just call me....

a tourist!  now that i'm living below the mason-dixon line, trips to maine make me an official tourist in vacationland....first up, new balance outlet where the tent sale was ongoing...hordes of shoppers but found mine quickly...

next stop jam heaven...my grandmother would be horrified to see the prices on these jams, but some of the flavors are unique and my hands-down fave is the pink grapefruit marmalade....and the bellini is good too--they all are really!

next stop famous mardens where the voluminous bolts of quality fabric at astounding prices was overwhelming...did find a few for specific purposes and a couple of fun stripey prints...they make excellent bias binding!

and our last stop was our favorite lobsterman....prices there were excellent too....in maryland, wegman's sells live lobster for $17.99 a pound but here in vacationland/lobsterville usa, the price was just $4.65 per pound....a bag full came home with a luncheon feast planned for today. 

have to admit the cardiac diet has been tweaked a bit with moderation, of course, including 1/2 of a whoopie pie, a bit of yummy chinese food with fried clams to come...it's vacation after all!  have also been to the beach where the ocean water was above frigid and so refreshing....it's the best time of year to swim in maine where the hot summer has warmed the waters and cooling off in autumn hasn't started yet...remaining 10 days jam packed with more fun things; best of all seeing my mom and siblings in person to strengthen the bonds and bask in comfort of their love....

monday, monday...

overcast and rain threatens here but this being maryland, it's the norm lately....very hot at 90+ degrees so hibernating in A/C....doing lots of sewing, most of it secret, but can show you shirt #2 that is now done...just buttonholes remain....

very plain historical type shirt in cream linen....didn't realize how heavy it was until it was done...imagine flax is much lighter...or maybe not...but this has some weight to it....after vacation will start on breeches, which are more involved but do-able....that's all to show...and now that have vacuumed up threads and all, can start something else...LOL!

where's august?

so, august 1st and time for scrap attack update....my list of yearly finishes is starkly anemic but thanks to scrap attack, have made good progress on some tasks that were sorely in need.   though had counted on finishing some things, just wasn't in the cards.   here is my revised (fingers crossed) plan for the remainder of 2018...

Sptember - selvedge potholders

October - back to the inchie project

November - the reproduction bricks blocks/top

December - scrappy trees top

so where's august?  with vacation and more historical costumes, there wasn't any month left for other things, plus have to fit wild turkeys in someplace.  i've packed 2 take alongs, so remains to be seen how far i get on those; only one has a deadline.  in all fairness, did get a slow start to the year after the cardiac surgery.  took time to get strength and mojo back; plus, with rehab and exercise and pills (oh my!), less time for sewing overall.  august is my birthday month and couldn't be more delighted that i get to celebrate another--i feel blessed beyond measure!

all around fave

that would be this month's 'antebellum album' block which is, of course, the album block!  this is one of my all-time fave blocks and i could make 5 more and skip the rest of the monthly offerings....

the colors aren't quite exact but you get the idea...used some favorite fabrics from a favorite designer--jo morton--giving me a winner for july.  this is the first photo taken and transferred with my new used phone...it was a 'hand me up' from my daughter who upgraded (as opposed to hand me down) and after 2 weeks, am pretty fluent on most of the features.  my ipod power button died and i needed something for travel that i could load music on to for dozing purposes....the erstwhile, yellow orb has returned to the sky for the weekend anyway....perfect days before more rain next week....but any day is good for sewing, right?

now we are 6....

yesterday pulled some solids to cut up for my busy box, which is now stuffed and ready to travel.  i need about 180 more little 4" bow tie blocks to finish my top, but don't think these will be the last...

some pieces ended up as scraps and off the shelf--always good--and some were big enough to cut for this project, a "whenever"....scrappy, of course, as couldn't decide on a specific color family....had prepped the black strips a while ago and they have been nagging reminding me ever since to work on this....got a couple more done and a few that were cut too small--the perils of thinking about 2-3 projects PLUS watching TV at the same time!

and did find a few minutes to fix this block that was also stuck in the gray matter someplace....now it can evaporate....

the week in hospital set back my schedule a bit so scrambling some this week and next, but hopefully then will have some me sewing time.....summer marches on!

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!