my kind of math

 most math is fuzzy to me but i can at least do this much....take one pile of batik strip scraps...

add two hours of afternoon time....

and that makes three scrappy blocks, waiting for more!

this pattern is by amanda nyberg and it is one of my very faves...why you ask?  because not much background is required but lots of scraps are!  i've got a medium tote jam packed with 1.5" strips just perfect for this pattern.  i've made a couple and there will be more.  this one uses a swirly background fabric--i bought only 1.5 yards--and some batik scraps cut into strips, left over from the batik splash quilt.  not sure how many blocks i'll get out of the background (that's too much math for me) but plenty of batik strips and more FQs on the shelf...probably finish this off with a dynamic piano key border.  *** what else is going on?   mr. boo #2 is all finished waiting for his trip north...

have dabbled a bit in some cross stitch....tidied the apartment....packed the duffle, ate my way thru freezer (mostly) and made a couple of last-minute lists...my workouts are keeping the excitement at a tolerable level....i might even dust! 

not at all quilty post.....

this is Emma.....She is my brother's only daughter, his last born....

 

she looks like my brother and her siblings...she has my father's eyebrows....i wish i could say she was missing, kidnapped or stolen, but it is only her mother's and seemingly her choice that she is a stranger.....it was a messy situation....parents not legally married; angry, vindictive mother who is very intelligent and with devotion to her only child; religious, cultural and social differences.  it started out like most divisions as a financial war, or maybe that was just the excuse.  our family hoped when she grew to adulthood she might be curious about us, at least want to know her father and maybe his family, leave the past behind, but not as yet.  she is brilliant, successful, intelligent, educated and accomplished.  she had advantages her siblings did not, though they are equally intelligent.  my brother is smart, educated, musically gifted, deeply emotional and devastatingly broken-hearted at this estrangement.  with a big family reunion coming up, all our wounds are seeping once again.  this photo was taken from a professional page, not current.  the last one her mother sent was about age 6, nothing since.  my father lived and died without knowing his grand-daughter, a joy robbed from him.  at the end of the day, when all else disappears, the family bonds keep us afloat.  we don't expect her to show up and automatically feel at home, but to do the adult thing and make peace, call a truce, no explanation necessary.  our family consists of imperfect people with flaws and occasional flares of disagreement in the ranks, but we love each other deeply and unconditionally.  i'll add this photo to our family array and there will always be an open chair if the seemingly impossible happens. 

midway monday

we're halfway thru august and there are fall harbingers everywhere.  a weather change has brought cooler temps and thoughts of overflowing farm stands, apple cider, pumpkins and turning leaves.  when my APQ magazine arrived there were some fall quilting ideas, one that immediately called to me.

a cute little ghost pattern by allison harris done as a wall quilt or runner.  decided to make just one and surprise!  a use for that pumpkin fabric!  decided to make two, which nearly finished the pumpkins.  once again referred back to "word play" book by tonya ricucci.  this one measures about 13x18 and just big enough for my mom's door.  the other goes to dear daughter.  ***  and while strolling thru the school supplies aisle, inhaled the heady aroma of new crayons....is there anything better?  i have a box of 64 bought about 25 years ago, but since crayola has added/retired a few colors, caved for this...

specifically to get this color.....bluetiful....or should i say BOO-tiful?  **** late august is also blueberry time in downeast maine, land of my ancestors, with a delightful 3-day festival and week-long celebration.  the best blueberries in the store are Wyman's tiny frozen blues directly from the barrens in Maine.  very sweet and available all year long....try 'em!

aaaahhhh!

the Canadian cold front is here...days are balmy--warm, breezy, dry--and idyllic.  no matter the weather, sewing goes on anytime.  pulled out a UFO in progress, some strip pieced spider blocks...

but before resuming, there were 4 small, ancient orphan blocks in the drawer and decided to use them in a "rustic" topper for the table near my chair where I spill put things...

yeah it is a bit wonky partly due to the homespuns, but it's functional and used up more backing scraps and some flannel scrap as batting.  quick machine quilting and binding and done! 

this is the drawer with far more plaid scraps than i'll probably use, we'll see.

what else?

a cute little summer stitchery, free on the internet, and when it was done, hopped right into christmas...

this will be tree-shaped when finished....2 more christmas thingies waiting.  *** now that I can venture outside, back to the fitness center and some driving to nowhere just to soak up the fresh air and delightful days.  joann's sent me a generous coupon for my birthday month, so will have to visit and see what's what.  hoping that with new CDC guidelines, the senior center will fully open without masks....

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!