yep it works...

now that i'm in a space of my own, no iron at hand so had to invest in this little travel iron and inadvertently placed it on my mat while it was turned ON and pleased to find it works....not too happy about the mat tho....good thing a joann's sale is coming up.  this one is about 5 years old, so it doesn't owe me anything at all.  *** delightful summer day here, mom and i took a drive to the coast and ran into a few row by row shops like mariner's compass in bath, alewives in damariscotta and on board fabrics in edgecomb....all very nice shops with loads of lovely fabric.  alewives is strictly mod and batiks pretty much; on board has some gorgeous decorator fabrics and quilting cottons and mariner's compass has some of everything....all 3 carry plenty of maine/ocean theme fabrics. ****  it has been a busy week of getting moved in to a temporary space and setting up phoebe, not to mention shelves for the fabric that is with me for easy selection.  hope your week has given you some joy and happy times.....

a new day

have FINALLY found a temporary place to crash until my apartment comes thru, and a good night's sleep, a hot shower, my own bathroom and a place to sew....how good is that?  was in goodwill cruising for some sheets and this little packet of scraps jumped right into my cart, can you believe it?  me either...but when i saw the shirtings and plaids, it had to stay.  way cheaper than shirts and a good assortment too....a fabulous find!

  
so busy unpacking the car so it can get a thorough cleaning until it has to be repacked is on the agenda, that and some serious sewing too...oooh giddy as a schoolgirl!  hope your day is as good as i feel right now....

civil war fabric buff?

went to my local reproduction shop for my row by row pattern and guess what?  she is having a SALE!  that is right...if you are in new england any time in july, you MUST stop in for your fabric fix.  yes, it'll be a scenic drive out in the country but well worth the trip.  it's bolt fabrics only and you must purchase a yard minimum and, oh yes, the new jo mortons are in too....and the name?  why BUSY THIMBLE, of course, in Litchfield, Maine...no, she doesn't pay me for this notification, just a fan of civil war fabrics is all.   you will thank me, i'm sure!

crown thy good....

wishing all a very happy independence day....may God continue to bless America and we continue to enjoy the freedoms which were so hardly fought for by so many brave individuals....please don't let their sacrifice be in vain....

ready to sew...

this tiny stack represents 6 of the "stars" blocks and a few pieces for the summer sampler.  also have some darker background chintzes to cut up for star blocks too.  better than the postal service, neither sun nor sleet, homelessness or storm can infringe on quilty time.  holidays are nonexistent for the homeless population, including me.  celebrations seem foreign at a time when there is no place to be home, to do what i want when i want, to sew, to sleep, to relax, to read or anything else.  last time i was homeless, it lasted a year but this time around, i know i won't be able to hang on that long.   in the meantime, will persevere and concentrate on gratitudes, which today are some time to sew, a place out of the rain (again!), a call from my precious daughter, relative health and another day closer to my own apartment....home

sun is shining.....

even tho fatigue and moments of panic overwhelm at times, but it is almost always only temporary.  was sitting at a gas station the other day and came across this photo and thought there might be some who would find it interesting....if you don't live in maine and you do have maine lobster in your restaurants, this might be how they arrived.  fish also get shipped this way..... these unobtrusive green PVC containers hold riches of the sea....

and this got tucked away in a bag before i could show it....the little tabletopper made for my mum's new place....yeah, needs ironing but it isn't wonky as the photo seems to show and it'll get quilted at some point...this is from the latest American Patchwork and Quilting, a mini version of one of their bed-size patterns.   the book isn't right at hand so i apologize for not naming the designer, but it definitely wasn't me.  nice little pattern.....

and last but not least, the methodist church in a little village had their yearly yard sale and it is always a terrific collection of good stuff cheap.  mom got a TV stand for $2 and a terrific toaster for 25 cents. that's right 25 CENTS!   this little creamer called my name and i think it's simply adorable.....working at NOT accumulating any more stuff that'll need to be transported but this was so small and at 25 cents, just had to come with me. 

the glass is STILL more than half full on a day that holds many blessings....hope you can say that as well.....

tough day

it started out fine...nice weather, sunshine after a fairly good sleep.  but now sitting in mcdonald's parking lot at midnight bawling like a baby after yet another unpleasant bathroom incident, unable to sleep due to mosquitoes and sundry flying things...too warm with windows closed.  another day of searching for housing, talking with more housing people who give me no hope.  have already called the places where i'm already on lists, crying, begging for an apartment.  it's late and i am tired, beyond weary, feeling hopeless.  i can't do this anymore.  i just can't.....it is well with my soul, but the rest of me cannot go on like this.......no comments please....

a thoughtful gift

a very kind internet quilter sent this to me recently.   it has oodles of nice blocks to make and although these are done with 30s fabrics, my voluminous civil war stash will probably be used to make these.   there are 99 blocks and not sure if i'll make all, but definitely some, and who knows, maybe all.   the blocks are 8" finished and could make several smallish quilts instead of one large one. thank you, quilty friend.....the best part is the encouraging stories that accompany each block.  it makes me feel not alone at all in my current challenges and often fortunate that mine are not worse than they are.  ***  holy cats and dogs batman! another day of nearly continuous downpours; and speaking of farmers, they should all be happy.  our one good day yesterday allowed for some strawberry picking and so today delish shortcake was on the menu.  *** not sure when i'll get any more sewing done, which makes me sad indeed.  but maybe can get more bow ties done from the busy box....we'll see!

bumper crop!

the gardens are starting to explode with early crops like lettuce, radishes and soon peas, helped along by yesterday's soaking rain.  my garden is growing bow ties!   one of the two hand stitching projects that didn't get sent to storage was this busy box of blocks to be sewn.  this project was originally started to use up some tiny scraps left from some cherrywood solid scrap bags but....you know the rest....more solids joined the stash and so more pieces were cut.  the good news is that "most" of the cherrywood scraps are in these little blocks; the bad news is there are now more solid scraps in my stash...aaarrrrrgh!   not sure how big the final project of these will be; one large quilt or a few smaller ones. either way, they are so fun and quick to sew and a good pick-me-up project.   ***   on today's agenda is to clean/vacuum the car, long overdue!  the skies cleared yesterday afternoon but showers again this morning, so hoping for clearing again....

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....