crazy weather day

right now raining and windy and yeech outside...hard to believe before 2 pm it was sunny, seasonably warm with a light breeze...just right for a bit of exploration.  but first, here's streak of lightning so far...

 

 sandy point state park is only 16 miles from my home....a view of the bay bridge over the chesapeake bay linking the eastern shore....seven miles of white knuckle driving for me.  below is a picnic area about 20 feet above the shore....blogger is acting out so can't show you more... there is plenty of parking, a first aid station, a bath house, snack bar and porta-johns....blogger is being hateful so more later i hope...

ADDENDUM:  switched browsers and blogger seems to be a bit more friendly....was able to upload the photos so i'll add another of the snack bar....

more UFO sewing

most of you know it was amish style quilts that drew me into quilting way back in 1979.  my first quilt was a sampler but moved quickly to those solid geometric patterns.  this book was an early purchase...

look close and you'll see the drool all over every page...lol!  i wanted to make every single bed size quilt in this book.  i did make some but mostly i've used it as inspiration for several projects, many small ones.  the binding is loose and it is well worn, but it's still a gem and still used!  thus this UFO...

bias edges kept me from making a streak of lightning quilt for a long time, but with the help of my friend....

this was unearthed after the move and has been essential in assembling these rows.  i've got the second strip almost done with 6 more to go...so far so good.  i'm using these solids from the stash...

the tan on far right is the constant background.  won't bust all this stash but going in the right direction.  this will be throw size when done.  a border of some color will be added, hoping there's enough of the right color in the stash.  then it's on to the fun part--the quilting!  

today was the autumn clothes swap.  out came sweaters, turtlenecks and sweatshirts.  i did leave one pair of shorts on the shelf for any renegade summer day.  i'll also be sneaking in the fall cleaning between sewing time.  that's the retired life!

week's wrap up

for a change a few events this week, not to mention the horrific news that is consuming every channel's newscast.  i watch only a few minutes and then shut off.  still hobbling a bit from the iron incident but fortunately doesn't interfere with my pedal foot...LOL!

'advent sky' is now a flimsy...this gets put aside until 2024 unless i give up sleeping nights....lol

 

 

have a generous selection of hand dyed fabric pieces gifted to me by a dear friend, now gone....i've used a few, waiting for the right project.  then i saw bonnie hunter's 'butterfly kisses' block....

the plan is for 25 blocks, giving me a 40x40 wall quilt.  nice blank squares for quilting too! at first look i thought two blocks were wrong but it was the dark vs. light that tricked me...

these were new starts for 2023, but now it's back to official UFOs...

just so you know....

 I proudly stand in support of Israel....

the right method

 tackled the strippy stocking border and worked well....and it's done.

so thanks again to the very generous quilter who sent me the scraps....next?

while the walking foot was on the machine, quilted this little placemat, again from gifted scraps.  this finishes the stack i received...had just the right backing and binding in the stash.

progress on 'midnight' moving along and should pick up now that i've finished quilting those teeny churn dash blocks...the quilting isn't perfect because so many seams in such a small area, but should keep it from sagging when hung....if it does actually get hung up.  it's pretty large but not bed size so thinking of other ways to display.  

after gym today, plan to baste the nativity and the amish buggy wheels wall quilt, plus finish the top of 'advent sky'.  i could wash floors but that doesn't appeal to me.  

clara klutz lives here...while sewing/ironing, foot caught in cord and iron fell off board and onto my ankle.  it was off thankfully and avoided serious damage, but foot now black/blue, swollen and pretty sore. 

pretty melancholy since housing problems have once again erupted.  honestly, i don't do anything but mind my business, don't gossip, be pleasant to all...but the housing hellion seems to follow me and create disaster and ruin everything.  i am devastated as i truly felt quite content but no more.  fervently praying God will sort out sooner rather than later.  the sun is out and gym will lift my mood....if not there's always sugar....LOL

disappearing week

where did it go?  probably disappeared with quite a few events for a change. friday was vaccine day, one in each arm....bad idea as i ended up with TWO sore arms.  didn't get sick per se but a bit draggy and mild tummy upset. 

 we had warm temps so christmas sewing was a distant plan, but did manage to make some progress.

advent sky ready to assemble....close up of the fussy cut angels from a small piece that is now totally busted!  might call it heavenly hosts, not sure yet.  brings to mind the story of the angels singing the night of Christ's birth.  

and the gifted scraps?

got this far and ran into small snag on the binding....plan B in the works and should finish today.  the walking foot is the best tool for this, i'm thinking.  all scraps used except for some strips of the snowmen.  when i saw the diagonal stripe piece i knew just what to make.  these strippy stockings are really fun...i've made lots in many different fabric styles. 

cooler has arrived so cooked up a big kettle of beef veg & barley soup, some for now and for freezer.  winter quilts came out and clothes swap this week probably.   

couple of discouraging events here at the new digs....the bloom is off the rose so to speak....if i absolutely had to move again, it would be to a tent out in the middle of the woods or desert island...hermit lifestyle should be safe enough i would think....sigh

it's come to this...

have had to add moderation to all comments....weird people commenting who are apparently on google but no information as to who they actually are....

finish #9...

and no love potion required!  nine finishes so far this year, on track to knock off 3 more before 2024 i hope...curtailing new starts has aided the whittling of my UFO list.  

a certain someone sent me a squishie this week....some cute snowmen and pastel prints that i just knew would be fun to use...plan in place...watch this space!

 

chilly temps mean fall baking is back....larder not quite bare but a loaf of home-made bread is always welcome....oatmeal.

the best of all months starts sunday!  cooler temps are here--out come flannels, fleece pants, sweatshirts and sweaters.  maybe a few more days for shorts but soon they'll get packed away.  *** happy to say hip/knee now all better...TLC and exercise have put it right.  *** farmer's markets winding down, which i'll miss terribly.  *** sewing mojo full throttle and gift ideas in the works.  ***  exercise routine back on track and the best of all tonics!   thankful for so many blessings....

Thanks ophelia...

Still in town today so live streaming church....it is simply awful outside....But my saturday was just the boost needed to get this done...

Now to baste and quilt....61 days to december 1st!  The colors in the photo are much brighter than in person...and oh those sheep legs!  Thank goodness it's folk art...😉

waiting out ophelia

a week since i posted last?  day after my return chaotic as my car was relieved of its nearly-new battery.  seems i had forgotten to lock it and after trying 2 other cars, the thieves tried mine and met with success.  then GEICO's tow company subcontracted a doofus of a tow truck driver and between helping him PUSH my car out of its spot and trying to climb INTO the tow truck, wrenched my left knee and hip that i've been coddling ever since.  nothing broken, most likely soft tissue sprain but nuisance regardless.  and sewing?  after restocking larder, doing laundry and de-stressing, have returned to soothing pastime. 

first, assembled the little drawstring bag from a kit that chooky sent me all the way from Oz!  so cute yes?

then the solids sirens lured me and finished this wall quilt into a flimsy...

and caved on yet another cross-stitch pattern...i am a pushover for christmas doncha know!

got mine on Etsy but also available at Fat Quarter Shop. 
 

today's task is to finish those itsy-bitsy, teeny-tiny legs on the sheep for the nativity top.  all necessary errands before storm got done and aside from missing family, suffering seafood withdrawal and the $220 battery fiasco, all is well in now-cool and very wet maryland!