AFTER - Privacy Fence Rescue

 AFTER

Privacy Fence Rescue

It is completely repaired, pressure washed, and ready for paint in a few days once it dries out a bit. I'm so happy with the results.

It is straight, sturdy, and pressure washed!

Thank you BRO for saving the day ... yet again!

#wearefamily

PROGRESS - Privacy Fence Rescue

 PROGRESS

Privacy Fence Rescue

And to think this all started when my brother offered to bring me dirt for my raised bed garden container ... YIKES!

So many things ... I'm amazed by my brother's knowledge of so many things, gardening, repair fences and mailboxes. Amazed and oh so thankful for his willingness to help me.

One of the privacy fence support beams had to be replaced. Post hole diggers and concrete were involved. Not to mention the removal of one panel to remove and replace the beam in question. He also stabilized the boards on both of the panels correcting the warped panel completely.

And, he brought the dirt to fill my raised bed garden container too!

BEFORE - Privacy Fence Rescue

 BEFORE

Privacy Fence Rescue

When I moved into this house 6 years ago, I should have stained or painted the privacy fence. The key words here ... should have.

6 years without paint/stain and neglect on my part and the privacy fence is warped, leaning and almost ready to fall down.

The Fence Doctor, a.k.a. my brother offered to come and help me make some needed repairs. Actually to assess if the privacy fence could be saved OR if it just needed replaced.

Happily, my brother assures me that it can be saved!

Stay Tuned for the rescue progress.

This and That

 This and That

I'm presently finishing things ... quilt projects ... updating ... mending ...

I updated my family signature quilt. I had made the block months ago but hadn't sewn it on to my quilt yet.

I repaired my mahjongg purse. There was a small rip and growing hole along the seam.

I was very happy to get this little mending project completed. I love my little mahjongg purse. I purchased it at a Catholic Church thrift shop in Valdosta, Georgia years ago on one of my wonderful Lake Park vacations.

I love these compression gloves ... and lately I have needed them even when I'm not in my sewing room.

Joint pain is the pits!!!!

Self Care

Whoa!!! 2020!!!

What in the world???

With all that has been going on in our world these days, I've come to realize that self-care is very important. Recently, I took a day to just be.

I stayed home and just enjoyed being at home.

I took a little time to crochet a couple of large circular patches for my favorite comfy sweater.

I had done some mending of this sweater earlier this year but the patch was to small and the sweater and patch were beginning to separate. 

This time I made to large circular patches and I sewed the patches on to the elbow of each sleeve.

I love this sweater, it is so comfortable, and I'm just not ready to give it up just yet.

So mending was a must.

I finished piecing two baby quilt tops.

The Modern Hexagon, this pattern is by @knotandthread on Instagram

This Floral Scrap baby quilt just needed a border to be complete.

Then I started something new ... scrappy, of course.

Still Puttering

I'm still at it ...

Just puttering around ...

I love scrap quilts!

I spent some time cleaning up my sewing room and getting a few things organized.

I found these cute scraps in a scrap bag I was organizing and decided to make

a quilt as you go mug rug for my sister.

Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilt # 11

47 x 51 inches

As I was sorting and organizing I found these beautiful jewel toned fabrics, odds and ends leftover from previous projects. Once I had them all sorted, I realized I had enough for a small lap size quilt.

I made 12 log cabin (ish) blocks and ended up with enough fabric strips to add sashing in between the three rows of four blocks. Again the lighting in my sewing room is not the best but, I'm very happy with how this little scrap quilt turned out.

 I purchased this quilt top years ago and did some tack tie quilting on it.

It was a gift for my brother and sister-in-law.

She gave it to me months ago and asked me if I could repair it.

I've made a new quilt top that I'm going to tack tie to the existing quilt.

Leaving the much loved quilt top in place ... just hidden under the new

quilt top. I really love the thought of leaving the old quilt as part

of the new one.

It has been a scrap happy day!

Sewing My Stash #10 Scrappy Red/White Improv Log Cabin

Sewing My Stash #10 

Scrappy Red/White Improv Log Cabin

From this pile of scraps from previous Red / White quilt projects ...

To organized and trimmed strips ...

To 20 improvisational log cabin blocks ...

Hopefully, I will get this quilt top completed this weekend. Along with piecing the backing for my Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilt #9 

Once these two things are completed I will be working on some commission quilt making.

I've been commissioned to make two quilts that will be high school graduation gifts. I will be completing the repairs on the quilt that my daughter purchased last year. Then I will be organizing my sewing room a bit. Once all of those things have been completed ... I will be able to focus on some of the quilts that I am interested in making this year.

My quilting goals for 2020 are a bit lofty.

I plan on a few curved block patterns. I haven't done a lot of curved piecing and I would like to become more proficient with those types of patterns.

I will be continuing my Red/White Quilting Obsession and Sewing My Stash Scrap Quilting ...

along with knitting some socks and a little crochet amigurumi. 

All of that being said, I can't believe that it is already January 25th!

And, just like that ... the first month of 2020 is almost over ...

Geez!!! Where does the time go???

Mending

Not only am I mending clothing but I am mending from 

a terrible cold.

Tis' the season I suppose.

A few days ago I decided to mend my favorite cardigan sweater instead of tossing it and searching for a new one. Why ... because I really love this comfy old sweater.

Somehow over time I ended up with holes in both of elbows.

I have never mended a sweater, truth be told I have probably never mended any clothing.

As this was my first mending attempt, I think it went pretty well.

I've learned a few things.

1. I should have used yarn the same size and weight as the yarn the sweater was originally made of.

2. I probably should have knitted a swatch and woven it in as a patch.

Instead, I chose a heavier weight of yarn in a contrasting color, I wanted to see my patches. I crocheted the patches as I went picking up the stitches at the edges of the holes to secure the patches to the sweater. On one elbow I crocheted a circular patch and on the other elbow I crocheted a larger square patch.

I love the results and I love that I have added new life to my favorite sweater. There is something very rewarding about mending an article of clothing and not just throwing it away.