Things that get in the way...

Sometimes it is just hard to find the time for everything I want to work on. In the summer especially - my sewing gets short shrift because there is so much else going on.  I normally sew from the time my son heads to bed until my bedtime - usually by the time I get upstairs that is 8:30 - 10:30 or 11.

With a later summertime bedtime - I've lost an hour - and that really wipes out my momentum.
It's also hot upstairs - even with the A/C... which wipes out my motivation.

So I sew when I can - and shift a lot of my focus to some other projects.
Like these:

Perler bead quilt blocks made by the Munchkin - magnets will be added and these will be sold at our guild quilt show in August.

Perler bead sewing machines - vintage or modern.  Again -will have magnets added.

Black raspberries -with a few wild strawberries thrown in  Have been harvesting about 9 cups at a time- though they are starting to taper off.  My first batch of jam this season was overcooked- so was like fruit leather in a jar.  Freezing the rest and will try again when the weather cools.

This is our BIG summer project - replacing the sidewalk we tore out last year.  The only hitch has been the mold takes 60# bags of concrete - and we ordered 80# bags (that's what the website said... oops!)  So I get to play with the leftovers.

Casting stepping stones over rhubarb leaves with leftover concrete.

Making handprints and concrete votive candle holders.

Cast a rhubarb leaf in a curve over a pile of sand.

And more handprints.  Basically anything that can hold concrete has been cast.

And this doesn't even cover the growing that's going on in the garden.... I will leave that for another post.
 

Bring the Rain

Today started out like a typical Sunday in our house... and after the paper was read and breakfast cleaned up, I headed outside to get caught up on some long neglected gardening.  Weeding, pruning, planting some cuttings from friends, mowing the lawn... it all needed to be done and I was looking at spending 99% of today outside.

Then lunchtime rolled around, and hubby called me in - noting that there were severe thunderstorms heading our way.  I packed away my tools, and came in to eat, figuring I would head out again later and finish things up.

Gardening was soon forgotten, however, as rainy drizzles kept us inside, and I pulled out the Perler Beads for some after lunch fun.  The plan was to start preparing for holiday gift giving with the Munchkin by making a few ornaments for aunts and uncles and cousins.  We figured if we made a few at a time, it would not be so overwhelming.

A bunch of crabs and bees and ants and turtles later - we had quite the pile - and the Munchkin decided he wanted to make an underwater diorama like one he had seen in a book.  A box was procured, scrap paper, scissors and tape were deployed, and after some box cutter wielding by Mommy and some magic with embroidery floss and scraps of cardboard, the undersea world was born.

The director prepares to tell his undersea story.

Uncle Frank's canoe floats on the sea.

The Princess' owl dipping her toes in the sea (and looking for dinner)

The gardening is still unfinished - the lawn never got mowed.  But this afternoon's activities were better than all that.

Bring the rain... anytime!  We've got it covered.

NASA Bound

Today to celebrate the 4th, we made rockets - paper rockets based on the instructions I found here.

We drew aliens and flowers and stars and stripes.  We even used stickers.

We took turns launching them off the back of the deck - the goal was to get them over both the clothes lines - but the headwind toyed with that a bit and I am not sure if anyone made it over both.

Some of the exercise was running down the stairs to collect the rockets - which were sometimes hiding in the strawberries or zucchini or even around the corner (the star and stripe rocket even disappeared - I am sure we will find it eventually)

We got good at the puffs needed to get a good launch - although having to chase the rockets in between probably kept us from making ourselves dizzy.

We had countdowns and air leaks and spiraling crashes.

And we had FUN!!!

Taking aim.

Note the pajamas in the back yard - he was pretty proud of that!

Paper, straws and smiles -what a great recipe!

Double booster rocket - NASA would be proud of his design!

Intermission with the Munchkin

We interrupt your eager anticipation of my latest quilt with some of the latest pictures of my little cutie... in no particular order.

Sir Munchkin about to depart on his quest - for Halloween goodies (including asking at one house for a Milky Way bar "for my daddy")

Crafty Munchkin building a "knights house" for his Lego knights out of some paper trimmings, card stock, scotch tape and glue. Note the sofa, chair and table (for the helmets!) The more final version includes a "head box" for all the extra Lego heads - and a HUGE console TV.

The Munchkin with Grandma during our recent visit to SC. He's been sending her nearly daily messages during her recent hospitalization and is asking when we are going to visit again.

And lest you think I am not seriously working on my Snapshots quilt, here is the Munchkin assisting with the layout (sneak preview... don't want to give too much away!)

Passing on the skills

Although I don't do as much rubber stamping as I used to, I still consider stamping among the library of crafts I enjoy and like to choose new stamps, learn new techniques, and make my own cards for the holidays.

This year the Munchkin helped. Some stamping, some sponging, and lots of inky fingers.

We had fun!!! The cards are still sitting unfinished on my dining room table, but we had fun.

So in case yours never gets to you -

Turtle of the Day - The Puzzle

I got this Turtle at a toy store - somewhere - I think it was in Japan but I am not sure. I can see the store in my mind - but not quite clear enough to figure out the details of where and when.

Do you ever remember things that way? Try to see a "photograph" in your mind? Usually I am good at that - I can remember where I read things by where on the page it was, or visualize myself doing something and remember where it happened. It does not always happen on demand, though - sometimes I have to think of something else and then the memory will creep it's way back in.

They say there are different kinds of learners - those that hear, those that read, and those that physically experience - but most people are a combination of these. I think I am a mix of a read and experience type person - I remember a lot of what I read, but especially with crafting skills I do better with a video, or step by step photos and tutorials.

And when I put puzzles together I rely heavily on what it is SUPPOSED to look like. No picture - and I will give up. At least with this little guy (or should I count this as 2 turtles???) there are no other ways for him/them to fit together.