We arrived at our winter home a month ago and I have been busy playing tennis, getting our yard and home taken care of, including a new roof and also doing a lot of reading. I wasn't overly excited to get into my sewing room but, you know that didn't last, and I have managed a few projects but have not been spending a huge amount of time in there. It was fun to arrive here and find some bottles of wine, safely stored in the bathtub. Sounds silly, but it is the coolest room in the house and if one should burst for some reason, the clean up would be much easier in this location.
The first weekend we arrived, we had a tennis fun day with the Canadians versus the Americans in a Can-Am challenge. Am happy to say that the Canadians won. For fun, some of the players decided to start the game with a tennis ball drop rather than a puck drop. Silly seniors but good for chuckle.
I pulled out my scrap buckets of greens and pinks to make my February and March plus blocks for the rainbow scrap challenge.
Here are the green and pinks blocks made. A really easy way to start stitching and making sure my machine was working properly.
It took us awhile to get roofing quotes and finally a decision, was made choosing a company and roof colour and our materials were delivered.
The materials sat there for a few days. You can see the skies that are typical of this year. Much cooler temperatures and lots of clouds rather than clear skies with the sun beating down on us.
A friend showed me a method of making bento box blocks and I pulled out a jelly roll and started playing with the strips.
And, I had a row x row waiting for me. Since I challenged my Wednesday Diva group to make two per month, I figured I better get at least one done in March. I had to look for a variety of supplies and was happy to find paper backed fusible web and a roll of freezer paper.
We have been having rain once a week since we arrived and the roofers were concerned about the prediction of two days of rain so they really got busy and managed to strip our old roof off and get the new roof on in one day.
A second day was needed to install all the vents and whirly birds (to keep the air in the attic cooler on a hot day). And then it was all done.
We are waiting patiently for some heat and sun to encourage the blooming of the cactus. When they bloom, they are glorious but weather is not cooperating.
It has been cool enough here that we haven't needed the a/c turned on and actually have had the fireplace on for the last few evenings. Unheard of for this time of year here!
The bento box blocks are growing. These still need to be trimmed and tidied up but will make a nice donation quilt.
I did make this quilt top from 5 one yard pieces of fabric. I chose to use the 3 yard Illusions pattern from Fabric Cafe but added in two more rows of colours. This is pressed and ready to head home with me for quilting and finishing.
Another 3 yard quilt made using some maple leaf fabric I brought with me from home.
I have my row x row finished although I haven't stitched down the applique. But all the tracing, cutting piecing background, and fusing is complete.
These are the rows that I have here that are completed. I will have to look and see if I have more kits to make and if not, this will make a nice wallhanging and will aim to get it made and finished next winter season when we head south. I have a nice selection of southwest fabrics to use for sashings and borders and am looking forward to getting this done.
So, that is how the last 4 weeks has gone for us. Busy with being active and also reading quite a bit on rainy days. A really unusual season here with lots of complaints about the lack of warmth but, great for being outside and playing tennis except when it rains!
