Sunday, October 20, 2013

A Little Quilting, Stitching, and Gardening

Hello to everyone...It is an absolutely beautiful fall day here in Ohio!  I just love this time of year.  The air is crisp, that awful humidity is gone, and it is just wonderful to be outdoors enjoying the weather!  You will notice I hope that I changed the photo on my header to be more appropriate for the season.  Here is another picture of some outdoor fall decorating.  The garage in the background was the original carriage house, complete with hand hewn beams and the old wood shingles.



The dear friend Pattianne was here for a visit, and we always have the best time together!  We planned stitching projects, quilting projects and shop!  She gifted me with this lovely pewter tea set which fits in perfectly.


We planned another Civil War quilt.  This one is a Broken Dishes quilt with 6 inch blocks, so it will take a long time to complete.  Here is my progress so far.  On my first block I made mistake after mistake, but I believe I have figured it out now. :)


 I have also returned to a Nickel Quilt that I started a few years ago.  It is called Paducah Nine Patch.  For those of you who are not quilters, a nickel quilt is made from pairs of five inch blocks in a dark, medium, and light colors that are then cut into small pieces and sewn together.

 I have also been busy with a large gardening project, or rather an un-garden project.  Part of the area as you walk up to the door looked like this, very pretty in the spring, but after that not so much, and just a mud hole all winter.  Plus the lighting conditions were very difficult.  I took up the stone path, moved it and turned it into a stone wall, moved all the flowers and put it some bushes for winter interest.  Then had it sodded.  Voila!  Grass for little Bella!

Before:


After:




Next week we are having a major landscaping project done in the back yard where the pool used to be. I am very excited about this and will share pictures of the progress.

I am also working on some more sampler sewing pockets to have available on this blog next week.  They make excellent Christmas presents for the sampler or primitive lover!  Stay tuned!!

Melinda

13 comments:

  1. Your yard looks great! I love both sets of blocks too. So pretty! Good luck with the new landscaping project!

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  2. Hi Melinda...you have been very busy!
    We had great weather today but I stayed in all day catching up.
    Happy Fall
    earlene

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  3. Love seeing your homestead. Anxious to see the backyard project.

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  4. Your home and the area around it are so pretty . That part of the country is wonderful in the fall. Great quilt squares. Your yard project looks good.

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  5. Wow looks like you have been very busy in your back garden, gardening is such hard work but oh if you get it right so rewarding, look forward to your progress pics - Amanda

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  6. Evening Melinda, cold and windy here today, yikes.....you have been a busy bee, love the after shot, very nice and adore the quilt squares too, Blessings Francine.

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  7. WOW, Melinda ~
    That was an ambitious project.
    Beautiful quilt blocks. I wish I had half your talent.
    Hugs :)
    Lauren

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  8. Can't wait to see your projects next week. They sound very interesting. Your new seeded lawn looks wonderful. It is what ever we like that truly matters. Looks so much bigger. Want to see your back yard, too.

    Susannah

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  9. Great quilt projects you're working on - it will be fun to see them progress...

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  10. Great start on the quilt projects--I need to find my mojo and complete mine. I have sooooo much yard work which needs to be done

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  11. I enjoyed your photos, and did not know what a nickle quilt was. Your yard looks wonderful!

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  12. Love your updated yard!! I'm sure Bella does too! Lovely blocks too!

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