saved by sewing

tuesday calendar clear so what to do?  sew of course!  i had pulled out a pattern sheet of bonnie hunter's from Quiltmaker column i'd saved for 'someday'...tuesday was someday!  

blue and cheddar....nothing better!  while rummaging in the stash had seen just the right fabric--small enough to use up but big enough for placemats or small wall quilt.  instead of using neutrals with the blue, using the cheddar with neutrals for setting pieces.  let the stripping begin!

hmm...are there some blues in scrap basket i could use?  went to check and shazam!  saw strips of a red batik mistakenly cut for a previous project PLUS some leftover green squares from last year's gift quilt....hmmm, red and green?  sounds like christmas!  so i pulled them, ironed them and stripped those as well....took me about 5 hours (includes bathroom and lunch breaks) in all but this is the result...

leftover solid apple green on the back and used for binding....a win/win!  not only did i wipe out aforementioned red/green scraps, ended up with a very festive, seasonal and possible gift!   late afternoon returned to the original project, blues and cheddars.  so it was sewing and inspiration to the rescue for an otherwise boring day.  

brrr cold day here, 24 degrees....yes that's maryland cold.  no matter, got my ll bean heavy coat, my lovingly knit hat/mittens/scarf/sox and those all-important cuddle duds long underwear.   ready to brave the elements!

necessity, they say....

is the mother of invention.  i never invented anything but having a need and finding a solution has challenged the little gray cells many times.  during a sleepless early morning, trying to figure a way to move quilted items to a tall shelf--vertically challenged, you know!  here is the shelf...

this was my solution.....

used the walker and wooden step left over from broken hip rehab, along with my regular step stool, to gain enough height to move things and make sure i had necessary support to avoid another broken hip.  worked like a charm!  i'll use this method to hang the rest of my wall quilts too.  

so now i have this....empty half shelf

that i hope will fit these....

things that need basting and quilting.....(ignore broken printer on bottom)....hmm might be a tight fit.  getting the last couple of stacks off the floor makes me happy.  

while moving things around, came across these in the "to be quilted" pile, 3 more of the hawaiian album blocks.  thinking a table runner for these once the squares have been evened up....

in addition to the blocks--i think there are more tucked away--came the pattern and a small stash of beautiful hand-dyed fabric pieces to make more.  i don't think i'll be making more but will finish up the blocks and use the remaining fabric elsewhere.  as i said, these were gifted to me and it's my honor to use them.

friday finish

quick post to report my 11th finish this year...that's one per month for the numerically disadvantaged, which includes me!  being a hand quilter slows me down from many of my fellow peeps but it's the part i like best.

the colors are off, being more muted and dark in person...the pitfalls of electronic eyes...really happy this is done in time for the holiday season.  

hope your turkey day was enjoyable...mine was quiet and subdued but glad to spend it with family.  then it's back to some wedding quilt sewing and  a re-watch of the parade.  no shopping day for me....i've got more UFOs to tackle!

We Gather Together...

to ask the Lord's blessing.....for me, it's not just today but every single day.  gather those i hold dear in my heart and prayers.  though i miss those huge holiday dinners with aunts, uncles and cousins and my grandmother, joining with my dear daughter and my dear son-in-law is equally enjoyable.  may you also commemorate this important day with those you love and cherish!

it's worth remembering that our native peoples actually kept the pilgrims alive and from starvation that first difficult year and joined with them in the first harvest feast.  it doesn't erase the horror that followed, but i imagine that recollection is painful. we owe them so very much.   i'll sign off with this masterpiece created years ago by my cherished chipmunk!

Tuesday tale

what's on the design wall?  wild turkeys of course!  as an homage, i'm having chicken on thanksgiving day....LOL!   actually, i ran to the store this morning and NO turkey legs or thighs whatsoever....a whole is out of the question, so chicken it is!  

folk art nativity is out of the hoop and ready for binding, so because nature abhors a vacuum, immediately pulled another UFO for possible december finish.   was gifted a number of baltimore-style blocks of a hawaiian theme.  decided to assemble them as smaller projects and this is the first.  i'm doing echo quilting of course and do so admire the lovely applique work as i quilt.  

monday pulled out the selvedge basket and sewed up some string pieces for potholders.  my mum is in need for a few and decided to make extras.  half the selvedges are used up and plan another day to empty the basket.  

starting this week, wednesdays are declared wedding quilt day.  hope to have the top done by the new year so it can be basted.  

stormy, rainy and windy day here with "cold" temps, as the weatherman says, arriving after.  when he says cold he means 40ish....will be dining with DD and SIL thursday and then it's heavy into christmas festivities.  putting up my tree very soon and bask in enormous thankfulness that i'm here to see all the cherished ornaments once again, but the real reason for christmas remains in my heart as always.  wishing all a blessed thanksgiving and hey, go easy on the pie!

all i can say is....

this is probably one of the worst tops i ever made in 40+ years....truly.  i cut each triangle individually on the straight of the grain, pressed not ironed, spray sizing on every piece, cut borders lengthwise and measured more than a few times....i like it color wise, but oh those borders!  i don't want to take them off or fudge anymore because it would probably end  up worse....i'll finish it of course....blasted bias edges!  will definitely keep me humble!  LOL!

it's a gorgeous late fall day...out doing a few errands and spied some bittersweet beside the road....i love the colors and it brings back memories of long ago....snapped off a few branches and here they sit.  the view is the back of my building where there are colorful trees but the sun is eclipsing them.  

while at mum's took a snap of this wall quilt--tropic pennants--as i don't have a copy among my completed photos....just love the colors and thinking i might make a companion piece and call it 'arctic pennants' in shades of blue/gray....

and flying back from maine got to ride in southwest's fancy plane....decorated with an indigenous hawaiian design to promote their hawaii flights i think....more inspiration!

quilting on the folk art nativity is coming along and should be a november finish....then it's on to another UFO, hoping for an even dozen finishes this year.  also roughing out what needs to get done first part of 2024....definitely wedding quilt top and baste.  i'm saving two small starts for 2024--buggy wheels and advent sky--as i'd like to finish a few of the bed size pieces that have been waiting long and can fit the smaller things inbetween.

picked up lots of autumnal produce today so it's been a whirlwind of cooking to have on hand--vegs, applesauce etc.  a squash pie is also on the list....recipe from the Daniel Webster Inn in Sandwich, MA....a definite keeper!  

never enough thanks

for all those who have served and are serving....

i'm a descendant of many such men, the truest of heroes, and at present are twin nephews, now recently deployed to the middle east.  may God protect them as they serve!

quick visit to my family in maine and of course this was on the menu....never get enough of delish maine certified lobster.  

stitchery on hand and plenty of hugs and laughs before my return home to MD...

Time change

 

this was the weekend....extra hour, well not really but i'm glad for the earlier daylight.  i seldom venture out at night but i am an early riser and the daylight gives me some oomph to get going.  but more time change going on here.

midnight is past and Christmas morning ahead, so gotta get the folk art nativity done...it's in the hoop and maybe by thanksgiving a finish?  we'll see...

and yes, 'midnight at the oasis' is finished!  here's a bed shot.  it's throw size at 62" square and not sure yet how it will get displayed....it was instant love when i saw this pattern, which was a gift to me.  i'll freely admit it was a challenge but ignorance catapulted me into things before, so i took it on.  not the easiest to hand quilt, which was definitely work, not a lot of fun.  but it's done, looks great from the rear of a galloping horse.  as someone told me recently, "a blind man would give a million dollars to see it."  i love it anyway.  the colors are much more vibrant in person.  my camera won't transfer photos anymore, so these were taken with the tablet.  

once halloween is over, it seems everyone acts like Christmas is next week!  holiday events are on the calendar.  my gift list was pretty much final months ago, so no last-minute frenzy.  *** i'm packed and ready to go visit family for a quick visit before snow flies--not me, them!  with the budget on life support, probably won't be able to go again until summer.  my un-raise in social security will hardly get me out of city limits.  but plenty of quilty projects to occupy me thru the maryland un-winter!

more temptation

pam buda's new sewalong--Liberty's Crown--is testing my determination.  Rather than english piecing or foundation piecing, i'd simply hand piece and, well, it isn't THAT big and the pieces are small, sure it should be a quick finish....but wait!!  the UFO list is calling haunting me so i'll reluctantly decline but save the pattern.  if you can't resist, hop on over to heartspun quilts and jump in!

summer has definitely left the building here in MD...me complain?  not a whit!  my maine wardrobe serves me well both here and during my soon visit up north.  i'll be gone only a week but hand sewing already packed....taking these two along....

'alaska' block kits and prep of applique circles for the dutch chintz panel UFO....nope i haven't forgotten it.  in fact, it could be a flimsy fairly soon...but the biggest news is....the binding on "midnight" has begun!  perhaps a finish this weekend.  next in the hoop is the folk art nativity as Christmas is fast approaching....my holiday plans are usually few, but already some events on my calendar.  now back to sewing!

Tricks or treats?

this cutie cat was sent to me by a quilty pal who does the most beautiful cross stitch as well as quilts!   this was definitely a treat!

streak of lightning is nearly a flimsy.....all the strips are done and a rummage in the stash unearthed this green that will be the border.  not my first choice but it'll work and besides, it's on hand and using it will make my frugal self happy.  there'll be some left but every little strip or FQ used up is progress.  another treat!

i did find this piece, a beautiful magenta-ish solid and there is definitely enough for the border but another plan is percolating.  a woman in one of my online quilty groups makes the most beautiful, mind-blowing, gorgeous whole cloth quilts....big ones, small ones, every one a masterpiece.  i queried her about method etc. as a whole cloth has been a WHIMM--work hidden in my mind--for a very long time.  this fabric will be perfect!  another treat! 

then to the bookcase where i pulled out this tried-and-true book published in 1980, only one year after my quilt journey began.  she published a second volume as well, both gems and chock full of patterns for my whole cloth.  i'm thinking 36" or 38" square with a center design, some cross hatching, some feathers....oh the ideas keep coming and coming!  another definite treat!

the biggest treat of all is that i am still here to have all this fun!  Six years ago tomorrow heart surgery gave me a second chance.  Yes, it was horrible and yes i've had plenty of detours, pity parties, embarrassing moments, and worked harder than i ever did in my life.  all those medical caregivers who treated me, gave me advice, listened to my issues and pushed me to keep working harder are the true saints....my All Saint's Day angels.  To say i'm blessed is a huge understatement.  I thank them and my God every day!