chookshed challenge september

7.  prep/baste appliques for my penn dutch wall quilt; it's a 2024 UFO and doubt it will get done this year, but would like to move this project along

bought this pattern in 1980 and it's a case of now or never...as you can see i've done some prep work already but this month would like to get them basted onto background squares.  lately i've been doing more applique than in the past, now that my skill has improved and i find it more enjoyable rather than annoying.  

the blue bathroom wall quilt has gotten a remake....still not gushing over it, but this version is more acceptable to me.  

a bit more balanced...gonna go with it...

holiday weekend arrives...means little to me with no real fun plans and no wheels to wander a bit....hope to get blue album basted, the santa for the guild ready to pass on, maybe more potholders done and more quilting....bit of cooking and round out with more quilting...in other words MOTS....more of the same.  another hot one so inside....so it's another day of keep cool and sew on!

summer to-done!

with 3 days to go, have wiped out my summer to do list...today got the solid bow ties top basted....took me most of 5 hours, not 2 days as feared, and it is ready to quilt!  plop plop fizz fizz o what a relief it is!!!   fortunate to have a lounge area just outside my door a bit, so set up my table and went to work bright and early.  

that plum sashing fabric was gifted to me about 10 or so years ago when i was retreating in Lancaster.  was working on this little batik piece and stumped on a border....the quilter across from me said 'try this' a piece she had picked up in a shop that day and shazam!  it worked....i think it was 2 yards or so....i've used it a lot and probably still have some...this was the batik piece...

dear daughter stopped by with hubby to gift me some things from across the pond...she has a new penchant for shopping there since her spring trip...lol

i couldn't upload the video but it is a music box biscuit tin....cookies inside and it rotates and plays 'happy birthday'....soooo darn cute!!!

i had planned other things for today but the basting was the elephant in the room and it had to be done...in june when the list was made, i was knee deep in crippling grief....doing nothing, crying, lying in bed most of the day.  i prayed for relief and the summer list was it...gave me an alternate focus, a goal, the carrot of finishes for things in limbo...i still cry some but not all day and not horizontal either...i knew if relief didn't come, it could get more serious than i was willing to tolerate.  an anti-depressant prescription promised only 20% weight gain, which the knees vetoed right away...but God is faithful and hung onto me like super glue.  

got my bathroom wall quilt together...not gorgeous but done and will perk up the bathroom which nobody but me sees anyway.  going to hand quilt that won't take long and should perk it up a bit.

backing for the blue album quilt got washed in readiness for another basting day. this quilt plus my scrappy DWR and wildest dreams are my last for big quilts...they take a lot of space to prep for quilting and long time to quilt as well.. i've a stack of basted things waiting.  still lots of fabric on hand and lots of ideas for smaller pieces.  plus my storage shelf is already groaning from quilted things on hand...

all in all, a very good hump day in spite of the 100-degree heat!  it's what i call a southern snow day!

the week begins

our respite from horrid heat is over and we are back into it, at least for a few days....but that means more sewing maybe?  the to-do list for the week is ready.  the week got started with half hour of fitness, which felt really good--or it will tomorrow...LOL!  it's been far too long since i've done that much at one time but hoping it'll happen more often.  will make me happy and my improved heart as well...

racked up a little finish....

this got made in january when i was busting my solid scraps...now it's fully done...hand quilted with a lavender thread....be still my amish heart....just exactly the type of quilt i love.  

these got put on the design wall next....

the applique blocks are done and this obviously needs more work...and no, not making anymore blocks whatsoever...

the best news from the weekend???  the dargate baskets are DONE!  yes, and ahead of schedule too....now getting put aside as i'm totally tired of looking at them...

and more quilting got done on 'tuscan starburst'....hoping for a september finish, and maybe the batik baskets also.  

more ho-hum days as i slide into 75 years...no card from mom of course, which is heart wrenching, but so many do not have their mothers until this age so in that respect i was totally blessed...and no beach vacation either...no daytrips to interesting places either...have to work double hard to find any joy in the face of so many stressors so far this year....guess i'll just keep calm and sew on!