a finish!

couldn't let march go until a finish was posted....the summer sampler sew along from last summer is done!  the blocks are small at 4" finished and it is a bit larger than first realized.  it'll hang at mum's and pretty up her place, along with the table topper and valance, both with red.  more little blocks done but still lagging behind a bit.  lots of nonquilty things going on this week, so not sure how much sewing will actually get done.  *** winter is back and it's a SNOW day, 3-6" the weather guru says, but won't last due to longer, sunnier days and warmer temps.  it's the last gasp, no doubt---we hope anyway. 

let's celebrate!

definitely NOT a hallmark holiday but one to celebrate regardless...

and expect all the faithful will gather round the machine or hoop or cutting table to play.  alas, today is a work day for me, but most days i do get to play with my quilty doodads and beautiful stash fabrics.  sewing on the 365 blocks continues as well as farmer's wife blocks.  now that have rebounded from the late winter crud, hope to sew play even more.  ***  and even though THAT WORD aka SNOW cropped up again this weekend, looks like it is swerving out to sea and spring can officially begin tomorrow.  has been a blissfully brief and warm winter with ice out earlier than usual and even opening up fishing season much earlier than normal.  now all that is needed is a place to live....sigh....today would be good!

luck of the irish?

even though i am not personally of irish descent, perhaps some of the luck of the leprecaun was with me today.  2 months ago the binding for the summer sampler was cut and rolled for today, when it was time to pin it on.  now, binding is something i almost never measure, rather cut by eye and add a bit for insurance.  so wasn't worried as i started pinning it on, and then this happened...

got to the end of the binding, which fit perfectly except for these 2 little ends...that's all that was left.  would never happen again in a million years no doubt, but today, thanks to those leprecauns maybe, i was a happy quilter.  now off to finish and cross off a UFO!

throwback thursday

while doing some file housekeeping of the laptop, saw this photo taken at the gerald roy exhibit in NH a few years ago and wanted to share with you.  it's a pattern that has caught my eye recently and might be a future project.

in the meantime, just about ready to start binding on the summer sampler, so should be a soon finish.  no new stash and it's getting easier to delete those fabric sale emails.  of course, all bets are off when at retreat later this year....lol!   no green beer in my day's agenda, just some block sewing and quilting, which is way better in my mind.  wouldn't turn down a green bagel tho....top o' the morning to you!

in good company

catching up on blogs early this monday spring morning and find that several are in the same boat....that is, experiencing some sort of illness that, while not serious, has resulted in sewing hiatus.  did manage to get together one FWS block last night and also cut pieces for several 365 squares.  despite the slow down, enjoying super spring temps that are breaking records nearly every day here in lobsterville usa!  also like several bloggers, have added NO new stash this week, so maintaining the status quo which is good indeed.   included this photo taken by me 2 years ago on a trip to maryland...it was april and this cherry tree was in full bloom...isn't it gorgeous?   and if it's monday, then it's a work day.....lucky me!

almost done...

turns out, one CAN quilt in a cough syrup/vaporub stupor!  must be the extra aspirin allowing better blood flow to the fingers...LOL!  only 3 more blocks to quilt, then it's the border and binding, wahooo!  this is for mom's place, will hang over her bed.  it'll get a good home and i don't have to store it in the car or wherever until whenever, a win/win indeed.  not quite back to baseline but slowly getting there.  this crazy on/off spring weather is sooo nice but is a wardrobe selection conundrum.  even so, yesterday morning at 4 am it was 55 degrees...imagine!  *** and would be remiss not to remember my dad especially today, the anniversary of his passing.  turns out, 14 years ago was home from school sick as well...when the call came to go to his hospital bedside, i knew then he had died.  i found this poem in the newspaper and saved it..."he walked on earth a little while, a promise to fulfill; but in our hearts, through peace and love, he walks among us still." 

lucky day!

was catching up on blogs and woo hoo!  am the lucky winner of a pillow kit, seen over at jan patek's blog...i love her patterns and fabrics and have both a pattern and a FQ bundle waiting for me to use.  isn't this an adorable pattern?

thank you, jan...will be watching the post for this...glad i don't have to sew on this today, sidelined with a fever/sinus/sore throat/chest congestion thingie that has been brewing nearly all winter, no doubt a side effect of constant warm-then-cold weather.  aside from dosing with over-the-counter products, have been napping and quilting alternately today.  don't you hate it when trying to blow your nose, the eye waters instead????  so this was a nice way to end the day amid vaporub fumes and watery eyes.  love giveaways!

little block respite

up until now all the 365 blocks have been 3.5" unfinished...so got a break from them with the center block of this medallion.  mind you, this isn't the ENTIRE center but most of it, now done. 

the feature fabric of this center block is a jo morton, no surprise there...it is a beautiful print and have some in this dark blue and also in dark green.  and honestly, am not trying to stick with blue fabrics, but a good portion of my stash IS some shade of blue, it being my favorite color.  this was a short break, now back to the tiny blocks for the rest of the month i think; then it's hopefully finish the medallion and piece together the inner dark border.  it'll be fun to get to that point.  after that, am thinking it is 6" light blocks for the next border.  ***  see saw weather continues.  after a few days of very cold, the coming week is going to be 40s and beyond.  looking forward to flowers and color!

scrap corner

notice the new button in the left margin?  had to join up because a scrap problem is putting it mildly.  

not all of this is scraps but undoubtedly some is; this is current state of my stash--bags, boxes and piles.  and must say feel blessed and rich to have such a problem!  once all my scraps and stash are together, will be happy to post a photo over at sarah's blog!   in the meantime, keeping them corralled as best as possible, which some days is a complete failure.  feel blessed to have such an array of fabric that fuels my creative muse every day!

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.