almost alaska!

 

only one more fabric and i'll have all needed to start this project....it's edyta sitar's "alaska"....yesterday while in lancaster picked up the medium blue in the middle; others came from stash.  may end up swapping out the mottled blue tho.   all that's needed is the 2.5 yards of white....looking for a white batik, or one that 'reads' white anyway.  no rush at all.  happy to continue sewing AND eliminating UFOs for the time being.  

daughter and i went to lancaster to their excellent butcher shop, but of course quilty retail therapy always happens...lol!  was odd not seeing any buggies, but being good friday some shops were closed and no amish were about.  in addition to the blue pictured, these lovelies came home with me...

more blue solid for DWR border and binding, a tula pink print, a kim diehl pink, another piece of jo morton's 'glad tidings', a repro neutral and some dish toweling..  a delightful day spent together shopping and lunching....i moved to maryland to spend lots of time with my daughter doing just about anything so naturally the day was perfect.  

friday was a no sew day but thursday just the opposite....more little churn dash blocks got sewn...

because they are very small, high contrast is a must to see the pattern....here are a couple of rejects that'll become potholders probably....

Easter has arrived and it truly feels like a new england one with temps only 40s daytime and (yikes) 20s overnite.   Good weekend to mark the solemn occasion inside!

no fooling!

just joy has been quite busy since the last post....we are now getting along fine altho i've pretty much abandoned the needle threader.....suitable for a right-handed person don't you know...awkward for me so stick to tried and true method.   first, the march goal of getting the scrappy double wedding ring to a flimsy has been met!

and this will definitely need a border, about 3" i think....the original pattern called for one much wider and then appliqued but not for me.  with the border it'll be quite suitable for my use.  this was a great project to use up thread odds and ends and i think a total of 5 or 6 partial small spools are now gone.

evenings have been spent quilting on the new england sampler, also making good progress.  just about ready to start quilting borders....hoping for an april finish....some details need to be added also....bird beaks and such.  i get simply giddy when i think about this being finished.  

and once the double wedding ring top was done....an actual empty UFO drawer!

then it was on to more of those little churn dash blocks for the MATO....midnight at the oasis....one row of the border is now complete...first another narrow lime border has to be added tho.  

and yes, those little houses are kaffe fabrics too...a pattern that was on www.allpeoplequilt.com called the house that kaffe built.  they are paper pieced, total of 26 for the wall quilt.  another UFO waiting for more. 

since i've not bought any new fabric yet this year, or acquired any at the guild free table, i just might have to treat myself to some of these....."holly time" by riley blake....available in may.

aren't they cute?  then later this month i'll be visiting my friend cyndi's repro shop in maine for her retirement sale.

best news is i'm now fully vaccinated and my mom also this week....our family has been supremely blessed that no one has contracted coronavirus.  my daughter is now eligible for a shot too. like most everyone, hoping this year brings quilty gatherings and getting back on track to the precovid lifestyle.