spring but no fling

today was a serious spring teaser day--sunny, high 60s, light breeze--wishing it would stay this way....perfect day for a road trip.  dear daughter and i trekked north to lancaster for a bit of shopping and sightseeing.  first stop was old country store and 2 surprises!  met up with a quilty pal from my retreat days and while we were chatting, a guild friend walked by.......i had preordered a few things for pickup...then it was on to zook's across the street where a sale was in progress and cheryl (retreat pal) was there too!   we took a selfie to mark the occasion...

even tho it was a bad hair day for me, it was delightful with signs (and smells) of spring all around....quick stops at the meat market and produce market rounded out the day.    my total acquisition wasn't too bad....a few things to fill a stash void and some repros for projects in progress....the 2 blue pieces are mary koval prints and the pink is a di ford-hall...and of course a kaffe print just because....

the fields are starting to green up and we--DD and i--had to keep telling ourselves that yes, this was february!  not like a new england february at all...   ***  after exercise friday morning stopped in to the senior center where 3 boxes (copy paper size) of fabric were donated recently.  the boxes were chock full and it was all lovely fabric.  some pieces were large enough for backings and others were just, well, calling to me.  some solids, a cute pink print enough for shortie pj bottoms, a few nice solids. 

i don't know if the donor reads my blog, but thanks to their generosity and that of other quilty pals,  have plenty of stash for sewing fun, not to mention it being a huge budget savings.  we'll enjoy one more spring day and back to maryland winter, which isn't so bad either.....

sew along progress

nearly time to enter month #2 in cecile's star sew along....may is the finish deadline and i've a good head start....i had this pinned to my design wall yesterday morning and then went off to exercise...when i returned, 6 of the sashing pieces had vanished!  cannot imagine the IQ of anyone who would take them, but he/she with the key to my apartment is a repeat offender serial thief.  or could likely be a designee, which might be the same person who sprays my apartment with some heinous air freshener when i'm out...not many here follow the golden rule.  so pathetic for seniors to act like kindergarteners but you'd be surprised at how many here do.  if you are looking for lousy housing and/or rotten roommates, give me a call.  i seem to have found more than my share.  anyway, i recut the missing pieces and have started assembling.  it'll be hand quilted with an indigo binding.  thanks jo morton for your inspiration!

inspiration satisfied

this was the original article torn out of a magazine for this project....designed by darlene zimmerman who used flannels and wool (for centers) from october 2015...yikes, nearly 5 years ago???

and just this morning got all my rows sewn together....

it isn't really bed size, only 60x68, but will work for my mom who'll be the lucky recipient....just applique circles, then baste and quilt.  not bad for a project i couldn't give away....and now i'm glad it stayed.   ***  it's a lovely early spring day here, great weather for january....this kind of day doesn't arrive in new england until march.  the medication demons were mostly quiet this morning so got out to exercise early and back before lunch.  since working out at this new place that is fully paid by my supplement insurance, have made pretty good progress.  today i was able to last 10 minutes on the treadmill and then 20 more on the recumbent elliptical.  most days strengthening is included, but the 30 keeps cardioman happy.   it's so enjoyable that have to watch not to overdo that requires afternoon napping.  this gal has sewing to do!

almost....

done with row #5, which is the last row to sew for this top...

each row calls for 9 applique circles and with 7 spots done, a bit more time will wrap it up...next is to sew the rows together and applique the centers....the circles are all cut and basted and are all a cheddar print.   a january flimsy?  probably not but not long after.   meanwhile, quilting on the blue/white is coming along equally fine...

i'd estimate the top is over half quilted...the narrow blue border is going to get 2 rounds of quilting and then there are all those geese....binding with an indigo of course.....this quilt is staying right here so whenever it's done doesn't matter...no anguish because neither of the january goals were met, after all..i do this for fun!  the other UFOs are used to patiently waiting for attention....

bad weather = great sewing

the snow queen passed us by, but cold rain and slippery spots made for a weekend of great sewing!

finished another 1.5 rows for this project....with 11 days left in january and only 1.5 rows to make, it just might get to the flimsy stage.  the rows need to be sewn together and the circles appliqued so it'll be close...am truly liking this more and more....it'll be hand quilted of course and will be a nice scrappy when finished....first, tho, have to go and cut more pieces.   it's a bad habit of mine, i confess, to start things without calculating the exact number of pieces needed.  i've reformed somewhat in that area but not entirely....

no snow sew day

even tho 1-3" was predicted, then downgraded to 1", aside from very few morning flakes we are getting "thick rain"...sort of a rain/slush precip...a bit sticks to the windows but otherwise the ground is wet.   no plans were on the agenda today aside from the usual (meals, dress, make bed) but plenty of sewing plans were made...first up was to finish all 18 sew along blocks, and now they are done!

they'll stay on the design wall until the construction phase, probably february or whenever joseph's coat flimsy is done.  these gave me a chance to cut into some 'stash on the shelf' fabrics for the first time, one of which was clearly marked 2013....seven years ago.  it was a half-yard piece but even so, just reinforces the wake-up call of shopping stash first and ALWAYS from here on....

4 done, 14 to go

my little stars for the cecile sew-along....

though i had no intention of doing a sew-along, inspiration from a jo morton little quilt had been percolating in my mind for some time...thought the sew-along would give me the push needed to finally make it...here is jo's version...

i love the colors....mine won't be exactly like this, of course....but same colors and those cute little stars....i used a pattern from the 2017 JLWC that i've only glanced thru since purchasing 3 years ago...makes the stars easy peasy!  they work up very fast now that all the pieces have been cut....otherwise my sewing time has been spent on the joseph's coat repro scrappy (machine) and the blue/white (hand quilting)....with january half over, no time to waste on working toward some sort of finish.  *****   and here is an unsolicited recommendation.....

a new quilters' select ruler received in a give-away.....if you have a green mat and have been using omnigrid rulers with those bright yellow lines, you will find this a treat!   switching from the omnigrid to this felt immediate resolution of glare.....the subdued yellow background with black lines are so much easier on the eyes with this green mat.   though my budget won't permit replacing all my rulers--not all are omnigrid--i might consider investing in a larger size that is used often; yes, it's THAT good.   just my humble opinion of course, but if you have a chance to compare, by all means do. 

sunday wrap up

nearly the entire of this beautiful near 70-degree day was spent with betty bernina and a UFO/challenge project. my online group is running an "inspiration" challenge.  choose some project--from book, magazine, internet--that inspired me to make.  pulled out a UFO that was up for adoption but alas, no takers.  since it was mine permanently, decided to get re-acquainted and ramp up the mojo....

you might have seen part of 2 rows on my design wall, but today sat down and got the 2 rows done and started on a 3rd.   in all there are 5 rows so almost half done!   some of the circles have been appliqued but not all.   even so, pretty satisfied with how smooth the going has been.  was hoping to have a flimsy by the end of january and can see it is entirely possible...thinking now it will be hand quilted.   all in all, a very good day!   ***  and while today was machine day, yesterday was hand quilting day.  a nagging low-grade respiratory illness finally progressed and got some treatment, but that made saturday a recuperative day.   finally, a good report from cardioman on all the testing started the weekend off in fine form.  there was improvement in some areas and status quo in others, a huge relief, thanks to the cardiac rehab team and many praises to God for protection in my toxic environment.  now bring on Monday!

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....