let there be light!

have been unable to quilt in the evenings due to insufficient light, so squeezed a bit of cash out of the budget to pick up these 2 items shown often on quiltville's blog.  the clamp end tucks down inbetween the corner of the cushion and works great!  this is really a replacement for a desktop one that got left behind at a motel. 

the USB light is an addition as often find myself during dark hours in the car with the laptop, so this will come in really handy.  both were needful purchases and not just impulse items.  ooh love that turquoise!  ***  march came in like a lion with bitter cold winds even tho temps are warmer than normal.  the weatherman "hinted" that winter just may be over for most of southern lobsterville, which doesn't hurt my feelings at all. 

it's about time

have spent lots of waiting time (laundromat etc.) basting up these little hexies and think have to now sew them into rosettes and spacer units...and a reminder that they look larger than they really are...do not adjust your set!

also on the cutting table are more triangles for this someday project, "wildest dreams" seen in an old mag (american patchwork i think) that definitely whispered my name....

plus more 365 blocks on this downton-less sunday and we are starting the center medallion a month earlier than i had thought....good news indeed....and BTW, the cats have found a home!

a yard-ish slip

wouldn't you know, desperately needed some template plastic.  all those joann texts and e-mails didn't help.  before i knew it, there i was--with my coupons, no less.  found the template plastic, but succumbed to browsing and these were on the red tag table....plaids!

was really looking for material for pajama shorts that are needed (the flamingos!) but oh the plaids!  so, 1/4 yard of each was quickly cut, along with this mod pink for my little snail trail piece.  despite being overcome by guilt, was fondling them later and spied the date on the selvedge...2012?   yes indeed, 2012!  no matter, these are lovely diagonal plaids that'll go nicely with my current stuff and a plaid quilt on my someday list....my name is grace and i AM a fabricholic but got my fix today, yippeee!  now it's back on the wagon....

big and little

spent a day catching up on sew along blocks and it was spooky to go from sewing these little blocks--

photographed on my one-of-a-kind green towel ironing board--to february's edition of "westering woman" from barbara brackman....

a 400% jump in size.  for a bit there, thought i had cut the blocks wrong as i have been known to do on occasion, but no, they were ok.  also pulled out my leader/ender mod tumblers, a sometime project.  not making a huge something with these, but the colors are so wow that had to play with them.  thinking might end up with a small tabletopper or placemat.  and, to nobody's surprise, have lined up a new scrappy project that has been on my "someday" list.  it's a double wedding ring scrappy and will do this as my next leader/ender OR might just cut pieces and shoebox them for october retreat.  it would be a good project for easy sewing while catching up and ogling others' sewing.  another project that i'll be taking along is the "stars in a time warp" as i have decided on a setting, and might also bring along the farmer's wife blocks too.  only making the twin size with 84 blocks, so most if not all will be done.  *** our see-saw winter weather continues with today being just right for late february, but am missing yesterday's temps in the 50s....now back to regularly scheduled sewing!

PS--thanks for your comments on my cats; i wasn't fishing for compliments, only that i am my own worst critic sometimes...

novice attempt

machine quilting can be intricate and beautifully executed, but not by me.  just not that interested in perfecting this skill.  i've done it a few times, but only for practical purposes and not for the real desire.  see what i mean?

the original was quilted at half inch intervals (i think) but i chose 1-inch intervals to get it done quicker.   i basted it to death and it came out okay, meaning not thrilled with the result and definitely doesn't inspire me to do more.   perhaps the batting was a tad too thick for this size, not sure.  but anyway, it's done and can put it aside for the right recipient to come along at some point.  i love the colors and pretty sure a nonquilter would think it's a masterpiece, but you and i know different.  not apologizing for this mediocre effort, just that my heart belongs to hand quilting.  it's great that quilting has a place for those of every persuasion!

here's one...

from the folder...it's a cute little zipper bag, gift for my mom's birthday.  she loves sea glass and found this sea glass print FQ last summer for a future project.  now gone from the stash and a nice little gift!

phoebe was running like a top today after getting a thorough cleaning and a new needle, PLUS she has new feet!  when adopted (from ebay), she had no feet.  instead, someone had filled in the feet indentations with some sort of putty that had hardened to clay.  all that was needed was to clean out the clay (easy peasy), loosen the short screws and attach the feet.  she is soooo happy now!  at first i thought someone had welded the bottom plate to the machine but happy to find out that was not the case.  she isn't pristine but she sews beautifully and her worn places only mean that she was a working gal...not a diva!  *** other sewing included finishing machine quilting the cats and binding now in progress.  also, 3 more 365 challenge blocks done, done, done!   stay tuned for more folder finishes!

someday is now

got folders? 

 

the new year's frugality has extended to books and magazines.  but, until i can be reunited with those i already have, decided to dig into the "vault" aka the desktop folder that contains downloads of free patterns and ideas been saving for "someday"....it's simply labeled "pdf files" and have already printed off a few that are or will be in the works very soon.  my philosophy is if i start it, i will finish it.  the cats wallhanging is one and that is almost ready for binding.  every few months go thru and toss those that no longer interest me.  when i started quilting back in the (what now seems) medieval 1970s, magazines and books were important inspiration sources.  fast forward and the internet is now an instant, 24/7 resource.  so wonderful that things in the quilty world have changed to what we have now....insomniacs rejoice!

beyond sew-alongs...

lest you think that's all the sewing getting done these days, here's a peek at the progress on daisy chain. 

no flash needed due to sun streaming thru the window this AM.  this is definitely going to be hand quilted once finished--and all the little center circles are appliqued too!  can u tell missing my big ironing board?  the little travel iron and a small corner of a small table are grossly inadequate for quality pressing but it's early days... this project, plus the 2 donation quilts i'm working on PLUS a few new projects too are keeping me as busy as i need to be.  swirling around is a scrappy DWR that i want to make too, but need to finish some things first.  hoping these will provide a detour from new fabric temptations....and have you seen "mostly manor" by victoria findlay wolfe?  love those stripes!  wondering how i can justify them....oops, change subject!  still spring-like here but back to late winter tomorrow in the ongoing weather boomerang!

definitely NOT scraps!

a "partner in crime" aka fellow quilter recently posted she had scraps she planned to fling.  i needed a variety of neutrals for my hexie project, so inquired if some could come my way.  sure, was the reply, and soon a squishie arrived with these....which are definitely NOT scraps...

sincerely gobsmacked over the generosity of this fellow quilter.  have already cut a huge stack of 2.5" squares for the hexie project....thank you mystery sewist!   and have been keeping busy in endeavors other than keeping warm...here's block charlotte for the farmer's wife...

and how cold was it today?   when starting the car it was -5, half hour later down the interstate it was -10 and then about 15 miles beyond that it was -11....but when driving by the ocean inlets the sea smoke was thick like fog and spectacularly beautiful....a real gift from nature!

did they say challenge?

thought this would be a fun sew along but make no mistake, it IS a challenge!  these little blocks are 3.5" unfinished and some are way more involved than i've ever done at this size.  and now with the photo, i see the block top right is wrong so that's a re-sew.  the photo is taken side view but still, gotta do it over.   never claimed to be an expert piecer, but have to say they don't look too bad overall.  now halfway thru the inside border, so another 6 weeks of these itty bitty blocks, total of 96.  then it's on to the center block, a whopping 18" square.  anxious to see them all sewn together and mentally calculating what lights are in the stash at hand for the next border.  and here is another glance at the overall top...isn't it gorgeous!  i am definitely still in with this project!

keep calm and sew on!