monday sewing

here is the feathered star flimsy, ready for marking.  the photo doesn't really show that gorgeous navy paisley i used for the large "arms" and border.  it is really beautiful.  this is for dd/dsil and their lovely home.  they've plenty of wall space and good thing, it's about 45" square.  came out really nice, even with setting in all those pieces.  today i also prepped the binding so it'll be ready when the quilting is done.  i love it and hope they will too.  **** what else?  well, worked on an upcoming swap piece that will be paper pieced.  it's another small quilt, 16 blocks 6" square.  got papers ready, patches cut and now to sew.  also worked a bit on a challenge piece using jo morton's "variety" line, another small wallhanging.  ***** here it is mid-february and i've only 1 UFO finish so far.  my  name is creeping up the list so tomorrow's sewing will focus on orca bay and getting that flimsy ready to tie.   i still have the last border on the amish center diamond to mark but need some space for that.  i would like to have that done by end of march if possible and then maybe get another big quilt finish before warmer weather...what am i saying?  it's nearly that now what with 40s temps all this week.  this has been the mildest, least snowy winter i can recall in my entire life.  as a school girl, i remember thigh-high drifts this time of year. 

my hexies....

are bigger than YOUR hexies!  but as you can see, they need to be for this amish honeycomb quilt top.  aren't these colors luscious and rich?  most are cherrywood hand dyes.  not sure what color thread i'll use yet.  the first border is navy blue and it may be the only border, not sure yet.  if so, i might use navy blue to quilt the whole thing.  the solid drawer was full so had to use some up.  this is a portable project with no set finish date.  there are a total of 202 whole hexies and 12 half hexies.  so if you see me on my next train trip, i'll be working on these.  **** today i finished pinning the triangles/corners for the feathered star and attached another row on orca bay.  and, today i was surfing blogs and saw a perfect quilt for all my repros, but something tells me i'm going to need at least a few patterns to make a dent in my newly-enhanced civil war stash. 

a little quilt

i recently joined kathleen tracy's yahoo group on small quilts.  this is made from the february pattern she posted.  some work from her book 'prairie children and their quilts' and others make an alternate she posts monthly.  for this i dug into my stash and pulled out some FQs of moda's "grace" fabric line.  it's about 20" square and just needs basting/quilting/binding at this point.  yesterday i also added some corner squares and triangles to the feathered star, which i might finish today and get those borders on.  i've another little quilt in progress but the top isn't quite ready to show yet.  i also did some paper piecing prep work on another small quilt that is for a swap.  trying to keep busy every day.  ***** it's frigid and windy here today but back into the 40s on tuesday.  we had 40s weather the past couple of days also.  we've about 6 more weeks of "winter" and i use the term very loosely as it's been anything but winter the majority of the season.  beach weather will be here again soon.  regardless, i'm thankful for another day with all my faculties and independence....how good is that? 

friday flingee

somebody took friday fling very seriously.  the UPS man arrived with a box that contained this collection of civil war repro fabrics PLUS a jo morton book.  it's somebody i don't know but to say i'm pleased is an understatement.  the entire collection is just over 21 yards and a great assortment of colors!  i'm not sure what the reasoning was behind this gift, but i gratefully and humbly accept.  now to find a place to put it....

today's entry is brought to you by...

the number 5, as in i'm now working on vertical row 5 of orca bay, of which there are 7 total i think.  so, i decided a brief detour was allowed.  this feathered star has been on my design wall far too long.  there's only a bit left to get the flimsy done.  just a couple more rows of the HSTs to set in and i can work on corner squares and triangles.  this is a gift so i would like to get it to the quilting stage.  sorry about the DWR background but of course the design wall is completely covered with orca bay.  **** as per usual, i'm also working on a couple of small projects which are under cover until completed.  and i'm also tackling the browns/muslin project now and then.  i am truly working on UFOs but no more finishes yet; probably there will be 2-3 close together as i tend to finish things in a bunch.  and--confession here--i started another project, a hexie amish quilt with no deadline to finish but i needed to bust some of my solid stash.  as we all know, one twin quilt top doesn't result in significant reduction of fabric, but it all goes to using it up.  happy to say the last few projects i've started have been ENTIRELY from stash...no purchases at all.  this is a good thing indeed!

a boomer sewist toy

kudos to olfa (and other manufacturers too) for creating this little baby...an ergonomic rotary cutter.  when i started quilting there was no rotary cutter.  i quickly obtained one and have been a faithful user ever since.  now that i am of a "certain age" and looking to preserve joint function, i snapped this up on sale to insure future rotary cutting.  and even better, it's easily adaptable for us sinister people...you know, lefties!  ***** after a brief chill we are back in the 40s today and tomorrow...wahoo, my kind of winter!

flipped

yesterday it was 41 degrees; this morning it is 14 degrees.  go figure....

a good day

when asked for his idea of a good day, a former POW replied, "any day there is a doorknob on the inside is a good day."  so by that criteria it is a good day here.  there are doorknobs on the inside, a car with gas and i have a key, a comfy bed and quilts under which to snuggle, a full refrigerator and plenty of electricity, endless cable channels and my trusty old viking.  i am keenly aware so many can't say the same and i'm thankful and happy to share when i can.  i am also ashamed to say i am devastatingly morose in spite of these visible comforts.  years ago i knowingly married an active, infantile, destructive alcoholic totally oblivious of the real life ramifications.  i was fortunate to escape after 11 years with divorce and my precious child.  i've been in maine nearly 11 years now and it's the same, albeit different misery.  despite glossy postcards of pristine beaches, reflective lakes and lush pines, my life here is anything but idyllic.  it's been 11 years of substandard healthcare, ignorant and denigrating employers resulting in chronic joblessness, isolation, endless winters and sporadic financial destitution with hardly any change in all this time.  i drown myself in quilting and online chats, but they are only temporary.  i sporadically hit the local pool to boost my endorphins and energy when weather permits.  sometimes i elope for a day or two to experience freedom from monotony.  i'm content to never marry again.  i only hope i'll be able to reclaim a content and meaningful lifestyle...and soon. 

recycling perk

went to dispose of recycling the other day and found this....a clear tote.  no lid, but no matter.  fortunately i was able to hoist myself up to reach.  i brought it home, washed and dried and use it for completed projects.  now they won't topple over when piled too high.  the finished quilt on the left is to be sent along to its recipient.  the basted pineapple blossom on the left is to be quilted.  the yellow and green flannel is the batt for the antique quilt top, once it is mended.  there's a skinny bolt of muslin there and the pillow.  oh yeah, the boston commons top is there too.  the white batt on top of the tote is for that.  good thing i don't work, plenty still to do. 

good and bad

but certainly not ugly!  the good part is obvious; the bad part is there are 4 pesky purple triangles facing the wrong way!  like how did that happen?  probably watching TV while sewing is how.  anyway, i've got these 3 rows done here with 4 more to go.  fat tuesday is february 21st and i am hoping this top will be done way before then, maybe even tied....now wouldn't that be great!  **** also while working on this flimsy, i've been doing a cross-stitch piece, plus sewing on 4 other quilt projects, probably why it isn't done yet.  i am anxious to see it all together though and get all those pieces off the sewing table.