year-end stash report

all year i've been keeping track of quilt-related expenditures and amounts of acquired stash.  this was strictly for my own purposes, for curiosity sake.  as of today, i've purchased 31.75 yards of fabric.  i didn't count backings here, which is usually muslin.  according to the stashbuster UFO secretary, i've used up 50.75 yards in finished projects.  i think she only counts the tops as well.  this means i'm not adding to my stash at all.  the flimsies that are done are not included in this figure either, nor are works in progress or kits in shoeboxes.  i've been able to tell just from available space that i am not adding to my stash; it gets circulated of course, as things get used up and others get added.  what has increased is my stash of finished things--tablerunners, wallhangings and quilts.  i've donated some and gifted some others.  The final result here is that i am not needlessly or wantonly collecting fabric, though sorely tempted.  i've also sold off a few books that i no longer want and also donated various notions that were languishing around.  after the new year, one of my first purchases will be enough wide muslin to finish all the bed-size UFOs i currently have.  with my income taking a downturn, it'll be good to have on hand whatever i'll need for future finishes.  on the quilty front, 2011 was a pretty good year. 

aw shucks...

thanks to all who left such nice comments about my "fat tuesday on orca bay" color combo....sure is appreciated!

celebrating ecumenically

last week we attended the USM chamber choir concert at the baptist church in portland.  saturday we arrived at the greek church for a replay.  yesterday we went to the lutheran church for the saint lucia celebration.  ***** today's agenda?  some baking, some mundane chores, some sewing.  plus wrapping, packing, mailing, etc.  it's a most busy time of year!

strippin' and rippin'

so here are the three colors together, the purple, cheddar and green.  i do believe this quilt is going to be bright!  i've started both strippy units, the purple and cheddar.  when i cut the purple triangles at first, i cut them so the strips are horizontal, but bonnie shows them cut on the vertical.  i don't think it will matter in the finished quilt, scraps are scraps after all.  but even if it does, i'm still going to use them.  my cheddar stash is small compared to the purple, so there will be more variety in the purple.  que sera sera.  so i now have 5 days to finish all these; we'll see how they go.  hoping the purple tones down the blinding cheddar somewhat.  ***** cold but sunny today; hard freeze overnight; still no snow here, keeping my fingers crossed for the foreseeable future.

friday night report

it was the amish center diamond that got selected for friday night sew-in.  i finished the 3rd brown triangle and went on to quilt brown corner squares in the next border.  today's focus will be on the one christmas gift i've yet to finish and also the fat tuesday on orca bay strip squares. ***** i'm all "registered" for the stashbusters' 2012 UFO challenge.  the list is on the left side of my blog and it seems quite long but many are small projects that can be finished relatively quickly.  i am hoping that "fat tuesday" will be added to the list; though it might not be a flimsy by the end of the year as bonnie has said there are 8-9 parts to the mystery.  with all christmas prep and celebrations, there won't be a lot of sewing progress in the next few weeks.  fortunately what gift shopping i've left to do can be done in a couple of hours.  no matter, the maine winter looms on the horizon which always gives plenty of opportunity to hibernate in the sewing room.  

do you think?

does somebody at kimberly-clark make quilts....or maybe married to or knows a quilter?  this looks a lot like cathedral window pattern to me.  **** doing the happy dance here as just last night finished all 350 HSTs for bonnie's orca bay mystery.  whew, in the nick of time too as part 4 is already posted  (does that bonnie ever sleep?).  this week i'll get to play in the purples for a change and rip up more of that old phone book too!  the old viking got a clean out last night as well, plus a new needle before moving on in the mystery.  love these old mechanical machines; a bit of oil and TLC and they run forever....

string stash

yesterday i had to cave and get a shoebox tote for my string stash.  before this, i had flung or trashed my strings but with the cost of fabric skyrocketing, the value of those little pieces add up and guilt prevents me from tossing them any longer.  i might still fling them at some point, but for now they needed an official home, even if temporary.  no doubt after i finish my cheddar string blocks there will be more to add.  with my income dropping after the new year, i just might keep them as a future project.  ***** ok, i'll confess...i'm on drugs.  that would be legal, prescription drugs aka a mild antibiotic for sinus/ear infection.  been feeling not quite 100% since return from maryland and it wasn't just melancholy.  if i stay out of the rain, i'm sure i'll feel 110% very soon.  i am a firm believer in pharmaceuticals; the legally, appropriately prescribed ones that is.  **** nope, no snow yet.  we got rain so it's a happy dance here on the coast.  our luck can't hold forever, though, but the longer it does, the shorter this maine winter will be.....and as martha says, always a good thing!

friday night sew in

it's this friday night and which project should i choose?  there are 3 on the december burners.....report saturday!

1.  the one christmas gift i'm making this year
2.  fat tuesday on orca bay
3.  amish center diamond

cheddars

i found all of these at the local marden's, that famous fabric place.  they have plenty more but i restrained myself.  i am going to have to return, though, and restock my greens as i've used nearly all of mine on this mystery project.  maybe santa will bring me a marden's gift card, wouldn't that be great!

today's orca bay progress

not bad, eh?  over halfway done with the HSTs and i also got 2 of the strip squares done as well.  i'm using the phone book pages and they really work up pretty quick.  i am so loving this cheddar with the green; wait until purple is on the scene--it's a fabric version of the king cake!  **** last night got another brown triangle marked with clamshells to work on while listening to TV.  though we have no real cold weather yet, it'll be here soon enough.  right now i've got the window open and my little fan on during the night; it's THAT warm in here.  one of the downside attributes of complex living.  that and nosy neighbors who park in front of my window with their high beams on and just sit there....my curtains and blinds are drawn but even so.  in my opinion that shouldn't be allowed; those spaces should be marked off.  after all, it's somebody's bedroom.  there are 2 bedrooms (plus mine) on the parking lot side. 

weekend sewing

i did get some sewing done this weekend.  i had to cut strings for the string blocks, the cheddar.  for some reason, i don't have a stash of strings at all, just a very few and no cheddar at all, until now of course.  i got some of the HSTs done and another stack ready to sew together. hoping the mystery gets to purple fabric soon as i'm getting a little weary of green fabric.  the good news is i've nearly busted my entire stash of greens.  *****   i also worked on another project, a secret project i'll show after christmas.  i'm enjoying the mystery but also anxious to get back to my previous 2 projects, the feathered star and the amish center diamond.  plus i have 1 more small piece to finish to complete the stashbusters 5 in 5 challenge; that's 5 finishes in 5 months.  ***** today's nonquilty list includes a haircut and some sundry household tasks. 

finally!

it's true, all 224 hourglass blocks are done!  and i've started on the 350 HSTs as well.  the small strip squares will have to be put on hold for the moment, although i've the fabrics stacked on the sewing table along with the foundation papers.  aside from job hunting, there are no other plans in the upcoming week.  i still haven't vacuumed either but, oh well, tomorrow's another day.  in the evenings i've been working on a gift and hope to get back to the amish center diamond soon.  time marches on and so i'm off to get dressed and get sewing!

FTOOB part 3

part 3 of Fat Tuesday On Orca Bay consists of HSTs or half square triangles, but did she say 350?????  say again????   350?  i'm wondering if i have enough green fabric for these; well, i probably do of course, but really....350???  i still haven't started part 2 yet....yikes, better get going!

a portent

wondering if DD put up her advent calendar today? 

2 triangles done

just this morning i finished the 2nd of 4 triangles on this amish center diamond quilt.  only 2 more to quilt and i can move "out" to the next border and corner squares.  i've got the pattern for the corner squares already but still deciding on the border sections.  meanwhile, back at the old viking, i'm still working on the hourglass blocks and they are slowly getting done.  part 3 is posting tomorrow and i've still part 2 to do yet.  like where does time go?  for somebody with an empty life, it still just evaporates.  ***** speaking of that, it's december 1st today with only 3+ short weeks to christmas.  our warm weather seems to be on the wane.  except for our freak halloween snow, it's been green grass here so far, not christmas weather at all.  **** since worrying is considered a sin, i'll just say there's a situation of concern to me, could or not be justified, but at this moment it does weigh heavy on my mind.  if you are a praying person, my petition is for resolution and restoration to peace for this particular issue.  **** and last, kudos to my brother and his blues band members.  they have scored top place in the maine contest and are off to nationals in january; this is a real dream come true for one with the love of music in his veins.  congrats to them!

keeping on

yes, i am  still working away on the hourglass blocks for bonnie's mystery.  i'll get there, i really will, especially with the help of my diet pepsi!  and i've renamed my version...fat tuesday on orca bay, because of the mardi gras colors.  ****  just 3 days out from visiting my chick and her hubby and i'm seriously missing them.  in fact, it was a lonely trip north on the train saturday, feeling like i'd left my heart behind.  i'm working hard to be a good mother-in-law and hope i am succeeding in this new role. **** last night me and mom took in an early christmas concert by the USM (alma mater) chamber singers...always an excellent event.  but with these warm temps, it's difficult to feel christmas-y.  time to get out the holiday CDs i guess.

orca bay progress

back to our regularly scheduled project!  before turkey day (actually it was ham day) break, i had finished this many of the quarter square triangles for part 1 of orca bay.  bonnie has now posted part 2 so i've a bit of catching up this week.  i think there about 100 in this small pile, not even half of the required 224, so the old viking is going to be smokin'!  i've a few errands today and a few household chores as well, but after that it's clear sailing sewing-wise.  **** while in maryland, i looked over some senior housing possibilities.  yeah i know, i don't feel senior and certainly don't look senior either, but my birth certificate says otherwise.  course my actual years are immaterial in today's ever-youthful culture; why, even my mom at nearly 85 still drives, keeps active and would be working if she had her choice.  i, too, would be working if i could.  my hope for a career is nearly gone, a real heartbreak for me.  i got a taste and wasn't permitted to dive in to the full banquet of a career i really enjoyed, for reasons too numerous and nefarious to list.  i never had dreams of corporate ladder ascension, only of doing a job i really enjoyed, was fulfilling and rewarding.  so, when life gives you scraps.....

1 down, 2 to go...

holiday that is.  had a wonderful thanksgiving with DD and DSIL and DSIL's parents. wonderful family time, great food....can't beat it.  i was near baltimore and it was 70 degrees on thanksgiving day....super gorgeous day!

blog break

recently i found this stunning piece of priceless artwork in among some school papers of my daughter's, just in time for thanksgiving too!  i'll be taking a brief break from blogging until after the holiday.  i'll still be sewing and enjoying our unseasonably warm weather here in coastal maine.  i wish everyone an enjoyable, thankful Thanksgiving. 

feathered star update

so, as of yesterday (friday) i've gotten half the star sewn together.  it's all set-in seams and i had to take a break.  today i must do some garment sewing tasks so it'll probably be monday or tuesday before it gets all sewn.  i have to cut the corner squares and setting triangles also for the next step.  once they are in, it's just the border that remains.  it probably won't be all assembled as an official flimsy until after the holiday.  it looks pretty good so far, though, i think.  ***** last night for quickie sewing whipped up more of bonnie's mystery QST (quarter square triangles) or hourglass blocks.  i am going to try and get these done by tuesday before the holiday and the next installment is posted next week. 

so far so good...

here is square 1 and yes, i do have more than this itty bitty QST done.  i spent most of the day on the feathered star, however.  the pattern calls for setting in all those HSTs and the larger triangles they are attached to.  i got half of the star itself pieced today and then had to quit for the day.  no point in sewing more when it becomes a tad stressful.  then i turned to bonnie's mystery.  i had cut strips earlier in the day after pulling what i could from my strip shoebox.  i'm new to the companion angle ruler, so it took a bit to get acclimated and then i got to sew.  bonnie's black is my green.  not sure how long i'll be sewing tonight but i'll show them as i go along.  i still have to get a few more green fabrics for this project as i've pulled all i have and there simply isn't enough.  how are you coming along?

it's mystery time!

that's right, today is the start of bonnie hunter's mystery called 'orca bay' in homage to her most recent alaska trip.  i'm still in my jammies but not for long.  normally i don't do mystery quilts but this one has a friendly-for-me size and i've nothing else really pressing (no pun) to do, so i'm going to see if i can keep up.  that whirring noise you'll hear a bit later on is the old viking at full tilt....care to join me?  **** last night i started quilting in the large brown triangles on the center diamond quilt.  i had to scrounge around the kitchen to find a circle the right size for my clamshells, which i'll probably start later on today.  i'm also hoping to get the feathered star assembled before turkey day plus i've got that garment item to whip up too.....good thing i got the laundry all done.

a little finish

if you saw my pink pinwheel baby quilt earlier this year, then you will recognize these leftovers.  amazingly, those 9 FQs i bought were enough for both quilts, this one being a bit smaller and simpler, but a quilt nonetheless.  this one is also tied instead of quilted.  it'll now go in the stack of finished items for some future time when needed.  i still have some pink pieces leftover from THIS quilt too, enough for maybe a doll quilt or a couple of placemats. 

center diamond so far

so this is what the first border looks like all quilted.  unfortunately, the thread shade that was available at the LQS is a tad lighter than the fabric, so it will show slightly once the chalk marks are gone.  couldn't be helped at the time and i wouldn't take it all out now.  this design is from one of my books that i cut out myself, but i did have to draw the individual feathers, helped immensely by the class i took in nashua with sue nickels.  so, it's coming along nicely i think.  it was set aside for a bit during our brief episode of warm weather, but this weekend promises a return to cool, november temps so i'll start on the brown triangles and clamshells!  ***** last night i also tied a baby quilt made of pink pinwheel leftovers; today the border.  i also worked more on the feathered star sewing up all those itty, bitty triangles for the "feathered" part.  next up is a garment item that needs to get finished before friday and the start of bonnie's mystery!

the 3 fabrics

see what i mean?  though i really like all 3 fabrics, the 3rd choice (far right) was my hands-down fave.  the middle had too much gold and the left wasn't navy at all.  i chose the first (far left) partly because of the olive green and turquoise combo, but when i saw the last fabric i couldn't pass it up at all.  no regrets whatsoever. 

star so far

i've left this photo a bit larger so you can see the print fabric i used, which i totally love!  note:  the blue/yellow dots are pinheads!  the border will also be of this luscious print.  when i was planning this project--it's a gift--i bought some fabric online.  it arrived but was not as pictured.  i then purchased another print locally more to my liking.  before i could get this project started, i saw yet another print i liked much, much better.  a quandary...should i buy yet another piece for this project?  wouldn't be frugal but would i be happy with it?  my inner color guru said "no" so i did get the 3rd piece, this one, and it's ideal i think.  i love the color combo of maroon/navy and with the gold it's perfect.  it's one of the very few times i ignored my frugal angel and went with my heart's choice.  i still have the other 2, and i'll post a photo of all 3 so you can see why i made the choice i did.   with this much progress in one day, i might have the wallhanging all pieced by week's end, thus emptying yet another shoebox!

blue cheese repost

decided to do this right away so i can get back to the old viking.  **** for the little dresden plate quilt, i heeded the admonishment of the frugal angel on my shoulder and pieced batting AND backing so i wouldn't have to make a purchase.  i still have some white scraps, pieces left over from border trimming, and hoping to piece more for other small projects backs. **** and now back to your regularly scheduled day! 

stunned

this morning i started assembling a feathered star wallhanging for DD/DSIL's home.  no surprise so i can talk/show here.  last summer when i made this pattern star it wasn't quite perfect, but lo and behold!  this morning's effort turned out pretty good....i was a bit stunned.  i always attempt this star with a bit of trepidation.  it's probably because of the oxymoronic karma in my little room, 60-degree weather AND christmas commercials on TV; 2 quilts on the bed and me still wearing my summer clothes.  ***** i've got my weekly to-do list made, not much earth shattering, just trying to keep busy.  **** went through my repro stash and surprised to find i've a number of jo morton fabrics.  i've separated them into their very own shoebox for ease with future projects.  later on today i have to post another photo of the blue cheese bowtie project, per request of janet.  i haven't done anything with this as i might possibly add to it and make it a tad larger, remains to be seen.   

another flimsy

this one's a little quilt, only 30" square; 25 6" blocks.  it's going to be hand quilted with the cross-hatch design and then bound with the lavender.  this is probably my last 30s style quilt.   i've given away all the pieces i had left and kept only the true vintage pieces inherited long ago.  done this year?  not sure...maybe or maybe not.  **** in addition to getting this little top done today, i quilted more on the amish center diamond.  i'm working on the last border segment of the first round of borders.  next come the triangles, which will be quilted with a clamshell design.  this is a no rush project but it's moving along fairly well.  ***** this week i have to make a new clothing item.  it won't take long but it must get done this week.  i might set aside a day this week just to baste small projects, too....we'll see. 

autumn change flimsy!

and here it is....this is rachel griffith's design from 'quiltmaker' jul/aug 2010.  hers was pictured with tans and turquoise with a cream background but i dove into my luscious stash of autumn prints and made this version.  it'll be quilted--hand quilted naturally--with various leaf/acorn/vine designs and then bound with a scrappy binding of....what else but autumn fabrics!  this is a future gift for somebody special.  i had to take this a bit far off at an angle because my room is small AND the close-up version completely skewed the colors, which are fabulous.  so now you know why i haven't blogged in a few days.  i've been busy sewing on this and a few other things too.  plus a bit of room cleaning was also necessary.  the shoebox left empty with this flimsy finish now has a new resident project.  they don't stay empty long, i'm afraid.  **** today i've also been quilting on the amish center diamond.  i've got all the open spaces planned except the next-to-last border, a 5" border.  i've a baptist fan stencil i might use or i might try my hand at a wavy feather design, now that i know how.  **** still on the job hunt as usual.  now that beach weather has passed, there's a lot more time to sew.  after thanksgiving holiday i plan to ramp up my efforts. 

2 little packages

from janet are some purples just perfect for bonnie's mystery quilt coming up soooon!  then, my swap gift from the jo morton online stitchers' group.  even without these two little gifts, it's a glorious day here in coastal maine...temps over 60, sunny, light breeze...perfect!  **** been doing a little of this'n'that sewing, nothing to show yet.  gotta get back into regular sewing; first, the autumn change flimsy needs finishing.  i'm also hand quilting on the center diamond.  always something to do, just a question of motivation.

another nashua beauty

this was a group project by Coastal Quilters in Massachusetts....it's Arena Farm in Concord and it really does look like this.  very often in the autumn i would be in concord and drive right past this farm and there would be piles of pumpkins...the beautiful oranges against red barn, blue sky and all those changing leaves.  this is considered 'country' but not far from the city.  i would occasionally stop and pick up some apples or fall veggies.  unfortunately, i read they recently closed.  so glad it has been preserved in cloth. 

thank you, catherine!

last summer i received an e-mail from catherine sanchez of 'australian homespun' magazine asking if i would mention their new digital service on my blog.  i was happy to do so; it makes for easier and quicker accessibility by non-aussies.  today in the mail i received a personal thank you and 3 issues....how sweet!   i was truly delighted!  it was a  bit of a down day after a brief respite from maine/no-job misery and these cheered me up a bit.  i'll stop here because i'm in a serious griping mood.....

nashua shopping

yep, this was it.  some quilting thread for UFOs, purple/green FQ for bonnie's mystery, the kaffe fassett FQs and the pink pencil leads.  the stashbuster UFO coordinator tells me with my finishes this year, i've busted over 50 yards of fabric.  that's pretty good, i think.  that means i've probably got 150 yards left, or thereabouts.  because most of my fabric pieces are half yard or less, and lots of it are cut up into strips or squares, it's difficult to actually calculate.  that 50+ yards was in 11 finishes; so 33 more finishes and it'll be gone.  and that isn't all bed-size quilts either.  this info is very encouraging indeed.  **** our temps this week are hovering around 58-60, so should be a quite nice...except for the afternoon dark, that is.  will take a day or two to adjust circadian rhythms. 

back from nashua

best of show went to this astoundingly beautiful quilt by LINDA ROY called "Irish Cream."  Plenty of action here....stippling, trapunto, cathedral window sashings and hand quilted too!  i just love it when shows acknowledge hand quilters along with machine quilters...makes my fingers tingle!  **** kudos to the team for organizing this year's gathering, especially difficult given the fact that the venue abruptly closed on them earlier in the year AND just days before the freak early winter storm knocked out power.  many not far west are still without electricity, but was restored in time for the show to go on.  i sat at admissions for a couple of hours and more than one quilter arrived still without electricity but who cares when there's a quilt show on?  **** seriously, i can't extol the virtues of this show enough.  it's all juried and it's always stellar.  my admissions cohort, terry burris, had 2 quilts in the show...i was impressed!  **** my one class was sue nickels and drawing feathers.  since i make a lot of amish quilts, i'm always looking for over-the-top designs to quilt (it's the part i love most, remember?) and despite being totally exhausted for this evening class, i was giddy with design fever.  it'll take practice of course, especially since rulers and i are uneasy partners, but since my focus is not perfection, i believe i can be successful.  i imagine the person who drew the first circle or invented the wheel was equally excited.   designing in my head for the 2+ hour trip home last night helped keep me awake and alert.  thank you time change...i got an extra hour that i so badly needed!  the vendors?  watch tomorrow....

the quilting so far

if you look closely, i hope you are able to see the extensive quilting i've done on this center square.  i decided to use matching thread to see the result and i am pretty happy with how it looks.  i've read the amish use matching thread for humility, but my reasons are purely experimental.  believe me when i say i'm not trying to hide perfect 13/inch stitches here.  did i mention i absolutely LOVE amish quilts?  i think i did once or twice.  **** up again in the night.  sometimes when i have only a light supper, i wake up hungry in the night.  a container of yogurt fixes that.  

bonnie's mystery post script

kept wondering where i'd seen this color combo before; it's not my usual at all.  then tonight it finally came to me....mardi gras colors!  green, purple, yellow (sort of)...here's hoping it's DONE by mardi gras....LOL.  poor bonnie, off on another cruise.  i'll keep her in my daily prayers hoping she can tolerate such despair!  no, not jealous at all.  it looks like terrific fun and i'd love to go on a cruise, but the ship would have to stay on terra firma or chained at the dock, hardly likely.

clarification

a comment to an earlier post questioned my mention of "nationality."  Our complex is close to employers who specifically hire immigrants and so the majority of tenants is predominantly non-WASP, no slur intended and no big deal.  i've lived in a lot of situations while homeless and trying to get re-settled since 1993 and experienced good and bad in ALL people, including (sadly) people i've known at churches i've attended for many years.  we try to be respectful, considerate tenants, even to the point of not flushing our toilet in the night because of the noise.  often i rise early but don't watch TV or use the sewing machine because of possible noise.  if there is pot smoke or burning incense smoke coming in my window, it's because it's too strong, in too close proximity or it's directly outside my window in the parking lot.  ordinary household smells cannot be avoided when living in close apartments.  paying one's rent is NOT carte blanche to do whatever whenever without any regard to others in a complex such as this.  i have never believed that immigrant equals ignorant but neither did i just arrive here from sleepy hollow.  even when i owned my own stand-alone house, there was a suspicious skunk in my driveway for 2 weeks straight, even on rainy nights.  i'm pretty sure it was a 2-legged one.  real skunks know enough to stay in out of the rain.   

quiltville mystery

yesterday bonnie posted some color ideas for her upcoming mystery but i was way ahead of her...for once!  i had already pulled mine and here they are.  why these, you ask?  simply according to how much i have in my stash.  she's using red/blue/black; i don't have any black stash at all, only some solid.  i have been collecting cheddar pieces recently and i knew it would WOW.  what else then?  not blue for a change, but purple and then green.  i do have to pick up a few greens and purples, though, as i simply don't have the quantity of stash in any color that many others do...except for blue.  i vetoed red simply because i just finished a predominantly red quilt.  of course i do have enough lights for background.  after christmas it's time to reorg the stash again by color to see exactly how much i have of each.  next to the strip stash to see what's there i can use.  ******   not much to show quilt-wise as i've been quilting on the center diamond.  i've just about finished the center square and have designs planned for the rest of the quilt now.  been making a few stencils to use from my oldie but goodie books by shirley thompson, the first titled "the finishing touch" and her second one as well...title escapes me at the moment.  i bought these books back in the early 1980s and have used them frequently for design ideas ever since....a worthwhile investment i'd say.    

november 1st finish!

so happy to start november off with the finish of the northwind!  i think it's a beauty and sort of hate to part with it, but it is spoken for.  i'll just have to make another just as beautiful.  next up is the amish center diamond to quilt.  i wanted to do the pinwheel first, but it isn't basted and i don't have the backing either.  for machine work, i'll finish the autumn change flimsy and then start on the carolina christmas.  inbetween i'll work on miscellaneous small things and whatever gets finished, stays OFF the 2012 list.  this year i'm not really doing any christmas gift sewing, well none planned as of right now anyway.  off to start the day!

a happy halloween means...

no snow AND melting the little we do have.  seriously, now the weather gurus are talking about 60-degree weather?  why?  it's new england...it changes THAT often.   ***** this photo was on my brother's facebook page and i copied it for here.  i told him they weren't ordinary shoes!!!  **** i am now sewing down the binding on the red/cream and have sewn some on the autumn change today.  the a/c got put away today for another summer.  the laundry got done as well as a bit of cooking.  with november comes waning autumn and the always-dreaded winter.  not much can be done to avoid it, just buck up and wait for spring. 

it's christmas! er...halloween!

despite our snowy ground, 3-4", it is really only halloween here.  thanks to the ocean for the modulation in snowfall here, another good reason for coastal living.  last night i got the halloween witch bound...so cute don't you think?  i still have to quilt around a few of the letters and finish quilting around the shoes but it will definitely be put to use today.  then i can start binding the red/cream.  i put up the folding banquet table to tie the red/cream and pin on the binding, so i'm anxious to put it away as there is no room to keep it up for long, though it would be a tremendous help if i could.  **** got my flu shot  yesterday so i am just as happy to really relax today.  will have to get the paper at some point, though.  ***** next on the list is to get back to quilting the amish center diamond.  i should be able to get this done by the end of the year, lopping off another on my UFO list.  the autumn change flimsy should get done as well.  after that, want to get my carolina christmas flimsy done....that one will be tied as well, so many seams you know, so that will be a quick finish as well.  ***** going into my second year with no job.  it feels like living in the 'twilight zone' as only in maine have i been unemployed for such extended periods of time.  i can't say it enough.....i hate vacationland.

a finish

here is the little fall table topper i finished from some errant swap squares that were lounging in the stash.  you can see the Celtic-type quilting design in the brown squares.  not really a masterpiece but no longer orphans, plus it counts as a 2011 finish.  not sure what i'll do with it, might end up as a giftie for someone....time will tell.  **** today's agenda?  finish quilting halloween witchie and bind; if there is time left in the day, finish tying the red/cream and pin on the binding.  those 2 tasks should eat up 24 hours until tomorrow, plus some sleep of course.  winter will be with us overnight and tomorrow, so won't be venturing out until it leaves.  hopefully the promised temps of 41 will take away icky snow PDQ!

inconsiderate neighbors

we had to go through a lengthy investigative process to get an apartment in this complex; management claimed they were that discriminating.  for some time, unfortunately, the management has no longer been so particular about to whom they rent.  there have been and still are nasty pot smokers in the building, down the hall from us, same side i think.  someone also parks right in front of my bedroom window and then leaves about 11:30 pm or so, putting on their high beams, literally flooding my bedroom with light, which often awakens me.  the nationality is insignificant; these people are downright rude.  they belong out in the woods someplace with the rest of the animals.  tonight, for example, after they smoked their pot, they started cooking to mask the smell.  this is a no smoking indoors complex, but people who think they are entitled ignore that.  they only do it at night so they don't get caught, which wouldn't bother me in the least.  just goes to prove there are heinous turds from every corner of the globe.

dodged a bullet

meaning the snow bullet....places west and south of us got some but not us....not yet anyway.  but this weekend is another storm and we might not be so lucky.  *****  here's a photo of a new project.  remember the lilac pinwheel puzzle?  i decided to make another using batik fabrics. i love the pattern and had some batik scraps, so thought it would be pretty done up in those fabrics.  other than cutting the squares, i haven't started it yet.  first comes the witch wallhanging and to tie the red/cream northwind.  after that i'll finish the "autumn change" flimsy and continue quilting on the amish center diamond.  i'll get a lot more done now that stormy/cold/snowy weather is arriving.  ***** i did finish the autumn squares tabletopper and will post a photo tomorrow.  

swap ornament

so here's the second ornament i made, this one definitely more vintage looking than the first (red sequins, remember?).  i've sewn little pearls on this one, front and back, and i had the ribbon in my stash, how lucky was that?  well, i like it anyway.  would have been glad to keep it and hang on my tree.   have put my beads and sequins away now that the halloween piece is done.  they are time consuming but really jazz up projects quite a bit. 

a special day

if  you see this tow-headed cutie with those big brown eyes today, be sure and wish him happy birthday.  he was our halloween treat back in 1957...all the best little brother!

yep, it's really fall

i know it's fall because i had this for breakfast....hot chocolate and toast...yummm!  then, when i went out to grocery shop, i had to wear my jacket, first time this season.  and they are now talking SNOW in the next day or so....what?  this is not good at all, way too early for that.  ******  got the binding done for the halloween piece AND the red/cream northwind quilt.  i've also started basting the halloween but have to put up a larger table to finish.  and if i'm going to put up the larger table, might as well do the red/cream too so have to clear decks first and put everything else away.  those 2 projects will be my primary focus until they are completed.  then i get to do something else. 

RTB means....

ready to baste and then quilt of course!  last night i finished adding the sparklies to the hat, a tedious job but oh so worth it.  i gave the spider and bats some sparkly eyes too.  it'll be done in plenty of time for the witching hour.  other than sewing, it's another ho-hum day here in so-called vacationland.  my life used to have meaning and purpose but not since crossing the border.  it's definitely time to "reverse the curse."

retreat wrap-up

not only did i finish the red/cream flimsy, i got these 2 little pieces basted.  the autumn-y piece is an official UFO of 3 little orphan blocks that were just tucked away in with some fabric, so i decided to finish them off.  also, the halloween piece is coming along, just some finishing bling and i can baste/quilt that.  all 3 will probably get quilted at the same time.  so this week it'll be 1 day to tie the red cream, 1 day to bind, and 1 day to baste/quilt.  that'll be 2 finishes and 2 off my 2012 list...how good is that?