nickel fun

at the library last week picked up a couple of books that had some fun projects; one of them was this

that had lots of 3" foundation patterns in the back, most based on the log cabin.  great ideas for little projects that don't bust much stash but are quick and cute.  after tracing some 3" reel blocks that caught my eye, pulled out some mod nickels in bright pinks that have been on my mind....

that became these....little virginia reel blocks for a small quilt.  managed to get 2 done in less than half an hour, each one using up a nickel with a small strip left that would work for string piecing.

the stripe is a marden's find, a low volume oxford cotton from robert kaufman; pattern calls for 24 of these so a bit more time and a doll quilt should materialize.  these bright colors a nice change from civil wars, although will be starting another project with them soon.  now to check on this week's stars fabric....closing in on the end of this sew along and it has been fun indeed!

hexie update...

this little (for now) project only gets attention now and then, but coming along albeit slowly.  some days (like today) i just start and get into a rhythm and get a lot done; other days not so much.  there are a lot more little hexies basted but not sewn together yet....

looking good so far i think... on one i've started with the connector hexies in neutrals, but can't tell if the original was done in plain muslin or not.  thinking will try both before doing more.  and the next FWS block has been posted and i'm ready for it, now that i fixed the too-big one...i had one rosette done in reds but took them out as the photo didn't show any reds.  ***  the cold is creeping in a day at a time, a bit delayed but inevitable.  mom is busy knitting scarves and mittens for anyone who might need them...we are blessed!

last rose?

it was a fabulous fall day and a trip to the coast was on the agenda.  the tide was coming in and crashing over the rocks.  the sun was bright and warm despite a cool wind hinting of days to come.  this tough bloom was spied hanging on...

somebody had hauled in their buoys and pots for the winter ahead....

not far away, a construction crew was still busy on a beautiful new home facing the ocean....a real showstopper with a very high price tag no doubt.   on tonight's agenda is the "nancy" redo and probably some hand sewing, but was worth it to escape a bit and enjoy the bonus weather...

aimee and nancy

2 more blocks in the farmer's wife SA are done.  before starting, was not ecstatic with fabric choices; was limited to what was on hand, but with a grocery bag full of coordinates am finding lots of pretty combinations.  and yes, nancy is a bit larger due to the printer setting that was at 100% whereas all others were printed at 93%, so it's a redo but same fabrics.

another stack of hexie units have been cut and stuffed into the busy box...now off to choose today's sewing projects (after nancy gets fixed of course!)....

from every mountainside....

this was posted on market basket's facebook page and it is so moving...

so proud to be a descendant and daughter of veterans who fought so bravely...

a 37-year-old discovery...

my faithful friend, the old viking, has been with me for 37 years since she was brand spanking new.  it was an impulse purchase by my ex who was NOT known for such, unless he had motivation--i mean guilt.  he could outdo the most penny-pinching of yankees, unless he passed a liquor store, then all bets were off.  and i've been quilting now since 1979, hand quilting, which is what i really enjoy.  last night, though, giving the old girl another look, discovered this button...

it's the little one just above the magnetic poetry magnet....and guess what it does....yep,

LOWERS the feed dog...cannot recall if i knew this at all in the past 37 years, but since discovering this feature, thinking i might try my hand at some free form machine quilting.  and why not? the guide thingie is around someplace, too.....on small things that need to get finished at first, and probably not for my big quilts because i do love hand quilting, but it might knock off some of my UFOs sooner rather than later.  i knew i loved this machine....my first was a $99 universal basic machine that the ex also bought for me, but brand new this baby was $700, a big step up from the universal.  i'm guessing he did something really wrong for me to get this big ticket item--or it was in 1978.  she has some blemishes and has had a few repairs after being in cold storage for too long, but still runs like new.  now in her dotage, she gets treated gently as parts are hard to find, hoping she keeps on keeping on so we can have lots more fun in the days ahead!

not nip and tuck but....

a nibble and a tucker!  followed along with pam buda's mini-mystery sewalong "tucker" and made this, and have just the ideal place for it (after backing/binding).  will forego batting as its home will be under a lamp on a narrow table.

as for the nibble....

darks, mediums and lights....have a sun-derful day!

did someone say....

49 days to christmas?  well, maybe next year this will be ready for santa...

and "variegated threads" is done and up, hanging in mom's apartment....loving those mod fabrics!

more spool blocks are in the storage, in civil war repros of course, but i like these just as much....thank you bonnie hunter!

the latest....

marvelous milly done!

first "bite" of the 365 challenge....center square  18" i think

some new to me kaffe prints that "might" get incorporated into 365

pesky margaret done...

FWS margaret block, now done, papers not removed but it WILL lie flat once they are taken out

!

my tiny HST little quilt flimsy, ready for basting...these finish at 1.5", which is tiny for me but nowhere near the expertise of rogue quilter's tiny HSTs....she is a pro at tiny blocks and quilts....