just yesterday....

received this precious gift....

was actually 51 years ago yesterday....a classic beauty, artistic, compassionate nurse, comedic, intelligent and insightful, strong faith and often opinionated...lucky me...

no more procrastinating...pulled out the solids to jump start the muse....i had an idea and made a couple of blocks but no thrill so went looking for more inspiration.  started on this...

.had always planned some cracker blocks but with christmas fabrics?  blah...saw some on the net made from bright colors so jumped right in and fired up miss sunny--after thorough oiling and new needle that is.  not sure final top size but not a lot of my scraps are large enough for the block itself, hence the piano key border.  i thought about 8x8...blocks are 8" finished

along with lots of quilting on 'dreams', some sewing for senior center also got done....found these 2 panels in the christmas stash and whipped up a couple of placemat tops to finish and sell...happy to do what i can to generate funds for our group.  

vacation looming and have to say with a bit of trepidation...have not been to Maine since mum passed away and i know it will be tough...that'll be me crying on the bus as we get closer no doubt...

days roll on and counting my blessings each one...now back to the machine!!

throwback thursday

 

yes indeed...and i have been doing some but mostly frittering away time setting up new computer.....first the phone then the laptop....and i probably shouldn't say but the toaster oven is underperforming as well...adding all those quilty blog bookmarks was a big task but necessary....

while transferring files from old laptop to new desktop, had a chance to revisit some long-ago finished things...here's a few

a sweet little patriotic wall quilt gifted to a neighbor....i used a yellow chalk marker and it never did fully wash out...lesson learned, now i use only white or washable graphite pencils

the infamous orca bay top...this was huge and (ahem) resewn several times to get it right...too many seams to hand quilt so the top was gifted to vermont flood relief to finish and donate.  i used mardi gras colors so called it 'fat tuesday on orca bay'...

and this was made decades ago when i was dipping my needle into mod territory....the original i had seen in a book was various shades of blues/mauves but of course my scrappy muse took over, but i like it a lot...

summer has arrived and the shorts are on for the duration...hot weather recipes on tap and anxiously awaiting native tomatoes and cukes...pretty much all ready for vacation in just 46 days....have a glorious day!

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!