Thank goodness for hobbies!

Totally enjoying my hobbies!

Watercolors 

are Frustrating Lovely!

You never know how it's going to blend or bleed...

the trick is to not over work the process ...

it's a hard trick to learn!!

The fishing lures were from a facebook live class

by quilter Bethanne Nemish.

Blending was a challenge for me!

The next two paintings are from on line Zoom classes by Melissa Hyatt,

a watercolorist from Long Island.

'Set Sail'

'Poppies"

My doodle painting of Tulips,

this was turned into a birthday card for a friend!

My Happy Place!

This is my favorite spot in the whole house!

I love it even more than my sewing room(s)!!!

Quilting

Finally, my daughter's Mariners Compass quilt is coming together!

Originally it was going to have a cream background...

but that seemed flat,

then the idea of it floating on a dark background hit me!

Judy Niemeyer designed the orientation of the compass to be slightly askew,

but daughter liked it better straight up & down - 

which means I need to make a few new pattern pieces

and recut the fabric!

Loving how it gives the illusion of the compass floating!

Am I the only one that struggles with borders?

For some reason lately they just drive me crazy!

Decisions, decisions, decisions!!

The components to Halloween Figs Sampler

are up on the design wall - the center is coming together.

and now it's border time...

this wouldn't be such a problem if I just stuck with the pattern...

but no!

Originally I was going with the Cream with Orange flowers - 

too wimpy.

Then Black and Cream swirl - 

too busy

Ok, it's the Orange with Cream flowers...

happiness - decision made ...

Until...

the Black with Cream showed up!

Boom that's it!

Going with the Black and Cream flowers...

Final Decision!!

Moving onto the borders for

Ravens

Here comes that Black and Cream Swirl again -

and again - too busy

How about that Black with Cream flowers fabric...

Yes! 

I think I like that!

Now what about that orange flange - where to put that?

Inside or Outside the black sashing?

Definitely outside the black sashing...

another decision made.

Let's hope they stay made!

Gardening

Never really liked gardening, but for some reason I'm loving

working in my arbor garden.

Since this is the first full year the plants are starting to fill out,

for pops of color I'll plant Iris and Tulips bulbs in the fall.

Next spring will be very colorful!

The birds are Loving their garden!

Mr. & Mrs. Bluebird - just sitting!

After all this painting, quilting and gardening

Bella is exhausted!

It's a Dogs Life!

Have a great Quilty Day and enjoy the process!
                               Janet

Keeping Busy ... Watercolors and Quilting!

My watercolor Adventure continues!

Every Thursday afternoon continues to be

Art Therapy Thursday with

Bethanne Nemish

Each week is a new technique or theme - my favorites will always be ocean themes!

So when Bethanne taught the Whale checking out the boat - I was thrilled!

The first one (in my little watercolor book) was painted as she taught the class.

Afterwards I painted the second whale - 

taking my time and allowing layers to dry. 

The art of watercolors is definitely teaching me patience!

Which apparently I have none - 

so this is a great learning experience!

Watermelon Bookmarks!

Very summer!

and Bees

learning to use more water and less paint to create

the light airy wings (thats a work in progress!!)

This past week

Blowing Dandelion Wishes...

we did four different pictures using alcohol to disperse the paint

and create the dandelion base...

 Venturing off into the world of YouTube,

there are hundreds of watercolor tutorials...

Below is my attempt at a 'Misty Forrest" taught by Kolbie Blume

Feeding Bird (another YouTube tutorial)

"Irish Cottage" This was a great tutorial,

unfortunately I did not bookmark the page,

will definately have to search for more of this artist's tutorials!

another online tutorial 

(need to keep track of the origins to give proper credit)

 Lazy morning sketch!

This scene was found on line some where,

I sketched it out and using learned techniques 

created the "Cottage by the Sea" 

(my favorite so far!)

 The design wall is getting full with:

Temperature Quilt blocks

Afternoon Delight blocks

 Halloween Figs Sampler filler blocks

Just love the Tilda fabrics in the applique blocks...

half way there!!

FINALLY...

came up with the setting fabrics for my Raven quilt,

now just waiting on the border fabric to arrive!

This afternoon was spent finishing up the May block

for the Temperature quilt...

warm weather is creeping in!!

May was the month for many visits by a the Baltimore Orioles!

Who know they would liked to sip from the Hummingbird feeder!

They are such a bright vivid orange!

The Pesky Lounge Squirrel (see last month's post!)

is back playing King of the Railing!!

and sipping from the bird feeder!

The Bird Cam

continues to take a few good pictures!

Immature female Baltimore Oriole 

Catbird

Flicker Woodpecker

I have hundreds of other bird photos - but best not bore you!!!

The 40+ year old Peony bush is ready to pop!

This plant came from hubby's mother's old aunt's house!

We rescued it out of the trash pile!

It's a beautiful white with streaks of maroon in the center!

During all of this painting, stitching and bird watching...

I've been listening to my audible books.

Just finished the fifth in the Outlander series

(only 45 hours worth of listening!!)

Once done with a book I got the same feeling as when I finish a quilt...

"Ok, now what do I do"?!!

Need to select my next read!

Do you ever feel that way?

I'm hoping June is better than the last few months,

but looking at the way things are going ... I'm just not sure.

But we have to be hopeful.

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog,

please comment if you liked it and what you liked about it...

Enjoy your journey,

                                                              Janet

Staying Busy, Focused and Motivated ...

Time flies when your having fun ... Right?!

The past two months I have worked on keeping myself 

Busy, Focused and Motivated 

during the Stay-at-Home directive here in Massachusetts. 

Have to admit I'm able to keep myself very busy - 

it's the motivation part that ebbs and flows like the wind!

To keep busy - there are a multitude of projects I'm working on:

Masks ...

Lots of masks for family and friends...

after trying about 5 or 6 different patterns

I settled on these fitted masks.

I left the elastic cording loosely knotted so the recipient

could  re-tie to fit

and here is mine!

next up was the binding on a Comfort Quilt for my guild - 

Silver City Quilt Guild.

This was a nice quick and easy pattern that whipped up at one of my January retreats!

                                         The Temperature Quilts are finally coming together!

This is the 2018 layout - my first temp quilt.

2019 had a change in design (so tired of flying geese!)

and an expanded color range.

2020 is in the works!

and all up to date!

Check out that ONE warm day in March!!

Mini Dresdens

Last fall during a retreat at West Pond Inn

with my Quilty Gal Pals ~The Twisted Dresden's!

we decided to do a challenge project...with mini Dresden's!

We are all using the same fabrics and some are doing the same pattern...

but they will all look different I'm sure!

here is a cute bunch on 4 inch Dresden's!

all ready to be appliquéd onto a 6 inch square!

 Afternoon Delight continues!

with four more applique blocks,

using Tilda fabrics,

and prepared edge using the appliquik method.

and Nine 9patch 9patch! blocks

that was a lot of sewing!

Here are all the blocks to date!

Just loving the soft spring colors of the Tilda fabrics.

Halloween Figs Sampler continues!

This month was a small pieced block a good sized applique block 

and (ugh!) 42 Flying Geese blocks!

Once up onto the design wall - I realized they were backwards!!!

The goose part was supposed to be the orange or black fabrics

and the backgrounds were supposed to be the cream fabrics.

UGH!

so those went into a zip lock back for a future project

and I remade the 42 Flying Geese blocks ~ Correctly!

No picture - too tired!!!

Just for a little break from BOM's and UFO's

I ordered a cute little kit from Laura Heine

Sally the Snail...

It's all fused and on the design wall ...

she will most likely stay there...

taking life slow!

Every Thursday afternoon quilter Bethanne Nemish

offers a free art therapy watercolor class!

Wha-Hoo ...I'm in!!

First Lesson: Lavender and Bumble Bees!

Lesson Two: Mini Landscapes

(and by mini ~ I mean mini .... they are 1.5" x 1.5"!!)

Lesson Three: The Bonsai Tree

This one was made into a card for my sister!

Lesson Four: Evening Forrest

mine looks more like a swamp!

Can you hear the tree frogs??!!

went back to expanding on the 1.5" seascape

and made another card for my sister!

Lesson Five: Evening Sky over the City

  

Evening Sky over the Ocean

SO now I'm Hooked on watercolor art!

Took the plunge and sign up for an on line watercolor class 

from Melissa Hyatt ~ a watercolorist from NY.

This class was right in my wheelhouse:

Ocean Themed!

Have to admit - I'm pretty pleased with this one!

During all of this sewing and quilting and painting

I've been listening...

Love audible books!!

Love Anothony Horowitz's quirky style of writing - 

took a minute to get used to - but I really like it.

This is the third book of his books I've listened to,

the reader Derek Jacobi is excellent!

 Between March and April

I was able to finish book 3 and 4 of the Outlander series

FYI - that's almost 90 hours of Sewing and Quilting!!!

these books are great and the tv show stays pretty close to the story.

Can not wait to listen to what's in store for Jamie and Claire!

"All of the Flowers in Paris" was a poignant story of a 

young women in France during the WW2 Nazi invasion.

Had to stop sewing every once in awhile to mop up a few tears.

The past two months have seen and increase in the 

animal and bird traffic in the backyard gardens.

This momma fox goes thru hunting a few times a week

the other day she was chased by a deer!

Yes you read that right .. the deer was chasing the fox!

The squirrels are definately very Lazy,

and love just hanging around!!!

The birds have really moved in!

So far over 20 different types of birds frequent the garden on a daily basis!

 Goldfinch

Mr Bluebird

Mr Cardinal and Mr Baltimore Oriole having a disagreement!

The Turkey trough 

Mr. Tom doing his mating dance!

This turkey mating ritual has been going on all day for an entire week!

Hubby and I have gone out to walk a few trails,

last week we stumbled upon this cute Kindness rock...

so sweet ~ made me smile!

Bella Loves walking the trails!

and every weekend hubby and I have a Game Night!

so far the favorite is Scrabble!!

Hoping everyone stays Safe and Healthy!

 Have a great Quilty Day and enjoy the process!

                               Janet