Lynn Carson Harris

The Vegetable Garden

We have been planting in our garden. The garlic wintered over well. The onions went in last weekend and the peas and radishes have sprouted.  Today is potato planting day.

The March blocks for my Bee FF group also sprouted this week. (yes, I am a little behind.)
eggplant

moonflower

Lu (septemberbird) requested blocks for a garden quilt. I was going to try some pieced designs but they were not working out to look very pretty so I tried something that is more familiar me. Applique.

Once I had settled on the design the sewing went zippy fast.

I am off to the garden to plant potatoes.

I hope you are having a great weekend.

 

Edit to add: Spinach, parsley, and lettuce have also sprouted.

Nine-to-Five

Also finished this week was the mate to Adele's Nine to Five sock.

Pattern: Nine-to-Five by Nicole Hindes
Yarn: Supersock Select by Cherry Tree Hill @00% Superwash Merino
Color: Moody Blues
Needles: 2.5 mm

The pattern was easy to follow and fits great. I like cable detail that flows down the heel flap.

And look, those are grape hyacinths in the background. Spring is springing!!

Wordless Wednesday

Hooked

I got hooked on a new project. I was looking for something in the sewing room last week and found a basket of cotton yarn.

I had been planning to make some potholders, so, I started and then couldn't stop until I had used up the whole basket of yarn.  A couple of these will be going to the kindergarten wing of P's school. When I was there making Little Red Hen Bread with them I noticed that they didn't have any pot holders and I had to use my sweatshirt to carry the hot pan from the oven all way back the to the classroom. Luckily I had another shirt on under it!

Cleaning up the slow way.

Now, if I could just remember what I was looking for when I found that basket of yarn...

 

Happy Easter

I hope you are having a great Easter weekend.

Happiness

Things that are making me happy this week:

a warm sunny day,daffodils finally opening and other signs of spring,

family at home,

onions in the ground, pea sprouts, and other garden growings,

family fun with eggs,

drawings by P,

grocery lists with items like "emenems", "londry sope", "toylet papr", and "joose".

What is making you happy?

 

 

String Stars

It is still cold, cloudy, and rainy so here's a burst of color for you.

This quilt is inspired by old string quilts.

I made this quilt top while at my retreat a few weeks ago. I used the same technique that I used to make this quilt and this one.  The basic idea is to sew pieces together until there is a chunk large enough to cut the shape needed for the quilt design. For this quilt I started with a narrow strip of orange and added strips to either side until I could cut out a diamond piece for the star. When cutting the diamonds I made sure that the orange strip positioned the same in each one.

This was a good "use the fabrics" quilt. The sashing width was determined by the about of green fabric that I had. I also used all of that blue that I had for the background.

The binding is the same fabric as the ring in the stars. The back is a pretty purple print.

The quilt measures 42 inches by 42 inches. You can find it here.

Snow and a Little of This and That

I have been progressing on a number of projects both knitting and sewing. The  quilt I started at retreat a few weeks ago is almost finished. I made the top while at retreat and have been working on the quilting in small spurts. I am eager to show that one to you. The lighting isn't good for photography today anyway.

This is what I saw from my front door this morning.

Yes, it has been snowing all morning. Isn't it April?

I also pulled out a long buried UFO and did some quilting on it. I'm trying to decide if it needs more. Well, actually I quilted it twice. I wasn't happy with the first quilting so I picked it all out. Good thing it's a small quilt.

I made the top about ten years ago using the pattern Harmonic Convergence by Ricky Timms. The top is made from one piece of hand dyed fabric.

I have also been doing a little planning.

I want to make a quilt for the Robert Kaufman "No Prints Allowed" quilt challenge. I'm starting with the charm squares pictured but, of course, need to add another fabric to go with them. So, I broke down and actually made a fabric purchase today!! The first fabric or yarn purchase since LAST YEAR! I even restrained myself to ONE FABRIC. I also must say that I am thrilled that my local quilt shop now carries the entire Robert Kaufman solid fabric line!!! There was a whole WALL of solid fabrics to choose from.

I am OK with breaking my stashpact because 1. It will be used in a quilt right away. 2. I purchased a solid fabric and solid fabrics never go out of style or look "dated". (My goal after using up some prints was to build the solid palette)

Meet my new fabric.

Avocado.

Now I just need a sewing plan.

Thoughtful Sunday

"Perhaps," she said, "to be able to learn things quickly isn't everything. To be kind is worth  a great deal to other people."

A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1905.

Lady Bugs!

The spring session of after school art club started this week. It has grown so that I now teach two classes! We are doing some spring themed art. For this three week project they made butterflies, birds, flowers, and lady bugs! I just had to show you these cute lady bugs. I love how they are so different, yet the same.

They drew them on mat board and then covered the lines with glue gel. Next week they will paint the whole board one color. Week three we will put black shoe polish over them. 

Trust me, they'll look great.

We also started another project with watercolors. Busy. Busy.