then and now

years ago made this for my mom from a commercial pattern.  i was a sewist and a newbie quilter and decided to combine techniques.  recently the zipper needed replacing and the bag looked well used and faded.  i fixed the zipper and promised to make another...of course, the pattern got sent off to the thrift but a similar one was found.  

this is called the 'alana bag' by cat out of the bag designs.  all done except sewing on the handles and inserting the lining....it called for 1/4" foam inside which i've never used and, well, it's a pain.  just joy has a very low shank and doesn't like it either.  the rest will be done on the featherweight.  those are kaffe fassett vertical stripes and handle with that luscious magenta batik.  i think she'll like it.   *** yeah it's hot and humid here too....i've got PT early thursday but until then, i'm hibernating!

finished on friday

 that would be the 26 churn dash blocks--the 6" ones...

another batch of pretty colorful blocks....now on to the 10" ones...and while rummaging thru the stash, came across some that had properly 'aged' so to speak...

even more revolting, more than one had never seen the scissors!  now that's pretty scary!  no doubt there will be more of those....it seems i've always been drawn to bright colors but lacked the inspiration and ideas to use them...until now.  interesting to see how the next batch will look.  *** summer rolls on and the days are one long fiery span.  spending more moments daydreaming of cool ocean breezes and waves....

latest batch

here are the most recent churn dash blocks....there are 14 of the 6-inch done, 12 to go.  pulling out all the brights and some funky prints from the stash for them. 

am cautiously pleased with what's done so far...the real test will be when all are finished and begin assembling the top.  next up are 10" blocks and only need 18 of those; lastly will be 16" and need 16 of those...so stay tuned!

my life-long love of sewing began at age 8 when my mother sent me to 4-H.  someone asked me what that was and i couldn't come up with an intelligible definition, so here it is.  4‑H is America’s largest youth development organization—empowering nearly six million young people with the skills to lead for a lifetime.  *** another week begins and thankful for every single day!

a finish - a start

the summer weather has me inside and sewing up a storm!  finished my 'batik splash' quilt, 64" square, my apologies to the designer as i don't have her book/name at hand.  this is off to dear daughter's next week.

that's the finish...and the start?

this small wall piece got popped into the frame and should be a fairly quick finish.  no destination in mind but perhaps my mom would like it to brighten up her space.  and one more thing....

while the kaffe fabrics were piled on the table, cut the remaining shuttle (lozenge?) pieces for another wall quilt.  these are so colorful just love working with them!  *** july's big task is to baste the gift quilt...batting and backing on hand so just a matter of motivation.  that and the july mini, already in progress.  ***  PT extended a few weeks working on balance and fine tuning abilities.  will finish just in time for vacation, yay!

celebrate and honor!

 

have a wonderful holiday filled with thanks and reverence for those who earned and protect our freedoms.  for those of you who take a knee or turn your back on the flag or anthem, remember every single time you do that, someone died and spilled their blood for you to have that freedom and you are disrespecting that sacrifice.  remember, too, those who lie in foreign graves, those who never returned, unknown and missing, families still waiting for answers and closure.  always working toward a more perfect union....

sunday report

i'll be away on July 4th so am posting my progress today....first, now we are 4!  four of the 6" churn dash blocks are done, 22 more to make in july...do you think anyone will notice they are bats???

then, the 'midnight at the oasis' is a flimsy!   finally attached last border section just this morning...

the camera plays tricks with the colors but you know how vibrant kaffe fassett prints are.  this was a real challenge quilt for me.  lots of handwork and piecing, always hoping each border would fit properly and checking my measurements a gazillion times.  if you make one, advise stay stitching the checkerboard border as i found it stretched a bit in places.  i'll be prepping the binding today and a good press, then ready to baste.  *** so what next?  bonnie hunter has a new leader/ender challenge...how did she know?

my 1.5" strips tote is packed to the gills....i won't be making the quilt pattern she offers, but just sewing up the foursies for future use.  these come after finishing the christmas squares broken dishes blocks.  i'll be cutting up more shuttle or lozenge pieces from my pile of kaffes for the wall quilt in progress.  only 100 will be needed and some are already cut...

happy to say 3 large spools of thread--2 machine and 1 hand quilting--were finished off this week, so must restock soon.  with summer dog days here in earnest, will be in the 'studio' except for fitness visits and cooking/eating all those fresh vegs from the farmer's market.  counting the days to my trip to family in maine and some serious beach time.  my soul is longing for salty air and ocean vistas....

nick of time

i don't make teeny tiny blocks like many so this is my kind of mini.  it's the boston star pattern i've been saving...i lived in boston and surround most of my life, so it brings back all kinds of memories.  it's red and blue and gray, not quite white.  it also resurrects long-ago ancestors who fought for establishment of our republic when maine was also massachusetts. and it's done.  on time.  as good as it gets!  (whoops..linking up with wendy and other monthly mini-ers)

and here's the placemat from some of the gifted christmas squares. don't you know had just the perfect small piece for the binding.  will pop into the donation bag for the thrift, hoping somebody will buy and enjoy.

another hot week....midnight border on tap and finish the batik splash.  *** holiday plans consist of mother duties for dear daughter off her feet with an injury...nice to be needed still...see you in july!

sewin' along...

first, can i say it again?  PT is sooo under-rated.  an extremely painful shoulder has resolved AND a few new modalities have improved balance and walking immensely.  the shoulder was part residual from fall and part sewing setup that has been tweaked. ***  busy weekend--farmer's market, some house chores, exercise and lots of sewing helped me avoid news!  whipped up more of the christmas broken dishes blocks...

black/white print almost gone...have a few ideas on how to use them.  then, made a few of the 6" churn dash blocks....will need 26 and had planned them for july, but here's a preview....

don't look like much at this point....but they look good along side the little bright ones...yesterday went back to 'midnight' border blocks.  had hoped this would be a june flimsy and still might be....

they are fun to make and a bunch are cut and ready to assemble.  love working with those happy kaffe fassett fabrics.  *** the monthly mini ready to bind, today maybe, and the squares placemat.  with 3 days left to the month, the batik splash won't get finished, but close.  and before friday, the border on the gift quilt will be done as well.  *** the weather is hot and humid and gas tank nearly empty until payday friday, which is the day maryland gas tax goes up another 7 cents.  no holiday plans at all but might veer off the chicken for a pizza! 

saturday for squares

with the secret sewing project top just about done--just a border to add--decided to let my quilty muse take flight and she headed right for those christmas squares recently gifted.  how to use them?  organized them again by print....and sewed this up first...

all those pretty neutral backgrounds called me...another placemat but not before i add some wildlife applique, maybe a moose or bear and a tree...i know just the person for it!  then, more of the broken dishes blocks....

this is what's left of the black/white print...

so not too many more....next?  set these aside for a patchwork stocking...

leaving these....

after using some to finish the black/white print, maybe a few more stockings.  i have plenty of suitable lining fabrics...maybe i'll use the neutral prints and add a moose to that or just some trees....anyway, respectable dent has been made and a hot saturday has been well spent.  the only other thing done today was a quick trip to the farmer's market to replenish vegs.  pretty soon will need to replenish some thread!

churn dash-ing

only one photo today...most of my sewing is on the secret gift quilt project, but i did get all 29 of my little churn dash blocks done...a june goal.

one will need replacing as the contrast is minimal...but waiting until assembling the top as there might be others when the time comes....

and this fall, sending just joy to live with my sister-in-law.  mom has decided to pass her machine to me.  it's a vintage singer 328k work horse that sews like a dream.  a bittersweet transition of course, but it's been hardly used for many years, which won't be the situation here i can tell you!  featherweight and trudy treadle still on board for now, keeping the machine stable at 3, which is enough.  

evenings spent quilting 'batik splash' hoping for a june finish as well....we'll see. 

lastly, if you are a praying person, say a quick one for me and my sister...both of us near top of housing lists.  we've waited over 3 years, so long overdue for safer places...thanks!