perfect weekend...

well almost...never is without a car but i digress....the weather WAS perfect...good thing as hots coming later this week...but any weather is ok for sewing...

this got machine quilted and finished...a table topper from waste triangles...miss sunny, being (ahem) older, is not enamored with the walking foot, the new-fangled thing for machine quilting.  but she persevered under duress and it got finished.  she doesn't care for bulky seams either, so it was a double challenge....

this wall quilt got basted...plan to hand quilt this one; being small should be a fairly quick finish...

some sewing done for senior center...added these pinwheel blocks to this panel...probably somebody else will add borders and finish for selling...funds go to our group for supplies etc.  the photo is horrible but it's a nice red cream blue combo....(blogger has decided it has to be on the left)

more quilting on dreams...this should be a June finish....and resurrected these previously used triangles from the solids drawer...time to use them up!

will be firing up the A/C since hot humid starting tomorrow...just in time for those increased electricity rates...fresh veggies just starting to come in.  concerning news all around and personal stuff as well, but today it's gorgeous and perfect for doing anything  ....in spite of all, so thankful for my God who cares for me abundantly...Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

june challenge

deana has pulled #5 for the june chookshed challenge....went and consulted my list and this is my #5....

pull out the solids elfa drawer and see if it can be emptied, all used....always collecting ideas for scrappy projects when i see them, so time to choose some.  as far as may's challenge, well that was shown last post....alas, did not get the 4 blocks squared up and sewn together but at least the applique part is done.  

crazy weather here this week with tornado warnings, winds and rain....so far today the sun is out but the 90s are coming next week.  a few days left to enjoy being outside....

also this week more quilting done on 'dreams'....have to check but it might be half done at this point...

a few errands next week that'll diminish the cabin fever a bit....will spend weekend formulating next week's list, a bit of tidying, maybe a batch of cookies.  i've some sewing to do for the senior center and would like to get that off my plate and turn in next friday....

even a boring life can be a blessing....there were days and years i longed for and desperately needed free time such as this...so trying to keep that in mind as i meander thru senior-dom...counting my blessings today!

weekend over!

wish i could say i enjoyed it but no way no how!  no BBQ, picnic, day trip, family time for me.  i am seething due to being cooped up without independence or freedom...but did manage to sew a bit.  finally all four red/green blocks are done!

before may ends hope to get them squared up and sewn together....borders and swags another day.....this satisfies my baltimore-type desire completely....what else?

all the scrap squares are now done as well....40 each lights and darks, good for a 48x60 top for someone else to make....

alas, no dent in the tote of course....we ALL know how that goes....next a wee bit of mending...

i've had these denim shorts about 10 years i think....now too big for me so i've taken in the waist, added a tiny patch on the area that gets the most use and covered the fraying hems....i did say i was going to get a new pair this year but perhaps i can squeak out one more summer....my frugal angel's recommendation....

and boring cardiac diet??? mary berry to the rescue!  this is her chicken fried rice dish...

the only thing i didn't have was curry powder, which would have kicked it up a bit for sure, but it's quite tasty without....the only "bad" ingredient was a teaspoon of soy sauce, less than 200 mg for 4 servings so easily tolerable for me.  bag of precooked brown rice from food pantry came in handy.  best thing is it doesn't taste like chicken...LOL!

and another day of keeping my anger and frustration in check.....saw this on instagram, a perfect illustration of how i feel...

i am ignoring upcoming july 4th...a lot can happen between now and then...even daily bike isn't providing the boost i need right now...

so lunch is ready, apartment tidied, dressed, exercise done.....would love to run away but i guess it's only as far as the sewing studio for now....

just so you know...

old soldiers never really die....not yours or mine or anyone else's....their service cannot be demeaned or negated by any loud-mouth bully or power mad politician....for the freedoms we enjoy daily, we owe our thanks to all who served, survived and perished in the most horrible conditions and situations.  whatever it takes, tyranny must be fought and staunched.....the sacrifice they all made demands no less.....doing whatever it takes for all of them is required of us, especially for this maine country boy....

CHARM-ing!

it's true...my inner child is scrappy!  plenty of projects in the works but hey, when the inner child beckons....

few months ago gifted a charm pack of these neutral whites....cute little prints ideal for background on these baskets.   since it's summer, went with RWB color combo...i love this little pattern...these are hand pieced and sew up uber quick.  made a wall quilt from this pattern eons ago that sent along in another doll quilt swap....

i always planned to make another....no time like the present!  they are so darn cute in any fabric style don't you think?  

the planets are in alignment and the weather is absolutely perfect!  we do get a few of them now and then and they are so welcome....a comfy week ahead with hots just around the corner no doubt...

i am trying to jumpstart my sewing mojo...lots of quilting being done but this week have to get serious with the project list....what's on?

1)  finish 'lights' scrap blocks and get going on 'darks'...i think i need 20 of those...

2)  work on flimsy panel top for senior center

3)  more of the tiny basket blocks

4)  patch pair of jean shorts

5)  applique on final red/green block...

saturday spent veggie cooking for week ahead and pleasant morning out to flea market and lunch

friday at group will be working on 20 strip christmas stockings for charity--money from selling will be used for haitian relief effort at a local church.  so very thankful to use God's gift to me---my hands and abilities--along with my quilty peeps...just friday we finished a tall stack of pillowcases for the local hospital's needs...

will also finish up last few spring cleaning chores--clean fridge, wash a couple of windows, quick swiffer of floors before they get ahead of me like before.  aside from a nagging little problem at the complex, life is indeed good!  thanks be to God!

a swap tale

back in the 80s or maybe 90s, i was in a small quilt swap...four seasons....one each spring, summer, fall, winter...being a fairly new quilter, was a bit overwhelmed by the others swapping...could i make something that would measure up?  my spring quilt went to a Canadian gal, rose marie....this is what she received....

fast forward to now....signed up for humble quilt's doll quilt swap...you saw my entry in previous post....here is what came in the mail the other day....

isn't it lovely!  so beautifully quilted and such pretty fabrics....it's on my kitchen table now to see every day....and guess who it's from.....yes, rose marie in Canada!  i learned a while ago on zoom (she is a zoomer) that she had received a small quilt from me many years ago....and she requested my name so she could return the favor....i am humbled and touched by her kindness and sentimentality.....

just about recovered from the cleaning marathon....yes i overdid it....waaayyy overdid it...even had my backpack ready in case of an ER run....slowly getting back to quilty plans....sewing the scrappy blocks, now 30 done with another 10 started....

today basted Basket I....

goes in the pile for quilting at some point...now it's a quilting afternoon on 'dreams'....six weeks to july and shooting for a finish by then....

outings monday and tuesday so have 2 days before friday and quilt group....nice to be able to relax (after daily bike) with sewing pursuits in a clean apartment....especially on dreary days like today....and tomorrow....and maybe friday too...still an enjoyable day and thankful for it...

next???

spent weekend catching up on rest after marathon cleaning week...pushed the mended heart to the limit and beyond it seems....but did finished block #3...

ooh they are looking good....before the applique there was too much green but now i really like them....19 days to get #4 done....border plan pretty much formulated....there will be swags!

and did get to the machine a bit yesterday to work on the scrappy log cabin blocks....had to pull out the tote of 1.5" strips....

revolting isn't it?  makes me glad now i passed on the scrap basket pile to someone who will use them and saving me the time to cut and jam into this tote....

so it was a low key weekend, not really sad over mother's day...i think of my mom as just not living here anymore, she is just living somewhere else...probably everyone in my building is now motherless...

i'll close with this photo from the lancaster show's cheddar exhibit....lots of quilts with cheddar/red/green combo but i thought this different take was quite pleasing....

blue is my favorite color doncha know!!  enjoying the sun here ahead of a few gray and rainy days....regardless of the weather the days are filling with blessings!

throwback thursday

the may baskets wall quilt...have to get it out for my door this month...this came from a calendar of patterns from the book 'a month of sundays'....now out of print.  i made all 12 and use them for my door....

not much sewing-wise going on here in this lake woebegon....the weather has been cool, sunny and mostly dry so it was designated spring clean week.  along the way a few things got fixed, repurposed and re-organized...the usual bike time and some cooking added....

a christmas past gift was a blue waterhog doormat for in front of the sink.  while washing kitchen floor noticed a couple of other trouble spots---in front of fridge and in front of counter where i prep veggies etc...what to do?  pulled out waterhog car mats, washed in the shower and voila!  all 3 problem areas now covered...the mats are an LL Bean product and available in many sizes...2 thumbs up from me...

evening TV time spent working on red/green applique blocks...just about ready to start the last one...another long time project happy to get finished or moved along at the least...

days pass mostly dull and uneventful...quasi-planning for the maine trip.  even tho southern living isn't my choice, have created personal space that could only improve with a car providing much needed freedom to partake in free fun stuff.  so it's keep calm and clean on!

 

she liked it!

that would be the doll quilt received by Andrea just yesterday....used the last 6 hexie rosettes i had to make this...i haven't received mine yet but a little bird told me the trip to my place might take a wee bit of extra time...

and this is where i am on block #3....thanks to zooming friday night, much progress was gained...with 28 days to go i can see all 4 blocks done and hopefully a flimsy....

these are the scrappy blocks mentioned previously....i've a fair stack of them done already but the strips are overflowing and need to make more...plus finish up a few small things so they don't become UFOs...

the scrap tote at our senior center has been very good to me...recently i found these 3 pieces...the christmas red/green paisley, the lemon print that i think is soo summery and 2 yards of a delish kaffe fassett stripe....have to dive into my KF books to find a project..

and last, the 6 left over basket blocks are now a placemat....a bit of hand quilting and then bind and that pile will be gone...

today is the last of the hot/humid for a while...next week looks picture perfect...70s daytime and 50s nighttime...good sleeping weather, good cleaning weather...i absolutely MUST finish the spring scour...it stifles my creativity when the place isn't spit spot...that's all for today!

may challenge

 summer IS coming...we've had a few 80+ degree day already...and may day is going to be another...

chookshed challenge number has been announced!  

8.  red/green applique.  a visit to the baltimore applique society initiated this project--i'm making 4 blocks (2 done) shooting for a finish next this Christmas.

my red/green applique project....if it hadn't been chosen i was going to swap out for this one...these days sometimes too warm to sit with large quilt on my lap, more comfy to do some applique.  working on block #3 now and quite possible to get them all done, squared up and maybe even basted?  

as for machine sewing this month, hoping to empty a shoebox of scraps for more blocks i hope to sell....vacation is looming--a mere 82 days away--and fun money is definitely required.  

no plans for mother's day so most likely will order a special dinner for delivery....and today?  a start on apartment clean before summer arrives in earnest....remember to count your blessings and have a good day...