back in the groove...

that would be the 365 challenge groove...due to moving, unpacking, organizing all the fabric and sewing stuff, it's been on the back burner far too long, until today that is.  my entire Saturday sewing consisted of blocks for 365.  right now I am done thru april 4th, so as of tomorrow it'll be 41 blocks to get current.  the little 3.5" blocks work up fast.  takes more time to find fabric and cut pieces than to sew them.  next 4 days are corner squares for the center medallion, then it's back to blocks, bigger ones and lighter colors.   this is on the design wall right now...

you can see where the corner squares will go....and I have 2 plastic pouches with ALL blocks up thru march done!  right now have oodles of free time, so maybe another week to get current--maybe???  ***  cool, blustery and rainy here today.   the greek festival is going on down the street and they have 2 tents up but hardly anyone there, no doubt due to the weather.   it has poured off and on and winds have been quite gusty with a possible FREEZE tonight??? yes, that is what they say.   ***  and quilting on the "amish in the city" is nearly done...expect to start binding maybe tomorrow.  in addition to most of my fabric and UFOs, have found some extra binding so it's all ready to go.  it is sooo very nice to have time to sew every day.  usually start in first thing in AM after breakfast.  feels odd but a very welcome odd--I feel very blessed at this point in my life.  so many hardships and setbacks along the way for this here and now....I wish this for every quilter....

then there were 2....

got 2 blocks together and am really liking the look...if my math is correct, have to make 100 more bow ties for the flimsy....so this is a future flimsy, but will be so fun to hand quilt, which is my goal--that plus using up my fabric.  ***  two years ago at retreat, found this on sale and was only going to buy half yard, but sensibility prevailed and I bought 1 yard of the 3 that were left on bolt. 

I did briefly entertain the thought to buy it all but hesitated....and wish I hadn't.  this is called "la scala" by Hoffman and it is gorgeous.  recently while browsing thru an old "love of quilting" (july/aug 2014) was intrigued by this pattern...completely dismissed the little word upper left that says "challenging" as I knew the Hoffman print would be perfect! 

and it is!  have to say have never made a table runner with so many pieces--they weren't kidding about challenging--but it's nearly together now and well worth the effort.   watch this space to see the flimsy, maybe some time this week.   and even tho I took a brief detour from UFOs for a new project, at some point in the not-too-distant future, it's gonna be scrap day....see what I mean? 

these need to be cut up into usable pieces and some are even large enough to get some big tumblers for a top in progress....in the meantime, the "amish in the city" is nearly all quilted and the binding is ready for a hopefully may finish.  next up will tackle a couple of small projects from the basted pile....am determine to obliterate that F pile!





it's a plan!

remember all those little bow tie blocks was hand piecing a while back?  well, have come up with a plan on how to finish them.   making larger blocks of 16 bow ties along with the plum sashing and 4-patch corner squares....total of 12 larger blocks will be made and then perhaps a border of single file bow ties around the top--the plan is still in flux for borders--but with a plan can now work on assembling and see how many more will be needed.   *** and those little friendship stars?  a while back I was in a swap for some.  when the doll quilt came up, thought I might make more to use for the doll quilt, but due to moving and unpacking, luckily found a small quilt that was ideal and so the pieces for the stars got set aside, until yesterday that is.... and egad, the next FWS block was released but am going to hold off and tackle 365 today.....cloudy and rain continues albeit with warmer temps....have heard that once this weather pattern changes, we will be into the hot so enjoying the cooler temps in spite of no sun.  hey, as long as it isn't snow I can work around it....now go out there are sew something! 

design wall monday

nice to be able to participate once again in DWM....this weekend (sat/mon) got all up to date with the FWS blocks....was getting aggravated with so many small pieces--the paper pieces were creating lots of bulk that was skewing my piecing, so on the last one (bottom) decided to pull out papers unit by unit, thus giving me a better result.  now on to 365, which is SERIOUSLY in arrears.  *** hope all had an enjoyable mother's day, I know I did...and the weather gave us a treat of a sunny, breezy day but rain and clouds are back today.  no matter, makes great sewing weather!  

come on in!

have a peek at my new home.....no, i didn't vacuum but hopefully you can overlook that...LOL....here is a pictorial tour of where i now live....it's home sweet home!  first, inside the front door....storage closet to left...

a peek into the galley kitchen...enough storage for what i need and easy reach to everything...a quick turn into the (almost) empty bedroom and fabric store...LOL...a desk will be going here for the printer and laptop....

yes, that IS fabric on the floor waiting for more shelves....the head of the bed (when it arrives) will be on the left side wall and that lone star is going up on that wall....

bathroom is located just after where the desk will go and opposite the lone star is a large walk-in clothes closet with shelves on one side...plenty roomy...back out to living room where the elfa sits just after the kitchen entryway...the little vintage book table has a small quilt made by janet!

going clockwise is the rocker...so glad to have my rocking chair again....and the jo morton wallhanging is going up on the wall next to the 1930s piece....

next comes the futon chair that unfolds to a twin bed at night where currently sleeping....it is sooo comfy to sit or sleep....a wise acquisition it turns out....my apartment faces the front of the complex and the street,  but being on the 5th floor i'm above the tree line and most of the noise, plus i get any breezes that are aloft....the cedar chest with TV and VCR which had to unearth until cable is installed....have many tapes of "simply quilts" that are fun to rewatch....

continuing clockwise, just beyond the cedar chest (with TV) is my grandmother's sled (that is her vintage picture) and some little quilts....trudy treadle, more wall decorations

here is a view of the entire area....really larger than it looks in this photo....under the treadle is my pillow, sheet and quilt for nighttime.  the ottoman (under the quilt frame) gets put up against the unfolded chair so my feet don't hang off the end....this was a freebie that i recovered as the matching ottoman for the chair was about $160....on the treadle is my "F" pile..meaning finish....some are basted and some just flimsy that i'm determined to at least get basted, but ideally would like to finish them all...

on to the sewing studio area....just beyond trudy is the design wall and a peek at the sewing space...the ironing station on risers and the other table with the machine, ottlite, cutting mat, etc...have to work at keeping this area from becoming a catchall....

the tables, sewing chair and behind is the shelving unit, corner is drawers with UFOs...well some of them....

everything is pretty handy....on top are shoeboxes with precut units  and strips....the sewing basket belonged to my late aunt, the box has patterns for the rare occasion when garments get sewn.  next comes books, a large tote for cross stitch stuff,

storage for threads, some miscellaneous mags that are saved and my 2 CD storage racks.  as of now, there is no place else handy for them but may go under the desk in the future....on the very bottom shelf is my collection of quilters' newsletter magazines which i'm keeping for the present.  so you can see it's very work er play friendly....and yes, there is no table for meals....emily post would be mortified but often just sit in the rocker with a dish or in the chair if i have a glass too....in the bedroom under the lone star is the antique sewing table that folds down, so that may get moved to between the chairs when the bed arrives....not sure when that might be.  picked out a serta "leola" extra firm, which is just over $800 at sears....definitely not in my budget right now.   oh, and the little sign that says "sew blessed"?  from vic in NH last christmas.....a perfect finishing touch don't you think?   hope you enjoyed the tour!

whoops!  forgot one!  this is the other side of the bedroom where majority of fabric is shelved....plus the roll of batting (bathroom door on left)...fabric is shelved according to color mostly except for solids, kaffe fassetts and quite a few "not quite neutrals" that have a white or beige background but lots of color besides....when i get another set of shelves, will space these out some but for now easy to find and reach!   on the floor are reds, greens, cheddars/oranges, plus the larger pieces of yardage for specific projects....

design wall monday

the design wall is UP and the apt is nearly ready for its closeup....a couple more things to go on the wall, a vacuum and dust and photos will be taken for your viewing.  meantime, this sewing got done yesterday...

westering women blocks 3 and 4 ready to join the others currently in a mailing box in maine....they'll get here soon i hope!   also finished this little wallhanging made entirely from scraps/stash....

even the binding was leftover from another project...the lone star i think...quilting on the modern amish continues....and do you watch "call the rmidwife"?   really like it but always makes me tear up at some point.....

thanks...

for all the wonderfully kind comments about my Hawaiian quilt.  one thing I failed to mention is this:  I bought the video from Pacific Rim Quilts on Hawaiian quilting.  worth every single penny it cost as it gave me lots of info about the needleturn applique, the construction, type of batt, etc.  I already knew how to hand quilt ok but decent applique was daunting as it's a skill that had so far eluded me until this project.  Having the video on hand allowed me to return to it time and again to double check my technique.  Without the video, I am sure the result would be far less satisfactory.  The quilt has the right amount of "puff" between the quilting lines and the applique became very easy not too far into the project.  Again, the thanks should be shared with Nancy Chong and her excellent video! 

Alooooo-ha!

just early this morning, took the very last stitch in this quilt.  so happy to see it finished. now for washing and it'll be ready to use....busted 11.5 yards of fabric on this....

and, as predicted, it isn't perfect.  the pattern got basted down on a banquet table and one corner is a tad off but am not disappointed or sad.  i loved making this quilt from the very first stitch and it'll be one of my heirloom quilts that i'll keep forever....just try hawaiian quilting if you haven't....it is so relaxing and rewarding.   and to keep the momentum going, immediately put this little quilt in my frame and started the quilting...it'll be a quick finish.  tackling the UFO list with a vengeance here at home....studio photos soooon!

doll quilt swap

from danice, this lovely little doll quilt that is just right to cover trudy and keep her dust free!  danice also included this personalized pinkeep and a handkerchief/church doll that she made....handmade gifts are so wonderful, don't you think? 

it's another gorgeous day here....breezy and warm and sunny oh my!   almost done with hawaiian binding, also working on a table runner pattern i recently found.  the only glitch in having my own apartment that i can see is now i have to do housework!!!  yes, laundry and dishes came first today....isn't that revolting?  fortunately free lunch today at senior center so no dishes there...sewed on another sleeve for a wallhanging that is going up over the treadle and got my flannel design wall also washed.  by next week should be ready for the big reveal.....the shelving unit is together but alas, does not hold ALL my fabric, about 2/3rds i would say....a few color families are left on the floor but now have handle on how much there is and what can be done to use it up.   what a lovely task!

thank you jan patek!

a recent giveaway on jan patek's blog was this adorable pillow kit...lucky, lucky me! i adore her patterns and have the christmas nativity one waiting....a couple of years ago, won a FQ bundle of jan's fabrics from cyndi at busy thimble that i've been saving for just such a project. this kit, though, has everything, including the backing fabric.  poor jan and her staff were ill and then i moved, so it took a while to arrive but so worth the wait!

can't wait to get started on it, but first the hawaiian needs to be done. binding is getting sewn down so another few days should find it officially OFF the UFO list!   cannot recall exactly when it was started but has to have been 3-4 years ago anyway.  might even get another small project done this week too!  *** in the meantime, things are getting to be normal here in maryland.  been hanging photos and wallhangings this weekend.  the shelves have arrived for the fabric, so that is next on the agenda.  DD came for a visit so my hug tank is full for now.  busy week upcoming with a few fun and FREE things to do since the budget is on life support.  am blessed to have enough food and shelter and fabric!