brrrr-isk saturday!

yikes, 25 degrees at 7:30 am....that's cold for these parts.  had planned to visit the gym but plans again derailed due to chemical abuse from nasty neighbors...makes me plenty mad i can tell you...that's what happens when low-life, self-centered people with an over-inflated sense of entitlement live in apartments.  came close to ER visit but my life-preserving meds rescued me.  

did spend time putting new belt on trudy treadle, made more challenging by significant dust layer, but got 'er done and gave trudy a whirl.  by afternoon was able to pick up some sewing....first up

felt good to rock the stitch again and make progress on this..hoping for january finish....then sat down at phoebe to stitch up more blocks for another small reproduction piece.   saw the pattern online someplace and tweaked it to fit my needs....25 blocks in all, will be about 35" square when done...

then, somber call from sewing machine repair confirmed the worst--old viking cannot be repaired.  parts stopped being made years ago and replacements nearly nonexistent for an issue rampant in these old machines.  it was repaired once about 20 years ago extending the life, but now must say goodbye.  seems silly but i'm heartbroken.  it went with me everywhere--rented rooms, other scuzzy apartments, seemingly immortal with a 25-year warranty that doesn't exist today.  it was my grown-up blankie.  one last visit next week to retrieve personal effects--magnets and such--that adorn her.  profound tearful sadness probably just the result of most recent huge pile of disappointments and stressors of the past year and will pass...but not today.

friday finish

that would be the new england sampler flimsy.....just about ready for a gentle wash and press and then mark for quilting and i am deeee-lighted!

all that's left to applique are the tiny centers on 4 of the blue flowers....so glad this is nearly off my quilty plate and can get back to ocean waves and other winter goals....got me thinking about how many applique projects are in the works....first is the sew along with bea and cecile project...

orange peels from a jo morton charm pack....this has a may deadline, is a small quilt, should be no problem getting it done on time (3 done so far).....

four of these big blocks, christmas red and green....just barely started so no deadline whatsoever....i do know it'll have swags, something i've wanted to do....then there's this in the works...

the wide polka dot border of this is applique but nowhere near as involved as the sampler....the corner baskets are pieced....this'll probably be the next applique that gets done after orange peels so i can proceed with the remaining borders.....not bed size but large wall quilt, like the sampler....then this is waiting in the wings....

worked on this during summer vacation....again no time frame or deadline....a lovely primitive jan patek pattern....then there is this, the newest, applique project on the list....

it's one large block, a whig rose variation, using that luscious salmon pink repro gifted me by an online quilty pal....i wanted a pattern that used it a lot and with big pieces..such a lovely fabric.....the jo morton cream from her 'glad tidings' line makes a perfect background for it....the stems and leaves are a brown print....i'm really good at leaves now...LOL!   last is the vintage tin of dargate indigo blocks....i had bought a FQ bundle of these rich indigo prints and cut most of them up into basket appliques....one wall quilt has been made and gifted to dear daughter, the rest just keep stacking up for a someday quilt...i often grab this project to take to guild meetings for busy work, but no progress nearly all last year of course...

even though i piece most of my quilts, applique is a technique that really tantalizes me.  my skills and confidence have improved a lot, so the skittishness that hampered my progress on the new england piece has dissipated and can't wait to forge ahead on these....time gallops on and so thankful my vision and fine motor skills are up to the fun and hope they remain so....