two done

now that i've finished all those purple strippie squares (YAY), i quickly moved on to another project--just takes 2.  i'm using browns with muslin because that's what is on hand.  most of the browns i have are civil war era repros, so it won't be THAT boring i don't think.  the block on the left was made with 2 nickels i found in my stash.  i'm a little behind on this project but hoping to catch up soon.  and those are the purple strippies directly behind, cut into triangles; now to rip out the papers and put the squares together.  i'm also working on another small piece, a challenge, using jo morton's 'variety' line.  more multitasking, yep!

multitasking friday

sitting here at the old viking on a very rainy friday morning trying to finish up these strippies; i think i have 10 left to do, so looks good for a friday finish on these.  i'm also copying my vinyl LPs (that's long playing for you younger readers) to the laptop and then to CDs.  this will free up space on my shelves for what else....quilting stuff! ****  i did have errand plans but put them on hold until the weather is better.  since i don't have to venture out in bad weather, sometimes i just don't.  we got snow during the night but the rain has washed it all away...and then some.  mom has a one-pot dinner on the stove so it's a low maintenance day all around. 

sewing detour

the constant glare of purple resulted in my eyes drooping, so i took a tiny detour and assembled these chunky churndash blocks.  a few years ago i participated in a swap and made about 24 of these, sent them off and never got anything back!  not sure what happened but i found these leftovers and so decided to make them up.  at some point i'll make a lot more and put together a flimsy to tie and donate, probably.  or, i might keep it because don't ya know, i love scrappy quilts!  **** basking in march weather here in late january; the calendar means nothing at all this winter!  i'm only hoping it doesn't turn on us come june/july/august.  **** just about over my cold and so hoping to get into my browns/muslin project soon and maybe those little houses too...aren't they adorable?

january christmas

at our belated family holiday celebration earlier this month, i received a gift certificate to a quilt shop from my brother/sister-in-law.  today i finally got to select my goodies from oodles of choices.  i know i said i wasn't going to collect batiks, but these colors were so bright, i couldn't leave them behind.  then there are a few repros to add to my stash.  it sure doesn't feel like christmas at all; at 3 am awoke from being too warm, 45 degrees outside after a whopping 9 degrees yesterday morning. today it's been over 50 and foggy/sunny with lots of melting.  tomorrow is another warm, march-like day and then a bit cooler the rest of the week.  this is truly the wackiest winter i've experienced in a very long time, if ever.  **** last night i did get more purple strippies done; still stripping i'm afraid.

foot envy

all over blogland i see perfectly pedicured toes--toes at the beach, toes relaxing on lounges, etc., etc.  well, this is maine and this is january and so i've decided to post the antithesis of these perfectly painted toes.  i've had these sox for about 30 years and they have been called into action on a frequent basis.  you can't see the bottoms, but the grips are little milk cans.  i got them at the totes outlet in kittery; my daughter got a pair as well (not cows).  dr. oz says warm feet can enhance the sleep experience.  i could have told him that 30 years ago as well, else why would i have bought them?  **** yesterday finally finished the immediate inside borders on the amish center diamond.  now i've only the outside 10" border and its corner squares to quilt.  this is going to be a bit tricker.  first, i have to baste on temporary borders, do some math, some marking and then i'll be able to start....but it won't be today.  any sewing today will be of purple strippie squares. 

FNSI Posting

here they are, 100 orca bay border units all done, ready and waiting for the main part of the flimsy.  of course, i also worked on my amish center diamond too, but getting these puppies finished makes me real happy.  i am still hoping to get this flimsy done by the end of january, though time will tell.  i also finished some purple strippie squares too, but not finished with those yet.  ***** have a touch of the sniffles and since it snowed a tiny bit today, i stayed inside all day.  will be going to bed early tonight with a stephanie plum mystery wearing my cutie cow slipper sox since it's single digits overnight again. 

final border plans

the last border and corner squares will be quilted using these patterns.  quilting this amish center diamond has been real fun, sort of a quilting fantasy.  i've used several long admired patterns on what is essentially a blank slate of fabric.  like all my quilts, it isn't perfect and i don't really care that it isn't.  i am just enjoying the process immensely.  amish quilts and their densely quilted patterns first drew me into quilting, not the patchwork, and this quilt is a culmination of sorts of that first tantalizing attraction. 

F.N.S.I.

this is what i'll be working on tonight for Friday Night Sew-In.  You can see a bit of the other border(s) on the extreme left already done.  the brown corner squares are finished as well with a feathery fleur-de-lis type design.  the white chalk marks are still evident, but it is quilted with matching thread.  i am anxious to see it once the marks have been washed off.   later i'll show the stencils for the final border and corner squares.  the binding is turquoise and already prepped for when the quilting is completed.  i was hoping for a january finish but it's unlikely, maybe february. 

closing in....

on finishing up the purple strippie squares for the orca bay quilt.  here is all that is left, albeit each has only 3-4 strips, so it'll take probably a day to really finish.  then press, cut into triangles, rip out the papers and voila!  ready to put the top together.  what else got done yesterday?  well, marked the final border section on the amish center diamond leaving only the outside border and corner squares to quilt, cut some squares for a giftie quilt and cut some strips for a challenge quilt.  i also did some cross-stitch and pinned some pieces of the feathered star together.  the main project is to finish the orca bay top as the units have taken over my small space.  **** we did get some snow overnight and possibly more on the way, though not deep accumulation.  it's a nuisance but with 40-degree temps on the way, it'll be gone soon.  so far i am liking this winter pretty well; for maine, that is. 

nick of time

just recently this flimsy got basted with a wool batt.  i've never used a wool batt before, but i've heard good review and i like the idea of natural fibers.  during last weekend's bitter cold snap, i actually pulled it out and put it on the bed, with the DWR on top.  the DWR has a cotton batt and has more weight to it than the wool.  i have to say the 2 quilts kept me more than toasty, more so than the cotton batt quilt and the poly batt quilt.  and where it was zero degrees here yesterday morning, today it was 29 degrees, so i put the pinwheel quilt back on the shelf.  it'll be the next big quilt that gets hand quilted.  ***** the center diamond quilt with the cotton/wool batt is coming along.  one more inside border to quilt and then i can start the final outside border.  i also want to finish the feathered star top and get it off the design wall to make room for "fat tuesday on orca bay," for which i've nearly finished all the parts.  TTFN.....