week 2 - prussian blue!

these fabrics were the closest i could find for this week's challenge.  most of my stash is packed up but i did leave out some civil war fabrics.  pretty sure there are others in a box someplace.  making just these few blocks every week makes it easy to keep up in this year-long project.  hoping that soon all my stash will be accessible and organized.  have had word on the move and could be before spring, which would make me happy indeed.  ***  the hawaiian is coming along and now that sewing commitments are done, can move on to another machine project.  good thing books are packed as well or i'd be tempted to start another new....yeah, my stash is THAT gorgeous!  soooo, which one will it be?  wait and see!

LOTL part deux....done!

weekend task of finishing up these blocks accomplished....gosh, did you ever see a batik fabric that wasn't drop-dead gorgeous?  me either...so first stop today is the post office to send these along.  these 18 plus the 24 from last year will give me a generous twin size quilt top some time later this year.  and thanks to winter weather, have almost half the hawaiian quilted...the orange part; haven't started the white background portion yet.  shameless bragging on how pretty it is and how the quilting really makes the quilt...isn't that always the way? as for the next machine project?  well, next is the 3 star blocks showcasing prussian blue civil war fabrics and then....think the amish style ocean waves flimsy really needs to be finished.  once that top is done thinking a basting day will be in order as there are more than a few that are ready.  **** and are you in for the APQ 4-patch sew along?  not sure if i'll make a full size quilt but maybe a smaller version.  have added the badge to my sidebar.  though have dropped Quilters Newsletter mag due to cost, did pick up the American Patchwork and Quilting mag in its place at half the cost; this plus Quiltmaker are more than enough to keep current on quilty stuff.  ***  been busy since 5 am so taking a short break before continuing on with the day...it's cold and sunshiny and just right to sew!

weekend mission

the blocks from last year's lady of the lake swap were sooo gorgeous, decided to jump in for part 2 this year.  so this weekend will be making 24 more from different blue batiks and send off tuesday.  getting them done in 3 days should be easy.  it's another very cold day today so the old viking will be smokin!  have avoided most swaps due to postage costs but every now and then one is too tempting to miss.  cannot resist blue and white quilts!  *** not much else doing in lobsterville.  quilty events are hard to find this time of year.  more daylight is starting to be noticeable so everyone is more hopeful that spring is getting closer.....including me!

an early finish

barbara brackman has started a star sew-along using a different type of civil war fabric/color each week.  today's first is using turkey red.  rather than making an entire quilt--big or small--each week, have chosen to make 3 blocks per week that will give me a twin size quilt at the end of 49 weeks.  and here they are!  another reason for only 3 blocks is that most of my stash is FQs or half yards only, which should make shopping the stash for all the blocks pretty easy.  this is gonna be fun!  *** with frigid weather here it's ideal for quilting on the hawaiian, not that the apartment isn't warm, but a snuggly quilt is sooo, well...comforting!  amazed at how quickly it is coming along, so hoping for a finish before spring arrives.  so what are you sewing today?

design "wall" monday

not wanting to neglect the old viking while hand quilting the hawaiian, these little blocks got paper pieced this weekend.  though not all done, they do work up fairly quickly and are so darn cute!  bonnie made an entire quilt of these 5" blocks but me, i'm not up to THAT task.... another monday is here and january is almost half over.  in maine january and february are hibernation months, unless one enjoys skiing, hiking, snowmobiling, hunting, ice fishing and boating or any other frigid weather pursuit.  my most strenuous outdoor winter activity is clearing off the car after a storm.  it's nice to have quilting as an all-weather pastime.....

winter weather means quilting time

not that i don't quilt other seasons, but there's something about short days and cold temps that just beg for having a large quilt in your lap.  and, in honor of today's photo, my text has gone orange!  this quilt has been in process for about 5 years now, from choosing the pattern, the fabric, cutting the applique, the basting and actual applique work and now the really fun part, the quilting.  this will definitely be one of my personal heirloom quilts and i am giddy to realize it'll soon be finished.  if you have never tried hawaiian style quilting, i can heartily recommend you do.  as a bonus, applique angst has disappeared!

silly me....

the plan was to use up the rest of my batik scraps making these pineapple blocks, 25 of them, for a wallhanging, a frugal plan.....just couldn't stand to toss or fling these gem-like pieces.  now that the second round is started, i realize that there will be plenty of scraps left over after these blocks are done, a complete miscalculation but no surprise since math is almost foreign to me.  so, now while working on these blocks, will have to devise another project to REALLY use up the rest of the batik scraps.  it's a lemons to lemonade task....using up the scraps, and i will forge ahead with pleasure!   ****  since most of the country is in a deep freeze, we are no exception.  plenty of warm clothes and with days a tad longer, our sunshine might help a bit too.  it's part of winter in maine and no surprise at all to us, despite the frenzy the weather channel perpetuates.  we plan for it, adjust things accordingly and wait for it to abate....it's how things are done in our neck of the woods....

little flimsy

busted almost half of a charm pack on this little piece....the lighter rectangles are from a jo morton fabric.....gorgeous!  today working on some little pineapple squares, paper pieced, batik scraps, an official UFO.  really enjoying quilting on the hawaiian in this deep freeze, although we are warm but not overly so.  the heat got turned up high, but for some reason the inside temp stays the same.  the complex is 70s era and there are no real storm windows; most are drafty and loose.   the sills are covered with rolled-up towels to keep out some of the draft, but with 2 large picture windows, it helps but not totally effective.  not complaining at all, tho....in fact, when weather is extreme like this, makes me more mindful of how blessed i am to have basic comforts to enjoy....

bright flimsy

one charm pack is busted and i've this little flimsy ready to baste.  have started on another little project that will use up half a charm pack.....a nice little reproduction type piece.  more quilting has been done on the hawaiian as well.  waiting on stormy weather here after a long break with balmy temps.  the larder has been filled and so ready for a few days inside with videos and sewing....not the most pleasant aspect but it is a luxury to be able to stay off bad roads.  have been fortunate to get thru holiday season without battling the elements.  now for a late lunch, some errands and back to the old viking.....always a good companion!

new year, new project

the too-short days got to me and i've been ogling those kaffe charm squares for a few weeks now, wondering what i could make from them.  the 30 UFOs are being ignored temporarily while i finish the jelly roll flimsy and play with these bright colors.  with some cheddar strips and the kaffe charms, going to make this little piece--only 40 nickels but a wowza feeling.  the days are starting to lengthen, but until it's daylight at 5 pm (sometime in january), this will chase away the gloom.  *** saw the new year in last night and up early this AM, so a nap is on today's agenda, along with the sewing of course AND the parade too.  ***  the UFO challenge is on and thankfully i am not in the top 10, so i've time to have a finish before my name looms closer to the top.  quilting on the hawaiian is coming along nicely; such a relaxing pastime and anxious to see the design unfold.  am using aurifil white quilting thread  for the first time and it is terrific....the gals--old viking, phoebe and trudy--love it too.  hope you enjoy this first day of 2015!