basting blitz

with december flying by--3 weeks from today it's GONE!--attacking my to-do list with vigor...pulled out my folding table for some prep work....first up, pinned binding on the antebellum album...now waiting for walking foot and finish.   then the 'home sweet home' got basted....it's been waiting for enough fleece on hand...

then the gwennie inspiration piece...

then the santas....i folded it to show the backing, a donation to the senior center like the santa blocks....

then the 'firewheel' block....borrowed a tip from barb and used a small toile piece for the backing, rather than cutting it up and lose the delicate design....

lastly a new top from a jo morton book....i used on hand stuff so different than jo's but might add something to the middle piece, maybe an eagle applique?  basting will wait until completely done....

all this has left me with a nearly naked design wall...my december goal! 

i've one more task for the folding table then it's back in the closet until next time....all in all a productive morning.  what's on your quilty plate today?

a smidgen of shopping...

or a tad of therapy...either way squeaked enough out of the budget for these 2 quarter yards of fabric....

visited local shop yesterday to meet up with a stashbuster pal and pick up some flings for the senior center.....whereas in the '80s and '90s we quilters were busy acquiring mass quantities of fabric, now--speaking for myself--frantically sewing and sharing trying to use up as much as possible.   and keeping true to my rule, i did not buy these because they were beautiful....oh no... i have a plan for both.  the top is an aboriginal print going for a zipper purse and i even bought the zipper!   the crabs will also go for smaller zipper purses; zippers to be obtained later, probably joann's with a coupon as their price for a 7" zipper is a near-gouging $4...which i think is totally obscene.  the 12" i bought at the quilt shop was a mere $1.50....but aren't those kangaroos sooo cute!  of all the aboriginal prints, this bolt had the least amount, easy to see why.   the visit with my quilty friend was awesome as usual....she has medical issues too, and though it wasn't a full-blown "organ recital", we did commiserate and vent a little about our "new normal" lifestyles....she is a role model for me and someone i admire greatly for living above her circumstances.  ***   a sunny and cold sunday, just right for putting up my little tree with the 4, yes 4, strings of lights and all those ornaments with so many memories--like visiting old friends.   easy to be grateful and feel blessed on such a day!

am i blue?

not me but pantone has just announced their 2020 color choice....

oooh i love this.....not quite as dark as my background for the scrappy double wedding ring.....but this morning while going thru 40 years of quilters newsletter mags, just happened to rip out a couple of inspiration ideas...and you guessed it....

not starting either of these just now--but maybe someday--and no doubt will find a few more as i continue perusing the old magazines.....so fun to see well known quilters back in the 80s and 90s and articles by those who have passed on....so many memories.  and astounding to see how quilting has advanced since the magazine folded....

squeezing and easing

all those years of sewing mistakes came in handy today when i went to attach one side of this border...it was a skosh short but was able to ease enough to fit....and with that, these border pieces finally got used up and off the bulletin board.  there was not enough to miter but i am satisfied with it, especially since every inch got used.  these are not favorite colors of mine but found this pattern on quilterscache...a 16" block called 'firewheel'....and knew could find stash (understatement) to match the border colors.  ****  then whipped up these 3 blocks for guild winter swap, again, enough stash on hand, that hoping somebody will like.  these 2 projects busted some entire small pieces of stash, which is how it usually goes.

with my christmas gift shopping completed, can continue to focus on the sewing to-do list.   one is to baste that santa blocks wall piece with those red/green flying geese on the design wall!  *** no snow yet here west of baltimore and exciting news in the paper this morning....next year's G-7 summit to be held at camp david, a mere 10 or so miles from here....fancy schmancy neighborhood!

weekend retreat sewing

had a busy list of to-do for the weekend and happy that most got crossed off....all that's left is to finish this donation lap robe....

it's 40x60 and will be enjoyed by somebody i'm sure.....besides this, finished up a couple of giftie items and these amish ornaments....

they finished better than i had anticipated.....and wanted to try out a little zipper coin purse....first one was (ahem) prototype and needed tweaking, but the second was a win!  it's smaller than the photo shows, about 4.5" across at its widest point....ideal for all those extraneous cards i keep in my purse and my medical info....

kaffe fabrics work for everything it seems....christmas cards were found and unearthed, today is present wrapping and some ground turkey meatballs on the menu.  quilting on the tan amish 4-patch continues and hoping for a december finish and just maybe one other small.....the must-do list for december is now shorter and well within completion reach.   rather than dwell on disappointments and losses, having things to make and finish help keep me jolly during the holidays and so very thankful for all my blessings.....

mystery finished!

while most are starting bonnie hunter's mystery, today i finished up part of one i started from a previous year....these were pieces in a bag on the shelf for far too long, so finished up into blocks and will donate......

i usually don't do mystery challenges but the colors sucked me in and then fizzled....i'm sure they will find a good home and a purpose....next up was a charity lap robe size, 24 blocks of 10" finished....so the top is just about half done.  this will get tied with black floss and then donated..... should be gone before december is! 

lastly, had one more panel to make into a portrait....got 2 done last year and this one will be done for this winter.   the other 2 are strictly christmas, but this one can be kept up all winter long....was a freebie donated to the senior center and kinda cute....

that's what friday accomplished....just a bit of giftie sewing left and the rest of the year is clear for some basting, some small thingie finishes and knock off at least one more UFO.... with just a few weeks until the days begin to lengthen, this year has totally flown by....so many prayers answered and blessings experienced....i think of a cousin who lost her mom last year on christmas day and my heart just breaks, even though we are not in touch.  having my mom still with us this year spry and sharp-minded is the greatest gift....God is good indeed!

a blessed thanksgiving

unless you just arrived here from another galaxy far, far away, you have already been saturated with christmas and thanksgiving is almost completely forgotten....but we of the new england ilk hold thanksgiving in high esteem....first order of the day is to muzzle all the food police and nutrition pests who feel compelled to control the choices of everyone else.  as long as i have free will and am of sound mind, i'll enjoy the traditional holiday meal--in moderation of course--without calorie or content guilt and hope you do the same.  aside from that, hoping you have family and/or good friends to gather with and forget about christmas entirely, if possible.  i'll close with my very favorite thanksgiving drawing, done by a talented artist well known to me....happy thanksgiving all!

sunday stuff

it's been a quiet weekend here in lake woebegone maryland....weather mild, gray, dreary and sometimes wet....but sewing continues!  first on the list was a couple of giftie things that are under wraps for now....then got my gwen marston inspiration piece to the flimsy stage...

this might get basted before december finishes....but it will go on the 2020 UFO list.....then with a new year looming, my organization bug is in overdrive....had some baggies with pieces and some little piles of stuff set aside for future projects.   first cut up the piles and kitted everything needed for those planned projects, then emptied a baggie with some already-sewn units from a bonnie hunter mystery that got started then derailed....have enough units for 12 blocks of this...

these would be ideal for a little girl quilt as the light lavender is paper dolls.....not sure if i'll make this up or if the blocks will get donated...either way the baggie is empty and languishing pieces on the super highway outta here....then it was an hour or so of scrap maintenance as the 2" strip tote was jam packed.   pulled all the short pieces--less than 10"--and cut them up into squares, going into the 2" squares tote which has plenty of room.  ***  this time of year is always exciting to me with holiday traditions and clearing the decks for a new year.   keeping things orderly gives me more time to sew and plan new projects.   ***   and a plant-based thanksgiving dinner???  a fellow dieter years ago told me thanksgiving dinner is bread in every color--stuffing, squash, peas, white and sweet potatoes, gravy thickened with flour....she was right!   don't need thanksgiving to be thankful for so many blessings in my life....

monday report

first up, a finish!!  slept peacefully after this very long-term project got completed....much like the hawaiian i made.  this 365 was by far the biggest quilt i've ever tackled and, thanks to the passage of time, haven't a clue why i originally started it in 2016.  i was homeless, couch surfing with most of my stuff in storage save for a few clothes, my featherweight and a grocery sack of scraps.  after 3 months an apartment came thru and the big move south, again with few items, the sewing machine and scraps.  this is going to my daughter and son-in-law as it's way too large for my use.  i would have given the top away if she hadn't spied and claimed it.  it isn't my best piecing or quilting, but it's done, isn't a cheap import and it has a home.  the entire quilt made from stash--not a bit was bought.  the final tally was 13.25 yards.....including the scrappy binding. 

with the 365 done, quickly moved on to some other sewing...during quiet early morning hours got this first of four blocks basted.....

and some time at the machine working on my gwen marston inspiration blocks...only a few more for this small 5x5 wall quilt....

these are 4" finished and border is red, all cut and ready to attach. ***  with end of year approaching, taking stock of year's accomplishments and revamping the UFO list for 2020....happy to say made good progress with finishes and only a handful of small project starts.  have also ramped up my exercise routine a bit in prep for one more cardiac test in a few weeks.  wish it wasn't so high maintenance but the payoff is so worth it....i know i am blessed with reasonably good health despite the supreme efforts....now back to sewing!

in the hoop

do you spy something different in my quilting hoop?  yes indeed!  this is a small piece assembled from the scrap pile and it'll be a quick finish....

and it's in the hoop because this is happening!! 

the 365 binding is being pinned on....oooh am giddy with delight at getting this finished so far ahead of what had originally hoped (end of december)....in the nick of time too because dear daughter and her hubby are in need of a big warm quilt....she loves it and i love giving it to them....and even with the mega-quilting time, did manage to do a bit of organizing.....went thru some of my elfa drawers, emptied 2 and consolidated some notions stuff in 2 others....

streamlining and culling "stuff" gives me more time to sew and quilt and others benefit from my discards, a win/win all around!

salute to veterans

and just the other day, found this on facebook....awesome!  thank you all past and present veterans for your service....and especially to all the veterans in my own family starting with the revolution, all brave and determined individuals. 

halloween's over....

and it seems that many think christmas comes next!   television and stores have ramped up christmas related programs, sales, gift ideas, etc...and with bazaars and fairs imminent, sewing has joined the fray...

these cute panels were donated to the senior center and decided to use some of them for holiday potholders....2 will be used in one potholder and i think i have enough for 5 potholders....pulled out the strip shoeboxes and these sewed up PDQ....should all be done this weekend and i'll post the finishes later....but first up today got the binding ready for the 365.  again used 3 prints from the stash and am super excited about getting this one done.  this quilt is going to family so scrappy binding isn't an issue....

gotta put it aside a bit this weekend for some necessary household duties...laundry basket overflowing!

first monday

of november, that is....the year is whizzing by and seasonal/holiday ideas are in full swing.  november has ushered in cool and sometimes cold temps here in the northern part of the south.  the extra quilt is now fully on the bed, the flannels and jackets are in daily use.  the 365 is moving along with delightful progress.  this is where i am now...

some of the quilting stitches reminiscent of a 3-year-old with the DTs...LOL....just a few more squares and i'll be turning the corner to the last side of the 2nd dark border.... then it's on to the final border of 6" light squares....am super happy about getting this behemoth done!  i may even end up liking this quilt....and with colder temps, a pot of chowder was in order....

and earlier made muffins for the freezer.....

a huge butternut squash was also cooked and sent to the freezer....it must be a yankee habit of storing up for the winter.....as a child watched my great-grandmother, grandmother, aunts and mother process green beans, tomatoes, beets, carrots, cranberries, plus all kinds of pickles and fruits to enhance meals thru the winter and beyond.  we felt privileged to have these items on our table so far out of season, a testament to endless hours of garden and kitchen work.  fast forward 50-60 years and the rows of jars in the cellar have disappeared but the memories remain....now bring on the week!

the big 2nd anniversary!

it's 2 years today since the big heart fix....and you might think i'm going overboard here, but if you have had this surgery you know otherwise.  it is brutal and monumentally life altering, complicating every single aspect of life, and quite likely without the surgery there would be no blog post at all....many tasks now are possible  but others still need improvement.  even tho my awful neighbors seem to be trying to kill me, it hasn't worked so far....i won't tell you it has been smooth sailing...far from it.  plenty of rogue waves engulfed me, riptides and many times blown off course.  it's a patch job that ushers in the start of a very high maintenance life, so difficult for me who has always been a get-up-and-go person.   i've cried an ocean of tears, been on top of the world, had many sleepless nights, plenty of inpatient visits, a gazillion lab tests, many repetitive cardiac tests, endless office visits, boring and tasteless salt-free meals and juggling dietary restrictions, more exercise in 2 years than the 68 before, a matterhorn-size stack of pills.  i've had to give away half my clothes and forego many fun events with great disappointment.  chicken is now on the endangered species list because i eat so much of it...LOL!  at my last doctor visit, i even told him i had changed my mind about having the bypass done because some days it is just that overwhelming....a very few...but of course so very thankful it was done.   i wish i could return to work part time but doesn't seem to be in the cards....snacking on potato chips, doritos, cheetos, pizza, french fries or movie popcorn has been a difficult habit to break...but do have a wee treat every so often without any issue.  i try to remember how far i've progressed, the days spent with family and friends, lots of quilting fun and just plain living.  i was never going to be a dancing diva, do cartwheels, change the world or run marathons...life is still very good!

whooooo?

has a birthday today?   that would be brother #2.....seen here in his very early days...

my mother's babies 3 and 4 were both born with the family auburn hair, and those bright eyes and clenched fists haven't changed too much.  he lives far away but is in our thoughts and prayers constantly.....he is the halloween baby, a definite treat!

getting there

cooler temps are here to stay so working on this huge quilt is uber comfy!

almost ready to turn the 2nd corner on this second border.  each block being different gives this task a bit of fun....i am thinking this will be finished by thanksgiving maybe?   that's well ahead of my end-of-year goal and would be terrific, giving me a chance to knock off a couple of small UFOs before 2020 arrives.   ***  it's the weekend again and have little on the agenda except the usual....and i'm wired for the weekend aka cardiac monitor to get a better idea of medication and exercise effects....hard to believe in 7 days it'll be two whole years since the life-changing event!

fancy to plain...

after all the fancy quilting on the flag challenge project, now with the 365 it's simply with a capital "S".....this quilt has about a billion more seams than any bonnie hunter scrappy and it is huge in size, for me anyway....it's 90" square and will be just right for daughter and son-in-law and is probably the only quilt i'll ever make this size. 
quilting the center medallion is DONE and happy to say that the first border of dark value 3" squares is also just about finished...

was lying in bed thinking ruminating about how this could be quilted and light bulb moment revealed that simple is best and same for every block is the very best.  so that is what i chose....you can just see that each little square has quilting just 1/4" inside with all the rustic imperfections!   the next border---light made of 6" squares--will be quilted simply as well...according to design of block, but if the block is constructed of 4 units, it'll get the same small block treatment.  still with 10 days in october and hoping to get that second border done before the big surgery anniversary on november 1st--all saints' day--so apropos for the cardiac surgeon and long list of other health professionals who extended my life. *** and with october, jack makes his annual appearance....

looking good for 40 years old, doncha think? made this the very year i started quilting and he's tagged along for all the horrendous moves and storage episodes....what tales he could tell!  no doubt he's happy to have a real home now....even tho to me it doesn't seem so.  with no ocean nearby how could it be??

and the loser is....

well, not just mine i'm sure....altho since i missed the meeting can't be totally positive!  the challenge was to select a state flag and use ALL the colors in the flag in the project.  my choice was Louisiana, only 5 colors in the flag.

the pattern chosen was storm at sea--had seen an article about the encroaching sea water into the marshes and the inevitable loss of bountiful shrimping along with several livelihoods....i call it "bayou sampler" as it is densely quilted with different patterns.  now that it's done, will next find it a home.

and what else is going on? the last of the solid bow ties are now in process....48 of  'em so this will definitely be a flimsy before 2019 flies....

and the amish star ornaments ready for sewing closed....these are 3" finished....

and wouldn't be a week without a new start....homage to gwen marston playing with more solids....have plenty of precut scraps so just a few minutes resulted in these that'll be another small piece to finish quickly...

i do believe i could sew nearly all week with just these scraps!  *** selling raffle tix, some hands-on mother duties and a few pesky medical appointments (boo) along with regular YMCA visits (yay) rounded out the week.....happily donning sweats and long sleeve shirts for this spectacular autumn weather....and since the maryland move, actually look forward to winter...but not quite yet.  first up will be a very important anniversary just 2 weeks from today!

reputation intact

the one about being a non-perfectionist quilter that is....this got started to "use up" some batik scraps  (the quilter's mantra!)....it's paper pieced and once i started assembling, knew those pesky bias edges were going to solidify aforementioned reputation....it's called "aurora borealis" and it'll at least brighten up somebody's wall...

if i were starting this now, would use the light starch spray that would no doubt help, but hindsight is always 20/20 as my wise lawyer told me many years ago, and he was so right.   did i use up those scraps?  i see those heads shaking....so another non-bias edge project has been chosen for the ever-expanding scraps.   this is an official UFO; hoping to get it done before 2020 arrives.  ***   in addition to this project, am finishing up a guild challenge that is moot since the reveal was last night.  had hoped to garner at least 3rd prize which would get me a couple of "quiltmania" issues at the local shop, but will now put that on my personal christmas list, letting my "quiltmaker" subscription go. ***  fall has finally arrived here in the catoctin mountains valley....all it took was a teensy weensy tilt of the earth and presto! those pesky 90s were gone until next summer.  everyone is glad and seems to be loving the cooler, crisp days and downright chilly nights.  another quilt has appeared on the bed along with comfy flannels and long sleeves.  a trip to the local orchard for cider and a few last cucumbers was taken where this was spied...

gently winding back roads reveal turning and falling leaves evoking a new england feel.  first pot of chowder has been made and consumed.  sweet cider is in the refrigerator.  my last local tomato is now gone.  dear daughter has planned a yankee pot roast dinner.  plans for next summer's beach vacation are shaping up.  ***  weekend plans include much-needed household chores, finishing up some guild selling items and perhaps baking a pan of yeast rolls....and always quilting of course!

finally finished

when mom and i lived near the beach, we went every chance we got...any season but especially summer.  this is one of many photos i took of nearly the exact same view...

all the pretty umbrellas against the bluest sky and water....i wanted to imprint it in my memory to recall and relive forever....even now when i close my eyes, i am right back there....a memory that morphed into a fabric reality named cabana daydreams!

not the greatest photo but couldn't wait to put it to use....here is a peek of the scrappy binding....3 different yellows were used but even up close, it is not noticeable at all...

this idea came to life when a generous anonymous quilter mailed me a box of various fabrics that included 3 charm packs of these bright and colorful fabrics that jump started my modern quilty muse and took off at warp speed....with (hopefully) only 2 more days of sweltering summer temps...today and tomorrow....this quilt will keep those beach days with me, not to mention brighten AND warm the coming cooler days and nights.  this one is a keeper for sure!  and again, designer is shayla wolf--she calls her pattern 'wynkoop court'

and with this finish, immediately moved the frame over to 365....since it's october 1st, have 85 days to get 'er done...now THAT is a challenge for sure!  

it's a busy week so no time to spare! first up, tho, is turn on the a/c!