Inside, projects continue to advance a little bit each day. Progress is slow. I apologize for delays in upcoming patterns on the bird blocks and the Stitchery Crossover re-boot, specifically. Despite my silence, both those projects are moving forward behind the scenes . . . Thanks for your patience.
Back to today's topic . . . Around here, Dave is the gardener guy. As much as I enjoy the garden, I'm more of an indoor-sport kinda gal.
While I'm busy inside the house, Dave has had his sight on converting as much of the lawn (he hates mowing) as possible to plants, ponds, patios. This has been an ongoing project for the past several years. This year, patch of grass at the side of the house is getting a makeover.
And he needed to get some rocks for his grand plan.
The challenge is that the new bed is on a fairly steep slope.
So he's building a natrual-looking rock retaining wall to keep the dirt and plants in the new bed from washing away. It's a hard place to work!
Dave has discovered that rocks bounce and roll a lot more than you'd think. He's had to chase a few down the hill, and when it's hot and humid, that's not so much fun.
To make matters worse, Dave is especially sensitive to poison ivy. He doesn't even have to touch it or be near it to have an outbreak.
So far so good this year, but he watches for even the slightest itchy patch anywhere on his skin, then starts pouring on the Calamine lotion. He's tried just about every other remedy out there and none of them seam to work for him.
As Dave arranges the rocks, I can't help but make the comparison to quilting. He chooses each rock carefully, the larger ones for the ends, mixing colors and sizes for the best fit. He maintains an eye to functionality, too.
Is that what we do with fabric as we start to plan a quilt.
Dave's wall is almost done. The plan is to add Hens and Chicks in the rock spaces.
I proposed painting some quilt blocks on the rocks for my contribution. No word from him yet on whether that's a 'go.' But the stink-eye he gave me when I floated the idea may say it all.
No matter, where there is a will, there is a way! *Wink!*
Speaking of Rocks
This little magenta flower is one of my summer favorites. I have no idea what it's called, but it loves rocky soil. The stems are long and wiry, with a bright magenta 'pop' at the end. They almost float above the patio because the stems are so fine.
And speaking of Dave's garden. He tried a few veggies for the first time this year. Yep, that's a pumpkin.
An ordinary thing for most garden people, I'm sure. But it's so fun to watch seeds turn into something recognizable! Fun!
As for me, I'm headed back inside to my sewing table and computer desk to carry on with those slow-moving, but exciting patterns and projects!
Pin Cushion #18, Shut-down Series
The stitching on Number 18 is difficult to describe. It just happened without much of a plan. I started with the lacy outline along two seams, then filled in the two lighter blue squares with some buttonhole stitches and lazy daisies. I left the two darker squares untouched. You can't see it in the photo, but the side fabric has glow-in-the-dark stars . . . Always good to be able to find a pin cushion in the dark, especially if it ends up where *someone* might step on it with bare feet. (Between the two of us, I tend to be the one wearing shoes around the house).
21 to go!
To find the step-by-step tutorial for the four-patch pin cushions, jump over to the blog. Scroll down to the first Puffy Fours post on March 5 to follow the four-part how-to series from the beginning.
Happy Stitching!
Be well!
Wash your hands!
Wear your mask!
Joan Ford
Head Hummingbird
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