PP Frenzy!

just like eating potato chips! i spent the WHOLE day at the old viking paper piecing these little units (4 make a square) for a wallhanging that's been in the shoebox for eons. i only have 1.5 blocks to go (6 units) and i can put the top together. today, though, i'm working on the wedding quilt as that absolutely MUST be done soon. these are mostly 30s repros but scattered in are some authentic vintage fabrics. this is the 4th item i have made from my 30s stash, but i think i have only enough small pieces for 1 more wallhanging or a couple of tablerunners. once this top is done, i'm moving on to another languishing UFO and clear out a large shoebox. i really AM busting stash, even though it takes a while for it to be noticeable.

caution: objects appear larger than normal

on her blog yesterday, bonnie talked about collecting hotel pens. well, bonnie, i have a storage solution for you. this is walmart's mini 3-drawer plastic storage unit that i use for writing implements. in it i keep markers, pencils and pens that i have amassed including from job fairs, various employment situations and from banks, school, etc. most of my pens have drug names on them (from "drug dealers" aka pharmaceutical reps). this goes for writing pads around the house as well. every so often i check to see if the ink has dried out and toss the dead ones, but as you can see, shelf life is huge (no pun intended). ***** a great sewing day today. it's cloudy and cool out but the viking is smokin! working on an aged UFO, a paper piece project, utilizing tips i learned from carol doak this summer. i tell you, she is the queen of paper piecing in my book. i struggled through the first 3 blocks on my own, but now i'm whizzing through the others. i hope to have the entire 9 blocks (4 units each) done today or tomorrow. now that's progress!

today's finish

i was in an autumn block swap some time ago (exact date/year escapes me now) and got some adorable blocks that are included here. i have a few more as well, but they featured gold prominently and didn't "work" in this piece. if you think you spy some 1970s calico, you have been quilting as long as I have. i think i still have a bit more in my stash someplace. the green calico from the top left is from a granny dress i made....like didn't everyone? this needs a quick dunk in the washer to remove the chalk lines and it'll be done! you can see where i blotted off the erasable marker in the border and wasn't quite dry.

lest we forget....

those who gave their lives throughout our history and those who bravely served to establish and defend our freedoms. please don't let them serve in vain......

as promised...

here is the completed winter swap tote, well-received (thankfully) by tudy just yesterday along with its contents.

tudy also makes/sells craft items and she has some displayed on her blog...hop on over, you might find something you can't live without! i was pleased with the result here. i received the green snowflake material in a christmas swap earlier this year and it was just exactly right, along with others from my stash, for this project. the only thing i wish i had done is make the lining the same blue as the top edge. i didn't have enough fabric, used muslin, but realized once it was complete that the blue would have worked better. ***** a sunny, cool thursday here in maine. no real plans except some sewing today and tomorrow also. i've nearly lost track of days now that they run together. still working on the unemployment, which will hopefully come soon. i'm a low maintenance woman but i do need SOME maintenance regardless.

more nashua

some of the amish style had striking colors like this one. this last applique quilt was done by wendy reed, the person in charge of maine's quilt documentation project. she always makes such beautiful repro quilts and this one with the sensational applique is no exception. i love it, don't you? ***** whoops, unemployment makes the days run together and i just realized today is WEDNESDAY, not tuesday, but no matter, nothing important to do. better hurry and get dressed for the non-exciting day ahead!

winter tote swap

my package got mailed yesterday to tudy, so it should be arriving in the next day or two. once it's received, i'll post a photo of the bag i made and sent to her. she requested a winter rather than christmas theme tote. fortunately, i had gotten some seriously snowflake fabric in a christmas swap earlier this year. i used that as the focus and added others from my stash to complement. i was pretty happy with the finished project and i hope tudy is as well. inside were some quilt-related goodies as well as a special snack for her to make/share this holiday season. this was the only swap i chose to do. being out of work makes it iffy to depend on income for postage/gifts etc. and i want to focus on my own family first. i like to do swaps, but with sporadic income it's difficult.

more nashua photos

apologize for the blurry BAQ, again the photographer was sorely lacking here. have more, will post tomorrow. terrific tuesday, still cloudy but no rain. have a few errands on the list today but then can sew. up early at 5:30 and usually i would stay up, but since i've no place to go and no place to be, went back to catch more zzzzzs for a change.

christmas list

for the benefit of any and all, i have taken the proactive step of posting my christmas list on the left side of the blog. any (and all) these items would be most welcome. i know times are tough economically for many so i've tried to keep the costs down. in truth, i don't get many gifts at christmas since my immediate family is small and not all swap gifts. regardless, i love christmas and try to get at least something for all my siblings and other immediate family members. christmas, after all, is the season of giving. if the unemployment check materializes, i'll be able to include some of my favorite charities as well.

i'm ready.....

for old man winter. mom advanced me some cash so i could get this down parka on sale. i look like an eggplant on steroids in it, but this is maine and maine winters have a way of disguising everyone like inuits, which plenty of people enjoy but i'm not one of them. we're having a nor'easter today, rain only, but it won't be long before it's white stuff. ***** today's agenda? well, it's monday so laundry, vacuuming, some sewing....that's about it.