I have been super busy the last few weeks producing four 12 x 12 pieces for my Artist of the Month show in September at The Topeka Art Guild Gallery. I wanted to do six, but I waited just too long! They are all finished except for the hand sewing on the back. Well, this one is all finished.

Inspired by the wren baby photo that I took earlier this summer, combined with one of the feeding parent.

During this time period I got word that the photo deadline for new pattern Market ads was Aug 27, so over the weekend I whipped out a larger version that will become a new picture piecing patten for fall. This will finish at about 24″square like the others in the series.

Yesterday I layered and basted it and got started on the quilting, there’s no time to waste!

For the past couple of weeks I have been tuned in to these wrens nesting in an ornamental birdhouse by my deck. It’s time they fledged and I spent yesterday afternoon and evening out there waiting for it to happen, and reading “The Husband” by Dean Koontz.

I’m sure the parents are more than ready as they have the never ending job of bugs in, poop out all day long.

Can’t tell how many there are as the most that can be seen at any time are two and the decorative birdhouse cannot be opened.

They have never shown any fear or concern about people on the deck or even the dogs. But yesterday one came in with a nice bug and immediately went into such a display of anger that the bug was dropped as the scolding and posturing went on and on. I had to get up to see the cause of the concern and there at the bottom of the tree was a huge black snake! I scared it away but still the bird ranted on. I got up to check again and saw nothing. When I sat down again she flew to the railing maybe 5 feet from where I was, looked right at me and jabbered something that I think was “Thank you!”.

They are getting braver, perhaps they will fly today.

Needless to say, I have not made much progress on the goat quilt!

Living out here in the country, you never know what you’ll see out the window. This couple was just passing through. We asked around, but no one knew them. I was glad there was a fence around our place!

After driving out to get the patterns yesterday, having lunch and tracking down a plumbing supply place for a part to hook up the new dishwasher, there wasn’t a whole lot of day left to quilt so I spent it pulling weeds. It’s hard to resist when the ground is just right after a rain.

The wild violets are blooming,

The redbuds are out,

There should be mushrooms in the woods, but we haven’t found them yet!

I only got to work a couple of hours yesterday, but I got the eye enlarged and the sections of the upper half sewn together. Also a few of the units in the lower half.

Today I need to go to town so may not accomplish a whole lot! It’s time to get “Burlingame Fire” off to AQS for the Lancaster show.

Here it is the first of March already and this little snowdrop, that I think emerged in January is still looking good.

It is only the second year for the snowdrops that I planted and they have not yet multiplied as I had hoped but at least they are hanging in there.

The ice is melting on the fish pond. Here is a glimpse of a big Koi, two of the goldfish and a Golden Orfe.

Living as I do, at the edge of the Kansas Flinthills grasslands, it seemed like a good idea to feature them in my entry to the Kansas Art Quilters next exhibit, “My World”. I have been enmeshed these last few cold and rainy days in creating this small piece and this photo shows only a portion of it.

I have a plethora of grass fabrics to choose from for my nature quilts, but eventually the favorites run out. I had to piece some together in order to use this one as it is down to the dregs!

This is all I have left and I plan to get some binding out of it right now and finish up this piece.

Sometimes you are just so darn busy you don’t know what day it is!  My poor Forsythia doesn’t know what SEASON it is!

The Chaste Tree is enjoying it’s last hurrah as well as the nice rain we have had these past few days.

When I go for my walks I carry a big stick with which to remove spider webs that can’t be avoided. This one was off to the side so I left it alone.

The spider had just run down to snare a moth and left the picoted design in her path, marring the perfection of the dew coated weaving. Further on I captured this little corner of my world.

Autumn is making an appearance. Some trees are bare, some are still green. some are starting to change color. I startled a flock of wild turkeys that melted into the brush and silently were gone.

Well!  It has been some time since I checked in here. I guess I am a one trick pony with a one track mind – once I get started on a project it is all I want to do.  I finished the hand work on the binding Thursday, “Mon Grand Père” is done! The entry requirements are different from any others I have done and took some pondering, but that is done as well, and I sent it off Saturday morning. So – it is out of my hands.

Next project? I need to get a better photograph of the Poppy quilt to send off for the cover and write the pattern and get that off to the printer. Fall Market will be here before we know it!

Even though it is August still, (barely), fall is in the air. Hot afternoons turn chilly as soon as the sun gets low.  I have enjoyed a few late afternoons in the hammock in the shade garden where it is always breezy and cool with Stephen King’s latest book. “Duma Key” is the kind that I like, that he writes. Of course I am only half way through, so it may be too soon to say that it is about real people, not monsters as he sometimes features.

It’s sort of distracting to try and read out there because of all the birds to watch, especially the hummingbirds! One actually came and hovered about a foot from my face and checked me out. Mostly they zip and zoom like mini fighter jets being very territorial and stingy with the feeders.

Yesterday I taught a Machine Quilting workshop at a local shop – it’s always fun and gratifying to see the progress attained in such a short time, I know if they practice they’ll do great!  AND, what a great opportunity to buy more fabric!!!  I found four new batiks that may make their way into my next project.

Last week went fast! Monday I had jury duty and even though I wasn’t chosen, the day was pretty much wasted. Thursday I went to lunch and a movie with a friend. We saw “Mamma Mia!” and thought it was pretty good. Wednesday I got down to work on the next project. Completed the drawing, figured out the sewing lines and transferred it to the full size paper so I could make the pattern. I had pulled a LOT of fabric Monday afternoon for inspiration, but until seeing the full size pattern to get an idea for scale no decisions could be made. During our cooler weather I had been enjoying spending some time in the hammock in the shade garden reading some art books on light and color and shadows and observing nature at different times of the day.

The photo that I’m using for inspiration is an old family photo in black and white. It has strong shadows that obliterate some of the detail. I am having to make up my own colors as I go. This is challenging but fun! I have quite a bit done by now and it is looking good!

I will not be sharing pictures as I may enter this in an exhibit that prohibits previous publication. Sorry!