a new project?

 while perusing quilty blogs, saw this posted and immediately had to check it out...

not sure if it's a new pattern or not, but jen kingwell has once again triggered my quilty muse!  even though i am still working on "midnight at the oasis" am seriously tempted by this.  common sense prevailed and i did NOT order the pattern....have been taking stock of my own UFO list and the realities of passing time. (see header photo)....last week these trees were full of their beautiful leaves and in less than a week they are nearly skeletal....even though our lives are stuck in suspended animation, the days pass quickly into weeks etc....

with the year nearly over, 2 projects saw zero attention and will be held over on the UFO list yet again...the first is this....

the reproduction 1861 Healy quilt hexie project....showed it recently to a guild gathering and ever since has been nagging at me....i seriously don't think it's practical to get this finished....and then there's this project....

the dutch chintz tree of life panel begging to be a medallion of some sort.  have fabrics set aside--some dutch chintz and some not--and a few border ideas i've settled on but stymied by a small piece with a border print that wasn't enough to go around the entire panel....so a merger of sorts is being pondered...

may have to make those hexie units one row smaller to match the scale of the border print....thought about 3 vertical rows of hexies on one of those backgrounds and the 2 vertical rows of the border print...which will solve the hexie UFO issue AND the border print issue as well...

finally, row 3 of the nordic christmas mini is done....one row to go and will hopefully be done by the time the tree goes up!

no big bird on the table this year but no matter....would much rather have hugs and kisses and spend the day with family that's close by....my son-in-law has to work (hospital) so only his chair will be vacant....and he will be missed along with the maine contingent....regardless, thankful for overflowing blessings!

monday report

awoke sunday morning in a blue mood so rather than pull the covers over my head, started a mental gratitude list and got up to find some caffeine...LOL!  even though my family is healthy and safe, still have other concerns....what to do?  pull out the christmas fabric!

and before long this flimsy got to the halfway stage....so many pretty christmas fabrics to use, it was easy to find pairs for the trees....another list item nearly history....course then had to tidy up the sewing corner as today it's back to plaid triangles....

thought about getting a basket for these but really needed refolding to put back in the stash until the mood strikes to do the other 5 rows....there doesn't that look better? there are quite a few small pieces that'll get used up with the rest of the trees...after that a couple of ideas swirling around to use up most if not all...(she says hopefully...LOL!)

and the second row of the nordic christmas mini got finished also....

those red centers are half inch finished....yes HALF INCH!  this week's row is mini flying geese....really liking this little festive project.  

sunday morning's melancholy lifted despite lemons that tried to bog me down....what to do?  

make lemon poppy scones!  recipe calls for a glaze but prefer them on the savory side rather than sweet.....another week with a nearly empty to-do list, predict lots of sewing to happen...and maybe time to work on that scrapbook....

double dipping

another flimsy-in-progress has joined the scrappy plaid triangles!   the triangles are labor intensive and i love making them, but the gratification just isn't instant enough for me in this easily-bored covid environment....so what better than a christmas project!

had a stack of these waiting in the wings and so pulled out all the christmas fabrics to make more and hopefully finish.....aren't they cute?   these are 7" finished and so need 90 altogether...i think about 30 are all done, but they do work up fast and so fun to make.  this is also on my list for 2020, so it'll be a busy 2 months (minus 12 days)....

some in the stashbuster online group are doing a mini wall quilt called "nordic christmas"...it's only 4 rows, 14" wide...i've got row 1 done and row 2 is on the weekend list....i plan on machine quilting this and get it completely done...there are lots of tiny pieces but i've pulled out my big girl panties to get this little project done....

lots of talk about thanksgiving dos and don'ts with covid now running rampant...maryland is no exception...i am hoping the gyms don't close again....and my holiday plans are very low key...dear son-in-law has to work (hospital) so DD and i will celebrate/enjoy each other's company and we can watch 'downton abbey' to our heart's content...LOL!  the bottom line is to stay safe and well, even if the holidays are nearly unrecognizable.  i wish the same for you too!

ready for christmas yet?

last week while driving to lancaster, a radio station was already playing christmas music 24/7....today in walmart the music was also christmas and on tv the hershey kiss commercial that plays 'we wish you a merry christmas' came on...all driven by retailer desperation no doubt...but i digress.  *** this weekend a whole lot of sewing was going on....another row went on the scrappy triangle flimsy...not quite half ....8 rows done, 12 rows to go...

it should be done and tied before year's end but being foundation pieced, it's a tad more labor intensive than other flimsies....

star spin got basted.  the kit contained a muslin backing but it was a skosh too small for my comfort for hand quilting, so pulled out a pretty green toile...

it was narrow and had to piece but even so makes a nice backing....now it's ready for the hoop...

the quilting design is on a water soluble material...i do have a washable pencil and could have traced them on but went this route instead.....and today this is on the list....

marking more wreaths on the ocean waves....i guesstimate this is nearly half done.  binding is a turquoise solid and all ready....all these made possible as the week-long puzzle diversion got finished and did the trick in refueling my sewing muse...

true to murphy's law, one piece was missing....this came out of a sealed box so attribute it to ???  not on floor, didn't vacuum....mice?  rats more likely around here....

another shorts day but they are numbered of course...got my exercise in first thing--a great way to start the week!

friday progress

yesterday was a beautiful late summer day and it was ideal for some catch up sewing....

the autumn jubilee mystery sew along top got assembled....

since i had my helen keller moment epiphany (w-a-t-e-r) years ago about color value, it's always uppermost in my mind with any project.  this was done row by row and i used several of my pretty fall fabrics...but how to unify them?  found a green in my stash and added the narrow horizontal sashing and made binding from it as well.  am hoping this will pull everything together and not look too chaotic...plus it tones down some of the strong oranges too....

and this got done as well...

baby quilt for my niece, which seems totally improbable as just last week or so she was a toddler....at least that is how it seems....

since summer is lingering on, plan to catch some rays this weekend and tackle more UFOs!

 

sewing related

have NOT been watching election results hardly at all...waiting a week until dust settles on counting and controversy....but have been wasting spending lots of time doing this...

this was just the ticket to alleviate a pocket of boredom for me....and with various errands to run, popping in and out, plus early morning "quiet" hours here at the abbey, ideal diversion.   i did finish a baby quilt that needs to be sent off--will post photo when it's ready for its beauty shot.  have also been formulating holiday plans.

election day took a brief trip up to lancaster but was very good, not one quilt shop was visited.  i can see why it is a battleground state.  

cool temps have abated for at least a week....was thinking about putting shorts away but not quite yet it seems.  now that errands and appointments over with, it's back to sewing and the last quarter list.  3 items have been crossed off but still a few tops to finish plus get the ocean waves and plaid scrappy triangles quilts done.  have a blessed day!

ten thousand blessings

sunday AND all soul's saint's day....perfect anniversary for the "zipper" cardiac surgery....can it really be 3 years?  has been a rocky, roller coaster ride so far but improving every day and big leap from last year.  despite the nicotine and pot smoke environment, the excellent, watchful care of all healthcare providers under guidance from the Great Physician, the recovery has been no less than amazing.   to say i feel blessed beyond measure is a huge understatement...even though i'm still one heartbeat away from life's end and i have a sure hope of heaven, thankful beyond words for each day and admonishes me to live to the fullest, savoring this gift...

trick or treat?

 how about trick AND treat....

sewing and reading and watching (oh my!) all seemed rather mundane but then remembered this puzzle acquired over 6 years ago, never opened.  table set up (for basting originally) and box opened....was the right sort of diversion for seemingly endless days.  days can quickly and easily disappear when engrossed in a puzzle, which is why they don't often see the light of day.  after a few hours, time wasting guilt sets in and other things get done.  good way to see halloween in and out i'd say....

and i never tire of seeing these two ghouls....i think my aunts were having a party with church people as the background man is the reverend...my dad's old hat got repurposed that evening....

and a farewell until next year from jack, my 41-year-old october roomie!

better than fabric?

that would be FREE fabric of course....saturday the guild held a trunk-n-treat event across from our meeting church....we brought our free table stuff to find new homes...and vice versa...LOL!  i ended the day fairly close to even.  unfortunately tons of books went begging...all good books and ones we all had when we started, but no longer needed.  i found some backing fabrics and some other interesting pieces...

the rooster fabric was a small piece but i thought it was cute...and the ducks piece was just over 2 yards and also cute....and lime?  always comes in handy....

to banish boredom monday pulled out a UFO, a jo morton design.  slight detour from the last quarter list...i keep most of my UFOs in drawers for easy access and organization....

even with 2 zoom meetings, made good progress....

mostly jo morton fabrics and jan patek, some from the 1980s too.   *** with temps slowly ratcheting down, this just might be some of the last roses of summer...

bush roses are everywhere in maryland....here at shady pines they are yellow...these are down the street and are mostly pink, but a couple of red ones always pop out...  today must get back to that list for the last quarter of 2020.  with this pandemic continuing on at a snail's pace, it's getting more and more difficult to be motivated and alleviate boredom.  it also heightens my discontent here at the village.  thankfully my fitness center remains open and can visit often to jump start endorphins.....until normalcy returns, my job is to keep on keeping on i guess...

monday report

fall has definitely arrived here in maryland...temps in the 60s daytime, 50s at night but later in the week, 30s at night...bring on the winter menu!   and winter means quilts!  busy hand quilting the amish inspired ocean waves...just this weekend finished the first of the plain squares....a traditional feather wreath.  have always gushed over feathers and wreaths as they just satisfy my traditional muse.  

hoping to get this finished by christmas eve....to sleep under while waiting for santa!  i'm thinking a quick trip to lancaster is a must before long....

then the last row of the autumn jubilee sew along was sewn....gorgeous pumpkins, scrappy of course.  i brake for pumpkins!!!  

waiting to see how the hostess sets the rows, but i've been toying with my own ideas...

and if you see this handsome devil tomorrow, wish him a happy birthday AND congratulations....he became a brand new grandpa last week, his first...it's brother #2 and he is so very blessed...

orange you glad???

that it's autumn??....i am...because i get to play in my orange fabrics for those seasonal pumpkins of every size and style....

the last row of the autumn jubilee sew along is pumpkins!!! how wonderful!  thankfully the orange stash is healthy and available for sewing some. ****  it's a glorious warm fall day here and went out for a leisurely drive to soak up rays and see the sights....not much foliage nearby here, still plenty of green trees, but the fresh air was, well refreshing!  won't get that nip in the air that new england is already feeling until november some time....and when i arrived home, there was a squishie in my mailbox....from a quilty friend...

it's the "alaska" pattern and templates....how generous!  i am humbled by such a kind gesture...and when the stimulus check arrives, i'll venture north to lancaster to get the fabrics...i might have one of the blues on hand but generally most of my inventory is half yards or fat quarters...now off to make pumpkins!

can you say...

flimsy?  just this afternoon after a short post-exercise nap, got this wall quilt to the flimsy stage...

i have always liked this color combo from the 1980s and so this kit caught my eye right away....everything was included--fabric, batt and backing.  also worked on some charity tops for the guild too...phoebe was whirring i can tell ya!  tonight i'll be doing more hand quilting on the ocean waves....the UFO list waits for no one...LOL!  

good day as returned to fitness center after brief hiatus...it felt good!  also back on board are all regular meds so those plus some extra rest and fluid replenishment got me back in the normal groove...blessings abound make life good indeed!

happy hump day

colonoscopy is over and done and i'm off the hook for quite a while...the entire unpleasant but necessary test is a much bigger ordeal because of my cardiac meds, a nearly two-week process.  spent the day before ignoring my hunger pangs by working on this...

this was a kit purchased from a fellow guild member last summer.  it required my full attention and was a great diversion....this is how far i got with it...

two more of the beige pieces to sew in and then the border can be attached....intriguing construction, but you know me...it's the quilting i like best.  this wall quilt is on my last quarter list of things i'd like to get done before january arrives.   ***  this despicable living environment has created another health issue for me...the corneal tear is taking longer to heal than expected and will require an eventual procedure for a more permanent fix.  thanks neighbors...i could have gotten along fine without this...quilting really does keep me sane and also from becoming a felon...

saturday sewing

it was catch up day for the autumn jubilee sew along....one more week or so and this should be a flimsy....this week it was the ever popular leaves, a favorite of mine....

i didn't realize how many autumn theme fabrics i actually had until i started using them....each and every one a microcosm of vast foliage vistas....the middle leaf here is actually from fabric with butterflies on it; the one directly to its left is called "tulip time"...who knew?  looks like autumn to me.  ***  next up is to tie and bind a baby quilt for an october baby.  and with cooler temps, time for some new flannel lounge pants. ****  and do you know this lady?   it's mercy otis warren, a prominent female figure in the establishment of the republic.  the us postal service is considering her for a stamp.  you can help make that happen....simply drop a note of a few sentences to the postal service requesting same...

Stamp Services, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Room 3300, Washington, D.C. 20260...and thanks!   ***  short week what with 2 days for routine colonoscopy prep and appt....yeeechh!

the whole thing!

years ago there was a tv commerical, "i can't believe i ate the whole thing!"....well, i can't believe i finally sewed the whole thing....this triple irish chain top!

all those tiny postage stamp squares...the squares were sewn in strip sets, but still took about a gazillion pieces.  i finished off 3 spools of aurifil and many full bobbins too.  best of all, a UFO drawer is now empty.  **** on another front pulled out this seaside theme toile from the stash...

as backing for this...

haven't yet decided whether machine or hand quilting tho....and another planned weekend task is this...

this piece of flannel will be fashioned into lounge pants now that cooler weather is here....mine are ancient and in need of replacement.   ****  first up are 5 leaf squares for the autumn jubilee project.  such fun using up some very pretty autumn prints in the stash!

almost....

 done with these cute little patchwork blocks for the triple irish chain...only 15 more to go!

would have had them done except for detour thanks to the antics of the gray-haired juvenile delinquents in my building....seems i just get into a good fitness and sewing routine and bam!  their selfish behaviors derail my entire life, this time affecting my vision.  but there are some positives....all the drops and ointments are making my complexion glow like a 25-year-old...LOL!  and there is that idea for a new cookbook entitled "half baked"....recipes for the one-eyed cook!  while it hasn't been a humorous situation at all (quite the opposite), thanks again to my ever-vigilant PCP and the awesome frederick health system, i'll be right as rain in no time at all...

week 2 sew along...

it's the autumn jubilee sew along as seen on this blog...week 2 is done and i've purposely made it ultra scrappy in order to incorporate as many of my delish autumn fabrics as possible...

it's a short sew along, only for october....2 more rows to go....that sewing took up saturday morning.  in the afternoon, off to fitness and then a bit of meandering on the hunt for some fleece pants at a thrift store....finally found a pair about 40 miles away....good price too at $2.99.  also found a wooden spoon, a small pyrex casserole dish for the toaster oven and this little cutie...

a lovely christmas mug from mikasa...there were several but barely have room for this one...received some holiday spice tea as a christmas gift and it's perfect for cool nights especially near the holidays ****  and i'm always on the hunt for low sodium snack things....along with the salt-free corn chips i found this yummy salsa, only 25 mg sodium per 2 tablespoons....

it's good even if you don't care about the low salt.   ****  a lazy sunday with starts on needed housework and plenty of sewing on triple irish chain....first thing, tho, appliqued this little heart square for an ailing guild member.....i chose the fabric for the colors but i see it looks like a funky kodachrome angiogram....LOL!

hope you enjoy your day as i am enjoying mine!

thursday musings

another week nearly gone and the boredom of the status quo is firmly entrenched....i love to sew and have lots i want to sew, but there are times when it just gets too much, you know?  despite the mundane am keeping up to get this to a flimsy...

ten rows done, the 2 outside just need to be sewn on....4 more to go....thinking about how to quilt as it gets constructed...lots of seams but do-able....saw this in an old fons & porter magazine and set it aside for future sewing fun...when the sewing gets blah (only infrequently), have a stack of mysteries to read now that our bookmobile is making regular stops.  first i read this...not a mystery...but being a fan of the movie, curiosity piqued my interest...

this is about mary, the plain jane, part of the woodwork sister....the first 150 pages are a synopsis of the movie, so i whizzed thru to get the rest of the story....it's an okay book, lacks the jane austen undertone of dissatisfaction with the cultural confinements, but interesting and brings closure to the family of sisters.   was happy to get back to my mysteries.....

two of 3 volumes written by adrian mckinty....this trilogy only part of the books he has written about his detective sean duffy....backdrop is the irish troubles and written in the style of raymond chandler...witty, even funny in places, but full of trials and challenges of solving murders while dodging bombs, terrorists and divisiveness of that era.  these are fine whodunits, no chainsaw-type gore or paranormal stuff that holds no interest for me.  

the weather here is just picture perfect....am thinking it's time for another road trip to nowhere special, just for a change of scenery and escape the institution.  it's either that or housework, so a no brainer!  am avoiding baking as well.  today a zoom quilt guild meeting much anticipated...so better get dressed!

special request

while visiting with my mum, she noticed my summer bag of red/white/blue that i had made to take away.....and she requested one as well...a bit smaller, longer strap, to wear while shopping....

it looks small but it's about 7x10...just big enough for her wallet, glasses, keys and cellphone....has a velcro closure.  doesn't bust much stash but all materials were on hand.  this will give her hands free ease without worrying whether she'll leave her purse somewhere...which we've all done at some point.  recall a few times when my dad had to go and retrieve it from some store....

late start this morning...no rush at all so some tidying up has been done...you know, putting this and that away, getting rid of trash/recycling and a bag of clothing to the thrift.   we're back to late summer after a brief cold snap.  a large batch of veggie soup is now in the freezer for when the cold returns.  some housework needed but not today....saving for rainy weekend....

october's gift

yes i have started a new project...it's a month-long sew along called "autumn jubilee" over at this blog...what can i say...autumn fabrics always tempt me!  this is the first step of this mystery...

these got assembled lickety split thanks to my shoebox full of 2.5" squares (thank you bonnie!)....the tan background works perfectly but had only a scant 3/4 yard so went hunting in the stash for something else to use as sashing....tried a couple of tan prints that were blah, but the batik....oh my!  course, i only have about 1/3 yard of that too so not sure how this will play out, but the stash has an ample amount of equally beautiful autumn prints.  next week, step 2!