hello june!

now that quilty life is back on track, it's another chookshed challenge to tackle...

this is my project for this month.....baskets I and II quilting.  playing catch up with the UFO list and the soon approach of the horrible hots should be enough to succeed.  it's been an enjoyable week with no heat or A/C but it can't last. 

 

always interesting and inspiring to see what's happening in blogland....one that i read regularly is wanda hanson's "exuberant color"  she is a very prolific quilter and loves all things kaffe.  it's always a color explosion on her blog!  this recent design caught my eye...

a fresh idea on the kaleidoscope block, well one i'd never seen anyway....immediately brought to mind a snake trail quilt that's been on my someday list...a perfect marriage in my book, especially with a shoebox of kaffe scraps...at the senior center grabbed this freebie...

no, not started yet at all...it'll get put into the queue, but a perfect scrappy project don't you think?  

our weather has been glorious so enjoying every moment of no heat or A/C; alas, the 90s are coming end of the week the TV gurus say...but plenty of inside diversions--sewing, puzzles, exercise, books, videos and always cooking and house stuff to do.  

so you see, blessings abound and thankful for all my blessings...now go out and have a stellar day!

a divine finish

the scrappy DWR is finally finished but didn't happen just by myself...thankful to divine guidance that provided expert caregivers who got me back to quilty baseline and onward to more finishes!  i love it but need a break from it just now...

what else shakin'?  the closet herd has been thinned....DD chose some, others are getting rehomed, and space is now available for those waiting in the wings...

now in the hoop....baskets I....with baskets II soon to follow.....still playing catch up with the UFO list...

machine project for june will be to finish up the repro blocks and get to the flimsy stage....

summer clothes still waiting to be unpacked as it's been a 5-day deluge with chilly and very wet weather...sneaked in one last pot of clam chowder for now.....it was delish!  

and if when the sun returns, i'm ready for safe scooting with this snazzy umbrella....a mother's day present from dear daughter....nifty gift i'd say!  

while ogling all the beautiful garden pix on various blogs, my heart travels back to my little house and all the pretties that bloomed there....here's one...every year may is the month i miss my house and yard the most....

keep calm and quilt on!

never forget

may those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms always be remembered...

 no beach time here....rainy for five days....but paying homage to our heroes isn't dependent on good weather....

a blessed memorial weekend!

a friday finish

spent the dreary days this week finishing a small wall piece to boost my morale about the slow process on the scrappy DWR, which should be done before june arrives.   my spirits are buoyed, my mojo is in full gear and anticipating the horrible hots with finishes in mind.  

this is 'beaded curtain' my tiny kaffe tumblers.....small measuring 22x34 so wall size....my daughter thinks it look like tiny lava lamps...LOL...she was always fascinated by them.  it's a colorful, cheery piece that'll perk up my off-white walls...

this repro project coming along...nearly 20 blocks done at this post, so just over 10 to get a flimsy size...happy to say both projects made completely from the stash....that's the goal these days, sew up what's on hand....will i use it all?  doubtful but hoping to leave behind as little as possible...my head is positively swimming with scrappy ideas to keep me and miss sunny busy!

speaking of sun, summer is here for a week with a couple of hot days inside...a few scooting errands and some house chores that must come before sewing....better get cracking!  

last, today is a day to remember all our service men and women.....they are the front lines of defense for our country no matter where they serve.....may God guide and protect them all!

have a blessed day!

monday again!

new week and still stuck in spring-like weather....cool, cloudy, rain off and on...the summer clothes are patiently waiting to be unpacked!  hope your weekend was pleasant and enjoyed mother's day if it applies....my daughter and SIL arrived bearing gifts...

a lovely card and some custard tarts, after which we had lunch out and watched some of my dad's movies that had been transferred to MP4 files on the computer....sweet memories!  dear SIL applied his handyman skills fixing a curtain rod that was in need of shoring up....what a guy!!

the scrappy DWR is almost ready to bind so went to the stash for the blue fabric....did i find it?  but noooo!  did find another piece that is an almost exact match....more noticeable in person...but it'll certainly do fine for my needs....

and for a relatively quick finish picked up the kaffe mini tumblers...a small piece with simple quilting.  happy to say half finished already....

these photos taken with my phone and somewhat brighter than actual....finished the day binge watching mysteries.  

up early and made blueberry muffins...get bored with plain toast sometimes....and vacuuming and laundry top today's list.  hope to finish the tumblers and pull suitable binding to finish.  no scooting today because of weather....ick!  first thing, tho, it's the exercise bike.  hope you have a pleasant day!  

mother's day....

so thankful for the gift of being a mom....

to a beautiful, smart, funny, accomplished, compassionate woman with a strong faith and loving heart...

and that i had a wonderful mom myself....here we are circa 1953....

accident prone even then!  i had fallen on a large log and cut my chin requiring stitches and a very thick bandage, seen here after both....yes, there are still tears but also comforting memories of our long life together...

and if you see this dapper gent today, wish him happy birthday!  he was born on mother's day and this year he celebrates twice!  

have a blessed day!

it's mid week.....

and starting off with a huge note of thanks to all my followers and those i follow....being mostly trapped stuck confined a homebody, you all provide pleasant diversions for many otherwise boring days.  now back to the regularly scheduled program!

happy to say the creative muse is going full tilt....

got 12 of these blocks done...original plan was one per month but they are so gosh darn easy and, well, just "happen" to have enough fabric on hand, that these got sewn up PDQ.  plan is for 30 blocks, 5x6, top 60x72.  finished up some pieces of stash on these and others got used that have been waiting far too long.  i need a bigger design wall!

some applique got done on this, the May project....laundry time proved to be very productive!  

happy to report the DWR is almost ready for a binding....delightful thought indeed!

remember these?  a gift to me last december, some kaffe fassett's william morris prints?  pulled out this pattern been saving to try one block...

48 of these blocks in all, wall quilt size....pattern called "what knot" by heather over at www.quiltachusetts.com....a drunkard's path variation.  the only suitable background in the stash was this other kaffe print, not really my preference but frugal choice and it works.  no deadline for this at all.

weather continues to be somewhat see-saw--summery one day and cooler the next 2-3.  shorts et al waiting in the tote to be unpacked.   farmer's market open with strawberries...yum!  had a quick scoot to library for books and videos.  mother's day plans finalized with DD and DSIL...which i would miss if i lived in new england...trying to be more content here in MD without my independence, some days not so successful.....that's a job in itself.  

may already???

indeed it is....at least there was a UFO finish in april...hoping for another this month....or two maybe?  closed out april on the 'wensleydale' blocks....25 were finished, just shy of half what is needed.  some nice weather days slowed down my progress....

for chookshed challenge in may, it's the semiquincentennial project....hoping all the applique can be finished and basted...a july finish for this would be perfect!  (the R is done already!)

still quilting the scrappy DWR which might should WILL be finished in may.   big unfinished quilts lying around the room are mobility hazards for me

for machine work, it's back to tackling the repro scraps making some blocks for a top with as-yet unknown destination.  remember these???  miss sunny's timing is off a bit but been praying that she'll sort herself out

itching to start a couple of new projects but pulling the reins tight until some finishes get crossed off.  these are lofty goals but might get delayed somewhat if nice weather arrives and stays...plenty of icky hot days ahead to sew inside...i've made offerings to the weather gods hoping to stall it as long as possible...LOL

another monday

had a busy sewing weekend.....more quilting on the DWR and more blocks on 'wensleydale'.....goal for the upcoming week is at least 5 more blocks....thought about 10 but that's pushing it....first off, tho, is to corral this pile....

there, better eh?  i've got 20 blocks done, maybe 36 to go....questionable if there are enough pieces for all but no matter, i'll just make blocks until it's gone and call it done.  there are 60 foundations in the pad and will use however many are left for something else.  

here are 20 all done.....

have tinkered some with color adjustment and this is sort of closer....some of the fabrics are just right, others not....but you get the idea.  for some reason the greens are difficult to get just right.  

and while instagram time has been significantly curtailed, did come across this photo....

reid state park in georgetown, maine, about 15 miles off bath's route #1.....it was our family's 4th of July place all my growing up years....so many heart warming memories ...

brother #2, about age 2 so 1959 probably.....can always pick him out of photos due to his nearly white blond hair.....

brother #1 on an overcast day....the weather almost never stopped us....

lunchtime!  it was always burgers and dogs first....then lobster and steamers....plus all that goes with....my aunt was in charge of grill--we had to bring our own wood....first thing coffee pot went on.  several different areas of this park...this was the picnic area and a short walk away was open surf.  a large bath house, snack bar, lagoon area for little kids (no waves)--shady pine trees, open beaches, rocky coastal areas...it has everything!  fierce undertow and frigid water....july 4th hovered around 50 degrees....we were the first to arrive and last to leave, squeezing every moment.  that's me bending over just beyond mom; my grandmother and aunts and youngest brother with that tell-tale hair.  precious memories....

back to monday.....aside from more blocks nothing really doing this week...but thankful still for free time and nice days before the hots arrive....life is indeed good!

the time has come....

and for a while i thought it might never.....for a finish!

autumn runner made with kaffe fabrics....caved and machine quilted it--not my preference at all--but it is for me and needed to get SOMETHING done!!!!  finally get to cross of a UFO finish....was hoping to get the DWR done as well but probably a may finish.  that'll get me back on track for one finish per month and even with those without, it is progress.  

now back to 'wensleydale' to see if 15 more blocks can get done this month...they'll be set 7x8 giving me a bigger quilt than i really wanted, but that should be the last big quilt i make...resolutely avoiding jen kingwell's website for fear my resolve will weaken....

back to see-saw weather with possible freeze tomorrow morning....say what???  93 the other day and now this???  thankful winter things not yet put away but never fear, day will come too quickly when must...

hoping your week is sew-pieceful and blessed!