quilt odyssey--a fantastic show!

starting with the venue, which was the hershey conference center....here are some shots inside and out...what's NOT to like about a chocolate ballroom!   it was a perfect day from start to finish, totally oblivious to the searing heat outside.  my seatmate on the bus was priscilla, a certified NQA judge, and we chatted about many things--places to visit, places we had visited, our quilty interests and a bit about our lives. 

out front under a portico, large round tables while waiting for the bus, taking a break or whatever..

lovely pond with water plants and oh those hanging baskets....gorgeous!

the foyer with raffle quilts....

yes, that is karen kay buckley with "brandywine triumph," a raffle quilt adapted from her 'majestic mosaic' pattern

show rules posted in the booklet prohibit me from sharing any photos of the display or juried quilts, but i am guessing because the above are raffle quilts, photos of which are widely available for the purpose of selling tickets, it's ok to show them...if not i'll gladly remove from the post.

lazy wednesday afternoon....

but did manage to get the latest "westering women" block done, not too soon either as the next will post in a week....not sure what will do with these blocks when done, but love the colors. this is penny rose's "indigo and cheddar" line...

first up, tho, was to remake the 365 block--done and added to the border--and then tweak the block top left, which somehow came out just a smidgen too large.  refused to go on until it was done and the right size.   the center block got cut just a tad too large, no doubt it was "pilot error"....lol....shouldn't drive and rotary cut at the same time!   ***  yesterday was simply delightful warm day with NO humidity, making it downright pleasant.   windows open for a change, soaking up fresh air before the big heat arrives friday.  almost feels like a touch of fall, if only for a day.  ***   no blocks today as senior center this AM and a wake this afternoon...and tomorrow is road trip day but saturday, sunday and monday are indoor days...i'll be cool but the old viking will be hot, hot, hot!  so very fortunate to be able to stay in cool a/c with no job responsibilities.   and don't worry, stocked up on diet pepsi too!

coming together!

it's the 365 and even tho one more border needs attaching, couldn't resist showing it....one block was waaaaaay too small--not sure how THAT happened--so it's a do over, and there are 2 more hiding someplace before i can sew on the final border.   but this is definitely a WOW project!

wasn't sure i'd like the different colors, but really they are mostly very light and in this photo not too distinctive.   just 4 little blocks for getting current; tend to sit down every so often and do 4-5 at a time.  and gotta hunt up those 2 errant blocks....so nice living by myself with NO roommates means they are definitely here someplace and didn't grow legs.  and if they can't be found, will just hold off until the next round of light blocks and make 2 extra...easy peasy!  only 5 months left and have to say, being involved in this has made the year go pretty fast.  rough plan for the remainder of 2016 is some charity sewing that will go to the top of the list, finish out the farmer's wife blocks and get to the flimsy stage, pull out brackman stars and get those into a flimsy, finish as many things as possible from the UFO list....think that's enough???   ***  enjoying brief respite from a/c with nice 80s temps and windows wide open for a change--if only for a day!  now go out there and quilt something!

done on monday!

always good to start the week off with a finish, even a little one like this...

even a little scrappy project like this is sooo pretty i think....everything came from the scrap basket, even the binding that was already cut and wrapped on a paper towel holder.   but if you look close at the back--a neutral print--it's wrong side out...LOL!   can only tell if you look close as it's a light tan print so it's staying that way.   this got started a few years ago when a different 365 challenge was going around...that of making a little paper pieced house block every day.  i wisely deferred but couldn't resist making up a few.  ***  decided to put the pink reel piece aside and continue quilting on a donation quilt.  with quite a few charity projects in the works, think probably should concentrate on getting those done.  plus after quilting on this, eager to continue doing the part i like the most--the hand quilting!  ***  heat continues here but hey, it's summer right?  with august only 2 weeks from today, many say it'll starting cooling a bit in another month or so.  and it's another busy week for someone who has no real job; makes me feel like a malingerer or some kind of slug...so i've had to ignore those feelings and keep busy doing meaningful things....aside from surfing the web, that is!

a quick finish?

swapped out the quilt in the hoop for this little house wallhanging hoping for a quick finish....july is half over and must make sure at least one UFO gets done...it's an homage to my first quilting teacher who had a shop called "the red door country store," and still have scraps of some of her fabrics someplace, whether as cut up units or scraps in the basket. 

waiting in the wings is the pink virginia reel all basted.  these 2 little items don't rack up much in yardage used, but do make the to do list shorter. did bust 2 yards of nonquilty sewing this week, so that about evens out as picked up 2.75 yards in sauder's sale of some very lights for those i've used in the 365 blocks. 

the fabric on extreme left--white with gray clouds--was a freebie FQ from sauder's.   ***  new issue of QUILTMANIA arrived and pleased to see an article on gerald roy and some of his antique quilts, many of which were crib or doll size.  vic in NH and i went to his hometown of warner, nh, last fall for an exhibit of over 100 from his collection--a real treat indeed!  ***  and speaking of blocks, just 4 little ones to sew up today and then it's farmer's wife.  first up is giving the old viking a break to cool off!

see what i mean?

barely 9 am and already 4 little blocks done leaving me with 7 to get caught up....i might even have time today for my 1.5 hours of intense housework...lol!

course, still wearing my pjs but that'll change as soon as i post this....next up is catchup with the farmer's wife sew along...now that i have the background fabric (see earlier post), can soon start to put that flimsy together.   ***  whew...whirlwind year with lots of memorables, not the least of which was the big move from new england here to maryland.  it's been a hot week and if it weren't for volunteering at vacation bible school, would not have ventured out much.  plenty of projects lined up for indoor sewing until temps modulate...and glad to say on the downside of the 365.  it has been a HUGE commitment and have to say machine piecing skills have improved, but is a big time involvement as well.  thinking ahead to 2017 now and then and what projects will be tackled....have 2 UFOs in particular that still need a lot of work, and there is stashbuster talk about a double wedding ring quilt sew along as well.  and to paraphrase a popular idiom, "teach a girl to sew and she'll have pleasure for a lifetime."  

switcheroo

just 2 more light blocks and it'll be back to the small, dark blocks--that'll be 72 in all that will be finished.  this is the most recent batch...and that pink/white bottom middle...oooohh vicious to piece i tell ya!  and my first block to do will be july 5th so one week behind....can't believe it!  have been sewing my fingers to the bone....seriously!  and the little blocks are so much quicker to piece obviously....even tho some of have lots of pieces.  ***  busy week here for a change with hot weather continuing every day.  in maine we have occasional hot days but never more than a week's worth, so it is a matter of just assuming that every day will be so.  have given up poring over the weather channel...lol!   nothing much to do but stay inside and sew, not really a hardship for me!   

lancaster acquisitions

so here is what i bought...first, background for the farmer's wife sew-along....got this out of the bargain room at fabric shack, few color choices so some of the blocks might blend in too much; can always swap them out but the price was right

and a remnant (top fabric) and some FQs; not pictured a yard of a particular blue for binding for a donation quilt.

the bottom is a jinny beyer and such a lovely red paisley....as you might know, most of my stash is half yards or FQs, so occasionally must purchase something for a binding.  for myself i go scrappy, but for a donation, looks better if it matches all the way around.   the total yardage came to just 6 3/8 yards so still ahead for the year.   most likely will make another trip or two before year's end....after the new jo morton is out and some of the christmas stuff is available too.   finishing up some of these donation projects should give me a significant outgo of fabric for the year.   at some point, will have to pick up some wide muslin yardage for backs.  only went to the one shop as i found all i needed; no point in flirting with temptation.  other purchases were veggies, some meat products and the required whoopie pie.  all in all, it was a very nice excursion.   best part was being with my daughter and son-in-law in the beautiful pennsylvania countryside....priceless!

quilty news from the hot zone

my DD keeps asking me how i am tolerating the heat and humidity now that it has arrived to stay, like every day...LOL!  well, so far so good, and especially good for sewing and quilting too!  this has now been placed in the hoop and the quilting has begun.  it has a destination so it must be completed before end of summer.  vic in NH gifted  me with this jelly roll--fabric line aptly named "grace"--so put this twin size together.  the white central squares set the colors off very nicely.

also got the milky way masquerade (aka batik stars) basted and ready to quilt as well.  my summer job of quilting a queen size DWR is no more, so can get back to my own stuff.  course, this means there are no funds for my fall retreat in lancaster either, which really disappoints me a lot.   this is the 2nd year i've not been able to go and really going to miss it a lot.  even though i can hop on up to lancaster myself, it just isn't the same as a week-long sleepover with like-minded pals who are totally fun!  *** speaking of lancaster, DD and her hub and i went today and admit i fell off the no-buy wagon just a skosh...except for a few FQs and a remnant, everything was needed so that nearly eliminated the sting of buying.  will post photo later.  ***  busy quilty week here with plans to get some quilts together to aid the WV flood victims, a quilt of valor all basted and a couple of lap robes in process.  nothing to do but keep cool and quilt on!

bit o' playtime...

another UFO, and the one with the least amount done, is a bricks and steppingstones quilt done in plaids.  i have twin nephews and decided to make them each a quilt.  their older sister already has one.  had cut a bunch of strips and the center squares for this but until the other day, hadn't actually sewn anything.  hence, this first block. 

think it looks pretty manly made from cut up shirts and some plaids bought at marden's.  just the first block, but once the strips are cut, should work up pretty quickly i'd think.   might use a red for the centers on the 2nd quilt, but i do like the cheddar!   ***  with the 365 project and now this, the very lights stash is dwindling so will add that to my lancaster shopping list.  those plus a background solid for the farmer's wife, a bit of solid black and the new jo morton "gratitude" and maybe some of barbara brackman's new blues....oh and that adorable alpine christmas line by pink chandelier too....better stop there!  ***  it's guild week here, managed to join 2 guilds that meet a day apart once a month, so it's quilty feast week for sure.  ***  and our senior center group has decided to do a QOV and make a presentation on veteran's day, hoping not only to honor a local vet but perhaps generate some new quilters to our group.  ***  it's a hot week here in maryland with days over 90....ideal for cranking up the a/c and sewing!  

from every mountainside....

let freedom ring!   proud to say i am a descendant of revolutionary patriots, even though their decision to fight was defense of their livelihood and not any great desire to be free from England; until British ships came into port to commandeer their lumber, they were loyalists!!!!

in college, i took a course called "literature and culture of the early republic," studying printed materials like newspapers, pamphlets and books.  an assignment was to visit the library's special collections and take a look at some examples.  my choice was a book by john adams....what an awesome feeling it was to hold such a tome in my hands (with gloves) and actually read the words of such a great man.  have ridden by the adams "farm" (now in the middle of a bustling city) often but never actually took the tour...and of course, he and abigail are buried in a quincy church...lots of history in that area.  can only say i am grieved by so much of politics today...what would our founding fathers say?  would they think it had been worth the cost?  they were not perfect men, but courageous visionaries trying to extricate this new land--and keep it--from tyranny...   ***  pondering these thoughts by sewing on the current projects, the 365 and DWR....   finally took a break from blocks to attach the inner dark border of little squares and am pleased with the result.   only 8 blocks from being current too!   once up to date, going to sew on the next border, the lights made of 6" finished blocks.   will be anxious to tally the yardage used when top is done....here is a photo...

so glad decided to do this sew along....and seeing it coming together fuels my quilty muse....been keeping a pile of scraps on the ironing station to use for these blocks and it is actually diminishing....good news indeed!

sidebar...

had to take a mini break from 365 and basting to sew up these 2 blocks for a guild project.  dug into scrap bins (thank you bonnie!), which made it a much quicker task. 

the goal was a dedicated black center square and then whatever that would be fitting for a quilt for a male recipient aka no pink/flowers etc.  these use 2.5" and 1.5" strips, soooo will file pattern away for possible future project, hoping to deplete some of those scraps.   ***  i peeked ahead to the july 1st block and it's back to 3" darks, well once i finish the june blocks that is...and with all this sewing thought it would be interesting to collect empty spools since january 1st and here is what that looks like....most of these were full, brand new spools so this is proof that there has been a lot of sewing at casa frederick and before.  

 and remember this little list of goals? 

1.  name badge for guild 
2.  finish my kaffe wallhanging  ****
3.  baste "milky way masquerade"
4.  catch up on "365"
5.  stay current on "farmer's wife sew along"
6.  at least 2 lap quilts for guild charity project
7.  finish pink virginia reel
8.  finish midnight garden
9.  cut out 2 schnibbles using on-hand layer cakes
10. sew up pair pajama shorts ****

well 2 got completely finished; the name badge is half done, the virginia reel ready to baste, nearly current on 365, milky way back ready, lap quilt squares cut; farmer's wife, midnight garden and schnibbles not touched....so there is room for improvement here...

a thursday finish....

it's the kaffe fassett wallhanging and there is a tad more quilting on the sashing but that'll get done today and i can count it towards my One Project A Month goal...

used up some leftover binding--white polka dots on orange--that seems just right for this piece and i think kaffe would approve as well!   fell a bit short of my plan to get all june blocks done; about 12 left to go, but the weekend is coming up and hot/humid weather too, so with no big plans

and plenty of a/c, i'll be bonding with the old viking...and the cream DWR is in process with it nearly half basted at this point.  figure the quilting will be started some time on the weekend.  now to pull another project from the "F is for Finish" pile for July....after a year being folded in the car's trunk, the scrappy boston commons has been laundered and is now bright and clean again, ready for winter or whenever (if ever) it gets cold here...  *** still very happy and content here in maryland and my nice and cozy apartment EXCEPT some horrible person has a disgusting air freshener that smells like vanilla or similar and it is totally stinky and annoying....certain fragrances bother me, some cleaning agents and those nasty plug-in things; tried to keep windows open today but still lingers with them closed and a/c on...as far as i can see, it's the only downside and is really disappointing me.  certain people take it on themselves to spray the hallways as well and occasionally one will be equally awful.  it's like lightning, never know when the stinkbug will strike.  if only my apartment were just inside the door....maybe someday....

monday design wall...

this wasn't the only sewing i got done this weekend, but would you believe this little block took more than 2 hours to assemble?  whenever it calls for 1-inch squares and strips, i know it's going to be complicated.  it's called 12 crowns and spent most of the 2 hours wondering if i was really committed to this project or not....but now that it's done, will probably stick with it....as long as can fit in my busy schedule of mostly unimportant stuff.   ***  and just like that another weekend has passed and it's monday.  my week to-do list is pretty vacant right now but could change.  during new england winters, plans are always contingent on weather, and so it is here during the summer...but to escape icy and snowy roads, the smart trade-off for me anyway.....*** so block june 11th is next; just a week to get current....can it be done?  will certainly try....***  my daughter is a nurse and she started working at a day camp for disabled children today...it is her passion and she is ecstatic they called her back again this year...she glows with the unconditional love they give her, and they bloom with the attention and love she showers...if only she could find a permanent job like this--would fill a void in her life and be an asset to those in her care....oh aladdin!

summer job

this commission came along to generate a bit of income and to keep me busy while hibernating in a/c for the next few months....a queen size, cream-colored DWR quilt...i know, it's a huge undertaking but planning to have it finished before retreat end of october.  once the kaffe wallhanging (see below) is finished some time next week, will begin quilting the DWR in earnest....by then the 365 will be up to date as well...that's the rough plan right now.  the person who started the quilting just got too busy and from her stitching, can see why....very tiny stitches taken not in ditch and not beyond seam allowance, so she was quilting thru 3 top layers, the batt and backing....i quickly informed her that my stitches are not that small.  i am going to try and follow her spacing, but since i use a rocking stitch, may not be possible.  also, not yet basted either....she'll have the option to decline once i've given it a try....

as for this small piece, have one more square to quilt, then a few edging triangles, then bind it up for a june finish.   never again will a complicated quilting design be chosen for such busy fabric.... but i love the colors....wowza!  and wait til you see the binding...kaffe would approve!

hump day....

takes on a whole new significance when not working....so far have not found any work, but confident the right job will come along at some point.  in the meantime, continue sewing along and loving it...
today start on june 5th--excellent progress indeed!

and this got done yesterday as well....

so today it's a bit o' basting....but with only a week until july, the june blocks are a priority....the next 3 are some of "those" with a gazillion pieces, not difficult but time consuming.   ***  up early this AM and popped a quiche in the oven that'll be on hand for meals the next few days--that and a rotisserie chicken and some fresh vegs are on the menu...how good is that?

taking shape

had an opportunity for some slow stitching yesterday; pulled out the hexie project to take stock of progress and do a bit more....you can see have started sewing on the spacer row and what a difference it makes just in this little section! 

starting to look like a real antique quilt and couldn't be happier!   who knew the little hexies and i would bond, but we have!  in addition to this sewing, finished 2 june blocks and more will be tackled today.   was feeling the urge to start a couple of new projects, but have quieted that feeling by looking over some UFOs, a sure fire cure!  ***  summer's arrival has brought consistently hot days ahead, so should be more sewing progress to show--with more finishes???  that's the plan....

not too early....

to think about next year's projects and progress....with my birthday coming up end of august, am thinking about gifting myself with this....

it's the quilters' planner....in addition to this roomy monthly calendar, there are project pages, graph paper pages, lots of idea jotting space, etc.  it's sort of a birthday/reward gift for my lengthy and so-far successful no buy behavior.  having worked for behavior modification specialists in the past, know the value of a reward and this is a doozy!   so, am i addicted to organizing?  does it make my life unmanageable?  not a whit....in fact, just the opposite.   same with quilting....all this chat about quilting as an addiction is pure hooey in my book.  no matter if one swoons or eyes glaze over fabric, not even close to addiction.  in the past had occasion to visit more than one detox facility and there IS a difference, trust me.  doctors, PhDs, therapists are all too quick to label people; in fact, everyone they encounter from the grocery store clerk to the dry cleaning cashier.  diagnosing patients is one thing, but snap judgments are quite another and often these so-called professionals cannot distinguish between the two, something about not seeing the beam in their own eye....so go ahead, beef up the stash, quilt til you wilt, take that cruise and sign up for that workshop...it's good for you!  and besides, it's only an addiction if you want to quit...LOL!

hel-loooo june!

finally finshed ALL blocks for may and am now starting on june....so, not too far behind at this point but some of the early june blocks are super complicated, meaning lots of little pieces--but forge ahead i must!   and since may blocks are done, here's a peek at the last few.

during the recent stash reorg, found some green lights and mediums that would work for this project, so added them to the mix.   have printed out up thru june 10th; will see how long it takes to finish them.   before moving on to june blocks, took a mini-detour and finished up blocks for this little UFO

that hope to tackle today and at least get it to the flimsy stage; from there it'll be a quick finish.   *** few days of 90s weather coming up, which makes for good sewing time.  even when i lived near the ocean, didn't venture out, especially to lounge on hot sand.  haven't yet found my way to the shore here in maryland, but there'll be plenty of beach days ahead....enjoy your summer sunday!

the fabric corner....

out of sunlight but definitely within my view, the stash is now all together!   don't ask me why the bookcase i bought was a different one than the first, sheesh! and yes, it was supposed to be the same height, but there was a bit of a construction malfunction, so improvisation stepped in.  there are still 5 shelves albeit different heights.   but, happy to say ALL the fabric fits nicely.  i know, it isn't neat like those who use boards or specific folding methods, but really i just needed it in one place where i could easily pull fabric and be motivated to NOT buy....so this works!  and the bag of fabrics for the farmer's wife got emptied as well...a good thing!   now there is room for my full-size bed when it comes....  sadly, no room for the few books i have tucked away, but perhaps later can replace the short bookcase with one like the taller, or possibly create a space for the books....we'll see.   ***  whoosh!  another week has gone by just like that!   wasn't super busy but spent some time with daughter and SIL, volunteered some, and sewed a lot, which is on this afternoon's agenda.   and aside from a bit of housework, my weekend is free as well....365 here i come!  enjoy the day! 

not just flag day but....

this would have been my dad's 91st birthday so the day would have meaning for us even without its national significance....

he walked on earth a little while, a promise to fulfill;

but in our hearts thru peace and love, he walks among us still

my first block today is may 27th, so being on target for july1st is a very real possibility and good thing too, as farmer's wife blocks need attention as well.  *** first thing this morning sorting fabric piles as the 2nd bookcase arrives today and finally ALL fabric will be off the floor; hoping there is a tad of shelf space left for some books that are tucked away waiting for a home...now it's just a bed, a desk and a chair and casa frederick will be complete!

design wall monday

bored yet?  hope not, just over 6 months left in this sew along....with each block i glance at the directions and groan, but methodically follow directions and when it's done, inspired to move on to the next block.

today starting on may 23rd block, so moving steadily closer to june's blocks....and have not bought one square inch of fabric yet for this sew along!  ***  another week starts and few things on the calendar.  weekend heat has abated and laundry is on tap for this morning, then free to sew...can hardly believe i am so fortunate in my richness of available time!

the un-fun sewing....

firmly believe everyone should have pj shorts festooned with flamingos and palm trees....you can be sure this fabric was on the markdown table, as it's what always gets chosen for nighttime attire.  they are done now and crossed off my june list AND 1.5 yards busted from the stash as well...a win/win in anyone's book....all while flipping channels and finding, of all things, "wagon train"....ward bond, black and white...how retro can you get???   can now return to fun sewing and more 365 blocks....and quilt-cam on a saturday afternoon!!!!  super sewing with bonnie!

the latest....

inch by inch, life's a cinch, and that goes for the 365 challenge as well....today's the 10th, have finished may up to the 17th, so that means 24 blocks to get current....my weekend is plan-free so hoping to bring that number under 20.....while each and every one of these blocks is a challenge, have to say into the swing of the task and am really liking how these blocks are coming together.   would like to take a break and get the dark border assembled, but holding off until get closer to june's blocks.  the old viking and i are joined at the hip until this project is done, a mere 6.5 months from now....

the challenge continues!

hard to see clearly from this photo, but the date on this selvedge is 1989...that's right 27-year-old fabric that was sent to me last summer....still usable and going into the 365 project...

trying to do 3 blocks a day, if possible, to get caught up.   you can easily see why this is called a challenge....many of the blocks have a LOT of pieces....

and many of the units essentially get cut twice, once out of the fabric and a second sizing up the individual units....26 blocks to go and tomorrow is out due to a special birthday....good thing nothing else on the agenda.....many of the participants have their little dark squares already sewn onto the medallion, so there's that to do as well....sure you don't want to join in? 

june gauntlet

sarah at confessions of a scrap addict has issued a june challenge about what might be accomplished this month.....

a bit late with this due to weekend visitor and catching up on sleep, but here's my "proposed" list...

1.  name badge for guild
2.  finish my kaffe wallhanging
3.  baste "milky way masquerade"
4.  catch up on "365"
5.  stay current on "farmer's wife sew along"
6.  at least 2 lap quilts for guild charity project
7.  finish pink virginia reel
8.  finish midnight garden
9.  cut out 2 schnibbles using on-hand layer cakes
10. sew up pair pajama shorts

i think i'll stop there....if i'm successful, that'll knock off 3 more UFOs, not big ones, but done nevertheless.....now it's wheaties and caffeine....have a quilty monday!

light of day

unearthed from the maine boxes were these 2 small UFOs, now happily up on the design wall....hoping to coerce me into finishes.   the itty bitty virginia reel (3" finished blocks) needs 7 more blocks and the midnight garden piece needs a pieced border...that's it.  

finally got a bulletin board up, waiting on return of the clock and delivery of another bookcase for (what else?) fabric storage.  one shelf, though, will have to be taken over for books now in hiding until then.  so very wonderful to be settled.  a desk, chair and bed will complete the apartment but it's still home sweet home until they arrive.  i realize the hottest months are ahead, but can get thru and can't be much worse than snow and ice from november until april that force hibernation as well.

so my goal for the first full week of june is to make more 365 blocks, finish quilting the kaffe wallhanging and attack these 2 projects.  wednesday is a wash as it's DD's birthday and for the first time in many years, I get to revisit the day of my greatest joy and shower her with affection.....otherwise i'll be in the studio...catch you there!

saturday chore

got boxes unpacked....some magazines, precut scraps, a few UFOs, 2-3 books and (naturally) fabric.  my saturday task is to get all of this into the already-here stuff in some organized fashion.  looks like the bookcase will get a twin very soon....LOL!

somewhere in this pile is fabric for a pillowcase i want to make and border fabric for an already basted christmasy quilt.  came across some ideal pieces for the 365 blocks, which are also on the weekend list.  so glad i have been no-buy since january.  a lot of this stash was gifted to me last year, so thank you one and all enablers! my guild is doing lap quilts for elderly next month for which some of this will get used.....and i predict more UFOs in my future, which means Unlimited Fun Of course!  ***   can't believe i've only been in maryland a bit over 2 months and already my monthly calendar is filling up with guild meetings, other quilty events, church activities and other social gatherings with plenty of sewing time too.....in other words, sew blessed!

monday design wall on friday

due to sporadic internet, this post got delayed....first, finished the "westering women" block for may, so this sew-along is current...then spent 2 days playing catch up on "365" and made good progress but alas, no sewing past 2 days means another weekend marathon. bottom photo shows the 8 days now finished.  now on may7th, so not quite a month behind, which IS progress!!  am adhering to the color value directions, but wasn't sure how other colors would work, but from the photo appears they play nicely with the blues in the original photo.  am going scrappy for obvious reasons.   happy to say that nearly at 6-month mark, aside from 3 FQs specifically needed, have not purchased any fabric.  not that i haven't seen oodles that i would like to have purchased, but alas, time is finite and prefer instead to have fun sewing up from what's on hand.  

dear sister has arrived for a couple of days en route to elsewhere, so 5 boxes of fabric left behind are now in maryland....and, ta da, cable has been installed at casa frederick, so now have internet access 24/7.....first up? catching up on blog and missed quilt-cams.....now it definitely feels like home!

the secret...

of pretty good machine piecing (notice I didn't say perfect), must be to NOT pay such close attention!!!  was working on this block for the 365 challenge while trying to watch videos--the revenant (book much better altho Leonardo is worth the watch) and a jack ryan adventure type when look what happened....it came out good! 

couldn't have been more surprised due to the many small pieces--well, all these blocks seem to have that--it looks so good without ANY drama or re-sewing!  as you can see this is the april 26th block and I just also finished the 27th, so still struggling about a month behind....due to a hectic week with a variety of other must-do things.  the calendar is clear for today, most of tomorrow and Monday so perhaps can make a dent.  obviously, taking a bit longer due to increased size of blocks, so it was a sparse sewing week for a change.  summer has definitely arrived with the hot/humid temps and expect more time will be spent in a/c, which makes for terrific sewing weather.  ***  weekend plans are few but include a bit of sightseeing.  another wallhanging is hung, as is the bulletin board so apartment nearly "done" decorating-wise.  the folded clothes are on shelves in the closet, and that needs a bit of tidying/organizing, but save for another day.  also, the Hawaiian and my scrappy boston commons will get laundered this weekend.  currently quilting on the kaffe wall hanging, but next up is basting and quilting the milky way masquerade along with some donation and Christmas sewing...it's nearly July doncha know! 

friday fling-ee sewing

before tackling the 365 blocks, just happened to spy the inchie drawer so one thing led to another and several rows got sewn together on this project.  now there are 2 rows all done.  it'll be a total of 12 of the 16-inch blocks, with a 4-inch neutral border, then another border of 4 rows of colors.  it'll be tied, of course, due to the gazillion seams.  most of the inchies I sewed together were sent to me last summer...a package of several manufacturer's little 1.5" samples....I pulled out the solids for the bow tie project and the rest went into the leader/ender pile. 

it is so great to take photos as it gives a bird's eye view.  when I started sewing these together, I just sewed them without thought to color or value.  later decided to concentrate on colors for the blocks and keep the neutrals for a border.  it is really noticeable in this photo.  no, I am NOT un-sewing any of the blocks/rows, but will flip one of the rows and relocate to spread the lighter area out so it's less noticeable.  the "before" is before attending the bonnie hunter school of scraps and the "after" is after I'd been exposed/indoctrinated  how to use my scraps better for more effect a la bonnie hunter....big improvement and important lesson learned....thank you bonnie!  this will probably be a donation quilt to bob's blankie brigade in the fall....