bit of a stretch

as anyone who has cable TV knows, they are in the business to sign you up and sell as many channels as they can.  we do have a cable package, albeit not a premium package, but for our 2nd TV, MY TV, time warner has been systematically removing channels from the package if you don't have a box.  enter the adapter.  while there are still some channels i can't get on the 2nd....my....TV, there are a few that are now available like LMN, OWN, TRAV and a few others i occasionally watch.  magnanimously provided free by TWC, i had to call on all my techno skills to get it working....and i did!  talk about slaying the dragon...i am woman hear me roar!  gotta have the TV on while quilting, if just for the background chatter.  **** and today i also got the VCR hooked up AND programmed...how good is that?  and i didn't even have an erector set when i was a kid either. 

a minor slip

while mom was at the hairdresser, i peeked into cyndi's shop for a look and these found me!  some were on sale so it was a minor attack on the budget.  it is not a good idea to go here without a list or at least some idea of what one seeks.  it's wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling mostly civil war reproduction fabrics, some a bit earlier and some a bit later.  there were empty boxes on the porch so i knew there would be some brand new stuff inside and not yet unwrapped even!  i don't know how she keeps up with them all or how she keeps from sewing nonstop, never mind cooking, cleaning and shopping for food.  **** in the background on the left is my change bank, now empty, its contents ready for PA.   however i did set aside all pennies minted before 1984 as i read someplace that when the mint stops making them, they can be sold for their copper content like any other precious metal.  just don't try it before they are no longer minted or it's a fast trip to leavenworth. 

i found one!

a copy of this issue of "quiltmania" that is...the one with the luscious jo morton quilt on the cover AND this really useful notepad was included as well.  how good is that?  i could have waited until jo's new book came out, but i seldom buy books and almost never at full retail price, but i really wanted this pattern.  now to decide...do i make it in jo's fabrics, kaffe fassett fabrics, just civil war repros?  maybe one of each?  so many tantalizing choices.  **** just 4 more blocks and i can start to bind the amish pinwheel...will i make it before tuesday?  it'll be close if i do  ****  trip minus 4 days, suitcase ready to go (minus toothbrush), phoebe packed, fabric packed, projects packed, anything else?  oh yeah, my lunch and that will have to wait until THE DAY!

it's true!

yes, we DID have an earthquake right here in maine and yes, it does happen occasionally, meaning one that is noticeable.  the shaking went on for about 20-30 seconds, seemed like much longer, and when it stopped, well, everything was normal...no damage of any kind!  my coworker explained that was why she left california, fear of dying in an earthquake, and i told her in maine one would be more likely to die of freezing than an earthquake.  we do have geological faults but they have been dormant for millions of years, so this was just a run-of-the-mill, earth-moving kind of quake.  might be 5-10 years before we have another and that wouldn't surprise anyone.  **** and it is also true that i have finished applique on the 9 blocks of various reproduction reds.  now to put the piece together and quilt.  doubt it will be this year, though.  it's a 2013 UFO for sure!

leaving the nest

remember this quilt?  finished some time ago, it's been sitting on the shelf patiently until a certain event.  today it is getting packed up and mailed off to its recipient.  also going off is the orca bay flimsy to a charity where it will be finished and gifted to a needy family.  that'll make some space on the shelf for more recent finishes.  it's a constant battle in such a small space for all my sewing and quilting stuff.  i periodically go thru clothing items and toss some and i haven't really added much in the way of fabric because it's being used all the time.  ****  off to tackle today's list!

my kind of winter

ever since "eye of the needle" eons ago, i've been a bona fide follett fan.  and now, a facebook follower too!  and finally, my name came up at the local library to get this goodie.  oh, i love really thick books!  it's the sequel to "fall of giants" and i also heard that "world without end" is out on video or something like that.  if you haven't read "pillars of the earth" and its sequel "world without end," then run, don't walk to your nearest library and scoop them up.  i am so thankful to my mom who raised a family of serious readers!

dullsville

no, not my impression but the actual name of this quilt seen yesterday made by havrilla stephens.  she started out with some gray batik strips but ended up with this quasi-lasagna quilt which isn't dull at all i think.  interjecting those beige-y diamonds has really kicked this up a notch from ordinary to interesting and oh-so very modern quilting, which is all the rage right now.  *** went to bed early thus this very early morning post.  now to make my last pre-retreat list before going back to sleep.  a few errands later this morning and whip up a batch of spaghetti sauce is also on today's agenda. 

showtripping sunday

today drove over to rochester, nh, and the cocheco quilters show.  met up with vic (see below) and we oohhed and aahhhed at all the lovely quilts.  left, though, is the best of show and more than worthy in my book.  made by gladi porsche it was hand quilted, hand appliqued with some hand embroidery as well.  vic and i chatted and i came home with only ONE piece of fabric, an indigo repro from cyndi black's booth.  not that i didn't fondle a lot more and thought about buying more, but i resisted.   the skies were gloomy but it was an enjoyable day. 

vic wanted her photo taken in front of this delicious scrappy and i do concur.  also saw some beautiful pieces from the "silver thread" challenge sponsored by the new england quilt museum in honor of their 25th anniversary.  i can't believe it has been 25 years since the museum first opened its doors. 

boo-oooks!

no trick here just a couple of treats found at the local library used book sale.  i know, not much value to most, but carter houck is a name from my quilting "kindergarten" days and the ruby mckim?  well, i had a copy of this book once, not sure where it got to, so i added it to my book stash once again.  in fact, i inherited an original ruby mckim leaflet from my ex's grandmother some years ago.  it is a cherished quilting momento of her and quilting days gone by.  i never knew her, of course, but i have her sewing table and the leaflet, plus some fabric and squares she made.  dear daughter has one of her quilts.  lila, you have not been forgotten, even by those you never knew.   **** trying to spend as much time as possible quilting the pinwheel.  i may get it bound before retreat time yet....gonna be close!  **** brrr, pretty cold here this AM, like below freezing; and those green mountains of vermont?  they're white!

thank you, janet!

last week janet posted a giveaway on her blog and look, my name was drawn!  how gorgeous are these lovely gifts....a pin cushion, a fall mug rug or mini quilt and some very nice handmade soaps.  i never had handmade soaps before and these are so fragrant with fall spices.  such very nice and thoughtful handmade gifts are always welcome, a sentiment shared by so many.  **** very cool and sunny day here with a possible hard freeze predicted for tonight, so the growing season is essentially over.  *** a quiet couple of days in this lake woebegone with some relaxation, quilting, few errands....and last night, a fantastic trip to cirque du soleil's "saltimbanco."