in the frame!

this little quilt is more than half quilted now.  the border is a molly b rust print and the binding will be the same.  it is free form quilted of course.  it doesn't bust much stash but getting it done gets it OFF the UFO list for good.  now i just have to move on to the large tumbler top, which probably won't happen right away.  **** july is nearly history and august is for applique on the hawaiian.  i've also to finish up the last few rows of cabana daydreams flimsy.  *** had a string of gorgeous weather and beach days, so sewing has slowed down.  must drink up these wonderful weather days while they are here....february is a loooooong month!  ****  though i am anxious to move from this unpleasant complex, the reality is i've been mostly packed for about 6 months now and am needing some sewing things; confess i was not good at all about labeling most of the boxes.  am in a quandary about whether to unpack and reorganize the best i can or purchase what i know will be duplicates in fabric for upcoming projects.  the frugal me says to unpack, but difficult to give up on the need to vacate this terrible apartment situation.  time to make a pros/cons list and come to a solution.  in the meantime, will continue on status quo and enjoy summer!

monday design wall

up early this morning to finish this little quilt flimsy.  just have to add the borders, baste it and quilt and i'll have another UFO finish soon.  no doubt victoria will be pleased to see i have used the little template she gave me last year.  she and i are civil war fabric twins....if you look at her stash and at mine, they might look the same.  we love the same fabrics, she heavy on reds and me with blues.  her large tumbler quilts are done whereas i am languishing far behind.  ****  and how good is it to be able to sew first thing in the morning?  priceless!

perfect storm sewing

when 3 elements collide, it's a perfect storm...we all saw that movie right?  sadly, george clooney wasn't one of those elements....but i digress.  there were those leftover daydreams scraps staring at me, then a dynamite project idea presented itself, and then there was time with phoebe and voila!  cabana chevrons!  aren't they cute?  yes, i think so too.  of course this is just the start; finish comes later...what else is new, but not too much later, i promise, and i'll show you all too.  **** meanwhile still basking in the glow of that big finish, thinking about summer being nearly at the halfway point, excited for plans for the remainder.  and lest you be worried, i have PLENTY more daydreams scraps to tantalize and tempt me for some other pretty little things to make.  those 2 layer cakes were a terrific investment, and anxious to see how many things i can make from them besides cabana daydreams.  ****  with these fabrics, my creative muse is veering off in a new direction of mod style quilting and fabrics.  i haven't abandoned my civil war fabric devotion, but i find myself drawn more and more to mod fabric designers and their wow colors.  it isn't the prints themselves but the glorious colors that make my muse's juices sizzle.  how about you?  has your quilty focus changed?  i'll be interested in your comments along that line.  ***** we did go to the beach today but it was quite windy and gray clouds were gathering, so instead headed for our favorite summer veggie stand and picked up our first fresh corn, cukes, peppers, summer squash, parsley and a fat tomato for the season.  the corn and cukes were delish and off to get out those summer veggie recipes!

woo hoo!

this behemoth of a BOM is finally done!  the "just takes 2" got finished last evening during the 6:30 news and what a great feeling it was!  not to say i didn't enjoy this project; i did.  it was a real challenge for me to take on more complicated blocks than usual, but thought it would be off my UFO list much sooner than this.  even so, i am a process person and did enjoy the process, not to mention the freedom of free-form quilting each and every block differently, except the geese and checkerboard units--those were all quilted the same.  anyway, it needs its finish bath and measure to see how much yardage got busted and then it belongs to my mum....and on to the next UFO.  **** first up is to repair a quilt i had made for my dad in the 1980s, a scrappy drunkard's path that needs some repair and new binding.  the little tumbler quilt should be the next UFO finish and i think august will be devoted to the hawaiian to see if the applique can get finished; then september to finish another donation UFO. **** the JTT was the 3rd hand quilted quilt that got finished this year so far....not to shabby! 

come along.....

starts august 1, have corraled my fabrics for this one already and ALL are from the stash except the black print....good stashbusting here!  hop on over to marcus fabrics' facebook page and get all the down and dirty details....would love to have you on board. 

here is my stack for this project....

i may or may not swtich out the light print, first i have to find my light stash in a box someplace.  pretty sure that the "just takes 2" will be history long before this sew-along starts.  and today is the last day of my weekend, so off to play some more! 

won't be long now.....

until this lovely line of fabrics is available to add to MY stash....the FQ bundle is too pricey but there are a few prints i simply must get.  what minick & simpson did for red (midwinter reds, swoon) they have now done for blues/tans....i love them!  *** it's my weekend and spending time this morning working on the JTT, yes STILL!  beach weather was a detour from getting this off my UFO list, but temps have modulated and so back on track today.  *** also on the weekend list--aside from some mundane stuff--is to possibly unpack and assemble the storage drawers my sister gave me for christmas....after all it's july and about time too!  this is going to house my UFO projects now stored in shoeboxes, then the shoeboxes can be repurposed.  i am also thinking of getting a tall cabinet for my stash to sort by color, but that will wait until the move takes place.  i'll show the storage drawers once they are together.  *** i've started my lists for retreat, what to take etc. it's coming up fast...every beach day is a day closer.  for now, though, it's back to JTT!

are you a kaffe fan?

these are duplicates that came in the mail yesterday, up for sale for $10 plus shipping from zip 04106....if you are interested, email me.  the colors are much brighter than my camera depicts; for instance, the lower left piece is bright orange....makes my internal juices zing!  how can you NOT be a kaffe fan?  my stripe collection is now complete and anxious to find a pattern for them and go to play for serious.  ****  already tuesday....today gotta spend more time on finishing "just takes 2" as i am closing in on the finish this week...how good is that? 

next UFO....

some time ago my friend vic gave me the template for these little tumblers and right away several got cut out and a few sewn together for a little quilt.  since the "just takes 2" is almost done, pulled out this project to get this UFO done.  have to do a bit of "unsewing" on this row and then put the rest together.  also working on getting the "cabana daydreams" to the flimsy stage and set aside; will be a UFO for 2015 no doubt.  keeping sewing busy despite entering mid-summer and its accompanying hot/humid days.  just can't believe how fast the days are flying by.  making as much progress as i can despite beach time.  yesterday me, mom and sis went to a nearby ocean campground for swimming and a delish buffet dinner.  **** the week starts again today...see, i told you time was flying!  now keep calm and sew on!

new header photo

this is my milky way masquerade....all batiks except background (to save $$$) but also because i thought the lighter dots might give the illusion of stars far away....anyway this is a giveaway quilt once it's hand quilted...but for now finishing up just takes 2.....very very soon!

hello again!

just think, if it weren't for all those brave men and women who fought and died so valiantly, who had a vision and a deep desire for freedom, who never faltered in spite of heavy personal loss and the daunting goal before them, we might be saluting this today.  happy independence day!