a finish and a start

today finished sewing the binding on this small piece, first finish of 2020, that used up only 1.5 yards...it's "union star" from the book "the blue and the gray" by etherington and tesene....

the colors are faves.....used up scraps and that is always good....and my friend wendy enticed me into signing on for a sew along by cecile....it's something that has been on my want list for some time, a jo morton design, again using the indigo prints i love....

 

the sew-along is for minimum 16 blocks....mine will be 4" finished....and then used in a project.   it isn't going on an official "2020 start" list as it will be done before year's end...just one of those things i've wanted to make for some time, kept looking at it but never got further than that--until now.  i have enough sewing time to do this and continue with my other UFOs as well....and just for fun, another panel that was donated to the senior center....

so cute and just perfect for spring or easter (bunnies!) to which i added a delicate print--a gift--with bunnies as well...thinking of another border, spring green maybe? with some pink scallops added....it'll be gifted when done....not a lot of work involved but a nice seasonal decoration....blogger is acting up so not sure how this post will actually look once published....

utility sewing

there are times in the life of every quilter that utility sewing is a must.....before christmas realized my potholder situation was dire...oh i could have gone to the dollar store and spent $2 on a couple of imported potholders but nooooo! 

saw this pattern on the web someplace and figured would be easy to zip up a couple--or more.   fast forward, after 6+ hours of sewing time and the $1.50 for the silver cloth (on sale 1/4 yard), they are done. thought i might possibly make some to sell but would have to charge $10 each at least for all the work and materials...LOL!  no matter, i now have 2 very chic and classy potholders....now to think up projects for the rest of those selvedges....

so soon?

meaning, have already caved and started a new project....actually it was started before the new year....while flipping thru the old quilters' newsletter magazines, cut out some photos that made my fingers itch....

the colors were wow!  and just happened to have some green apple solid on hand for a wall quilt...but the sample block was ho-hum and fussier than i was in the mood to deal with....so rummaged thru and founds lots of little amish 9-patches that were quickly turned into 16-patches.....next pulled out my trusty math resource to see if the green i had would be enough...

this was published by quilters' newsletter back in the early 1980s and is a MUST for any quilter, but especially this math flunky quilter....was glad to find some updated references pages in the old mags that i pulled out and filed away in this book--for rotary cutting since there were NO rotary cutters when it was published--yes that's how old it is!  so, enough green solid on hand....fired up betty bernina and in no time had 20 of the 16-patch solid blocks.   today after very careful cutting and sewing, ended up with this colorful flimsy...

much brighter in person of course, but really happy with the result.  no name yet but just tickled that it came out so well and all my measuring was perfect.  even though it was soon enough for a new project, not quite soon enough for the green as there is a faint fade line that i mostly cut around...only visible really on close inspection, but it doesn't detract from the piece.   ***  under the weather 3 days due to druggie and smoker neighbors who have made this week miserable.   i am simply furious that management lied to me about the smoking before i even moved and has done practically nothing to stop it.  the offenders are selfish, nasty, rude and adamant in their complete disregard for other tenants and completely ignore their lease.  in any given month, always a few debilitating days because of these reprehensible and repulsive individuals.  extremely disappointed with the entire place--no regular entertainment to speak of i.e. no FUN, many tenants quite infirmed so closer to nursing home environment than senior housing resulting in lack of upbeat attitude of many, management staff who are indifferent and uninterested in residents' safety.  i don't feel old or think of myself as old and this is totally the wrong environment for me.  i plan to live until i die, not waste away by inches mired in gloom and in jeopardy from selfish behavior of others.  their idea of entertainment is some has-been elvis impersonator telling raunchy jokes....the attitude of most is gimme gimme gimme and if you don't, i'll just take because i'm entitled....huh??   no, this definitely is NOT the right place for me at all!

2020 roaring in!

always get excited about a new year....it's a clean slate, an air of expectancy about what's ahead.  the melancholia of late summer/fall has lifted and feel energized, going full throttle!   this year had its challenges and found i had to step back from some fun things that became less so...a season without commitments was a healing potion and am now more cautious about saying "yes" that involves my time and efforts as annoying medical issues occasionally erupt.  cardioman told me it was a "new normal" and now 2+ years out, have a clear picture of what that "normal" is....anyway, wagons ho!...

once again this year, i'll be coordinating my daily schedule with the crawleys....LOL...my daughter gifted me this so i won't miss any luncheons, dinner parties or fox hunts and perhaps another downton wedding?  mustn't forget edith and bertie's christening party either!

the UFO list and stash are healthy and the 2020 fun begins today.....i'll take a cup of kindness (iced tea) with thanksgiving, gratefulness and cheer for another year.....for auld lang syne!  

december list done!

it's a rainy and dreary day here, but had a number of things wanted to finish in december so plodded on....today was able to cross off everything on that list....first up a lap robe for the guild, not due until early in the new year, but it's done with a soft flannel backing....

next up were a few zipper purses that have been sitting around for far too long, now done and with destinations in mind....except the blue one that i'm keeping....

last is another UFO that used up nearly the last of the cheddar/indigo FQ bundle by penny rose that purchased long ago....the remaining very small scraps were sent to janet for her mini quilts. 

this finish leaves me with 35 official UFOs for 2020 without starting anything new--how likely is that?  not very i'd say....for the next two days can focus on my blue/white and prepping for new year arrival...signing up at my new fitness center, some household stuff, one more laundry run...it just isn't the same without guy lombardo!

in the hoop

just finished quilting a small quilt that is waiting for binding, so pulled out next in line to get started....a nap yesterday afternoon tempted me to pull an all-nighter to get a serious head start, but finally caved around midnight.

it's a blue and white, mostly indigo prints, just right for winter quilting....i love blue and blue/white quilts....antique ones especially....but even the crispness of stark white makes me swoon every time...this is a bed size with a poly batt, so easy to quilt with no special design, just quarter inch inside seams free form....a perfect cold weather project to start off 2020....the official UFO list is at 35 with almost half wall quilts, so hoping to make a serious dent in projects waiting for quilting.   ***  last year our guild presented a Quilt of Valor to a WWII vet in his early 90s....he was frail but able to come and receive his award in person....a couple of weeks ago he passed away, a distinguished veteran and true patriot....i am so thankful we chose him for an award...well deserved.

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....