star progress

had a whirlwind week working, visiting, doing errands and household chores, but i did manage to fit in some sewing time.  mostly i've been working on this feathered star trying to get it finished for DD and DSIL's anniversary.  course, it would mean another removal from my UFO list too, which is a plus.  i've also worked a bit on "just takes 2" blocks, mostly printing them out on foundation papers.  next week i am hoping to mark the last border on the center diamond and finish that next.  **** the next step in using up the solids is cut all the triangles i need for my ocean waves quilt that is also in progress.  i am on a mission to wipe out--or nearly--that drawer of solid scraps.  **** on another note, i tripped the other night and took a belly flop onto a carpeted floor.  no bones broken but pulled some chest/shoulder muscles.  it's improving slowly but i am stunned as to how painful and debilitating this unseen injury is.  the pain woke me in the middle of the night and right away i'm thinking "heart attack," but no (which is good).  nevertheless, the heating pad and ibuprofen are my new best friends--for the duration--and i'm back wearing my bra to bed like those post-partum days.  thankfully it hasn't hampered my quilting ability but it affects just about everything else.  i'm guessing a few more days and it should be a lot better...at least i hope so. 

1 more for JT2

here is one of those "forever" blocks, a fancy applique.  the fabric chosen is a jo morton fabric, a luscious deep brown floral.  it's pinned down and ready to applique...well not quite, a bit of adjusting is required first.  it'll be gorgeous when done.  after this, i've a large feathered star block and a pieced compass block.  these should keep me busy for quite a while.  first must finish is the feathered star, though.   ***** and a sincere thank you to the weather fates; we got 2 days of heavy rain but not a flake.  i guess winter is really over for a while.  

retreat weekend wrap-up

though i am still way behind on this project, some progress was made yesterday.  these browns are civil war browns from stash and muslin was on hand.  in addition to these blocks, i have another in the machine being paper-pieced and 2 more in the started stage.  so far i have avoided the most difficult, larger blocks--a feathered star, a pieced compass and a vintage applique.  there are others besides that are paper-pieced not yet prepped, plus some checkerboard units.  will try and get the applique and compass blocks done next as these can be handwork tasks.  **** the little pile of amish scraps has "grown" into blocks and strips; next is to cut some strips for an ocean waves in progress.  i've finished cutting the solids for the "hole in the barn door" quilt in progress too.  until i've finished all the pieces for the quilts in progress, i don't want to start any new solid projects as i really am trying to empty this drawer.  **** lastly, i'm quilting on the feathered star wallhanging hoping for another finish soon.  all in all, a busy sunday sewing session!

watch it grow!

the stashbuster's weekend retreat theme is "watch it grow" so after growing my amish in the city squares on friday, today i'm growing this little pile of scraps into squares and strips.  had to organize the "solids" drawer again to get it closed and found these.  i also cut up more units for a "hole in the barn door" quilt that is in progress.  now that i've emptied a shoebox, emptying a whole drawer would be really exciting.  so, i have 5 amish quilts in progress and the next is off my WHIMM list...a scrappy bowtie...one of my all-time favorite patterns.  i do believe i can bust most, if not all, this fabric stash in my lifetime!

retreat progress

friday i retreated with the stashbusters and finished all 18 of my "amish in the city" blocks.  this pattern came from a book called "city quilter" by cherri house....lots of very nice geometric designs in this book.  these will be set on point with black setting triangles that i have yet to cut, plus a couple of narrow borders.  i'm thinking an overall quilting pattern on this one, perhaps bonnie's famous baptist fans?  ***** i've now cut fabrics for 2 amish tops (this and the honeycomb) and my elfa drawer of solids is still jam packed full.  it is always surprising how little fabric scrap quilt tops actually bust!  **** yesterday i also printed off the remaining patterns (so far) for my "just takes 2" project of civil war brown prints/muslin.  and my 2 swaps are ready to mail as well, so all caught up there.  all in all, a very productive and enjoyable day! 

blue cheese flimsy

this lounged around while i decided whether or not it should be bigger, finished off, etc.  it finally spoke to me and so i added these 2 narrow borders....now it's a flimsy!  i haven't given up making bed-size quilts, but it's quite fun making lots of little quilts.  i get to play with lots of color combinations, patterns and ideas without having a stack of unfinished big quilts.  and naturally, they get finished quicker too.  these little HSTs finish at 1" and it wasn't THAT long ago when i would NEVER have made anything that small.  but, bonnie hunter has made me see the light and the EZ angle ruler, which makes these little squares oh so easy!  **** it's stashbuster retreat weekend, so i'm off to get started!

this is done!

took advantage of the early quiet hours to finish cutting out these hexagons for the amish honeycomb quilt top, total of 202.  some have already had the edges turned/basted but not many.  there are a lot of cherrywood scraps left over, so will need to use them up in small quilts.  what else did i do?  shortened a pair of summer slacks, did some quilting, did some ripping....now i can sit down and sew! **** and i decided, the ulmer frame is back on my wish list. 

waiting on daylight

up early this AM and eager to sew, but in deference to the people next door (their bedroom is on the other side of the wall) i will wait until a decent hour.  am in mourning for dick clark, of course, as are many others of my era no doubt.  i started watching "american bandstand" when i was 8 or 9 years old; it was black and white then of course.  he was a giant, could always count on quality entertainment if it had the words "dick clark production" in the credits.  wondering how many of the old philly gang who were bandstand regulars are still around.  there was even a magazine devoted to the bandstand regulars in the 1960s.  **** my work schedule has been tweaked a bit, which should give me more daylight sewing time, plus i'll have a weekend day off as well.  ***** and i see blogspot has rolled out its new format, for posting at any rate.  off to get breakfast and do some nonsewing stuff until later.

solution #2

at joann's the other day, they had a 50% off sale on storage PLUS i had an additional 20% off coupon sent to me so i snapped up this bigger shoebox.  now all my jo morton fabrics are together in one space.  not sure if i will keep them apart from the other civil war fabrics but for now they are.  that left 2 reg shoeboxes free for the repros overflow **** and today?  .... the 18th of april in '75, hardly a man is now alive, listen my children and you shall hear of the midnight ride of paul revere!  and PS...happy birthday conan o'brien!

just takes 2 more

at this point i am revoltingly behind on this project but vowing to get caught up very soon....i hope!  in fact, i have to hop on over to the site today as more blocks may have been posted this past week.  and should you think so, of course my working part time has cut into my sewing time a bit, but not significantly.  with 3 whole days off every week, i do have blocks of time to spend with the old viking AND phoebe, and evenings i do have handwork when listening to TV or videos.  no doubt it's just because i have soooo many projects in the works; no surprise there eh quilters?  **** yesterday was my first real challenging day at work.  i made a booboo and it really affected the rest of my day.  i am hoping today is a start over and all is still well.  i am really enjoying the job; the paycheck is nice as well.  all in all, i don't think i'm doing THAT bad, especially considering i was away from a work environment for nearly 18 months; it's an adjustment and would be for anyone.