swap ornament

so here's the second ornament i made, this one definitely more vintage looking than the first (red sequins, remember?).  i've sewn little pearls on this one, front and back, and i had the ribbon in my stash, how lucky was that?  well, i like it anyway.  would have been glad to keep it and hang on my tree.   have put my beads and sequins away now that the halloween piece is done.  they are time consuming but really jazz up projects quite a bit. 

a special day

if  you see this tow-headed cutie with those big brown eyes today, be sure and wish him happy birthday.  he was our halloween treat back in 1957...all the best little brother!

yep, it's really fall

i know it's fall because i had this for breakfast....hot chocolate and toast...yummm!  then, when i went out to grocery shop, i had to wear my jacket, first time this season.  and they are now talking SNOW in the next day or so....what?  this is not good at all, way too early for that.  ******  got the binding done for the halloween piece AND the red/cream northwind quilt.  i've also started basting the halloween but have to put up a larger table to finish.  and if i'm going to put up the larger table, might as well do the red/cream too so have to clear decks first and put everything else away.  those 2 projects will be my primary focus until they are completed.  then i get to do something else. 

RTB means....

ready to baste and then quilt of course!  last night i finished adding the sparklies to the hat, a tedious job but oh so worth it.  i gave the spider and bats some sparkly eyes too.  it'll be done in plenty of time for the witching hour.  other than sewing, it's another ho-hum day here in so-called vacationland.  my life used to have meaning and purpose but not since crossing the border.  it's definitely time to "reverse the curse."

retreat wrap-up

not only did i finish the red/cream flimsy, i got these 2 little pieces basted.  the autumn-y piece is an official UFO of 3 little orphan blocks that were just tucked away in with some fabric, so i decided to finish them off.  also, the halloween piece is coming along, just some finishing bling and i can baste/quilt that.  all 3 will probably get quilted at the same time.  so this week it'll be 1 day to tie the red cream, 1 day to bind, and 1 day to baste/quilt.  that'll be 2 finishes and 2 off my 2012 list...how good is that?

long ago homework

i wrote this for much-needed extra credit
AUTUMN

Leaves, like broken kaleidoscopes, spill their colors
on sunny days of cool, fresh air.
The quickening pace of winter's call
reminds of a life all too brief.

When all but firs have shed their coats,
the early dark envelopes us.
Too soon to sleep until the night is o'er
awakens new with spring's first herald.

new flimsy

this is the next flimsy.  these blocks are 15" square, the pattern is a variation on chinese coins i found in a quiltmaker magazine, designer is rachel griffith.  i'm calling it "autumn change," because i'm using autumn prints/colors.  this will be a hand-quilted giftie.  *****  yesterday i cut up a stack of scraps into inchies for my leaders/enders project.  i also basted 2 small pieces, one of which is a languishing UFO.   the halloween needs a bit more sparklies and it will be ready to baste/quilt, should be done in time for the "witching hour!"  ***** today i'm hoping to tie the red/cream.  the binding needs prepping for what will probably be an official finish this week.  another week or so and the decks will be cleared to get back to a hand quilting project for me.  not a moment too soon as the weatherman is talking about really cool weather this coming week with snow in the northern elevations.

FNSI: The Results

the red/cream is finally at the flimsy stage.  i finished piecing the piano keys and adding the inner border last night, but didn't attach the keys until this morning.  tomorrow i might pull out the folding table and get this basted and tied so i can move on to the binding.  that would give me another UFO finish this year, which is always good.  **** last night i also finished all but one of the letters on my halloween piece.  i am hoping to finish the wallhanging in time for the 31st, a good possibility.  **** next machine project?  my autumn change top; fall colors in a great scrappy quilt.  this is earmarked for a gift when completed.  hand projects are the halloween piece and one of my amish quilts, hoping to finish at least 1 before the end of the year....or maybe before thanksgiving?  now that's a stretch but could be, could be.

FNSI

it's friday night sew-in!  my life is so completely dull and empty this is a notable event...not complaining, just stating facts.  me, i got an early start!

springtime wishes

these tulips were some i planted in my yard eons ago and glad i took a photo when they were in bloom.  it'll be more than a few months before we see any of these here in the hinterlands.  each week the temps fall ever so slightly toward a too-long maine winter.  for now we are basking in glorious fall weather while it lasts.  **** up early this morning and finished a swap giftie that i can't show right now but will when it's received.  today i'm tackling the red/cream borders and get that flimsy done once and for all.  last night i finished sparklies on my witch's shoe buckles and, since it's sunny, hope to finish the black letter applique.  i have an ott lite and can do this at night but it's so much easier in bright daylight.  also this morning i pulled out my stash of wrapping paper/ribbons and cleaned/organized that.  other friday plans are for a delish seafood lunch before the shack closes for the winter.