The Backside of bad news....................

I think I have been studying and taking pictures of nature, bugs and gardening

long before I started quilting.  I feel so connected to nature.  So sometimes that is

what I will blog about.  Whatever is on my heart.  Oh back to the Backside of

bad news.............

While out on my front porch I saw this lovely creature.  Here in Georgia we call them Cow Ants. 

Story has it a group of these can bring down a cow.  I have never been stung and don't want to.  I have red it is nasty.  But they have there place in nature.  Mother Nature is a smart lady, she gave
most of the dangerous bugs bright colors to warn predators.  But I let it go on its way.  I'm sure it
will hunt without bothering me.

This is where I like to preach a little bit about bugs.  There is good bugs and bad bugs.  Both have there place in nature.  Don't get me wrong if say a black widow is in my space she is going to die.
They are very protective when they have eggs.  But out of the way she will continue her journey.
So many things in nature are endangered.  Bees for instance are disappearing every year.  We will have no food without anything to pollinate it.  Not only bees pollinate but wasp and even Humming Birds. So shame on you if you have a bug zapper.

Please teach your children not to be scared of nature.  There is beauty there no mater what it is.
Good bugs and bad bugs.  Most of time good bugs eat bad bugs, that's nature.  GOD gave us nature
to enjoy and prove that he is all around us.

Miss Lola guarding the porch and watching nature with me.

Here is the Harvest wall hanging I have started on.  I love this propounded
panels.  I love to do echo quilting and adding buttons.  It is open to a lot of imagination.

Until next time,
stitch by stitch...........

PROJECTS DONE AND PROJECTS TO COME AND OTHER THINGS

 This gardener at heart really struggles , should I be outside with nature or
inside with my other love.  But it has been rainy for the last several days and
I have gotten a few things done.  Yippee !!!!!!!!!!!!  Love it when my sewing room
is active.

I did this Prairie Point quilt in a sewing class.  Our guild has sewing class on certain nights.  We have great quilters in our guild that teach our classes.
I think it is great because it lets all of this talent really shine.  Anyway I loved this pattern and finally finished quilting it last week.  Thanks Pam Cato for
teaching this class.

I used Nancy Halverson fabric ( jelly Roll ) made by Benetex.  I discovered
Benetex is not my favorite fabric.

This blue quilt that is hanging is not finished yet, needs to be quilted.  I made this quilt, I'm embarrassed to say about 5 or 6 years ago.  I have a very good
long armer ( Donna Barlow ) of Lady Bug Quilt Studio that will be quilting it
for me.

I loved this pattern. I think Log Cabin is one of  my favorites.  I made this quilt during a Quilt retreat, had a blast.

Oops sorry for the duplicate picture. Blogger isn't playing nice.

I found this wall hanging panel that I found at Hobby Lobby.  Cut outs on the left
of picture you cut out and attach to panel to look 3D.  This is so sweet to hang on your door for fall.  This panel is great for using different stitches to accent for quilting.  I've got it cut out and pinned.  I will be quilting on this tomorrow.

I don't always  think of fabric when I think Hobby Lobby.  I try to get fabric at
quilt shops.  I hate to admit it but I am a Quilt shop snob.  Missouri Star Quilt
Company get a lot of my business on line.  They always have a great deal of the
day.  I love their tutorials.  Great learning tool.

Two years ago I did block of the month for our guild.  This was one of the blocks.
Christmas stocking so easy to make.  I had a lot of Christmas fabric scraps to use. So I made a table runner.  I will do some echo quilting on this. 

So I am going to end this blog with some nature.  Deer in my front yard.  They have eaten everything in our yard, veggies, hosta, .  It has been such a dry spring
that they are looking for anything for moisture.  This is our resident deer family .  A doe, 2 fawns in spots and a young buck.  Probably her baby from
last year ( yearling ).

This is the reason I live in the boondocks I love nature and all that it brings. 

I'll be gardening and stitching................... 

PERFECTION

That word can be used in Gardening and Quilting.  It crossed my mind when I

came upon something that took my breath. 

Let me back up a little.  This time of year is a struggle for me.  You see I love to

garden as much as I love to quilt.  I was a Master Gardener before I was  a

quilter.  I am trying to bring back my garden .  For about 2 years I was unable

to take care of it.  If you read my profile you will know why. 

Quilt Guild is out for the summer.  So I am trying to  work on UFO's  and my

garden calls to me. 

Lets get back to the word Perfection.  As far as quilting the Amish said it best,

they always allow mistakes in their quilts because only GOD can create

 anything perfect.  That saying always makes me feel better about my

quilts. 

Back to the garden,  I was  ( call it piddling ) in my garden, pulling weeds,

watering and then I turned around and a brand new Lotus bloom caught my

eye.  I have a big water barrel of Lotus and also some dwarf lotus.  I love water

plants.  The bloom was beautiful  so perfect.  The down side of some blooms,

they dont last long.  It was in full bloom, I went inside to get my camera.  By the

time I came back out it was closing up.  Oh no !!! I missed perfection. 

GOD gives and takes away.  When this bloom is fully open it will take you

breath. 

My other love, my Myers Lemon tree.  It has 4 lemons and more blooms.

As it starts getting hotter in Georgia my sewing room will be nice and cool.

Next post I should have some finished projects to show.

EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED

That's what I get for being gone so long. I would love to delete and start all over again.  I am getting some pictures together to post, but right now my thoughts will have to do.

Summer is here and every person that quilts and gardens really struggles.  Where to spend your
time in the sewing room or outside   I even pray for rain so I wont feel so bad about staying in
and sewing. Then there is all of the other duties that you have to do.  But I am so blessed being able to do what I am able to do.  But not as much as I would like to do. 

With in this month I have spent a weekend with girlfriends beading and shopping in the Georgia Mt.s.  Went to Mary's Quilters quilt retreat.   We had a blast. And guess who forgot
there camera!!!!!!!!!!!!   They had a jelly roll race and a pin cushion swap.  I cant believe I have no pictures. 

Good to be back from a lot going on in my life.  I feel balanced again. 

Now I just have to figure out how everything works.  I sew better than I compute.

Stitch by Stitch

A lot going on in my sewing room.

Finally got started again in my sewing room. Nothing to take a picture of yet.  I do have some additions
to my sewing room though.

Mr Baboo made me a wonderful self for my sewing room. It was time to expand.  Since most of my sewing room is windows ( love the natural light )  but I don't have many walls to use. One end is for my design wall Which I love.  Wont be giving that up.

I love anything Jim Shore, but I collect the angels. Had to have a place for them. Nice right?

This picture is from Christmas. They are chocolate mice that my husband makes every Christmas. So cute.

The caption for this picture is getting a cow toy for Christmas awesome, taking a nap with cow priceless.  My Lola is priceless.

I have done a lot of sewing for charity and Christmas.  So it is time to sew a little for me.  On my
good days I have been in the sewing room working on a table topper and a Valentine wall hanging.
Pictures when I finish...And Saturday did a one day visit to a local quilt retreat. Saw a lot of quilter friends I had not seen for a long time, played games and laughed so much my sides were sore the next
day. So much fun.

I'll get it finished stitch by stitch......

Remember Freddie Fender?

I guess I am telling my age.  The song he sang oh so describes my life lately. WASTED DAYS AND WASTED NIGHTS.................The last 2 days I have done nothing........nothing. 

Long time since I posted was Nov. 30th.  The holidays caught up with me.  RA and holidays
really doest mix.  So much to sew and do.  Really glad to see the  holidays go. I sighed a sound of
relieve  after News Years.  Doctor threatened to put me in the hospital last of November, not
a good thought.  How do you get all of the stress out of your life when life IS stress.  Stress is the worst for my RA.  My Sid rate went sky high.  Enough of that.

Toward the end of 2011 I got sort of out done with blogging. I did do a few blocks for charity and
Blocks for Valor.  They were appreciated and welcome by those who received them. But I was in a swap
and received nothing back. I couldn't believe it.  Did blocks from a request of a friend of someone
for a special quilt. Not told if they got received or a thank you card.  After all of this I cant tell you
how I felt. I know my first thought was nobody twisted my arm but I have really struck out as far
as getting involved in blogging.  I joined a block of the week and the teacher didn't finish it she said for lack of interest.   I thought to myself......self real quilters are better than this.  I have stewed about this for a long time and had to vent.  Maybe 20012 will be better.  Blogging to me is getting in touch with other people that love what I love.  Please before you get involved in a swap or what ever don't unless you will finish. So thanks for letting me let off steam.  I know there are plenty
of  good quilters out there.  I don't have an etsy or a special talent but I love to blog.............
A good way I can learn and and touch other quilters without getting out which is hard for me sometimes.  I guess all of this in  a matter of months just didn't work for me.
No pictures to post this time. I have taken plenty to share later. 
I look forward to blogging and learning and have some laughs.

I have been working on a quilt for a donation for an auction for a Baptist Preschool.  Hope to have it
quilted soon.  Maybe some sewing for me.  But as I type this I know how much I love to quilt for
donations and charity.

Here is hoping that 2012 will be better for everyone.