chookshed challenge met

 it doesn't seem like much but did meet the challenge to get the first row done....

this is the middle center row, 3 more top and bottom....all hand pieced, which does take some time but no rush on this...summer isn't over yet and plenty more blistering days ahead to sew....

other than 'alaska' not too much going on.  one of my old throw pillows needed a wash and ran it thru but got damaged...the fabrics were given to me and came from the ex's grandmother, the sewist in the family.  both sides were patchwork, so did my best to rescue with an orphan block....

brother #2 and one of his sons, soon to be mustered out of USAF, took a trip to see this....it's the USAF 50th anniversary quilt....really pleased he thought of  me and sent it along....this nephew is a twin, his brother in the USN....couldn't be more proud of their service to our country....my dad would have been busting with pride.  

one of the blogs i follow is www.quiltinspiration.com....along with a gazillion free patterns in a multitude of categories, she often features quilts seen in her travels.  this week it's been modern quilts and she posted this recently....

made by sue erdreich...it's off the bright meter chart but wow, so exciting.  not something i'd attempt but it is gorgeous in my book.  can't you just imagine it hanging in a large, well lit space?  yowza!!!

another week of summer...did manage a few nights with windows open but not for long.  now that my challenge is complete, the remainder of july will be working on 'dreams'....a christmas stocking work day coming up and hoping to complete all 20.  spent half a day sorting the baggie of christmas scraps and there is enough for a christmas top the group can sell.  also, we just got another request for more lap/twin quilts for the vets' hospice...reminds me of the excellent care my mom got so i am more than happy to contribute.  summer nearly 2/3rds over, at least the worst of it...so keep cool and quilt on!

scraps revisited

the friday holiday was an uber sewing day for me...remember that baggie of christmas scraps?  pulled them out, sorted by precut squares (4.5"), biggie scraps, smallest unsuitable for my purpose and others used for strips.  got 5 stockings done to the point of adding cuff, lining and hangers. 

had so many santa scraps, made 2 with just those scraps.  my co-sewist has the other 15 waiting for backs, lining, cuff and hangers.  a sewing day is planned to get them all done. 

then, took the precut squares and pieces that could be cut for a scrappy top for the center to sell.  not nearly enough squares, so assembled some from the gazillion 1.5" strips left from the stockings.  

 

enough christmas!!  pulled out the 'alaska' project.  here's the layout of the blocks...still far to go but did finish another baggie of 4 blocks.   

the center block.  the next 2 baggies will finish the center row, which hoping to have by end of july.  would consider that significant progress albeit not anywhere near finished.

this is entirely hand pieced and will be hand quilted of course....other than this sewing, not much shaking here in 90s maryland...this week more vacay prep with haircut, cleaning fridge, mail my quilt off to maine quilts...this week really must get back to quilting 'dreams'....

counting my blessings and paying homage to this genius....