final border plans

the last border and corner squares will be quilted using these patterns.  quilting this amish center diamond has been real fun, sort of a quilting fantasy.  i've used several long admired patterns on what is essentially a blank slate of fabric.  like all my quilts, it isn't perfect and i don't really care that it isn't.  i am just enjoying the process immensely.  amish quilts and their densely quilted patterns first drew me into quilting, not the patchwork, and this quilt is a culmination of sorts of that first tantalizing attraction. 

F.N.S.I.

this is what i'll be working on tonight for Friday Night Sew-In.  You can see a bit of the other border(s) on the extreme left already done.  the brown corner squares are finished as well with a feathery fleur-de-lis type design.  the white chalk marks are still evident, but it is quilted with matching thread.  i am anxious to see it once the marks have been washed off.   later i'll show the stencils for the final border and corner squares.  the binding is turquoise and already prepped for when the quilting is completed.  i was hoping for a january finish but it's unlikely, maybe february. 

closing in....

on finishing up the purple strippie squares for the orca bay quilt.  here is all that is left, albeit each has only 3-4 strips, so it'll take probably a day to really finish.  then press, cut into triangles, rip out the papers and voila!  ready to put the top together.  what else got done yesterday?  well, marked the final border section on the amish center diamond leaving only the outside border and corner squares to quilt, cut some squares for a giftie quilt and cut some strips for a challenge quilt.  i also did some cross-stitch and pinned some pieces of the feathered star together.  the main project is to finish the orca bay top as the units have taken over my small space.  **** we did get some snow overnight and possibly more on the way, though not deep accumulation.  it's a nuisance but with 40-degree temps on the way, it'll be gone soon.  so far i am liking this winter pretty well; for maine, that is. 

nick of time

just recently this flimsy got basted with a wool batt.  i've never used a wool batt before, but i've heard good review and i like the idea of natural fibers.  during last weekend's bitter cold snap, i actually pulled it out and put it on the bed, with the DWR on top.  the DWR has a cotton batt and has more weight to it than the wool.  i have to say the 2 quilts kept me more than toasty, more so than the cotton batt quilt and the poly batt quilt.  and where it was zero degrees here yesterday morning, today it was 29 degrees, so i put the pinwheel quilt back on the shelf.  it'll be the next big quilt that gets hand quilted.  ***** the center diamond quilt with the cotton/wool batt is coming along.  one more inside border to quilt and then i can start the final outside border.  i also want to finish the feathered star top and get it off the design wall to make room for "fat tuesday on orca bay," for which i've nearly finished all the parts.  TTFN.....

so thankful....

for many things, obviously, not the least of which is i'm done with the green triangles for orca bay, yippee!  i started out with 350 green/light half square triangles then added 2 more green triangles to each.  even with my dyscalculia, that's 1050 green triangles, yikes!  i can put the few green scraps i have left away now for another project.  the purple strippie squares are not done, though, and i've worked on them today.  that's this week goal, to finish them.  then i can put the whole thing together, so it might be a january finish after all.  ***** also so very thankful for a place to live during this bitter cold snap.  while there were good things in my life when i was homeless, not having a place to stay wasn't one of them.  i do, however, miss my active life.  i had a transit pass, could jaunt around the city when and where i wanted and had a good job too PLUS i was much thinner as well.  those are the things i miss a lot. 

friday fun

if, like me, you have nearly endless free time, you too can organize your strips in pizza boxes!  seriously, when i was doing the log cabin blocks, i realized that the shoebox full of wrinkled strips was a real hindrance.  someone suggested a free pizza box; i went for 2 and separated lights/darks (with mediums thrown in).  i had to beg a bit for the boxes but for free?  i see now how few light strips i really have.  that can be easily remedied.  now i'm set for doing those log cabin blocks and i emptied that shoebox too.  ***** we had snow yesterday, the most of the season so far, about 4".  thankfully it's about 40 today and it's melting fast.  i hope our friend the jet stream doesn't abandon us but he can be fickle, so we'll have to take what comes.  another thing about which i have no choice. 

sewing space tweak

ok, so here's the new table.  after much research, it was the right choice.  it fits perfectly where the antique table was and is a tad less deep, meaning a bit more room between the end of the bed and the chair.  as you can see, i've folded up the antique and stowed it under the ironing table so i still have access to the drawers and the stuff contained in them.  i've oiled the old wheels hoping that i might be able to pull it out and use for cutting or ironing (with a portable ironing board) now and then.  the chair, which is about 25 or so years old, no longer adjusts up/down, so it'll be the next thing to go.  i hope i can get it replaced before my income drops. 

just takes 2

here's a look at the fabrics i've chosen (from stash of course!) for this little challenge.  i've done the red/white thing x2 and so went with a color i hardly ever use and the muslin that i have on hand, focusing on my efforts to bust stash.  it might be necessary to add a few browns, but with marden's close by, that won't be difficult. **** the family gathered at BRO/SIL'S yesterday for a belated holiday celebration.  my SIL prepared a scrumptious turkey dinner and a good time was had by all....so good to gather and reconnect; family times are so precious.  anyway, also received a gift certificate to a quilt shop, always an ideal gift.  it won't languish in my stash at all!  thank you again, dear BRO and SIL!

log cabin tips

so, here are the great tips that are contributing to my log cabin success.  1) the strip being added always goes right side up on the bottom (see bottom photo); hard to see here because the light is so...well, light!  2) the most recent strip is right side down going into the needle first (top photo).  that's it....easy peasy.  maybe this was widely known long before i learned it, don't know.  it's the first time i became aware of these 2 simple rules.  anyway, they might help you or not; all i know is they made it super easy for me to get this (should be) easy block right. ****  last night started on the 2nd border of baptist fans...i am soo delighted with this project and how it's turning out.  it's essentially a whole cloth quilt done in segments.  inbetween i'm doing more purple strippies for orca bay.  with 3 weeks left of the month, i have to get at least ONE of them done; goodness knows i've ooodles of time and no real excuses. 

new england quilt museum treat

this year is a special anniversary for the new england quilt museum.  i am proud to be a member of this local gem.  as such, on the 25th of every month this year, the museum is having free admission.  that's right, on the 25th of every  month.  it's a little christmas gift 12 times!  if you are in the area or planning a trip to new england, be sure and put this on your itinerary.  be sure and check out special events on their website!