over the hump

with 140 scrappy arcs done, more than halfway finished with only 100 left to do.  the blue background arrived today and it's perfect!

it's actually kona royal, not cobalt...hmm finnish fairies or irish leprecauns in my computer?  don't think so this time, checked original order and it WAS for royal.  the flash has lightened it a bit, but it is perfect for this project.  with only a week or so to go, should be able to finish the last 100 and get the blue washed and ready for cutting melons and other background pieces.  *** arrived home from rehab to again find my apartment enveloped in smelly perfume odor.  one of my neighbors, a quite elderly woman, buys the cheap stuff by the gallon and takes a bath in it every day i do believe....she may be trying to mask unpleasant body odors, not sure.  and she isn't the only one, unfortunately for someone like me who is sensitive to many overpowering scents.   it's like those overpowering magazine samples only 3 rooms' worth.  *** it's the weekend and if i can breathe, it's some house chores and more sewing of course....bring it on!

well-aged fabric

as any quilter can tell you, fabric--like fine wine--improves with age.  today while sewing up more of my scrappy arcs, came across this piece that took me back 35 years.  it's the dark teal piece with the light aqua tulips....i think i originally bought a yard....

it was august of 1983.  me, the ex and daughter were camping in lancaster county.  we went to hershey and dutch wonderland, explored the countryside, went to the farmer's market, ate homemade ice cream with pretzels and swam every night in the campground's pool.  it should have been an idyllic family time, but the ex was aloof, distant, uncommunicative--the portent of dark days to come--but we pretended and endured despite the tense undercurrent.  one morning after breakfast, a hand-drawn sign at the edge of a road advertised quilts, which led to a mennonite family home.  at 9 am everyone was already busy working in the field and the house.  not a breakfast dish in sight, not a speck of dust anywhere.  the sewing machine was set up in the kitchen and whirring.  the lady of the house led me upstairs to an empty bedroom and a bed piled high with quilts for my own personal bed-turning show.  she was amazed that i knew all the pattern names.  the workmanship was mind boggling to this newbie.  she had about 20 bolts of fabric on a shelf and this print was one that i bought.  it's all used up now except these few pieces, but i am so glad to include it with the rest of my fabric memories, even though it wasn't a particularly happy time.  it's the patchwork of my life.....

snow day equals sew day!

yep, it's day 2 of the start of spring snowstorm here in maryland! in fact, at 6 or so inches plus more today, it's the most i've seen in 2 years.  once the sun comes out and temps inch up a bit, it'll melt faster than the wicked witch....ok by me. 

whereas in maine the noisy snowplow came by every hour, here it came by once yesterday and not even yet today so far.  everything is closed, of course, so no cardiac rehab today for me.  also unlike maine, there are no cars on the road at all....so, what's a girl to do but sew!

been working on this project and making good progress.  hoping for an april finish on this donation quilt, a reproduction of a 19th century quilt seen hanging on a prairie soddy while one of those resilient women had her photo taken by a traveling photographer.  it's being free form quilted--meaning no drawing lines--but looking totally authentically antique.  ***  and for a change of pace, cut up a bunch of squares for the DWR arcs.  first pulled 2.5" squares from that shoebox then went over to the 2.5" strip shoebox for more.  it's the life cycle of the stash...from the shelves to the scrap basket to the shoeboxes to the blocks with very little waste and a whole lot of enjoyment. 

and though was planning to use kona white for the melons and background, instead decided on a solid cobalt blue.  had seen a scrappy pickle dish with a cardinal red background and it made for a bold look, which i expect the blue will as well.  plus a whole lot less boring too.  *** and if it's wednesday, it must be bookmobile day....NOT!  library closed of course and bookmobile off road, so get to drool over quilty books a bit longer.  this was one i found and see those little post-its?

those were blocks had planned to copy for future reference but after mulling over the UFOs on hand and the WHIMMs (works hidden in my mind), decided more inspiration was not needed at all.  so, i'll look them over once more and then return the book.  lots of great patterns and inspiration, but have enough now for the remainder of the millennium i do believe....lol!

a short video

here is a link to a brief clip showing the efforts of Lakota tribe members establishing a business to sell their crafts.   as one whose ancestors came to this country very early and essentially made claim to lands already occupied by Native Americans, and then to read extensively of the treatment of our Native citizens by our government, I have a great affinity for their causes and sadness of their current deplorable conditions.  My budget no longer permits me to support them, either with funds or goods due to high mailing costs, but I can post this video for those who are able to do so.  Additionally, the Pine Ridge Reservation has a detailed website of current and ongoing needs, which are voluminous.  It pains me so very much to see a culture robbed of everything, not the least of which is their dignity, when in hindsight we as non-Natives could have learned so very much from them about preserving and using the land and its resources.  Please take a moment to watch and do whatever you can to help.

http://www.kotatv.com/content/news/Quilters-stitching-together-new-business-on-Pine-Ridge-Reservation-476710553.html