for phoebe

last time phoebe and i played together, i noticed she wasn't quite her usually perky self.  her lacquer was a bit dull and i think i know why.  i saw her glance over at the old viking looking a bit pea green with envy...it was the sewing pad with pockets, i'm sure of it.  so i pulled out some scraps and made phoebe a pad of her very own, a bright, cheery, cushy-for-the-tushy with pockets for all kinds of necessaries.  after it was done, it got folded and put into her case.  next time we play she will be sewing in style.  makes a mom feel good when her children are happy for sure, even her sewing machine offspring.  wonder if the little brother feels left out now? 

tax refund finish

the last tax refund purchase arrived yesterday.  clever hancock's, sent me a catalog and shortly thereafter a free shipping missive arrived at my inbox.  there was much more on my "want" list, but i opted out of all but these.  i have a wallhanging pattern that has been waiting on them, so now it can be started.  **** most of my tax refund went to paying for my vacation, some bills and a couple of needed things (suitcase, stainless flatware) and this gorgeous fabric.  each piece is 1/2 yard, so 3.5 new yards into the stash.  my last christmas-y purchase was last year so i've really tapered off.  autumn and christmas fabrics always call to me but of late i have mostly ignored the message.  it's now washed and dried and ready to use.  yeah, i'm in the "wash fabric" group. 

the first wave

if you follow my blog religiously--and there are some who do--you might recall a post some time ago with a photo of ocean wave units.  well, i pulled out the instructions (instead of the photo) and found an easier way to put it together.  so i did a bit of ripping out and started over and this is the first block.  i love, love, love the colors and can't wait to see the top together.  since i hand quilt, i chose larger triangles making it easier to hand quilt when the time comes.  this makes a total of 4 bed size and 1 little amish style quilt i have in process...do you see a trend here?  i think they have to be my all-time fave style to make and drool over and there will probably be more to come, at least small ones anyway. 

little quilt part deux

yes, i've been playing in the cotton crayola box again.  when i made the first little quilt from this pattern in civil war repros (photo a few posts ago), i got to thinking about doing it in solids.  though some of the colors might be a tad too bright to be strictly amish, i like it done with the solids nevertheless.  and the flash does make it appear brighter than it really is also.  **** no quilting on the pinwheel yesterday--too warm--but i did start applique on the last big block for JT2 and got some leaders/enders 9-patch squares done, a quick trip to joann's for half-price silk thread.  the machine is all set up for more ocean waves units too.  and today i've another sewing diversion that i'll show off later. 

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.