throwback thursday

 

just had to repost this little beauty...it was gifted but still have the photo of "asian autumn".   the background fabric is a very pretty asian fabric but only a smidgen of it, just enough for this.  the smidgen was gifted to me by dear late friend marianne...

and stitched this little door hanger for my mum and it did indeed hang on her apartment door...many pluses about senior apartments but decor can be blah and it gave me such delight to make things for her to perk up her space.  this is hanging in my apartment now...

the stew is made and waiting to cool before freezing...food pantry pork roast cut up and sliced off all the fat resulted in comforting, hot, nutritious meals later on....

another food pantry receipt was this little bag of chocolate quinoa snacks...remarkably good and better than a regular candy bar...

sell for $4 per bag at target or costco, won't be buying them myself but nice to get for a change...they have other snacks of milk or dark chocolate as well.

i hesitate to verbalize for fear of jinxing, but the weather here is downright spectacular....cool morning and overnite to sleep with cozy quilts, warm sun during the day....frost last night in some areas so this is definitely indian summer now.  

couple of quilts to wash and bathroom clean on my weekend list....plus that pumpkin bread to make still..unless can squeeze in before.  winter haircut yesterday, short enough to avoid winter hat scare...LOL

overflowing blessings today despite unmet wants and needs.  feel richly blessed while i pray for those still suffering storm after effects.

not much new here

weather has cooled considerably...ironic that the uber hot days seem to last forever but the nice, cool, crisp ones don't...a week or so ago it was 60s overnite but now 40s and morning frost in spotted areas...great quilting weather tho..

nice segue into the ongoing bow ties project....trying to get at least 15 of the 20 blocks quilted in october, then the last 5 and sashings in november.  which means not much else of sewing is getting done.  plus i'm out of batting scraps for small things until i can trim and frankenbatt (sewing together small pieces)....goal of 3 finishes before 2025..it waits for me every morning as my after-breakfast pastime...

since it's the spooky season, here are a couple of mine i've posted before...

i made this for my mom's door and now it's back with me...

and here is a view of calais, maine, from a week ago...stunning natural beauty in autumn...

lots of up north family drama going on that is occupying my mind...plus being wheel-less and housebound are daily stressors and have me on the hunt for pleasant diversions, mostly sewing related.  

after haircut today, some yummy pumpkin bread and a pork stew to be made.  cold weather meals are back on the menu.   last week grabbed the last farm stand tomatoes, summer squash, zucchini until next year...boo hoo...will be pulling out winter clothes by the weekend i guess..but maryland weather can be sneaky so one pair of shorts will be kept close...

hopefully next post will show some new sewing stuff, so signing off to get dressed and start the day...it's another beauty....richly blessed are we!

throwback thursday

will start off with a quilt memory....

i made this in the year between waiting for housing, 2015...gave it to my mom for her apartment as she liked red.  every time i visited i'd say oh yeah i remember that...now it's back with me...

the new header photo and these are the shore road in east boothbay, maine...mom and i visited often....picnicked a few times as well.  these photos were taken after a hurricane--date on photo is wrong!...tourists gone so we could dawdle and pull over to park anywhere....the road is a very tight 2 lanes...i love the green/gray of the ocean....

my sister's booties are done and it is my last task for mum...i wish i could tell her tho i know she knew she could depend on me.   we were so close we most always thought alike about many things, and her wisdom was one of the priceless examples she left me.  

bow ties quilting continues...20 blocks, 16 bow ties each block plus cables in the sashing...oh yeah, i've a ways to go.  

some fall cooking and my PT exercises rounded out the day....more chicken soup, apple crisp and egg custard, good for the bones you know!  still praying for a car replacement...i serve a God of surprises so we shall see!

it's heeere!

that would be soup and sweater weather!  now the task is to get acclimated to indoor temps of 70-ish before really cold comes.  wow, a week since my last post...didn't think i was THAT busy...but the bow ties are a constant diversion...

spending time every day quilting away, a finish before christmas maybe?  will see...

and took up a bit of knitting for these...

last year my mom knit me a pair and sister wanted a pair as well...sadly mom never got them made but did have the yarn, so i am making them for her.  looking back, mom couldn't get motivated enough to do them and i believe now she was not well but didn't say.  we talked about being cooped up all winter, which i know was difficult for her under the best of times, but in hindsight her illness was probably why.  six months today since the bottomless hole in my life hit...

and a heaven sent gift?  well, close anyway....this arrived in my mailbox earlier this week.  i am so blessed to have quilty peeps who send me squishies now and then...this along with some fabric and a couple of gifts was the day's surprise...do i need another project?  heck no, but perhaps i can round up a few others for a group sew...

looks like my exercise buddy has bailed...so have to find alternative ways to get in enough...might have to cave and get an exercise bike to keep up with it regularly...i have my leg bands and instructions from PT but the cardio is the primary need.  could walk the halls but it is hugely boring...

tuesday list is calling me..chicken soup, some rearranging, outdoor trek and sewing should take up the day...so thankful to be well, have a nice home, a full larder, an enjoyable hobby and no hurricane!

ADDENDUM:  up for sale is 4 spools NEW aurifil variegated 12 wt thread....$20 includes priority shipping to you...let me know if interested.

chookshed challenge

so another month in this too-fast moving year.  i've been sewing regularly which is making it move along faster i do believe, trying to make up for lost time earlier this year.  on track for the UFO list to be under 20 when 2025 arrives...first time since i've been keeping the list.  

october is the last month of our chookshed challenge of 10 things to finish/move along this year.  this challenge has been a boost for me to keep going and to pull out things that have been waiting for action.  this month's task for me is project bags.  i've 4 zippers on hand and mean to use them all.  just this morning finished #1....

some time ago bought some seashore theme FQs from a now-closed shop in maine--on board fabrics.  this lobster buoy print was one.  coupled with a lobster it print made a nice project bag.  the vinyl was folded and so had to iron and CAMEVERYCLOSE to ruining but not quite....

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we are on day #11 of rain and not complaining, given what others are suffering from helene...thankfully i've sewing to keep me occupied.  monday finished the 'detour to oz' top...who knew dorothy was a quilter?  now you do....LOL

the color is a bit off due to indoor task lighting nearby....if i can get this quilted this year it will escape the UFO list....

and had a bit of play with another UFO....heart wreath with leaves....i've loved this pattern for eons, since early days of quilting life.  it was featured in a mccall's magazine (dating myself here) in the 1980s i think but too timid to attempt.  

of course this was also before discovering kaffe fassett fabrics....it resurfaced recently in quiltmania and this time i was determined.  only making 4 blocks...not a big quilt...but fingers itching to start...the bright colors were just the thing to give me a boost on a gloomy day.  

october list made.  holidays ahead which are always very VERY low key.  this year more somber due to losing mom and everyone still at loose ends sort of.  i know i am.  my big challenge now is getting enough exercise.  as winter approaches, may have to invest in some equipment as my neighbor goes sporadically, if that, and the weather is going to be dodgy to walk on my own.  who knows, we might even get snow!  

i put my stockings up for sale on another site but no takers yet.  it is difficult with postage being prohibitive.  with no car i have to mail priority from home, flat rate, and i'm sure it dissuades some people.  in the process of starting a pop-up blog shop to offer some pieces at low prices make some room...stay tuned!  

soggy sunday

thanks to ms helene and another small front that swooped in after she left....actually nearly all week was soggy.  it looked gloomy and raw out but actually was very warm...so A/C came on again briefly.  inside sewing and stuff was the respite from rain.   here is the progress...

five festive christmas stockings got finished.....showed the senior center gals how to make them as well.  they do work up quick and are very fun to make.  

with the chookshed challenge deadline looming spent saturday working on my penn dutch wall quilt....

these are just pinned for now until the design wall is empty....then they will get basted and put in a portable project bag as a take along....i hesitated many times hanging on to this pattern from 1981, but now that i see it take shape, am very glad i did.  the top left and bottom right have some vines as well that'll get made at some point.  

with november 1st just a month away, i've posted a verse so meaningful to me....that's my 8-year anniversary since my heart surgery...eight years that i would not have had...eight years (nearly) more with mom and family, eight years of loving my daughter and son-in-law, eight years of sewing and quilting enjoyment, making new friends, moving to a safe place....to say i am blessed is a huge understatement.   life--there is nothing like it.  thank you God!

finally fall

and the temps concur!  that means can get more outside walking done.  but there is always time for sewing, especially with windows open and no noisy fans or A/C running.  

batik baskets is ready to bind....definitely a september finish, yay!  cross another off the september list! 

the little blue bathroom quilt is also done...list getting shorter. a definite humble quilt but will perk up the bathroom.

the kim diehl piece is just about ready to baste and quilt...october finish maybe?

and finally, my solids bow tie is in the hoop!  color me thrilled!  i want this to be done before 2025 arrives...and thin the to-be-quilted pile.  this is a big quilt and the walker will be used as a frame to rest it on while quilting...using aurifil 28 wt thread, my hands-down favorite.  

this weekend will tackle the chookshed challenge to squeak in under the wire of september and also bind the batik baskets.  hoping the UFO list will be shorter in 2025.   

september has been a great month so far...good weather, plenty of exercise and family issues that got sorted.  next month fall/winter clothes get pulled out along with winter menus.  day by day rebuilding life despite the still-present gaping hole that comes with loss of someone dear.  holidays ahead and expect they will be low key, especially as the first since mom passed away.  my aunt passed away a few years ago on christmas day, so we feel blessed mom's death was earlier.  ***  a blessed thursday to all!

week's end

new header photo?  damariscotta, maine..one of the many pretty coastal villages en route to pemaquid point.  

received a surprise friday from a fellow quilter....a small stash of vintage 30s and 40s melon pieces, perfect for leaves or orange peel blocks...and all basted as well...how good is that?  i feel honored she passed them along to me from her late mother-in-law.  a couple of ideas formulating already.

what else?  batik baskets is half quilted so should be a september finish as well.  a stitchery christmas gift has been chosen and kit assembled.  pulled out knitting needles for these...

mom was a knitter and made things for all of us...the last thing she knit for me was a pair of booties like this for winter and my sister wanted a pair as well.  mom had the yarn and needles but never got to them.  i have picked up the project and will do it for her.  i haven't knit in ages--not since daughter was small--but these are simple...i hope.  i think i was about 7 years old when my only left-handed aunt taught me how to knit.  

red letter day friday as decided to tackle walk to senior center with walker for balance and support--the cane just isn't enough for the downhill...and then did my half-hour workout.  nothing like exercise to boost mental outlook.  felt good to actually go someplace by myself...will attempt the return walk when it's a bit cooler--it's up a steep hill.  

a sunny and cooler saturday in store....outing with daughter and son-in-love today!

back to usual

after all that inspiration, happy to return to my small sewing space and drive right in with renewed vigor!  gray matter working overtime with ideas.  

tuscan starburst is a finish!  sunday spent sewing on and then down the binding.  found a suitable fabric in stash to bind that does not rob from the blocks. 

no time lost putting batik baskets in frame and starting quilting....another september finish?  that would be grand.  would give me 3 months to quilt bow ties.  skipped over the little bathroom quilt for now.

and while playing with the baskets, realized i didn't care for mixing the cream and white background squares so offering them up for $10 plus postage...i think they will fit in a small flat rate box...there are 25 of them, mixed prints from the original FQ bundle so there will be duplicates.  

keep in mind the camera photographed them a shade or two lighter than actual but still neutrals--nothing that shouts light brown or similar.  let me know if interested.  

and while at quilt show got a peek at kaffe fassett's new book....drool worthy of course and one pattern jumped right out at me...simple units with stunning fabrics makes a great project always....no big quilt for me but maybe a few small ones...

exercise done for the day...it's cool but humid with rain threatening and forecasted entire week.  a village-wide cookout planned for saturday...not sure what plan B is if it rains...happily i have other plans.  

last, not least

 more snaps from the show....

this exhibit was of portrait quilts....dimensions were given and each description included the photograph...i just liked this one with the orange hair...some older women nowadays have funky hair so maybe this was her color?

another exhibit whose theme was recycling....lots of eclectic entries as you can imagine but i thought this was innovative....

i didn't know that shweshwe came in colors, thought it was all indigo....french connection shop had a booth with LOTS of them, all different colors, plus african and french fabrics...scooted past real fast..

beautifully done i thought....ticks all my boxes....blues, geometric, sorta wedding ring/pickle dish...

this was in a section of traditional quilts...this woman is in my yahoo group and i said i would look for it...

nicely done EPP lucy boston...but the english major in me thought it should have been titled, laura meets lucy...

well that's just a cross section of all the gorgeous quilts...my knees gave out before i got to the kaffe and liza exhibit so glad i have some of his books.  the tremendous boost i got from a fun day away lingers still and has motivated me to not only finish things in progress but maybe think about a new, exhibit worthy piece.  most of these are way out of my quilting/design skills but who knows?  

facing a week of rain and back to the routine....exercise days, the usual cooking tasks...apt is clean so after that it's all sew time.  sunday morning the sneaky grief grinch attacked, prompted me to write this...

FIRST AND LAST

the first of us to feel her touch,

our 'gang of four' she loved so much

two girls, two boys, four years apart

bound by love within her heart

the years went by, the children flew

to here and there, the family grew

always there unconditional love

with wisdom and faith sent from above

then one day death made its call

with shock and sadness to us all

we knew her soul was heaven-bound

our dad and others to surround

the moment came, my task was clear

one final touch as she left here

my siblings were fortunate to have been spared that last half hour...nothing to be envious about i can guarantee them...