A finish and a great show!

 I bought the kit for this at the quilt show last month.  I'm not big on kits since I usually want to choose my fabrics.  I did substitute a couple in this one- the socks for one.  I'm sure this is meant for Halloween, but it suits me.  I may hang it over my desk as a warning!




Last Monday the ArtCGirlz, hung a display of our work at the GOArt! satellite gallery at the Senior Center in Batavia.

We each brought in a few pieces, many of which had been in the guild show just a couple of weeks ago so it was all ready to hang!

At first we weren't sure how to fill the space, and then we weren't sure we HAD enough space!  But it all worked out and it looks really great (We are GOOD!)

 This is the book page project we did a year or so ago.  Top to bottom, the pages were made by Kathi, Lori, Martha and Elaine.





We each chose a section of a photograph to enlarge and interpret.  This was my first "random piecing" project- and I have loved it ever since!
This is the back of mine, which shows the original picture.

 Here are a couple of the sections at the show. 

 

This is painted on one of the non- gallery walls of this room.  Isn't it pretty?

Here are a few of the quilts I especially loved.  I am going to have to go take more pictures, because I missed a lot of great work , apparently!  I'd have sworn I took better shots of more than these few!  I missed Elaine's round robin, Mary Ellen's Leaves, Susan's bird........(sorry girls!)

Sharon made this from a class she took with Velda Newman

Another book page project Kathi did

Sharon made this piece using decolorant and thread work!

Look how the crystals sparkle in Kathi's landscape!

I'm more pleased than I can say to be included in this very talented group!
(and I'll share more pictures soon!)








In "Green" thoughts this week, my tip is to remember it's not enough to just change your light bulbs and put your newspapers on the curb every week.  If you are truly concerned about the planet, there is so much more!  Talk to people who don't seem to understand.  You don't have to shout, just remind them how easy it is to recycle, or buy more cautiously.  Become an activist by contacting your representatives at all levels of government to let them know how you feel.  I know I'll be writing "my" new congressman a letter very soon.  (I surely did not vote for him since his views did not represent me in the least!)  Be informed and share what you know- gently, as I've learned.

I am grateful for:
An "Indian Summer" afternoon to sit on the porch and read.
An easy and delicious new cake recipe. (be patient, Guild members...)
A man who tolerates my crabbiness.
Some unstructured time.
Cuddle time with the foster babies- for 6 more days.

What I've been doing instead of sewing and a quilt show preview

 These are my newest foster children.  They are all boys and very hard to tell apart.  I gave them all names that rhyme with black- Jack, Mack Zack and Max.  I actually call Mack "Sirius Black"- after the Harry Potter character. He is always escaping from the "nursery".  Sirius is the one with the shortest tail.

 They are perhaps the most affectionate kittens I've had.  They aren't happy unless they are climbing all over me, pushing in front of each other to be cuddled.

 This is my step-grandson, Jake.  He is in basic training right now.  We are all very proud of him!
This was taken at the going away party his parents had  for him last weekend.

This weekend we dug post holes for the lean-to in back of the new garage.  The apparatus behind me is a power auger.  It works great until it hits one of the many rocks inhabiting the lower levels of the ground around our house.  The rocks to the left (below) are the ones Al has already dug out of some of the holes. 

 Here are a few of the pieces I have entered in the Museum Quilt Guild's "Stitches in Time 2012"

There are over 200 pieces entered this year. I'm excited, as always now that show time has arrived!  Even though I have seen many of the pieces at show and tell, I am still amazed and awestruck at the talent on display at these shows!

 

These are a few of the pieces I am selling at the Guild Boutique- where members sell handmade items.  I always buy more than I sell!









Sorry as always about the spacing.  I can never get things to go where I want therm.

It's fall- and the leaves are suddenly dropping from the trees.  This year, mow them and leave them to nourish your lawn rather than raking them to the curb and sending them to the landfill!  Sorry if this one's a rerun, but if I get just one more person to do it every year, I'm happy to repeat myself!

I am grateful for:
Having time to enjoy being mauled by kittens.
A warm day to get outside and pick up the toys from the garden.
Good football games- even when I didn't care who won!
A good joke to share.
My machine and I are getting along very well today.

Spending all my time in the garden

  I have lots of frogs and toads in the gardens- little resin and pottery statues.  None of them hop around and scare me half to death, though.

I was watering the baby plants and found a squatter in the flower pots!   I guess I don't have to worry about bugs eating that one.

This  Clematis is right off the screen porch at the back of my house

I think they were JUST hatched

I had planned to trim the clematis when I was first able to get out to the gardens, but look what I found.  The robins squawking in the tree confirmed who this belonged to.  It had one egg in it the day I found it- somewhere around May 18. I haven't worked in this flower bed since making this discovery, except to peek in the nest when I knew the momma wasn't there.  I kept hoping every day to hear the tweeting of baby birds through the open window.  Finally, on June 3, I peeked in and saw babies!
Judging by their color I think they were fresh from the shell!  Only three of the four hatched, apparently.

I go out every day and annoy the parents by peeking in the nest and taking a picture.  I'm amazed at how fast they are growing!

Day 3

Day 4

Today, June 9

I won't dare to keep doing this much longer for fear of scaring them out of the nest prematurely.

Other than gardening, I enjoyed going to the "Diamond Jubilee" quilt show held by the Genesee Valley Quilt Club last week. We went to cheer on Kathi, who took part in the "Iron Quilter" event- and WON first place- a new Bernina sewing machine!  I am also proud (and jealous as heck!) of my BFF, Mary, who won a third place ribbon at the show! (See her picture here)

I am grateful for:
Being able to be outside to enjoy the "neighbors".
Air conditioning in my bedroom last night!
Talented friends to inspire me.
Not needing to watch the clock at work anymore.
Ice cream with peanut butter sauce