monday report

first up, a finish!!  slept peacefully after this very long-term project got completed....much like the hawaiian i made.  this 365 was by far the biggest quilt i've ever tackled and, thanks to the passage of time, haven't a clue why i originally started it in 2016.  i was homeless, couch surfing with most of my stuff in storage save for a few clothes, my featherweight and a grocery sack of scraps.  after 3 months an apartment came thru and the big move south, again with few items, the sewing machine and scraps.  this is going to my daughter and son-in-law as it's way too large for my use.  i would have given the top away if she hadn't spied and claimed it.  it isn't my best piecing or quilting, but it's done, isn't a cheap import and it has a home.  the entire quilt made from stash--not a bit was bought.  the final tally was 13.25 yards.....including the scrappy binding. 

with the 365 done, quickly moved on to some other sewing...during quiet early morning hours got this first of four blocks basted.....

and some time at the machine working on my gwen marston inspiration blocks...only a few more for this small 5x5 wall quilt....

these are 4" finished and border is red, all cut and ready to attach. ***  with end of year approaching, taking stock of year's accomplishments and revamping the UFO list for 2020....happy to say made good progress with finishes and only a handful of small project starts.  have also ramped up my exercise routine a bit in prep for one more cardiac test in a few weeks.  wish it wasn't so high maintenance but the payoff is so worth it....i know i am blessed with reasonably good health despite the supreme efforts....now back to sewing!

in the hoop

do you spy something different in my quilting hoop?  yes indeed!  this is a small piece assembled from the scrap pile and it'll be a quick finish....

and it's in the hoop because this is happening!! 

the 365 binding is being pinned on....oooh am giddy with delight at getting this finished so far ahead of what had originally hoped (end of december)....in the nick of time too because dear daughter and her hubby are in need of a big warm quilt....she loves it and i love giving it to them....and even with the mega-quilting time, did manage to do a bit of organizing.....went thru some of my elfa drawers, emptied 2 and consolidated some notions stuff in 2 others....

streamlining and culling "stuff" gives me more time to sew and quilt and others benefit from my discards, a win/win all around!

salute to veterans

and just the other day, found this on facebook....awesome!  thank you all past and present veterans for your service....and especially to all the veterans in my own family starting with the revolution, all brave and determined individuals. 

halloween's over....

and it seems that many think christmas comes next!   television and stores have ramped up christmas related programs, sales, gift ideas, etc...and with bazaars and fairs imminent, sewing has joined the fray...

these cute panels were donated to the senior center and decided to use some of them for holiday potholders....2 will be used in one potholder and i think i have enough for 5 potholders....pulled out the strip shoeboxes and these sewed up PDQ....should all be done this weekend and i'll post the finishes later....but first up today got the binding ready for the 365.  again used 3 prints from the stash and am super excited about getting this one done.  this quilt is going to family so scrappy binding isn't an issue....

gotta put it aside a bit this weekend for some necessary household duties...laundry basket overflowing!

first monday

of november, that is....the year is whizzing by and seasonal/holiday ideas are in full swing.  november has ushered in cool and sometimes cold temps here in the northern part of the south.  the extra quilt is now fully on the bed, the flannels and jackets are in daily use.  the 365 is moving along with delightful progress.  this is where i am now...

some of the quilting stitches reminiscent of a 3-year-old with the DTs...LOL....just a few more squares and i'll be turning the corner to the last side of the 2nd dark border.... then it's on to the final border of 6" light squares....am super happy about getting this behemoth done!  i may even end up liking this quilt....and with colder temps, a pot of chowder was in order....

and earlier made muffins for the freezer.....

a huge butternut squash was also cooked and sent to the freezer....it must be a yankee habit of storing up for the winter.....as a child watched my great-grandmother, grandmother, aunts and mother process green beans, tomatoes, beets, carrots, cranberries, plus all kinds of pickles and fruits to enhance meals thru the winter and beyond.  we felt privileged to have these items on our table so far out of season, a testament to endless hours of garden and kitchen work.  fast forward 50-60 years and the rows of jars in the cellar have disappeared but the memories remain....now bring on the week!

the big 2nd anniversary!

it's 2 years today since the big heart fix....and you might think i'm going overboard here, but if you have had this surgery you know otherwise.  it is brutal and monumentally life altering, complicating every single aspect of life, and quite likely without the surgery there would be no blog post at all....many tasks now are possible  but others still need improvement.  even tho my awful neighbors seem to be trying to kill me, it hasn't worked so far....i won't tell you it has been smooth sailing...far from it.  plenty of rogue waves engulfed me, riptides and many times blown off course.  it's a patch job that ushers in the start of a very high maintenance life, so difficult for me who has always been a get-up-and-go person.   i've cried an ocean of tears, been on top of the world, had many sleepless nights, plenty of inpatient visits, a gazillion lab tests, many repetitive cardiac tests, endless office visits, boring and tasteless salt-free meals and juggling dietary restrictions, more exercise in 2 years than the 68 before, a matterhorn-size stack of pills.  i've had to give away half my clothes and forego many fun events with great disappointment.  chicken is now on the endangered species list because i eat so much of it...LOL!  at my last doctor visit, i even told him i had changed my mind about having the bypass done because some days it is just that overwhelming....a very few...but of course so very thankful it was done.   i wish i could return to work part time but doesn't seem to be in the cards....snacking on potato chips, doritos, cheetos, pizza, french fries or movie popcorn has been a difficult habit to break...but do have a wee treat every so often without any issue.  i try to remember how far i've progressed, the days spent with family and friends, lots of quilting fun and just plain living.  i was never going to be a dancing diva, do cartwheels, change the world or run marathons...life is still very good!

whooooo?

has a birthday today?   that would be brother #2.....seen here in his very early days...

my mother's babies 3 and 4 were both born with the family auburn hair, and those bright eyes and clenched fists haven't changed too much.  he lives far away but is in our thoughts and prayers constantly.....he is the halloween baby, a definite treat!

getting there

cooler temps are here to stay so working on this huge quilt is uber comfy!

almost ready to turn the 2nd corner on this second border.  each block being different gives this task a bit of fun....i am thinking this will be finished by thanksgiving maybe?   that's well ahead of my end-of-year goal and would be terrific, giving me a chance to knock off a couple of small UFOs before 2020 arrives.   ***  it's the weekend again and have little on the agenda except the usual....and i'm wired for the weekend aka cardiac monitor to get a better idea of medication and exercise effects....hard to believe in 7 days it'll be two whole years since the life-changing event!

fancy to plain...

after all the fancy quilting on the flag challenge project, now with the 365 it's simply with a capital "S".....this quilt has about a billion more seams than any bonnie hunter scrappy and it is huge in size, for me anyway....it's 90" square and will be just right for daughter and son-in-law and is probably the only quilt i'll ever make this size. 
quilting the center medallion is DONE and happy to say that the first border of dark value 3" squares is also just about finished...

was lying in bed thinking ruminating about how this could be quilted and light bulb moment revealed that simple is best and same for every block is the very best.  so that is what i chose....you can just see that each little square has quilting just 1/4" inside with all the rustic imperfections!   the next border---light made of 6" squares--will be quilted simply as well...according to design of block, but if the block is constructed of 4 units, it'll get the same small block treatment.  still with 10 days in october and hoping to get that second border done before the big surgery anniversary on november 1st--all saints' day--so apropos for the cardiac surgeon and long list of other health professionals who extended my life. *** and with october, jack makes his annual appearance....

looking good for 40 years old, doncha think? made this the very year i started quilting and he's tagged along for all the horrendous moves and storage episodes....what tales he could tell!  no doubt he's happy to have a real home now....even tho to me it doesn't seem so.  with no ocean nearby how could it be??

and the loser is....

well, not just mine i'm sure....altho since i missed the meeting can't be totally positive!  the challenge was to select a state flag and use ALL the colors in the flag in the project.  my choice was Louisiana, only 5 colors in the flag.

the pattern chosen was storm at sea--had seen an article about the encroaching sea water into the marshes and the inevitable loss of bountiful shrimping along with several livelihoods....i call it "bayou sampler" as it is densely quilted with different patterns.  now that it's done, will next find it a home.

and what else is going on? the last of the solid bow ties are now in process....48 of  'em so this will definitely be a flimsy before 2019 flies....

and the amish star ornaments ready for sewing closed....these are 3" finished....

and wouldn't be a week without a new start....homage to gwen marston playing with more solids....have plenty of precut scraps so just a few minutes resulted in these that'll be another small piece to finish quickly...

i do believe i could sew nearly all week with just these scraps!  *** selling raffle tix, some hands-on mother duties and a few pesky medical appointments (boo) along with regular YMCA visits (yay) rounded out the week.....happily donning sweats and long sleeve shirts for this spectacular autumn weather....and since the maryland move, actually look forward to winter...but not quite yet.  first up will be a very important anniversary just 2 weeks from today!