midnight again

during a zoom party last night, chose to work on "midnight at the oasis" attaching the appliques to the vine border.  amazed at how much those few colorful additions have kicked this up yet another notch...

the pattern picture isn't clear enough regarding placement of the appliques, so just winged it and tried to make it look serendipitous to fit the design.  not all are sewn yet but soon will be, then it's onward to the next border of checkerboard design.  after that, one more border to flimsy and basting...could easily be a 2022 finish, i'm thinking.

pulled out a couple of free cross-stitch patterns to kit up for some lazy, warm weather stitching.  these are small pieces, quickly finished, for those times when need a break from machine or hoop.

all required floss and fabric on hand.  even though weather is cool again today, warmer days are promised and soon one day will wake up and oppressive heat will be here for the duration...that's the south!

April Mini

here is my mini for april....

bought the background fabric while in Maine and loved it....only found half yard but it was enough.  Chose the pink as there is a tiny bit of blush in the print, tho difficult to see on this view.  wish i could have found more but didn't.  glad i'll have this to use and enjoy. linking up with wendy and the other monthly mini gals! *** what else have i done?  finished my needle book....

looks big but it's about 5x6 inches with plenty of space for all my needles...borrowed a jigsaw puzzle from the craft room but lost interest; need to return to my basting list.  hoping to embroider the butterfly antennae this weekend so that can get basted...pulled some fabrics to sacrifice for a back for the batiks top.  as a hand quilter, pieced backs can be a nuisance but in the spirit of frugality, will forego a purchase.  few other projects in the works, depending on what calls to me....getting antsy for warmer weather and shedding the fleece pants until fall....
 

May's OMG

 this is the May OMG and it's already in the hoop...anticipate a finish long before May is gone...

it's hexagon stars, paper pieced some time ago...wall quilt size.  other may goals?  the monthly mini of course, quilt another wall quilt and more sewing on my secret project that needs to be flimsy by june so can start quilting....it's a larger quilt than i usually make but it's a gift--that's why.  just maybe will get the birdhouse wall piece top done too....ambitious?  not really, but with no diversions other than exercise and an occasional event, pretty much every day is wide open.  ***  early cold spring hangs on with freeze warning next 2 mornings...shorts washed and ready to go when mother nature obliges!

April's OMG

the scrappy christmas trees got finished just in time!  it's bed size and busted nearly 9 yards of fabric....did i bust all the christmas prints?  of course not!  but the stack is slowly dwindling....at least enough for one more christmas-y remains....

it'll be going on my bed in july for a test drive....the a/c will be on continually so i'll need a nice warm quilt at night....this brings my total stash bust to about 20 yards so far this year with only 8 added....aside from quilting this, a basting blitz got started....

these two plus the april showers umbrellas all ready for quilting...still waiting are batiks splash, the s'mores and the butterflies, so embroidering the antennae is next to do...the monthly mini is just about done and something new has been put in the hoop for may's OMG....watch this space!  ***  one year ago today broke the hip.  i'm walking ok but not quite back to before yet.  it's an extremely slow process with tiny increments of progress...as they say, inch by inch life's a cinch!

the plain truth

i'm no quilt designer, no way no how.  but i had this idea for this wall quilt and started it, now i'm sorta developing it as i go along, ideas percolating...it's growing on me.  it won't be my favorite but somebody will like it...donation destination for sure....it's why i stick to others' patterns...😕

while contemplating this piece, realized had lots of small tops and not enough batting--i use pellon sew in fleece type.  surfed joann's website and found a good coupon, wiped out my christmas gift card to stock up...6 small pieces plus 2 large quilts to do...will set up the folding banquet table for the duration....good thing i live alone!

after watching mary berry, had to try these chicken wings....i've been looking for a very low sodium recipe...there is a bit of worcestershire in them but otherwise all other ingredients are cardio friendly.

they are good but next time i'll reserve some of the marinade before adding the chicken and drizzle over cooked wings...they are missing something, probably salt, but the marinade has a bit of maple syrup and it might make them perfect.  definitely good tho....recipe is here if you are interested https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/smoky_firecracker_89700 (she used drumsticks) i cooked mine at 375 for about half hour or so....

now quilting the last row of the scrappy trees, time to prep binding and get this puppy finished...we're 10 days from another month and got to finish some things so i can start new ones of course...LOL! 

in the works

quiet Easter sunday here....gas prices kept me from dinner at DD and DSIL's...settled for some homemade spaghetti sauce here...ham is off my menu...our governor had instituted a gas tax holiday that expired saturday so it's like an invisible fence to remain local.  anyway, made good use of a free day (another one!) to get the butterflies to a flimsy....

i've called it "psychedelic garden" and plan to quilt vines and leaves in the sashing...no border just the white binding to finish it off...and with that flimsy done, selected another UFO that needed the same...

a bird house project that got stalled because of lettering, now done and can proceed with completion.  it'll have some birds appliqued on flying in to inspect!  the letters are smaller than they appear in this photo....it's a rainy, chilly, icky day so thinking of setting up basting table.  can work on "midnight at the oasis", a project that needs to be a flimsy plus baste a few small pieces.  scrappy trees is nearly quilted so anticipate finish by week's end. *** sewing blocks for secret project continues and monthly mini half assembled.  *** but it's monday and that's been laundry day as far back as i can remember, so that's on and some exercise and the rest of the day is mine to sew...how good is that!

He is Risen!

 A Blessed and Joyful Easter to those who celebrate.....and Happy Passover to those who celebrate!

friday sewing

just about recovered from travel, being away and my little unexpected "trip", now finding small bruises in unmentionable places...LOL...time to resume sewing!  planning travel sewing for late august and chose 'alaska'....made one block, by machine, with poor result....

the pesky center just isn't right and know from experience that taking it out a gazillion times will only increase blood pressure!  choice made to hand piece all blocks, calling for a kit.  photocopied the blocks layout and picked up some quart-size baggies....

photo a bit dark but you get the idea...will cut all pieces for all blocks, baggie 'em up and put in a project bag for summer vacation.  i'll be gone 3+ weeks so fair amount of progress should result.  *** while formulating this plan, thought about a UFO that could be assembled quickly....some pieced butterfly blocks using a tula pink layer cake.  my apologies to the designer...the pattern is misplaced in netherworld and cannot find it on the website...planned on 9 blocks and got them all done in a day!

very springy/summery colors!  auditioning sashing now for a wall size piece...of course i have lots of layer cake left.  the antennae need embroidering as well, once it's a top.  ***  secret sewing on a gift quilt continues and my task this week is to finish the scrappy christmas trees...spring weather see-sawing but new fresh air and beautiful flowers so welcome.  time for breakfast!

not monthly mini!

slowly getting back to usual routine and sewed up this little wall quilt because couldn't resist the colors!  it's summery here for a few days but spring will return and with it those "april showers" needing that brolly as the aussies say....umbrella!

but they could just as easily be those colorful beach umbrellas seen many times as we lolled on the beach in maine....either way a nice cheery little piece i'll hand quilt at some point....and i've the second half of the month for my real monthly mini.

best kind of tired...

is the kind that comes after a wonderful visit with far-away family....back to the village today--very reluctantly--after complicated travel modes and a minor mishap.  first up, some vacation pastime photos....

not a great photo but got my flowers prepped and ready to baste/applique on the flimsy thus far.  an april top?  could be....and some cross stitch done....

a christmas stitchery going along until ran out of floss....and a needlecase sampler close to finished...

and just a bit of retail therapy.....

the colors aren't great...the last on the left is a near prussian blue stripe...and the far right is cream with tiny red keys....and what else did i do?  visited with my family, storing up hugs and kisses until August beach vacation.  Also scarfed down a considerable variety of fresh seafood....every day but one....yes, lobster rolls, clams, shrimp, fresh haddock and flounder.  made a batch of delish Rhode Island clam puffs for my mom.  

the only downer--literally!--was tripping over a small metal threshold not realizing it was not flush with the handicap ramp.  did a sort of belly flop onto a store floor whacking my left knee; yes, THAT leg!  reposed on the floor a bit until sure nothing was broken and ambulation was possible.  couple of smallish purple bruises and fortunately few people to witness...back on my feet with a few days of tylenol pretty near back to normal.  got my ocean smell and vista fix that'll have to last until august.  the travel is a complete horror coordinating various modes, but oh so worth the effort.  all the other stuff is just fluff...back in Maryland and easing into usual routine, dreaming of lazy beach days and counting days once again.

april's OMG

 quick post and photo to document April's OMG....will link up with patty at elm street quilts, of course...

down to the last 3 rows to quilt, then bind and voila!  all ready for christmas in july!

march OMG and mini

 happy to say march's OMG was met by finishing this top that was posted earlier...

altho it didn't get basted, sensing a basting party is in the near future for this and a few other tops, linking up with patty at elm street quilts...and the march mini is.....

no surprise, more s'mores!  these were rejected from the top as i felt the contrast was too vivid...i've a few more tucked away (? another mini) for someday....i hand quilted it and it seems no matter how much i measure and iron, the photos appear wonky somehow...oh well, artistic license i guess...linking up with wendy for this one....

waiting for a warmup here after a couple of days of very cold temps, biting winds and a few snow squalls...very short pity party this morning....now 11 months since the hip break and tried ramping up exercise that again backfired, hoping the next day huge improvement would magically materialize but instead hip is sore and back to tylenol.  so exercise vacation day, will sew instead!  stop by on thursday to see april's OMG....

another box ticked

had a short list of small projects that needed finishing before traveling and this was one...

a case for my tablet....went to the stash shelf and pulled a colorful batik, but when it was finished, shazam!  it matches my backpack!  was not a deliberate choice, rather the colors jumped out at me.  not the most detailed or high quality case, but it has double foam on both sides and bottom and much lighter than the laptop for travel.  and the backpack?  last summer's find at the LL Bean Outlet store.  was still using cane then and it was just right for the few necessary items....and still is!  ***  while at bank drive-thru spied these lovelies....everything is in bloom now and tulips are up and budded...

had a 5-minute snow flurry today but could very well be our last flakes until december...more secret sewing rounded out my day....now bed and book!

friday fun

 with house chores done, it was my time for some play...first a little finish....

the last zipper i had made its way into another project bag...now i have 4 that'll do me for now...and yes, more daisy print underneath--a wall quilt back that is getting a sleeve and traveling north with me...then played with some of the lovely solids recently gifted.  had pulled these 3 pieces and was itching to make a bars wall quilt...

those 3 light strips were all that were sent, a putty color, and i just had to use them.  plain, yes, as it's meant to be....the magic comes when it's hand quilted...and pretty sure i'll be using more putty too.  next up today?  a case for my tablet and finish quilting the monthly mini.  *** only a couple more things for the suitcase; you can be sure the flannel pants and wool sox are already packed!

ADDENDUM:  Looked up "putty" but found that the light strips are actually Kona Cotton oyster...a delightful mix of gray/beige....might need to get some...

wednesday sponsor

today's post brought to you by the letter S for SPRING!  short jaunt this morning and these were seen...

i love autumn foliage but spring is my second fave.  lots of these around...this weekend is also cherry blossom peak in DC...trees are bursting with color but daisies still don't tell...

the monthly mini is in the hoop and once again pulled some of these daisy fabrics for the back.  all in all there were about 10 yards total of these 2 daisy prints flung to me by my pal marianne, gone now nearly 2 years...pretty sure she had quilt backs in mind when she bought them.  stay tuned next weekend for the big reveal.  and what else is going on?  now that s'mores is a top, an empty drawer in the UFO tower is filled with these...

the only new start this year is destined for a gift so since time is whizzing by, felt certain work had to progress.  also dug out this little pile of foursies started for 'carolina cottonball' a few years back...

they are getting deconstructed and have found a new purpose...won't be showing much more of this project, big reveal before 2023!  Just Joy was complaining a bit about all her hard work on s'mores and i found out why....

thatsa lotta lint!  she is much happier now i can attest...will have to pay closer attention to her whining from now on...LOL...

this week is housework 101...last cleaning of this level was april 2021 before a trip, and then the hip, so it's overdue.  cooked ahead yesterday so can just heat up the next few days, then not tempted with delivery.  got back to gym today after brief hiatus due to unpleasant behavior by neighbors.  constantly perplexed at how some people were brought up without basic things like courtesy and respect.  off to heat up lunch and then attack apartment.  have a spring-y day!

sunday post

can't believe another week has whizzed by while i've been sorta busy, with exercise mostly.  made it 5x again this week!  the culprit has been meandering....after finishing at the gym, the good weather has kept me outside just wandering and enjoying the spring.  today, tho, this finally reached the flimsy stage....

the s'mores top!  the pattern was shorter and wider, but when i added 2 rows, ended up with generous twin size, ok for me.  it will cost less for batt too, another plus.  thank you, jo morton, for this pattern and all your lovely fabrics!  happy to say used up half of my small repro scraps....whereas had 2 piles of them before started, now only these remain...

a few very small pieces ended up in the scrap basket but have started cutting pieces for another scrap top that'll get donated, so these should be gone soon as well.  while it's fun to sew with and use up these scraps, there is still plenty of yardage on the shelves waiting in the wings.  *** quilting on the scrappy trees continues.  i've one project bag packed to go and the other will be applique pieces for 'midnight at the oasis', hoping to get that top done on my return. 

this week must focus on house chores.  lots of little dog ears need to be vacuumed up, plus 2 small floors to wash.  maybe i can get my 2 fans cleaned before the trip.  

cherry trees just about to explode.  this is the nice maryland weather before the icky sticky hots arrive and it'll be indoor a/c days until late october.  don't like maryland but worth being close to my daughter and that makes all the difference....it's love you know!

saturday sewing

up early saturday, finished mundane tasks and then fired up Joy for a day of sewing...my goal was to finish the two halves of S'mores....

and here they are!  as the pattern is written, it finishes at 57" square....but my task now is to add 2 more rows making it just a tad bigger.  i do have enough of the sashing print but will have to bind it with another fabric, probably a solid....i KNOW i have enough repro fabrics for the additional rows...maybe by next weekend it'll be a flimsy as it's another week of only fitness and one quick lab appointment.  ***  my march mini top is assembled, so now baste and quilt and it'll be ready for its closeup.  ***  just this week, a newspaper article from Machias, Maine, revealed a recently unearthed quilt from 1922 with signatures....and was thrilled to find my great-grandmother as one of the quilters!

the purpose or group name is unknown, but the signatures are clear and include not only my great-grandmother, but other Whitneys and others to whom we are related by marriage.  This really brings me joy as now I know for certain of a solid quilting heritage.  I previously knew my other great-grandmother made utilitarian scrap quilts on her treadle that were tied.  Both of these GGM are maternal lineage.  

Spring is emerging slowly and, except for a weekend snow storm and very cold temps, it'll be near 60 all week with a possible creep to 70...i did see 2 ornamental cherry trees already in bloom.  hoping to get some serious chores done before trip north in just 19 days...so anxious to see my mom and family again and to breathe in some ocean air.  have a blessed day!

quick post

before dashing out to gym....road trip yesterday with a quilty pal to virginia and a new-to-me shop...my friend was dropping off/picking up quilts for longarming...delightful early spring day with pastures and fields greening up, plenty of cows/horses/sheep grazing and for me, sightseeing....a small shop but jam-packed with gorgeous fabric, of course!  

with no real stash need, browsed until i saw this print....a wide back but half yard gave me a yard of 54" fabric to go with some of the free solids...i've got a couple of ideas in mind...just screams SPRING don't you think? 

first up, must finish and attach the last 2 rows of s'more blocks....

proverbial drop in a bucket

https://donate.redcrossredcrescent.org/ua/donate/~my-donation?_cv=1

here is a link to donate to assist red cross in providing much needed basics to Ukranians.... i can do only a little but at least it's something...perhaps you can too?

ordinary day

 like most others....temps high 50s, sunny, fitness finished for the day, sat down at machine for s'more sewing...

coming along nicely...but then the mailman arrived....and this happened...

a generous care package of solids from a quilty pal...the quilty muse went wild with ideas of possible patterns and color combos...and then there's this perfect candidate...

titled 'postcards from sweden' which was a free pattern offered by designer kelly liddle...is this the one?  not sure...but something similar might materialize (ooh no pun intended)...already pulled a few for a couple of small amish style wall quilts...but s'more top first, then some solids play.  thank you to she who shared...and watch this space! 

like a lamb!

nothing but blue skies and moderate temps herald march's arrival...time again to post my One Monthly Goal for this month, which is....

fill in the blank!  busily cutting triangles and squares to make more blocks, pretty sure the top will get done in march.  can it get basted as well?  hoping so but will see....more daylight, warmer temps are beguiling temptresses for inside tasks.  my dream sewing space would have an attached screened-in patio with electrical outlets and an ocean view.  linking up with patty and the other OMGers....

and if you see this cutie pie today, wish her a happy 61st!  is that youngest sibling?  crikey, it is!  photo taken at my parents' 25th anniversary party...

february goals

in the nick of time....both the february mini AND the stars in a time warp got finished...first, the mini...

had to be hearts, right?  and used that lovely print posted earlier....i have only one valentine-y piece, so will be keeping this for myself.  linking up with wendy again this month....and here's the 'stars' quilt...

i think this was my oldest UFO, started back in 2014-15 i think...a barbara brackman sew-along...just needs a wash and its special label that barbara always provides.  a different repro fabric style was chosen for each week and i think i made 3 of each type, mostly all from stash but did have to get a couple of pieces from my go-to repro gal cyndi.  will be linking up with patty over at One Monthly Goal for this one...very time-consuming due to all the seams and per lori's definition, a most humble quilt.  generous twin size and densely quilted, as you can see from this...

this was nearly full when i started and wasn't sure i'd have any left but there are a couple of yards....and then this got put into the hoop...

my scrappy christmas trees....two rows done already.  this will go much faster than 'stars' as there are no seams and the batt is a poly.  can it get finished in march with 3 extra days?  we'll see...alas, no marathon olympics sewing time tho.   *** spring has almost sprung here in maryland so it was time to bring out my spring sox....

these were a christmas gift from my dear daughter...and horizontal stripes make even your feet look fat...LOL...which they aren't.  ***  it's an exercise vacation day so will catch up on a few tasks and more s'more sewing.  maybe that will be my march OMG, to get the top done and basted.  and i've already started the march mini too.  rising gasoline prices keep me pretty much within city limits, but i did get to lunch with a quilty peep this week, in a real restaurant with no masks...and lastly, 10 months today since the hip thing and am nearly back to "normal" walking.  it's been my primary work with a great payoff.  i do feel blessed indeed!