downsized

this block will be easily recognized by many...it's 'beaded lanterns' by christaquilts...a freebie on the internet.  her block measures 6x12" but i've downsized it a bit and final finished size is 4.5x8.5"....i'm calling it 'blue lanterns'.   

i've about 1+ yards of the gray print so uncertain how many blocks i'll make...ming tsai, the boston chef, has 2 restaurants--blue ginger and blue bamboo--perhaps he will establish another and call it 'blue lanterns'?  i just made one block to get the measurements right....maybe before vacation i'll get all the pieces prepped....lots of different blues of course as the stash is overloaded with them!  the september mini is basted, too!

lots of people seem to be downsizing.  when i was forced out of my little house, i was fierce and now miss some of the things i jettisoned.  since then i've lived in far too many places, certainly not by choice, only feeling at home in a very few.  so it is with this senior complex, definitely NOT my idea of home at all.  perhaps the next place will be...or perhaps i'll never have home again.  i keep hoping as there is something to be said for the comfort of home, an oasis, a sanctuary, a place that fits, to claim and belong. 

it's monday again!

another scorching one as well but relief approaches!  confined to quarters means a sewing blitz!  here are all 18 of the 10" churn dash blocks...

hmm that purple one might have to go....the key to this project is similar value all across the board, at least i think so....pulled out the 3 of the 16" blocks i had previously made for a look see...

nope nope nope....backgrounds way too light but the biggest problem is i don't really like them that big.  and that purple sticks out again!  it's history for sure.  someone asked me how big this will be and i rechecked the pattern.....80x68.5"   oh oh....too big for me.  so, on to Plan B.  thinking of scrapping the 16" blocks, take what i have done and do a re-design with them.  minus the purple one of course!  so watch this space....

what else got done?  august mini basted and to be quilted before vacation.  september mini is also ready to quilt that'll get done after vacation.  picked up some cross stitch plus quilting on the gift quilt.  i also did a big shredding project.  next 2 weeks focused on last minute cleaning, laundry, change bed, returning books, emptying fridge.  now down to counting the hours!!!

churn-ing along!

triple-H weather continues so lots of sewing is getting tackled, not the least of which are more churn dash blocks...13 of this size are done, 5 to go

getting anxious to put them all together once the last are done, probably some time in september.  then this got finished today...

and fabric karma was with me today when i went to look for a backing....

just big enough for this stocking so it's a win/win....this will get donated to earn some cash for my favorite charity.  *** also finished today is the august mini, well it's basted and ready to quilt....might even have time to do september's as well, at least get the top done.  *** puttered in the stash a while and pulled some that'll go to the same charity.  don't worry, there's still plenty for me!  ***  and just now thundering and lightning along with raindrops the size of golf balls....maybe this will send the muggies away?  we sure hope...

goobye july!

here in maryland, summer is now half over and dog days are well and truly upon us with a vengeance. makes for great sewing weather inside!  the july mini is done and ready to show...

years ago participated in a block swap of friendship stars...recently unearthed and decided to use some (yes, there are more) and the cheddar print was spied in the stash...perfect!  it was a small piece and is now gone except for a few short pieces...even small projects can bust stash!  on the back is more of the fish border print gifted to me by dear friend marianne a few years ago. linking up with wendy and the other monthly mini makers!

it's a companion print to some san diego-themed fabric, so i believe it was her intention to make a san diego quilt but never did.  the fishes piece was about 11 yards or so and i've used most of it now...what's left will back a few more small quilts.  *** and then this got finished....

a rustic placemat made from those gifted christmas-y squares....and the backing of this was also a piece that got busted.  bit by bit the stash is getting used, which makes me happy indeed.  while pulling for churn dash blocks, noticed some pieces that will get flung, the "why did i ever choose this" type...

my babylock machine is all cleaned up and packed for its trip to my sister-in-law.  since my mother is passing her vintage singer to me, don't need to stockpile machines.  i've still the featherweight and my treadle, so my stable will consist of all vintage singers...wouldn't trade any of them for a brand new high-end anything...except maybe bernina---nah, not even that.  

next task is to baste the christmas gift quilt, keeping me on target.  so far this year have busted about 40 yards of fabric and added 12.  plan to pick up a couple of background fabrics in maine for some scrappy donation tops.  plenty of sewing ahead to keep all 3 machines humming!

midweek musings

and what have i been doing?  sewing, that's what.  

when i started quilting, always oohed and aahed over traditional style, so this hearkens me back to the 80s!  it'll be hand quilted of course with a green binding...it deserves a country vintage backdrop but alas, have to settle for public housing industrial beige.  

few more churn dash blocks done, fabric for 6 more stacked on the sewing table.  if vacation doesn't totally detour me, should have a flimsy by end of september maybe?  

what else?  "midnight" is half basted, should finish today, then it's the large christmas gift that'll get tackled.  might also baste the christmas wall quilt while the table is up.  the july mini is being quilted, so that should be done to show monday.  

other than these, busy vacation prepping....duffle is out and partially packed.  next is to line up transportation tickets and make last set of lists.  all this plus fitness visits, PT visits and summer veg cooking are probably why july is whizzing by!

thinking cool...

it might not be as hot here as where you are but it's more than hot enough for me.  am venturing out early morning only for PT and then yesterday for the farmer's market...gotta have my veggies!  with media constantly mentioning 'christmas in july' sashayed over to the chilly side!

i had a july mini top all done but thought might change to something red/green and found this trip around the world idea, so pulled the repros and cut it out.  it's really too big for a mini but like it a lot so will just finish for myself.  and set up some of the squares gifted to me for a holiday stocking...these 2 things will be on the sewing agenda this week....and not one but 2 finishes!

the tula pink butterflies are done...the designer is someone else but i cannot find her name just now so i hope she forgives me.  this might go to my mom if she wants to brighten up her space. another official UFO crossed off....and then this....

those spring-y umbrellas were not an official UFO, just a new start for this year but now it won't get to be a UFO.  the hoop was bare until pulled this one from the stack...

the baskets made with that beautiful jo morton gold print called 'glad tidings'...will be quilting this until the gift quilt is basted.  tomorrow the folding table is going up to baste that one, plus 'midnight' and the july mini, which will be hand quilted too.  ***  more than blessed to be inside with a/c and fun things to do.  as always, my cup runneth many times over!

first one done!

 

this is the first of 18 churn dash 10.5" blocks that are in progress.  someone asked me about the measurements....the center square is 4" cut, the corner HSTs are 4 1/8" cut, the 4 bar pieces are 4 x 2 1/8" cut....and the block comes out to......a skosh under 10.5"  at least mine did.  i'll make another and check if it's the same.  if so, then it might have to stay that way.  i did measure twice before cutting....perhaps the 40 wt thread on the spool is making the difference?  *** like many others, we're under a heat advisory today, poor air quality, index in triple digits...i'll be working out at the fitness room here today and sewing of course!  

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!