Crazy Quilt Class

I pieced this block for my Crazy Quilt class using a fairy fabric I found. I used the fairy fabric for the colors and fabric that I used in the block. I have my last embellishment class next Tuesday. I signed up to teach the same classes again in the fall. I need to embellish this block.

I pieced this block in class. I have not sewn the trims down yet. I usually just tack them because I will embellish them with embroidery. I think I will piece a third block in the class in the fall and then I will have a wall hanging with three blocks. Maybe I will start another project for the Fall class. I just don't know yet.

On another note, my new friend Dorene gave my friend Jeanne and me several boxes of vintage ties. I haven't gone through them yet but it was very nice of Dorene. Exciting!!

Fireplace Quilt, Maybe?

I pieced the blocks for the fireplace quilt and hung it on the closet door in my sewing room. I like it but I am unsure if this is really what I wanted. I also taped it above the fireplace to see what it looked like and I just don't know if the colors are right. I may start over but I will finish this one anyway.

Fireplace Quilt

I needed some Art for over my Fireplace in the Family Room so I thought what better to put there than a quilt? I love really rich jewel type fabrics so I have put together some that are golden brown, purple, blue, green, etc. I have used the "Stack and Slash" method for these blocks. At this point, I am not sure that this is what I want but I will finish it anyway because I like the colors and fabric. This is after I cut the pieces and re-arranged the fabrics.


This is the stack of blocks.

This is them spread out to see all the colors. Love them! These started out as 10" squares of fabric and ended up being about 9" wide after sewing them back together.

We finally finished our back yard landscaping. Our yard is very small but we back up to a foothill and no one can build back there so it is very private and quiet! This is looking to the right.

This is looking to the left. That hill over there means no one can build on that side either. I love to cook with fresh herbs so there are my herbs in pots. We have 3 hummingbird feeders and they are very busy. I have been able to count 10 birds at one time on them. They are so fast.

This is the side yard. I have a vegetable plot there for tomatoes, peppers and zucchini. The soil is pretty poor here so I have tried to amend it a little but it will probably take some time to get it where I want it. I have a dwarf Lemon tree, too. Doesn't this look like a stream bed? I might put some of my Ozark Rocks, that I brought from Kansas City with me, in there. Kind of like a Japanese Rock Garden. That is decomposing Granite in the stream bed area. It glistens in the sun.

This is the other side. They built this little retaining wall at the bottom of the hill and put decomposing granite in the path. They did a really nice job. Jose was very much a perfectionist and a very nice man. I would recommend MNR Landscaping to anyone in the Southern California area. They like it when you make them toast for breakfast!

I taught my Crazy Quilt Embellishment class last night. This is the stuff I was putting together to take to show them. Threads, Beads, Ribbons, Sequins, Oh My!!!!

Babies are Gone!

Yesterday they were standing at the door of the nest, and this morning they flew the coop! My baby finches are gone. I hope they do well and grow into fine adults. Just like teenagers, they left their room messy! Poop! I don't know whether I should leave it in case they want to raise another brood or clean it up. What do you think?

Baby Finch Coming Out

I had to post this. One of the Baby Finches is testing coming out of the nest. He let me come pretty close. I didn't test him too much. I think he is getting used to me because I look in on them every day. Check here for the whole story.

This afternoon, we also had a family of Hawks calling to their baby. The baby was on the corner of our roof for a while. I tried to get a picture of him up there but he flew off. I don't know if this is the baby or not. He kept calling for several hours. Quite noisy. The picture is not the best. I had to zoom in on him.

I am getting ready to go to teach my Crazy Quilt class tonight at the Fabric Patch. http://www.thefabricpatch.com/ I have eleven students. I will be teaching 2 more embellishing classes in the next two weeks.

A Little Help From My Buddy

Today, I was preparing for the CQ class I am teaching on Tuesday and had some help from my Buddy. He is the best boy. They don't come any sweeter. His name is Buster but I have always called him Buddy.

Back Yard Landscaping

As part of buying our house, the HOA required that we had to landscape the backyard within eight months of moving in. We have had a company working on it all week and they will be back next week to finish up. It will be really nice to have it done. I am so tired of all the dust that comes in the house every time we walk in and out of the back door!

This is a view to the right. Where the table is will be a nice big patio. Grass will be next to it on the other side. A little enclosure will be around the air conditioning units to hide them. We are thinking of planting a Dwarf Date Palm or 2 at the bottom of the hill in the corner by the fence.

This is a view to the left. Grass will be over there on the other side. We are thinking of planting a Queen Palm and/or a Sago Palm or 2 in the corner by the wall.

This is the larger side yard. I think it kind of looks like a stream bed going down the center. The soil on the left will be my vegetable and herb garden. I have tomatoes all ready to plant. The center area will have decomposing granite in it. It will supposedly be about the same color as the wall.

We may put another patio in here at a later date. Maybe a hot tub with a pergola? That will be a long way down the road.

I can't wait for it to be done so we can set our bird feeders back up and sit outside and watch them. It will be a place of peace and serenity. I can't wait! Did I say that already?