Remodeling

These days, my life seems to be about a lot of different projects - all unfinished. We have been in the process of remodeling our home for the last few months. Since I function as designer, sub-contractor, gofer, and just about anything else that comes up, my sewing time has diminished considerably.

One Sunday afternoon - when I just couldn't take it anymore - I cleared a path to my sewing machine and started sewing. This piece was the outcome of that afternoon and, yes, it's still on my design wall - unfinished. I starting laughing when I stood back to look at it - it looks just like our house. :) So it's appropriately named "Remodeling".

Enjoy your week.

Autumn Color

Loving the cooler temperatures and fall color.

Enjoy your week.

Alabama Chanin Reverse Applique Skirt - It's Finished

I finished my skirt a few weeks ago. It's beautiful and I love it. I can't wait to make another one.

I finished three of the panels pretty quickly. Then spring and summer happened and my sewing declined a bit. Especially during spring. But I so loved working on this skirt that I always found some time to sit and sew even if it was just an afternoon or evening for a couple of hours.

Sewing the waist band on was much easier than I thought it would be. Because I was a little uncertain about how difficult the waist band would be, I decided to use a cross stitch for my stretch stitch. It seemed like a stitch I could learn pretty easily, and frankly, I wanted to finish my skirt. My stitches aren't quite as uniform as I would like but I think they look good. I probably could have practiced the stitch more but I'm more of a jump in and work things out as I go along kind of girl. I figured I could always reverse sew if necessary. Which is exactly what I did with the panels.

 Once I had all the panels sewn together, the skirt was a little too big. I kept thinking it was as I was sewing it together but decided I would go ahead and sew all the panels together and then try it on.

I was right. It was too big. Especially in the waist. I wasn't quite sure what to do at that point. Do I take it apart and make each seam a little bigger? Will the stretch in the waist band take up the extra fabric in the waist?

So I called the Alabama Chanin Studio and talked with Olivia. Everyone is so wonderful there.

Olivia and I talked through a couple of different options and we both agreed having the skirt be too large is a better challenge to solve than it being too small. :) I ended up going with the option of taking out the seams for two of the panels and sewing them back together, making my seams a little bigger. That worked for me because most of the extra fabric was in the waist. And no, it isn't noticeable, which was the thought going through my head at the time.

Now I need a top to wear with it. That's my next project although I have ordered supplies and yardage for a few thousand projects I have floating in my head. I really can wear myself out sometimes.  I do plan to make the top out of a recycled t-shirt first just to make sure the sizing works for me. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Have a great week.

Block Quilt and a Favorite Fabric

Is it mid-August already? The last two months have flown by.

Last week we had a few coolish days - coolish means 80's. It was nice to spend some time outside in what I like to refer to as reasonable temperature. Our summer this year has been very HOT. So August temperatures in the 80's are a welcome surprise.

I have a number of quilts that I haven't quite got around to photographing. Since the weather was cooperating and I was at my mom's for a few days where there are lots of interesting backdrops to choose from, I decided it would be a good time to at least get a couple of them photographed. 

This one was completed earlier in the year and it's one of my favorites. The color palette and tone are very much me. But my very favorite thing about it is the pink and brown floral backing fabric. I love this fabric. I bought extra, but should have bought much more than I did.

It measures 75 x 75 and generally hangs out at the end of our guest room bed where we all take naps as the mood strikes. 

Have a great week.

Diana

Happy Summer

FINALLY a little rain! My plants are happy today and so am I.  These photos are from the area around my mail box.

I just had to share. Frankly, I don't know how they're surviving much less blooming. Other areas aren't doing quite so well. We've had record breaking, triple digit temperatures for the last month and no rain. Actually most of the areas around me are pretty brown. It is quite devastating. So seeing green and flowering makes me really happy. Hope you enjoy as well.

Have a great day.

Quilt Blocks - Continued

I haven't been completely happy with these blocks. I like them individually but not when I put them together as a quilt. I even tried sashing between blocks and that didn't quite do it for me either.

So I've started cutting them into quarters and reassembling the blocks. This is working out much better. And I like the overall effect too.

It's very hot and dry here in Tennessee right now. It's nice to spend the day inside sewing. I love it when I can have days like this.

Have a great week.

Red and Black Quilt

I am in the process of finishing a number of projects - some quilt projects and some house projects. I just finished this quilt project. I won't tell you how long ago I started it - my friend Debbie R. knows. :) I love how it turned out. It's throw size measuring 60 x 60.

I had a fun time photographing this one probably because we were having work done on our deck and everything had been moved to the yard. It's nice to have open space to play with. I hope you enjoy the photos.

Enjoy your week.

Seaside

This is where I go to completely recharge. I love it here. We just returned from seven full days on this beautiful beach on the Gulf of Mexico. Perfect weather every day.

The Dunes

Odessa Pavilion

Sunset

Have a great weekend.

Morning View

Mornings at our house include cats in the windows.

Enjoy your day.

More Quilt Blocks

These blocks surfaced in my most recent clean-up and organizing frenzy. I decided it was time to finish putting them together. They came together nicely and will make a nice pillow for my mom.

Enjoy your week.

Quilt Blocks

I am having the best time making these quilt blocks. I have nine or ten made. I'm not sure if I'll use them all in the same quilt or not. We'll see. I always start with a plan, but along the way things change. :)!

I need to get back to the sewing machine now, though.

Have a great day.

New Fabric, New Quilt

This lovely stack of fabric is patiently waiting for me to turn it into one of the quilts I have floating around in my head.

Soon. Very soon.

Handmade Cards

Isn't this card beautiful? I love it. Last week, I wasn't feeling well. An ear infection of all things. HUH!? What? I felt like a two year old. So my friend Maxine made and sent me a couple of cards. What a treat. This is my favorite. I love everything about it - the colors, design, words by Rumi. I actually plan to frame it.

Among her many talents, Maxine is quite an accomplished calligrapher, and as you can see below, she has quite a sense of humor as well. Vincent arrived early in the week.

One of the great things about Maxine's cards is that her envelopes are as much fun and as beautiful as the cards....and she always has the best stamps! I love it when I am the beneficiary of her work.

Have a beautiful week.
Diana

Lilacs for Spring

YEA!!!! My lilac bush is blooming. We're having an early and warm spring following a mild winter. Yesterday the temps were around 80 so this produced the most wonderful aroma of lilacs in my yard.

This weekend, I plan to cut a few of these for the house. Unfortunately my cats (two in particular) like these flowers as well. (They like some more than others - don't know why). So I will have to get creative about where I place these arrangements.

Gus and Smudge 

Look at these sweet faces just lounging in the sun. It's hard to believe they would completely destroy my flower arranging in a matter of seconds.

Have a beautiful weekend.

Sunset and Cherry Blossoms

This was my view as I walked out my front door the other evening. Cherry, tulip and redbud trees are in full bloom now.  

I love this time of year.

Afternoon Naps, Afternoon Light

I've come to appreciate both. ;) Have a great week.

Diana

Tulips

I have really been enjoying tulips this year. Sometimes I bring home several bunches at a time. :)! I love them at all stages including when they are opening up, like in this photo.

Enjoy your week.

Anticipating Spring

For me, spring begins March 1. There could be six inches of snow on the ground and I would still declare that winter was over. Fortunately for me - and everyone around me - today has been a beautiful sunny day with temperatures in the 70s. Happy, happy me.

My tulip tree is beginning to bloom. The daffodils are blooming. Forsythia is beginning to bloom. These are the first signs of spring in my little corner of the world.

And my perennials are already coming up as well.

Inside, there is a lot of napping in the sunlight. None of it done by me, of course. ;)!

 Enjoy your day.