whites vs lights

these are the 2 elfa drawers containing whites and lights.  as you can see, i have far too many white scraps, most of which are from backing leftovers.  fortunately the christmas scrappy needs about 900 more of these for the scrappy quilt, so hopefully the drawer will be closer to empty when all the pieces have been cut.  i would much rather be using the lights, but they will keep.  ***** this morning already i have "busted" more solid scraps, tiny pieces that in years past would have gotten tossed but have now been repurposed into mini amish 9-patches.  *****  i have noticed again today that my other elfa drawers are less full. meaning i can open and close them without difficulty...LOL!  every so often i go through each drawer and see what scraps i have and how i might use them.  i have started a few new small projects and have others planned.  sewing has overtaken housework for sure!

christmas scrappy progress

here are 2 rows so far.  they look pretty lonely on the design wall.  the unfinished width of each strip is 3.5" and each strip is 72.5" long.  the finished size will be 66 x 72, big enough to hand quilt and for whatever use i'll need.  all you quilt police turn your heads because this is a real scrappy, meaning no rhyme or reason to prints placement.  the whites are some WOW and some solid, again no placement order.  and some of my points got mysteriously cut off.  so there, that's the whole truth.  even so, it's pretty and will be a great holiday (or anytime) snuggle quilt.  remember, i do this for pure enjoyment, nothing else.  ***** see those videos stacked on the floor in the lower right corner?  they need a home; hoping that i'll finish enough UFOs that will clear space on the shelving unit for them.

wreath flimsy

tuesday morning before i pulled out the christmas scrappy, i finished this flimsy.  now it's off my design wall and in the "baste" pile.  my muse must be in a holiday spirit directing me to these christmas-color projects.  hmmm, maybe my next project will be to finish the "carolina christmas" flimsy too, you think? 

a really old UFO

this pattern, "woven ribbons," by darlene zimmerman appeared in a 1998 issue of american patchwork and quilting.  i tore it out and filed it away because its scrappiness called to me.  some time later, i had some WOW scraps with a holly pattern and lots of christmas scraps from tree skirts and other projects.  i decided to make a scrappy christmas quilt.  today i once again pulled out the shoebox and found that i still like this a lot.  so, in the bottom photo you'll see the quilt in progress.  in addition to the WOW scraps, i'm using up plain old white scraps as well.  this quilt will also be quilted, but there isn't that much white space and plenty of color in this scrappy.  this is the only strip done so far, with about 20 more to go, but it's a good way to spend the hours and keep the old viking humming!

scrap tales

with this set of scraps (whites, solids, batiks), i decided to see what they could be used for and made up the block at the bottom.  alas, it's totally without zing....scrappy yes but boring!  so, back to the drawing board.  i decided to use the solids to make some mini 9-patch amish blocks and put the others aside for now.  the whites are leftovers from backings and backgrounds of other projects and i just can't simply toss them.  i do have a scrappy christmas in progress to use them up, but i'll still have some left over i'm sure.  the big problem with white fabric is that it simply STOPS any action in the quilt completely.  sometimes i use it purposely for quilting space, but

usually prefer to have more zing in my projects....

we have liftoff!

the 3 eagle chicks at wildlife center of virginia that were rescued after their mother was killed near the nest at norfolk botanical gardens are starting to fledge.  two have flown from the nest onto a nearby fake branch within their enclosure.  the 3 chicks, a misleading description since they each weigh about 10 pounds, won't be leaving the enclosure for the last time until august but they will soon get some additional room to strengthen their wings and polish their flying technique.  it's been educational and fun to watch them grow; sometimes they act just like human toddlers!  i'll miss them when they are released, but it's what they were born to do.  a calendar will be issued later this year with photos of the parent eagles, a tribute to the mother, dubbed "lady legacy," and of the chicks, proceeds of which benefit the wildlife center.  the president of WCV calls the chicks the center's rock stars due to the unprecedented worldwide interest prompting 24-hour online streaming for all their fans.  if you want to check them out before they are gone, it's www.wcev.com, the local TV station with a link directly to the eaglecam.  one caveat:  sometimes there are dead rats or fish in the nest!

we've not forgotten

he went to war a young man from a small town in maine and came back having seen too much unpleasantness and with residual health issues.  even though he saw some exciting landmarks and Bob Hope, he couldn't wait to return to maine soil, forever changed and not all for the better.  no doubt that's true for far too many.  on this special day and every day that we enjoy our freedoms, we salute you all. 

a surprise gift!

wow, what a surprise in the mail today!  these are hand-dyed solids, a HUGE collection of small pieces, from cherrywood fabrics.  the $$ for hand dyed fabrics isn't in my budget, but is obviously in somebody's.  and solids too, double wow!  mmmm, thinking amish little quilts here....even if i could afford the yardage, i couldn't choose just one or even a few of these gorgeous colors!  turquoise maybe, or royal blue, or eggplant, or lime green?  well, whoever you are, thank you!  **** it's an at home retreat this weekend for the stashbusters.  means little to me because i sew nearly every day anyway.  i worked some on my mystery project and later will quilt on the pinks project.  so far the weather isn't bad at all.  would be great if it holds all weekend.

mystery project continues

here is a photo of ONE of the fabrics i'm using in my current project, a bit of a mystery until the unveiling.  that's my antique sewing table underneath.  you can see the sun coming in through the blinds so it isn't cloudy for a change.  i keep my laptop on the left corner because of wiring accessibility issues.  i'd prefer a dedicated spot but there simply isn't any floor space for a laptop desk close to the wires.  i could get a fold-down desk to mount on the wall, but again, no space.  i am able to work ok in my little space, but more floor and wall space would be nice.  *****  oprah, like most notables, has her critics, but when i saw those men from morehouse college who had received scholarships from oprah, and also others whose education has been enriched by her gifts, i was more than choked up.  sometimes i might think she's a little too much "out there" with her generosity, but no one can deny that many people with little or no resources have benefitted.  God calls us not to be Pharisees, puffing ourselves up and boasting about our good works, but in some ways I think oprah, because of her background, is more amazed because she CAN give rather than giving just for faint praise.  sometimes when i am able to help someone else, i feel the urge to tell, but it's only because i am filled with joy, not pride, in being able to meet someone else's need.  there is a real difference, but since i don't know her personally, i can't be sure.  a very wise person long ago taught me the difference between self-respect and selfishness and it really changed my life for the better. 

david letterman not!

maine's top ten

1.  medical secretaries need not apply
2.  in maine, multitaskers are the under-employed with a series of minimum wage seasonal jobs
3.  most renown landowner actually calls texas home
4.  you can get there from here, but it's at least a 100-mile drive each way, usually more
5.  always sacrifice industry and jobs to save tourist haunts
6.  25 miles on turnpike costs you $3 in tolls
7.  4-year college degree opens doors....to the job center to look for a job
8.  sign at border stating "the way life should be" for tourists only
9.  the original LL (leon leonwood) Bean's goal was never to sell shirts made in pakistan or guatemala
10.  most abundant of resources, lobster and blueberries, shipped out of state

so, come on up and be sure to bring those tourist bucks with you!

a pity

the pot smoker is back outside now that the weather has improved.  too bad our complex doesn't have a building set aside for those who indulge in such pastimes....closer to the boonies, you know?  it's one of the real negatives of apartment complex living.  it just isn't fair to those of us who would rather not smoke along.  that explains why i wake up with a headache in the morning because i'm not really a headache person at all.

weekend wrap

spent the weekend quilting on the pinks as well as machine piecing this little wallhanging.  the pattern is from the moda bakeshop via calico horse and calls for charms, but naturally i have stash to use!  it's almost all pieced, now on the design wall.  once finished it will go in the tote along with all the other finished items with no specific destination.  it will be hand quilted at some point.  other colors could be used for any season, really, but i love christmas so greens it is!

by the sea, by the sea...

strange yellow orb appeared briefly in the sky today compelling us to leave the confines of our rented abode and travel to the nearest salt water galaxy not too far away.  in maine, when the mercury-contained heat indicator reaches 60F., many denizens are garbed in shorts and i complied.  seriously, 60F. in maine is like 80F. in southern locales so it's nearly a requirement.  **** am presently quilting the pinks project and some machine sewing on other things as well.  ***** after a hastily prepared evening caloric intake of the mediterranean genre along with herbaceous leafy greens (spaghetti and salad), some quilting and TV listening, am retiring to the all-purpose sleep/sewing chamber for reading my current volume on temporary loan from the nearest multimedia receptacle (library)....."The Land of Painted Caves," last volume of Earth's Children Series by Jean Auel, which I recommend highly. 

quilting in progress

yesterday i did get the pinks basted and started the quilting as well.  that project needs to be finished right away, so it'll be my primary handwork project until completion.  today i'm pulling out the next machine project that is a gift, so details omitted until it's been received.  these two projects will take up the majority of the next two weeks.  after that, it's back to basting 2 UFOs and quilting the next.  this year hoping to knock off at least 10 from my UFO list of 21; with june nearly here i've finished 6 so well on my way to that goal.  ***** the sky is lightening a bit here after a week of clouds and rain, so maybe the weather guru is right, the sun WILL come out tomorrow!

a friday flimsy

got this top done today but it won't be a flimsy long because i'm basting it later on so i can start the quilting and yes, the photo is sideways.  a thanks here to susan branch for posting her pattern of "vineyard seasons" for inspiration.  true, the pinwheel is a public domain pattern, but she utilized it in a unique way which I did not copy exactly but all in all, i want to give her a mention.  i am probably going to bind mine in one of the pink fabrics.  after this quilting project is done, i'm going back to the hawaiian applique project for handwork.  i've also got a quilt that needs tying and then bound to be finished, so that's on the agenda as well.  ****** has finally stopped raining here in maine but no sun yet.  the talking weather heads say sunday for certain.

9 little schools...

all pieced by hand.  these are 6" schoolhouse blocks all done and waiting for the narrow border, then baste, quilt and binding!  though i do still make some bed-size quilts, i am so into making small projects that can be finished fairly quickly and give me just as much satisfaction.  there are so many patterns i want to make that i couldn't possibly all do in big quilts.  so, i'll have a collection of smaller pieces instead.  i have 2 quilts on my bed, my daughter has 3 quilts, my mother has 3 quilts, there is a sofa quilt, my aunt has a quilt, my older brother and SIL have 2 quilts and my sister has a quilt.  i also have 2 tied quilts to be given away, 4 bed quilts in process and a few more at the UFO stage.  when i finish them all, i still have stash to make more.....so will that be enough? 

the beginning

last night during "dancing with the stars," i decided to try the applique portion of my hawaiian quilt.  i watched the DVD three times and felt confident enough to try it for myself.  the left is a photo of the back and it does look like the example on the video, except for the skipped spot....i'm impressed!  below is the front where the stitches are barely or not even showing.  good thread match!  this is aurifil 50/2 recommended by the shop.  i used a batik that i washed three times, also recommended by the shop, to make it soft enough for the applique and quilting later on.  so far i am pretty happy with the result.  this will probably be my TV project for some time, as there is no deadline for its completion and i do have other projects that need to be done for specific reasons.  i put a lot of thought into my choices and so far i am more than pleased.  **** weather continues dreary and drizzly, so could get a lot of sewing done this during its tenure.  already i've finished the 30s flimsy and started on the pinks project, which should be basted by week's end.  it doesn't take the place of meaningful work but a tolerable substitute for the time being.

flimsy finish

clipped this pattern from mccall's quilting magazine in 2000 and now the flimsy finally is done.  this is going to be a gift at some point.  the name is "lovers' links" and i used my 30s stash, which is now nearly completely gone.  there are some authentic vintage fabrics in this as well.  i've also started sewing together the pinks project and hope to get that to the basting stage this week some time.  pretty good accomplishment for a rainy monday.  since the entire week may be similarly solar challenged, i expect i'll get a lot of sewing done, if my pedal foot holds up that is.

here it is!

well, the lone star is finally finished.  it needs a cold water dip to get rid of the quilting marks, but otherwise it's a finish.  this is the second one i've made, both were made by hand.  this one didn't come out as well as the other and i sort of lost enthusiasm for it near the end.   regardless of the outcome, there is a lot of work here so it'll get hung up on the wall as it's not entirely displeasing to the eye but again, not at all blue ribbon status.  no matter. it's an accomplishment and that's better than leaving it or flinging it incompleted.  my quilting goal never was to be absolutely perfect, only to enjoy the process and the result. 

blast from the past

even before i started quilting in 1979, i was enamored with quilts.  when the bicentennial quilt frenzy was in full swing, i purchased this magazine to get an early "fix" of quilting, probably because of the amish quilts included.  there are also patterns for dresden plate, gingham dog/calico cat and other traditional plus a few patriotics with shields and eagles and such and even a new york beauty!  my taste in quilt styles has broadened a bit, but my fascination/attraction to amish and traditionals hold fast.  i wonder who else might have a copy in their book stash?  this is definitely a keeper.  **** still watching the eagle chicks grow but at this point, i get turned off watching them rip apart and eat rodents.  i try to check in frequently enough to catch the first mini-flight, which should take place in the next few weeks.  there's lots of flapping and short hops taking place inbetween gross feedings.

watch this space!

very soon i can show you the lone star finish as i am now working on the binding, yes!  another UFO will bite the dust this very week, i do believe.  my current machine project is another UFO, a 30s style quilt.  i also have a quilt basted and ready for tying so you can see, i am working fast and furious to finish up as many UFOs as possible. lucky for me i have lots of time to sew, which isn't always the case.

in the pinks!

in addition to doing a number of quilty tasks today, i also went to marden's to pick up some fabric for a commission piece.  as usual, i found some really lovely pinks and a background piece as well.  about half are $2.99 fabrics, the rest were $3.99 (that's per yard). from these i am going to get 2 quilt tops; one is the comission and the other will be a baby/carriage size.  and though i didn't specifically look for "name brand" quilt shop fabrics, as most but not all of marden's are, the end labels on these were RJR, robert kaufman, red rooster, free spirit and westminster.  they've been washed and dried already.  the yardage total is 4.25 yards for about $17, real honest-to-goodness bargains!  i did see a background online i liked a lot better, but it was $9.25 a yard and would have been just over $23 for the 2.5 yards needed....a definite no.  after choosing these i got out of there fast.....serious temptation!

Two Reasons to Celebrate

no doubt i have disappointed these two ladies more than once in my life, but i hope they feel as i do, that mother's day wouldn't be the same without either of them.  i know my life would be much different had i not been part of their lives.  on this day i wish to acknowledge both of them.  my own mother, raised by inattentive elderly grandparents when her own mother died while she was a toddler and who struggled with her own mothering skills and my daughter, who became a wonderful adult despite my own failures both deserve honor on this holiday, albeit a "hallmark" one.  i simply cannot comprehend what my life would be like without either. 

a favorite place

in all the 18 years since the horrific house-selling fiasco, i've lived dozens of places.  many were places i wanted to stay and settle down, but for reasons that i still cannot comprehend, i wasn't able to do that.  this is a photo of the place i liked most.  it was only an ordinary apartment, but it was 2 blocks from this beach where there was a terrific sidewalk and park.  i went there often, always daily and sometimes more, to walk, read, cry, pray, regroup, think and sometimes nap.  it was very close to terrific public transit (buses, train), great shopping, downtown boston, colleges, churches, potential employers, diverse neighborhoods and lots of great beaches.  for someone with salt water in her veins, it was ideal.  alas, i could not stay here either.  but if i moved back to massachusetts, this is the first place i'd go.  i hope before i die, someone will tell me what happened to my house and led to those very miserable 18 years.  forgive me this brief interlude of bitterness.

lists update

this morning did a little blog housekeeping and updated my project lists.  so far have finished 5 off the UFO list.  i started 4 new projects, all small pieces, and moved 3 from my WHIMM list to the STARTED list.  so it would seem i'm running in the negative with regard to the UFO list at present.  this, however, WILL change.  in addition to finishing more UFOs, i'm hoping to finish up some of the small projects and keep them from being 2012 UFOs.  while i love scrappy quilts and make a lot of them, sometimes i need a change from all those pieces.  havinig a mixture of projects utilizing different techniques (pieced, applique, etc.) gives me the option to satisfy my current creative muse on any given day.  many might not think this is a system, but quilters understand perfectly, don't you? 

when life gives you scraps....

after the pineapple blossom top finish, i had these little scraps left over.  many are 2" strip scrap pieces.  these are going to morph into some paper pieced blocks for who knows what future project.  i was thinking placemats maybe or a tablerunner or even a mini wallhanging of sorts.  maybe a pineapple or courthouse steps paper pieced tablerunner?  that would definitely work.  see?  i am actually using up my stash, scraps and all.  now on to the next project/UFO/finish. 

first peek....

at the new england sampler UFO in progress.  top is row 1, bottom is row 4.  the other rows are all applique replete with vines, leaves, hearts, flowers, etc.  the maple leaf row is the only patchwork row, which is why it's done.  the border, too, is vines, leaves and flowers.  ***** yesterday got the room all vacuumed...little fabric dog ears all over the floor don't you know!  no cutting today, for it's basting day!  i've 3 quilts to baste and the boston commons white borders will be marked (hopefully) using a stencil i got in nashua a few years back.  this is my first attempt after my quilt marking class, so anxious to see the result.  i'll keep you posted....i'm quite fortunate that i now have the time to fine-tune my quilting skills, going back to techniques i heard of previously but never had the chance to learn or perfect. ***** thanks to all who commented on my pineapple blossom!

a flimsy!

whew, here is my pineapple blossom top all done!  the picture really doesn't do the colors justice.  these are all batiks and it will be hand quilted.  i did the border different than bonnie's pattern because i only made 24 blocks and wanted it a little bigger.  so used the waste triangles to make broken dishes and also included a narrow white border to stop the action of the pineapple blossom blocks and show the pattern more distinctly.  i'm pretty happy with it.

a little finish

yesterday i finished this little square.  it's a jinny beyer pattern using her border print fabrics.  i had been wanting to try it for some time, since the 1980s really, when i first learned of this technique.  jinny blew the quilting world away with her "ray of light" quilt, which i got to see up close and personal.  she, along with a few others, are credited with the resurgence of quilting at the time of the bicentennial and it's exploded since then.  this square is going in the orphan pile for some use later on.  ****** today i'm putting the last border on the pineapple blossom, so watch this space for a look at the flimsy, probably tomorrow. 



what's in your trash?

if you are frugal at all, no doubt you've been eyeing what's going in the trash bin lately.  last night i was cutting out some more triangles for a scrappy pinwheel.  this morning i was prepping more strips for my pineapple blossom.  i was quite pleased when i took a look at the throwaways and didn't find one smidgen i could use in another project.  i know, those dogbed people are going to chastise me, but regardless of them, what i tossed wasn't what i consider usable fabric.  keep in mind this photo was taken close up so they actually look larger than they really are.  so, even though i don't regularly pay $10-12 per yard for what i buy, it's nonetheless valuable in terms of the specie of the realm.  from the pineapple blossom project alone, i've got lots of little pieces leftover.....great for miniature pineapples don't you think?

mmmmmarden's!

stopped in at marden's yesterday to pick up some fabric as a giftie...found a delish thimbleberries and a blender to go with it; they are already in their package so can't show those BUT, found these awesome pieces!  the cheddar plaid was a remnant, the end of a 2.99 bolt so grabbed that.  found some civil war reds/browns for my maine quilts workshop, plus a shirting background and a shirt-type stripe for an upcoming project.  most fabrics at marden's have gone up to about 4.49 per yard but still very good deals.  saw another shopper with a cart that was rapidly filling up.  we met in the aisle and just grinned at each other.  it's a sickness for certain.  i don't go there often for that reason and was deeply saddened to leave so many gorgeous fabrics behind, but i'll let marden's store them for me  <grin>!

tale of two wallhangings

this wallhanging was STARTED on the day of Charles and Diana's wedding back in 1981.  i got up early to watch the wedding and then spent most of the day at a quilting seminar at Stonehill College in North Easton, MA.  i was working for a shop selling fabric and patterns.  the vendor in the adjacent booth had some patterns and the feathered star caught my eye.  being a novice quilter, i simply purchased some fabrics from the booth where i was working and started to sew right then and there, completely oblivious to things like bias edges and such.  i chose these colors because amish quilts were my original passion.  flash forward 30 years. just this morning i FINISHED the bottom wallhanging from some swap squares, again on the day of a royal wedding.  how spooky is that?

stash bargains

hit the thrift yesterday looking for cotton shirts in good condition to add to my stash and i found 2, a plaid and a stripe.  these were half price, though i would rather pay less than $2 for them.  i'll be yard saling this summer looking for same.  going to the thrift is like a treasure hunt, never knowing what will be found.  i found (and bought) 2 English china soup bowls, 99 cents each, and also a summer cotton nightgown for $1.75.  i was going to sew one up but couldn't possibly for that price.  it was hardly worn if at all.  now if i could just find a good bargain on quality cotton thread.  ***** today's tasks?  some grocery shopping, some cleaning and hopefully to finish the pineapple blossom blocks AND bind the small wallhanging.  next week's plan is to get 3 quilts basted for quilting.  i've plenty of TV work at the ready for tomorrow morning's royal wedding. 

eaglet update

sadly, today the chicks were removed from the nest and sent to the wildlife center for continued care and eventual release.  it was determined that one parent could not provide enough food for the chicks whose appetite increases daily and one or more chicks would not survive.  skilled wildlife caretakers have speedily set up a similar habitat and say the outlook is very good, since the chicks are older than most they get and are all in excellent health.  an older sibling of the chick is at the center where he was sent and lives after contracting avian pox.  even the tree service staff who facilitated in the banding last week and the removal today were filled with emotion over the events of the past two days.  i am totally surprised how attached i have become to these wild birds just by watching them grow and be cared for by the adults.  the wildlife center has been overwhelmed by voluminous contacts of those who have followed their progress.  fortunately, it has resulted in significant donations to aid in their work and rescue efforts. ***** back to quilty stuff tomorrow, i promise.

p.s.

checked back on the eagle cam before heading to bed with my book and learned that dad eagle had been perching on a nearby branch all day and did eventually bring the chicks some food.  he's an experienced dad so maybe he will be able to keep up with the feedings for the next month or so until they start flying on their own.  even if he is successful, the fact remains that 50% of all eagle chicks die in the first year, mostly due to inadequate hunting skills.

sooo sad

the mama eagle from the pair nesting at Norfolk Botanical Garden has been killed by a landing US Airways plane.  from the moderator, i learn that this mother eagle lost her first mate from a plane strike.  it's terribly sad, especially since i've recently been watching her teach her 3 babies how to eat by themselves.  they are nowhere near ready to be without her.  it's possible the father eagle will step in, but not sure.  he has not been seen at the nest all day either.  waiting to hear from NBG what will be done for these little feathered orphans.  all of us who have been watching the progress of these majestic birds are in deep mourning.  i know, it's only a wild animal, but if you had seen her with her babies, you would be crying too.  after having seen this bird care for her young through only her instinct, i am truly in awe of their Creator.  God knows when a sparrow falls and i am sure this includes eagles as well. 

another finish

this is a small piece finished today utilizing pepper cory's drunkard's path method totally by machine.  i busted some solids (very few) in its construction, it was quilted free form with brown thread, totally invisible on this view.  the units are 3", total size 18" square.  i'll add it to the stack of finished items for someday use.  i've now started quilting, free form again, on a wallhanging made of swap squares from my yahoo group, Real Women Quilt.  i expect it will be finished some time this week.  the binding takes the longest as i usually bind totally by hand.....great TV watching, er listening, work. 

the finish

so here it is all finished, quilted and everything, posing on the sofa.  big relief to know it's all done just waiting to be mailed to maine quilts at the designated time.  i took a break from the pineapple blossom to get this one done.  i've a few more small quilted projects that can get finished quickly and knocked off the list as well.  this could very well be the year the entire list gets finished, who knows?  in the process of the finish, i busted 2 spools of thread, one quilting and one machine.  once i finish a few more, there's a summer wallhanging i want to make using up my watermelon fabric stash of just 5 FQs.  there will be some scraps leftover but it'll be out of the Elfa drawer.  plus i want to get back to those 5" pineapple blocks started earlier this year.  those are a great warm weather project, sitting in the a/c with the old viking whirring. 

happy easter!

this is the gang of four on Easter Sunday in 1961 and the littlest is now 50....how did THAT happen?  it really was only yesterday, wasn't it?  i hope they all see this and know i love them and will for always.  ***** what did i do today?  had dinner with family and finished a UFO...will post photo tomorrow!

leaders/enders

this is my ongoing inchie leaders/enders project.  when i get 1.5" squares out of scraps, i put them aside in a little tote next to the old viking.  i sew them in rows of 16 and they are getting sewn into squares for a future scrappy project.  i've been doing this for a while now and have enough for one whole square now, so it'll be a while before any flimsy appears.  the leaders/enders allow me to get the max from my spool of thread, which i like a lot.  before L/E, a lot of thread went into the trash can but no longer.  another gem of a tip from quiltville USA!  before L/E i would use a thread bunny over and over that eventually got tossed, but this method is sooo much better and way more frugal. 

today's tasks...

not much really, but i have been watching the eaglecam quite a bit.  it is fascinating viewing and i am amazed at how fast these chicks grow.  in the past week they have begun to shed their down and grow feathers and even try their wings.  on thursday, april 21st, the banding process will begin at about 9 am, so i'll be watching then.  no, it isn't the royal wedding but darn near as interesting and certainly more educational.  if you have some time, be sure to check in.  there is a moderator posting answers to questions that are emailed with lots of info about eagle habits and lifestyle.  did you know eagles mate for life?  this pair has raised chicks in this particular location since about 2001.  did you know that by the time the feathers appear, their feet are full grown?  they now weigh about 5 pounds each with a wingspan of 3 feet.  disclaimer:  the parent eagles often bring food, dead fish or birds, so if you are squeamish about this, don't tune in to watch this engrossing live show.

pineapple progress

spent some time sunday afternoon working on this flimsy.  so far i've gotten all these blocks finished with more halfway done.  (that's sunshine filtering through blinds)  i used batiks and am happy with the look/result so far.  the best thing about batik fabrics is that they all together no matter what, and i have never seen one i didn't like either.  i originally planned for 24 squares but i've upped that to 36, which will give it a square finish and large enough to use as a bed covering.  it'll have a 1.5" finished inner border and then an outside border of something batik, not sure what at this moment.  i do have some bonus HSTs but i think they'll be saved for another project.  well, daytime plans await....

ahhhh..

a good night's sleep in my own bed, the sealy posturepedic extra firm, thank you, which is about as good as it gets in my book.  ****  i've posted a photo of my blocks so far, the good ones, and i'm anxious to pull out the machine today to make more.  though it's tame compared to some design-wise, i had a reason for that.  i used white and avoided the sashing in order to hand quilt, using open spaces for patterns.  i wanted the batik colors to pop once it's quilted.  we'll see if that works or not.  i might also dig out those plaids i've been saving and cut some strips or squares for a new project.....

a fun-derful weekend so far...

just returned from ny and a bonnie hunter workshop and lecture.  those 7 hours of driving were really one very long design session.  all the way i planned the next 40 or so quilts i want to make heeding bonnie's mantra of using scraps and venturing out of my comfort zone.  i already have the "having fun" part down pat, rest assured.  short but true story here....many years ago i had a friend who made ultra-contemporay pieces.  she had an art degree.  i loved her stuff.  they hung all over the white walls in her home and i felt like i was in a gallery each time i stopped by.  i didn't "get" her designs, but i wanted to know her secret so i took her class.....THREE TIMES!  it was only a color value class, not nuclear astrophysics.  in the first 10-week class, i chose a block pattern.  in each of the next 2 classes, i made exactly one block.  the project got buried out of sheer paralysis.  i simply didn't know what to do next.  when i moved, it moved with me hidden away for someday.  years later i learned she had died from breast cancer.  i felt so sad, especially because of the unfinished piece.  i pulled it out, studied the diagram, memorized and chanted the value rules and finally finished it.  along the way, a bona fide brainstorm!  i felt like helen keller at the pump, seriously.  it wasn't nuclear astrophysics, it was
V-A-L-U-E!  my friend saw my quilts and had told me all along i was "doing it" but didn't know why and she was so right.  when i saw bonnie's quilts, she had the VALUE thing married to the TRADITIONAL thing, which was exactly my ballpark.  i know kathleen weinheimer would be proud of my finished piece, though i see where i should have tweaked it a bit.  i promise, i'm NOT on drugs at all, i've just overdosed on color and fabric!  and please, no interventions....

the quilting pied piper

this is bonnie hunter's new book.  unless you've been under a rock for the past five or so years, no doubt you have heard of this quilting diva/temptress who has revolutionized the art of the scrappy quilt.  even artsy types could get excited over these ideas.  as one who loves/makes scrappy quilts AND is a traditional quilter, bonnie's gospel is my muse.  she started her website offering ideas and patterns and photos to drool over for FREE. that's right, FREE.  legions of converts consider her website an invaluable source of inspiration and expertise.  she has coaxed me out of my safety zone; sort of, occasionally, increasingly, and inspired me beyond quilting 101 into patchwork nirvana, well almost.  repurposing and recycling may be current buzzwords, but are practices not at all new and make perfect sense, not just in a challenging economy.   if you're looking to be jettisoned from the humdrum quilting groove you're in, look no further than www.quiltville.com.   in a flash,  you'll be cutting up old shirts and stopping at every thrift, happily joining the pack. 

cheap entertainment

i've been nearly glued to the eagle cam at the norfolk, virginia, botanical garden.  there are 3 eaglets in the nest that are growing by leaps and bounds; one is flapping his little wings appearing quite anxious to be big enough to take off.  occasionally i see a parent eagle in the nest as well, though they prefer perching on a branch.  there are comments from staff and all kinds of neat information.  on april 21st the eaglets will be banded and that is going to be shown as well.  if you have some free time, it's fascinating.

almost

despite some tummy trouble for a couple of days, the wallhanging is almost all quilted.  perhaps the binding will get started (and finished?) this weekend.  i also visited the dentist this week, which was actually a nearly pleasant appointment.  all it takes is enough novocaine, really.  gotta go, pizza for supper....yum!

another detour

took a break from sewing for a blast from the past.  pulled out my 45s stash, total of 73, and copied them to CD.  why?  takes up less room of course!  i am also working on my stash of LP albums as well.  i checked prices on ebay first and found that their value is miniscule, so they are getting copied and flung....all but the beatles of course!  each CD holds about 30 45s or 2 albums, so it saves quite a bit of space, welcome in our small apartment.  i am squeezing in a bit of quilting too, though.  ***** sending another letter to my senators about the budget.  why is it NASA is a sacred cow?  why are millions and billions being spent on outer space only for people on earth to be homeless and hungry and without healthcare?  sounds like somebody's priorities are skewed for sure. 

addendum....

6:36 am....temperature 21 degrees F.....enough already!!!!

more applique.....

here are a couple of more applique UFOs in the works.  the heart piece is a row sampler, not all rows are applique; the sewing machine is a little project that will have some spool blocks around the perimeter, sort of homage to the old viking.  last night i also put the beginner's star in the frame to start the quilting on it as it will need to be finished by the end of may in time for maine quilts this year.  it passes the time but sometimes that's all these projects do; it will never take the place of a real job and the passion for my work that goes unrequited still.....