MISSING PANSIES

                          Not even one pansy showed up in my front garden this year; 

I usually can count on at least a few volunteers that have managed to winter over...
but none did this cold and wet Spring....

SO...............
I took out my Pansy Garden piece (since I've  finished hand quilting my Dresdans) 
and am hand stitching  it while watching tv in the evenings...
mostly during Red Sox games

                I am working the lavender bits with a nice, dark purple  perle cotton....

and may be adding some beadwork to those print centers....

I have not added any backing yet as these blocks were made on muslin squares--one of
my all-time favorite methods of working...and I can sew with the muslin backing to support the stitches;
(and, of course, while I'm doing this, I have in mind another piece with an
 Autumn flavor to it...   see "Ease Off" below)

This afternoon there is a 1:35 game, so I will be deciding what beads to add....and perhaps even some lace-ey bits...almost like my Victorian Crazy quilt ....
******************************************************************************

Speaking of having things in mind and: (after being awakened by a virulent smell of skunk at 3:30 a.m., and putting AC on to clear it out, and therefore finding myself hopelessly AWAKE for the day!!;0000) ....(ACK!!)
when I peered into my sewing room on the way by, I spied this little gem, uh...
lovenote (hahaha) from my hubby on my design wall:

                                                 I tend to get a bit intense (ya think??) 

                 --as in cracking my ironing board by pressing a bit too vigorously-- ;0000

and just this past week.................

pulling muscles in my right side (which laid me up for 3 whole days!!)
from rotary cutting!! (OUCH!!)          
                                                    *****S I G H****** 

(I have since installed  a new blade and am trying to let the cutter do the work..)

It all stems from getting so "involved" in my process....trying to hold onto ideas
and not let them just disappear--poof!! Thinking too far ahead of what I am 
actually doing that very moment...

SO.......
I have begun keeping an idea notebook to
just jot things down...a list of projects I really would like to make--
drawings--sketches, really;  as my art skills leave a lot to be desired...
page #'s from quilt books so I can FIND them again....
and not have to rifle through my entire library wondering....
Now, 
where in the heck I SAW that thing I HAVE to make--right now!!

AND so, that sign from someone who knows me all too well  ;}}}}
A good aide memoire for me....

hugs,
Julierose, La Blageuse (hand stitching-euse)