be linking up with Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Check out what everyone is working out there too!

Monday morning daughter Kristen called to tell me she tested positive.  By Tuesday I had tested positive for COVID also.  I had 2 days of really bad pressure headache, and an extremely sore throat.  I had a little bit of congestion a bit of cough, but am feeling like I have just recovered from a slight cold.  I did have the vaccines plus booster.  I am hoping when I test myself next week I will be negative as I have some activities to do.  

Tomorrow, Monday the 22nd is the start of the Foodie Blog Hop and it is my day.  

Thanks for stopping by and hope you will visit next week for the blog hop.  

Friday, May 20, 2022

Hands 2 Help

 


These are my completed quilts for the Hands2Help Comfort Quilt Challenge this year.  It is being coordinated this year by The Academic Quilter.   I wasn't able to complete as many as I have in years past, but I did get complete 4 this year.  

The first one I completed was is for the Community Service group in my guild.  They had passed out baggies of fabric earlier in the year and we were supposed to make something with them.  



The second one is the Stay at Home Round Robin top I finished this year that was organized by Quilting Gail.    This one will go to Mercyful Quilts.  


These two will go to Quilty Hugs for Happy Chemo.  



I will be linking up for the final link-up on May 29th at Academic Quilter.  

Thanks for stopping by!  



Thursday, May 12, 2022

Foodie Blog Hop Coming Soon

 



The Foodie Blog Hop is coming up May 23rd, hosted by the fabulous Carla @Creatin in the Sticks.  In Carla's words, this is the challenge:  

                                                           

"Create something to do with food.
It could be anything from a quilt with a food fabric, to a tea cozy.
A mug rug for coffee to an apron.
A Corn and Beans Quilt Block to a drying rack for the kitchen.
Maybe you are trying to raise money for a charity that supplies food.
You decide!"




Monday, May 23rd


Tuesday, May 24th


Wednesday, May 25th


Thursday, May 26th


Sunday, May 01, 2022

Slow Sunday Stitching, Busy, Busy, Busy, It's Been a Year

I have gotten exactly no sewing done this week at all.  No sewing machine was used this week.  What I will be doing this week for Slow Sunday Stitching is work on my friend Jandra's Boho Bag.  I haven't worked on it in weeks.  I think the last thing I did was cut the clip on the back of the crown, which previously was an earring, and put it on Minnie's head.  



I'll be linking up to  Kathy's Quilts for Slow Sunday Stitching.  Be sure and head over and check out what everyone is up to.

Last week was our guild's quilt show which I worked at two days.  Then Saturday was our neighborhood garage sale.  My daughter's came and helped.  I was able to sell John's table saw, a paint sprayer, a kiln and after working all week on it, my dollhouse John had built for me.  I repainted it.  I have not worked on it for years and it was just collecting dust, so I decided it had to go.  I was able to make a bit of cash and that was a good thing!   After all that last week, I was pooped and just didn't feel like doing anything on Sunday.  

This week, I spent cleaning up two rooms I had messed up getting ready for the garage.  Because I had gotten the kiln off a shelf in the garage, I was able reorganize my laundry room, and put my gardening tools and fertilizers and such on that shelf in the garage.  I also made a trip to Goodwill and ReNew, an nonprofit thrift store that helps women and children in abusive relationships.  

I also worked in the garden quite a bit this week, and repotted a bunch of my begonias.  At our last begonia meeting I brought home quite a bit of cuttings.  I decided I needed some plant stands for the house, and ordered 3 from Amazon and assembled them when they got here.



I also repotted several of my orchids that were not doing too well, or needed repotting.  I love this pot I found at one of the nurseries.  "I'm One Plant Short of Crazy, Crazy Plant Lady"


Saturday this week was our neighborhood "Get Rid of Junk Day" at the park across the street from my house.  I filled up my car with some stuff from the garage.  It was supposed to start at 9.  I arrived at 8:45 and there was already two lines formed.   It took awhile to get up front.  When I got to the dumpster, looking across the street is my house.  

After I got through with that, I loaded up the car with some old paint, and some  fluid John used to fiberglass his boat and took them out to the landfill where you can dispose of toxic materials.  

I have been working on clearing out the garage of things I don't need, and cleaning up the sawdust.  Some parts of the garage have not seen the light of day in years.  Our garage has been totally filled up with stuff for years, at least 80% filled out.  I am making some progress.  Today it looks like this.  



There are some positions at our guild they are seeking new people to work on.  Last week I volunteered to be the co-chair of our Community Service group.  It will involve several hours a week, and the lady that is currently doing it is retiring from the position in July.  She keeps supplies, batting, containers full of fabric for backings etc in her spare bedroom and garage on metal shelves.  So I need to get things organized in my garage so I can set up metal shelves to store stuff on before July.  

A year ago, April 29th, my dear husband, love of my life passed away.  On Wednesday this week, my doorbell range, and this gorgeous flower arrangement was on my doorstep.  



I opened the card, and it was from my blogging friend Kim @Sarah Lizzies.  It brought tears to my eyes that she would think to do this for me, I am so blessed with my friends and family!  Thanks again Kim, I have them in my living room and they smell so, so lovely!  

Our daughter Katie spent the day with me on Friday.  We went to brunch, and a trip to the nursery.    She put this post on Instagram on  Friday.

Dad you have been gone a year now today. I miss you every day. You would play this song on your guitar The Animals House of the Rising Sun. Some parts your voice would crack. I miss walking into your house and saying Your Favorite Person is Here. You would laugh and tell me Hey! Do you feel the same that you aren't here anymore? Do you look down and see us moving on with life? Can you see me crying now? I feel like you always got me we are alike and look the same. I have your nose and your temper and probably your teeth. You were so understanding, my person, and now you are gone. I didn't cry all day but waited until now. Thank you for always telling me that I did a great job on my watercolor paintings you were my biggest fan. I love you Dad. I miss you and wish I could give you a hug. Thank you for being such a good dad. You were not a burden I know you were worried about that. I hope you are with Grammy and Grampy and Uncle James. Hopefully your sister isn't there....no offense. Say hi to Carm and Lou if you see them. I always enjoyed sailing with you even though there were some kerfuffles 😆. You were such a great carpenter and you were so happy to build your boats. I think it is hilarious that you're testing the dingy in the dirty pool. We could always find something to joke about and laugh about. When I was in highschool I was so lonely and you and mom always still invited me to go with you. I remember we went to the Bay and got moon pies and clam chowder that was a good day. Thank you for believing in me always and seeing the good in what I do. I love you always and forever dad. 💜⛵

Our daughter Kristen wrote this:   

It has been a year since my dad passed away and we all still miss him very much.

My dad loved boats. He came from a Navy father and learned pretty early how to sail.

When I was a little girl my dad built his own wooden sailboat and later built a two masted sailboat. Growing up my house was known for being on the corner with a 27 foot sailboat on the trailer. My parents belonged to a sailboat club, and by far were the youngest members as everyone else was retired. We would go with them and my sister and I would hob nob with the members at their monthly meetings. We were the same age the grandchildren of the members.

As part of the sailing club, we would meet up at various bodies of water around the California. There would be a meet up point and we would potluck. My dads sailboat had a berth so that we could stay overnight.

I remember sailing at Folsom Lake, Clearlake, Donner Lake, Delta, etc. There were all sorts of shenanigans that went on these trips, like, for example, when the boat would catch the wind and lean so far over I would think it would tip and dad would tell us to sit on the other side to counterbalance it. He would always say, Woah, woah, woah and laugh. Or when our anchor did not take when mooring and the boat started drifting away with my parents on it. Katie was frantic that we needed to swim to the boat and I grabbed her to pull her back and told that we could stay on the beach as they would come back for us-which they did. Or I was sick with a cold and felt terrible. My parents made with a hot chocolate with a little bit of peppermint schnapps.

When we were sailing, I remember Katie primarily being with my parents. I, on the other hand, always had my place on the left hand side of the bow as far as I could go. I would fall asleep in the sunshine and listen to the water, feel the sunshine on my skin and splashes of the bow smacking against the wake of a speedboat.

When the masts and sails were up, people would stop and talk to my dad about his boat and he was always so proud of it. Thinking of you today dad, John Paul Hurd, and listening to Sailing by Christopher Cross in your memory.









John built all of our boats.  He always looked happiest when we were sailing.  I miss him so much.  This has been a hard week, for us all.  Katie didn't think she would be able to work without crying.  Kristen thought she would be able to work, but then as she was writing her Facebook post, she was crying and all the way to work.  

I won't be checking in for the next couple of weeks.  I will be flying with Kristen and Jeff back to  see granddaughter Kyleigh graduate from nursing school and flying back on Mother's Day.  Then the next week Kristen and I will be flying to NM to drive grandson Jaeger back from college with his stuff.  

Thanks for stopping by.