edgy post

selvedge sewing in full swing....got these done just yesterday...

after sewing a while, was pleasantly surprised to see that the shoebox was now only half full...

thought i might have to rethink my goal of 40 potholders but, as luck would have it, there is a veritable goldmine of selvedges very close by....so onward to 40!   ***  recently at guild meeting, a quilty pal gifted me with this; it's a left-handed cutter by martelli...i have no collaboration with this company other than to say this is one nifty cutter for us lefties...i find that there is less strain on my shoulder with this than even my olfa ergonomic cutter.

it's something i wouldn't have bought for myself, but have expressed my thanks to the giver....**** enjoying the last hot weather of summer i think...have to keep telling myself it's almost mid-october.   with the winding down of farmer's market, retooling my veggie options for winter.  it's been a year of doctors, drugs and diet that has sometimes been overwhelming but always thankful for the huge treat received last halloween...

october scrap attack

just a week late in posting my scrap attack project for october.....it's this:

the goal is to make 40 potholders OR empty the selvedge shoebox, whichever comes first.  now that i've cleared the charity sewing deck, can focus on busting scraps....but this being fall, also have a list of household things that have been on the back burner like cleaning oven and refrigerator, cleaning out drawers, washing down cabinets, etc.  yesterday opened up the cedar chest to pull out some winter things and found this...

it's a doily inherited from my mother-in-law...i know she didn't make it but perhaps her mother did....it needed some repair and i know my daughter might just toss it, so did the repairs and will label it--then she can decide whether or not to keep when she's going thru things. **** my first sunday project was block 9 of the antebellum album sew along...

and there was more sewing on this pretty polka-dot piece.....

not sure how many more to make but it'll be larger than this.....also pulled fabrics for border and binding for the turkeys so i can get that top done and basted....fun day all around!

QOV honoree

this past week our guild hosted maryland's QOV representative and official photographer for our veteran award.  these presentations are always awesome in my book, and i think our guild members were equally awestruck....

NOTE:  THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE COURTESY OF THE QUILTS OF VALOR FOUNDATION--PLEASE DO NOT COPY WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THEM!!!!

Mr. Kenyon Parker, 93 years young, regaled us with tales of driving a duck boat during WWII....Omaha Beach, Panama Canal, Manila and Yokohama were just a few of his stops.  Though frail, he was nonetheless entertaining and eager to share his experiences with us, not to mention deeply honored to receive his quilt and certificate....

his first words were, " I never dreamed I would be honored like this in my lifetime..."  i don't know about the others, but there was a lump in my throat....be well, Mr. Parker, and thank you for your service....

humble beginning

nature surely abhors a vacuum and that includes time...while trolling facebook and the 'humble quilts' page, spied an itty bitty sewalong and blocks that were soooo pretty.  pulled out my bonnie hunter scrap totes and decided to jump in....after all, it's only one small block right???  (lol)...

opted for my tried and true tan and blue...never tire of this combo.  you too can join in....here's the link

https://humblequilts.blogspot.com/2018/10/sajou-part-1.html

now that it's done, can get back to some other stuff and cook more veggies for upcoming meals...a never-ending task it seems...oh, and some "marcella" on netflix too...a lazy saturday indeed!

BOO!

the guild's halloween challenge is history, so i can show my entry now....i didn't win but i don't care...i just wanted to do something fun, try a couple of new things and be part of the challenge.  i call it "midnight ride"....

this isn't something i'm keen on keeping so it'll end up somewhere else.   it was also our community service presentation night.  we awarded a quilt of valor and presented many bureau toppers, lap robes, walker bags and a few stuffed dolls to a local long-term care home.  all in all, it seemed to go well and everyone seemed happy.  my day was crammed with senior center and attention to some small but irritating medical issues beforehand plus the first appointment with my new cardiologist--quite different manner than my previous--but if he is good at what he does, that's all that's necessary.  there were a couple of other snags but they got ironed out.  our veteran recipient was a 93-year-old delight who shared his experiences and was truly gobsmacked by the honor.  ***  charity sewing is all done for the rest of the year, so thoughts turn to UFOs and christmas....with a budget on life support, making some gifts is a must.  today, tho, it was finish groceries, hair cut and flu/pneumovax shots on this delightful, perfectly fallish day with a pleasant breeze, so welcome after hot and humid on thursday.  weekend plans shaping up with plenty of R&R at the top of the list!

design wall monday

after breathing a huge sigh of relief and packing up the shirts/pants, sewing time turned to my wild turkeys.  i've got it this far and a narrow-ish border will be added, then basted and ready to quilt...

i really like this pattern and the rustic look of the plaids and repro fabrics....now the sewing table surface is once again cleared and ready for the finish of my guild's halloween challenge piece.   after that's done (due thursday), have some small things lined up to sew.  the design wall is starting to droop over the multi-layers of things in progress....feel absolutely giddy over finishes, don't you?  *** and even tho the calendar says october, the 80+  temps are back with us for most of the week.  beach anyone?

going, going....

and gone, or at least they will be tomorrow....

the shirts and pants are done....or just about....2 buttonholes and 2 buttons away from the finish....they'll be picked up tomorrow and that leaves one little project to be finished by thursday.  whew...it's been a busy charity sewing month for me but october's cool air starts my own personal sewing time.  i still have the large donation quilt to finish, but it's hand quilting and i knew it would be a long-term project.  the shirts were easy; the button cufflinks as well even if awkward to fashion.  the pants were a challenge with lots of hand sewing of details that are not found on modern styles.  and after those 2 buttons and 2 buttonholes, i can relax and have some sewing fun.  i hope you do the same today!

finish drought over

early this AM while building still in required "silent" mode, finished the hand sewing on the 2nd pair of pants, so now only 7 buttonholes from being done!  celebrated by pulling out some of my things and ended up with 2 little finishes....

first, the next block of the 'antebellum album' sew along--good thing as block #9 out tomorrow...

and the 2nd thing was this pillow that needed finishing....was a giveaway from jan patek, a kit so all included except cording and pillow form. 

took both these photos with my camera so editing was problematic...but no matter, they are off my list.  ***  and while i was communing with my bernina, thought of another oxymoron....good landlord.....yep, they are sure hard to find if at all...me, i'm still hoping to find one. 

turkey update

been working on these turkeys during monthly bee sewing and hoping on track to finish in time for november.   switched gears a bit before finishing up the historical stuff....2nd pair of pants just about done except the crotch seam....tonight will be doing the hand sewing that's left.   after the crotch seam, it's 7 buttonholes and then an evening of sewing on buttons to finish up this commitment.  while glad it's nearly done and gone, have to say it added another set of skills to my garment sewing repertoire.  the only thing left with a deadline is the guild's halloween challenge project.  then the rest of 2018 is free for me and some christmas things i want to sew and some UFOs that need tackling.  ****  with only one day in the low 80s this week, it appears summer has left the building!  living away from new england don't get that dreaded feeling of approaching winter....bring it on!

blogger's quilt festival....

after visiting wendy's blog, i caved and decided to join in...the difficult part is which of my quilts to choose....so i decided on this one

it's milky way masquerade!  i love this, all those batiks....lots of great prizes and eye candy for any quilter....hop on over and join the fun!  ***  today starting the 2nd pair of historical pants...itching to pick up one of my UFOs but have to resist for another week....

one to go....

and that means three of my historical garments are all done--except buttons.  the buttons are bought but will wait for the last pair of pants and have a marathon button sewing evening....

the shirts were fairly easy but the pants a bit of a learning curve.  they required more hand sewing and extra flaps in the front than what i've sewn before.  the 2nd pair is ready to cut out and with most of the week free to sew, should be done by next weekend...which will leave me time to finish up the last item on my september list, a challenge piece for october's guild meeting.  *** october scrap attack is to empty the selvedge strip shoebox making more potholders.  ***  coming up on one year post surgery very soon....friday was apartment cleaning day.  before surgery it took me about 3-4 hours to go thru and vacuum, wash floors, clean bath.  two months after surgery it took me 3 days, which included daytime naps.  last friday only 4 hours and the place was all tidied up....the realization that i have really pretty much recovered astonished me and again reminded me how very blessed i am....even on dark days (florence and rainy days en route) of the climate or the soul, are to be praised....

not quilt related....

raining again outside and in my family!  my daughter lost her job today.  she is a nurse and worked at a rehab facility where most of the help are lazy and not really interested in patient care; managerial staff hardly speak English and have no managerial experience; several instances of staff members stealing drugs; lack of adequate supplies on a regular basis; agency nurses get called in without ever having seen the place and not knowing procedures; patients always late getting meds if at all; the food is terrible....i could go on and on.  she made an error, which is no surprise given the conditions there.  it happens frequently by others yet they get to keep their jobs.  my daughter isn't perfect.  when she first got the job, she was suspended for stealing drugs--which she didn't--and after contacting the state nursing association who connected her with an attorney, she was reinstated after 4 days with back pay....that was an omen i believe....she hardly ever had time for lunch.  am i biased?  well probably, but i know she is an excellent nurse, both in compassion and procedural issues.  does she get flustered with too much stress?  absolutely....her patients love her care and say so frequently.  the wound care supervisor has commented positively many times about her treatment.   some of her co-workers are clearly there for the paycheck only without regard for patient care.  the place is running on a shoestring without proper supplies, orientation of agency staff, firm but fair managerial staff.  my daughter deserves better, and we are trusting God in this storm for direction, wisdom, revelation....it's the best we can do. 

bit o' playtime

saturday was a day almost totally devoid of any ambition....exercised, did laundry, cut up more scraps, picked up generally but not much else.  no doubt it was from the extreme change of temperature from blistering hot to downright chilly...but at the end of the day rallied a bit to try an idea that's been swirling around in my mind...

dear friend vic in NH had gifted me a kona cotton jelly roll of pastels a while back....over time i've used a few strips but still have most that were waiting for the right project.  with plenty of precut scraps on hand, got these 6 blocks together lickety split.  i'm hoping to use up the rest of the jelly roll making these squares from a pattern found in a tula pink book....the green print fabric on the bottom middle block is a leftover from a trip around the world quilt i had made for my daughter about 35 years ago...i think that was my 2nd quilt.....

finally got my new marden's stash washed and a couple more pink polka dot blocks done.  while cutting up scraps, found the white with black dots in the basket.  not sure how many more blocks i'll make but it'll be a respectable wall quilt when finished.  ***  now that autumn is close, been firming up my christmas gift list.  it'll be here THAT quick and looking forward to a bit more holiday enjoyment after being sidelined last year when missed all the holidays from halloween to valentine's!

friday breather....

for the first time this week, the temp was only 70 degrees at 6 am....so cool down is finally here!  the end of the week also brings a respite from marathon charity sewing....today with the QOV now done and patterns traced and ready, can start my historical sewing.  speaking of QOV,  here's a shot of it on my bed....

i just love RWB quilts and this one is ready for some well-deserving veteran....and speaking of color, our speaker at guild last night was a sorta local gal (PA), gyleen fitzgerald....

her trunk show was awesome and her talk was lively, fun and interesting...always insightful to see how other quilters work and what they make....she didn't get thru her entire stack of quilts, but the ones seen were simply stunning and awe-inspiring.  if you need entertainment for your guild, can highly recommend her.  and once she said that most of her entire stash is FQs, well, i felt an immediate kinship as that describes mine as well.   that means it's all about the color and value and not necessarily the print of the fabric.  ***  my to-do list is ready for the weekend, one that is decidedly cooler and probably wetter; good sewing weather!

Quilters Meet and Greet!

For all of you from Victoriana Designs, hello and thanks for stopping by! Be sure and scroll all the way to the bottom for the prize drawing link! (for more info, click the graphic above)

I'll start off with a little personal info....I've been sewing since age 8 (61 years now!) and drooled over quilts until 1979 when I caved and took a class at the local high school. This is a photo of my very first quilt, the ever popular sampler....this finally got used up and had to be discarded....

Amish quilts drew me in and, although I was heavy into several crafts, most got happily dropped for quilting.  So, now it's nearly 40 years that I've been making quilts and my only regret is that I didn't start sooner....as I still have a long list of patterns I want to try and plenty of stash to use!  ***  I am a native New Englander but recently moved to western Maryland where I absolutely LOVE the winters!  I belong to the local guild and a group at the senior center.   Being retired has presented lots of opportunities to sew for worthy causes that I have to monitor closely to make sure there's time available for my own projects and a long list of UFOs  (unfinished objects).  Rather than chatter on, I'll include some photos of other things I've made, not all of them bed quilts.  Other than a great-grandmother who made quilts, I'm the only other quilter in my family, but fortunately quilting itself is one large, happily stitching family!

a perky pumpkin wall quilt for fall decorating...

a summery mug rug for cool mornings....

a patchwork bag, one of four, made for my daughter's bridal attendants.....

some festive christmas stockings to display and fill...and one of my few heirloom quilts...a full-size hawaiian!  oh and by the way, i am a hand quilter thru and thru.  recently acquired a walking foot that allows me to finish some small pieces quickly, but really, i love hand quilting! 

and one last thing...i do this for FUN!  there are NO quilt police in my quilty world.  it is my relaxation, my muse, my creative outlet and my passion....aka FUN!  you might find mistakes in some of my stuff but i really don't care.  i try new techniques and do the best i can, learning and having FUN all the way!  

Be sure and enter by clicking the graphic....Thanks for stopping by....come again anytime!

scrappy day

the calendar says holiday but for the quilter with an overflowing scrap basket, it's a work day.   for this month's scrap attack had to switch and do this, originally scheduled for december...here is the before shot.....

after a nearly full day bonding with the rotary cutter and ignoring household tasks, can now see both handles of the basket with a mountain of cut ups to be sorted into their shoeboxes....

along the way cut up some blues for a quilt i recently saw in a magazine.   the day isn't over and hope to get more out of the basket.  so much for a holiday!  i can only devote today to this task as tomorrow tackle more of my september must-do projects....getting close to a finish and then i can return to my own stuff.  aside from cutting scraps, did get some exercise time in, washed dishes and cooked some zucchini.  ***  be sure and come back tomorrow as i've been chosen by victoriana designs to join their meet and greet team....and there is a chance at a prize too....

two down, er done

that would be 2 of my 5 "must do" sewing tasks this month....

a lap robe and runner done for the local residential home....runners were requested to brighten up rooms so our guild has stepped up and made (hopefully) the 60 or so runners needed, one for each resident's room.  lap robes, walker and wheelchair totes are always needed as well.  these 2 items constitute one task off my list.  the other that got finished is a secret, so can't be shown yet....

my quilty pals treated me to a birthday lunch at a local asian spot...and when the fortune cookie arrived it said this (absolutely true!):  "it is time to start something new"....how did they know that just that morning pulled out a stack of fabrics for the tree of life quilt?   these have been assembled and border ideas gleaned from several places....i absolutely won't start cutting until other things crossed off my list, but the plans are formulated anyway...

another guild member inspired me to pick up this portable light for little money but big help.  some places i take sewing along don't always have enough to sew with ease and this'll be just the ticket...thank you sandy!

today will work on september project #3 but tomorrow (monday) is scrap attack day and plan to do just that....the scrap basket has been moved to the floor and is spilling out all over, so it's time....

birthday plea....

is there no end to the wackiness of some people/groups/companies???  in honor of my 69th today...and darn blessed to have another....am asking for boomers to rally in defense of an icon...

Note:  this is a photo of a tin...with the animals in cages....but could not find a photo of the actual box.  give me a break!!  those wacky PETA groupies with nothing better to do than to troll the internet and create tempests in teapots....the crackers come in a box, PETA people....no animals were caged or harmed in the production of animal crackers.   it's cardboard, a receptacle, a container....leave it alone!  and those wimpy Nabisco people actually knuckled under these whiny radicals.  if they choose to boycott fur, meat, fish or fowl i don't care.  but really, all this over a small box???  the emperor has no clothes on people...remember that story?   and we've seen just how many actually believe that he does....write nabisco and scold them...they deserve it!

saturday sewing

with impending heat wave,  ran around saturday picking up groceries, prescriptions etc.....finally got some sewing time in the evening before mandatory silence cloaks the abbey (manager's initials are MS so i've nicknamed her mother superior...LOL).  most of my september "must do" items are secret, but did work on the seemingly eternal donation quilt...

every time i think i'm getting close to finishing, glance at the entire quilt and sigh....but it WILL be done maybe by year's end?  ***  when life gives you blues...make muffins!  up early doing some hand sewing due to "silence curfew" and thought about the pint of berries in my fridge....yes, they are delish!

bit of housework before can dive into sewing stuff....now that sun up and dracula has retreated, can use the noisy sewing machine....

a positive sign

for those of you who are doing the moda blockheads sew-along, you'll recognize this block from laurie simpson over at minick & simpson.  i had seen this block in a blues/white quilt on an earlier post and swooned over it.  then at a recent guild meeting, saw a collection of pink polka-dot fabrics that called my name, sooo.....

spent some time getting re-acquainted with betty and sewed these up..  more to come but liking them so far.   of course, i have no business at all starting something new, especially with this staring me in the face and looming larger and larger...

this behemoth has to be tackled very soon or scrap basket becomes scrap tote, and that is a slippery slope that must be avoided....LOL!  ***  september is a busy charity sewing month for me, but hoping once all commitments are met, it'll be my turn to rack up some finishes before (shudder) 2018 breathes its last.  and you know, it comes all to quickly....we are in for a hot week next week, meaning hibernating in A/C meaning betty will be humming from dawn to dusk.  keep cool and sew on!

back to home base

after a very early departure from maine (5:45 am), arrived at BWI Amtrak station at 7:14 pm weary but not exhausted.  it's only the last hour that is tough....spent overnite at DD and DSIL getting a whopping 10 hours' sleep...so very thankful to have that option.  arrived back at home in time for bookmobile and getting a few grocery necessities.  then the job of unpacking....first was this lovely small quilt that'll make an ideal table topper for my chairside table from vic.  she loves red, and this piece with some of her beauties is so fall-like. it has a nice floral flannel backing too....

this letter opener was a give back from mom.  it was bought at the UN in 1965 by me as a trinket and she's had it all these years.  a few nicks, but just seeing it brings back memories of the day.  it was a trip by the world affairs club in the 10th grade... ***  and isn't this a gorgeous bag?

it contained my birthday gift from DD....a gold chain for my gold cross charm and a lovely new nitegown....she has such wonderful taste and always knows just the right things to choose...and the card was sentimental that choked me up....i am so blessed indeed!

last day...

of my wonderful two weeks in maine visiting family...spending the day storing up hugs from mum and doing some secret sewing for an october guild meeting, so all i can show is this...

wait, are those bats?  could beeee....  *** since i'll be traveling the entire day, have prepped a lunch and some snacks to take along.  and the toughest thing on tuesday--aside from saying goodby to my mum--is to get this puppy closed! 

the only extras are a few shirts from the thrift, a few jars of jam from stonewall kitchen and the 7.5 yards picked up at marden's and busy thimble...everything else came with me....somehow it WILL get zipped....next stop maryland!