did they say challenge?

thought this would be a fun sew along but make no mistake, it IS a challenge!  these little blocks are 3.5" unfinished and some are way more involved than i've ever done at this size.  and now with the photo, i see the block top right is wrong so that's a re-sew.  the photo is taken side view but still, gotta do it over.   never claimed to be an expert piecer, but have to say they don't look too bad overall.  now halfway thru the inside border, so another 6 weeks of these itty bitty blocks, total of 96.  then it's on to the center block, a whopping 18" square.  anxious to see them all sewn together and mentally calculating what lights are in the stash at hand for the next border.  and here is another glance at the overall top...isn't it gorgeous!  i am definitely still in with this project!

keep calm and sew on!

after the snow...

getting back to what is currently normal, more sewing of the FWS blocks---here is the current bunch.

having real fun making these blocks with different combos from the fabric gene pool...thinking about what color to use for background too.  there is one more to make from this week, then it's tackle the 365 challenge blocks that are starting to accumulate.  those work up really fast tho.  *** and while reading the letter from mamabear over on marcia's site, saw this cute scissor holder from miss sewsitall that i am going to make.  have some cute lobster buoy fabric i might use.   a handy item!

single digit temps on their way so winter hasn't given up the ghost quite yet despite days here and there that are spring-like.   so many gratitudes despite the current unpleasant situation, but spring IS coming and there is progress on housing front, so that is good indeed!

candy coated cats

so the flimsy is done, waiting for a final press, baste and then quilt.  might use a bright lime to bind.   the rest of the afternoon spent quilting the summer sampler, which is now over half done.   other than that, pretty quiet day all around, calm before another snowstorm.  so far so good on the no-buy efforts.....and the week's stash report:

stash in:   ZERO
stash out:  nothing yet, but sooooon!

withdrawal pain....

this is tougher than i thought it would be, this no-buying plan.  made easier by budgetary issues for sure, but still salivating over so many gorgeous new lines of fabric.  my daily mantra is "shop the stash, shop the stash,"  and so far that's what i'm doing.  keeping busy sewing is helping, all the while thinking knowing that frugality is a good thing.  so please forgive me for repetitive photos of projects in the works....it is all part of the austerity plan and to prove to myself that stash is getting busted.    today, tho, have pulled out instructions and some bright mod fabrics for this cute little wallhanging.  still working on the larger quilts, but space is a premium so find it easier to manage small things.  this is by tessa walker found at www.thesewingchick.com on her blog dated 5/14/15.  it finishes at 21" square....hop on over and make one with me!

hexie update

our brief sojourn forward into spring has taken a lapse with snow falling, hoping it will morph into rain later...good time for a hexie update!

i know, not much, but this is only a sometime project...my "sometime" isn't near as much as bonnie's plane time...of course i do have a little bag of hexies waiting to grow into rosettes...and transporting them?  i use this adorable bag made by vic in nh and sent to me around christmas...it is just right!  the lanyard has my little scissors on the end so they don't walk away...

now, i think i hear some 365 blocks calling me....

final for january

ended january with 1.25 yards busted but 1.5 yards added, net gain .25 of yard.  this was kona snow so it's a basic that will definitely get used.  i had used a scrap of white for my peacock garden wallhanging but it nowhere near matched the other blocks, so felt i had to remove and replace it with more kona snow.  *** quilting continues on the summer sampler and is shaping up to be a february finish...

this batting is a tad thicker than what i normally use for wallhangings but it will do.  and the blocks are free form quilted.  time to prep the binding....

hip hip hooray!

good things to acknowledge today, not the least of which is a huge shout out to my sister....being 12 years apart we were never that close. in her teen years, she suffered greatly and began a slow downward spiral with more setbacks, detours and almost permanent derailment that left all of our family with fear and sadness for her future.  but as chuck swindoll says, God wasn't finished with her.  through heavy prayer and numerous confrontations and nearly constant conflict, she turned her life around and is now firmly planted on a road that will lead to her ability to enjoy some success.  she is in college and just completed an associate's certificate program that gives her some better employment choices and away from high-school type jobs at pizza joints and the like.  to say we are all relieved is a huge understatement, but more than that, swelling with pride for the hurdles she has overcome and relieved she has reconnected to family with confidence, self-worth and a feeling of belonging that i don't believe she felt at all in her adult life.  being the youngest, she felt overshadowed by older siblings who arrived at adulthood long before her.  nothing else to say but hurrah to someone very dear to all of us!  

also in the works...

this is the scrappy 9-patch from gifted fabrics...can you see yours?  i bought the alternating square fabric at marden's...the pattern called for 3.5 yards but marden's had only 3, so i took it with hopeful anticipation and looks like there will be enough!  something else will be needed for binding but a scrappy binding would be perfect.  there is one row of sawtooth border attached but not pressed as it's waiting for a print border to corral all those bias edges.  as mentioned, this will get donated in honor of those who so willingly shared with me....better than prozac! 

new sew-along

jumped right in with barbara brackman's "westering women" sew-along with these pretty cheddar and indigo fabrics by penny rose...in a weak moment last year acquired a FQ bundle that i'll be using for this project.  going from 3" blocks to 12" blocks is a big leap, but this size is a good hand quilting project.  just one FWS block to make and i'll be up to date on ALL sew alongs....for today anyway.  otherwise i'll be quilting on the summer sampler waiting for snow to melt...LOL!

in the frame!

it's the re-appearance of last year's summer sampler, now basted and heading for a finish...february maybe?  whilst in limbo, it's been easier to focus on smaller projects even tho am anxious to finish my hawaiian, currently bagged up in plastic in the car trunk.  most of my other UFOs are in storage waiting patiently to be reunited with their creator.  until then, it's continue with sew-alongs, including barbara brackman's newbie starting today!  making good use of time and stash until regular life resumes....and since you asked (? maybe), the seaside photos are from east boothbay, a fave spot of my mom's from her younger days where a cousin was married and lived...here is the ancient little chapel site of nuptials.  isn't it quaint?  little towns, small churches, picturesque villages, so serene but i'm still a citygal....now to sew!