a vintage gift

for christmas, my mom gave me some gift cards and one was used to purchase these vintage sewing notion items.  apologies on the second photo but i will describe.  first on the left is a basket filled with wooden spool threads, English needles, roll of elastic webbing, 3 pr scissors, other sundry items.  and, of course, the little basket that is adorable!  the bottom tiny photo is of a box with a vintage-y paper lining with an old singer oil can, more spools and notions, a ribbon weaver and some misc stuff.  i already have my aunt's wicker sewing basket so these items will be added for a nice little vintage collection.  the funniest item in my collection?  that would be a package of 1950s era replacement garters....tooo funny!  did i really wear a garter belt back in the early 1960s with my very first nylon stockings?  yep, i sure did.  this small collection is about all i have room to keep but they are fun sewing related things to have and remember.  a few of the thread spools got tossed as they were not wooden....one was from zayre's department store, a long-lost retail venue whose parent company is TJX and sister store is TJ Maxx.  **** today's goal is to attend to a few chores and keep warm....it's FRIGID here! 

hello 2013....

and not a minute to waste!  this is the first UFO that will be tackled, starting today. it'll be free form quilted, a la joe cunningham.  it'll give it that antique look.  and, alas, i found 2 more UFOs, both little quilts, but more nonetheless.  **** thanks to diet pepsi, i was able to see the new year in quite easily, though just barely.  also got some sewing done, which is a fine way to spend any day or night.  and are you interested in some snow and very cold air?  would be glad to send it all your way if i could...the cold is tolerable, but hate the snow piles everywhere.  no melting this week, either.  good thing we are on the upside of daylight hours.  now off to start quilting!  enjoy the year, everyone, or at least as much as possible. 

thank you bonnie!

for bringing laughter to my day....and so early too!

2012 wrap up

this week i finished 7 more blocks of "just takes 2" with only a few more and then the 2nd section can be put together.  this is definitely a UFO for 2013 and why i am passing on any BOMs for 2013.  *** and since it is the cusp of a new year, some additional tallying is in order.  first, finished 14 UFOS, flung 1 flimsy (orca bay) leaving 8 to carry over into 2013.  not bad.  those finishes used up a total of 34 yards of fabric which doesn't seem much but keep in mind, i quilt by hand.  for 2013, there is a total of 31 on the list, many of which are small quilts and should be quick finishes.  now the really interesting info.  in 2013 i added 131 yards of fabric to the stash.....i know, doesn't seem like busting at all BUT if all the fabric in the UFOs is included, then it doesn't seem too bad.  i'm still at a surplus, but i take comfort in knowing many other quilters have much more fabric than i do; i work play constantly at using it up.  my total expenditures on quilt-related stuff for 2012 is $1632 for the year, which includes not only fabric but magazines, notions, books, batts, backings, stencils and plastic, a couple of workshops and the like.  luckily, i have no spouse peering over my shoulder questioning any of this.  during my 11-year marriage, my ex-husband spent way more on liquor in one year than $1632, all the while grilling me on every single sewing-related expense....i'll never be in that situation again....and i have no guilt whatsoever about this year's total.  i just track it for curiosity sake.  ***** so the happiest of new year's to my followers, hoping it's one filled with health, prosperity, enjoyment and blessings!

Aussie secret santa goodies

secret santa christmas swap of 2012 is history, but these are the lovely hand-made gifts that came in my Australia package.  a lovely hand-knit scarf, an embroidered book mark, 2 adorable knitted christmas ornaments and this beautiful, beaded, 1920s style bag.  all hand-crafted gifts and so very thoughtful for me who reads and loves christmas ornaments, lives in a cold climate and a pocketbook diva.  sadly, the package i sent has not been received as of yet by the recipient.  i do have proof of mailing and have contacted the post office to see if it can be located.  while i enjoy christmas swaps, i am wondering if international is wise, given the state of the postal service, or perhaps another time it'll get sent a different method.  for some reason, i frequently have issues with mail coming and going from the south portland post office.

did i say never?

in bygone quilty days, i was known to always toss waste triangles as simply being too small.  apparently my definition of "too small" has changed.  these were waste triangles from flying geese for the scrappy indigo and yes indeed, i did sew them up into tiny HSTs for some future use.  and why?  well, my frugal inner voice said it was simply wasteful to toss perfectly good $10/yard fabric.  now these are probably the smallest i would sew up as they will finish at 1" square, but they will be an ideal sawtooth border at some point.  *** and it was a super sewing day yesterday!  in addition to sewing these up, all the batik blocks got finished AND some "just takes 2" blocks got done as well.  these tasks plus 3 loads of laundry and some cross-stitch took up my entire day.  today it's dig out the car and back to "just takes 2."  tomorrow i'll show you what was in my package from Australia....you will love it!

a snowy day

and fortunately, i don't work today so not going out to battle the elements just yet.  luckily, got errands done yesterday before the storm hit.  santa brought me some gift cards and i promptly hit the local quilt emporium where there was a sale!  most items were passed by except these few batiks to finish the donation quilt.  i've nearly used up the bali pop and a few more squares were required.  aren't they gorgeous!  would you believe there was a time when batiks DIDN'T call my name?  i can't believe it either.  the rest of the gift card was spent on sweat pants, a MUST for maine winter weather.  so me and the old viking are spending quality time together until the skies clear.  

santa remembered!

he not only remembered, he enlisted 2 of his favorite (and mine) elves to respond!  this mini gooseneck lamp from ikea was under the tree.  ideal for the sewing table or anyplace else really, but especially for the sewing table.  ever since bonnie bragged about hers, i have been thinking about how good it would look in MY sewing space....and here it is!  thank you elves! 

merry christmas!

the jolly old man brought us a white christmas, how good is that!  not too much snow, just enough to make it festive and to make the outside trees with lights dazzle!  we are so thankful for our many, many blessings this holiday though we miss those not with us for various reasons.  today prayers go to those traveling, the homeless or unemployed, those without hope or in distress and to our nation and its leaders.  so many needs means many opportunities to make life better for others, which many of us do already.  blessings for a joy-filled day and season!  oh, and the christmas quilt?  mom said it was super cozy! 

nick (no pun) of time

the christmas scrappy ribbons is done!  just last night put the finishing stitches into this colorful, seasonal quilt.  as you can see, it is not a huge quilt, but that's okay.  all those christmas print scraps are so delightful and memorable for me.  my dear mom will have the honor of sleeping under it for the very first time tonight, christmas eve.  so now to start quilting the next in line, which will be the autumn scrappy, a gift for someone special. *** now that christmas is just about here, it's time to pull out the "just takes 2" project to see how much can be done in the next 6 days before the new year begins.  **** as far as the batik blocks, have finished about 35 blocks and nearly used up my bali pop strips.  i want a total of 48 blocks, so i will need to supplement the bali pop with a few more fabric pieces.  then it will get a 2" plum border, be tied and sent off to bob's blankie brigade!  looking back, it's been quite a productive year, quilty-wise.  ****  last but not least, if you don't stop by tomorrow, i wish you the most blessed of holidays and bright hopes for health and prosperity for 2013!