Another busy month

Another busy month is flying by.  I guess that's a sign of getting older?

We started the month with a quick trip to Animal Adventure Park in Harpursville, NY to visit April the giraffe, of internet fame.  I would hate to admit how many hours I spent watching and waiting for her calf to be born. It was a long day trip, but well worth it for me.

April and Tajiri

April

Tajiri (Taj)

Oliver

After leaving the giraffes, we stopped at a nearby park for some wildflower pictures.

Ragged Robiin

???

Swallowtail

Excitement the following week was taking my HQ Sweet 16 in for servicing.  It was cleaned, oiled, and a few minor adjustments made, and it quilts like a dream now.

The following week found us taking a spur-of-the-moment trip to the Finger Lakes for a few days.  We weren't planning to go up this year, but it's not a long drive, and we just love it up there.  We photographed many wildflowers and waterfalls.  I know, you're shocked.  A few of these pictures are just for Di. who used to live up there.

For Di!

Butter and Eggs

She Qua Ga Falls

Eagle Cliff Falls

Eagle Cliff Falls

Deckertown Falls

Bucktail Falls

a very toxic Nightshade

Awesome sandwiches, on the BEST bread.

For Anthea!

Ludlowville Falls

Filmore Glen State Park

Filmore Glen State Park

Taughannock Falls

Because we were farther north than our usual range, I found a lot of wildflowers that I hadn't seen before.  And despite poring over field guides for hours, many of them are still unidentified.  I'll try to update my flower page soon.  Some of the waterfalls require a short hike, but many of them can be seen from the road.  We've visited some of these before, but added a few new ones to our list this year.

Is anyone still with me?  I have actually found time to sew between our adventures.  I'm putting the finishing touches on 13 place mats that were made with gifted batting scraps, and  some gifted fabrics.  I'll show them next time.  I've just decided that I will quilt them in the pattern that I hope to use on my next quilt, for practice.  I have some gorgeous quilts that need to be quilted, and I have to stop letting them intimidate me.  Wish me luck!

I also finished a Yellow project for RSC!  This is a small quilt for a children's hospital .

A friend taught me how to miter borders this week, so I'm making progress on my little Baltimore Album quilt.  Miters are much easier than I had thought!  

I hear the dryer buzzing, so must go take care of the laundry.  Thanks for visiting!

It costs nothing to be Kind!       Sunny

FNSI

After signing up for FNSI last week, we decided to take a little road trip.  I didn't take any sewing with me, but I always crochet in the car when I'm not driving, so I started a new baby afghan.  I did some extra 'hooking' on Friday night as my way of participating.

This is the quilt that I made for our guild challenge.  It was inspired by a picture of a quilt that I saw on a blog a couple of years ago, and I don't remember which blog.  It stuck in my mind, though.

The picket fence was made from the small end of men's ties that I purchased for fifty cents apiece at the Salvation Army Store,  and the flowers are various sizes and shapes of yo yos.  The binding fabric was given to me by a friend who thought it was just the ugliest fabric ever.  Because I WAS the challenge committee and solicited all the prizes, I didn't feel comfortable entering my quilt for voting, but I think I could have won a prize.  wink!  I did share it for Show and Tell, and got a lot of nice comments.

My vase of daffodils won second prize for the challenge at my other guild.

I had fun making both of them, so my objective was achieved.  The woman heading the challenge for this group next year is very Modern and very unconventional in her interpretation of subjects.  It will probably be VERY challenging for me!

I'm off to do some sewing and quilting for a couple of days  My quilting machine is back from her spa treatment, and is sewing like a dream...

Be kind.....always.       Sunny

OPAM, FNWF, RSC and Chookshed Party

May was an incredibly busy month.  I went on a quilting blitz, and finished many projects for OPAM.  The final one got its final stitches before I went to bed on the 31st.  This is one of two quilts made from my RSC16 blocks.

The second quilt, from string blocks, is pieced, but is waiting for my quilting machine to have a little spa treatment next weekend.  I guess I worked her to hard in May.  Looking back at previous posts, I have a green doll quilt, a teal baby quilt, a log cabin, and ugly pink quilt, my diary quilt, my challenge quilt, and this machine cover that I haven't yet shared.

There were also 11 place mats for Meals on Wheels.

For FNWF, I prepped some applique for the borders of my little Baltimore Album quilt.  I pieced the top, and hope to make major progress on the borders in the coming week.

I was supposed to be sewing with the girls today for Chooky's 5th Annual Chookshed party, but I may or may not have attended a quilt show with friends instead.  And I may or may not have purchased 3 new books.

A minimal fabric purchase was made of 3 fat quarters for a specific project.  I found a fourth book that I really wanted, but had to walk away.  I can always shop on Amazon later, right?

And now I must sign off and head over to the party!

Keep on stitching.......Sunny

More on this adventure later!!