Still making Mariner's Compasses

with a developing idea of the final composition,  At any rate, I haven't grown bored with the making of them yet.
    I went to the library on Sunday afternoon and picked up a few books on CD's to listen to while stitching.     Have finished  listening to "In the Company of Others" a Father Tim novel by Jan Karon.  It was nice to reacquaint myself with her main character and was happy to see a newer issue by her, "Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good"  on the library shelf which I will listen to next.

Collection of stars...hmm, what shall they become.  While I contemplate, I am starting another one.

Freezer paper pieces are all cut out and waiting for me to select the fabrics for the next star. 

Almost every light in my studio space is on.  It is a really  grey and gloomy day with periods of heavy rain and distant lightening

I can't believe it is June.

     Sorry I have been away for so long.  I've had several friends and blog followers ask if I am okay and if I am going to blog again.  For several months I have been meaning to get back to doing so, but life stepped in and tripped me up on the way to my desk top  computer on more than one occasion.  But again when I thought about blogging, I realized I had no pictures to add to the post.  All words, no images, not good.  It is not that I don't have pictures it just that of late, I am more apt to take pictures with my I-pad which I upload to my Facebook page instead using my camera and posting on my blog. 
     I will try to do better. 

     Since I was last here,

1. I went to Quilt-Con in Savannah. GA.  That is the annual Modern Quilters big show.  Really enjoyed seeing Savannah and spending time with my daughter Rene.  She was the driver. I will reserve my comments on the quilts. 
2. I did a couple of shifts at the SAQA membership table, during the AQS Show in Dayton Beach. The quilts there were more to my liking. 
3. My little Mini was rear ended in a hit and run accident,  It spend a week in the repair shop.  Good as new and all is well with it and me.
4. I traveled to Westchester, NY to do a trunk show, talk and teach a class for the Northern Star Quilt guild.  That was fun.  I arrived there a week after the big snow fall they had the week before.  Despite not owning a coat I survived with a long sleeve t-shirt, socks and several thick sweaters. 
5. I taught a one day workshop here in my studio space for 5 quilters from the quilt guild in Melbourne, FL  I like doing that.  It is really nice not having to pack up and haul stuff to a off site location.
6. I enjoyed my nine day stay in Virginia for weeklong retreat with the Girl Friends in Sandbridge, VA  Several of us were ill with a stomach flu.  Even though I was not as sick as some, it took me a week to feel like normal after I got home.
7. I drove over to the Gulf side of the state to do a trunk show and teach a workshop for the Manatee Quilters Guild and I spent two nights with my friend Carole.  She offered me a bed and I treated her to dinner both evenings.  Just like every time we are together, we ran our mouths and the time flew.
8. My son Myke and his wife Mel were here for a  visit.  She was here for a conference, Myke to golf .  Loved seeing them.  Hoping they come back soon and stay longer. 
9. I had my annual blood work, heart check-up and echo gram done in May.  All is good. 
10. Yes, I am over my sock knitting addiction.  I completed 6 pair which I love wearing around the house.  Since I have been spending more time in my studio stitching,  I haven't had much interest in socks.

So I guess you want to know what I stitched and what I am working on. 

I have used this simple flower to teach one day machine applique and machine quilting classes in the past.  Most recently for the Manatee Quilt guild and during the Girl Friends retreat.  Thought I'd see what several flowers in a composition would look like.  It was quick, fun and looks like Spring.

The piece below is a pieced version of the flowers I paint when I can't think of any thing else. I am getting really comfortable with my Janome again.

So much so that I am working on a composition using varying sizes of Mariner's compasses,  I have been working on this for a week or so.  The largest star measures 30 inches so this is going to be a rather large piece. 

     Three-four weeks ago when I  stayed with my friend Carole over in Sarasota, FL she put me on to her way of organizing her fabric stash and keeping it neat.  She wraps her fabric on  BCW Golden comic book boards.  They are certified acid free which is a good thing.  Carole orders her boards from Amazon.  There is a comic book and toy store less than 1/2 a mile from my front door and I was happy to learn they carries them. 
     On my first visit to the store I brought one pack of 100 boards and a book shelf on the way home from Big Lots.  Silly me, even though I don't have a large stash, not anywhere close to number of yards I had once upon a time. I should have know one pack and one shelf was not going to suffice.  The next day I had Josh, my grandson put together  a second shelf  and I drove to the store for two more packs of boards. 
     Now all of my commercial and hand dyes are neatly stored and visible.
I really like this and I have three cubbies left in this book shelf to fill.