the plain truth

i'm no quilt designer, no way no how.  but i had this idea for this wall quilt and started it, now i'm sorta developing it as i go along, ideas percolating...it's growing on me.  it won't be my favorite but somebody will like it...donation destination for sure....it's why i stick to others' patterns...😕

while contemplating this piece, realized had lots of small tops and not enough batting--i use pellon sew in fleece type.  surfed joann's website and found a good coupon, wiped out my christmas gift card to stock up...6 small pieces plus 2 large quilts to do...will set up the folding banquet table for the duration....good thing i live alone!

after watching mary berry, had to try these chicken wings....i've been looking for a very low sodium recipe...there is a bit of worcestershire in them but otherwise all other ingredients are cardio friendly.

they are good but next time i'll reserve some of the marinade before adding the chicken and drizzle over cooked wings...they are missing something, probably salt, but the marinade has a bit of maple syrup and it might make them perfect.  definitely good tho....recipe is here if you are interested https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/smoky_firecracker_89700 (she used drumsticks) i cooked mine at 375 for about half hour or so....

now quilting the last row of the scrappy trees, time to prep binding and get this puppy finished...we're 10 days from another month and got to finish some things so i can start new ones of course...LOL! 

in the works

quiet Easter sunday here....gas prices kept me from dinner at DD and DSIL's...settled for some homemade spaghetti sauce here...ham is off my menu...our governor had instituted a gas tax holiday that expired saturday so it's like an invisible fence to remain local.  anyway, made good use of a free day (another one!) to get the butterflies to a flimsy....

i've called it "psychedelic garden" and plan to quilt vines and leaves in the sashing...no border just the white binding to finish it off...and with that flimsy done, selected another UFO that needed the same...

a bird house project that got stalled because of lettering, now done and can proceed with completion.  it'll have some birds appliqued on flying in to inspect!  the letters are smaller than they appear in this photo....it's a rainy, chilly, icky day so thinking of setting up basting table.  can work on "midnight at the oasis", a project that needs to be a flimsy plus baste a few small pieces.  scrappy trees is nearly quilted so anticipate finish by week's end. *** sewing blocks for secret project continues and monthly mini half assembled.  *** but it's monday and that's been laundry day as far back as i can remember, so that's on and some exercise and the rest of the day is mine to sew...how good is that!

He is Risen!

 A Blessed and Joyful Easter to those who celebrate.....and Happy Passover to those who celebrate!

friday sewing

just about recovered from travel, being away and my little unexpected "trip", now finding small bruises in unmentionable places...LOL...time to resume sewing!  planning travel sewing for late august and chose 'alaska'....made one block, by machine, with poor result....

the pesky center just isn't right and know from experience that taking it out a gazillion times will only increase blood pressure!  choice made to hand piece all blocks, calling for a kit.  photocopied the blocks layout and picked up some quart-size baggies....

photo a bit dark but you get the idea...will cut all pieces for all blocks, baggie 'em up and put in a project bag for summer vacation.  i'll be gone 3+ weeks so fair amount of progress should result.  *** while formulating this plan, thought about a UFO that could be assembled quickly....some pieced butterfly blocks using a tula pink layer cake.  my apologies to the designer...the pattern is misplaced in netherworld and cannot find it on the website...planned on 9 blocks and got them all done in a day!

very springy/summery colors!  auditioning sashing now for a wall size piece...of course i have lots of layer cake left.  the antennae need embroidering as well, once it's a top.  ***  secret sewing on a gift quilt continues and my task this week is to finish the scrappy christmas trees...spring weather see-sawing but new fresh air and beautiful flowers so welcome.  time for breakfast!

not monthly mini!

slowly getting back to usual routine and sewed up this little wall quilt because couldn't resist the colors!  it's summery here for a few days but spring will return and with it those "april showers" needing that brolly as the aussies say....umbrella!

but they could just as easily be those colorful beach umbrellas seen many times as we lolled on the beach in maine....either way a nice cheery little piece i'll hand quilt at some point....and i've the second half of the month for my real monthly mini.

best kind of tired...

is the kind that comes after a wonderful visit with far-away family....back to the village today--very reluctantly--after complicated travel modes and a minor mishap.  first up, some vacation pastime photos....

not a great photo but got my flowers prepped and ready to baste/applique on the flimsy thus far.  an april top?  could be....and some cross stitch done....

a christmas stitchery going along until ran out of floss....and a needlecase sampler close to finished...

and just a bit of retail therapy.....

the colors aren't great...the last on the left is a near prussian blue stripe...and the far right is cream with tiny red keys....and what else did i do?  visited with my family, storing up hugs and kisses until August beach vacation.  Also scarfed down a considerable variety of fresh seafood....every day but one....yes, lobster rolls, clams, shrimp, fresh haddock and flounder.  made a batch of delish Rhode Island clam puffs for my mom.  

the only downer--literally!--was tripping over a small metal threshold not realizing it was not flush with the handicap ramp.  did a sort of belly flop onto a store floor whacking my left knee; yes, THAT leg!  reposed on the floor a bit until sure nothing was broken and ambulation was possible.  couple of smallish purple bruises and fortunately few people to witness...back on my feet with a few days of tylenol pretty near back to normal.  got my ocean smell and vista fix that'll have to last until august.  the travel is a complete horror coordinating various modes, but oh so worth the effort.  all the other stuff is just fluff...back in Maryland and easing into usual routine, dreaming of lazy beach days and counting days once again.

april's OMG

 quick post and photo to document April's OMG....will link up with patty at elm street quilts, of course...

down to the last 3 rows to quilt, then bind and voila!  all ready for christmas in july!

march OMG and mini

 happy to say march's OMG was met by finishing this top that was posted earlier...

altho it didn't get basted, sensing a basting party is in the near future for this and a few other tops, linking up with patty at elm street quilts...and the march mini is.....

no surprise, more s'mores!  these were rejected from the top as i felt the contrast was too vivid...i've a few more tucked away (? another mini) for someday....i hand quilted it and it seems no matter how much i measure and iron, the photos appear wonky somehow...oh well, artistic license i guess...linking up with wendy for this one....

waiting for a warmup here after a couple of days of very cold temps, biting winds and a few snow squalls...very short pity party this morning....now 11 months since the hip break and tried ramping up exercise that again backfired, hoping the next day huge improvement would magically materialize but instead hip is sore and back to tylenol.  so exercise vacation day, will sew instead!  stop by on thursday to see april's OMG....

another box ticked

had a short list of small projects that needed finishing before traveling and this was one...

a case for my tablet....went to the stash shelf and pulled a colorful batik, but when it was finished, shazam!  it matches my backpack!  was not a deliberate choice, rather the colors jumped out at me.  not the most detailed or high quality case, but it has double foam on both sides and bottom and much lighter than the laptop for travel.  and the backpack?  last summer's find at the LL Bean Outlet store.  was still using cane then and it was just right for the few necessary items....and still is!  ***  while at bank drive-thru spied these lovelies....everything is in bloom now and tulips are up and budded...

had a 5-minute snow flurry today but could very well be our last flakes until december...more secret sewing rounded out my day....now bed and book!

friday fun

 with house chores done, it was my time for some play...first a little finish....

the last zipper i had made its way into another project bag...now i have 4 that'll do me for now...and yes, more daisy print underneath--a wall quilt back that is getting a sleeve and traveling north with me...then played with some of the lovely solids recently gifted.  had pulled these 3 pieces and was itching to make a bars wall quilt...

those 3 light strips were all that were sent, a putty color, and i just had to use them.  plain, yes, as it's meant to be....the magic comes when it's hand quilted...and pretty sure i'll be using more putty too.  next up today?  a case for my tablet and finish quilting the monthly mini.  *** only a couple more things for the suitcase; you can be sure the flannel pants and wool sox are already packed!

ADDENDUM:  Looked up "putty" but found that the light strips are actually Kona Cotton oyster...a delightful mix of gray/beige....might need to get some...