more recent stash additions

about 2 months ago in the midst of my packing frenzy, realized that marden's might soon be unaccessible...so in a pre-emptive strike, gathered up these lovely spring-colored goodies for future sewing fun.  of course, this was way before the recent twisted events, but even so, think it was a wise move.  the machines are safely tucked away leaving me without quilty fun.  working diligently with housing, hoping to be moved and settled soon so i can get back to lots of fun with old and new projects.  sadly, the hawaiian is packed away as well so no finish on that is on the horizon.  without the quilty part of my life and a home base, simply adrift in the sea of a terrifying and isolated life experience making it difficult to even function day to day.  i seldom get depressed, but without my sewing and quilting to shore me up through this difficult passage, relying on faith-based inner strength to keep me going.  by that i do not mean the support of church family Christians, as in the past i have found they were nonexistent.  we are all recovering pharisees of course, but far too many claim God's agenda as their own, doing great harm in the process.......

aaarrrrrrrgh!

as snoopy often says, or another way to say it is SH** happens!  should be in my cozy new apartment by now but alas and alack, dark forces have derailed well laid plans once again.  have mostly gotten over the screaming and crying....well the screaming anyway....and formulating plan B, then C and D to cover all bases.  to say i am disappointed and angry is a gross understatement....as some of you know, for the past 20 years, life has been an uphill challenge with setbacks too numerous to mention.  have not been able to figure out the problem, apparently way too dense and brain-addled for that.  the whole mess has made me physically ill and hugely upset.  with all my sewing goodies packed away, unable to treat with daily sewing fixes.  instead have had to wash dishes as a salve to the wounded spirit and soul, so you know the situation is pretty bad.  *** as somebody once told me about my disastrous marriage, it was like my 40 years in the desert....who knew the desert experience would continue my whole life (sniff, sniff)....it isn't that i don't have gratitudes just that was hoping life would be more enjoyable at some point.    i know there are those in worse situations and am grateful mine is fairly benign; it's just the longevity is wearing me down.  this short post is an update for those who care and maybe even some of those dark forces who snoop.....

last marden's haul

taking a breather before the great unpacking begins....caved and slipped into marden's just once more and picked up these.  marden's simply cannot be beat...here is 4.75 yards total for a mere $19...how good is that?  i loved the pastel plaids and stripes and found a yellow for the stash, plus a couple of solids for my ocean waves top.  bottom shows a couple of jo mortons (shirting and stripe) and a purple remnant and a prussian blue.  and the orange mod print?  i have that same in lime green....luscious!  i am so itching to get my girls set up and whirring.  they are faring well with the trip albeit crowded...LOL!  *** and i never had a professional mover before but it is simply the way to go...pricey on my fixed income but slick and quick!  i've just about caught up on rest from the getting ready part and will certainly need my wheaties for the other part.  i know my mum is in good hands with my bro and sis, tho i miss her already.  now think i'll have another quick snooze just because....have a good day!

spring break!

no, not lounging on some white sand beach this week--far from it!  instead, packing up and moving south.  it's a move that's been in the works for some time now, delayed only by bureaucratic reasons.  eager to get it done and get back to sewing, which has been on the back burner, except for the hawaiian.  it's a daunting task, even with my small (by comparison) amount of belongings.  easily half or more of my boxes are sewing related.  excited about the future and new experiences....until then....oh and one last thing, 3 more posts and i'll be at the 1000 mark, so once the dust settles, a giveaway will be on tap....watch this space!

nick of time

our favorite seafood place opened up for the season today....nick of time too as soon it'll be too far for me to indulge.  not today, though....fried clams done to perfection, fried in batter which isn't done by everyone, and a few onion rings as a "veggie"....LOL!   just a few remaining days here, so racking up as much quality mom time as possible.  packing just about done.  tomorrow the old viking will be packed up as there won't be time to give her a workout before the move.  so excited and sad at the same time.  spring DOES arrive later today, although the real spring temps will greet me on my arrival south, but the real draw is family of course.....

week 2 no stars

this is the 2nd week i haven't--or can't--make any stars for the sew along.  the designated fabrics--chrome yellow and green calico--are packed up.  the old viking is sitting here waiting for some action but nothing so far.  will wait one more wednesday and then pack it up for the trip south.  there has been plenty of sewing action on the hawaiian, however.  now starting my 3rd round of echo quilting on the white background and looking real good.  all those facebook photos are making my fingers twitch big time.  so very anxious to have fabric to fondle and books to peruse.  for someone who normally sews every single day on something, this is a too-long hiatus.  ***  march marches on with extreme wind and blinding sunshine.  we are now 3 hours added to daylight and it is delicious; we know warmer temps will come.  thought i might wake up in oz due to the gale-like winds but no munchkins were spied so we are still in kansas i guess!  now back to the hawaiian!

erin go bragh!

photo of an old wallhanging now buried in a box someplace, but it's festive and green so.....work on the hawaiian continues as does the packing, tho remaining unpacked items are few at this point.  yesterday was a bit of a down day due to ongoing issues from surgery in 2010.  at some point will need a redo but this time will be looking for a legally blind, one-armed surgeon as would get a better result than from the previous supposedly unimpaired surgeon....who knew?  though i have ceased sending complaint letters to both the doctor and hospital out of religious conviction reasons, the reality hasn't changed.  i don't believe in litigation and, unfortunately, too many doctors take no responsibility for their mistakes without legal action, so it's like rearranging deck chairs on the titanic--pointless.  just that some days are better than others, like everyone else...moving on....

the home stretch

after quilting on nothing else for nearly 3 solid months, have finally reached the easiest part of this project--the simple echo quilting.  took me nearly 2 weeks to quilt the first row as had to navigate all the curves and fill in little spaces that got closed in with the first row.  now it's simply mark the distance as i go and continue until the edge is reached.  the binding is all ready once the quilting is done....another month maybe?  it is really in need of a wash once the binding is on.  this has been a HUGE project but certainly well worth the time and perpetually sore fingers.  the liquid bandage helps a lot.   is it perfect?  not by a long shot   do i care?  not a whit!  do i love it?  absolutely!   ***  march weather is anything goes and we've had a bit of snow but no real inches.  mom and i are busily boxing and donating.  i think i have one more box for pans and dishes and small odds/ends and then done.  still waiting on apartment confirmation, which should come this week.  moving van is booked and only have to pick up map at AAA.  the "girls" aka trudy, old viking and phoebe are ready to roll and though i can't speak for them, i am excited to be closer to my daughter and son-in-law.  having been a new england yankee all my life, this move takes me into the south and away from horrific winters permanently!

great bargain!

if you live locally, this item is up for sale. it is an LL Bean quilt rack, never used, had it about 10 years, hardware still in package.  style is similar to that pictured....i'll try and get an exact photo today if anyone is interested.  must sacrifice at $10 but must be picked up, cannot mail.   mine is about 4-5' long....have always lived in smallish spaces and so was never put up....feel free to email me for directions; i'm near maine mall. *** and a word to the wise...if you are thinking about adding to your stash, try packing what you already have in boxes....just saying....

springtime in naples

naples, maine, that is...due to a severe case of cabin fever and temps finally cracking 50 degrees, we took a leisurely drive to north conway, nh, and back thru little towns.  this is naples, maine, a bustling and crowded summer tourist destination partly due to now-disguised long lake.  in other seasons, it is a busy, beautiful, large lake.  as a pre-teen attended summer camp on the shores of long lake where i once again flunked swimming lessons and fine-tuned popsicle stick crafting and lanyard weaving.  if you find yourself in the area, worth a trip to see its unfrozen state.  ***  not much sewing going on in my neck of the woods.  aside from the hawaiian that seemingly has no end in sight and a few star blocks, the old viking is resting.  nearly all the stash is in boxes, and each day more things get unearthed that need to be packed.  would like to pack up the car but it's a bit early for that with just over 2 weeks to go before departure date.  in the meantime, basking in emerging spring and delicious sunshiny days....

spring tease

revisiting a springy wallhanging made a couple of years ago....so apropos for a day like today with temps in the mid-40s and tomorrow up to 50 even...how good is that?  busy here in lobsterville packing for the move in about 3 weeks.  today pulled trudy out of her cabinet and she will ride shotgun with me for the trip.  she is tucked away in my LL Bean canvas bag and should arrive no worse for wear.  most everything is packed now except the old viking and the barest of necessities--dishes and the like.  made one last marden's run for some stash that i'll show another day.  making plans for one more fried clam dinner and some lobster too before arriving in crab country.  so delighted this has finally come about and looking forward to some southern friends and fun. 

stars update....

thanks for your patience during my brief hiatus.  most of what i needed to do is done, so have some breathing room AND blogging time.  did manage to keep up with my stars sew-along....bottom row madders and top row indigos.  see the top left blue star?  the background fabric with the yellow roses is one of my very faves.  i bought 3 yards, unheard of for me, back before 2000 or so at the old fabric place in woburn, massachusetts.  they were a lovely fabric store meaning FABRIC....no crafty crap like you-know-who.  one could buy very nice garment fabrics of all types, drapery and slipcover fabrics and plenty of cottons.  they had delish remnant bins that were often large pieces, hence the 3 yards of this lovely print.  this was eons before the repro bug bit me, but i just loved the fabric and have used it in several things....so happy to have some left for this project.  *** while i was gone coping with various things, not the least of which was a horrific february, winter finally gave up the ghost.  the feeling and smell of spring is everywhere and though it'll be a while before the snow all melts, it is inevitable.  we know it's spring when dairy queen opens for the season....lol!

new header photo and taking a break

new header photo is a collection of swap siggie squares from online group called "real women quilt" from a few years ago.  my block is not included but i did make the letters in the lower right corner to identify the wallhanging.  aside from working on the hawaiian, busy packing.  it is now necessary for me to take a bit of a blogging break until things are less chaotic.  i'll continue to take photos of my work (fun?) and post at a later date and will, of course, try and keep up with my little stars sew-along.  aside from the repros, most all other fabric is packed up....i won't tell you how many boxes are fabric, will just say it's more than some and less than others...LOL!    see you in the spring!

double pinks done

first thing this morning after the usual stuff, sat down at the old viking  and got my double pink stars done to add to the growing pile.  this time tried to be less matchy matchy and think they turned our ok....loving this sew along, so do-able and lets me play in my gorgeous stash of civil war fabrics....and if you see this pinup gal, be sure and wish her happy birthday....my dear mom...can easily see why my dad was attracted to her...and she has grown in beauty that radiates even to this day....happy birthday mom!

home stretch....sort of

thanks to our winter, the quilting on the hawaiian is over half done.  the orange part is all quilted and now starting on the white background.  thinking this will definitely be finished by end of march or maybe sooner (snow again this weekend....LOL).   unashamedly bragging about how gorgeous this is...not worth 10k maybe like one in a hawaiian shop, but priceless to me.  as for machine work, still working on scrappy solid project but this weekend must make my double pink stars for the brackman sew along....otherwise we are enjoying hint of coming spring with longer days of more sunshine and a definite change in the air.  i even changed the desktop photo on my computer to lovely narcissus! 

more snowy day sewing....

remember this?  it's a block made some time ago from an issue of quiltmaker's 100 favorite blocks...thought it would be a fun project to use up some small solid pieces...worked on it some at retreat last year and decided to try and get this flimsy done.  have no illusions about using all my scraps....that would be pure folly....but hoping to at least make a dent.  purposely didn't pack the solids hoping there would be less to pack after it's done.  it's a good way to celebrate being over the february hump, cruising toward march and spring.  st. patty's day is just around the corner!  and look what arrived on valentine's day....a surprise kaffe charm pack!

now that is what i call spring!

a snowy sewing sunday

these are my lady of the lake swap blocks all sewn into a flimsy.  yes, a few of them were sewn a bit different but they will be left as is....when i was figuring size on this allowed for 12" blocks, but in fact these are 8" finished so it's a bit smaller than anticipated but no biggie, will add a border and call it done.  will make a very nice throw size.  aren't these batiks gorgeous?  *** and after going back and looking at my red/cheddar, decided i did not like the light strips so as much as i hate to, will cut more dark strips and replace them.  i think the very light ones detract from the overall effect of the quilt.  it's a later some time project.  and next?  have a scrappy solid project in the works so think that'll be next in hopes of busting more solids.  that should keep me busy until winter's almost over....that and the hawaiian of course.  ***  it's a bright and sunny albeit bitter cold day here.  the lengthening days are a sure sign spring is coming, only about a month away.  ahhhh it'll be wonderful!

two for one....

my red/cheddar antique reproduction flimsy is now done....i love it and you should imagine it brighter than this photo depicts....it really wows the room.  the photo from which i took this pattern was in black and white so i have no idea what colors were used originally.....since it came from the 1840s midwest, i doubt they were as bright but you know that i go for colors, even in muted/grayed reproduction and solid fabrics.  it is the cheddar, of course, that kicks this up several notches.   and as a bonus, the leftover strippy squares yielded this....

a mini repro quilt...and my version of math didn't fail me as there was plenty of red fabric to make the top and plenty of cheddar left to use as binding.  this will go in the flimsy pile for now while my quilting concentrates on the hawaiian....and my next flimsy?  the lady of the lake swap blocks.  *** yes, it's snowing and blowing and freezing cold here in lobsterville but no matter....the old viking is smokin'....now off to change the thread color and sew on!
 

more stars

first thing this morning with no other demands got these little blocks all done.  start to finish they take about 1.5 hours so work up quickly.  had a darker poison green in my stash but not enough to make all 3 so went with this one instead.  so nice to have gorgeous fabrics to work with, most of which so far have been from my jo morton tote.  no longer just fondling and refolding, have pulled out several to use.  they are all very nice and soon will have a few more.  squirreled a bit of cash from my tax refund to get some from her new "hollyhocks" line.  otherwise, i am on a strict no-buy fabric diet....not a big hardship as plenty on hand for loads of quilty and sewing fun.  *** enjoying the sun on an otherwise frigid day.  the piles of white snow reflect the sun making it very bright and cheerful....stay warm and sew on!

today's blocks....

brought to you from the whiteout metropolis in southern maine, first igloo on the left.  while sitting around waiting for mother earth to tilt just a bit, sewed up these chrome and cheddar blocks for the sew along.  they are stacking up quickly and so quick to make as well.  while cutting out pieces for these blocks, have also been cutting tumblers for another UFO in progress.  as for the red/cheddar hourglass repro, i'm over the midpoint hump now, with only 8 rows left to do to get this to the flimsy stage.  as for the hawaiian, just about to start the last quarter of the orange applique and once that is done, can start quilting the background.  my estimate is there is less white area than orange design, so an early spring finish is probable.  ***  and spring?  only about  6 weeks away, so the end of snowmageddon is a reality.  but this being another stormy and cold day, it's clam chowder for lunch again....delish!

new routine

the awful truth.....our weekend and beyond...8-12" is whispered....there can't be a soul in maine who isn't sick of this weather by now.  we are in a pattern of sorts of our own....hunker down for a day or two, clean off car and warm up, then take out trash, go get mail, pick up essentials, get videos from library, then hibernate another day or two and then repeat.  driving is a real challenge due to the Himalayan-size snow piles at parking lots, sidewalks, etc.  we are thrilled for lengthening daylight, especially on sunny days, but frigid temps allow for not a smidgen of melting at all.  no global warming here.  have many blessings, though....electricity, warm clothing, warm apartment, plenty of quilting and books to read.  we'll get thru, we are tough stock acclimated to unexpected weather patterns.  jim cantore and on-demand TV are my new BFFs...as long as i don't run out of hot chocolate and low-salt chips i'll be fine!

oldest quilting buddy....

when i started quilting in 1979, immediately bought this magazine and devoured every word like a proverbial sponge.  when funds allowed, got my very own subscription and soon began saving every issue like they were first edition books.  have amassed quite a stack of issues--not every one but several--and now, due to cost, have decided to stop my subscription.  with the explosion of the internet--the death knell of many printed publications--no longer have to rely on this magazine for quilty news, patterns, photos.  it's a decision of mixed emotions.  i love to look back at old issues and pick up info previously missed.  but they do take up a lot of room and the cost has gone up beyond my now fixed income budget.  so long old friend....and thanks for making me a quilter.....

quilt-cam progress....

sometimes technology is great....given our present weather situation and the difficulty of travel, thanks to my computer and TV, can still quilt with friends.  i don't have a big screen laptop but i do have a cable and a regular TV so watch bonnie hunter on TV...isn't that great!  this is what i worked on last night....

it's my current flimsy-in-progress of the antique repro and it's looking good i think.  might get it done today after some errands because there is more *SNOW* in our forecast tonight and tomorrow.  and once this is a done flimsy, can tackle these....

the 2nd part of this swap is now done with the arrival of the last set of blocks.  they are gorgeous...all batiks and white...a perfect combo!  and still the hawaiian progresses along.....these will keep me busy until our weather pattern changes for sure!

on the fence

the latest issue of American Patchwork and Quilting arrived saturday and the details of the 4-patch sew-along were given along with a few different projects.  now, i have plenty of fabric to do this sew-along, plenty of 1.5" strips could whip up into little 4-patch blocks and now plenty of pattern ideas.  question is, should i?  with a hefty plaid stash, itching to use them, thinking some cheddar solid and my plaids would be a nice combo.  it's the perpetual quandary of someone with lots of fabric, lots of ideas and plenty of motivation BUT there is that UFO list and the finite-ness of time.  do i jump in on this?  for now will let the question percolate....can always jump in later, or never if that's the case.  ***  in the throes of another blizzard here, have a short to-do list that includes quilting of course.  plan to stay inside, bundle up, keep busy and quilt! 

3 for 3....

week 3 equals 3 more blocks, shirting stars this time.  so far my little stack is kinda boring but as time goes on, more fabric types will result in more pizzazz....and of course i am limited to fabrics currently accessible, which could change any moment.  always good to be current on a sewalong, though.  **** and yes, it IS snowing here again, today's prediction is for anywhere from 4-12 inches, although i think we've passed the 4"mark already.  mother nature gave us a break yesterday with a sunshiny day, so all errands were completed giving me a task-free sewing day.  of course i could vacuum and do that last load of laundry but no rush at all.  *** now that these blocks are done it's back to the red/cheddar project and the hawaiian too.  having specific projects lined up helps keep the urge to acquire more stash at bay....and looking at the packed boxes of fabric helps too.  that is when you really know how much fabric you have....when it's in boxes staring you in the face.  but i am happy to have and love every scrap....potential for hours and hours of sewing and quilty fun...how good is that?

taking shape....

given a few more snow days and this flimsy could be done....and as it happens, tomorrow and then again monday are predicted to be just that.  there may be evidence of global warming someplace, but definitely not here.  if temps ramp up a few more degrees, we may just get mostly rain tomorrow but the word "noreaster" is being used for monday, though.  but i digress.....as for this flimsy, all the little strippy units are made and most of the red solid squares are cut as well, now working on the hourglass blocks.  i wish i had the photo where i found this vintage quilt; it was from an old photograph in an issue of "quilt life" a couple of years ago.  the photo was black and white, but i wanted to use some repro fabrics and thought the red/cheddar would look nice.  it'll be hand quilted of course and should look nice when done.  *** over half the hawaiian design is now quilted; that's the orange part.  thought it might be all quilted by end of february, but can see now not gonna happen.  perhaps end of march it will be done.  *** took advantage of sunny, dry day to do errands; bank, recycling, gas station, groceries, library...replenishing the larder et al.  though not working is sometimes boring, so very glad don't have to venture out in awful weather.  now back to sewing!

never forget.....

blizzard project

while brief sunshine is gone and it hasn't really started snowing here yet, that only means once it has, won't be over until early wednesday morning.  now that necessaries are stocked, can continue on with this UFO; it's my version of a quilt seen in a vintage photo.  last night printed off some graph paper and mapped it out to get a tally of how many hourglass, strip and solid squares it would require.  yesterday spent time sewing up little strips into little squares; today have to cut squares for side triangles and hourglass squares. in typical fashion, bought fabric without doing the math as to how much it would require, so hoping i have enough.  originally bought 3 yards of red and 3 yards of cheddar, so we'll see.  my go-to quilty math book is packed without considering it might be needed.  ***  being of a certain age, recall vividly the blizzard of 1978; was living in massachusetts and DD was still preschool age.  the ex was home from work for a week, a definite challenge for us both.  at that time they predicted "just a dusting" but revised once the exact pattern of the storm became evident.   it was eerie to see national guard trucks only on the roads; the ex and some neighbors walked about 2 miles to grocery to get what little they could.  later in the week a milkman came down the street selling milk, butter, bread and eggs.  times have changed since then; forecasting is better, information more widely disseminated.  being stranded in my sewing space is no challenge at all, rather enjoyable, though i miss not having DD around.  in many ways, life is better and with any luck, this blizzard will result in a finished flimsy!  

scrappy AND snowy....

weather outside today was frightful so took the opportunity to corral that pile of scraps; fired up the old iron and ended up with these piles of 2.5" squares, inchies, 1.5" strips and 2"strips.  to be fair, many of them were already 2" wide but it did amass quite a few that'll now need a home of their own until they can be used.  seems like have had many "scrappy" days lately, but no doubt due to using up stash, or at least trying to.  **** being just about no-buy since late last year, my resolve has been sorely taxed to have to delete so many email sale notifications and new fabric photos.  the fact is, even if i continued to buy regularly, couldn't begin to get all the fabric i like.....it's a sickness for sure!  ***  and can you believe?  a week from tomorrow is february....month of groundhogs, valentines and ever lengthening days here in lobsterville....all good!

scrappy thursday

while trying to decide on the next project, was confronted with the bin of 2.5" strips which, putting it mildly, was in disarray, not to mention that all weren't even 2.5" wide so.....sat down, dumped it out and proceeded to bring order out of chaos.  found that the most were red and brown, few blues and hardly any yellows or pinks.  quite a stack of neutrals also.  did participate in some swaps last year which explains the findings.  the right side pile is stuff that doesn't belong, so will deal with "later".  the left is the newly organized strip stash, a temporary fix until a better system can be utilized.  hoping organization mojo will hold until can resolve completely.  right side pile includes some very short pieces that will go into 2.5" squares, the rest into usable strips.  playing in scraps is almost as fun as buying new fabrics and way more frugal doncha know!

week 2 - prussian blue!

these fabrics were the closest i could find for this week's challenge.  most of my stash is packed up but i did leave out some civil war fabrics.  pretty sure there are others in a box someplace.  making just these few blocks every week makes it easy to keep up in this year-long project.  hoping that soon all my stash will be accessible and organized.  have had word on the move and could be before spring, which would make me happy indeed.  ***  the hawaiian is coming along and now that sewing commitments are done, can move on to another machine project.  good thing books are packed as well or i'd be tempted to start another new....yeah, my stash is THAT gorgeous!  soooo, which one will it be?  wait and see!

LOTL part deux....done!

weekend task of finishing up these blocks accomplished....gosh, did you ever see a batik fabric that wasn't drop-dead gorgeous?  me either...so first stop today is the post office to send these along.  these 18 plus the 24 from last year will give me a generous twin size quilt top some time later this year.  and thanks to winter weather, have almost half the hawaiian quilted...the orange part; haven't started the white background portion yet.  shameless bragging on how pretty it is and how the quilting really makes the quilt...isn't that always the way? as for the next machine project?  well, next is the 3 star blocks showcasing prussian blue civil war fabrics and then....think the amish style ocean waves flimsy really needs to be finished.  once that top is done thinking a basting day will be in order as there are more than a few that are ready.  **** and are you in for the APQ 4-patch sew along?  not sure if i'll make a full size quilt but maybe a smaller version.  have added the badge to my sidebar.  though have dropped Quilters Newsletter mag due to cost, did pick up the American Patchwork and Quilting mag in its place at half the cost; this plus Quiltmaker are more than enough to keep current on quilty stuff.  ***  been busy since 5 am so taking a short break before continuing on with the day...it's cold and sunshiny and just right to sew!

weekend mission

the blocks from last year's lady of the lake swap were sooo gorgeous, decided to jump in for part 2 this year.  so this weekend will be making 24 more from different blue batiks and send off tuesday.  getting them done in 3 days should be easy.  it's another very cold day today so the old viking will be smokin!  have avoided most swaps due to postage costs but every now and then one is too tempting to miss.  cannot resist blue and white quilts!  *** not much else doing in lobsterville.  quilty events are hard to find this time of year.  more daylight is starting to be noticeable so everyone is more hopeful that spring is getting closer.....including me!

an early finish

barbara brackman has started a star sew-along using a different type of civil war fabric/color each week.  today's first is using turkey red.  rather than making an entire quilt--big or small--each week, have chosen to make 3 blocks per week that will give me a twin size quilt at the end of 49 weeks.  and here they are!  another reason for only 3 blocks is that most of my stash is FQs or half yards only, which should make shopping the stash for all the blocks pretty easy.  this is gonna be fun!  *** with frigid weather here it's ideal for quilting on the hawaiian, not that the apartment isn't warm, but a snuggly quilt is sooo, well...comforting!  amazed at how quickly it is coming along, so hoping for a finish before spring arrives.  so what are you sewing today?

design "wall" monday

not wanting to neglect the old viking while hand quilting the hawaiian, these little blocks got paper pieced this weekend.  though not all done, they do work up fairly quickly and are so darn cute!  bonnie made an entire quilt of these 5" blocks but me, i'm not up to THAT task.... another monday is here and january is almost half over.  in maine january and february are hibernation months, unless one enjoys skiing, hiking, snowmobiling, hunting, ice fishing and boating or any other frigid weather pursuit.  my most strenuous outdoor winter activity is clearing off the car after a storm.  it's nice to have quilting as an all-weather pastime.....

winter weather means quilting time

not that i don't quilt other seasons, but there's something about short days and cold temps that just beg for having a large quilt in your lap.  and, in honor of today's photo, my text has gone orange!  this quilt has been in process for about 5 years now, from choosing the pattern, the fabric, cutting the applique, the basting and actual applique work and now the really fun part, the quilting.  this will definitely be one of my personal heirloom quilts and i am giddy to realize it'll soon be finished.  if you have never tried hawaiian style quilting, i can heartily recommend you do.  as a bonus, applique angst has disappeared!

silly me....

the plan was to use up the rest of my batik scraps making these pineapple blocks, 25 of them, for a wallhanging, a frugal plan.....just couldn't stand to toss or fling these gem-like pieces.  now that the second round is started, i realize that there will be plenty of scraps left over after these blocks are done, a complete miscalculation but no surprise since math is almost foreign to me.  so, now while working on these blocks, will have to devise another project to REALLY use up the rest of the batik scraps.  it's a lemons to lemonade task....using up the scraps, and i will forge ahead with pleasure!   ****  since most of the country is in a deep freeze, we are no exception.  plenty of warm clothes and with days a tad longer, our sunshine might help a bit too.  it's part of winter in maine and no surprise at all to us, despite the frenzy the weather channel perpetuates.  we plan for it, adjust things accordingly and wait for it to abate....it's how things are done in our neck of the woods....

little flimsy

busted almost half of a charm pack on this little piece....the lighter rectangles are from a jo morton fabric.....gorgeous!  today working on some little pineapple squares, paper pieced, batik scraps, an official UFO.  really enjoying quilting on the hawaiian in this deep freeze, although we are warm but not overly so.  the heat got turned up high, but for some reason the inside temp stays the same.  the complex is 70s era and there are no real storm windows; most are drafty and loose.   the sills are covered with rolled-up towels to keep out some of the draft, but with 2 large picture windows, it helps but not totally effective.  not complaining at all, tho....in fact, when weather is extreme like this, makes me more mindful of how blessed i am to have basic comforts to enjoy....

bright flimsy

one charm pack is busted and i've this little flimsy ready to baste.  have started on another little project that will use up half a charm pack.....a nice little reproduction type piece.  more quilting has been done on the hawaiian as well.  waiting on stormy weather here after a long break with balmy temps.  the larder has been filled and so ready for a few days inside with videos and sewing....not the most pleasant aspect but it is a luxury to be able to stay off bad roads.  have been fortunate to get thru holiday season without battling the elements.  now for a late lunch, some errands and back to the old viking.....always a good companion!

new year, new project

the too-short days got to me and i've been ogling those kaffe charm squares for a few weeks now, wondering what i could make from them.  the 30 UFOs are being ignored temporarily while i finish the jelly roll flimsy and play with these bright colors.  with some cheddar strips and the kaffe charms, going to make this little piece--only 40 nickels but a wowza feeling.  the days are starting to lengthen, but until it's daylight at 5 pm (sometime in january), this will chase away the gloom.  *** saw the new year in last night and up early this AM, so a nap is on today's agenda, along with the sewing of course AND the parade too.  ***  the UFO challenge is on and thankfully i am not in the top 10, so i've time to have a finish before my name looms closer to the top.  quilting on the hawaiian is coming along nicely; such a relaxing pastime and anxious to see the design unfold.  am using aurifil white quilting thread  for the first time and it is terrific....the gals--old viking, phoebe and trudy--love it too.  hope you enjoy this first day of 2015!