almost...

finished, this shirt....looks pretty good and have to say sews up pretty quickly....the loose weave of the fabric requires a bit more work but all in all quite satisfied with the outcome....on to the next one!

can never thank my mom and my 4-H instructor enough for introducing me to sewing...it's been a passion for now nearly 61 years....61?   yes, really....hard to wrap my head around that figure....hoping for 61 more...

monday sewing

nothing quilty but did get shirt #1 well on its way to a finish....early this morning cut it out and went to work about 9 am to see how far i could get....

pretty good i think....all that's left are the sleeves with a gusset, cuff and ruffle.  will have to make one buttonhole on each cuff, which i will do by hand for authenticity sake.  with 2 weeks to vacation, they both should be done.   there is another secret sewing project hoping to get started as well....over the weekend got the quilting just about done on this official UFO, just needs red cording and the back to be done...

can't believe got sucked into another housing situation that is unsafe and uncomfortable.  the perfume nazi is going full tilt and with the a/c on and windows closed, suffocation is a real possibility; either that or major stroke in spite of multiple blood thinning agents on board.  this is definitely murder by inches.  housing managers all took their training from idi amin, i'm pretty sure, as this third experience is eerily like the first.  for low income people with few options, it is a travesty indeed... could be time for boxes and moving on.  the overpowering, continual, alcohol-based fumes are very dehydrating leading to....well, blood clots?  isn't that great....

turkey trottin'

yesterday was the monthly bee gathering....we take turns meeting at homes to chat, sew, snack etc... for a special treat, lunch was prepared and provided....sooo delish and the company at the table could not have been better...plenty of quilty talk and camaraderie was enjoyed.  my project for bee meetings is my wild turkeys wall quilt, hoping, of course, for a finish in time for november.   coming along quicker than anticipated with nearly 2 blocks done except for openings at bottom for the legs. 

here's the pattern photo in case you don't recall...

the half square triangles are DONE and waiting due to a past swap; squirreled them away for "someday" and the time is now!  so a november finish is possible....and since we were in the neighborhood yesterday, dropped by at capital quilts for some browsing and fondling...terrific stuff on sale...

the bats and stripes are for projects in the works; the brandon mably triangles "just because" and the chickadees were FREE with my Dulles show book coupon.   the chickadee is the maine state bird and it is so cute to see them out and about in the winter when all is drab and dreary.   all in all, the day was nothing short of uber-enjoyable.  local temps have finally inched below the mid-90s with low humidity so simply perfect.  even at this early hour, the day is overflowing with blessings....

aaahhhhh...

after a busy day of catch up, finally got some machine time in and finished another row of the scrappy inchie that has been named, "my stash--inch by inch"....

got some batteries for the camera, so the color is much better in this updated photo....i just love this.  there is one more row of 3 blocks, 16 rows of 16 inchies, plus the side borders of rows of 4, then top and bottom rows of 4 neutrals, then a final border of 4 rows of more multicolored inchies.   it'll get tied closely and then live with me...i just love it as it contains so many pleasant sewing memories.   plain and simple but oh so special!

week's progress...

would be this one lonely block, #6 in the antebellum album sew along...

last wednesday after an all-day senior center event, ran a few errands and back home to regroup/relax.  just wasn't meant to be.  late afternoon realized a possible life-threatening issue and called 911, was then admitted to local hospital and discharged just today.  not really sick, just a medication adjustment and waiting on resolution of an issue that has done just that.  can't complain, after all disregarding the IV bruises, had TV, a comfy bed, room service 24/7, a chef at my disposal, plus a waiter, housekeeper and personal assistant was peachy....had the foresight to tuck a thick book in my bag but alas, had removed my busy box.   so, behind a week on sewing schedule but no real harm.  glad to get things sorted before my vacation and all should be well now. *** short post as things to do....catch you later!

the week starts here....

and thank goodness, as last week is a complete blur....probably the busiest week i've had since last october.  the oppressive heat added to the mix making it nearly unbearable even with a/c everywhere.  between YMCA, the holiday, guild meeting, senior center, selling raffle tix at the local carnival, payday, grocery shopping and laundry, whew!  got half the apt cleaned and the vac is still out waiting for me to finish...LOL!  but here's some sewing news....finally!  first is a lap robe top made from part of a jelly roll on hand....the yellow was donated to our guild....

it'll get tied (ironed first) then bound for our october presentation meeting....the binding will be more of the green...the colors are much brighter than pictured...for some reason my camera is fading out photo colors....then my primary july project is costumes for the local historical society....

i'm making 2 shirts and 2 pair breeches not needed until october, but want to get going and hopefully finish 2 items before my vacation....the shirts look easier than the breeches but more time consuming than anything....no zippers etc.  also doing some quilting in my spare (huh?) moments...almost time to get the suitcase out and start loading 'er up....so today it's more laundry, finish the housework, prepping the costume patterns and hopefully some quilting time and, oh yes, exercise time too....that should fill the day quite nicely!

a finish for the 4th!

happy independence day!  so proud to be an American today and every day.  may we all be keenly aware every day of the sacrifice of so many to preserve America. in these chaotic political times, let us never forget freedom isn't free and we who claim citizenship have ownership and enjoy benefits of that freedom.  America is not a life preserver, a meal ticket or a free ride.  America requires our citizenship, upholding the Constitution and supporting those who defend it, which includes securing our borders.  a country divided against itself cannot stand, so we must all join together as "one nation, under God" to preserve the ideals of the founders for future generations.  in America, ALL lives matter, for a country to preserve and continue, it takes the effort of ALL citizens.....no politics here, just plain old garden variety patriotism....and here's my 4th finish, the red windmills, again machine quilted and done.

plenty of red but alas, no white or blue in this one.  the extreme hot is with us for another day or so; until then it's hibernating in air conditioning.  working on my vacation itinerary that will include 2 fun fabric places--marden's and busy thimble--and plenty of Maine lobster!  keep cool and quilt on!

july already?

so very true...sneaked up on me while i was busy sewing obviously....and new month means tackling the scraps aka....

at first thought july was ideal to finish the scrappy trees flimsy but that would just give me one more flimsy in the pile...how about something i could actually finish and get outta the drawer??  so unearthed this UFO and have to say, love it as much today as when it was first started....it's a mega-memory project,  a microcosm of my stash over the past 40 years...sentimental attachment to the max! from clothes for myself and my daughter, to long ago quilts and projects, to swaps and gifts from other quilters, they're all in this piece. 

the colors are much nicer than this....my phone isn't exactly perfect for pictures....but you get the idea.  it's 16" blocks of inchies, a total of 12 (or will be) with a border of 4" of neutral inchies, then a final border of 4" scrappy inchies.  this will be a tied quilt, obviously, but will definitely be a keeper.  there's a drawer of inchies just waiting to be played with, no doubt way more than i will need...so stay tuned.  being a graduate of the bonnie hunter scrap saver school, i always check out her yearly leader/ender challenge, but this year i am way ahead of her!  ***  day 2 of heat hibernation but plenty of things to keep me busy....stay cool quilty peeps!

full front view

hoping the blog title doesn't pull in the weirdos and crazies...LOL!   finished sewing down the binding and ready for closeup....pretty happy with this even tho the reworked border was labor intensive....will make a nice twin bed/sofa/cot quilt for somebody....thanks to all who donated fabric for this endeavor!

this weekend?  hoping to quilt/finish red windmills, do some housework, catch up on antebellum album and quilt more on the donation project....all while keeping cool, of course...you do the same!

under the wire....

to get a finish before july arrives; got this scrappy 9-patch tied and now pinning down binding...did i mention i LOVE the walking foot for sewing on bindings?  whereas i used to do these by hand (yes, all of them), can now get them sewn on well and quickly. 

this was made from fabrics gifted to me during my year of housing limbo...it'll go to a charity and be well used i'm sure....and since i'm deep into the learning curve of the walking foot, this is next up to be quilted and bound....a tad bigger than the orange piece and probably the max size i'd machine quilt.  you can see the flannel i've used as batting that should make it hang nicely.

and this pillow is nearly finished as well...a giveaway kit from jan patek, i love the folk art style....just waiting to be hand quilted and finished with a red cording...

lastly, one of my guild's community service project is for lap robes, wheelchair and walker totes, runners and soft cuddle toys for a local long-term care place....started this lap robe with gorgeous batiks that'll no doubt cheer up somebody...

it WAS ironed but getting moved around got it all wrinkly again....it's much brighter in person....so even tho my posts are fewer, still busy in the background with sewing and projects...can't believe this year is at the midpoint except the weather tells me it's definitely true.  dog days are here, so stay cool and sew on!