Man! I've been having issues all day.

Yesterday, I went from couch to sewing machine to back to couch.  Today, I have been sad all day.  Thought it was the dog days of summer.  Forced myself to go swimming today.  While swimming my 9 laps (1/4 mile) it hit me.  Didn't drink any water.  Just moping around.  After July 4th for the past 30 summers I would dread having 5 weeks of summer left before school starts.  Lo and behold!!!  Lily caught a hairless 6" baby rat.  Smokey brought home an 8 lb squirrel and I realized...I don't have to count weeks. I'm fully retired.  It felt like someone?  Smokey? Lily? George?  was going to take away my retirement and make me go back to that classroom.   Got a glass of water w/ lemon and a sewing machine ready to sew.  Almost done w/ top of white quilt.

 no more simple blocks for me.  I took the free Craftsy class by Laura Nownes

take the time

that's what i learned most of all w/ teacher Laura Nownes.  You can find her on line.  What an amazing artist.  I always said:  "i'll get back to it" and Laura is right.  I won't and I don't.  I can't wait until this quilt is done.  Its so beautiful.

thank you laura.  thank your craftsy.

binding.

Spent the evening teaching binding.  S l o W.  mitered corners.  stuff the binding.  meas. 3x cut once.  who came up with these rules?

check these pts out.  took class from Craftsy.com  its free all online.  i can't believe what people post.... why is teacher doing it this way?  I like this method better.  Egads!

a block a day ha!!

Now I know why no one has tried to complete a block a day.  Some of these blocks you will see have taken me 2-3 days to complete.  Sadly I can continue making simple blocks or move back to the art quilting that I love.  The block a day program is kaput! As I begin and complete projects I shall post.  I highly recommend star blocks.  Yup!   Star blocks almost killed me but the skills I learned are invaluable and I now use every single moment I'm sewing.

                                   this took 3 days to complete

a new art quilt.  Slightly pale peach fabric.  quilting in gold thread

dog days are a barking

dog days of summer are here

just to hot to breathe.  just to hot to sleep.  just to hot to walk dog.  not to hot to sew.

fun block and actually is 12 1/2" if you a make sq.  not quite 8 in and trim down.

3 squares stack on top of each other and cut pt to pt.  4 triangles  7 5/8  (i did 8 ")
stitch lt to dark.  stitch med to light

4 rectangles 2 1/4 x 7 (remember rectangles don't need increase in measurement)

tools

Went with photo club to dog agility.  Oh how much fun.  I love watching the dogs jump and run through tunnels.  Learned how to use my camera today.  ISO, Aperture, manual.  oh my!!!!  All the stuff you forget when you get lazy and let the tools do the work for you.  Teacher even had me use a tripod.

fun block to do.  So if it's 12 1/2"  each segment (1/2 sq triangle) has to be 4 1/2 in.  So Again:  I cut each sq. 5" and then trimmed to the perfect size.  What a great secret.