scraps, she said....

but they sure don't look like my scraps....someone asked if i would be interested in some chintz scraps....not much to work with, she said......

guess i'll be spending time with graph paper and quiltmania mags this weekend to come up with a medallion worthy of such spectacular fabrics.  then some shopping in the stash for some "go with" fabrics too....good thing the kitchen got cleaned yesterday....LOL!   ***  and my brother has a small farm in Maine where he raises shetland sheep; it's lambing time and so far he has 8 brand new ones hopping around.....aren't they cute?

had my usual poultry dinner last night after a rousing rehab workout....jammies and some quilting ended the day perfectly!

quick confession....

bonnie's post today tweaked my conscience, so 'fessing up here to keep myself honest....the book i saw this little quilt in was "the blue and the gray" a book of reproduction quilts by mary etherington and connie tesene....photographing the quilt and then making my own seemed harmless and, honestly, copyright laws didn't even cross my mind.   this was the only thing in the book i really wanted to make and the frugal yankee in me could not justify purchasing a book for one pattern.   even now, i think that everyone probably does it at some point, but in reality it is still wrong.  most everything i make is public domain stuff or my own interpretation of ideas i see on the internet.  sigh...life was so much less complicated when magazines and shows were my only source of inspiration...

early to rise means...

early to sew of course!  housework on hold until after lunch (and ? nap) so first thing did some sewing on my to-do list.  my small group does a HUGE amount of charity sewing and, worker bee that i am, glad to contribute.  was handed a jelly roll and a packet of precut pieces for 2 lap robe tops.  all i have to do is get the tops ready and somebody else will machine quilt--a truly win/win situation.  now one caveat, you may want to shield your eyes before you look too closely.  i chose the baggie with the brightest colors and wasn't at all disappointed....see what you think.

was instructed to sew the 3 pieces together, lay them out and turn, and this is the finished top.  bright primary colors with plum to boot...how good is that!   the jelly roll is soft pinks, greens and creams and isn't quite ready to show.  then here is the tabletopper that grew up to be a tree skirt for my little christmas tree....all done and ready to tuck away until needed.

and since christmas has been gone awhile now, probably time to take down these as well....

i left them up to remind me there really WAS a christmas, since the cardio grinch sorta stole mine.  i'll save a couple of special ones and put them away with the tree skirt for december's enjoyment. 

they're heeerre!

despite lingering cold - for us for april - the cherry blossoms have reluctantly popped.  no doubt they were hesitating, waiting for warmer temps, but it'll be late this week before that happens...

you can almost see the half-hearted attempt at blooming in this photo, but traffic prevented me from taking others....and despite a lackluster saturday, did manage another block finish...

it was fate as all 3 fabrics happened to be on the sewing table....also got my doll quilt swap project ready to baste and worked on 2 donation lap robes for my WV group.  i only have to make the tops as somebody else will machine quilt them.   ***  still recouping from last week's jam-packed schedule, but did make a pot of tuscan tortellini soup....very delish, low in calorie and totally heart healthy.  still have a full to-do list for today, though....funny, still feel a bit of panic when sunday comes when had to finish all house chores before the work week started...but then relax as realize can take my time and even goof off if desired--a terrific realization! ****

and i love this quote from annette funicello, a woman whose fame and financial comfort did not insulate her from many years of severe disability; it always humbles me--

 isn't that the truth?

post script...

the book has been taken...

whew....

the end of a whirlwind week has finally arrived.  the first week of the month is always busy but now with rehab added, it's positively jam packed.  my 2 guild meetings are over for another month and, as a reprieve, the thursday meeting is going to be switching to the 2nd week of the month next year, so that'll spread things out a bit.  we had a fabulous workshop on ribbon embroidery...

too brief but very inspiring....all the while was thinking about how to build on these feeble new skills and, being an idea person, came up with lots of options.  there is definitely a learning curve and new fine motor skills to be acquired, but like eating m&ms, could get dangerous...LOL!   the speaker was a woman named teri young and can highly recommend her.  ***  at the meeting, delivered my gardening angel block and picked up 2 more.....

so the remainder of April is all mapped out....angel blocks, donation quilt, 2 lap robes, civil war blocks and assembling a quilt of valor plus antebellum album blocks.  the needle will be flying and betty will be burning the midnight oil for sure.   and lastly.....have pulled this from my library to offer for sale....no drool marks at all, mint condition, but i don't feel as if i'll ever get to making any of the beautiful projects in this book.   it's selling on Amazon for $65, but my price is $55 and includes media mail shipping from here, maryland.....

inspiration is a huge understatement for this book, jam packed with gorgeous medallions, patchwork and applique projects.  beautiful color photos on glossy paper and full patterns for each project; includes 3 large pattern sheets as well.  drop me a note at gracemth@yahoo.com if interested.....

two down....

despite having a very full plate of tasks this week, managed to squeeze in some machine time and made 2 civil war diary blocks.

the bottom square looks wonky but actually is not laying flat...it's accurate though...and with these 2 finishes, realizing that april might not be long enough to finish all the blocks....aside from the foundation blocks waiting, there are about a dozen others that can draft myself to construct and so far only have (gulp) 25 finished of 121...and there may be others haven't prepped yet.  no matter, this isn't a project to be rushed and prefer to enjoy the process rather than "git 'er done" quick.  ***  it's the first week of the month and with grocery tasks, bill paying, 2 guild meetings plus rehab, it's chock full so onward!

out like a lamb...

sunny and breezy altho on the cool side, but still with flowers blooming and lawns greening it IS really spring!  and even better, my scrap attack for march is finished! it was close, down to the wire, but all 240 DWR arcs got sewn and several hundred scraps got busted....

was hoping to get the melon pieces cut as well but ran out of month!  this means that starting tomorrow, it's the civil war diary project for the entire month of april.  so far, scrap attack has been a great success.  betty has hardly cooled off but no time for slacking.....will be taking a brief break from sewing for some house chores, then it's back to the machine and the civil war!...happy easter and passover to all!

it may be friday....

but sunday's coming!  on this the darkest day in the Christian religion, we have hope in the promise of the resurrection.  as a Christian, it doesn't mean i'm any different than anyone else, in fact i prefer to consider myself a recovering Pharisee....with human responses and failings.  one of my favorite sermons was given by Tony Campolo and he wrote a book as well...no matter what burden or seemingly insurmountable issue, i take solace in knowing that sunday always comes....here is the book....

as for quilting on this holy day, my friday (insignificant) burden is to finish the scrappy DWR arcs in march...can i do it?  well i can certainly try....here is the done and to do progress....

and great minds always think alike, don't they?  this arrived yesterday with--what else--a scrappy DWR with a dark blue background!  who knew?

this is "american patchwork & quilting" june issue....this dark blue is a print and more of a navy than royal blue, but isn't it stunning?

side job

while still mourning the loss of my library job and my needed little paycheck, another opportunity came my way....a guild member approached me about an applique quilt she wanted finished.  it was a long ago kit gift to someone who has a busy job, home and husband and no interest in applique.  i agreed to give it a try.  she would assemble the log cabin foundation blocks and draw the face details and the applique task was mine.  the first block went easier than expected, even with about 40 pieces....this is block #2, also less daunting than it appears. 

not quite finished but plan to be in order to take on another block.  it's a long term project but it'll be good to get 'er done. ***  on the DWR arcs front, i've printed off all the foundation arcs except for 3 when my printer ran out of ink.  today hoping to knock off another 30, giving me a total of 170 finished.  the blue background is washed, dried and ready for melon cutting.  the vacuuming will just have to wait a bit.  ***  cardiac rehab is going terrific.  slowly upping the intensity which is very noticeable in my daily tasks.  the temps outside are warming a bit, just in time for some outdoor activities. and for all of you still buried in snow, forgive me for posting this photo taken just yesterday....

the rehab isn't just about exercise but also dietary choices.  had some ground turkey and green peppers, so experimented for some stuffed peppers and the result was pretty tasty, although have to say never quite loses that turkey taste.  a bunch of herbs, stewed tomatoes, some chili powder, a dash of worcestershire, some frozen sauteed corn from last summer and a handful of orzo pasta produced these....approved by AHA and palatable as well.  turns out you CAN live without potato chips...LOL...

off to dress and start sewing!