Life's Little, Scrappy Distractions ~

I've been messin' around with little sewing bits--tiny, actually--just for the challenge. Oh yes, I have been way busy with school and cannot believe I'm
working on the first quarter grades! But, I've been trying to reintroduce 

~ B a l a n c E ~

which somehow evaporates with life demands. 

I'm gonna share some photos, it's up to you 

if you want to read the messages in between ~

 



These spools were my summer project from Bonnie Hunter, 3"finished, and all from scraps. I used a spool fabric print for sashing, but my favorite print is the top view of spools that are in the cornerstones. Needs to be quilted.
   
That thin turquoise flange was a chore for some reason, but I'm happy with the results.
Edited to add: Miss P. had a good idea for this to be linked to the challenge on Jo's Country Junction; maybe I'll up the game to get this one quilted! Thank you, P!

 

From each spool block was 4 bonus, or what I prefer to call "redeemed" hst's.
 



They were tiny, but I thought, "Why not?," and would get a tiny pinwheel with each spool.


 


This pinwheel Irish chain block is the result of those redeemed blocks! Set together in a 12 inch finished block, the math is 335 pieces per 12 inches! 

 

I have 4 completed blocks to make a 24" table topper. I've run out of my pretty confetti background, so it is sitting for the next fabric selection....

From there, I've moved to these 1 1/2 inch half square trianges...jus' cuz'... no real plans.....
 

This are the final photos from the quilt I made from Leanna's embroidered blocks. It was finished this summer, but she let me borrow it to share at quilt class and get photos taken.

~ Love this quilt ~

In the other "household" news,  Larry is not feeling well, and is facing another surgery, bless his heart. He is also unemployed, but working constantly with anything he can. It is wearing, as you can imagine.... We have been doing our Bible studies on the Sovereignty of God. Amazing blessings to be had...!

My second grade students are adorable, but quite a challenge this year. Over half of the class has diagnosed learning disabilities on various levels, and its hard work trying to bring them up to the mark. These are the years you question your own capabilities! Hopefully, we will get through with some growth in each of us, student and teacher, lol

Lastly, I just am not happy with bloglovin'. More times than not I cannot leave a comment on a friend's blog, without pulling the blog up on a separate window. It has caused me to slow down on my connections, and mostly I just connect though my own bloglist. Sorry for the grumbles, but one more reason I've felt a little lost from blogland.

 So, all that to say hello, and we are still kicking. Hope to get the posts coming a little better than one a month. Happy Saturday!


Happy Quilting, 

"Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength… Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but her leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.'" Jeremiah 17:5a, 7-8

 

"What I Did On My Summer Vacation"....

I see the last post dated one month ago...wow. I'm already back to work in the classroom, making it a bright, happy place of learning. There are teacher's meetings next week, and first day of school is September 4th. So, I'm sending off a quick photo post, and hoping for more to come later. :-}

 

Leanna's blue and white embroidery quilt: quilted, bound, washed and crinkly! It was returned to her without a photo :-\ I'm hoping to borrow back for a class share next month, and take a picture then ~

This was my only visit to the Long Beach International Quilt Festival ever, "only" because next year it is moving to another state. But, I can say I was able to go! Notice the quilts that inspire me have Color, and great prints ~

I love these bright, happy hearts ~

The sewing room is still slow going...what excuse is there...I guess it's not as inspiring to me as creating is. So, there's the truth for you, and I'm moving on...!

 There are about one hundred 3 inch spools here from Bonnie Hunter's pattern, 

all scrappy, sewn into 4 patch blocks. 

Hope to get them sashed together for a lap sized quilt ~

 My second shirt this summer, it still needs buttons and then it's ready to go ~

 I love puzzles of all kinds. Does any one else look at quilting as a puzzle solving activity? This Ipad is probably a reason the sewing room isn't done, since it seems to find it's way into my hands daily for blog reading and reading, too. So far, I've read 6 books this summer, including the Hunger Games series. I'm on Odd Thomas right now. I have access to Lydia's Nook library, and Jeff's Kindle Library through apps they put on for me. This Ipad is really for my class, not mine, but I have enjoyed the access to it this summer!

 This is a rug loom from Country Threads. I ordered the loom, book and DVD for my birthday in July, started tearing my lesser favorite fabric, and the first rug is just about done as you can see. So far I'm figuring about 7-8 yards of fabric for a rug! I want to make a tshirt rug, too. Weaving has been a nice activity, and less hard on my hands than crocheting rag strips.

 

The quilt on the frame is a pretty batik Friendship braid, and has me humming You Can Quilt That Out.  It is on the bias and quite ripply... I now know why my client through her hands up in the air as she gave it to me and said to do whatever I wanted to, lol ~

 

We have been swimming 1-2 times a week with Beth and Jerry, Larry took 1 day a week mini vacation days and we enjoyed each other's company in their pool, or reading, sewing, R&R days for true! 

Now, it's back to typing class lists, filling out calendars, pulling book sets, running off papers and returning to the school days of life. What do you bet I will find time to post better, back on a regular routine? :-}hugs!

 

Happy Quilting ~

 

"From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised." Psalm 113:3