monday design wall...

this wasn't the only sewing i got done this weekend, but would you believe this little block took more than 2 hours to assemble?  whenever it calls for 1-inch squares and strips, i know it's going to be complicated.  it's called 12 crowns and spent most of the 2 hours wondering if i was really committed to this project or not....but now that it's done, will probably stick with it....as long as can fit in my busy schedule of mostly unimportant stuff.   ***  and just like that another weekend has passed and it's monday.  my week to-do list is pretty vacant right now but could change.  during new england winters, plans are always contingent on weather, and so it is here during the summer...but to escape icy and snowy roads, the smart trade-off for me anyway.....*** so block june 11th is next; just a week to get current....can it be done?  will certainly try....***  my daughter is a nurse and she started working at a day camp for disabled children today...it is her passion and she is ecstatic they called her back again this year...she glows with the unconditional love they give her, and they bloom with the attention and love she showers...if only she could find a permanent job like this--would fill a void in her life and be an asset to those in her care....oh aladdin!

summer job

this commission came along to generate a bit of income and to keep me busy while hibernating in a/c for the next few months....a queen size, cream-colored DWR quilt...i know, it's a huge undertaking but planning to have it finished before retreat end of october.  once the kaffe wallhanging (see below) is finished some time next week, will begin quilting the DWR in earnest....by then the 365 will be up to date as well...that's the rough plan right now.  the person who started the quilting just got too busy and from her stitching, can see why....very tiny stitches taken not in ditch and not beyond seam allowance, so she was quilting thru 3 top layers, the batt and backing....i quickly informed her that my stitches are not that small.  i am going to try and follow her spacing, but since i use a rocking stitch, may not be possible.  also, not yet basted either....she'll have the option to decline once i've given it a try....

as for this small piece, have one more square to quilt, then a few edging triangles, then bind it up for a june finish.   never again will a complicated quilting design be chosen for such busy fabric.... but i love the colors....wowza!  and wait til you see the binding...kaffe would approve!

hump day....

takes on a whole new significance when not working....so far have not found any work, but confident the right job will come along at some point.  in the meantime, continue sewing along and loving it...
today start on june 5th--excellent progress indeed!

and this got done yesterday as well....

so today it's a bit o' basting....but with only a week until july, the june blocks are a priority....the next 3 are some of "those" with a gazillion pieces, not difficult but time consuming.   ***  up early this AM and popped a quiche in the oven that'll be on hand for meals the next few days--that and a rotisserie chicken and some fresh vegs are on the menu...how good is that?

taking shape

had an opportunity for some slow stitching yesterday; pulled out the hexie project to take stock of progress and do a bit more....you can see have started sewing on the spacer row and what a difference it makes just in this little section! 

starting to look like a real antique quilt and couldn't be happier!   who knew the little hexies and i would bond, but we have!  in addition to this sewing, finished 2 june blocks and more will be tackled today.   was feeling the urge to start a couple of new projects, but have quieted that feeling by looking over some UFOs, a sure fire cure!  ***  summer's arrival has brought consistently hot days ahead, so should be more sewing progress to show--with more finishes???  that's the plan....

not too early....

to think about next year's projects and progress....with my birthday coming up end of august, am thinking about gifting myself with this....

it's the quilters' planner....in addition to this roomy monthly calendar, there are project pages, graph paper pages, lots of idea jotting space, etc.  it's sort of a birthday/reward gift for my lengthy and so-far successful no buy behavior.  having worked for behavior modification specialists in the past, know the value of a reward and this is a doozy!   so, am i addicted to organizing?  does it make my life unmanageable?  not a whit....in fact, just the opposite.   same with quilting....all this chat about quilting as an addiction is pure hooey in my book.  no matter if one swoons or eyes glaze over fabric, not even close to addiction.  in the past had occasion to visit more than one detox facility and there IS a difference, trust me.  doctors, PhDs, therapists are all too quick to label people; in fact, everyone they encounter from the grocery store clerk to the dry cleaning cashier.  diagnosing patients is one thing, but snap judgments are quite another and often these so-called professionals cannot distinguish between the two, something about not seeing the beam in their own eye....so go ahead, beef up the stash, quilt til you wilt, take that cruise and sign up for that workshop...it's good for you!  and besides, it's only an addiction if you want to quit...LOL!

hel-loooo june!

finally finshed ALL blocks for may and am now starting on june....so, not too far behind at this point but some of the early june blocks are super complicated, meaning lots of little pieces--but forge ahead i must!   and since may blocks are done, here's a peek at the last few.

during the recent stash reorg, found some green lights and mediums that would work for this project, so added them to the mix.   have printed out up thru june 10th; will see how long it takes to finish them.   before moving on to june blocks, took a mini-detour and finished up blocks for this little UFO

that hope to tackle today and at least get it to the flimsy stage; from there it'll be a quick finish.   *** few days of 90s weather coming up, which makes for good sewing time.  even when i lived near the ocean, didn't venture out, especially to lounge on hot sand.  haven't yet found my way to the shore here in maryland, but there'll be plenty of beach days ahead....enjoy your summer sunday!

the fabric corner....

out of sunlight but definitely within my view, the stash is now all together!   don't ask me why the bookcase i bought was a different one than the first, sheesh! and yes, it was supposed to be the same height, but there was a bit of a construction malfunction, so improvisation stepped in.  there are still 5 shelves albeit different heights.   but, happy to say ALL the fabric fits nicely.  i know, it isn't neat like those who use boards or specific folding methods, but really i just needed it in one place where i could easily pull fabric and be motivated to NOT buy....so this works!  and the bag of fabrics for the farmer's wife got emptied as well...a good thing!   now there is room for my full-size bed when it comes....  sadly, no room for the few books i have tucked away, but perhaps later can replace the short bookcase with one like the taller, or possibly create a space for the books....we'll see.   ***  whoosh!  another week has gone by just like that!   wasn't super busy but spent some time with daughter and SIL, volunteered some, and sewed a lot, which is on this afternoon's agenda.   and aside from a bit of housework, my weekend is free as well....365 here i come!  enjoy the day! 

not just flag day but....

this would have been my dad's 91st birthday so the day would have meaning for us even without its national significance....

he walked on earth a little while, a promise to fulfill;

but in our hearts thru peace and love, he walks among us still

my first block today is may 27th, so being on target for july1st is a very real possibility and good thing too, as farmer's wife blocks need attention as well.  *** first thing this morning sorting fabric piles as the 2nd bookcase arrives today and finally ALL fabric will be off the floor; hoping there is a tad of shelf space left for some books that are tucked away waiting for a home...now it's just a bed, a desk and a chair and casa frederick will be complete!

design wall monday

bored yet?  hope not, just over 6 months left in this sew along....with each block i glance at the directions and groan, but methodically follow directions and when it's done, inspired to move on to the next block.

today starting on may 23rd block, so moving steadily closer to june's blocks....and have not bought one square inch of fabric yet for this sew along!  ***  another week starts and few things on the calendar.  weekend heat has abated and laundry is on tap for this morning, then free to sew...can hardly believe i am so fortunate in my richness of available time!

the un-fun sewing....

firmly believe everyone should have pj shorts festooned with flamingos and palm trees....you can be sure this fabric was on the markdown table, as it's what always gets chosen for nighttime attire.  they are done now and crossed off my june list AND 1.5 yards busted from the stash as well...a win/win in anyone's book....all while flipping channels and finding, of all things, "wagon train"....ward bond, black and white...how retro can you get???   can now return to fun sewing and more 365 blocks....and quilt-cam on a saturday afternoon!!!!  super sewing with bonnie!