it only took 37 years...

for me to get the hang of the log cabin block....i've made them in the past, even did a swap, but alas they were done WRONG!   i chalk it up to my lefthandedness as was turning the blocks and adding new logs the opposite of the correct way....well, that's my own justification anyway.  these were started in a workshop at the now defunct crafters' quarters in amesbury, massachusetts, a few years ago and thankfully, the instructor gave me a lefthander's guide to keep....now out of the UFO vault and getting finished for a flimsy for disaster relief thru my church. 

working from my 1.5" scrap bin, which shows NO signs at all of being depleted.  this is the double shoebox size, too.  only 39 blocks to go to get 80 made for the ladies to assemble and finish. there are a few more projects like this needing to be unearthed, finished and sent along for similar result, which is helping to reduce MY inventory while providing benefit for somebody else, a win/win all around.  there'll be plenty of 1.5" strips left (alas!) but a new mag in the mail today showed a terrific scrappy that'll be just right for using up more.  ***  winter, or what marylanders call winter, continues without any snow still!!!  this new england transplant is simply stunned and, even more surprising, a forsythia bush in bloom was seen just the other day....amazing indeed for february....loving this new winter normal....not ONCE have i had to clean snow off the car....be still my heart!

got pins?

as part of the WITB (what's in the box/bag) challenge at the yahoo group 'stashbusters', found these just waiting to be finished....the pink is pretty ancient, meaning 70s, whereas the bluebird is more recent.  not official UFOs but now no pangs of regret knowing they are languishing in the tote.

and with valentine's approaching, finished up this little wallhanging as a gift....love these fabrics...was pictured as a pillow but this is more useful....a gift for my mom to hang on her apartment door--and this one is on the UFO list, so another cross off....

and today is must-do vacuum and floors....a busy week of sewing and guild fun ahead with no time for boring tasks....the stars/time warp is a half flimsy at this point that needs to get done so can begin my double wedding ring sew along....it's the only one i'm planning for this year and it has no deadline AND it's from the scrap basket, which is now overflowing again.   soooo many scraps and soooo little time!

reasonable facsimile

with nary a flake here in maryland....at least my area....have to make do with the fabric kind....this is my latest finish, the snowman candlemat.  had gotten this pattern some years ago for a swap gift and liked it so much, bought it for myself....and now it's done. 

used flannel for a batt, but used 2 layers which was really too much, so another learning experience but it'll work fine.  and a kind fellow quilty blogger sent me the carrot button for the nose...and while hacking away at some of these small projects, quilting continues on the milky way masquerade.   the westering women blocks are together and now just need tying and binding for a finish as well...my 2 tables are stacked with WIPs  (works in progress) that keep me focused.....and now that mr. sun has made his appearance, back to the workshop!

framed!

finally these 2 small and ancient cross stitch projects are in their frames....the frames themselves go back to a small shop in mansfield, massachusetts, called "the picket fence" and were purchased in the 70s maybe?  could have been 80s though...this was before I had decided to focus on only quilting.  have a few more cross stitch pieces that need framing and/or finishing....my DD is an expert and it is her pretty much solitary craft, so have saved my stuff for her to go through when all my projects are done.   even though my home is a small apartment, hand made items make it quite homey and cozy...and camouflages the institutional box look.  and have racked up another UFO finish, my snowman candlemat that will show another day as it's drying after being washed.   now on to the next project!

three to go....

that's 3 rows of course....not a moment too soon....setting these on point is a bigger chore than had anticipated....but have to say not looking too bad. 

needs a good press and some tidying/trimming of seams, but so far looking better than anticipated.  not adding any borders, will just baste, quilt and bind.  another project that was a ton of work....must have been daydreaming when took on this plus the 365....small blocks are like venus flytraps...luring one in until it's too late to escape.   have also sewn some on the stars project, but primary goal is to get this to the flimsy stage and tidy up the mess....vacuuming still not done but pointless until this is completed as far as it can be.   ***  still no winter here and that makes me a very happy marylander indeed!

rainy day sewing

it's cloudy, drizzly and rainy here today but so happy no white flakes...not a one!  so far winter hasn't really arrived...at least for this recent transplant from very snowy new england!   ideal weather to sew, starting with the church group this morning, and this afternoon doing this...

two rows of the farmer's wife are together and even though the background fabric isn't really striking, it does allow the blocks to stand out.   six more of these vertical rows and it'll be an official flimsy....even at this stage it does represent a significant amount of sewing, all paper pieced of course.   and then couldn't help but sew a few of these together....

these will also be on point with no sashing; not sure how many of the blocks will be used but probably not all as there were LOTS of them sewn.  this was a really fun and educational sew along and hopefully the flimsy will be available for preview soon...by the time february rolls around, hoping both of these tops will be done.   this means a basting day is somewhere in the future, after some backs are obtained.  with oodles of things to finish, try and make some progress every day....

and blocks are done!

sew along #2 now complete...just remaining are the farmer's wife blocks and flimsy....the westering women will be used for a charity lap robe and out of here soon.

and pet peeve of the day??? command hangers....since march, have now had to replace 5 of these overpriced and poor quality hangers.  a 1# hook insufficient for an 8 oz clock?  really....very bad item 3M......scotch tape is good but these hangers are lousy.....thankfully there are alternatives....shudder to think how much these cost and have ended up in the trash....but all is well now and back to the old viking for more sewing fun!

continuing westward

today's sewing included 2 more of the 'westering women' sew along, now with only 2 to finish it up...better late than never of course....

love these colors--indigo and cheddar!  that leaves the farmer's wife flimsy to construct and the stars/time warp too...feeling like the piles are getting fewer and fewer on the sewing table...also sewed up a lap robe and thinking of doing the same with these blocks....even found 2 cross-stitch projects that were done and just needing framing...on hand also...so they've been washed and will soon be done as well....2017 is the year of the FINISH....will still be able to bust stash chipping away at the too-long UFO list....happy to have you join in!

big reveal....

even though my floor isn't big enough to show it all neatly and in detail, hope you get the idea....

you can't see my ear-to-ear grin, but know i'm deliriously happy this flimsy is finally done.  was completely gobsmacked at the time it took to do this sew along and it has taught me an important lesson, especially now that i have other quilty diversions and doing more charity sewing than before.  next up is to finish the westering women blocks and the farmer's wife project too, so no time to be bored.  now that this is done, can get dressed and finish breakfast dishes--yep, hit the machine right after breakfast...LOL!

first corner, first finish...

first corner block is done and the other 3 are in process...now that i've got one together, should quickly finish the others....good to see where all the little pieces go and how it should look...

choosing to make all 4 the same as, quite frankly, have had enough challenges with this project so far and just want to be done with it....this was the easiest to make but still no piece of cake...

and did finish one little project, some mod little tumblers sewed up for a placemat for a dining tray table i use for meals and miscellaneous clutter.....i love these fabrics and bright colors....these came from some charm packs sent to me last year and there are quite a few left for more fun...

in the deep freeze here for a few days, but 50+ degree weather coming mid-week....and again this weekend, a local PBS station has a "downton abbey" marathon so it's back to Highclere for more zingers from the dowager...LOL!