A new project in the works (edited to add links)

Hello, everyone.  There's a new little project on the table--even though I'm hip-deep in another one. 

The other one has a lot of embroidered pictures to make. They're using a lot of bobbin thread, and I'm running short of empty bobbins to load. I need to finish off the dribs and drabs of a number of mostly empty bobbins to continue with the project. 

Therefore I decided to start with the new passport-and-credencial case. It will have a zipper closure so the documents can't fall out. 

The prototype 

The inside pockets of the prototype.

I'm planning to do this in some lovely black X-Pac fabric I found at Ripstop By The Roll. The interior will either be some cute cotton or some ripstop. I haven't decided yet.

There was rain a few days back

Hello, everyone.  There was indeed rain, over several days, and now it's normal June weather with sun. 

An unexpected plant came up after the rainy period. 

This is a turmeric that I started from a grocery-store tuber. Last year it looked ratty and sad, then it died down after fading for a while. I was about to give up on it, but on feeling in the dirt found a firm tuber with little "eyes" that might grow, so it stayed in its pot, got water up until the rainy spell, and got blown rain from the weather. Lo and behold! A fine leaf came up, then a second one appeared on the stem, and there is a tiny green nose poking up that should become another stem. It looks much better this year. I'm glad I didn't give up too soon.

The crinum bulb clump that was here when we came is also happy about the rainy spell.

Two stems of buds have come up.

I didn't photograph it, but the lemon grass clump has put on a flush of growth and is now over 3 feet tall. 

New Sewing Club Project

Hello, everyone.  We're in normal summer weather in this region: partly to mostly sunny, and if it doesn't rain, the day's high temperature will be in the 90's F. 

In this weather, what we call "air conditioning season" we enjoy indoor hobbies during the afternoons. Like sewing.

This large quilted bow was our meeting project at Sewing Club. I finished the ladt topstitching and assembly after getting home. This purchased pattern required tons of 4" squares to make the bow pieces. It also involved fusible fleece batting for the support of the "ribbons." 

In the execution,  I discovered that maybe the seams of the piecing should have been pressed open, instead of to the side for nested seams like I did. The seams did nest, but they were very thick. Also there was a lot of bulk in the bow tails; maybe leaving out the fusible there would have been wise. 

Topstitching the edges meant stopping to walk the needle over almost every seam. 

After completion, though, the bow came out pretty. I suppose I could see doing another in a different color assortment. It does clear out stash fabrics.

More flowers!

Hello, everyone.  Summer has arrived, with our typical temps in the 90's F. 

Salad of cucumber, tomato, and garden pepper

Very low carb, dressed with viaigrette and some onion-y green sprinkle and parsley. 

Another of the desert rose plants is now in bloom.

After the rains we are getting flowers

Hello, everyone.  I love flowers, and right now we have a bunch of them.

This crinum lily came with the house. I have tied up the bud stems because they were falling on the ground.

I brought these daylilies over with us when we moved. Each flower lasts for a day.

These marigolds came up when we threw a packet of old seeds--that had been in the fridge for years--into some empty space in the planting box.

It's so nice to go out into the yard and find flowers blooming their little heads off.

Learning new things (edited for spelling)

Hello, everyone.  

I have been working on the lessons that came with the upgrade to my embroidery software.

From first to third, the key fobs made in the lesson about editing shapes. 

I don't think the first one (cork) worked out that well. Poor choice of font, and general first-attempt confusion.

The second was done on some thin vinyl I had gotten at Hobby Lobby a while back. Now sitting in stash. 

The third used a thicker vinyl, also in stash, and I note that both of the vinyl ones showed a tendency to pouf up. 

The blue one was glued to the stabilizer with basting spray. Possibly the decorative design was just too busy.  The shell has more stitches than I realized.

The black one was taped down instead of being glued. It still did the same thing. The puffiness seems to start at the yellow arrow. 

Anyway, it was a learning experience!

Spring has sprung! edited to add links

Hello, everyone. Spring is indeed here in South Texas. The daily highs are in the 90's F. The nights are leaving the low 70's as we go on, the tomatoes are about to stop setting fruit, and we have flowers.

The first year of bloom on the Desert Rose plants we got as tiny things...one white one bloomed earlier, but now a red one is on stage. 

 

The big pink one is glorious but I can't get the picture to be right side up.

The fig has responded well to the pruning a few months back.

The native ruellia...sorry, the app doesn't like tall photos. 

We love flower season.