dilemma.....

last summer i took jo morton's class at maine quilts.  at the time, i had only 1 small clear shoebox of civil war reproduction fabrics, hence the title of today's post.  i am absolutely loving making small repro quilts, so much so that i haven't given a thought to bed-size quilts for some time now.  i'm not whining, mind you, simply having a bit of a reality check here.  besides these 2 overflowing shoeboxes, i have 2 more regular ones that can be closed, albeit full.  that explains why i've been starting a new little quilt nearly every week...sometimes 2!   tomorrow i'll post a solution.

wednesday progress

so, i got this far on this little project.  isn't it cute?  i think so.  next up?  a couple of borders/corner blocks to finish it off.  the civil war stash is really inspiring me to make a gazillion of these little quilts....i'm channeling my inner jo morton/kathleen tracy....LOL!  *****  so, what else did i get done yesterday?  prepped background blocks for ANOTHER little quilt, an applique style with those fabulous red prints.  i also finished cutting the freezer paper honeycomb hexagons for my amish quilt; in fact, only about 30 or so more to iron onto fabric.  i also quilted on a UFO little quilt that should be done fairly soon.  i'm taking a mini-break from the pinwheel to finish up a couple of small things.  this is the upside of having lots of projects in process; a lot of them tend to get done around the same time.  i'll be working on these and others today and tomorrow.

new header photo

this is the same location but a more springy-summery atmosphere.  many times i took the subway across the river to and from work; it is one of my favorite views of the city.  the sun is shining here in maine today too, but a tad on the cooler side--normal spring weather!  up early and shopping the stash; already prepped a stack of HSTs for the blue cheese bowtie piece.  waiting for 9ish to start sewing..neighbors, you know.  it's my 3-day weekend and have no real plans, hoping to get mucho sewing and quilting done and just plain enjoy.

sneak peek

ok, so here is the finishing fabric for my little 3" shoofly blocks.  it's a darkish poison green that i think sets off these little gems very nicely.  i saw this color combo in a book and wanted to try it so i judiciously made a little quilt rather than something larger.  with all my other projects, this one will take enough time to finish.  **** tomorrow i want to get started on finishing the blue cheese piece also; remember, the cheddar/blue bow ties?  it'll have a 1" finished outer border and then a blue/cheddar sawtooth border.  then i will baste and quilt and call it a finish.  ***** also on the agenda this weekend is more on "just takes 2" which is sorely needed.  i did get one more unit done but i'm still way behind on this project.  ***** and as usual, busy quilting away on the amish pinwheel.  plenty more to do since i added the swirly feather pinwheels to the center of the gray areas, but it really needed more quilting and it's soooo delicious to quilt with a wool batt.  i'll probably get it done just in time to pack away in the cedar chest until fall. 

a PIF squishie!

as part of her "pay it forward" campaign, denise made and sent me this beautiful wool runner PLUS some gorgeous fabric as well!  ooooh, i love the fall season and this is exactly right for fall!  and who CAN'T use more fabric?  so the gauntlet falls to me.   the first 3 people who leave a comment will receive a hand-made gift from me in the next year.  but you must commit to paying it forward as well.  i'll be watching to see if anyone is interested.  **** last night while watching frozen planet i started a new little quilt, yes i did.  it's the fabric, it called to me and i answered promptly.  i also quilted some on the amish pinwheel, which really needs to be finished soon as warmer weather approaches.  this morning again it's 41 degrees, which is definite real spring. 

Easter Blitz!

our complex is called, "olde english village" and now i know why.  on occasion, the parking lot resembles the london blitz during WWII.  picture this:  my bedroom is on the parking lot side and spaces come right up to my window.  i was sound asleep saturday night when all of a sudden some dickhead in the complex--right in front of my open window as it happens--honked his horn about 6 times.  oh yeah, that woke me up for sure!  after that it was a parade of bright headlights, people coming and going along with talking.  i couldn't get back to sleep for most of the night.  so, i've had it with this place.  i am starting to disperse some fling-ables and have started looking around for other digs.  why this doesn't happen when i don't have to work i'll never know, but to happen on a night before work is devastating.  i'm furious and am thinking a refrigerator box in the middle of a field would be more quiet.  i realize many in the building work different shifts; no problem there.  it's the total lack of regard or courtesy for other tenants that makes me furious.  i wait until 7 am to do a wash in the hall.  i keep my TV on mute until 7 am usually, and i don't sew or shred before 9 am.  as i've said before, lately the quality of the tenant population has suffered, meaning people who don't give a damn about the rights of other tenants.  often there are 2-3 roommates to a single apartment, which ups the traffic considerably.  i really hate this place and hope i'll be out soon. 

Happy Easter!

recently i came across this gem from a grade-school budding georgia o'keefe and couldn't resist posting it today.  though Easter isn't really about bunnies, it reminds me of God's gift to me many years ago, one i still cherish as does her loving husband no doubt.  i'm working all day on Easter but there'll be a song in my heart, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today....Alleleuia!"  Blessings to you on this occasion that is special to many.

whoops!

my apologies all around; the fabric i posted yesterday should have been attributed to bethany fuller, pattern name marguerite.  i did get a couple of pieces of mary koval's baltimore album but this one wasn't one of them.  regardless, it is really beautiful and i'm going to use it sparingly to hang onto it as long as i can. 

just plain lust...

that's right, lust.  i saw this fabric today and nearly drooled all over it.  i bought 1 yard but only because i was practicing self-restraint--and because i'm not really a red person.  but isn't it luscious?  it's a mary koval print from her baltimore album line.  yes i do have have plans for some of it, but the rest will just be around for whenever i need to bring it out and fondle and dream about using.  someday i'll probably wish i had gotten the rest of the bolt but today my budget definitely said no.  **** and where, you might ask, did i find this gorgeous fabric?  at cyndi black's Busy Thimble shop, of course,  packed to the rafters with bolts and bolts of every sort of reproduction fabric.  shelves are piled high and bolts are lined up on the floor so there's barely any space to walk.  with 3 other people there, like today, it was way overcrowded.  to see everything, one would definitely need at least a day or more.  i actually went in to see (and probably get) some of the new reds from Moda's Friendship line and they were there but not yet unwrapped.  then i saw the mary koval and couldn't leave it behind.  i also picked up another print from that line, but no more because i'm really not a red person at all.  well i wasn't before today anyway. 

12 little blocks....

waiting for the setting fabric, which i do not  currently have....i know, seems impossible but very true.  they aren't wonky either, just photographed at different angles.  i haven't been doing much machine sewing, rather concentrating on quilting the amish pinwheel.  i'm also almost done marking the feathered star wallhanging to baste before going back to work saturday.   these little blocks were assembled on phoebe and we've had a grand time getting acquainted with each other.  **** next up to sew on the machine is my little cheddar/bow tie piece; i've finally arrived at how to finish this off.  then it's my amish in the city top and must get back to "just takes 2" as i am fearfully behind on this.  maybe i'll tackle those BEFORE amish in the city.  ***** even with just the few hours i work every week, it does make a noticeable dent in my sewing time but i'm enjoying it just the same.  **** hoping we've seen the last of snow, but too early to feel totally sure.  it's been quite seasonable here, meaning nippy winds and sunshine.  now back to my 3-day weekend!