A Little Sewing for This Week~

 
Poppin' in to say hi, and share the catch up sewing done here this week. I think this will be the year of the house quilts for me! I joined in with Terry's Houses Quilt Along, and finished January's on time.

 January

February

 

 March

 

But February and March houses waited until this week. We made 2 each, I just failed to show all six in the photo. April's houses are going to be green, maybe I can get a headstart....


This was a block that I paper pieced. I saw it and worked it out in my head until the puzzle was solved. Do you do that? Anyway, last time I showed it in pieces,

    and here it is together. Kinda cool!

The Davis household has been suffering with the flu. From Larry, to me and now Lydia. We are crossing our fingers that Jeff and Jerry make it through unscathed...but I'm home with a couple of sick days. Maybe there will be more sewing, and maybe I can catch up on reading blogs. ttfn ~

"My son, forget not My law; but let thine heart keep My commandments: for length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee." Proverbs 3:1,2

 

Lighthouse, Bubbles and Tidepools

My second graders had a lesson in the sea creatures of the Pacific Ocean. On Tuesday, we climbed aboard the school bus for the 90 minute ride (one way!) to Pointe San Vicente Lighthouse.

 

 Watch their faces! It's so fun to see their excitement!

 My friend, retired teacher and mentor June Styffe, met us at the Lighthouse with some huge bubble wands, as only 5 can go up into the lighthouse at one time.

 

 Our 30 minutes there were filled with climbing,

 

making bubbles, and visiting the little mariner's museum filled with lighthouse memorabilia.

 Here's my effort to get a group picture, they are so wound up in the fun day!

 

We ate lunch at the Interpretive Center, where there are whale watchers keeping track of any whales in the area. There had been 4 whales spotted that morning. 

We only saw dolphins, boats and seaweed!

Next up was the Cabrillo Museum and touch tank. The students had a "Sea Hunt" paper that helped them stay focused on the task. Then, we went into the touch tank area. 

Again, I so enjoy watching their faces light up at their experience there!

The last part of our trip was a hike over to the real ocean tidepools. Here, the children see the animals in their natural environment, and it is surprising the difference that appears.

Jezreel's mom was pointing out a sea anemone. (age marker- I was Jezzy's dad's Kindergarten teacher...oh, my...)

My son in law Jeff made the trip with us. I enjoyed his enthusiasm, lol!

We went all over the area. We scheduled the trip with the low tides ~

Boy, this was fun, Mrs. Davis!

~and this is the only thing that was sewn this week~

Have a great week !

"Fear God, and give glory to Him... and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea...." Revelation 14:7

I Spy, Dr. Seuss and Other Smiley Fun ~

Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!

We had a bit of celebration at school, my class brought in about 40 Dr. Seuss books from home and we read and copied poems from One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish (which is one of my childhood faves). Each of my kids read alone or together their poem of choice from the book to the whole school during a Dr. Seuss assembly! They all did a wonderful job, and we came back to class and ate a cookie shaped like a fried egg, frosted in white and a green (white chocolate) "yolk" dot, you know, those dots of chocolate you melt to pour into molds? Sorry, I forgot to get a photo of those! 

 

But, I did do a math lesson on measurements, and wore an apron made (basically) from 1 yard of fabric. It was a great day.

 

Funny how many of the girls commented on this little scallop stitch detail on the pockets, 

 ~ complements of Bernina stitches ~

The I Spy quilt was pinned on the frame last weekend in hopes of posting a quilt finish for February, 

 

but alas, the machine that I refuse to name again was being persnickety, and so the bobbin case has been taken to the quilt shop machine dr. Hopefully it will be getting the "inoculations" needed to get up and running. I will take the whole machine in, but dr. Shelley didn't think that was necessary yet... 

 

 I'll show more of this one when I can get it finished.

Lydia is making these pens with colorful duct tape. Something new to grade with at school. Tape roses, 

~ how cool ~

 Meanwhile, our quilt class enjoyed this I Spy swap so much, that I'm offering 2 swaps this time one with I Spy and one with polka dots. 

 

I knew it was coming up, so if a dot print caught my fancy, I'd pick up a piece here or there. 

 

 Well, when I pulled my pieces out, look what I've done- I only needed two one yard pieces! There is more than enough since we are only swapping charm squares. Lol, looks like I will be having fun with dots ~

some of these prints are actually charm squares from a previous dot swap online 

Speaking of fabric finds, while I was in purchasing the Dr. Seuss pieces this past week, 

 I found this cute print for faces in the tiny houses from scraps. 

 

Remember, the window opening is only 3/4 inch finished, 

 so you really must search to find a happy face that little. Lookie: 

a girl beaver in the water-with a pink hair bow!!

 

-and, this little drawer organizer keeps the tiny pieces organized until ready for use.  

Can you see little Tory laying on the bed in the sun?

It was a bonus Highlights gift from school many years ago, isn't it sweet?

My method is to make a dozen or so windows, then so many doors, and I've learned to make the roofs and chimneys at the same time, because I have different prints I'm using for the sky. 

                                                      

These are windows from a Mary E. flower print 

 this is my favorite heart for the window, remember this print from long ago? I wish I had more!

Then I sit and assemble what roof goes with what door and window. 

Occasionally, one piece has to wait until I make one especially for it, but I just pin the pieces in a stack until I've made one I like to go with it. This is much faster for me, without too many decisions.

See how little pupperdo is ignoring me and the camera, I've even gotten closer, but no looking at the Momma! What a toot!

There is one of the pretzel bins of bitty bits for these tiny homes 

 

~ More than 100 houses in this basket ~

Happy Quilting!

Pokey 

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4