the secret...

of pretty good machine piecing (notice I didn't say perfect), must be to NOT pay such close attention!!!  was working on this block for the 365 challenge while trying to watch videos--the revenant (book much better altho Leonardo is worth the watch) and a jack ryan adventure type when look what happened....it came out good! 

couldn't have been more surprised due to the many small pieces--well, all these blocks seem to have that--it looks so good without ANY drama or re-sewing!  as you can see this is the april 26th block and I just also finished the 27th, so still struggling about a month behind....due to a hectic week with a variety of other must-do things.  the calendar is clear for today, most of tomorrow and Monday so perhaps can make a dent.  obviously, taking a bit longer due to increased size of blocks, so it was a sparse sewing week for a change.  summer has definitely arrived with the hot/humid temps and expect more time will be spent in a/c, which makes for terrific sewing weather.  ***  weekend plans are few but include a bit of sightseeing.  another wallhanging is hung, as is the bulletin board so apartment nearly "done" decorating-wise.  the folded clothes are on shelves in the closet, and that needs a bit of tidying/organizing, but save for another day.  also, the Hawaiian and my scrappy boston commons will get laundered this weekend.  currently quilting on the kaffe wall hanging, but next up is basting and quilting the milky way masquerade along with some donation and Christmas sewing...it's nearly July doncha know! 

friday fling-ee sewing

before tackling the 365 blocks, just happened to spy the inchie drawer so one thing led to another and several rows got sewn together on this project.  now there are 2 rows all done.  it'll be a total of 12 of the 16-inch blocks, with a 4-inch neutral border, then another border of 4 rows of colors.  it'll be tied, of course, due to the gazillion seams.  most of the inchies I sewed together were sent to me last summer...a package of several manufacturer's little 1.5" samples....I pulled out the solids for the bow tie project and the rest went into the leader/ender pile. 

it is so great to take photos as it gives a bird's eye view.  when I started sewing these together, I just sewed them without thought to color or value.  later decided to concentrate on colors for the blocks and keep the neutrals for a border.  it is really noticeable in this photo.  no, I am NOT un-sewing any of the blocks/rows, but will flip one of the rows and relocate to spread the lighter area out so it's less noticeable.  the "before" is before attending the bonnie hunter school of scraps and the "after" is after I'd been exposed/indoctrinated  how to use my scraps better for more effect a la bonnie hunter....big improvement and important lesson learned....thank you bonnie!  this will probably be a donation quilt to bob's blankie brigade in the fall....

another finish!

racked up another finish with this sofa quilt....it's plenty long enough for me at five feet tall. haven't yet calculated yardage used but got another wallhanging already in the hoop. the "finish" pile is slowly decreasing....and as for machine work, the 365 center medallion is done as well..

course being lefthanded, the right side border got flipped....well, that's my story anyway....and i am leaving it.....now to tackle more blocks...i think there are 12 more of the little ones and then hope to get the first dark border attached....another cloudy and rainy day so we are way overdue for sun and heat....next week maybe??

design wall monday

the tablerunner is all assembled....must be about a thousand pieces in this runner.....doesn't look it from here....maybe at the closeup?

all those tiny red squares have 4 corner squares each; all those white flying geese have 3 pieces each.....well, it's together now and it does look quite reminiscent of turkish tile floors.....so it will go in the flimsy pile.....and the "amish in the city" is nearly all bound....work on 365 continues and a wallhanging will go in the frame for the next finish.....a sunny and cool morning, feeling more like fall than summer....but no snow!  that's good in my book!

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.....