June Gloom

This is the time of year that our area is deep into our June Gloom - overcast, cool and foggy mornings that linger into mid afternoon.  By the time the gloom disappears and the sun is shining, it is time for the fog to settle back in for the evening.  It is not my favorite time of the year!  I'd gladly take the summer heat, but it is what it is!

I have managed to catch up on a few projects in this down time that I keep putting off until "tomorrow."  Tomorrow seems to have arrived.  I have done so many Quilts of Valor to donate and always had the intention of doing one for my husband who served in the U.S. Navy as a pilot during the Vietnam War.  One quilt that I always liked and have done before is a QOV designed by Diane Tomlinson.  I'm sure it is still online for free somewhere.

This has been my month of being queen bee in our Gridster Bee.  I chose the Moda Village block for my beemates to make for me and I love the little houses that I have received from them throughout the month.  I will be sad when the month is over, but we get to make flag blocks for our queen next month.  These are some of the blocks that I have received this month.

 Several of the younger grandchildren have been learning to sew this summer.  It's a great thrill for me to be able to teach them and I believe they also enjoy the time we have spent together.  I always start them off on my vintage machines as it seems a bit easier for them to learn with simple straight line stitching, easy reverse levers and pedals that can also be accessed with a knee lever for those who cannot reach to the floor yet.  It also gets the machines used more often.  The boys are as eager to learn as the girls.

One of our granddaughters had a birthday yesterday.  She LOVES sunflowers and she is a master baker so I had to add this happy apron to her gift.

With the extended use of masks, the sewing of them has not ceased.  I have been making more and more for family and friends.  They are really an enjoyable and quick project.  Unfortunately, masks have become such a polarizing subject.  I regret seeing so much judgement over the issue.  I, for one, have a tracheal stricture which makes breathing everyday without a mask more difficult.  With one, my airflow is even more restrictive.  I do have a medical dispensation from wearing one, but do I?  No,  I still wear my mask when out on short trips for the simple reason of "offending" others.  I can't wear a sign around my neck that asks that you do not condemn me for not wearing one.  So.....before we criticize, consider that those people may, in fact, have a legitimate excuse.  We all need to be more compassionate and tolerant in these difficult days. Okay....I'll jump off of my pedestal now.  My current "mask du jour" is a combination of different masks.  It gives good coverage, is comfortable, has a nose wire and a curvature for those of us who wear glasses and is not so restrictive as far as breathing. They also work up quickly.  I don't know about you, but I love checking out the different masks when I am out and about. 

And just for kicks..........

Trust me, you will never see a nose exposed without remembering this cartoon!!!

The fragrant plumerias  have started blooming in the yard.  They make the months of looking at leafless sticks worth every moment.  Floating a few in a small bowl can fill the house with a scent of the islands and dreams of traveling again.

I wish everyone a safe and happy birthday of our nation this week.

PPPP

I'm a little late to the party, but Ida  has once again been the generous host of the PPPP (Perfectly Pleasing Pincushion Parade).  I have posted my pincushions in past parades, but my patriotic batch has been completed since then.  

I have a clothesline basket that sits on the coffee table and I change out my pincushions for the different seasons.  The grandchildren prefer to use them as beanbags so they do get a lot of use here.  Since we have passed through Memorial Day and Flag Day already, the red, white and blue will remain through the July 4th holiday.  

One new one was added especially for the parade.  It is a Pinwheel pincushion from the FQS and the tutorial can be found on You Tube.

These are my patriotic pincushions.

Pincushions are such fun and quick little things to make.  Be sure to pop over to Ida's blog and see all of the really gorgeous ones that have been shown this week.  

Happy May

Well....I had planned a social media break for Lent and then Covid arrived and everything seemed to go crazy.  Life was so normal when I wrote my last post.  

Like everyone else, I have been sewing masks one after another.  Two of our sons own restaurants and needed masks for all of their employees.  Between those and masks for family and friends, hundreds of masks have been made - different styles and different fabrics.  When elastic was unavailable, I used T-shirt yarn for the ties.  

I was looking forward to some other sewing once the masks were finished.  The grandsons had a remodel of their room to a baseball theme so it was the perfect excuse to use some of my baseball print fabrics that I had been stashing for awhile.

In the garden, the amaryllis finally bloomed.                                                                               

Blocks were made for our Gridster Bee.

And potholders were made for our Potholder Swap.

We've taken drives out to see the spring wildflowers.

We've taken walks on the beach and worn the dogs out.

.....and in all that time, Blogger has changed again.  I am finding myself unable to leave comments on some of my favorite blogs and I have no idea how to enlarge my photos.  I can always count on Blogger to change things up.

Hello Again

Wow....almost three months have passed since I last posted.  Since then Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and Valentine's Day have come and gone.  All were fabulous, by the way.  Why haven't I posted?  Really there are several reasons.  I have to figure out a better way to import my photos since I had to get a new computer.  It has been a real challenge for me.  Also, what is happening with Blogger that it will not allow me to comment on some blogs?  I write these comments and they never show up.  I thought it was just the new computer, but it is also happening on my iPad.  All of these changes are so frustrating.

Rather that try to go back to November, I'll just share some of the highlights.  The holiday always brings on the yearly Quiltville Mystery QAL.  I really enjoy participating in the event and I always pick up a hint or two in the process of making them.  Although the colors this year were completely out of my comfort zone, I managed to use fabrics already in my stash.  I did change the borders as I could face no more pinks!!  Now I have a gazillion leftover HSTs to use somewhere.

The holidays are always so hectic here.  When the new year rolled around here I just wanted to sew something that was "quiet."  I had an old jelly roll that fit the need.

We had our annual family snow trip and spent a little time at the beach.

DH with our "daughters".

Our Gridster Bee is busy again this year with cute ideas.  Carol requested the TV blocks and Elizabeth is queen this month with her Sawtooth block and envelope signature block.  Instructions for her cute blocks are on her website.

To celebrate a couple of holidays, a few minis were made here.  The heart is a free tutorial found at Freemotion by the River blog.

Temecula Quilt free pattern

I picked my winter "mini" pineapple and it was delicious - so sweet and juicy.  If you are interested in raising your own pineapple, it takes a few years.  Just dry out the top of a fresh pineapple, plant it in a pot and w...a...i….t!  I have an ongoing pineapple garden here.

Size compared to tangerine.

I will try to be better about posting, but if you are not seeing a comment from me on your posts, it could very possibly be because I can't.