a quick finish?

swapped out the quilt in the hoop for this little house wallhanging hoping for a quick finish....july is half over and must make sure at least one UFO gets done...it's an homage to my first quilting teacher who had a shop called "the red door country store," and still have scraps of some of her fabrics someplace, whether as cut up units or scraps in the basket. 

waiting in the wings is the pink virginia reel all basted.  these 2 little items don't rack up much in yardage used, but do make the to do list shorter. did bust 2 yards of nonquilty sewing this week, so that about evens out as picked up 2.75 yards in sauder's sale of some very lights for those i've used in the 365 blocks. 

the fabric on extreme left--white with gray clouds--was a freebie FQ from sauder's.   ***  new issue of QUILTMANIA arrived and pleased to see an article on gerald roy and some of his antique quilts, many of which were crib or doll size.  vic in NH and i went to his hometown of warner, nh, last fall for an exhibit of over 100 from his collection--a real treat indeed!  ***  and speaking of blocks, just 4 little ones to sew up today and then it's farmer's wife.  first up is giving the old viking a break to cool off!

see what i mean?

barely 9 am and already 4 little blocks done leaving me with 7 to get caught up....i might even have time today for my 1.5 hours of intense housework...lol!

course, still wearing my pjs but that'll change as soon as i post this....next up is catchup with the farmer's wife sew along...now that i have the background fabric (see earlier post), can soon start to put that flimsy together.   ***  whew...whirlwind year with lots of memorables, not the least of which was the big move from new england here to maryland.  it's been a hot week and if it weren't for volunteering at vacation bible school, would not have ventured out much.  plenty of projects lined up for indoor sewing until temps modulate...and glad to say on the downside of the 365.  it has been a HUGE commitment and have to say machine piecing skills have improved, but is a big time involvement as well.  thinking ahead to 2017 now and then and what projects will be tackled....have 2 UFOs in particular that still need a lot of work, and there is stashbuster talk about a double wedding ring quilt sew along as well.  and to paraphrase a popular idiom, "teach a girl to sew and she'll have pleasure for a lifetime."  

switcheroo

just 2 more light blocks and it'll be back to the small, dark blocks--that'll be 72 in all that will be finished.  this is the most recent batch...and that pink/white bottom middle...oooohh vicious to piece i tell ya!  and my first block to do will be july 5th so one week behind....can't believe it!  have been sewing my fingers to the bone....seriously!  and the little blocks are so much quicker to piece obviously....even tho some of have lots of pieces.  ***  busy week here for a change with hot weather continuing every day.  in maine we have occasional hot days but never more than a week's worth, so it is a matter of just assuming that every day will be so.  have given up poring over the weather channel...lol!   nothing much to do but stay inside and sew, not really a hardship for me!   

lancaster acquisitions

so here is what i bought...first, background for the farmer's wife sew-along....got this out of the bargain room at fabric shack, few color choices so some of the blocks might blend in too much; can always swap them out but the price was right

and a remnant (top fabric) and some FQs; not pictured a yard of a particular blue for binding for a donation quilt.

the bottom is a jinny beyer and such a lovely red paisley....as you might know, most of my stash is half yards or FQs, so occasionally must purchase something for a binding.  for myself i go scrappy, but for a donation, looks better if it matches all the way around.   the total yardage came to just 6 3/8 yards so still ahead for the year.   most likely will make another trip or two before year's end....after the new jo morton is out and some of the christmas stuff is available too.   finishing up some of these donation projects should give me a significant outgo of fabric for the year.   at some point, will have to pick up some wide muslin yardage for backs.  only went to the one shop as i found all i needed; no point in flirting with temptation.  other purchases were veggies, some meat products and the required whoopie pie.  all in all, it was a very nice excursion.   best part was being with my daughter and son-in-law in the beautiful pennsylvania countryside....priceless!

quilty news from the hot zone

my DD keeps asking me how i am tolerating the heat and humidity now that it has arrived to stay, like every day...LOL!  well, so far so good, and especially good for sewing and quilting too!  this has now been placed in the hoop and the quilting has begun.  it has a destination so it must be completed before end of summer.  vic in NH gifted  me with this jelly roll--fabric line aptly named "grace"--so put this twin size together.  the white central squares set the colors off very nicely.

also got the milky way masquerade (aka batik stars) basted and ready to quilt as well.  my summer job of quilting a queen size DWR is no more, so can get back to my own stuff.  course, this means there are no funds for my fall retreat in lancaster either, which really disappoints me a lot.   this is the 2nd year i've not been able to go and really going to miss it a lot.  even though i can hop on up to lancaster myself, it just isn't the same as a week-long sleepover with like-minded pals who are totally fun!  *** speaking of lancaster, DD and her hub and i went today and admit i fell off the no-buy wagon just a skosh...except for a few FQs and a remnant, everything was needed so that nearly eliminated the sting of buying.  will post photo later.  ***  busy quilty week here with plans to get some quilts together to aid the WV flood victims, a quilt of valor all basted and a couple of lap robes in process.  nothing to do but keep cool and quilt on!

bit o' playtime...

another UFO, and the one with the least amount done, is a bricks and steppingstones quilt done in plaids.  i have twin nephews and decided to make them each a quilt.  their older sister already has one.  had cut a bunch of strips and the center squares for this but until the other day, hadn't actually sewn anything.  hence, this first block. 

think it looks pretty manly made from cut up shirts and some plaids bought at marden's.  just the first block, but once the strips are cut, should work up pretty quickly i'd think.   might use a red for the centers on the 2nd quilt, but i do like the cheddar!   ***  with the 365 project and now this, the very lights stash is dwindling so will add that to my lancaster shopping list.  those plus a background solid for the farmer's wife, a bit of solid black and the new jo morton "gratitude" and maybe some of barbara brackman's new blues....oh and that adorable alpine christmas line by pink chandelier too....better stop there!  ***  it's guild week here, managed to join 2 guilds that meet a day apart once a month, so it's quilty feast week for sure.  ***  and our senior center group has decided to do a QOV and make a presentation on veteran's day, hoping not only to honor a local vet but perhaps generate some new quilters to our group.  ***  it's a hot week here in maryland with days over 90....ideal for cranking up the a/c and sewing!  

from every mountainside....

let freedom ring!   proud to say i am a descendant of revolutionary patriots, even though their decision to fight was defense of their livelihood and not any great desire to be free from England; until British ships came into port to commandeer their lumber, they were loyalists!!!!

in college, i took a course called "literature and culture of the early republic," studying printed materials like newspapers, pamphlets and books.  an assignment was to visit the library's special collections and take a look at some examples.  my choice was a book by john adams....what an awesome feeling it was to hold such a tome in my hands (with gloves) and actually read the words of such a great man.  have ridden by the adams "farm" (now in the middle of a bustling city) often but never actually took the tour...and of course, he and abigail are buried in a quincy church...lots of history in that area.  can only say i am grieved by so much of politics today...what would our founding fathers say?  would they think it had been worth the cost?  they were not perfect men, but courageous visionaries trying to extricate this new land--and keep it--from tyranny...   ***  pondering these thoughts by sewing on the current projects, the 365 and DWR....   finally took a break from blocks to attach the inner dark border of little squares and am pleased with the result.   only 8 blocks from being current too!   once up to date, going to sew on the next border, the lights made of 6" finished blocks.   will be anxious to tally the yardage used when top is done....here is a photo...

so glad decided to do this sew along....and seeing it coming together fuels my quilty muse....been keeping a pile of scraps on the ironing station to use for these blocks and it is actually diminishing....good news indeed!

sidebar...

had to take a mini break from 365 and basting to sew up these 2 blocks for a guild project.  dug into scrap bins (thank you bonnie!), which made it a much quicker task. 

the goal was a dedicated black center square and then whatever that would be fitting for a quilt for a male recipient aka no pink/flowers etc.  these use 2.5" and 1.5" strips, soooo will file pattern away for possible future project, hoping to deplete some of those scraps.   ***  i peeked ahead to the july 1st block and it's back to 3" darks, well once i finish the june blocks that is...and with all this sewing thought it would be interesting to collect empty spools since january 1st and here is what that looks like....most of these were full, brand new spools so this is proof that there has been a lot of sewing at casa frederick and before.  

 and remember this little list of goals? 

1.  name badge for guild 
2.  finish my kaffe wallhanging  ****
3.  baste "milky way masquerade"
4.  catch up on "365"
5.  stay current on "farmer's wife sew along"
6.  at least 2 lap quilts for guild charity project
7.  finish pink virginia reel
8.  finish midnight garden
9.  cut out 2 schnibbles using on-hand layer cakes
10. sew up pair pajama shorts ****

well 2 got completely finished; the name badge is half done, the virginia reel ready to baste, nearly current on 365, milky way back ready, lap quilt squares cut; farmer's wife, midnight garden and schnibbles not touched....so there is room for improvement here...

a thursday finish....

it's the kaffe fassett wallhanging and there is a tad more quilting on the sashing but that'll get done today and i can count it towards my One Project A Month goal...

used up some leftover binding--white polka dots on orange--that seems just right for this piece and i think kaffe would approve as well!   fell a bit short of my plan to get all june blocks done; about 12 left to go, but the weekend is coming up and hot/humid weather too, so with no big plans

and plenty of a/c, i'll be bonding with the old viking...and the cream DWR is in process with it nearly half basted at this point.  figure the quilting will be started some time on the weekend.  now to pull another project from the "F is for Finish" pile for July....after a year being folded in the car's trunk, the scrappy boston commons has been laundered and is now bright and clean again, ready for winter or whenever (if ever) it gets cold here...  *** still very happy and content here in maryland and my nice and cozy apartment EXCEPT some horrible person has a disgusting air freshener that smells like vanilla or similar and it is totally stinky and annoying....certain fragrances bother me, some cleaning agents and those nasty plug-in things; tried to keep windows open today but still lingers with them closed and a/c on...as far as i can see, it's the only downside and is really disappointing me.  certain people take it on themselves to spray the hallways as well and occasionally one will be equally awful.  it's like lightning, never know when the stinkbug will strike.  if only my apartment were just inside the door....maybe someday....

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!