horse before cart....

while clearing off the ironing table, happened to glance over and saw an unfinished christmas project from last year--the 12 days of christmas tiny blocks--and realized that planning yet another christmas project was putting the cart before the horse, so pulled out the 12 days and did some auditioning to get this into a flimsy and then a finish for ? maybe august ? september...

these blocks are tiny, meaning 3"....like the 365 blocks....and shopped the stash once more for a suitable green....they all work but leaning toward upper left or upper right.   basting table is still up, so now that scraps under control, a basting day is on tap for sometime next week.   ***  it seems like i've sewn a tremendous amount this year but without enough finishes to support the effort.   makes me realize just how much sewing time the 365 has consumed.   more discouraging is the measly yardage busted as many of the actual finishes were small pieces, not all big quilts.  so, with 4.5 months left in 2016, maybe can get at least a couple of bigger quilts done and rack up a respectable use of actual fabric.  in any case, enjoying the process and whatever doesn't get used will still be there for shopping and sewing fun.   

back on track

after a mini-detour, today printed up the most recent blocks and got these done today....looking pretty good i think...can definitely see improvement in my machine piecing efforts...

up to august 4th, but you can see that a few hours of sewing is really productive.  but before these got sewn, westering women block 7 was put together, so current on something at least...

and inbetween went shopping in my stash. while trolling the internet and various blogs, stumbled on a christmas sew along, 25 blocks measuring 6" finished....pulling these helped quick start my mojo.  would like to participate in this christmas sew-along, but ultimately hinges on other fall commitments....it sure was fun shopping anyway....aren't they pretty?  

and thanks to the camera, see that the turquoise is a bit too dark so back to the store...LOL!

double vision?

not really, if you look close that is....both wall pieces are now flimsies and there were 4 little 9-patch squares left that have gone into the orphan block pile.  really like how they turned out....finishes for 2017 maybe? 

and a heartwarming sight indeed....an empty scrap basket!   i'll be needing a new rotary cutter blade, and all the little units have been put away in their shoeboxes....will be cruising for patterns for 2.5" strips and squares as that shoebox is chock full now.  

ventured outside for a very few minutes as the bookmobile was here.   this is a fantastic benefit..it comes twice a month and all i have to do is reserve stuff online and pick it up.  today's haul was 4 dvds and 3 books.   didn't dawdle as it was quite hot and oppressive.  ***  next task?  print out sew-along block instructions and start sewing!  

between blocks

doesn't mean there isn't anything to sew....au contraire!!  this piece has been on the design wall almost since i moved in 4 months ago and it was overdue for a finish, well the flimsy anyway. 

this is midnight garden wallhanging....the beautiful fabric was gifted to me by a maine friend over a year ago when i "thought" i was going to be moving soon....this is an homage to her, someone whose life is challenging every day, but yet finds solace and peace in her cozy, chic, country home, her garden, chickens and bees!   she is the living image of the proverbs 31 woman, someone who wears many hats and finds time to quilt as well.   in spite of her personal burdens, she took time to console me in my disappointment and homelessness with a thoughtful devotional book that i use every day and have gifted to others as well.   am always inspired of how much she accomplishes and how she just takes on every day with a smile and positivity.  she is often confined at home, but has made delicious lemonade out of pretty sour lemons....a fine example to us all!   then there is this piece that got revamped....

you might recall a piece some time ago made with just the nine-patch squares and it was blah to the max!  so, deconstructed and added in some hourglass blocks and am more satisfied with the outcome...enough blocks for 2 of these, this one with the gold fabric on the sides and the next will have the red fabric on the sides.  so no longer languishing in blocks limbo.   all this while watching "hinterland" on netflix.....terrific shows indeed!  ****  tackled the scrap basket once again last night when olympic watching and making progress but not empty yet...stay tuned!

this explains it...

meaning why we sew and sew and the stash hardly diminishes!  friday night spent 4+ hours cutting scraps from my basket....you saw the BEFORE photo yesterday....and today is the AFTER photo....see the difference?   me either....but i promise, the trash can is chock full of spaghetti-sized trimmings and all these units are at the ready.....

there are some large tumbler pieces; strips and squares of various sizes plus a stack of brick size pieces as well...and, more important, see the basket in the background.....while prepping these units, visions of a multitude of scrappy quilts were swirling around my mind (inbetween tv watching) and honestly, should run right to my PCP and get an Rx for dexedrine so i can sew 24/7.....not that i would ever consider that, but imagine what could get done and how much stash could be busted!   really, tho, do enjoy the process and the fabric does inspire me big time...but no time to wax poetic on the philosophical aspects, gotta get back to sewing!!!  

my mission....

should i choose to accept (remember the old series 'mission impossible'?) is to tackle THIS today....great mindless activity while watching olympic cermony tonight.

either that or it's get a new basket, which is not a good idea.  after a busy few days, will be nice to relax with rotary cutter, ruler and get this pile under control.  *** last night at guild was workshop with heather kojan and this cute little project bag workshop....so many pretty ones...with all my fabric, you might have expected something flashier but confess didn't want to cut into my "good" fabric....LOL....and thought this would be appropriate, especially to get hauled around.   my hexie project has outgrown the little bag that vic made for me, so will get transferred to this one and the little red bag will become a home for something else.

already august 5th and time for more 365 blocks.   and have you thought about christmas yet?  i've got some gift ideas percolating...with the budget tight, gotta fire up the creative muse for some good ideas...  but first up, stock the larder! 

monday design wall

a fairly busy sewing weekend here in steamy and occasional monsoon-like weather...what else to do but sew, right?   first up, nearly busted an entire layer cake with this wallhanging....it's sandy gervais' rambling rose line and this layer cake was a giveaway...lucky me! 

the flash washed the color out a bit, but it's pinks, aquas, tan/browns....with a pile of leftover waste triangles, started sewing up a dolly quilt.   would have liked more of the cream prints, but had to work around what was available...one of the issues with layer cakes, but it'll get hand quilted and then a pink binding which should tone down the brown flying geese a bit.  next up, 2 more farmer's wife blocks, leaving me with 2 more to get current....what can i say....slacked off a bit...

and lastly, here's a look at the 365 with ALL the borders on to date....that is today's task...more 365 blocks. with august here, only 5 months left on this challenge and my interest has waned a bit, but can't stop now.   i think this 3rd border of little blocks is about 3 months' worth as well...

the schedule is a tad crowded this week for a few days....hoping friday/saturday will be devoted to cutting up scraps and clearing out the basket...it's way beyond due....another hot week, but over summer's hump and have made it so far and on our way to autumn...my favorite season of all!

two more done...

instead of the 6 would have liked to finish, but dabbled in a few other projects and indulged in afternoon power nap so i could sew thru quilt-cam, which got cancelled for audio issues...bummer!  maybe there'll be time this morning for just one more block before going out.   

and would you believe this happens all the time?  cutting over the trash can that's barely 2 feet away and still the scraps and papers fly all over the floor...gotta get a larger and taller trash bucket, i guess.

finally cooler with temps in the 80s....oh yeah, that is sure welcome....have a balmy day!

a small dent

in the farmer's wife sew-along blocks....today was a delightful all-sew day.  first thing, made the 2 missing blocks in the light border of the "365" and got that last border sewn on.  then tackled the farmer's wife.  got these 3 done with 6 more to go....hoping to get more done on thursday and then it's back to 365 blocks.  will be jockeying between these 2 projects the next few days and then maybe can work on something different come the weekend. 

nice to have access to my entire stash for these blocks.  glad this farmer's wife will be winding down soon.  have already decided to participate in a double wedding ring sew along for next year and that'll be it!  not that far away as 2016 is whizzing by at a whirlwind pace!

my next 365 block...

and see that date!  yep, just 3 blocks to do!   i am sooooo thrilled and relieved that my block backlog has disappeared.   course, now i have to tackle the farmer's wife with about 8 blocks to do.

this should be a quick one indeed!  and here are a few of the latest i've sewn....a few challenges

but the middle one in the top row?   went together lickety split....sometimes it just happens that way...they aren't as wonky as they look, but because some have so many seams, even pressing doesn't tame them.  ***with housework done and blocks up to date, can dabble in a couple of other projects for a change.  yes, the farmer's wife is #1 and have been itching to start a mod quilt in orange....about 3 years ago, many internet quilters generously shared their orange scraps with me and i'm just about ready to get started.  today also finished some paper piecing leaf blocks for the guild raffle quilt next year, and there'll be some applique work on that too.  can i squeak in another small finish this month?  wouldn't hurt to try....temps modulating a bit with high 80s later in the week...oh yeah i can take that easy!