A Visitor in my Bedroom!!

I had a little visitor in my bedroom on Saturday night and it wasn't really a welcome one. In my dimly lit bedroom, I saw a little glob on the carpet and thought it must be a dried leaf that had clung to something and got in the house. I don't know why I didn't just reach down to pick it up but something told me that I had better investigate it before I did that. So I got out a flashlight and was surprised to find a little tree frog sitting there. Now I'm thinking 'what should I do?'  I told him to stay put and I would be right back. I ran to the kitchen and got a plastic bowl and lid (which by the way, did not fit the bowl very well as I discovered in just a few seconds). I ran back to the bedroom, hoping and keeping my fingers crossed that he was still there and hadn't jumped under the bed or somewhere that I couldn't find him.  As luck was with me, he had obeyed and was still waiting for me so I put the bowl on it's side in front of him and like the trained frog he was, he jumped right in and I put the mis-fitted lid on top..of course, he was jumping and jumping around but I ran to the back door and gave him his freedom in some hosta's..For the life of me, I cannot figure out how he would have gotten in the house!! .I was telling a friend about him yesterday and her remark was " you mean you didn't kiss him?"...Oh my gosh, I forgot to do that in my haste to get him out of the house!!  Now I have missed another chance to find a Prince Charming, what was I thinking?? I guess it just wasn't meant to be, but maybe I'll have another chance someday..Sew until next time, I hope you have a "Stitches" kind of day!!

Civil War Blocks, 16, 17, 18, & 19

I've been getting a little sewing time in again and slowly plugging away to getting caught up with my Civil War blocks.  I've been working in the yard for several hours everyday and then trying to sew for a few hours also. Our temp today was 89-90 degrees but our heat index was about 106.  I think this was probably the most humid, muggy day we have had this summer.  Awful!!! It got too hot, too soon for me this morning, when I did come in, I was shot!! Really takes the "whatfor" out of you.. Okay, on with the Civil War blocks.

Here is my version of #16 White House

#17 Comfort Quilt

#18 Union Square

Now we come to #19 Missouri Star.  I am less than happy with this block! I have been starching all my fabrics to keep them from stretching and to keep them stable. I was hoping that when I cut them, they would be more accurate and easier to sew.  I use a 1/4" foot and check my seam allowance regularly. This block just didn't come out very good and it really frustrates me!!  Last night, I definitely was going to do this over and see if I could get it to come out better. Now, I'm thinking, I could put it in a Primitive category and just "let the hide go with the hare"!!  If I would use this one several of the points would be cut off when I join the blocks together in the end..Do you think hand piecing would be a better way to go when I re-do it?? I'm going to add it to my pile of finished blocks and when I get caught up, I will decide what to do, make it over or just leave it as it is. What would you do??  Sew until next time, have a "Stitches" kind of the rest of the day.....

Tuesday Treasures

My Tuesday Treasure is this little pressed glass pitcher (4 1/2" tall) and the glass (2 /14" tall) . They belonged to my mother and her sister when they were little girls and then I played with them when I was playing house too! I'm sure there used to be 4 or 6 glasses but this is the only one that is left now. ;-( 

This is another little treasure and I'm posting this because Cheryl's Teapots2Quilting blog posted this very same little teapot today..they are small, only about 4 1/2" high and 6" long.  I can't imagine ever making a cup of tea in it but I like it because of the sewing machine and I keep mine in my sewing room.   It was cool this morning and I thought I needed some fresh air in the house so I opened a few windows but now it is time to close up again, the dreaded humidity is rolling in and I don't like it..  Oh, another little tidbit: I wanted to email a couple of new followers to thank them for climbing on my wagon and when I clicked on their picture, I had to join my own blog so I could write to them..is that weird or was I doing something wrong?? At least, I finally have my followers back after several days and that made my day!!!   Sew until next time, have a "Stitches" kind of day...

A Common Green Darner....

Nope, a Common Green Darner is not a darning needle, it's a Dragonfly and I have one and I like dragonflies!!  Period....A friend found this Common Green Darner in her yard and it was dead so she gave it to me..It really is a pretty dragonfly, although probably not the cream of the crop. There are many out there that have more beautiful colors on them. My CGD is a female, I'm pretty sure after looking at the pictures on the following site. I found out a lot on the Common Green Darner on this site and they have awesome pictures too. You can click here if you want to know more about them. http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/green_darner.htm . How can I become so enthralled about a dead insect? Maybe because it's wings look like gossamer. ( I heard that word somewhere and I think it sounds good and I wanted to use it!!)   The wing span is 4" and the body from head to end of tail is 3". God did a really good job on this one!!

I perched her on my African Violet, kind of like an embellishment, I believe.  And then I got to thinking when I took the pictures of the CGD about some other dragonflies that I have. Here is a little glass garden marker I made a couple of years ago. A group of us went to a stained glass shop and made these.  You start out with a blank piece of glass and decorate or design yours, however you want it. The glass I chose has an iridescent color to it and adds a lot to the piece. I liked my flowers when I got done but they needed a dragonfly coming to visit them. I really like how this turned out. It was fun, fun!!

Earlier this spring, I went to a garden open-house and bought this lavender dragonfly for my garden.  It shimmers in the sun and is very comfortable where it lives now.

And then I have this dragonfly fabric that I just HAD to have. It is Awakenings to Spring by Maywood Studio. I have a pattern that used this for the background and the top was all appliqued flowers and leaves. I waited until this fabric was SO hard to find that I searched the net for what seemed like days before I finally found it so I bought 8 yards!! That has to be about 10 years ago and I still haven't used any of it.  I guess the "hunt" was better than the "find"!! Now I think of it as almost "vintage" ;-), I find it hard to decide what I really want to do with it..do any of you ever have this problem with your stash?  I think I could use suggestions to get over this anal habit that I have with my fabric..this is my no means the only fabric that I have hoarded in my basement.  I think that about covers my dragonfly subject for today. I hoped you learned a thing or two about them and enjoyed the ride...Sew until next time, have a "Stitches" kind of day....