shopping the stash

nothing like browsing thru the stash and coming up with terrific bundles for future projects.  the 3 fabrics on the right were gifted to me (thank you vic!) and yesterday found the other 3 to go along with them.  not sure yet which pattern will be selected, but it'll be gorgeous.  i also have the stack of dargate indigos that need a project, and because of the variety i have, thinking of something with a lot of little HSTs like the tree of life block or similar.  **** hoping it's raindrops and not snowflakes we'll be dodging today and tomorrow.  gotta go....the old viking is getting restless

baskets r done...

not sure if they will be moved around or not, but this gives you an idea of how they will be set.  my design wall leaves a LOT to be desired, but it works and i think they are just adorable!  have to keep my mind off this terrible snow and any we might get this week....gee whiz, winter is hanging on like a frigid leech!  today also pinned the indigo squares together and tomorrow maybe start on the borders.  *** no, i didn't get to the batik/plum but that is next on my list.  that and finishing the autumn change are my MUST finish by end of march.  my UFO list is getting longer...not shorter...oh no, as mr. bill says!  wow, do i like those civil war fabrics!

ta-done!

in the course of any year, i take few workshops and from those, even fewer result in fully completed projects when the workshop is over.  today was a delightful exception!  my mondo  bag is all done, yes done!  already thinking of using it when spring and summer breezes finally arrive.  judging from today's weather, it won't be anytime soon.  with phoebe back in her little corner after a busy day's work, it's back to the old viking for more work on scrappy indigo.  but after a harrowing weather day, it's a hot shower, flannel jammies and a funny book....garrison keillor's "guy noir and the straight skinny".....a laugh-out-loud adventure. 

spring on my mind

a quickie project that will use up nearly all the FQs of this line, "summer breeze," purchased in Lancaster last october.  so, despite my current fabric storage issues, there really is progress on the stash busting front.  since returning from retreat, i've used up the batik bali pop, these FQs, 3 yards of another background, some plum solid (about 1 yard so far), about 1.5 yards of a green solid for an amish style quilt, some small solid pieces for the same quilt and some mod fabrics for the laptop bag.  there'll be a sewing marathon between now and whenever "blue variety" arrives in order to make space for a bit of that.  as of 2 days ago, i'm deleting ALL emails from fabric spots....i simply have to!

indigo crossing and more

this is most of what the trip to cyndi's shop came home with me.  the indigo crossing FQs, 2 jo morton FQs, 2 solid cheddar and 1 print cheddar, 2 from the "new colonies" line....not pictured is a short stack of dargate indigos, a poison green FQ, a black print FQ, a blue/cream toile FQ, and a couple of other misc pieces.  cyndi told me jo morton has yet ANOTHER line coming out april (maybe), which i've seen on the andover site.  not sure if any of those will be added to the stash or not.  as of now, the room is pretty much full so time to do some rearranging and some flinging.....and more sewing, of course!  hmm, do i really need a dresser and a bed? 

a "busy" day....

as mentioned, among other plans for the day was a visit to cyndi's shop "the busy thimble."  as you can see, it is oh-so quaint and country looking with a nice picnic table out front for warmer days.  on the porch were some sale bolts but nothing called to me as i walked by.  inside the little shop was full of shoppers and many bolts of lovely reproduction fabrics.  i had pre- ordered my "indigo crossing" so just browsed while others were served.  along with the ordered fabric, i selected a couple of jo morton fabrics, some "new colonies", some FQs earmarked for projects and 2 cheddar solids....photos to follow another day.  good thing i spent the time before leaving sewing up and cutting up....i need the room!  on the wall was a log cabin done in barn raising style; blocks were about 3.5" finished.....simply gorgeous!  cyndi's love of small quilts is evidenced by the many on display.  i'll be making another pilgrimage in early april to see new goodies not yet arrived.  if you love reproduction fabrics and are ever in maine, you simply MUST go here. 

baby emma progress

ok, so this is my baby emma center block so far.  i admit the applique intimidated me just a tad, but proceeding carefully resulted in a pretty good look.  still a bit more to do for the finished block; then on to the patchwork part.  i think these fabrics are totally gorgeous, they are jo morton's "spice market" and such rich hues.  this project is for odd moments and it just proves how much can be accomplished in time that might otherwise be wasted or frittered away.  **** slow start this morning due to a serious bad habit of mine....reading too late.  finished "gone girl" and it is scarier at the end than in the beginning.  have to find something not so intense for late night after work wind down for sure!  **** now on to the ironing station for some boring but necessary tasks.  

finished blocks

all 12 blocks for the scrappy indigo are done!  here are the 2 piles--6 of each.  i'm now working on the flying geese border and thinking about using those little bonus triangle HSTs...or not.  during quiltcam bonnie remarked about the beauty of blue and white quilts and i totally agree!  in addition to machine work, i've been quilting on the autumn change, hoping for a finish by the end of march.  **** boston commons has returned from the longarmer and is basted, waiting for quilting as well.  one day soon must put up the large folding table and tie the batik/plum and baste a whole stack of the little quilts.  i am thinking to spend one whole month finishing up the little ones some time when the weather is much warmer, which is definitely NOT february.  after our brief sojourn into spring, it's back frigid and very windy.  **** and if you read, you MUST get "gone, girl".....a completely riveting and "can't put down" book.  now back to the regularly scheduled sewing!

busy blading....

in addition to some machine piecing here and there and some hand quilting in odd moments during TV, i've been kitting up some projects.  to the right of the rotary cutter are pieces for my laptop bag and the kim diehl tablerunner; to the left are pieces for the plus quilt and a batik stars project.  they're boring, repetitious tasks that i can do when watching TV mysteries.  my next blading task is to finish pieces for a bag workshop coming up before the end of the month.  i also got the binding ready for "christmas wishes" for whenever it gets quilted.  **** speaking of quilting, autumn change is about 2/3 finished and soon i'll have to find a binding for that.  i also got the back ready for the batik/plum quilt, hoping to get that finished and gone before the end of march....or sooner!  *** yesterday it was actually spring here with temps above 50 degrees.  mom and I had lunch at Billy's Chowder House....fresh haddock and maine shrimp....simply delish!  if you are in Wells at any time, you MUST go there for the food and the view overlooking the bay.  even in winter it is beautiful! 

now it's february

just yesterday finally got my little heart wallhanging up for the month, or what's left anyway.  i did flip the calendar on the 1st, which i really hated to do because this kim diehl calendar is soo, sooo gorgeous!  this month's table topper is from her book "simply scraps," which denise kindly loaned me for a bit.  **** got my little washed batik strips all packed and ready to go for this month's swap.  *** and yes, we got more of that awful snow yesterday, can you believe?  today, though, temps are in the 30s already, it's clear and sunny, so it's going to be a melting day for sure!