before dawn

up early while still dark, tho it's an overcast day so will be dreary anyway....after tedious larder supplies yesterday, dabbled in a few things....a sometime project on my UFO list....repro broken dishes....a twin size quilt....

great for busting some neutral FQs so no matchy-matchy alternating squares... still pondering setting fabric for 'tuscan starburst'....came across this piece and tried it out...

better but still not quite right....the search continues.  in that effort, stopped by joann's for a couple of notion things...my christmas gift card went toward a couple of batts and joann nicely tacked on a $5 reward.  was browsing and saw this pink solid in the remnant bin, 50% off...more browsing and saw display of keepsake cottons 70% off....some quick but challenging math meant $3 per yard...

chose some valentine-y prints and quickly went back to snag the solid pink for a project swirling around the gray matter.  for less than $5 will have a festive midwinter splash of color--all on joann's dime...LOL!  ***  still no snow here tho tonite might bring a bit, if any.  have a couple of ideas that'll provide much-needed diversion from hum-drum days...UFO attention continues and might have a couple of finishes before january closes out...despite nearly fatal boredom, many blessings fill my life...hoping the same for you!

introducing Sunny!

finally settled in her new home, Sunny, the swingin' 60s vintage Singer (she NEVER inhaled...lol), is ready for her closeup!  I remember the day my mother bought this machine.  It's one of those workhorse machines, weighs a ton, few moving parts, that will keep going as long as parts are available.  

she took to Aurifil thread right away....was used often in the past but not so much lately.  that is about to change and she is definitely out of semi-retirement.  lots of memories of home ec projects, clothing, curtains, mending....oh yeah she's got a history!

and another starburst is done and on the wall....

yep the toile has definitely got to go.  it's a fabric i love but just not right.  too much white i think...

it's spring here all week, daffs are peeking out of the ground.  trying for a gym day today and get back in my routine.  vacation planning in full swing....now on the hunt for some kind of diversion to shake off the midwinter ho-hums....

design wall

quick post to show the progress on "pervenche"....altho it doesn't look french at all so it has a new name...."tuscan starburst"...got 2 blocks done so far....have to say they don't take too long to sew, even by hand...

the jury is still out on the blue toile...i don't think that's the right fabric for those setting pieces...will wait until all blocks are done and then audition several to see what works better....

if you love a good mystery, i can strongly recommend louise penny....this is her latest and 18th in the "three pines" series and hands down, the very best in my opinion.  

still under the weather from my harrowing week, started the book friday and spent saturday in bed (mostly) and finished it...just what doctor me ordered!  i like good whodunits, avoid paranormal, slasher or psychotic-type themes, and this did not disappoint.  *** now bring on the week! 

the un-winter

had to change my header photo because, well, it just isn't winter.  so far not one solitary flake has appeared, which does not bother me one whit.  i can deal with cold (courtesy LL Bean), but hate slippery, icy, snowy roads. ***  it has been an unhappy week....dental appointments require a complicated regimen and a two-week window of resuming status quo.  and now confined to quarters due to car issues...thank goodness for sewing!  pulled out a barely started UFO...remember this?

it's "pervenche des toiles" by france aubert from a quiltmania issue....i chose to make only 9 blocks instead of the whole 16....eons ago snagged a FQ bundle of tuscany-inspired prints that got selected for these blocks...first one almost done...

two more ready to sew....

you can see the toile i'm using for the connecting pieces....and since you CAN teach old senior dogs new tricks, i used magic sizing to treat the fabric before cutting pieces with pesky bias edges.   these are hand pieced for accuracy.  ***  new year brings plenty of temptation for mystery quilts, sew alongs, BOMs etc but so far have resisted.  seeing my own UFOs progress is satisfying enough.  

good news!  miss sunny vintage singer is back in fine form but must languish at the shop until car repairs done...can't wait to bring her home and introduce her to phoebe (featherweight) and trudy (treadle)!

our family is rejoicing for a HUGE answer to prayer for one family member.  i confess my faith often wavers seeing little progress on my prayer list.  as we are all officially seniors, there are many needs.  so today my prayer to the God of Abraham is to keep me strong and remain confident....

two finishes already!

i've been a busy sewing bee since the new year arrived....finally this week put all of Christmas away for now.....things really look bare.

my struggling oregano plant has big shoes to fill....

i finished the baby quilt for my daughter's co-worker...she chose the fabrics and mom did the sewing....one of my many mother jobs!  

i used the tula pink fairy dust print for the background...then turned my attention to my sewing....first, finished quilting the side triangles on this piece....

glad i heeded the whispers to do just that....it was an official UFO for this year....and then

my version of the bohemian churn dash....smaller, fewer blocks and done!  it's throw size and just too darn colorful, don't you think?  another UFO off the list!  that leaves me with 24 or 25 maybe...most are wall quilts.  next?  it's baste wildest dreams so i can put away the folding table.  it takes up a lot of space in my living room/studio and then can finally get to that apartment clean that keeps getting passed over on the list.  

got snow?  we don't, haven't had either.  it's the perk for surviving the oppressive heat in july and august.  

it's monday, a whole week of sewing fun ahead!

first friday report

the new year is rolling along and i'm trying to keep up!  thursday was a productive day sewing-wise....i do get more done on non-gym days for sure.  first, the binding was sewn on this...

i thought it was done but it kept whispering 'more' to me, so am adding some quilting in the side setting triangles.  with 2 done, i can see it was right to urge for more.  i'm calling it 'olde sturbridge christmas'...if you have never visited olde sturbridge village, it's an 1840s historical venue and actually the opening scenes of the movie 'Hawaii" were filmed there.  what else?

3 more baskets got appliqued....i think there are less than 200 now to go.  yeah, long term project.  then this got finished...

a christmas-y wall piece....custom framing is out of my budget so went this route...that french general fabric was perfect!  done just in time to pack away with the christmas things.  love those reindeer!  DD had given me the aida last christmas.

and 2023 should be tastier....was gifted this enticing book...

a custard tart topped with raspberries and some current buns are on my list to try. ***  still pondering colors for the 'wensleydale' project but want to knock off some finishes first.  after setting triangles done, a wall quilt of kaffe fabrics is in the hoop.  the churn dash should get tied this weekend and the kaffe lozenges basted.  

Today's the day (I think) that Sunny the 60s Singer machine comes to live with me.  Mom says she needs some tweaking and I know just the place to take her.  I hope she is ready to work....no long vacations for her here....LOL!  I'll show her off when she's ready for that all-important closeup.

After 5 days of shorts, it's back to cooler temps but it was a nice interlude.  the holidays are in the rearview mirror and the tree in process of being deconstructed. time to forge ahead and embrace 2023!

hello 2023!

Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.”
— Benjamin Franklin  (we know he didn't mean women too, but that's his flaw)

gee...a blank slate, new page....what are my hopes for this year?

1.  continue working to stay healthy--being invaded with health issues is a nuisance

2.  complete all my unfinished projects--not at all possible, but a sizable dent would be good

3.  move--too long since i had living quarters that were truly home, it's way past time

4.  spend time with my mom as i can--she's 95 and healthy, every moment is precious

5.  make sure those i love know it--i hope they already do

6.  have more fun...everyone needs more fun, right?

belated christmas lunch at the kiddos....ooh daughter excelled with a scrumptious dinner and i received some very fine gifts...one was this...

so it appears there is a new quilt on deck in 2023.....pondering which colorway will be chosen...i like many of jen kingwell's patterns and the book "quilt recipes" was outside my budget, so dear daughter gifted me these...

today it's grazing day with some finger foods and sew, sneaking in some exercise too...time marches on!

".....Blessed are those who take refuge in Him."   Psalm 2:12

the reveal

it's been another year of health challenges for me, but i've soldiered on and hope and pray i've got the latest nearly conquered.  it's also been so wearying with too much violence, war, political strife, immigration mess and way too many gun deaths.  why doesn't anyone have any common sense anymore?  often it's been a chore to find an oasis from all that and more than a few times i've skipped the news altogether.  but i digress.....

the gift quilt has been opened and, hopefully, oohed and aahed over, so now i can post a photo...

this is the biggest quilt i ever made, 96" square, busting just over 15 yards of fabric.  nearly all came from my stash;  added only a few half yards of the neutrals.  the bedroom it now lives in is small, so i hope they squint to get the whole vision of the design. 

here's wishing you a healthy, prosperous and enjoyable 2023 with more than a little fun added.  "And now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been."  Rainer Maria Rilke!

december mini

as mentioned, this is my last monthly mini quilt.  i've got UFOs and WHIMMS (works hidden in my mind) that are whispering very loudly to me.  i want to finish everything on my quilty plate.  the paramedics are here at my complex nearly every day, sometimes more than once per day, reminding (screaming) to me that life is finite.  these are things i lovingly started and want to see done.  

my churn dash needle was stuck in its groove and i wanted to use a lot of different greens, not to mention that lovely paisley fabric in the border.  the red toile was a small piece that is now gone.  it's my type of mini, about 22" square....linking up with wendy and the other makers of marvelous minis!

my mom gifted me "yankee" magazine, which i love and then sent me these....first, the box of attachments for the vintage singer that is coming soon...

they are in this vintage chocolate box, i think given to her mother by her father...there are very few momentos left so i did what i could to repair it...the contents still faintly seen on the cover.  my grandmother died shortly after my mother was born, so almost nothing of hers remains.  she also put this in the box...

a lunchbox fave from my childhood...fluff and peanut butter!  i still can sing along with the TV commercial from the 60s....it's a new england staple!

and something i gifted myself....

a real bargain at $2.50, used on Amazon.  it had been a library copy and honestly, i don't think anyone ever used it.  the pattern sheets are still attached in the back of the book, so it's like new.  

just an example of the beautiful vintage designs in this book..in my soul i am an expert applique quilter but alas, it hasn't filtered down to my fingers.  already it has drool on it....LOL!

slowly moving away from the deep freeze that came for Christmas...going from single digits last weekend to 60s next...and of course, we have no snow at all.  celebrating with the kiddos new year's with dinner and prezzies.  i miss new england a lot but so delighted to be close to my daughter. 

lastly, the gift quilt is done and packed, getting mailed today so will be able to post a photo when it's opened.  have to say it looked very nice on my bed and hoping the recipients feel the same.  bring on the next UFO!

holiday wishes

 

just a quick post to say 'merry christmas' to those who celebrate and happy holidays to others...as always in spite of challenges that seem to occur all too frequently, my life is full of blessings that overflow.  happy to be ending the year still on 2 legs, even tho a bit shaky at times.  i didn't put tap shoes on my christmas list but maybe next year??  may we all bask in the joys of the season and look forward with anticipation and hope for a kinder, gentler world.  seems unfathomable i know, but still possible.  thinking surely woodstock would agree!