Step 1...

Admit i am powerless over scraps....LOL

this is an inspiration picture pulled out of a magazine who knows when, but i've always liked it...could work well with my current solids pile...

when tidying up the drawer, this is what i found....a small stack of already-sewn 9-patches, some twosies, and a stack of 2" squares....these are getting busted first.

a little neater now, found some tan triangles to repurpose, idea formulating...plus the remaining already cut pieces, some 2" and 1.5" strips, few 2.5" squares.....the 2 small stacks in the front are bona fide scraps, ready for a purpose.  not as many as first thought so perhaps the stash will have to be raided...a good thing!

here are the 2" squares sewn into foursies, every last one!

some background squares and triangles, baste and machine quilt...flannel to use as batt and done!  i am on a roll with this challenge!  

at senior center friday picked up some panels and coordinating fabrics--we're making wheelchair quilts for vets at walter reed.  i am so humbled to do whatever i can for these brave, patriotic people.  my own ancestry includes many of the same who selflessly served our country, and our freedoms are no less at stake now.  

weather word is a sunny, spring-like week here....thank you phil!  

thinking phil's ex is not too objective and perhaps a teeny vindictive?  ***  did visit gym saturday and managed to get in my 30 min.  two hours of PT and one gym visit equal 150 minutes...that should keep the AHA happy.  a blessed sunday to all!

february challenge project

 deana has pulled february's task number and mine is.....

2.  make something out of the solids drawer....have various precut sizes and they have reached jam packed stage, so it's time

already a head start with little 9-patch blocks made last week....will pull out the drawer and sort out the sizes and make more, maybe other blocks as well.  i know there are some 2" squares in there and lots of 1.5" strips.  some gray solid left over from 'liberty road' to toss into the mix.  pickle dish pattern has been on my someday list, so maybe a wall quilt in solids?  stay tuned....

these blocks have been seen around blogland recently, called by some as 'switchplate' and some are made with 2.5" strips.  in the interest of scrap busting, thought i'd try out a few for a possible donation top.  

block finishes at 6x10 and they do sew up quick especially if strips already cut.  my stash of 2.5" strips might be somewhat lacking in pieces long enough for a block, but busting even 1/3 or 1/2 of what's in the tote will be big progress.  should be enough for a decent size top.  

as you can see, that's sunshine coming in the window.  hard to believe as it's been one long very gray and dreary winter of 2 months.  more sunny days promised after another gray tomorrow.  over the weekend will be easing back into regular gym visits after a too-long hiatus.  a cold morning, meaning 30s, but harbinger of spring in the air, and that's always good!

2024 marches on

almost february?  indeed!  time to rough out a sewing plan for this short month.  

the non-wedding quilt (hereafter called liberty road) will be basted!  was gifted this awesome batt for it, now to get the backing (payday), get it washed and reserve time at the library meeting room.  

also on the february list is the chookshed stitchers challenge...

deana will select next challenge list item on thursday...happy to say met january challenge of the blue circles--all appliqued now and ideas for next border(s) sorta planned.  finishing this tree of life in 2024 would be grand.  

also on the list is to move the kitty wall quilt along.  the top is ready to assemble and then details will be added.  timetable for a may finish and in good shape for that.

mini repro 9-patches on for tomorrow.  4 february mondays equals 40 more little blocks.  prepping for another project today left me with a small piece of black solid....idea!  solid minis with black centers...whipped these up to see the result...when the solids drawer gets tackled, will definitely make more.  perhaps an amish style double 9-patch quilt ahead?

another gift this week--from the county--a new chromebook OS.  poverty has its perks now and then....

weekend again wet, windy and wild but sun back tomorrow.  monday's list quick checkup with ortho about hip and hopeful clearance back to gym visits.  january has not been the kindest month with winter doldrums hanging on, but still many blessings and more fortunate than many.  

Newest batch

 

monday mini sewing resulted in completion of these....11 more little 9-patch blocks...they sew up so quickly....working from this pile of repro scraps that i set aside for a scrappy broken dishes top.  

don't they look cute?  i might not make the entire 480 as the pattern given was for smaller blocks....my chunky fingers can't do smaller than these...would not be fun at all.  

quilting on s'mores continues.  using a light brown thread on this, a 30 wt.  i prefer a 

28 wt but this was on hand.  it's all about shopping the stash, you know.  

sidelined a bit this week with an annoying hip issue...not the titanium one!  although i've gotten good healthcare, it seems the harder i work to remain mobile, the less i actually am.  modified PT continues but i miss my gym workouts.  wait, did i actually say that?  yes, it was me.  i believe the hip is a longstanding issue related to a botched surgery in maine in 2010, but you know how doctors hate it when you tell them what's wrong, especially if it's against another doctor.  they ignore me while the issue worsens until someday they will realize.  

anyway, winter is on the wane as temps rise and snow melts.  okay by me....

challenge update

my challenge project for january was these blue circles....

a snowy, drab day seemed perfect to tackle them....

happy to see them ready to applique down....altho i avoid adhesives, i did use a tiny dab of roxanne's fabric glue to hold them in place.  all the while, was pondering ideas for the gold border.  have a couple of choices, now to try them out and choose.  *** about 18 years ago  (that long??) took an applique class with karen kay buckley and got some great tips.  so pulled out my trusty cheat sheet and worked a bit'o'magic to ensure a good result....

a little paintbrush and perfect circles template were all the magic needed.  getting this done gave me enthusiasm to formulate a final design for this piece.  thinking one more border after the gold--not too big for a wall display.  

another very cold day here but warm is on the way...a week from today predicting 61 degrees!!!  i'll take that happily!  

cave dwelling

After 2 years with no snow, its day 3 of the light and fluffy stuff, so far today about 4" with end mid-afternoon.  the snow and nearly every day gray and drab PLUS a few days of high winds makes the apartment--with blinds closed and drapes drawn--more like living in a cave.  mr. edison to the rescue!  plenty of channel surfing and sewing taking place.

now in the hoop (again) is the s'mores quilt.  with january's UFO done, hoping to get this one done by february?  this one is a keeper.

a few hours communing with the featherweight finished all 16 cat blocks.  ideas formulating with how to finish....stay tuned.  colors washed out but really bright as you can imagine.

for christmas bro and sis-in-love sent me a subscription to Smithsonian magazine.  no issues yet but this reusable bag arrived yesterday.  

so another day in the cave working on blue circles.  if i can get them all prepped today, perhaps then get them all appliqued before the february challenge is chosen.  with predicted warming next week, hoping winter is done for good.  yes, it's pretty, but with everything canceled and traveling treacherous, it's a big inconvenience.  

couple of recommendations.....

a bittersweet romp into the 1950s, the before of an ending we know....

the third installment of the kingsbridge series....

i'm a whodunit gal but the first book in the series was such an intriguing story, have continued.  this volume focuses on a cast of characters and an in-depth look at the catholic/protestant situation--mix of fact and fiction.  there is a new 4th book, but still 300+ pages to go in this 900+ page saga.

hoping you are warm and dry and have enjoyable pastimes to weather the winter.  consider myself quite blessed to have the same.

got scraps?

 indeed i do!  about breadbox size, the next size tote up from shoebox size.

january has been a scrap sewing month.  so when a reproduction, tiny, 9-patch sew along was proposed, well i caved in a nanosecond.  out came the 1.5" strips for blocks that will finish at 3"--that's as small as i can neatly do.  it's year long so should have quite a collection of them when 2024 says goodbye.  

a pattern provided calls for 480 of these little blocks...hmm, pretty sure i've the fabric but remains to be seen how many i make.  they are darn cute tho, aren't they?

and happy to report the first UFO finish of 2024...it's the bingo wall quilt...being donated to a local church for a bingo prize...pattern is moda love quilt. 

it's a nasty, snowy, icy and cold day here...tuesday as well....but started off this morning with a childhood fave--hot chocolate with a dollop of marshmallow fluff.  if you lived in massachusetts in the 1970s you know the tune....if you've got fluff, fluff, fluff, to make a fluffernutter, with marshmallow fluff and lots of peanut butter....haven't seen it here in MD but dear mom sends me a jar every so often.  

i use no sugar hot chocolate to lessen the sugar hit.  once the marshmallow is, ahem, gone, then i dunk my toast in it...yummy!

Fun in the sun

after way too many gloomy, dreary, rainy, windy and foggy days, the sun arrived today for the entire day!  temps hovered around 52F so that is quite tolerable.  no PT so took advantage and fired up miss sunny early this morning, like 6 am!  after 2 hours, the belt again snapped, so phoebe featherweight was called into service.  several in-process things needed attention.   first, some blue batik strips got sewn into these strippy blocks for ? border or ? blocks later on....

next, all the pieces for the happy cats sew along were cut and pinned...perhaps this weekend will finish assembling them all and then proceed to flimsy....

last, ex-wedding quilt top got assembled.  pattern is liberty road by anorina over at samelia's mum blog.  i had given the bride a choice of patterns and she chose this but absolutely NO RED!  

definitely not a problem with my abundant scrap choices.  i had things cooked ahead and the apartment is fairly neat, so no guilt in sewing the day away.   vacuuming is still on the list but another day or two won't matter.  things to do fri/sat/sun and back on PT schedule next week, so a free day was a bonus and respite.  

january nearly half over and still things to accomplish--the blue circles for one.  PT on for the remainder of the month.  can't say enough about their expertise.  they recommended an insole for the left shoe, broken hip side, and my right knee pain immediately disappeared.  walking less like a duck as well.  ortho guy was mistaken, he said it wouldn't help but it did help a great deal.  the surgeon 2+ years ago also said an insole wouldn't help and he was mistaken as well.  maybe generally it doesn't, but for me it did and couldn't be more glad.  just might be tap dancing one day after all...lol!

saturday sewing

Christmas packed away 'til december, living room reclaimed but seems bare.  weather is abhorrent....wild, heavy rain and high winds.  dabbled in magnetic poetry...

started blocks for the sewalong....satisfactory progress...'happy cats' pattern by stacey day, free on windham fabrics website.

A jane austen flick in the dvd player...homemade stew on the stove...

my january chookshed challenge is to make progress on the tree of life panel wall quilt.  i think i need about 40+ of these circles so in just a short while have these done, ready to applique.  somewhat fruitful day in the sewing department.  busy week lined up for next week...settling in to regular activities again.  mystery book calling, so off to read before bed.  

Next?

after a successful scrap sewing week, why not continue?   This pile of dark and light scrappy log cabin blocks need attention....

the 1.5 inch strip tote jam packed as well, so gotta thin the herd.  glad to say much progress during the week....

more of bonnie hunter's four-patch fun blocks got whipped up...and i do mean whipped!  they sew together so darn fast!

the kitchen sink scrappy top got done as well...this gets donated this week so done and outta here PDQ!

and a gauntlet thrown down by a quilty peep to have 24 UFOs in 2024 resulted in unearthing this quartet of batik baskets....started them to use up scraps but hey, you know how THAT goes....i do like them, no decision on final size or destination.  if the stash of batiks has to be raided then so much the better.  

holidays over again and things getting back to normal....some needed house chores got done, i greeted the new year in both sydney and new york.  those aussies sure know how to do a fireworks show!  and i watched guy lombardo on youtube...what a hoot!  no annoying resolutions, just a prayer for you and me for good health, prosperity and a generous dose of fun!