addendum....

now i can show this placemat that was gifted to my mother....pattern came from quiltmaker last year....a bit more fussy to make than some of my small quilts but the end result was good and she loves it, of course!

and the box at my door?   it was this handy and adorable tote from a quilty pal!

it's over??

yes...just like that, christmas 2019 is history...hope your celebration was as wonderful as mine...my son-in-law had to work--he's healthcare support--but daughter and i winged it all day with chat, a scrumptious dinner, gifts and catching up with the crawleys....LOL...we re-watched the 'downton abbey' movie (we are a serious fans).   the dinner was flawless and the 2-year wait for some juicy rib roast did not disappoint.  before the DAY, another UFO bit the dust....

had sewn this up with some scraps and have to say didn't like it until the binding was on....really pulled it all together....and it's my habit to cut binding by sight....sometimes i do actually measure but often not....and this was my early christmas present...

yes this was the leftover after pinning the binding on....i just cut a bunch of strips and hoped for the best....is that spooky or what????   anyway, it's off the 2020 UFO list and another, smaller wall quilt is nearing completion....*** arrived back at the village only to be suffocated when opening apartment door by disgusting perfume cloud....somebody is always screaming about "their rights" and "no respect"...i've experienced time after time that too many of the other residents are uber-selfish and have total disregard and respect for other tenants while demanding it for themselves.  receiving some of the respect and rights they demand would make my life less miserable, but their selfishness trumps any degree of courtesy.   after 4 years of fighting with management this is unlikely to change i'm afraid, since their attitude has trickled down to longtime residents who feel entitled to do as they please.  hoping for positive changes that would make all our lives here better. 

'tis the season.....

Hark the herald angels sing!!!  

it's the day before Christmas Eve and my heart--the new and improved one--is overflowing with joy and thankfulness.  at this stage of my life, it isn't about a pile of presents under the tree, but rather the gifts that come my way so many times throughout any year....the love of my family, expert medical care, the kindness of friends, the warmth and coziness of a handmade quilt, the service and sacrifice of American heroes, a full cupboard and the long ago gift of a Savior.   Wishing you the same and a blessed Christmas....

edyta the temptress...

that would be edyta sitar of course....and she has beguiled me with this beautiful and awesome and BLUE quilt...

it's titled "alaska" and would make a very enjoyable winter quilt or spring or anytime really....it's obviously an intermediate quilter project, but i did make a hawaiian and the 365 and this is much smaller and it's all straight seams, right?  would have to be uber-vigilant matching seams on this.... i might make the borders a tad narrower.... it's 71.5" square so would work ok for a shorty like me....something to seriously ponder....and i've got the fabric of course!  ***  during laundry time, rrrripped off the upside down row and reattached right side up so all is now calm and bright with this flimsy....

i'm keeping this one....i just love all the colors and a serious snuggling quilt.   ***  now that the traveling busy box is empty, there are a few candidates next in line....the always popular new england sampler, coming along at a drugged snail's pace....

the perennial 'dargate baskets'....i love the fabrics but i must have been high from inhaling pine sap some winter maine day by cutting out the ENTIRE fat quarter bundle into these applique baskets....yes, i love them and yes, i want to make them but i have made my daughter promise me that when i go, these go too....and not with me!

last is this small wall piece, a pattern by betsy chutchian....hers was done in repros, but i had this bitty piece of striking paisley (love paisleys!) fabric with another piece of coordinating borders.   it has been started and had to pin it on this flannel to make sure got sewn together right....the black diamonds will be trimmed and the borders from the coordinating print will be added, then bound in black probably....

the color is a bit washed out in the photo but it's very striking and bold....this is probably the next up as it's small and can be a fairly fast finish....it's a very cold and leisurely friday for me...usual tasks and serious time quilting on the current project.   tidying up and putting away and a bit of holiday cooking round out the day....for years my life was complete chaos so these low key days suit me just fine....

snow day...ROFL!

yes it WAS a snow day yesterday here in mid-maryland...and that means a whopping 2" of snow....plus some ice, which is the real problem....as a transplant from new england i just roll my eyes at southern snow emergencies... it is a luxury indeed to be able to avoid messy weather as in new england NOTHING stops for 2".....and here is the first look at the 2020 design wall project...

it's joseph's coat in reproductions....earlier this year tried to adopt this UFO out but no takers, so we have bonded and actually it's appealing to me more and more....i've got a head start on january's goal to get this to a flimsy...and one of santa's elves just couldn't wait and this arrived in my mailbox yesterday....

a handy resource and history book for anyone with a featherweight.   *** and with lots of calendars floating around this time of year, i've got 2 of my favorites ready; one is already hanging up!   if you look real close, you might see 1997 on this one.   for several christmases i was gifted quilt calendars and just couldn't bear to throw them out.  so it seems the 1997 and the 2020 are alike, so unearthed and plan to reuse, more so for the photos but won't be confused by the dates.   this cracker pattern is on my someday list....maybe this year?

over the years have had lots of quilt calendars,  the 365 days in italy calendar, the new england scenic calendars--my current fave is this one by susan branch, an uber-talented watercolor artist who lives on martha's vineyard and california.  her beautiful art is displayed on scads of items from free bookmarks and stationery to english porcelain mugs, cookbooks, travel journals etc...every year i print out her moons bookmark for my mom and me...the calendar comes in many sizes from desktop to pocket....hop on over and check out her delightful and whimsical products....

i can barely draw a straight line with a ruler so people who have this kind of artistic gift astonish me....now back to quilting!

lucky day?

janet over at rogue quilter had a little giveaway and the lucky winner was me!!

what a terrific collection of useful and beautiful items....and best of all is this little quilt...janet makes stunning little, and i do mean LITTLE, quilts.....it has already found a home here in the village....***  nine days to santa, 16 days to january.....days are flying by!  have a blessed day.....

a flimsy!

ADDENDUM:    just noticed the last row was put on wrong....waaaaaaah!   so must rrrrrip and resew.....thankful for photos!     whew, finally got this project to the flimsy stage and another december goal met. 

this got started about 6 years ago and why?  to use up the plum solid in the sashing...talk about fuzzy math!   had a lot--like 2+ yards--left over from a couple of small things and erroneously thought would use it up on sashing....which i didn't of course....still about 3/4 yard left in the solid stash....i love this with all the colors and solids....will get to the quilting next year maybe (meaning 2021)....

and finished up this UFO, the antebellum album blocks, a barbara brackman sew-along from 2018 (i think)....

this will be a donation and the first of (hopefully) 2 finishes (and maybe 3) before 2020 arrives....

basting blitz

with december flying by--3 weeks from today it's GONE!--attacking my to-do list with vigor...pulled out my folding table for some prep work....first up, pinned binding on the antebellum album...now waiting for walking foot and finish.   then the 'home sweet home' got basted....it's been waiting for enough fleece on hand...

then the gwennie inspiration piece...

then the santas....i folded it to show the backing, a donation to the senior center like the santa blocks....

then the 'firewheel' block....borrowed a tip from barb and used a small toile piece for the backing, rather than cutting it up and lose the delicate design....

lastly a new top from a jo morton book....i used on hand stuff so different than jo's but might add something to the middle piece, maybe an eagle applique?  basting will wait until completely done....

all this has left me with a nearly naked design wall...my december goal! 

i've one more task for the folding table then it's back in the closet until next time....all in all a productive morning.  what's on your quilty plate today?

a smidgen of shopping...

or a tad of therapy...either way squeaked enough out of the budget for these 2 quarter yards of fabric....

visited local shop yesterday to meet up with a stashbuster pal and pick up some flings for the senior center.....whereas in the '80s and '90s we quilters were busy acquiring mass quantities of fabric, now--speaking for myself--frantically sewing and sharing trying to use up as much as possible.   and keeping true to my rule, i did not buy these because they were beautiful....oh no... i have a plan for both.  the top is an aboriginal print going for a zipper purse and i even bought the zipper!   the crabs will also go for smaller zipper purses; zippers to be obtained later, probably joann's with a coupon as their price for a 7" zipper is a near-gouging $4...which i think is totally obscene.  the 12" i bought at the quilt shop was a mere $1.50....but aren't those kangaroos sooo cute!  of all the aboriginal prints, this bolt had the least amount, easy to see why.   the visit with my quilty friend was awesome as usual....she has medical issues too, and though it wasn't a full-blown "organ recital", we did commiserate and vent a little about our "new normal" lifestyles....she is a role model for me and someone i admire greatly for living above her circumstances.  ***   a sunny and cold sunday, just right for putting up my little tree with the 4, yes 4, strings of lights and all those ornaments with so many memories--like visiting old friends.   easy to be grateful and feel blessed on such a day!

am i blue?

not me but pantone has just announced their 2020 color choice....

oooh i love this.....not quite as dark as my background for the scrappy double wedding ring.....but this morning while going thru 40 years of quilters newsletter mags, just happened to rip out a couple of inspiration ideas...and you guessed it....

not starting either of these just now--but maybe someday--and no doubt will find a few more as i continue perusing the old magazines.....so fun to see well known quilters back in the 80s and 90s and articles by those who have passed on....so many memories.  and astounding to see how quilting has advanced since the magazine folded....