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Lexi

 Lexi is officially a high school graduate.

The time just went by so fast. They originally lived in Georgia about three hours from me. When her dad got out of the Army they moved back to Ohio. I lasted a year before I too bought a house in Ohio. I loved Georgia. But I love Jeremy and Lexi even more. Then add in a couple of surprise grandsons. I wouldn't have it any other way.

Lexi mainly took college classes throughout high school. In her senior year her only "real" classes were band, jazz band, and ceramics.

She made me two things in her ceramics class. This is a creation made to look like my cat, Lucy. Lucy died in December. Lexi was unhappy with the results as the dark part turned out looking black and not gray. It still looks like her. I miss her. 

The next is wind chimes. She strung the clacker to be lower because she didn't like the sound. She knows I like looking outside at the birds.

A cardinal. By her hands. I love it. 

A gorgeous day here in Ohio. And my favorite girl is here. So is Mac. 

It's Been Raining

 Oh so much rain in the past 30 hours. Three inches. That's a lot of rain. Yesterday I had just a little water in the basement. But I figured out why. My son installed a rain barrel on Friday. However the diverter is above the barrel instead of level with the top of the barrel. Much of that diverted water got dumped onto the ground. And into the basement in that corner. Shucks. But hopefully won't happen again. For now I opened the spigot and hooked up a hose to drain down the hill. No more water today..

My yard is flooding a bit. The creek in back is rushing. But still has about two feet before it overflows and hopefully that will not happen. 

Hopefully the sun will shine tomorrow.

Sue

Today's Hook & Thread Society

 I finally remembered to take pictures.

There were only 5 of us today. But it's a good group. The friendships formed mean so much to me. 

Now on with the show. 

Barb brought a few items for show and tell. She does such nice work. Her stitches are so even. 

I like the homespun patchwork in the corner. These were little 1" squares.

This was a Sue Spargo class I think she said. It's a pincushion and filled with sand. 

This is Barb's current project. I love using red, white, and blues. And her colors for this were fabulous. Said they were just something from her stash.

This is Jo's current project. She was busy binding it. 

She was telling us that when she soaked in the walnut dye bath the red bled onto the white and had become quite faded. She used RIT color out to get the red out of the white parts. And the red parts definitely look more pink. I loved the faded look. Jo does not. Said she'll hook another one. No walnut stain next time. 

Sheila's eagle from the Katie Hartner class. Still working on the binding.

Sheila says this was inspired while looking out her window at a woodcock doing a mating dance. How very cool. 

Michelle picked up this purse yesterday at a hook in. She said she just had to have it. Her mom died just last month, and mom loved watching the squirrels. Did you notice the shape of it is an acorn. Beautiful piece.

And this is Michelle's current project. What a cute little bunny.

And me. I'm almost done. Just a few little fill in spots. 

And that's if for today folks. Ohio jumped from cold and rainy to a forecast of 90 tomorrow. I'm not a 90 loving type person. I like it about 75. 

Sue

My Next Project

 Today I drew out my next project. 

I have all Maggie B's books and I've made several projects using them. I made my copies at 85% as I didn't want it as large as the original. Mine will be 18x22. Then I located a piece of linen that would fit. Here's the book it's in. 

I've seen a version that made it look like an American flag draped across the urn. I haven't decided on that part. 

Here is my present project. And once again I packed it and it has a bulge. Hopefully it'll steam out. I love the colors. Nice and dull, just the way I like it.

My Lexi ( 17 year old granddaughter) graduates from high school next week. The years just flew by. Soon she'll be off to college. She chose Akron University, so she'll only be about an hour away. I know I'm going to miss her something fierce. We are so close. 

Have a great day. Still chilly, but funny here in Ohio. 

Sue

A Ducky Pouch

For over a year I've  been saying I want to make this pouch. 

It belongs to a rug hooker friend. Lauren even gave me two canvas pouches. Last summer I walnut stained the pouches. And there it sat. Somewhere hidden in that sewing room, along with all that other "cool stuff". 

This past Sunday was Hook &Thread. And once more I forgot to take pictures. The pouch was there, Lauren ribbed me about not making it yet. 

So I went home and got busy. This is my version. In hindsight I could have made the duck larger. But it's done except for adding a bit of orange to her beak. It even has a zipper pull. It was my birthday and Lauren gifted me a zipper pull that says Sue. I love it.

Lauren also gifted me some gand dyed wool in my favorite shade of dusty tealy blue. She's so good to me. 

It was such a lovely day. Thank you to all.

Sue.

Messy Marvin

 My son looked into my sewing room and asked, what happened? Said it's looks like JoAnn's exploded. Just a short couple of weeks ago I had it all cleaned up, vacuumed the carpet and everything. Now? It really does look like an explosion. 

I'm guilty of getting home from either quilting or hooking and just dumping everything onto the table. Or when I'm cleaning the rest of the house if anything crafty belongs in there I place it on the table or ironing board. I frequently tell myself that I should go in there and clean. And I start to clean. But then I find myself getting immersed in my crafts. 

Mac, my 8 year old grandson, has been asking to sew. I have to tell him it's just too messy in there right now. This next week will be a great opportunity to clean. It's supposed to get really cold again. The weatherman has even mentioned the s... word.

I just have too much stuff. Stuff for rug hooking. Stuff for making quilts. Stuff for needle punch. Stuff for cross stitching and embroidery. Just to name a few. My newest interests are needle punch and texture art. Like I needed more crafting adventures. But both do sound fun. 

There's no picture today because it's just too much of a mess. 

Sue

The Hummingbirds are Back

My first hummingbird of the season arrived today.  I don't get many of them, maybe four each season. And I sure like watching them. 

Mostly Quilts

  I went to Connie's hook-in last Saturday, then to Hook &Thread on Sunday. I forgot to take pictures either day. Shucks!

I'm slowly working on my version of an antique reproduction that is known as Kinderhook. I've reworked some areas a couple of times. It's more difficult to get it done when I don't have a definite color plan. 

At the hook-in I got the two doodads at the bottom hooked. At H&T I was busy sewing binding on a quilt. I had two quilts that were completely finished and ready to donate and three more that needed the binding put on.

This was a three yard challenge quilt sponsored by the Black Fork Quilting Group. This is a fun group of ladies. We get together once a month. Isn't the backing fun. I mostly use cotton sheets for the back. And I thought this one was adorable. 

A simple way to use up some scraps. This pattern is called "June". I've used this pattern several times. The quilt always turns out great. Again the backing was a flowered sheet 

This is a Bonnie Hunter quilt pattern called Scrappy Trip Around the World. It uses scraps that are 2 1/2" wide. And again the backing is a sheet, a lovely blue floral. Some of the pictures are sun dappled. Yes, the sun. 

I have no idea the name of this pattern. I do know that I don't like it. I love the gray print paisley. And I got my colors from that print. But it's too chaotic looking for my likes. I hope someone likes it. All of these quilts will be donated to Snuggled in Hope. 

And this last one is another scrappy, use up what I have, get rid of pieces and parts. I had several leftover string blocks from another project and lots of leftover half square triangles. I still have some left. No sheet this time, but used up several yards of a green print. 

That's it for my crafting. I had an MRI of my back this week, now I'm waiting to hear what the DR says. 

Sue.

Gathered Treasures

 Let the sale begin. Lauren and I are set up for the Gathered Treasures primitive and antique sale here in Mansfield Ohio. We set up today and the show begins at 10am tomorrow. Lauren said she didn't have much stuff left. I hope you're laughing at that one. I didn't bring enough, so I went home and got even more. We were being frugal and so went with the smaller booth. And crammed everything in. So far I've made $20. 

Hopefully lots more sales will follow.

If you're in the area come see us at the Richland County Fairgrounds 

Sue

My Poor Tulips

 My poor tulips, or should I say my no tulips?

Something has eaten every one of my tulips in the front garden. I have probably planted 50+ bulbs, and usually I have big beautiful blossoms. Not this year.

And it appears the lilies got a bit of frost burn. So kinda ugly right now. 

So I'm out working on the flower garden and I went to put tools away in this little shelf. See the pretty birdhouses?

I leaned in towards the drawer, and a bird flew out of the birdhouse, right over my head, and scared the bgeezies out of me. I think it was a bluebird. Because after I came into the house they were out there just a squawking and hollering. If it is the bluebirds I hope they decide to stay. I love watching them. 

Earlier this week I went to a Mennonite run flower auction. Oh my the bidding was fast. Mostly I was lost, but I did get a flat of pansies. And since they can tolerate a little cold, I planted some of them already. 

I picked these beauties up at the farm store for half price. In the last few years I've grown very fond of calla lilies. I have to dig up the bulbs each fall, but so worth it. 

On my latest AWL ( adventures with Lauren) I saw these hypertufa houses. I'm going to try to make one or two of them this summer. I would also like to make a bee skep.

Cute. Right?