thursday sewing

off and on today been sewing on that maine quilts project.  started out with 1/4 yard of the white print and 1/2 yard of the dark blue and this is what is left.  pretty discouraging i'd say....paper piecing doesn't use up a whole lot of stash by any stretch.  this will be a wallhanging and it is far from done, so will use up more of the fabrics that were set aside for this project.  and yes, it IS an official UFO so when it's done, another gets crossed off.  **** cold this morning and seasonable today with some melting of the hideous snow.  despite the winter feel, some of the seasonal places are starting to open on a limited basis, so that is always a welcome sign.  **** off to shower and settle down for the night with the quilting project.  idle hands, you know.... 

UFO progress

this UFO has been in the works for some time.  amish style, of course, using up some cherrywood scraps from their scrap bags.  it is hand pieced and will be hand quilted.  only 20 blocks in all with alternating solid blocks -- for the quilting of course!  this is the first time i've seen them all together and soon it will be a flimsy....no rush, though, whenever is ok with me.  it is a gift quilt so won't be staying with me.  i am thinking my next hand piecing project will be civil war repros.  it has to be small enough to be portable as i've the hawaiian to keep at home....just plain too large to stuff into my purse.   **** yes, it is disgustingly true, we have had another snowstorm.  we are all praying this is the last.  we (meaning collectively new england residents) are so done with winter! 

a quilty day

with flakes falling and plows plowing, not to mention winds howling, it is definitely a snowy quilty day here in coastal maine.  did i mention tomorrow is the first day of spring?  oh yeah, we are all too familiar with this kind of weather this time of year.  i have only peeked out the window once, trying to avoid looking at it more than necessary.  instead, been cozy in my quilting chair working on this gift quilt.  it's over 2/3 quilted and thinking about what kind of binding it wants.  don't think it will be a march finish, but soon after.  **** the setting triangles are all sewn in on the little basket quilt, so ready to baste and quilt--love that companion angle ruler!  **** now that scrappy indigo is an official flimsy, moving on to the next project, a secret project, for the upcoming maine quilts show this summer.  so, without further delay..... 

non UFO finish

you would think that with a lengthy UFO list, my focus would be on finishing rather than making, but i couldn't resist this springy little wallhanging in the recent Quiltmaker issue.  it's going to hang in my work cube giving it a definite non-winter ambience.  rest assured, though, UFOs are being tackled.  just yesterday another square for "just takes 2" got finished.  **** last night during quilt-cam, sewed up some squares for another new project that will be finished soon....kim diehl's "pie birds" runner.  it uses those luscious civil war repros and is a quickie 7 square project.  **** now that this little cutie is finished, my hand quilting time will go to "autumn change," hoping for a finish--maybe no march but april definitely.  hoping that'll give me time for another bed size quilt finish before hot weather arrives.  now off to soak up some late winter sunshine!

surprise fabric!

that vic is such a dear!  mr. mailman brought me this in a little package from vic today..  i send her my strings for a friend of hers--and quite happy to find a home for them too, i might add--so i hope she didn't think she needed to "pay" me.  i am glad indeed to get these coordinating fabrics and they are most welcome in my stash...thank you vic!  **** finished the scrappy indigo flimsy but not ready for its closeup yet; also put together another block for JTT and printed off some applique patterns of upcoming blocks.  the little spring wallhanging is done and will find its spring home in my work cube tomorrow.  now i am cutting some civil war strips for a scrappy tablerunner, pattern by kim diehl.  lastly, made a cranberry bread and topped off the day with lunch at olive garden.  and, best of all, quilt cam tonight!  spending every minute of this early spring day in most enjoyable ways! 

little baskets part 2

oh yeah, i think this fabric is going to be fine for the setting triangles.  usually i plan these things ahead and sew the triangles on BEFORE the rows get put together, always when machine piecing.  this little serendipitous project was hand pieced and the setting triangle fabric hadn't been chosen so they will get set in by hand--a good portable project.  gee, i am really liking how this is going to finish up.  ****  just this morning heard that ice season was nearly over here in new england....doesn't hurt me one bit!  sure, we might get some more rogue snows but it can't last as mr. sun is bearing down on us much warmer these lengthening days.  ****  it's my weekend and i've got a long list of things i hope to accomplish, which is always too ambitious, but i know some of them will get crossed off.  getting a bit of a late start due to a couple of late nights but first up...laundry! 

wonderful wednesday

well it's wednesday friday for me and yesterday finished assembling the little basket quilt.  fortunately have a wide selection of possibilities for setting triangles, but chose this red civil war stripey piece, which coincidentally used it all up on this project...how good is that?  have several other projects using civil war repros dancing in my head.  first up is to finish quilting the spring wallhanging, finish quilting autumn change, finish scrappy indigo flimsy (almost done!), send off the batik AND rotary cut strips for another project and for a tablerunner....whew!  ****  our springy weather continues, so much so that last night kept my window open a bit, wore shortie jammies AND used only 1 quilt....yep, spring is coming for sure!

my brother, the blues bass guitarist

having a brother in an active band makes me a sometime groupie.  today's gig was at mt. abram, a ski resort about 2 hours west.  being beach people, i've never been before and probably won't ever go again, but it was a nice outing.  and skiing?  they make it look sooo easy, except for that little girl on the bunny slope who hasn't quite got the hang of it.  the sun felt nice and it wasn't actually too cold outside to sit for a bit....but glad i wore my woolie socks!   **** had my "hour ahead" nap and now for some nonfun stuff...laundry!

friday finish

just before bedtime on friday this donation quilt got finished!  i really love the colors--it's a bali pop called watermelon--and again, thanks to janet l. for suggesting the plum solid; it's simply perfect.  **** the little spring wallhanging quilting is started and hoping to get that done and hung some time this week as with daylight saving time starting today, spring is really around the corner.  daytime temps in the 40s all week, which will certainly keep the snow away.  have a happy quilty day!

it's a B-usy day

up early this morning and first thing got these 4 little quilts basted for quilting.  this B task, along with binding the batik, should keep me busy....in addition to some necessary household chores.  with 2 whole days off this week and no errands that require driving, i've been able to use up every moment and make some real progress on sewing projects.  **** while i would rather be a professional single gal and not a housefrau, i did some cooking yesterday that i simply HAVE to brag about a tiny bit.  recently caught Ramsay's Cooking Course on the BBC channel.  i learned a lot about technique and some dynamite quick recipes for superb dishes sure to perk up any menu.  yesterday it was north african eggs.  the book contains 100 recipes that Ramsay promises you can "stake your life on" and he doesn't disappoint.  using a few simple quality ingredients and a whole new selection of spices i've never used, we've been enjoying some scrumptious variety to our weekly meals.  **** now to those household chores so i can finish the batik quilt today!