it's july 1st...

and you know what that means....more just takes 2 blocks will be uploaded.  silly me, i've always shied away from block-of-the-month challenges, partly due to cost (the kit type), but partly because i was apprehensive about keeping up.  looks like my concern was spot on.  even so, the glass is half full here.  i've only one pieced block to finish and then the large applique block to do and i will have the first quarter section done.  then i can turn my attention to the next section, of which i already have 2 blocks done. *** with summer here and the beach calling, i don't get too stressed over quilting deadlines.  i am working diligently on the UFO list, though.  i've knocked of at least 7 this year and i've started a number of small quilts too.  my quilting focus this month is the pinwheel and just takes 2 and ocean waves and little quilts and retreat kits and.........

batik beauties

i am not a new quilter by any means.  over the years i heard many gush over batiks and simply didn't get it.  now i can't believe i didn't pay closer attention to these awesomely gorgeous fabrics.  first, the pattern itself is inconsequential.  it is all about the color and the movement the pattern makes.  though i tend to stay away from dark greens and browns, the tropical colors and the indigos grab me.  such was the case at a maine shop the other day....it was their month-long sale. lest you gasp over yet more added stash, these are FQs or quarter yards; the blues are fat 8ths, so the total is not that alarming, simply as it was so difficult to choose and i wanted to bring home all of them (i didn't).   i have a scrappy quilt in mind using all batiks.  hard to believe they all go together but they do, they really do.  on today's agenda?  make a list of all that needs to be done before vacation arrives.  i've only a little over 3 months to do it!

what was i thinking?

did i say new book?  when i put back my kaffe fassett book, i saw this one again.  it came from amazon, meaning it was used AND it has more than enough patterns to satisfy my baltimore quilt hunger.  so now i can forget about that new book (sorry, mimi) and use this instead.  now to scout out those elves!  **** went daytripping a bit yesterday on a glorious, perfect june day.  went somewhere quilty too...but that's for another post, so stay tuned.  **** and a thank you to bonnie who has posted scads of photos from her vermont classes.  i haven't been to the new venue and was avoiding it a bit, but it looks comfy and adequate, not to mention cool from a/c, so maybe next year.  i tried last year but the 2 classes i wanted were filled 4 days after registration opened, can you believe it?  even though it's a terrific show, it's still a 3+ hour ride from where i am, so not really a day trip.  i confess, i am still influenced by my treks to VQF years ago when it was hot and humid and there was no a/c anywhere. 

where ARE those elves?

you remember the story, right?  the elves who came into the workshop at night and made shoes for the shoemaker?  well, where are they anyway?  i've got the fabric and the book, and i thought they might sneak in and make this beautiful quilt for me....not too much to ask i don't think, do you?  too bad buying the book doesn't automatically get the quilt done, i say.  if so, i'd have a bigger stack of finished things and a bigger collection of books too, no doubt.  how did this thought enter my head?  i'm thinking about another book i'd like to have, a beginning baltimore quilt book by mimi dietrich.  a baltimore quilt has been on my "to do someday" list.  too bad i can't buy the book and have those elves come around.  wouldn't that be easy?  and it would then justify buying the book too, which is my current quandary.....

if you're saying....

what, another new project?   you'd be wrong...this time anyway.  i have seen these little baskets appliqued all over blogland and they are sooo cute!  i had to try one.  i found the pattern free on the internet and copied it to the right size for this 6" block of shirtings, of which i have a huge stack i got in a swap.  i do like them a lot and of course i have plenty of fabric for a gazillion of them, but for now it was just a "try and see" block.  i'm busy quilting on my amish pinwheel, doing a bit of cross-stitch and applique and for a machine project, it's the amish ocean waves flimsy.  **** of course were are in the throes of real summer here in lobster-land, though it has been a cool week here in lake woebegone east.  have a few fun things planned for the summer so far and thinking ahead (and making those lists) for my october retreat, which will be here far too soon.  worse than that, i know it'll go by even faster than that.  now for a book and bed, tomorrow is another day!

leftovers

nearly 2 years ago, i enjoyed my first trip to lancaster for fabric shopping.  i came home with 11.5 yards of fabric, mostly solids, in a very cramped suitcase.  now i'm delighted to say this is just about all that's left.  there are some scraps and a few pieces under a FQ size but the majority has been used up as of today.  from the charcoal i cut pieces for an ocean waves quilt in progress.  using the charcoal is a world of difference choice than black, much easier on the eyes.  there is a spool of charcoal aurifil quilting thread just waiting for this quilt, too.  **** with a week of showers looming for just about every day, it'll be great sewing time.  that new bottle of sunscreen is just going to have to wait a bit until mr. sun returns. 

all the geese...

are flying!  these got done friday and will go into the first quarter section of "just takes 2."   but first, i want to thank all who leave such nice comments!  i do appreciate them, although i don't always reply to each and every one.  *** thanks to a/c i am able to continue quilting on the amish pinwheel, hoping for a july finish maybe?  and more flying geese in my future?  bring 'em on, i'm starting to get good at them! 

back to the future

went to the local book sale today and found this gem.  the scary part is, i remember the '70s....and how cool this look was back then, the gypsy/woodstock/hippie kicked up a notch style.  have to admit, i never knew anybody who would wear such an outfit, colorful though it may be.  i took several views of this, all with the pesky flash reflection.  the book was a whopping 50 cents and i bought it just for old times' sake.  **** today was payday for me, yippee!  did a few errands and a bit of shopping.  a short nap is in order on this warm summery day and then it's back to the old viking for me!

its done!

oh yeah, another one off the UFO list today, a happy event indeed.  i started this last year at maine quilts in jo morton's class and glad to say it's done BEFORE maine quilts this year, though not by much.  these fabrics are not all jo morton's but some are.  even so, i like it.  **** i've also worked some on just takes 2, specifically applique on the 2 applique blocks remaining in the first quarter section.  **** another hot day here in coastal maine but no matter, we are close to the ocean and frigid waters still, even though it's nearly july.  with cooler temps on the way, i'm heading back to quilt on the amish pinwheel, hoping for a finish in july before tackling the next large basted quilt.  **** i've got some gorgeous vintage cross-stitch patterns i want to tackle but my quilting muse is in overdrive.  i can't believe the year is half over already and my list isn't half done, gotta get going!

done and done

whew, the feathered star block is done!  and not too shabby either, if i do say so myself.  next up is some flying geese strips and a few more blocks--2 are applique and are in progress--and then i can put this quarter of the quilt top together.  the little quilt top for my yahoo group acted as leaders
/enders for the feathered star.  so i got both done in nearly the same time with almost no thread waste.  i do use a lot of thread but the amount that goes into the trash is almost nil, thanks to this method of chain sewing.  **** i am so enjoying this "just takes 2" project as it is a bit of a challenge with all the different blocks and construction methods.  not puzzling to the point of frustration but interesting.  i have no idea what i am going to do with a 90" square quilt top or even a finished quilt that size, though.