utility sewing

there are times in the life of every quilter that utility sewing is a must.....before christmas realized my potholder situation was dire...oh i could have gone to the dollar store and spent $2 on a couple of imported potholders but nooooo! 

saw this pattern on the web someplace and figured would be easy to zip up a couple--or more.   fast forward, after 6+ hours of sewing time and the $1.50 for the silver cloth (on sale 1/4 yard), they are done. thought i might possibly make some to sell but would have to charge $10 each at least for all the work and materials...LOL!  no matter, i now have 2 very chic and classy potholders....now to think up projects for the rest of those selvedges....

so soon?

meaning, have already caved and started a new project....actually it was started before the new year....while flipping thru the old quilters' newsletter magazines, cut out some photos that made my fingers itch....

the colors were wow!  and just happened to have some green apple solid on hand for a wall quilt...but the sample block was ho-hum and fussier than i was in the mood to deal with....so rummaged thru and founds lots of little amish 9-patches that were quickly turned into 16-patches.....next pulled out my trusty math resource to see if the green i had would be enough...

this was published by quilters' newsletter back in the early 1980s and is a MUST for any quilter, but especially this math flunky quilter....was glad to find some updated references pages in the old mags that i pulled out and filed away in this book--for rotary cutting since there were NO rotary cutters when it was published--yes that's how old it is!  so, enough green solid on hand....fired up betty bernina and in no time had 20 of the 16-patch solid blocks.   today after very careful cutting and sewing, ended up with this colorful flimsy...

much brighter in person of course, but really happy with the result.  no name yet but just tickled that it came out so well and all my measuring was perfect.  even though it was soon enough for a new project, not quite soon enough for the green as there is a faint fade line that i mostly cut around...only visible really on close inspection, but it doesn't detract from the piece.   ***  under the weather 3 days due to druggie and smoker neighbors who have made this week miserable.   i am simply furious that management lied to me about the smoking before i even moved and has done practically nothing to stop it.  the offenders are selfish, nasty, rude and adamant in their complete disregard for other tenants and completely ignore their lease.  in any given month, always a few debilitating days because of these reprehensible and repulsive individuals.  extremely disappointed with the entire place--no regular entertainment to speak of i.e. no FUN, many tenants quite infirmed so closer to nursing home environment than senior housing resulting in lack of upbeat attitude of many, management staff who are indifferent and uninterested in residents' safety.  i don't feel old or think of myself as old and this is totally the wrong environment for me.  i plan to live until i die, not waste away by inches mired in gloom and in jeopardy from selfish behavior of others.  their idea of entertainment is some has-been elvis impersonator telling raunchy jokes....the attitude of most is gimme gimme gimme and if you don't, i'll just take because i'm entitled....huh??   no, this definitely is NOT the right place for me at all!

2020 roaring in!

always get excited about a new year....it's a clean slate, an air of expectancy about what's ahead.  the melancholia of late summer/fall has lifted and feel energized, going full throttle!   this year had its challenges and found i had to step back from some fun things that became less so...a season without commitments was a healing potion and am now more cautious about saying "yes" that involves my time and efforts as annoying medical issues occasionally erupt.  cardioman told me it was a "new normal" and now 2+ years out, have a clear picture of what that "normal" is....anyway, wagons ho!...

once again this year, i'll be coordinating my daily schedule with the crawleys....LOL...my daughter gifted me this so i won't miss any luncheons, dinner parties or fox hunts and perhaps another downton wedding?  mustn't forget edith and bertie's christening party either!

the UFO list and stash are healthy and the 2020 fun begins today.....i'll take a cup of kindness (iced tea) with thanksgiving, gratefulness and cheer for another year.....for auld lang syne!  

december list done!

it's a rainy and dreary day here, but had a number of things wanted to finish in december so plodded on....today was able to cross off everything on that list....first up a lap robe for the guild, not due until early in the new year, but it's done with a soft flannel backing....

next up were a few zipper purses that have been sitting around for far too long, now done and with destinations in mind....except the blue one that i'm keeping....

last is another UFO that used up nearly the last of the cheddar/indigo FQ bundle by penny rose that purchased long ago....the remaining very small scraps were sent to janet for her mini quilts. 

this finish leaves me with 35 official UFOs for 2020 without starting anything new--how likely is that?  not very i'd say....for the next two days can focus on my blue/white and prepping for new year arrival...signing up at my new fitness center, some household stuff, one more laundry run...it just isn't the same without guy lombardo!