house block update

if you are on facebook, hop on over to see some that have already arrived....

https://www.facebook.com/Debbies-Quilt-Shop-638954046160056/

sunday sewing

got an early start once silence curfew lifted here at the reform school...first up was to get the plenty good pink dots to a flimsy...

plan to set this aside as it needs more blocks and a decision on the final size.   colors are much brighter than the camera picks up.....my donation quilt aka dora's quilt is ready for binding, so chose a fabric and got that prepped....then this little project has been moved around several times and it was time to finish....found these hearts all cut in a baggie with lots of plaid nickels at the goodwill....so i'm calling it thrifty hearts...

the binding for this is ready as well...a muted red plaid....small but cute i think....last but not least,  finished up the house blocks for california....they'll be on their way tomorrow and will brighten some quilt for one of the fire victims....

working under a handicap as the horrific neighbors have been suffocating me with their perfume or air fresheners or whatever they use to cover up cigarette smoke....my eyes have been burning and watery for two days now, leaving me hoping smallpox might make a swift and resolute return.  the smokers have had 3 years to stop but multiple warnings, idle threats and no consequences have been ignored of course....word is the manager is afraid to confront and follow thru...when i complained she told me there would be retaliation and i guess the suffocating fumes must be just that....another day in the taney village torture chamber....

seeing red

christmas stuff has disappeared and it's valentines everywhere....so whipped up this little fabric box for a possible workshop...

then it was on to the rainbow scrap challenge for january, also red.  decided to make 4 blocks every month that'll give me a total of 40 at year's end.  the pattern chosen is a bonnie hunter pattern that i've not seen done anywhere...it's crayon box, fitting for a challenge that uses crayon colors.  

and have you made any houses yet?  got 2 done with 2 more to go...with my scraps could make several entire quilts but UFOs are beckoning....

knowing what it's like to be completely displaced from home and goods, my heart goes out to these fire victims and happy to do what i can and spread the word.  i never suffered thru a fire, which has to be so much worse...another day of overflowing blessings!

new year, new quilt, new PIF

got all my 2019 calendars up....this is susan branch's yearly offering.  she is a wonderfully talented watercolorist who lives on martha's vineyard and california (a new england transplant).  warning, be careful when you visit her website for you will be tempted beyond your credit limit...LOL!

and just before 2019 arrived, finished my postage stamp quilt!   have yet to trim all the ties but it's done and on the bed, waiting for its inaugural sleep.  a great feeling it is to finish a long-term project, meaning years i hauled around those small pieces, always cutting up more for this day.  and now i don't have to cut up any more that size...win/win!

and with the new year comes a new opportunity to pay it forward.  you remember lori of humble quilts?  she posted a photo on her blog of a quilt shop owner who is collecting house-theme blocks to make into quilts for fire victims.  lori offered these directions for a quick block, 10" finished, that won't take a bit of your time today while you make plans for the year ahead!

this uses 2.5" strips and i'll "see" if can rustle any up....do you think?  this was karma indeed as my plan for the RSC was to hack away at this overflowing bin of 2.5" strips.....

hoping to reduce these with planned projects and whittle this pile down significantly....now that the postage stamp is done, turning my attention to finishing up the red/cheddar donation quilt that needs to be out of here before the month is over.  quilters, to your machines!

2018 tally

first of all...closest thing to a tiara i own, but the sentiment is real!  one of my tasks today is to make a hair appointment....about time!

spent sunday tying my postage stamp quilt, binding today, will be close but hoping to finish before midnight.  progress for 2018 was good considering my slow start.  my frankenbatt bag is nearly empty...

as far as UFOs go, managed to knock off only 6 (postage stamp will be 7)...eeeks....with 14 new projects started aka  UFOs for 2019.   regarding stash, due to generous donations, ended the year with acquiring 96 yards but used up only 29 1/4 yards...not counting the postage stamp that will give close to a 60 yard gain.  so even though i personally lost weight this year, the stash is now considered morbidly obese...LOL!  a few big finishes for the coming year will go a long way to slimming it down.  my charity efforts will ramp up slightly the beginning of 2019 but don't intend to let them get out of control like last year.  ***   a rainy new year's eve but the christmas tree lights are cheery....plenty of sewing to do and no real household tasks pressing....as always, delighted to have another day to bask in the love of my family, to love them back and spend time sewing up a storm....happy new year to all!

2019 Planning

Sshhh....don't tell God i have plans for 2019...you know what happens when you do!  seriously tho, it'll be more of the same...tackle UFOs, some new starts and plenty of scrappy sewing i hope...2019 marks 40 years of quilting for me and they have flown by in a nanosecond, it seems...would that i could do this for 40 more!  will be off on a running start new year's day and something new this year....the rainbow scrap challenge.  january is for reds and formulating a couple of ideas to be at the ready....

i'll also be joining in barbara brackman's brief sew-along paying homage to the children of queen victoria.  it's 9 weeks, 9 blocks, with a choice of 8 or 12-inch blocks...thinking i'll opt for the 8 inch giving me a manageable wall quilt size for an eventual quick finish.

she has recommended this palette of fabrics so before start date of january 5th will be diving in my own stash to get some...pretty sure have plenty on hand.

and thanks to a kind and generous quilter, was able to replenish batting and muslin from joann's with sales and coupons.   got only 10 yards of batting at present due to space limitations and 5 yards of their good legacy muslin.  also picked up batt and back for the 365 so can get that completed in 2019 as dear daughter has claimed it for her own and mom is happy to oblige. 

got thru christmas with some dietary slips but back to fish and vegs today.   had thought about splurging a bit on new year's but with plenty of cardio-approved things in the freezer and the forbidden sodium rampant in nearly everything, will just go with what's on hand.  back to sewing!

christmas wrap up

the brief break from blogging proved to be a boon to my creative muse....

a cross-stitch pinkeep for a special friend.....

a sporty wall quilt for my son-in-law.....

a stitchery nativity for someone with no available horizontal surfaces (ME)!

a couple of christmas "portraits" from preprinted stuff donated to the senior center....they were so cute and festive, just had to come up with a way to use them for decorating....

this was a gift from my daughter and her husband, my very own maryland blue crab ornament!  it's that coated papier-mache so just right for a small branch...i love it!   my celebration with family was over the top and just being with them was the best gift ever....got other nice gifts from family and friends, but it's the things that can't be purchased that are the most precious--my loving family, my physical health status this year compared to last, time to relax and enjoy the reason for the season, festive music, colorful lights...overflowing with gratitude and thankfulness at my many blessings....hope yours was the same!

merry christmas early!

definitely NOT my tree at all, but omigosh if it were!  the last package is on its way, one more sewing giftie to finish up and a bit of holiday cooking to come but doubt i'll be blogging before THE DAY arrives....there is housework to do (not much) and lots of sewing i want to do before january arrives, so blogging is pretty much on the back burner.  have done a few holiday events here in snow-less maryland...gawd, i LOVE these winters....and pretty much tackling the master list daily and feeling profoundly thankful and grateful for my health this year.  still exercising regularly, of course, and watching the cardiac diet (mostly), feeling totally astounded at how different things are this year from last.   wishing for all the merriest of a Blessed Christmas, ever mindful of those who won't and yet still dream.  the real gift is to be grateful for whatever situation is yours.....

almost.....

meaning most everything i need to make for christmas is completed...and still time to go...how good is that?  the tree is up AND decorated...

loaded down with ornaments with even more that didn't have room....the stocking workshop is now history and it went well with everyone taking home a festive stocking, some of my christmas fabric stash gone for good, and then came home and made myself another...

bought this angel fabric in lancaster some years ago and used it for the backing....at the time couldn't buy more than a yard and have been sorta hoarding it since then, but the time had come to play with it....and santa came a bit early to my place...bought this last summer and have been saving it for the new year, fresh start and all that...

it's bonnie hunter's new perpetual calendar/datebook that is chock full of gorgeous bonnie quilt photos including some from her new book.  years ago, like 12 or so, bonnie nudged me out of my matchy/matchy cocoon into color explosion and my quilting has never been the same, which is a very good thing!  she'd be happy to know i'm paying it forward, urging others to walk on the wild side of color....

round robin wrap

at guild meeting christmas party last night, the round robin reveal took place....and this was mine!

the feathered star was done paper piecing style by me and two of my quilty peeps added the other borders....aren't they terrific?  i used some fabric from the line "lexington" i'd been squirreling away as too pretty to use....and i believe i'll add one more border, maybe pieced but thinking something along the di ford style....it was a grand time and well attended.  pot luck was over the top and confess i slid off the cardiac diet a wee bit but avoided some big no-nos....our QOV block was revealed and this is gonna be another very pretty quilt for a june award. 

lastly, in addition to a table full of hats, scarves, mittens and sox for our local rescue mission,  several bags of quilty items were donated for the paradise, california, quilters.  of the 100 in their guild, 98 lost everything; these are quilters over age 60 so replacement costs will be a challenge, no doubt.  our guild is known for their generosity and willingness to share....makes me very proud to be a member!

off to paradise!