down to the wire

it's the eve of the 31st and my summer UFO blitz is winding down....just today, though, finished this tumbler top and although i had planned a border, have decided not to as it's just big enough to hand quilt and finish.  i have a nice red print that i might use for binding....might, that is.

i love these scrappy tumblers and after it's final press, it goes in the finish pile with the others waiting on me...course, it hasn't diminished the stash pile much but that was a given before started.  *** looking back, pretty happy with what got accomplished these 3 short months, actually 2.5 due to my vacation.  even so, there are 4 empty drawers in the UFO cabinet, a few less plastic baggie UFOs and a few less cross-stitch UFOs.  not to mention the few small finishes that are no longer in THAT pile.  two flimsies were sold and found new homes and didn't even make it to the finish pile.  pretty good progress overall, but can't slack off.  the orange mod top didn't get done so that is up next.  plus some selvedge potholders.  plus finish the senior center QOV......etc. etc. etc.!  meanwhile, planning to ease into september and autumn's arrival.....and forgive me for veering off quilting, but this photo came to us a few days ago and am completely gobsmacked by how beautiful my mom was...this was 1945 and she is still beautiful at 90, but wow, she coulda been a pinup gal...

sewing prezzie

yep, today marks another year in existence for me...my mom is astounded to realize she has a child who is 68 years old!  in our family we don't think much about years, just keep on keeping on, and so far it has worked out pretty well....among other things, this arrived as a gift...

so the place is packed with aurifil thread now and the machine gals will be purring and whirring with delight!  i was really bowled over with this generous gift, but have promised to pay it forward as i've always done anyway.  and yesterday, this also arrived in my mailbox....not a gift but a harbinger!

was surprised as here in the northern south, we are still in summer mode. i did read that the new england foliage was predicted to be over the top this year...i just love autumn!  and even tho i'm not venturing back to school, some old habits die very slowly so indulged in these, feeling very rich indeed to have 2 boxes!

actually i thought the new blue would be included, but it wasn't yet.  opened them up and inhaled that heady wax aroma that only brand new crayons have.  packed away i have the box of 64 and a commemorative tin too...even as a youngster, color tantalized me so the segue to fabric was a given from early days...finally, this project progresses on with the hopes of finish by end of august september, possible presentation on veterans' day. 

with the summer UFO blitz, the finish pile is, well, piling up and time marches on...now, though, time to bake a small chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and some pretty sprinkles on top...no candles are allowed here but not needed as i'm only as old as i feel....how about you???

the day's fun

before heading off to dreamland, wanted to post a wednesday report....first up, a small finish...bonnie hunter's wild and goosey pattern, the mini version...

at some point, she posted a photo of a large antique done like this but i opted for a smaller version for a quick (don't laugh) finish....i really love this and if i were 30 instead of ??? i am pretty sure i'd do a bed size...and this also got finished today....

found a home on the antique sled where some small quilts are displayed...really happy to see this finished....and continued working on the tumblers which work up super fast...this top is now just about half finished...and was able to avoid drooling on it while "witness" was on...one of my fave movies....harrison ford and amish quilts?  what's NOT to like????

actually pulled FQs and cut more pieces for this....always good feeling to shop the stash!   i do like this a lot and itching to get to the fun part, the quilting!  ***  can't believe labor day is around the corner and my very favorite season....autumn!  but first, a birthday cake to make for you-know-who!

summer UFO train....

chugging along emptying more drawers before autumn arrives...with 12 more days hoping to end up with the orange mod as a flimsy....today's progress is the scrappy 9-patch with reconfigured border...

still not perfect but improved over the previous 2 borders.....glad i made the effort for the unsewing and resewing....was going to donate to the thrift store but i kinda like it so maybe i'll just tie and finish and use it for charity.   waiting in the wings and already in the machine is the repro tumbler scrappy....

four rows were already done and have lots of tumblers already cut in the UFO drawer.  again, destination uncertain but i have envisioned hand quilting this one.  it'll need a border of some sort, not very wide, but a neutral and then a dark print to bind.  i could definitely snuggle under this one.   and unearthed a couple of cross stitch pieces needing finishing.  framing is too pricey, but decided to make a decorative pillow of this one.  it was done back in the 1980s and was sad to see some discoloration that didn't come out with washing.  i really like this piece and sorry i left it unfinished so long.  when i made it, i had the house and lots of

decorating dreams, but have found the perfect place for it here in my new home....so the time seems right.  the other piece is a serenity prayer that will also become a pillow after some eyelet trim is purchased.  it, too, was made in the 1980s during the ex's first go-round with AA. we split not long after, so lost interest in finishing.  lastly, DD came for a visit last week and drooled over this wallhanging, even offering to BUY it, but mom had a light bulb moment....

remember the sampler christmas stocking?  half done at this point, so made a deal with her and she will finish the cross-stitch, and i will quilt the basket wallhanging and give to her. she is a perfectionist with her cross stitch....synapses really firing that day!   now back to that moving train!

[new header photo is marsha mccloskey's north wind from her book "quick classic quilts"....i loved making this and love the result and love that book as well...flimsy was donated to vermont flood relief a few years back]

wednesday finish

finally, have gotten back on the sewing track and finished up this little christmas baubles piece...it's a moda bakeshop pattern and although i like it, the original was done with green baubles and a more neutral background....but it's done and not totally disagreeable looking...it'll look more festive in december i'm guessing....

and the other day was fashioning a chair cover for a friend....it needed lots of bias binding, which i made from stash.  and if you know me, you KNOW i didn't measure how much i'd need beforehand, just cut a stack of bias strips guesstimating how much was needed....well 'shiver me timbers' but when i got to the end, it looked like this....

now, there HAD to be at least 5-6 yards of the binding in all...but like the eclipse, this could never happen again in 45-50 years at least....true binding karma!  ***  a gorgeous late summer day here in mid-atlantia with temps rising incrementally as week progresses....boy do i feel blessed today!

monday scraps

this post contains a variety of photos....first up, went to a local quilt show yesterday and snapped these few that caught my eye...there were plenty more but these were a few of my faves...

don't see stained glass quilting around much, but this one and a couple others were quite nice....

this was a panel but sure didn't look like one....the colors appealed to me....

i liked the silhouettes on this little piece.....and managed to sew a bit myself before venturing out.  the senior center is having a placemat workshop in september, which is shockingly just around the corner.  first attempt while doing some baking resulted in a block the wrong size, but the do-over came out just right...

the leaf fabric in the top one is a hoffman, naturally....their designers always turn out gorgeous prints...and a couple of vacation memories...was it really two weeks ago??

the famous ken's seafoods in scarborough, maine, and my own selection of yummy fried clams in batter....a decadent and delicious choice!   last but not least, a couple of local flora pix....the first is of these floral bushes that are everywhere in an array of colors from pink to lavender to fuchsia....when in full bloom they are gorgeous!  they look like a lilac variation of some sort...

and a look to the future with a photo snapped last year at a local state park.....i know i couldn't live anywhere that didn't have an autumn....

now off to start the week....on my list?  hope to finish a couple of small pieces, plus the scrappy 9-patch border and tackle the QOV to see if that can be an august finish....

small space decorating

the adorable doll quilt made by vic has found a home!

my vintage sled sits in a corner adorned with several little quilts....the sled had once belonged to my grandmother grace, my mother's mother, who died at age 21....leaving behind a long-grieving family and her only little girl just a toddler.  i cannot fathom such a loss being so very blessed to have my mom still hale and hearty.   ***  finally got some sewing time in still plugging away at the revamped border of the scrappy 9-patch, vowing to "git er done" before tackling something else.  now that groceries are in, my days are free to sew....more blessings!

home again!

after 12+ hours on various transportation, arrived home last night to a huge stack of mail and my own bed.  so very glad gave the apartment a thorough clean before i left....first thing this AM, went right to my stash and pulled some nice magentas and reds for snapdragons!

next task is the pattern and i might just have one in abook someplace...that's the next step.  *** meanwhile, here at the ranch it's grocery and unpack day....and probably a nap?  could be....

vacation needlework..

don't think i've put aside some handwork while on vacation...brought along this ancient UFO to see if can get it closer to finish...

got all stems and leaves appliqued down, part of the basket, ready to finish basket and move on to bunny #2....good progress considering.  *** and the serious rain has finally arrived.  locals are happy for their gardens, and it's still warm so not crimping my plans at all--and truly it was needed.  ***  and august is birthday month for me, and again this year so blessed to have a birthday blueberry pie made by mum.  even tho the exact day is later, we celebrated early....being with family is always a reason to celebrate!

won't be long before maryland will be on the horizon, but it's been a perfectly full and magical time here in new england--it just doesn't feel like home anymore, though, and will be glad to be there soon....

nearly ready to sew...

but first, have to get back to my stash and pull some of those luscious kaffe reds and magentas and then find or fashion some sort of pattern for my snapdragon garden...all washed and dried thanks to mum!

marden's total was 3.75 yards for a mere $4.27 per....pretty darn good!  the left most peeking out is a garden print gifted to me by denise...she is a gardening guru...and a beekeeper...plus chickens....she is one busy bee herself!  ***  for our seaside lobster bake last tuesday, everything got packed EXCEPT the pot to cook lobsters!!  so we improvised this way with perfect result...a bit of a smoky taste to the lobsters but with drawn butter hardly noticeable, and much less watery than cooking in water....channeling the early settlers no doubt...

for lunch today, we finished the last with a couple of yummy rolls.  *** and while i'm here, doing some cooking to stock mum's freezer.....first up, fresh corn fritters!

tomorrow is spaghetti sauce sunday and on monday some cinnamon rolls....and finally, gray clouds have arrived after a spectacular long run of perfect days....rain probably later and tomorrow but we are done sightseeing so we don't care...now we will just spend time together, mum the sibs and i, until departure date and back home to my cozy apartment and southern living...the best of both worlds indeed!

friday update

whew and double whew!  after 10 days of nonstop going, will now have a few days of quality time with my mom doing at home fun things.  the weather has been made-to-order perfect...have been to all the fave spots and eaten some fave new england foods...and visited some special quilty pals that made my vaca really, well special!  *** some time ago i saw a saying that really resonated with me...it goes like this:  'when you give what you have made with your hands, you give your heart.'  vic's little doll quilt really fits, and yesterday another friend gifted me with some homemade goodies--jar of jam and jar of honey from her own bees.

and being of like minds, we trekked to the ever-popular marden's for a bit more retail therapy....albeit no sale but still excellent value!

some pretty pinks for snapdragons, a neutral (with orange of course), a cute elf remnant and a margo krager shirting...a lucky find indeed!  it really is a fabric mecca, as long as you don't need a specific fabric...half the fun is in the search!  ***  the vacation days dwindle but still plenty of family time to spend....10 days of driving and sightseeing has left us weary but with wide smiles and loads of good memories for the days ahead.....to say i am blessed is a huge understatement....

monday post

vacation days are whizzing by at speed of light but squeezing out as much fun as possible...sunday trekked to marden's aka fabric mecca to meet up with pal vic from NH...she and her hubster are such kind, thoughtful and generous people.  first up was retail therapy...naturally!  and there was a very rare sale at marden's as well...remember those snapdragons?  picked up these as absolutely HAVE to capture that garden in fabric....

my stash is sorely lacking (if you can believe that) in yellows and greens...still have to find some good pinks, and i've tons of luscious kaffe reds/magentas on hand....so here's 1.75 yards of name-brand bargain goodies for the unbelievable sum of $6.60...that's right...incredible!  after this we headed for pizza and before she left, gifted me with some lovely lavender sachets and a pretty little quilt...her machine quilting skills have improved immensely....she is one awesome gal! 

gonna be hanging this little cutie on my antique sled at home....as for today, perfect summer weather and beach was on tap...and it didn't disappoint....early arrival and out by noon (no umbrella) but it was super....water lovely and warm and not at all frigid, typical for this time of year. 

on our way north, stopped here for a bag of goodies for a family get together....weather is picture perfect and every day another gem.  

pretty sure i passed my fun meter max already but what a way to go!

sunday update

brief blurb about vaca doings in no particular order....first up, a quick visit to BUSY THIMBLE and Cyndi's awesome repro shop netted me this...

a gorgeous piece of betsy chutchian's new line of fabric....unfortunately my fabric budget is practically nil or would have--and COULD have--picked up a whole lot more.  in addition to the gorgeous fabric and reconnecting with Cyndi, blog pals Wendy and Randy were also trying to choose from Cyndi's entire collection!  Randy is visiting from California and Wendy is local, but it's always good to meet up with blog pals!  this fabric will always be a reminder of that visit....  ***  then a day trip to U of Maine in Orono to see these gems...

these are photos of documents written by my Whitney ancestors.  what an awesome treat this was!  the small collection consisted of two hand-written ledgers of sawmill transactions, meticulously detailed and recorded.  in addition some other miscellaneous correspondence was included.  one was a shopping list that included "a straw bonnet with lining and trimming" and a "pair of women's calfskin shoes, size 5"....there was also a note to a merchant in Salem that requested additions to an order sent by a ship captain who was ferrying lumber that listed "6 barrels dry fish, 2 barrels rum" among other things...it was a brief glimpse into the lives of people whose blood runs thru my veins and it was simply amazing to know i've touched actual pamplets written by them.  *** and last but certainly not least, these events were bookended by coastal sojourns....weather is warm and sunny but not really hot; in other words, just perfect!

our rental got upgraded from a compact to an SUV, so we are vacationing in extreme comfort and style...and another day of fun ahead!

first of all....

a hundred thousand thanks for all who visited me on my "12 days" post....over 500 people took a peek and that is totally amazing!  thanks for stopping by....

vacation is in full swing and right away after picking up the rental behemoth (an SUV), we made a beeline for the coast and picturesque boothbay harbor.  it's a special location for my mom that sends her back to her young married days....

and a revealing disappointment....my ship DID come in but alas, in the wrong location and when I wasn't there yet (not THIS one, but the yacht on the left, partially seen).  a bit further from the coast in town, saw these....

a huge bed of colorful snapdragons....yellows, pinks, reds...hmmm good palette for a quilt maybe?  stunningly beautiful in the summer sun....and finally this morning, got a chance to spend time with needle and thread--always good....

this was tucked away on its noodle in my suitcase just waiting for some attention....hoping to get it all done so can attach to the other rows when i get home...stay tuned!  ***  it's cloudy and rainy today but beach weather is coming...can't wait  keep calm and play on!

the 12th day....

of christmas, my true love gave to me....a two-week vacation...wahoo!  at least that's what I got....but for all the last day quilty fun, be sure to visit sarah's blog for the participants!

www.confessionsofafabricaddict.blogspot.com!

and remember, it can always be christmas in your heart!

sort of fix

well, after getting 2 of the new borders on this scrappy 9-patch, have realized that it is what it is and unsewing and resewing all those bias edge pieces a few times will never turn this into a silk purse.

it seems a bit better than with the 2 borders but didn't turn out as good as i'd hoped....even so, glad i made the effort and will finish the other 2 sides and then quilt (or tie) it and call it done....i've made pieced borders before and they come out fine, but somehow this one is confounding me and i will chalk it up to the fabric....and the repeated ripping out and resewing...never a good thing with bias edges.  ultimately it will be welcomed by somebody and used for its intent--warmth and comfort.   as i've said repeatedly, i am no blue ribbon quilter and so i am not disappointed or crestfallen over this....after all, imperfect can be beautiful in its own right with quilts or even with people....gotta keep the big picture in mind here.   have a wonderful imperfect day!

and lastly, don't forget about the 12 days of christmas!  with 2 more days there are some lovely things to see and more chances to win a stash of tula pink fabric!

Monday, July 24th

Anja Quilts

PickingandStitching

A Dream and a Stitch

come back tomorrow for the last exciting day of this fun-filled blog hop!