aaaahhhh-ctober!

i almost think october is my very favorite month.  this month on my calendar is work by kim diehl, someone whose applique work i greatly admire.  so much so, that next year's calendar IS a kim diehl calendar.  it's a worthy example to which i aspire each and every time i sit down to applique.  ***  cool and sunny here today after an unsettled, rainy and cloudy week.  more quilting on the pinwheel as well as a final must do list for the month.  it is a real fall day, the kind everyone thinks of when fall is mentioned.  *** off to run a couple of quick errands this morning and then back to quilting the pinwheel!   

green tomato pickles

though canning is not on my top 10 list of fun things to do, i decided to try my hand at some green tomato pickles.  these were always on the table at my grandmother and great-grandmothers' houses and they are very quick to make..a pre-requisite for me.  simple, simple, just slice 'em up, soak overnight, cook for half an hour and then spoon into sterilized jars.  easy, peasy and done in a flash.  i did put some cut-up peppers in the freezer, some corn fritters and also some stuffed peppers...all for later.  our freezer space is minuscule, so difficult to freeze too much.  last will be some zucchini bread.  **** day off today so spent a rich 2 hours this morning just quilting...how good is that?  **** cloudy, rainy and cool today, so inside chores are on the list, more trip prep too!

baskets so far

so this is the little basket project so far.  as you can see, i've 1 more little basket to make and then head for the repro stash looking for something for those setting triangles.  i'll probably rearrange them as well, once i finish the last one.  i've also nearly finished another of those red applique blocks too.  **** the october little quilt project is the hexie flowers but i am spending most of my sewing time quilting on the pinwheel.  to get that to the binding stage before retreat would be great, but not critical.  i think i can get the pinwheel done plus quilt another before the end of the year.  i've got 2 basted that are a bit smaller earmarked as whenever gifts that are next in line for quilting.  *** cloudy but warm for early october.  no matter, today is my friday--off to get busy!

sewing month wrapup

no, i didn't finish quilting my quilt in september but i did make great progress.  i've still 3 weeks before i go so maybe yet....and thank you, bonnie, for this challenge!  *** home from work watching "dancing" and chillin' out! 

fair quilts

two photos of the quilts that were hanging at the fair yesterday.  it was raining as we started out, but our spirits were not dampened.  took my pinwheel quilt and got quite a bit done, even though i was "working" as ambassador for the studio.  because of the rain, the outdoor entertainment was brought inside, so we got to enjoy it up close and personal.  after a "must have" fair food treat, we trekked back to maine under cloudy but dry skies.  *** october is finally here and retreat readiness goes into high gear.  still lots to do but lists are fine tuned!

another squishie!

y 
the little swap stars arrived yesterday and aren't they adorable?  this could be my next round of leaders/enders, making another batch of these.  they are just THAT cute!  no project planned for them but oh! the possibilities.  ****  a cloudy, cool and wet saturday; no big plans, just some quilting and household stuff. 

seeing red

up bright and early this AM and first thing?  why, get out those reds for an upcoming swap!  so very many from which to choose, perhaps a bit of each one will be included.  some are christmas prints, some are leftovers from the north wind project and the rest are civil war repros.  don't they look cheerful?  ***** still in afterglow from a delicious day yesterday.  on tap for today is some R&R, some quilting, a few errands and not much else.  i am going to try my hand at some green tomato pickles, though.  it's a condiment i grew up with but have never made myself.  they are delish on burgers or as a side.  ***** now off to get breakfast and start the rest of the day!

a new old book

on this gorgeous fall day, we trekked to the quilt museum in lowell.  they have a fabulous exhibit right now which is actually a retrospective of quilting in the past 25 years.  a beautiful selection of quilts done in various methods tantalized!  then off to the used book section in the library where i found this.  i'm pretty sure i can squeeze this one onto the bookshelf.  was thinking i should probably do a "julie and julia" and make every one of these wonderful little quilts.  well, it's an idea anyway.  a bit of other retail therapy in tax-free NH and we arrived home late afternoon.  a perfect day!

swap squishie!

yesterday this package arrived; swaps...light/dark nickels and brown strips.  in the nick of time as it turns out because as all quilters know, i was running low...ROFL!  *** and if you are a fan of elly may clampett, wish her aka donna douglas a happy birthday...she's 80 today!  and without andy williams, the world is a little less bright.  RIP my favorite crooner.

quilting progress

here is the quilting progress so far this month.  because of the eye situation, there is a gap but trying to make up for lost time here.  it is still possible to finish my pinwheel before retreat, but no pressure so will just wait and see.  *** promises to be a very comfortable and sunny early fall week here in coastal maine....hope you can say the same!