Wordless Wednesday

Fall, please come soon!

We returned home this weekend to a wall of unbearable heat....116 degrees. 

But I shouldn't complain...I'm not on the east coast dealing with Irene.

I pray everyone there remains safe.

Needless to say, I spent a lot of time indoors this weekend and finished this adorable shop sample by Country Threads...Pumpkins 4 Sale #220.

The girls at TOWQS have it kitted.

Also spent some time trying to applique the leaves on the willow tree in the very last block for my Autumn Houses quilt.  Learned a valuable lesson...don't change something that is working.

I had been using DMC 50wt machine embroidery thread for most of the applique, using just these 3 colors. 

Don't ask me what made me decide to switch to a 60wt. green Mettler thread, but I did.  The small stitches I needed to use were impossible.  So I switched back to the DMC and now those points are much easier to accomplish! Good thing, because I have over a dozen more of them to do!

Our dive trip to Florida Keys was a success, for the most part...

boy, their mosquitoes were obnoxious! 

Our daughter and her fiance.

Our son and his newly dive certified girlfriend...GO SARAH!

The younger crowd and my husband did a few deep dives to wrecks and had a blast.   I got up close and personal with a harmless 8ft. nurse shark and survived the onslaught of the moon jellyfish that plagued the surface of the waters.  But, I count our blessings that Irene left us unscathed.

That is me!

I am anxious to return to the mountains this week.  My favorite time of year, Fall, should be arriving there soon.  September is full of joy for us...our daughter will put her feet in the sand on Coronado Island in San Diego and exchange wedding vows with the love of her life! 

I have chosen a pattern for a wedding quilt, but it is all hand pieced, so they may get it on their 1st anniversary, OR maybe their 2nd.  

Hexies, here I come!

Changing Gears

I realized that I have an appointment with a machine quilter at the end of September, so I figured I had better change gears and get back to some hand applique.

Here is the last block for Autumn Houses by Bunnyhill.

The shapes are all pressed and glued down and now I just have a few hours of hand sewing to do.  Most of the other blocks are done.  Still have to finish the willow tree in the top row, a maple leaf in another block and some embroidery.  Then I can piece them together and add the borders.

Needless to say, finishing this one has become my top priority.

Hiked the Highline trail on Thursday and was treated to an afternoon thunderstorm; but before the rain and hail started, I was able to capture pics of 5 new wildflowers for identification.

Amazingly, 3 of them were variations of the Gentian family.

All of the pictures were cataloged on my wildflower pages, but I had to share this one of the Fringed Gentian.

These were only about 6" tall. 

We head home to Arizona on Monday.  The kids and their significant others are coming with us on a diving vacation.  I have all the blocks for my 1880 sampler set up for automatic postings and hope it works correctly.  See you all in a few weeks.

Back in the saddle again...

My break from my sewing room gave me a boost of enthusiasm and I managed to get 4 more blocks for my 1880 sampler made and the patterns written. 

I need to get ahead because the next 3 months will be very busy. 

Using the leaders and enders method, I am also getting closer to finishing Pinwheels for Caroline.

Here are some of the best results from my photography lessons with my cousin.

I also used Picassa to soften the edges of the photos. 

Low Blue Mist Penstemon 

Scarlet Paintbrush

Western Paintbrush

A Blog Hiatus

Took a little break last week from blogland. 

My cousin from Texas came for a visit and we have been hiking and taking wildflower pictures to our heart's desire.  I learned so many new things about my camera from her!

I'll be back in my sewing room today hoping to get closer to a finish and more sampler blocks.

The weeds in my gardens are calling as well.