monday sewing

busy monday wrapped up with a bit of block sewing....actually the larger was done sunday, leaving me with 9 more farmer's wife to the finish....

then got back into 365....only one more september block and can tackle october's....will see how far i can get before november 1 rolls around and another corner block is posted....would think these tiny dark blocks for the 3rd border will soon be finishing up as the home stretch is in sight for the wrap up....read on facebook that another will start in january, but not for me.  ***  beautiful autumn weather continues and today cool enough for light jacket.  less than a month now to thanksgiving but doesn't seem possible at all...it's too warm!  now back to sewing..... 

3 - 2 - 8

three more blocks in the farmer's wife sew-along are done!   first time sitting at the machine for any length of time in nearly a week....

there are 2 more blocks printed off and sitting beside the old viking...after those are done, only 8 more blocks to wrap up this sew along....well before the end of the year too, which is reason for a happy dance!   next, of course, is get current with 365.  anticipate that possibly january will be busy getting these 2 projects to the flimsy stage....and aside from a double wedding ring sew along next year, it's UFO tackling....there are a couple that have been on the list far too long and sorely need finishing....so bring on sew-turday!

prime example...

for standing back when choosing fabric....

several years back was trolling the red tag sale fabrics for flannel to make winter lounge pants and found this.   it was really inexpensive and was in a rush, so grabbed the bolt and got what i needed....but to my surprise on closer inspection, saw these skulls and peace signs...so stuck with it and it has finally gotten sewn up....only me and the laundress (also me) will see it, so doesn't matter....mainly going for cozy and comfy.   and why, you might ask, am i sewing flannel on a stretch of 80+ degree days?   weather channel uttered "cold and blustery for the weekend" so planning ahead.   have fabric for another pair that is a pinky print, not halloweeny at all.   since my tragic encounter with certain maine doctors, necessary to have several pairs on hand since some bodily functions have gone haywire...just saying.   ****   starting to feel better after long stretch of sinus infection/sore throat/cold sores/chest congestion etc.  haven't really sewn much past week except some hand quilting and now these pj bottoms.  various blog and facebook posts are sending my mojo into overdrive and hoping to feel better in a day or two....me and my tissue box, that is.  so watch this space.....

first peek

on the yahoo group 'stashbusters' about 5 or so years ago, put out a call for orange scraps for a (what else) orange scrappy quilt.  many squishies arrived in my mailbox and got tucked away in a basket...then life intervened...but they waited patiently for this time when they finally got to play.  this is the first peek at what i think will be a deliciously citrusy scrappy..hmm a title maybe?

these are 12.5" blocks and the pattern is from the book "modern neutrals", even though orange isn't much of a neutral--but the gray definitely is!   it was difficult to choose a pattern and this one wasn't the originally planned, but am happy with the result.   there are 36 blocks total, and when done, there will be 8 or so of the gray funky circles--sorta of a kansas dugout block with points---probably quilted with orange thread?   had hoped to have 4 blocks done for the peek so the gray pattern would be complete, but fall is very busy in maryland, a nice change from summer hibernation.   ***  printed out another batch of 365 blocks yesterday, along with 2 more farmer's wife.  and i completely forgot about 'westering women' for september that needs to be done as well.   once again bask in the delight that quilting has brought into my life. approaching my 60th year of sewing--is that possible?--with no sign of boredom or disinterest whatsoever.  thank you, my quilty peeps, for your comments, compliments and feedback and camaraderie for all this time.  i could not have become the quilter i am without the support of this community.....

what housework?

indeed; that's what i say too...not that the apartment is dirty, but needs some tidying, plus vacuuming and swiffering a couple of small floors, but hey, i can do that anytime, right?  after a solid night's sleep, up at 4:30 am to breakfast, read, catch the weather, followed by a short nap and then sew!  managed to complete 5 more little blocks....

and the day is still young!   so might even knock off a few more before the sandman hits town.   only a mere 16 blocks to get current, but if i can get 5 more done today, could catch up by.....monday maybe?   thursday, friday, saturday and sunday are all scheduled....making up for summer's hibernation!  ***  autumn is so gorgeous here in the mid-atlantic....and no frosty car windows yet either....and no, i don't miss maine weather....my family and fresh seafood is all...and maybe marden's?   *** speaking of shopping, visited capital quilts in nearby gaithersburg the other day...the shop has doubled in size since my first visit 5 or so years ago and they have added bigger classroom space, a longarm room, lots of fabric and another bathroom....well worth the addition for sure...so slowly finding my way around to quilty places for when i run low on fabric...LOL!

monday design wall

well, not really the wall but the latest of the 365 blocks sewn saturday while netflixing...now up to september 22nd and just a shade off 3 weeks to catch up....this week's project!

sunday spent at church, doing some cooking and then off to a covered dish/music evening....i never met a pot luck dinner that wasn't delish and this was no exception.   rarely go out sunday evenings as it's the best night of the week for PBS, but with Poldark on hiatus seemed like divine intervention.  having decided who gets my vote a long time ago, avoid any debates, insult-slinging, candidate bashing.  like many, wish there were better choices.....

unplanned hiatus

didn't mean to be away from my blog THIS long but it's been a very busy couple of weeks for lots of reasons, all routine in nature.   the first week of the month is always busy for me with my guild meetings, my volunteer commitments and household tasks...it's when i do the bulk of grocery shopping and other miscellaneous errands (post office etc.) and was seriously derelict in laundry duties, so that took sewing time as well...did manage to get a few blocks done last weekend...

now that things have normalized, back sewing this morning starting with 365 blocks.  had to clear off a couple of vertical surfaces to get a clear deck for cutting etc.  have a bad habit of pulling out things to sew and then don't get at them so have to put them away again.   *** did visit a new-to-me shop up in gettysburg called "needle and thread fabrics." the shop also specializes in civil war re-enactment garments, but there was plenty of eye candy for any quilter.   and they have a good selection of sale fabrics for $5 py and under.  it's only about half hour from my home.   also got to see parts of the battlefield, which will revisit with mom when she comes next month.  caved and got a four quarter yards from the "freedom bound" line that followed me home.

lastly, another issue has been our gorgeous fall weather....after being inside for hot/hot, it's cooler, breezy and perfect for soaking up fresh air.  took car for a thorough cleaning inside and just soaked up that nice, comfy sunshine.  time for cider and apple crisp!

bit o' basting

you've seen this little flimsy before but now it is officially basted and ready for quilting....also basted my cabana daydreams quilt top too...next up is the peacock garden wallhanging....

and two more blocks for farmer's wife are done and in the pile...

i'm keeping up with the posted blocks but also went ahead and printed out a few others to see if i can wrap up this sew-along.   sure do like paper piecing for getting those points sharp! and it looks like 90 degrees is pretty much history.   loving the cooler temps and mild breezes....poor vic said there was frost in NH and my sister had to scrape frost off her windshield the other day....not here!!!

mr. jack is back in view!   he has forgiven me for keeping him in storage and out of sight for too many autumns.  fortunately is no worse for wear from those horrible times....as soon as leaves started falling, ran right to my decorations box and set him up.  

he looks pretty good for 37 years don't you think?   cannot believe my dear daughter was in kindergarten when attended a craft club and we made these stuffed pumpkin decorations.  he seems to like the apartment and his perch atop the cable box, warm for his bum....lol!

not quilt related....

pet peeve of mine....as one who has been overweight for some time, it has been my extremely bad fortune to have met several people who dispense weight loss, nutrition, exercise advice ad nauseum aka fat police.   there have also been several others who think they know what is best and/or "God's will" for me and my life, but that's for another day.   these fat police include medical people, of course; not the same ones who used to smoke in hospitals back in the day.  but it is their job and, being purveyors of judgments of every type, they often wrongly assume becoming thin solves every problem.  they, like the weathermen, spout these pronouncements based (often) on statistics.  did you know, for instance, that woody allen's father died a chain smoker at age 99?   obviously genetics trumped behavior....i could rave on and on but brevity dictates otherwise.  my hope for today is that all those do-gooder nutrition mavens have a really rotten day, and that the next time they decide to spout their self-righteous and usually unwanted advice to one who probably already knows they are fat, someone hauls off and whacks them in the knees with a baseball bat, hopefully producing a cure. 

abandoned!

that would be magic of christmas...for these reasons:  1)  i love the fabrics but they are not working together as i anticipated, 2) my quilty plate is pretty full and indecision and remaking of blocks is eating up time, 3) buying other fabrics is not an option, nor is there any guarantee the results would be better.   the focus fabric is the problem, i think.   it's been hanging around a couple of years because i love it, but this doesn't seem to be the right project for it.   sooo....the blocks so far go in the orphan pile; will continue to download the whole 25.  even pulled a bunch of christmas-y fabrics to re-start, but time just isn't available to do that...before reaching this decision, pulled out the 2 least favorite and took this photo....a better combo but the dark green is soo dark, even tho the contrast really helps the focus fabric...

and our agricultural fair is done but not before this happened....

yes, my hawaiian got a first place blue ribbon!  i didn't care about a ribbon, just wanted to show it off...but really the credit goes to the nancy chong video...without the tremendous help from the video, never would have achieved such stellar results....now back to 365 to catch up before october arrives!