leaving the nest

remember this quilt?  finished some time ago, it's been sitting on the shelf patiently until a certain event.  today it is getting packed up and mailed off to its recipient.  also going off is the orca bay flimsy to a charity where it will be finished and gifted to a needy family.  that'll make some space on the shelf for more recent finishes.  it's a constant battle in such a small space for all my sewing and quilting stuff.  i periodically go thru clothing items and toss some and i haven't really added much in the way of fabric because it's being used all the time.  ****  off to tackle today's list!

my kind of winter

ever since "eye of the needle" eons ago, i've been a bona fide follett fan.  and now, a facebook follower too!  and finally, my name came up at the local library to get this goodie.  oh, i love really thick books!  it's the sequel to "fall of giants" and i also heard that "world without end" is out on video or something like that.  if you haven't read "pillars of the earth" and its sequel "world without end," then run, don't walk to your nearest library and scoop them up.  i am so thankful to my mom who raised a family of serious readers!

dullsville

no, not my impression but the actual name of this quilt seen yesterday made by havrilla stephens.  she started out with some gray batik strips but ended up with this quasi-lasagna quilt which isn't dull at all i think.  interjecting those beige-y diamonds has really kicked this up a notch from ordinary to interesting and oh-so very modern quilting, which is all the rage right now.  *** went to bed early thus this very early morning post.  now to make my last pre-retreat list before going back to sleep.  a few errands later this morning and whip up a batch of spaghetti sauce is also on today's agenda. 

showtripping sunday

today drove over to rochester, nh, and the cocheco quilters show.  met up with vic (see below) and we oohhed and aahhhed at all the lovely quilts.  left, though, is the best of show and more than worthy in my book.  made by gladi porsche it was hand quilted, hand appliqued with some hand embroidery as well.  vic and i chatted and i came home with only ONE piece of fabric, an indigo repro from cyndi black's booth.  not that i didn't fondle a lot more and thought about buying more, but i resisted.   the skies were gloomy but it was an enjoyable day. 

vic wanted her photo taken in front of this delicious scrappy and i do concur.  also saw some beautiful pieces from the "silver thread" challenge sponsored by the new england quilt museum in honor of their 25th anniversary.  i can't believe it has been 25 years since the museum first opened its doors. 

boo-oooks!

no trick here just a couple of treats found at the local library used book sale.  i know, not much value to most, but carter houck is a name from my quilting "kindergarten" days and the ruby mckim?  well, i had a copy of this book once, not sure where it got to, so i added it to my book stash once again.  in fact, i inherited an original ruby mckim leaflet from my ex's grandmother some years ago.  it is a cherished quilting momento of her and quilting days gone by.  i never knew her, of course, but i have her sewing table and the leaflet, plus some fabric and squares she made.  dear daughter has one of her quilts.  lila, you have not been forgotten, even by those you never knew.   **** trying to spend as much time as possible quilting the pinwheel.  i may get it bound before retreat time yet....gonna be close!  **** brrr, pretty cold here this AM, like below freezing; and those green mountains of vermont?  they're white!

thank you, janet!

last week janet posted a giveaway on her blog and look, my name was drawn!  how gorgeous are these lovely gifts....a pin cushion, a fall mug rug or mini quilt and some very nice handmade soaps.  i never had handmade soaps before and these are so fragrant with fall spices.  such very nice and thoughtful handmade gifts are always welcome, a sentiment shared by so many.  **** very cool and sunny day here with a possible hard freeze predicted for tonight, so the growing season is essentially over.  *** a quiet couple of days in this lake woebegone with some relaxation, quilting, few errands....and last night, a fantastic trip to cirque du soleil's "saltimbanco." 

maine's quilt whisperer

that would be wendy reed, quilt appraiser, quilt teacher and hand quilter extroadinaire!  wendy, along with cyndi black, chairs maine's quilt documentation project.  this was her entry into maine quilts this past july..isn't it stunning?  i took a hand quilting class with wendy to (hopefully) learn her secrets and got some valuable tips that i am incorporating into my personal quilting technique.  they have made a difference and i am mulling over the prospect of making my own whole cloth. this is wallhanging size and it is just perfect i think, don't you? 

done stripping

ok, another cross off from the list.  my red strips are cut and bagged and ready to go.  my red stash is equally christmas and civil war repros so i hope whoever gets them is "into" repro fabrics.  i usually don't include holiday fabrics in swaps.  there are a few batiks in there as well.  i would always take them back...<grin>!   ***  it's rainy/misty/cloudy/cool here on the coast.  and for lunch?  roasted brussel sprouts of course..mmmmm 

last call

 

 

i've closed a few bars in my time with the ex (what was i thinking?) so for a change made our last visit to the local veggie stand yesterday morning.  they are closing on friday.  we were able to get these fresh goodies plus 2 squash that are in the root cellar--AKA the car--until it gets a bit colder.  the apartment is way too warm to keep them inside.  the zukes are for bread, the brussel sprouts for roasting, the scallions for stir-fry and quiche, the eggplant for parmesan, the potatoes for roasting and the peppers for spaghetti sauce!  the cukes will be snacks...yumm!   while it's true i am overweight from snacky type foods, i love fresh veggies and they will be sorely missed from now until next june or so.  a few winter markets have popped up offering root veggies, locally raised meat, eggs and baked goods.  occasionally we visit one, but they are pricey and variety is limited of course.  our favorite lobster pound is also closed during the week now and seasonal businesses are boarding up.  it's like much of maine hibernates for the winter except the snow lovers.  halloween approaches with a bit of trepidation because our worst snowstorm last year was on october 31st..who would have guessed? 

 

on the lookout

one of my PA chores is to track down this line of fabric, if available.  plenty of luscious repro fabrics in this line and i've been waiting for it to arrive.  my list of "needs" is made and it's short...true!  the plan is to sew for most of the retreat and keep the shopping to a minimum.  there is a lot that i want to get done sewing-wise and cavorting around retail spaces won't get it done.  i just hope i don't drool too much during my brief sojourns into fabric heaven...LOL.