Sewing and sowing

First a little sowing. These are pics from a Memorial Day fish fry we always attend at my mom and step-dad's place. He always has an amazing garden. There are always blue berries and black berries for all fresh off the bush. Potatoes and onions and squash already coming in, too. Better than gold. It's worth the long drive and the million dollar tank of gas..... :0)







I have been doing lots of sewing, too. This last week is the last week of teaching in the schools, so I have slowed down to a crawl....and I LIKE it. Sewing and knitting and lounging and spring cleaning. It is heaven.

I bought this book a couple of months ago.



Have you guys seen it? I bought it for one pattern...but I find I am increasingly attracted to many of the beautiful things inside. These are a couple of things I just made for my buddy, Susan, for her birthday yesterday. Shhhhh, she won't get them until today, but I am pretty sure she won't look here today. This is a roll for colored pencils.






(notice the Allegra in the background............ugh.)




And a pin cushion like one I have for myself. She is about to start sewing...so how could I resist? I am a sucker for any friend that shares the desire to knit or sew. These are both in the book.



And here is the color wheel quilt. It is one of the best patterns in the book in my opinion. Here is the pic in the book. The author, Joelle Hoverson, is a co-owner of Purl and Purl Patchwork in New York. Their online store has a wonderful selection of fabric and yarn! If I ever get to NY..........anyway, they have this pattern kitted up. I used my own stash, but was mightily tempted to use theirs.




Here is mine as it has evolved so far. Not a perfect color wheel in the artistic sense, but it works well enough. Now for the quilting. I think it will be a fast machine quilt on this one with my little Featherweight. Thank God for walking feet attachments.

Spring in my backyard

There isn't much room for growing things around here but we manage in containers. A little basil.




Purple ruffled basil.

Ahhh, tomatoes.

Eggplant.

This is the Earth Box my dad sent to us. This thing is amazing! I think we already have over a dozen tomatoes on the vine. Good thing as I thought I would have to take out a loan the last time I went produce shopping.


Is anyone else feeling the pinch from your grocery bill? How about the gasoline bill? I have a fairly economical car.....$50 bucks to fill up now, people. FIFTY. Oh sure, I hear people say "Well, we've had it good so far. Just look how much Europe is paying." Hello? They actually use their gas taxes for repairing highways and bridges (Minnesota-remember?) and other things besides just lining politicians pockets. Maybe even heath care.....I am not positive...but don't get me started. I just can't believe we are sitting back and taking this crap from Exxon and the other big oil companies. Yes they pay high taxes. So do we. Add up your sales tax and property tax and income tax sometime and see if you don't reach the same amount. I'm just sayin'.

But this is a knitting and sewing blog, isn't it? :0) How about my finally finished foot stool?



This is mostly Kaffe Fassett fabric, but I have some Amy Butler and other great stuff in here. It is a great way to use up some leftover fabric. Paper pieced and easily done. :0)