saturday sewing

 cold and windy, ideal indoor quilty weather....finally a finish!

an official UFO, kim diehl pattern, chosen to highlight the gorgeous pink old sturbridge print shared with me by a quilty peep....it is a gorgeous print....only 18" square and no destination, but enjoyed making it...it's all the counts, right?

moved along the scrappy repros project....

only 10 more rows to go....i still have to cut/sew about 30 of the units, but i just needed to see it started....

more quilting on bow ties, the sashings, and hope it will be done in a month.  i've still a gift sewing project to finish, not quite halfway done, so these 3 things will keep me occupied needle-wise...

and while perusing on instagram, came across the 5-minute crafter....i hesitated just a tad too long and am now glued, sort of....but this project was actually needed here and came in quite handy...

pulled out some christmas wall pieces and sleeves were sewn on...so it is starting to feel christmas-y, sorely needed this year of so much sadness and stress. ...the exercise bike and i have become routine and no longer vexed by painful knees, a real plus!  it's just more effort to get into the holiday swing but once tree is up and lights on, should help a lot.....despite challenges i've been greatly blessed by God's care thru willing servant hands in my neighborhood and beyond...

a blessed thanksgiving!

dining solo this year due to illness--not mine!  usual suspects assembled--turkey, gravy, stuffing, squash, boiled onions, egg nog ice cream for dessert!  i'll be dining a la flannels, me and the rockettes!  good time to rack up another UFO finish....

despite the heavily challenging year so far, cannot help but give boundless thanks to God for his constant and unfailing care of family and myself, even in sad moments that still sometimes erupt.  diversion with all things sewing has been my rescue many times and most welcomed.  looking forward to a Christmas season that i hope brings peace, continued health and care for those i love, serenity, joy and maybe some fun too.  i'll just bet you are hoping for the same.....

and the look ahead?  well, boothbay harbor, maine, is on it!

isn't that sooo pretty?  for a crayola devotee like myself it ticks all my boxes!   Christmas quilt on the bed and pulled out cards to get going...this weekend tree goes up with cheerful colored lights and precious ornaments filled with memories...

finally, must always close thanksgiving post with this, a self-portrait of my very favorite pilgrim!  hope she is better real soon!  Happy Thanksgiving all!

november wind down

 as turkey day approaches and 6 days to tree up day, no time to waste finishing this...

just a quick closure and it'll be done....well ahead of turkey day!  up next is this little christmas stitchery...

with only 3 weeks not sure it'll get finished in time but no matter...

senior center friday where some donations were dropped off....this quilt top was included...

a pretty top with corners requiring some applique to finish it...and most in the group do not do much applique so i offered my services...then it'll be turned over to somebody to finish and sell to garner funds for our supplies.  finished items get displayed and sell pretty fast....i also came home with a few pieces of template plastic and some chalk leads for my marking pencil.  it always amazes me that God knows and meets my mundane needs....

the top is quite wrinkly but there are 4 of these to be done...after the bow ties is finished it'll get tackled.  with only 2 blocks left of the ties, it's just the sashing to quilt now.  planning on it being bed ready january 1st...

back to baseline after brief surgery...took me a few days to catch up on sleep and get meds back on routine....saturday back on exercise bike so it's all good.  all tests were negative so peace of mind worth it...

a few flurries fell friday but quickly became rain, which was badly needed.  i've made my list for cooking tasks and already put the christmas quilt on the bed.  the next 4 weeks will be busy and whiz by no doubt, but that's ok...diversion good to keep tears at bay...one sewing gift is tops on the list and a few fun things on the schedule already.  so ducks in a row and let the holidays begin!

last warmish day?

a predicted 68 is probably the best it's going to be until may i think...maryland's mother nature is wishy-washy most seasons except summer...then she is brutal.  the weekend was productive on all things needle related, aside from saturday morning cooking blitz.  here's my wrap up....

the stocking that was half done is now finished...with 5 on hand for the holidays, don't anticipate the need to make more until next year.  but after rummaging in the christmas fabric stash, i think another quilt top is needed...lots of small pieces need a home.  

the repro triangles moved forward as well...now with 160 finished, only 83 to make, hoping to have a flimsy by december 1st...

cross-stitch pilgrims about half or more finished....this was a last minute project with a deadline of course, but will be done i'm sure....they are short so could very well be my ancestors...LOL!

the kim diehl wall piece quilting is nearly done as well....this is an official UFO, just a bit more quilting and then bind to be finished.  

this was a quick quilting detour from the bow ties...happy to report only 3 more blocks to quilt on that, then do all the sashings and THAT will be ready to bind as well...yes, a december finish and maybe in time to quilt another small piece before it's an official 2025 UFO.  

a bit of time spent sorting out under the ironing station.  with no room for shelving in my living room, shoeboxes and such have to live here.  

project bags keep unfinished stuff neat and organized.  the top of the table got cleared off as well with only the dargate basket project still sitting there.  those are a 2025 chookshed challenge task, probably several small wall quilts instead of one large.  

and a new addition!  meet marcy....

my pin money for 2025 will pay her off but she was a necessity.  without a car and few opportunities to work out at the senior center, this was sorely needed to keep the heart happy.  it has an additional benefit for my knees as well.  only calamity was a broken great toe during assembly... first week logged 100 minutes of cardio, which is quite acceptable for me and cardioman agrees.  even better, it helps my mental health.   and good news, i've enough living room space left for a nice recliner for evening quilting comfort...that'll be next!

going to be a surreal holiday season, first without my mom.  every day i think of things i would like to tell her but i know that's normal for everyone with such a loss.  tears are popping up a bit more frequently, but the exercise and keeping busy helps.  i can't imagine the void will ever be filled....

wednesday chat

fall has arrived in earnest...40s this morning and for the next week or so...flannel pants on board along with hot chocolate...so it begins.  i've been quilting quite a bit on the bow ties as i am quite sick of seeing this behemoth lying around...what else?

totally done making these...not pretty or perfect but quite functional...have managed to pawn a few off to neighbors who don't sew...

these got done...

last 2 zippers got used on these...no vinyl and not buying any so just fabric...and annoyed as the yellow i used was very similar on both right/wrong sides and when finished, i see the wrong side is the horizontal piece...rats!  so much for sewing at night.   i had thought to gift to someone but no longer...no more of these either.  i've one more Christmas stocking to finish and all my batting scraps will be gone.  it is quite rewarding to use up bits and bobs, no longer lying around for someday.

with November racing on, pulled out this little stitchery from the primitive hare, designer isabella abbiati....

this will go in my decorative duck for display...i cruise instagram every day and drool over so many beautiful stitcheries, but not about to abandon quilting for cross stitch.  

getting fall tasks done bit by bit.  bit of laundry today and then make the kitchen drape.  next week 2 medical appointments and our community dinner.  still plenty of time for exercise and sewing.  i am assigned 2 pies for turkey day at daughter/son-in-law's home.  then it's up with the Christmas tree.  i do need a LOT of Christmas this year that has been so painful and sad.  it still hurts so very much you know...now for that exercise--imperative to keep my spirits up!

R.E.D.

 

even though i'm a color hound, red isn't one of my favorites in the box.  but the DAR has given it new meaning...R.E.D. is an acronym for Remember Everyone Deployed.  with two current family members serving and a long list of previous ones, veteran's day is always a time to recall their service and feel quite humbled and proud of them...i hope you feel the same.

the weekend?  murphy was right...work expands to fill the allotted time...with two whole days of nothing really pressing, i should have gotten much sewing done--nope.  i did get one project bag done and another just about, plus some quilting on bow ties, then some exercise, cooking, reading, so mojo not yet up to full throttle.  i am certain serious cabin fever is a part.  a broken toe kept me in friday, giving up 2 fun things, which was irritating.  with just laundry staring me in the face, it's back to sewing and quilting.  

back to quilting

now that house chores done (except laundry!), can sew with clear conscience...lol...first thing hung up my turkeys!  a country threads pattern now out of print...would be right at home in a log cabin but works here as well...one of my favorites....

pulled some blocks from the solids drawer and sewed this up...

one of my 2025 chookshed challenges is to empty the drawer from the remaining solids scraps...

then this got basted and should be a november finish....

more bow ties quilting...you know what that looks like....and christmas stitchery ready for finishing....thank you anni downs for such a cute pattern!

when i made the project bags i thought there were more zippers somewhere and turns out, intuition was right...so 2 more project bags will be made without the vinyl as none left and not buying any...this will give me something like 8-9 and that's quite enough.  

election impression?  it was close, we knew it would be...so many democrats are shouting serious gloom and doom...but i say be patient...even with republicans in control, i am quite certain many do not share trump's plans or ideas, after all they tried to get him off the ticket didn't they?  i got the impression harris thought she was a shoe-in...but no swing states?  not really surprised there...i think immigration was a big factor...am i happy with the choice?  not a whit...but i don't believe for a nanosecond that America is done for....the framers knew a lot about dangers of absolute power and established our republic cognizant of same. lastly, God blesses America and pray he will continue to do so...in spite of flawed politicians.

patriotic duty

 

Thomas Jefferson

“We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.”

election editorial

on the eve of a most important event in the country....

i voted over 2 weeks ago and have been avoiding all things political ever since.  before that lots of media dialogue, most of which seemed vague, untrue, unfocused, pandering, blaming rhetoric.  as an evangelical Christian and patriot, neither candidate speaks for me or represents me.  after reading "the federalist papers" in college, my eyes were opened as to the lengthy process, angst and agony with which our founding fathers drafted our Constitution and the reasoning behind each amendment.  political races have become popularity contests rather than for determining values to hold important jobs in our government.  

there's always hope that somebody sometime will actually be elected with true patriotism, moral integrity, common sense, courage to act on behalf of the country rather than any one special interest group, shore up America's standing in the world, be a beacon for democracy, vehemently support our Constitution, choose advisors of the same ilk, and protect our freedoms in an ever-volatile world.....not merely an impossible choice between two ill-suited candidates.  

on vacation

that would be my quilting AND sewing mojo...a wacky sleep pattern has me snoozing in short increments and then wiped out the rest of the time...yeeech!  time change maybe?  partly and serious cabin fever too i think...and holidays approaching without our mum seems to have paralyzed me a bit....finally some family concerns have ironed out now, so maybe things will improve.  

clocks turned back and i can get up at 6:30 now, at least on sunny mornings, without turning heat on.  sunshine heats up my apartment quickly.  but today i turned oven on for these...

blueberry muffins made with wyman's frozen blues direct from downeast maine....recipe by marjorie standish, a well-known maine cook, served on my union blueberry pottery....unsalted butter of course but delish anyhow!

another episode of drawer emptying coming up....pulled out these pieces to use up and bust more stash...

another small piece...once my joann order arrives i've a couple of things to baste, one a UFO i hope to finish in november whilst i continue quilting on bow ties...when the mojo gets fired up again of course...meanwhile, put off vacuuming and laundry will have to be reckoned with absolutely first.  everything considered it's still a blessed day filled with thankfulness and hope...

all saint's day

today's the day...my heart surgery anniversary...7 lucky years...so thankful i lived to see my dear mom to the end and more years with my family.....couldn't feel more grateful and blessed...a gift from the Great Physician!  after an 81-degree day i hope it's  going to become more seasonable, 68 here this morning.....hand quilting a big quilt in too warm weather isn't really ideal...but it has been nice for outside walks and stitching on our porch...

what else have i done?   moving along on another UFO, the scrappy repro triangles....i goofed before and really need 243 blocks, not 234 blocks...just about halfway there now...i pin them in bunches of 10 for easy counting...

moved the christmas stitchery along...not much left, then it's decide how to finish...

doing some secret  gift sewing for christmas so keeping under wraps...thankfully an extra hour is on tap for this weekend...

speaking of weekend, a bit o' housework must be done now that freezer is stocked with easy meals...then i can sew!

sunday sewing

bright and early at the machine and these got finished....

a pile of potholders!  only a few more but i've run out of batting scraps for the moment...happy to see the selvedges all used...

and if you see this dapper gent today, wish him a happy birthday!  it's brother #2...mom brought him home on halloween...i waited all day for him to wake up but he didn't...not until i was ready to go trick-or-treating, so i had to wait until the next day to hold him.

father of 4 and grandfather of 1, his cup runneth over.  senior struggles like all of us, but still keeping on....love you brother!

a quick lunch of some homemade chicken soup and then back to miss sunny for more stash busting!

the weekend?

like Lady Violet Crawley, i question what IS a weekend...being without car and no local transportation, weekends are like most any other day, just whatever needs doing and then whatever i choose...but blogging is always a priority...lol!

at senior center friday, a large stash was donated by a retiring quilter.  we have 3 tall cabinets with fabric so naturally some culling was needed.  free fabric?  oh yeah i'm in...but with restraint of course.  you can always tell how long somebody's been quilting by their stash....look at this...

definitely 1980s....3.5 yards of it too...so either background, backing or what?  i grabbed this, not because i love it, but my kitchen window needs an insulated drape before winter.  this will do the trick.  there was also a large piece of fleece to back it, bright orange but who cares...and this small pile came home with me, a few half yards but most less.

the selvedge date on the bottom piece is 2004--isn't it gorgeous?--but some of the others are older....like the stripes/hearts and the blue shells on cream, VIP cranston print pieces...oh and the madras plaid piece too.  marbling?  i never tried it but was too pretty to leave behind, definitely 1990s that one.  and the blueberries on black....with my heritage it had to be mine.  the RWB stripey piece just the ticket for a planned patriotic piece and the very top is a pretty thanksgiving theme piece with turkeys just right for a runner or 2 placemats..last the red/white print just because valentine's will be here before you know it.  

plenty got left behind, lots of big pieces of 3-4 yards i surmised but my reserve held fast...so not addicted to fabric after all.  and with UFOs always at the forefront, moved on to another....

pulled lots of small repros from the stash--smaller than FQ--and set them aside for a top with this pattern.  simple simple simple but nice.  i need 234 triangles of each, neutral and print, and no worries there.  i won't finish this but either sell or donate top when done.  

not much quilting friday as the machine needle thru the tip of my finger resulted in a tiny but painful and nuisance cut.  3 doses of liquid bandage didn't stop the seepage and so had to put off until the weekend...pesky blood thinners you know.  

last night was games night with some pals and a late bedtime, so full day today--dishes, laundry, sewing, quilting, cooking and walking as our weather is still drop dead enjoyable.  the leg surgery left me with a bit of neuropathy in my shin but the walking is making slow improvements in that.  no time to dilly dally, the day awaits!  have a blessed one...

chookshed challenge wrap up

all saint's day approaches and it's time to report my progress.  hopefully it will run again as i found it motivating and quite do-able.  

so this was a 10-month challenge with 10 things to accomplish...how did i do?  start with the most recent challenge....

all four zippers plus vinyl plus some stash all used and now hold UFOs instead of stacked on the sewing table.  keeping them corralled and in plain sight should be a great motivator.  they came out pretty good and they are so gosh darn handy.  miss sunny is not a fan of the walking foot and being an older machine, there's no adjustment of the feed dogs, but we managed.  

the other challenges:

1.  tame the scrap basket....it's nearly empty and gets fed seldom as i focus on UFOs

2.  make something out of solids drawer....done!  still scraps left but far less and now some nice blocks for play

3.  finish up selvedge strips....done, tote empty, almost all potholders done and ready to gift

4.  clear out 2" shoebox tote--stack of scrappy 9-patch blocks that will be used to make an insulated drape for my kitchen

5.  start a new blue quilt....changed pattern to blue album, now basted and in the quilting pile..this used up most of my muslin scraps too!

6.  circles for tree of life project....also done, next step please?

7.  prep appliques for penn dutch wall quilt....ready to roll on this one!

8.  dargate baskets applique....these are finally finished awaiting next step

9.  tidy the stash shelves...this was a great task that, once finished, very advantageous for finding stash, putting away stash and best of all, using it...i can definitely see a reduction

early morning quilting before the day gets going.  i've got quilt group, zoom meeting and games night on tap.  another day of overflowing blessings and delight!

calling all sewists!

this is an invite to participate in chooky's cancer donation zoom....make a donation to your choice of cancer foundations and join in this friday afternoon/evening US time for a healthy dose of down under fun.  

i donated last year in memory of others but this year it's personal--my dear mother succumbed to ovarian cancer in april--nobody should live healthily to 97 and then get cancer of any kind.  for far too many, cancer is like a junk yard dog...once it grabs you it doesn't let go.

for details from chooky, here's the link...

https://chookyblue.blogspot.com/2024/10/zoom-cancer-fundraiser.html

i wish the US would take the money going to mars for stupid, senseless stuff and funnel it somewhere that really helps real people....

ho ho ho?

everyone in blogland seems to be making christmas stuff...i should be focusing on UFOs but no no no!  i caved for this....

it's a wee stitchery by anni downs of the shop 'hatched and patched' and shared with me by chooky down under!  unearthed a small piece of linen from the cavernous stash plus a small piece of lightweight fusible to bust and i was in business!  the bottom says "bring joy at christmas"...a great project for when sitting on the porch soaking up this late summer weather we've been gifted...

but a UFO did get finished finally....

the batik basket wall piece is done....this will probably make its way to the donation blog....i do love those batik colors and glad i went with the matching binding as i think it makes the colors really pop.  

while i can enjoy new england vistas only on youtube, there is a smidgen of color in my back yard....

sadly, still no car of mine in the roomy parking lot...diligently keeping occupied with other things, or trying to anyway.  you can see what a delightful morning it is...i think today is the last of the near 80 weather but won't be cooling down that much.  i've been able to get out each day and walk around then sit and soak up the fresh air.  

it's hump day and hope to finish up my project bags, busting all my on-hand zippers and vinyl.  i made one already and 3 to go and doubt i'll make anymore.  

got my fall shots yesterday--covid #6 and flu--and arms bit stiff this morning.  never had a reaction to the covid shot at all and no covid either.....and maybe this weekend get out winter things?  

one week to the 8-year heart surgery anniversary.  it's taken a lot of work and lifestyle changes but cardioman says function has improved.  my heart bursts with thankfulness and blessings at the life-saving event, doubly so this year for the ability to see my loving mum move on with comfort and unfathomable love.    gotta go, sunshine is calling me!

something new

i've set up a new blog.  in the interests of relieving overcrowding, i've listed some pieces that have just been folded and put away since being made.  all the details are here at the new blog.  any questions of course feel free to ask.  i confess to only adequate photography skills but happy to provide close ups or whatever.   

throwback thursday

 

just had to repost this little beauty...it was gifted but still have the photo of "asian autumn".   the background fabric is a very pretty asian fabric but only a smidgen of it, just enough for this.  the smidgen was gifted to me by dear late friend marianne...

and stitched this little door hanger for my mum and it did indeed hang on her apartment door...many pluses about senior apartments but decor can be blah and it gave me such delight to make things for her to perk up her space.  this is hanging in my apartment now...

the stew is made and waiting to cool before freezing...food pantry pork roast cut up and sliced off all the fat resulted in comforting, hot, nutritious meals later on....

another food pantry receipt was this little bag of chocolate quinoa snacks...remarkably good and better than a regular candy bar...

sell for $4 per bag at target or costco, won't be buying them myself but nice to get for a change...they have other snacks of milk or dark chocolate as well.

i hesitate to verbalize for fear of jinxing, but the weather here is downright spectacular....cool morning and overnite to sleep with cozy quilts, warm sun during the day....frost last night in some areas so this is definitely indian summer now.  

couple of quilts to wash and bathroom clean on my weekend list....plus that pumpkin bread to make still..unless can squeeze in before.  winter haircut yesterday, short enough to avoid winter hat scare...LOL

overflowing blessings today despite unmet wants and needs.  feel richly blessed while i pray for those still suffering storm after effects.

not much new here

weather has cooled considerably...ironic that the uber hot days seem to last forever but the nice, cool, crisp ones don't...a week or so ago it was 60s overnite but now 40s and morning frost in spotted areas...great quilting weather tho..

nice segue into the ongoing bow ties project....trying to get at least 15 of the 20 blocks quilted in october, then the last 5 and sashings in november.  which means not much else of sewing is getting done.  plus i'm out of batting scraps for small things until i can trim and frankenbatt (sewing together small pieces)....goal of 3 finishes before 2025..it waits for me every morning as my after-breakfast pastime...

since it's the spooky season, here are a couple of mine i've posted before...

i made this for my mom's door and now it's back with me...

and here is a view of calais, maine, from a week ago...stunning natural beauty in autumn...

lots of up north family drama going on that is occupying my mind...plus being wheel-less and housebound are daily stressors and have me on the hunt for pleasant diversions, mostly sewing related.  

after haircut today, some yummy pumpkin bread and a pork stew to be made.  cold weather meals are back on the menu.   last week grabbed the last farm stand tomatoes, summer squash, zucchini until next year...boo hoo...will be pulling out winter clothes by the weekend i guess..but maryland weather can be sneaky so one pair of shorts will be kept close...

hopefully next post will show some new sewing stuff, so signing off to get dressed and start the day...it's another beauty....richly blessed are we!