some progress

in the two-week hiatus, have managed to get more star blocks done and with the

summer sampler sew along.  for this project, i'm using a dark blue sashing/background, so limiting blocks to reds/golds....have also sewn up a table topper for my mum's new place that goes with her valance and a wallhanging i had also given her.  aside from that, am keeping mostly occupied despite still no housing.  ***  the days are simply june perfect, which i am enjoying to the fullest knowing there are southern hot and humid temps ahead of me.  ***  to say i am weary is an understatement, but i know my struggles pale in comparison to so many others.  can still be thankful for relatively good health, family, beautiful days and sewing time.  whenever i do get moved and have time to be with my beautiful daughter and her hub, it will be all that more precious.   in the meantime....

a winner!

here it is in print, wendy reed's "no bake applique" that took a 2nd place ribbon in the road 2ca show. done potholder method, it's traditional applique to the max.   a real honor and so deserved, too.  ***  quiet day in lobsterville....waiting for sun to emerge from heavy cloud cover but thankfully no rain.  no plans at all, a free day, maybe some sewing, maybe a nap....even so, a good day all around!

finished!

ok so this is the latest batch of stars that i am able to make with what's on hand....top photo is printed plaids and ombres, bottom photo is purples and foulards.   not counting today's post, still have 8 weeks' worth of stars to catch up on making.  they don't take too much time or fabric to make, and once my full stash is at hand again, can whip them up.  ***  the summer sampler sew along at temecula quilt company starts next week.  those are little blocks and all fabric is on hand for those.   ***  today, though, it's a quick trip to my favorite repro gathering place to pick up the newest  "quiltmania" magazine featuring a quilt by a maine quilter of some renown in these parts, wendy reed.  she has won many ribbons and rightly so.....her quilting is perfect!  *** and at last, mr. sun is back, just in time for laundry to be dried and to quell the dreariness that has been hanging around.  gonna be a terrific day, i can feel it!  hope it's the same in your neighborhood.....

another winner!

that would be jo morton's new line due to arrive this month.  do you see those paisleys?  how about those petite prints? how about that itty, bitty cheddar?  oh, i do love this collection!  no, i don't get paid to promote her fabric, just a devotee is all.  as i've often said, my admiration started with a workshop at Maine Quilts 3-4 years ago (or longer?) and ever since, my collection has ballooned.  but not just a collector, i use them often and for good reason.  some of these will definitely be coming to live with me.....can't wait!   ****   unlike texas, maine's rain has been continual for 3 days now but nowhere near as destructive.  it was needed and the farmers are relieved, but it's been cool again...time for mr. sun and summer to return.  and hoping today will get back to the machine for some sewing fun. 

sneak peek

the pattern is an ann hermes design featured in the latest issue of American Patchwork and Quilting that arrived yesterday.  there was also a large quilt.  in this issue they have included directions for table toppers on a few of the projects, which is a good idea.  not sure about you but my math can definitely be fuzzy. at times!  can't recall if they had done this in previous issues or not but i give the idea a thumbs up.  am going sorta repro on this project with a real red, a brown and a cheddar print ***  another perfectly, astoundingly beautiful day....warm sun, gentle breezes, lush vistas. ***and don't forget, tomorrow summer sampler starts!

a seaside sojourn

it was a perfect june day in may, so a trip to the water seemed right.  a quick picnic was packed and eaten here at the fisherman's memorial in boothbay harbor.   directly across from the memorial was this church with a carillon that played a few hymns while communing with sun and seabreeze.   idyllic and picturesque and thoroughly peaceful!  back at the mailbox a new quilt mag arrived with a cute tabletopper idea, so fabrics were once again pulled from the box and plans swirled around the gray matter.  so blessed to have been given this gift of a wonderful day that started by putting my mind at ease about some financial stuff.   hoping you found joy in your day today as well.....

it's that time...

first, it's that time when your thighs stick to the (wooden) chair, especially if they are a bit....let's say generous....like mine!   having some hot and humid weather for a few days. second, it's time to get some of the stars done as in playing catch up.  here you see the foulards, a printed plaid and an ombre.  others are in process on the sewing machine and will get finished soon.  once these are all done, will still be a scandalous 8 weeks behind on this sew along.  but does that stop me from joining in on another sew along?   but, nooooo!  over at temecula quilt company they are starting a summer sampler of little blocks and i am in!  thanks to my christmas box, will be able to do this one without difficulty, i hope.  i do so miss the rest of my stash and stuff a LOT, not to mention my summer clothing and swimsuit too.  and i certainly won't dwell on the fact that i was SUPPOSED to be in my apartment in maryland long before this. it's just too nice a day for any of that.  instead, will count my blessings, focus on gratitudes that include enough sleep for a change, a chance to sew, a place to hang out from the heat, a haircut, good health of course, and ever mindful of those without such blessings.  so many across every economic strata are much worse off than me today.  life is still good!

a civil war christmas

about a week ago mr. mailman brought this to me.  a nearby quilter that i've only met on the 'net asked me if i would like some civil war fabrics as she was downsizing.  she wanted to share with me and vic in NH, also a reproduction fabric devotee.  a box arrived with these....omigosh!  have no idea exactly how much is here but plenty to keep me in scraps for a while.  most pieces are 1 yard or less but there are a few of considerably more.  she wanted nothing in return but i have ways of reciprocating that will hardly be as generous, but hoping she will know how thankful i am for this stash of wonderful, quilt shop quality fabrics.  and yes, i intend to pay it forward in several ways.  vic posted photos of her share earlier this week.  i do hope this was prompted by a happy, not sad event, but feel blessed to be one of the lucky recipients.  *** it's a cool, sunny and wildly windy saturday here.  but just in time, summer starts tomorrow with hot weather.  am slowly working on some stars that i'll post in a day or two.   and in case you are in need of some eye candy, hop on over to cyndi's blog for a peek at some new fabrics she just got.  ooooh those 1892 prints.....love 'em!  *** and today's gratitudes are good health, catching up on sleep, summer arriving, family....and fabric of course!

sewin' on summer!

while my girls--old viking, phoebe and trudy--are temporarily on hiatus, been sewing on mom's vintage 1961 singer 328k whom i have named summer....it seemed like a 60s kind of name...remember those days?  hard to believe my sewing days started in the 1950s....it was just yesterday i do believe.  mom bought this as a repo portable; when taken back by singer, the original cabinet was badly damaged.  mom used it as a portable for many years and then got this cabinet.  got some stars from barbara brackman's sew along all cut and ready to put together.  i'm only 10 weeks behind (oh the horror!) and tomorrow is another chapter.  the limited stash i have on hand isn't enough for all those i need to make but will do what i can.  since the move can come any day, whatever i get done is a bonus.  and today's gratitudes?   nice early summer weather, a rhubarb pie in the works, a good night's sleep, lilacs filling the air and the promise of moving any day.....

bit of sunday sewing

mum has moved into senior housing and she needed a tiny window treatment.  got this nice little valance sewn up for her.  the fabric came from a rather large box of civil war fabric received this week from an internet quilter whom i've never met in person.  wanted to make the valance without spending any money.  found this lovely henry glass shirting and some red print for an accent stripe and managed to have just enough of the shirting for the job.  maintenance will come and move it up to the proper place but for now we get to make sure it fits, which it does.  i am not a drapery seamstress by any stretch but can manage the few straight seams this project required.  *** my situation has not improved; in fact, worsened a bit but will only focus on gratitudes today--pretty good health, a place to hang out during the day,  place to catch up on sleep and fix/eat meals and shower, extra time with family and sporadic moments of what seems as normalcy in an otherwise chaotic maelstrom of days.  not perfect or ideal, but life is still good........by the way, have just about weaned off facebook for various reasons; please do not take offense as i have "unfriended" everyone, no exceptions, for the foreseeable future.