Of Quilts and Other Musings

How to Feel Good Without Even Trying

2012-01-28T12:23:00.007-05:00

Some days I forget how easy it is to feel GOOD (yes, all capitals!), to smile because you can't help yourself, to shed a tear because you are touched by what you see and hear, to just find delight in what is now an American Institution that has been going strong for over 40 years. Yesterday, the hubby and I ventured out to see the documentary about the young man who at a young age (he cut up his father's coat at the age of 9 to make his first creation)fell in love with puppeteering and dreamed of working on Sesame Street. His passion and his talent is chronicled in the most amazing film: Being Elmo. Kevin is a wonder. Growing up poor in Baltimore, being teased both at home (by his sisters) and at school for his passion, but staying true to himself and a lot of hard work is the basis for his stellar rise in the world of muppets. His parents believed in him- particularly his mother, and my heart just sang when Kevin told the story of how his mom picked up the telephone one day and made a phone call to Kermit Love that changed his life forever. If you have the chance to see this movie, take the time to do it. You too will be charmed, you will feel good, and you will- if you've forgotten in all the hustle and bustle of daily life, have the time to remember that passion is an important part of who we are.
I wish you passion in everything you do- today and everyday!

Small goals

2012-01-22T19:37:00.006-05:00

I was thinking about goals today,and how many I make- or more so, how many I keep!
We're all goal setters in our own ways. I've also grown older and wiser- knowing that those sweeping goals, the big unattainable ones are no longer in my realm of goal making. Thank goodness for that!
It's January- for years I've set the "lose weight" goal. "Join the gym" goal. "Organize the house" goal. It never worked for long. But for some reason (the wisdom that starts sticking with you with advancing age?) goals are starting to stick around here. Why?? What's different?? I've gone from making those broad, sweeping master goals to setting small attainable ones for myself. No more "I'm going to lose 50 pounds". Now I work in 10 pound increments- all the more attainable. It's working. No more "I'm going to join a gym". I know I don't have the time right now. Honesty. Reality. Good things to keep in mind. "I'm going to organize the house" has gone to "I'll work on (fill in the blank) today". Little goals. I'm not kicking myself in the pants all that much anymore.
All this is now being carried over into my stitching life as well. Small goals! Now I know I announced that I set a goal of making a little quilt each month- but that I think I can do. Maybe I need to realistically qualify my goal as a "top" each month instead of a "quilt". Quilt implies just that- I've taken needle to the top and stitched 3 layers together and then attached a binding. Done. "Quilt". I'm all for pushing myself just a bit further than I wanted to- so we'll see what comes of it. I could have quilted my little 12 Days of Christmas this weekend. Yup, could have....but I chose instead to revisit a project that has called my name for years. I talked my self in and out of the Civil War Bride Quilt for two years before giving in to buying the pattern. Then when taking care of my mom I began the stitching and quickly discovered that I wasn't happy with how things were looking. I fixed all that yesterday, curled on the couch in the mist of the family (read that as husband and dog) who were both very pleased with my presence for the afternoon. Block #1 was fine. Block #2 needed to have flowers replaced and that is done. Both are pressed and looking very pretty now. They are sitting next to the open (opened to the original quilt top) book I purchased at the Red and White exhibit in NYC last year. Today, I stated working on my third block- the bride herself. She is looking a bit hastily dressed, but I can fix that easily- I'm pleased with her face, neck, hands...the pieces are small, but I did not veer from my needle turn. It is giving me great pleasure- and very sore fingers. I need to start forcing myself to wear a thimble.
I think I will work on her a bit more tomorrow. My mini goal for the week is to finish block #3. This mini goal thing could just work! That reminds me of another goal to add to the list. Photography! Start taking some photos to share when I go on about things I'm doing. Now how hard can that be??

For the Birds!

2012-01-21T07:48:00.008-05:00

I woke up this morning to two things: snow! Yay! (even if it isn't going to be enough to finally go snowshoeing, bah humbug.) and those guys pictured above. Hundreds of them.
Screeching, screaming, fluttering and flying. It's a bit disconcerting. It isn't the first time either. I hear them in all their eerie glory- right through my locked tight bedroom windows.
We have a program here in these parts were we share these noisy nuisances with the cities across the river. We "scare" them away with lights, loud noises and the like and then they fly cross river. Then they return! The smart folk across the river "scare" them way with lights, loud noises and the like. I think all it does is annoy the population of humans and make us a laughing stock to "the flock".

Now it's bad enough that I get up to this, but then I realize I am going to have to practice Duck and Cover all over again. Hey- I grew up in the mist of the Cold War. Ducking and Covering was a subject well practiced in schools. So well practiced I was scared to death the bomb was going to find me no matter what! But I digress...the ducking and covering I need to do during this invasion is due to the rain of droppings let loose by the unruly crowd in the neighborhood trees. It's winter remember- no leaves. Just long branches full of winged creatures. They sit and scream at you as you walk your poor terrified dog (doesn't take much to spook him under these war-like conditions, especially at night when it can get particularly gruesome) and drop their bodily excretions left and right. With the numbers populating the trees, you have to run a zig-zaggety course through the sounds of the plopping. It isn't pleasant. In fact with all the noise and all the taking off, circling and landing (all the while screaming at each other) I feel very much like Tippi Hedren. Remember her??

It's a bit scary I tell you, a bit scary.
But I'm home now. Obviously! I'm safe from the "fall out". For Now! I think I am going to prepare a couple of blocks for handwork- but NOTHING WITH BIRDS!!
Have a good day, folks.

Hello, Old Friend

2012-01-20T14:02:00.008-05:00

Not only is this a greeting to anyone who stills stops by to see if I am still around and blogging, but it is also a very excited greeting to my sewing machine, who has not seen any activity since August of 2011. Some of you who read this blog may know that our family was throw into a bit of turmoil at the end of the summer, and any extra activity such as sewing, blogging and the like came to a swift end. Here we are six months later, and life is returning to it's natural order- a bit different- but less stressful to say the least.
There have been some changes that have done me well. Leaving my job was one of those changes that needed to be done, and I did it willingly. I have learned two things:
1. Poverty wasn't going to be my middle name (smile). I could do without the money I brought home each month. I just would have to mind my spending.

2. In the new order of things, not spending does not impact my ability to quilt.

How does one acquire a stash the size of ...well let's just say BIG!
I know, I know. Working at a quilt shop gave me the ability to see it all, and then indulge myself whenever I wanted to. There is none of that now, and don't get me wrong- I'm not complaining! In fact, I have been thrilled with jumping head first into my stash. Why, just look! My stash did this:

This is my 12 Days of Christmas project. Done from scraps and gave me that good old feeling of satisfaction I used to get after a night of piecing. This little beauty was a blog mystery over at Temecula Quilt Shop's blog, and it just called my name. I knew I could do it. I knew I certainly had enough just in the scrap bin to make 3" blocks. I knew I had plenty of FQ's for the borders. I knew I had to start sewing again.
Just to be sewing again is a joy. I have plenty to keep my busy well into the next century, and now that things have settled into a daily routine most days I am taking full advantage of this crazy life of mine.
It is nice to be back!

I may become a better blogger, who knows! I do know I am learning to be a better person :-)

So hello old friends. It's nice to be back.

Hurray! It's Done!

2011-07-27T10:03:00.013-04:00

Funny how those "couple of days" offline stretched out into more days than ever expected!
The renovations to the breakfast room are done, but not without drama that I will spare everyone. Then the wireless went down. Disconnect, reconnect, nothing...new box, new technology. Now I'm back up and running...oh wait! Not so fast. Then wham....pinched nerve, muscle spasms...guess it is time to admit I am not as young as I used to be?? Nah, there will be none of that. What feels good now is to be mobile enough to sew some. Double Hurray.
For those of you waiting for more pictures from this year's Vermont Quilt Festival, I need to now document the contest quilts and will slowly get them up for you all to see. For now, lets just show off a bit and share my Farmer's Wife Sampler blocks- all five of them. Last year, I fell in love with this sampler and had to do it. What else is new?? Love, must do....story of a quilter's life. So thus it began, and slowly came to a frustrating end. The templates weren't quite right,and there was very little direction in the book. Tried paper piecing. Hated that. The blocks got stashed in the circular file and I washed my hands of the entire project. Or so I thought!
A local shop has a club going and two quilting friends were raving about it. One friend showed all the information they got for rotary cutting etc. and her blocks were fabulous. This was the way for me to go-- let someone else figure it all out for me.
Lo and behold doing some "homework" got me lots of useful information and I decided to take the plunge by myself once again. Behold:

Block 1: Attic Windows

Block 2: Autumn Tints

Block 3: Birds in the Air

and yes, I did say five blocks, but blogger won't let me post any more photos right now. Maybe tonight?? It feels good to be back in the sewing room for short periods of time, AND have my computer up and running. It is a glorious day, now that the heat wave has left and I intend to enjoy it! Naturally it isn't going to last...the heat and humidity is expected to return in the next couple of days. More reason to sew!
But til then, life goes on......

Short Break

2011-07-11T07:34:00.001-04:00

I will be off line for a day or so...
new floors are being laid come early tomorrow so tonight I have to finish clearing out the furniture. That means the iMac will go into hybernation for a bit.

I will be back in a couple days with the next part of my Vermont Adventure.
Have a great few days everyone!

Revisiting The Vermont Quilt Festival- Part 4

2011-07-09T18:08:00.030-04:00

Today's post will begin the journey through the quilts made by the students of Marjorie Haight Lydecker mounted for the special exhibit: Life's Work: The Quilts of Marjorie Haight Lydecker and Her Students. I am a big fan of Jo Morton and so as I entered the student's exhibit area I gasped as not one but three Emma's Courtyard quilts hung facing me. Courtyard has been on my to-do list for years. I had actually gathered fabrics to begin its making- and am sure that I have dipped into them time and again. Gives me an excuse to collect again, now, doesn't it! I did make Emma's Quilt- the small version Jo first designed, and it is one of my favorite wall hangings. Courtyard is the expanded quilt Jo designed for her guild. I'm not sure as to what year- I would have to look up my booklet!

*I am hoping that I have the correct maker with the right quilt! Remember that technical difficulty with the photo numbers!? If I have misrepresented in any way, it was not intentional and I ask that anyone who might notice a discrepancy in the following postings let me know so corrections can be made.

The photos aren't fabulous, I guess I was just a tad too excited, but let me present the three Emma's to you:

This first rendition of Emma was made by Estelle Trzcinski of Cotuit, MA. She noted that it was a joyful endeavor, hand appliqued, hand pieced and hand quilted.

This second version (that so deserves a better photo!) was made Emilie Barrett of Yarmouth Port, MA. It is hand appliqued, hand and machine pieced. The quilt was machine quilted by Mary Schilke of Catamount Quiting in Wells River, VT.

Lorraine Whitehouse of Duxbury, MA made this version using a palette of "about 65 fabrics, finishing it in three years". It was hand appliqued, hand pieced and embroidered. The only stitching done by machine was applying the first course of binding which was then hand stitched to the back.

I declare all three to be great beauties, and need to keep myself from pulling out my booklet from among my Jo Morton books. I will NOT start another project...well, at least not today!

In and Around the Baskets is another quilt by Emilie Barrett of Yarmouth Port. As if her Emma's Courtyard wasn't spectacular enough, look at this beauty inspired by Jenna Kimball's book Red and Green- An Applique Tradition. It is hand appliqued (2000-2001),and was hand quilted by Claudette Cavalier, Concord, 2001.

In 2000 Emilie also began Joys of Nature's Beauty. She adapted her version from Emily Senuta's Blooms and Baskets Patterns, finishing it in 2009. It is hand appliqued, embroidered and hand quilted. This quilt was stunning.

Another stunning quilt was Fruitorama by Frances Abell Brand of West Dennis, MA.

This center medallion, mixed medium quilt uses beautiful fall colors.
The center medallion is theorem painted on velvet and there are four additional small theorem paintings.

Quilt related quotations are handwritten in the four cartouches; this one reads: "Quilting is not a matter of life and death, it is more important than that". The quilt is hand quilted!

Admiring Marjorie's Tree of Life quilt, Claire Costello of Dennis, MA. made her version under Marjorie's tutorage. A Tree in All Its Splendor Be was hand appliqued and hand quilted. Begun in 1998, it took Claire 2 years to complete her quilt.

Another of Marjorie's students whose works I found exceptional was Alice Flynn of South Yarmouth, MA. Alice's Pot of Flowers was inspired by a photograph. She chose blacks, gold,red,green and purple, hand appliquing and hand quilting her quilt. The inner border was also hand pieced.

Alice made her Cutwork Blues around a traditional center design of a Princess Feather. The surrounding blocks are designs by Elly Sienkiewicz. The sashing and outside borders were of Alice's own design. Completed in 1995,it is hand appliqued and hand quilted.

Peonies and Ivy, A Baltimore Tradition by Sydney Glover of Chatham MA was made with "much encouragement from Marjorie Lydecker, and all of Elly Sienkiewicz's books to pore thru". It took three and a half years to finish. Sydney commented that she loved hand sewing every stitch!

To be continued......

Revisiting The Vermont Quilt Festival- Part 3

2011-07-08T20:08:00.018-04:00

As previously mentioned, QB and I took advantage of the Gallery Talks that were given daily at VQF's special exhibits. It is here, at our second talk, that we got to meet and listen to Marjorie Haight Lydecker of Yarmouth Port, MA. We were joined during the talk by what we later learned were some of her students (as well as other fascinated quilters with an appreciation for applique).

Marjorie has been quilting for forty years, having joined her daughter at adult education classes. Within a couple of years, Marjorie began to teach classes herself, and was soon recognized by Ellie Sienkiewicz at her Applique Academy at which Marjorie was invited to teach. In the thirty years that Marjorie has been teaching, her students have numbered well over 500. Quite an accomplishment. It is her hope, writes Marjorie, that her students will find joy in discovering and persevering in the continuing expression of their individual artistry*.

(Photo of Marjorie - proudly grasping the flowers brought to her by one of her sons- as she talked about the quilts in her exhibit: Life's Work: The Quilts of Marjorie Haight Lydecker and Her Students)

The quilt behind Marjorie is Christopher's Quilt made by Eleanor Meaney (now deceased) of Hanover, MA. It has twenty-five log cabin squares and sixteen half squares, alternated with forty black and red squares. There are forty-two trapunto flowers and is an original design.

Note the prairie point border in the first photo (I wish I had taken a close up). Marjorie told us that originally the prairie points were all black, but Eleanor did not like them one bit when she got them finished. Look closely- you might see a tiny border of black around the tan fabric. Eleanor hand appliqued the tan over each of the prairie points! The quilt is hand embroidered and hand quilted.

The first of the eleven of Marjorie's quilts that I photographed is her Tree of Life.

"This quilt was inspired by an antique quilt. Original hummock design at base. Border mirrors images of two Pennsylvania designs and one 17th century design. The Jenny Beyer border print is hand appliqued. Quilt is hand appliqued, quilted and embroidered."

Next is A Fine Romance:

"Nine appliqued squares inspired by Elly Sienkiewicz' books. Alternating bordered toile squares and triangles. Jinny Beyer's toile fabric depicts a hunting scene with a romance. Hand appliqued, pieced and quilted."

Unfortunately these are the only two I had time to photograph, but they were also my favorites among Marjorie's showing. I was particularly interested in her student's works as I saw the joy they exhibited and the respect for Marjorie and her talents was more than evident. Having spend a small amount of time in her circle, I can see why! Tomorrow's posts will feature the student's work.

* from Curator's Essay VQF 2011 catalog.

Revisiting Vermont Quilt Festival Part 2

2011-07-07T08:15:00.058-04:00

We will continue our walk thru VQF's special exhibits today with more of the antique quilt exhibit featuring the collection of the Vermont Historical Society:

I was mesmerized by quite a few of the quilts chosen for this special exhibit, but this one in particular had me going back for a second and third look. I have of late toyed with the idea of making a hexagon "something". I'm not sure I would have the patience to make a full sized quilt, but really do love the idea of one. Then came this:

This hexagon quilt is made of silk and was made by Bathsheba Howard Philips of Newfane, VT. It is dated 1837 and marked with her initials. The historical information given goes on to mention that although "the maker did marry in 1837, but she may have made this as an anniversary quilt at a later date since silk would have been a rare material for a Vermont quilt sewn before 1875. Others say it is possible that it dates to 1837 since this pattern was popular in the late 1830's and the maker used her maiden name initials".

Take a closer look:

Closer still:

I just love it, and think that using this as a jumping off point, I could indeed make that hexagon quilt I've been thinking about. No silk here, however! Just a good cotton fabric- most likely from my scrap basket??

The original above was donated to the Historical Society by Alice Swingle in 1962. Any thoughts on when it might actually been crafted??

This cotton quilt in the Robbing Peter to Pay Paul (or Wheel and Cushion) pattern was made by Jennie S. Farwell, teacher and preceptress at the Montpelier Seminary from 1872 to 1878. She sewed this quilt and had community members sign it to raise $100 for a scholarship fund. It was on loan by Vermont College. Below is a close up of signatures (quite faded, but still visible).

This cotton Chintz Puss in the Corner or Nine Patch Variation pattern was made by a member of the Douglas Family of Chelsea, Vt. in about 1850. It was donated to the society by Anne D. Waterson in 1973.

Dating from the 1900's, this cotton baby quilt in a star pattern was donated by John Coolidge in 1982.

There were also several Carolina Lily pattern quilts hanging together in the exhibit. These quilts were made by women in the same family. We chuckled that each was more beautiful than the other...competition perhaps?? I thought I had photos of them, but alas, they are not showing up in my catalog of photographs. However, this stunner may bring me back into good graces:

This Carolina Lilly or Peony pattern was made by Catherine Bolster of Barre, VT in 1863. The center block is embroidered, "Barre, Vermont/1863/Catherine Bolster/Born November 28, 1806." It was a gift of Beverly Jones in 2005.

Made by Fidelia Reed Bolster of Barre, VT in about 1845, this cotton Lost Ship pattern was a museum purchase (with assistance of the Vermont Quilt Festival, Inc.) in 2000. I love the simplicity of the green and white.

Another crowd pleaser was this cotton quilt in the Grandmother's Flower Garden pattern. It was made by Mrs. Frances Slater Russo in 1932 and was a museum purchase (2002).

Previously owned by the Allen family of Barnard, Vt. this Lattice Block quilt was purchased by the museum in 2002. It has a Picket Fence border.

It was constructed with scrap fabrics dating from the 1820's to 1880's. I find it looks amazingly contemporary.

This cotton Autograph quilt was signed primarily by families from the Upper Connecticut River Valley towns of Stafford, Thetford, and Pompanoosuc, VT. It dates from the 1870's and was donated in 2002 by Peter Mallary. The signatures have faded quite a bit:

Signed and dated "Mattie,September 11, 1879" this red and white cotton Carpenter's Square pattern was made my Martha (Mattie) Galusha of Shaftsbury, Vt. the year before she married Horatio Simmons of Bennington. It was donated by Harriet Simmons Williams in 2004.

This quilt top became one of my favorites because I could relate with its maker...it was a work in progress. However it has other interesting information...this Double 4-Patch Variation was stitched by Henry Walker of Weston, VT. in about 1920. Mr. Walker was bed-ridden and was taught to hand-piece to help pass the time! Donated by Bev Roberts in 2008.

Martha (Mattie) Galusha Simmons (see above Carpenter's Square quilt) also stitched this Sunflower or Sunburst pattern. It was made in about 1880 and Martha was now married and living in Bennington, VT. Donated to museum by Harriet Simmons Williams in 2010.

Dating to the Civil War (1863) this cotton quilt contains quotes from the Bible. the back is signed: "Made by Mrs. L.B. Fairbanks of Brandon VT." It is stamped on reverse, "Brandon/Soldiers Aid Society" and "U.S. Sanitary Commission". It was donated by the York County (PA) Historical Society in memory of Sophia Wilfong (1987).

Below are some beautiful whole cloth quilts from the exhibit. I hope I have documented them properly (my photo numbers from my camera card did not correspond to the upload numbers when put on the computer! That will teach me to delete the photos from my camera card prematurely). I am also going to post a photo of a spectacular Log Cabin quilt and hope that the lack of complete documentation does not cause a lot of dismay.

I believe this whole-cloth quilt was made from copper and block printed fabrics from England and France. If I am correct, it was owned by the Martin Family of Plainfield, Vt. and dates from about 1830. Gift of Sylvia J. and Robert Dole. 2004.

Below:
Whole-cloth glazed (washed off) printed cotton quilt. Printed peacock design from the mid-nineteenth century. Donated by Helen Tracy. 1991.

Below:
White Whole-cloth from 1840's. (Possibly made by Fidelia Bolster Smith)

and to end our walk thru just some of the collection mounted by the Vermont Historical Society is this wonderful Log Cabin:

For more information on the quilts of Vermont, one can read about them in the book Plain and Fancy: Vermont's People and Their Quilts.

In my next post, I will take you through the second Gallery Talk QB and I attended. Life's Work: The Quilts of Marjorie Haight Lydecker and Her Students.
I have to say up front, meeting Mrs. Lydecker, some of her students and seeing their quilts was one of the highlights of this year's festival for me. The influence of a quilt teacher is something like no other and I so wish I could have had a chance to sit and learn from her. Seeing these quilts sent QB and I on a quest to find a way to attend a class with either Jenna Kimball or head to the Applique Academy (big wish!) to soak in the work of Elly Sienkiewicz!

Post Script- found this fun video showing some of the preparations for hanging the exhibit. See it here.
To Be Continued.....

Revisiting the Vermont Quilt Festival...Part 1

2011-07-06T19:03:00.026-04:00

For those of you who know me personally, and perhaps for those just getting to know me better, my starting with the special exhibit of Antique Vermont Quilts isn't a surprise.
Quilting Buddy (from now on known as QB in my postings) and I took full advantage this year of all the Festival has to offer. Our first new (for us) activity was to attend the Gallery Talk sponsored by the Vermont Historical Society whose quilt collection was showcased in Patterns of History: Quilts from the Vermont Historical Society Collection. Only half of their holdings were featured, and these quilts were amazing! They ranged from whole cloth quilts from the early 1800's to a more modern day example- a commemorative quilt made in 1991- not quite an antique yet! The Gallery Talk was led by the current curator, Jacqueline Calder. Come join me in a walk through.

This wool, linen and cotton quilt in a Log Cabin Variation pattern was made by Ella Hay Harris of Ludlow, Vt. in the late 1800's. It was donated to the historical society in 1954 by Ina Harding Harris.

Donated to the historical society in 1974 by Joanna Reed Parks, the maker's granddaughter, this cotton quilt in the Indian Hatchet pattern was made by "Grandmother" Webster of Marshfield, VT in about 1800.

This cotton quilt is a Cherry Basket pattern and was made by Lucy Hale prior to her marriage in 1852. It was donated by Ina Harris Harding and Maude Harding Schults in 1954.

This North Carolina Lily cotton quilt was made by Martha M. Rosebrook of Morgan, VT in about 1850. It was donated to the society in 2000 by Richard Whitehall. If you look behind the Lily, you will see a White and Red cotton Feathered Star similar to a California Star pattern. It was made by Hattie Phillips of Sough Duxbury, VT. in about 1870. This quilt was donated by Mrs. Charles Willard in 1964.

This cotton Shoofly Quilt was created by the members of the Baptist Church of East Hardwick, VT. for their pastor, the Rev. Albert Vinton. Reverend Vinton served at the church from 1878 to 1881. It was donated by Emily Clark in 1967.

This stunning quilt is all wool! Teenaged sisters, Sarah and Anne Holt of Berlin, VT. made the quilt in 1838 making the vibrancy of the colors today mind-boggling! The stitching throughout the quilt is a swirling pattern that gives great movement to the piece and showcases the talents of the sisters. The sisters stitched both their names and the date on the quilt, making it possible to document its origins. It was purchased by the society in 2010.

Below is another quilt that boggled my mind! A Crazy Quilt Variation, made by Philea A. Spear of Waitsfield, VT. in 1909 at the age of 84.

Philea recorded that the quilt took 12,976 pieces of material. Take a closer look:

Incredible!!

To be continued.....

*** Note to my readers. I have tried to be extremely careful with the documentation of these photos. Should anyone notice that there is some misinformation please let me know as soon as possible so I can rectify my postings.

It's July Already?

2011-07-05T08:52:00.002-04:00

How did it become July so soon? I find it hard to believe, but from the looks of the flower gardens (aren't my hydrangeas beautiful!) and the veggies/herbs I guess it really is the height of the summer season. I feel like Rip Van Winkle! Lay down to take a rest and wake up some time in the future. Thankfully hundreds of years have not passed me by, even if it feels that way.
So what have I been up to? Not much more than watching the weather turn rainy the minute the house painters set to work. Traveling to the Vermont Quilt Festival and bringing home a nasty "it rained (buckets) every day" cold. Painting the room I am currently writing this post from- and waiting for the new hardwood floor to be installed so I can get things back to normal (what ever that is!). A wee-bit of sewing (I love that.."wee"- youngest child has taken on a bit of the Scottish lingo and I smile each time she uses that term!). I actually make four 3" T blocks last evening and assembled them into their 6" counterpart. I really do want to get back to my Folk Art Gathering quilt. I have also (finally) downloaded all the photos from Vermont and am slowly working on the documentation so I can share! Everything seems to take me forever these days. Photos are coming...Festival quilts, what I'm working on photos, maybe even some "look what I bought" photos? Now that would be fun....
But I need to head out into reality. Time to go to work...
Til we meet again....

And the work continues!

2011-06-13T08:09:00.001-04:00

It was a fairly quiet weekend here- no ladders, no men on the roof! Saturday, I dodged the rain and drove down to one of my favorite quilt shops and had a bit of me time. I managed to pick up some overdue blocks and a bit of fabric (one to complete an on-going project). I also picked up Jo Morton's new book Banner Day! This one is fabulous- well all her books are, but this one is really fabulous! I'd post a photo, but for some reason blogger isn't cooperating. Oh well. Yesterday was a very quiet day here at Casa M. I decided it was time to attack the two spots on the living room rug that were bothering me. Success for the most part- think I'll respray today and they should be 100% gone. Then, since the ceiling taping and mud went up on Friday, I thought it was high time to bring the breakfast room out of the 80's. First job- get rid of the cutsey bird house wallpaper border and the not so professionally done chair rail. Didn't take any time at all, and the room already looks better. I am going to dispose of the very 80's vertical blinds and finally make those drapes I intended to do. Happily I never got to it before- as I would have done something more fu-fu and would be disposing of that now too {smiles}. I am just going to make simple panels for each of the big windows - and hang 'em high! I think the room will look tall and elegant and I'll be able to see the gardens with out peeking thru verticals. Once the wobbly computer table is replaced with youngest daughter's gorgeous black desk, and I spruce up the rest of the furniture that has to stay I think the room will be more in keeping with my new sensibilities. I also know it is going to lead to more trouble as I will want to do the same to the kitchen and half bath. They're all connected you know! Time on my hands...a bad thing! I've told the husband I am going to ask our contractor about putting hardwood flooring in the nook...and I may ask about going right thru the kitchen as well. We'll see!
After all the manual labor (including laundry) I pulled out a very old project! I had been working diligently on Vintage Valentine for some time years ago. Too many years ago to fess up to. It was supposed to be a wedding gift for son and DIL. Once I got side tracked, I felt that it was never going to happen, so I decided to just "forget" I had it. For some reason yesterday I decided I wanted to finish it after all-- and finish it for their anniversary in October. There is going to be a lot of frantic needle turn going on if I am to stick to that commitment. Good thing they don't know this was even in the works! I had considered just scrapping the entire idea as I'd like to make them individual quilts anyway, but being the good momma I try to be, I'd like to accomplish it all. Delusions of grandeur, me thinks!!
And with that...it is time to begin another week. I am a free bird today and need to grocery shop. And thus it begins...I hear a ladder, guess I should sneak into the shower before there is a face in that window!

Still here....

2011-06-10T08:21:00.002-04:00

I didn't forget that I promised photos of the wonderful Quilt Show from last weekend...I just don't have access to the photos as my iMac is sitting disconnected and completely unusable as we get work done at the house. My hope is that the taping and mudding of the new ceiling in the room where Mac resides will get done today. I'm not holding my breath (the work is moving right along so I won't rush things), but I'd sure like to be able to share what I've been working on. I've also realized that I never posted photo(s) of the "new and improved" quilting room! Soon. I will get it all up soon. OK, lets hope so .
Wishing you all a happy weekend- perhaps with some stitching??

Here We Go Again!

2011-06-07T10:47:00.012-04:00

Blogging comes once a month it seems, but it isn't as if I have nothing to show...
it is just hard to find time to sit and share with all that I have going on. Now don't go feeling sorry for me. It is a "problem" of my own making. Work, family, gardens, sewing...yup all still need attention.
With the multiple projects in various stages of completion already strewn around the sewing room, why do I let myself get crazed and start anew when I know I shouldn't?? We all do it, don't we (don't we??)?
Oh well, can't help myself, here I go again....look at this mess-

why do I "just have to" choose projects requiring tons of cutting, sewing, pressing, and trimming of half-square triangles? Thus the mess above. It's a little mess- the bigger one is already swept into the trash basket. But those little cut, sewn, pressed and trimmed half-square triangles look so cute.

and after I add all of this

I end up with 4 of each of these.
(It's a good thing- I need 127 blocks!)

Just couldn't help myself. I fell in love with this quilt from a brand new book Winning Fat Quarter Quilts. At least I think that is the name...will have to recheck to make sure I have my facts right!

I knew I had more than enough fat quarters to make every quilt in the book (probably could go straight to king size- nothing small here, but I decided on full/queen). I started pulling these

It was easy to get 32 light/dark combos. I have plenty in the drawers of that triple dresser that I joke about. Wow. I could free up space in the drawers. No, don't ask why I would need to do that...and no, I haven't been to a quilt shop (except to work). But VQF is looming! No, no...no spending! I have more than my fair share (hahahah-insert your favorite evil laughter...)
Cutting is fast, easy and you don't waste any fabric (it is done in pairs). I now have a small canvas basket filling with scraps for a future project (oh help me!! It is a sickness.). Do I get time off for good behavior? Oh, actually, I did! and what did I do...I went to a quilt show. Lots of ideas there....yes, I need help. Lots of it. Desperately seeking help. Photos from the show will be forthcoming...if I can stop making those half-square triangles!!

Talented Friends

2011-05-15T10:01:00.003-04:00

It is always nice to have friends you love to quilt with, but when one is extremely talented, it is always a pleasure to see what she has come up with "now"! No pattern is left untouched by her own spin on things- to a beautiful ending. But now she is designing...and this first attempt is amazing! You can see "Jack's Wild Ride" here as she got up the nerve to enter it into the Quilting Design Star contest being held by McCall's Quilting Magazine. Go take a look!! Better yet, vote for Jack.

Stopping to think....

2011-05-01T15:26:00.003-04:00

this video made me stop and think. It made me really think. I loved this thought: "exercise the goodness instilled in us". I find it profound. I find I am not always nice. I wasn't nice when I saw said video was produced by Mormon Productions. Why? No good reason. I just have these preconceived notions. Interesting isn't it that our preconceived notions can make us act less good. Less civil. Be it a homeless man in Central Park, or an entire faith community- why should we think out of ignorance?

I think I want to start exercising the goodness instilled within me more. I think it could make me an even happier person in that I would be less judgemental. I try not to be, but it just happens. I'll try harder.

That's all.....

Primitive Stitches

2011-04-23T07:16:00.003-04:00

In my last post I raved about the new Primitive Quilts magazine. I still do! Yesterday I finished the top to my first project: Primitive Tulips. I am quite happy with it. The photo is a bit off, the brown is deeper, but all in all it looks good!
Now on to another quick and easy one- Jan Patek's pillow. I love her houses (always have) and this one is sweet. Wonder when I can sneak in a few minutes of stitching this weekend??

I'm in love!

2011-04-17T09:57:00.004-04:00

Yes, indeed. It was love at first site. Have you seen this?? My roots fall firmly in the primitive quilting arena, so having a magazine geared towards those of us who love this part of the quilt world just makes my heart happy. I am working on my first project from the magazine- a small piece by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings.
Scrappy, wool applique, what more could I ask for on my happiness level- definitely a 10 out of 10!
Now if the sewing room can just be uncovered...I forgot to take before photos of the room- probably a good thing as I don't want to be responsible for any one's heart failure. But wait til I photograph how I spent my Saturday! Let's just say that it entailed 3 large wall units, a huge fabric collection and a 6.5" ruler. I'm not sure my hands will ever be the same {smile}. Now that I may have peaked some interest, I need to get ready to head off to work. I'd rather be home finishing up the organizing, but at least at the shop I can get some stitching time in the quiet moments.

Another PIP block

2011-04-08T20:20:00.003-04:00

I managed to find some time to sew another Patriots in Petticoats block- to keep myself busy. The block for today is Hannah Hendee's block. Hanna single-handedly saved not only her 7 year old son from the British (Indians in Vermont would travel with the British soldiers and steal men and boys to sell for bounty) but also was responsible for securing nine other small boys. The Captain of the British camp was intimidated by her determination, but this block held little intimidation- it was straight forward and fun to make.

Because it went so well, I decided to play with colors on a possible Block of the Month for the shop. It will be a sampler if it works...and now I see I have one bit of unstitching to do! Can you spot the mistake! I'm calling it a night.

In the Mood

2011-04-08T08:47:00.003-04:00

Yes, I've been in the mood. In the mood to purge, that is! Maybe it is the arrival of spring, maybe it is the mountains of stuff that seem to just grow around here. Maybe I've become "thisclose" to being a hoarder!! Anyway, I've decided this is the year I become lean and mean..around the house at least. Not that I couldn't stand purging those extra pounds I've been lugging around. But I digress.
I decided to start with the attic. I need to clean out the sewing room so the attic- where all extra things go to linger in an unused life- seemed the best place to start. I started with the extra books, patterns and staples that were stored there. I went through the boxes of excess fabrics, I looked at all those block of the month kits being stored instead of worked on. Decisions have to be made. So I picked a logical place to start, and dove in. By mid-afternoon I had filled 3 garbage bags with junk, filled several large boxes of things that can go to the Trash and Treasure sale our church has yearly. I pulled out extra books, or those I knew I'd not go back to - quilting or other wise. Then I found an plastic envelope and looked inside. Quilt blocks! Nice quilt blocks. Swap blocks- Bulls Eye- primitive in nature. OLD!
I was actually glad I looked in the envelope. I could have just tossed it without looking. It was mangled and old (yes, I've already made that point- old!!). The decision was to toss the mangled plastic envelope, and bring the blocks to the sewing room. The next day (Sunday) was a self-declared sewing day. I measured up the blocks and found few that were the same size. From those that were near "perfect" I determined that they should have been 8" blocks. I could square them up to 7.5" and only lost two in the entire pile (they were only 7" to start!). I'll get those on the back in the end. Squared up, laid block to block on the floor, rearranged somewhat and then sewn together. All in just a few hours time. Not bad to get this in the end:

it is basically basted- I think I've decided to do a baptist fan on it- in big stitch. I don't use a hoop when doing a more primitive stitch, and I think this is a perfect project for that sort of loose interpretation of quilting. I'd love to start this weekend, but alas- I will have to wait. I won't share a photo of my foolishness, but for those of you who may have ever slammed a finger in a car door you know what mine looks like. For those of you who aren't so clumsy (distracted, that is!) let me just say it "ain't pretty"!! I'm at day three, and at least the throbbing has stopped for the most part! The swelling is going down but the beauty of the black/purple/red combo will linger quite a bit longer I believe. Oh well, can't do much more than wait for the swelling to go down a bit more and then try to fit a thimble on it and get to work!
Until then I'm sure I can get myself into some other trouble. Spring is really here this weekend. Maybe some garden clean up will be good.

Week in Review

2011-04-03T09:57:00.007-04:00

It was a very busy week. It started out on a sad note when we had to put my sewing buddy, Miss Izzy Guinea Pig, to sleep on Monday. She had a cancerous tumor and then developed a respiratory infection that led to an ear infection. Poor dear. She played her best Camille for me (but acted fine for everyone else). The sewing room seems very quiet and lonely these past few days. We gave her a lovely burial under a slab of patio stone. I'll put a pretty basket of flowers there come summer.

Tuesday I grabbed a train and sped my way to New York City, where I was fortunate enough to see the Red and White Quilt collection hanging at the Park Avenue Armory. It was jaw dropping incredible. Took quite a few photos but will share just a few with you. It will be hard to decide which ones!

Wednesday and Thursday were regular days with my Grandson. We both have spring fever, and love being outside. Mud be darned!! That is what galoshes are for, no??
Thursday night was spend preparing to return to work on Friday. I've been on leave for a very long time, but Mother is settled now in her new living facility. She is safe, well fed and beginning to be a bit more at home. We're getting there!

Sewing will be taking a bit of a back seat until we wave good-bye to youngest child come Friday. She will be dragging two huge suitcases and a ticket to London from where she and the boyfriend will pack up his car and make their way to their new home in Scotland. It has been awhile since we were empty nesters here, and it seems a bit strange that we will be again. I'm sure I'll adjust-eventually!

By The Hundreds....

2011-03-27T16:15:00.006-04:00

I have been continuing along on my cutting/sewing/trimming journey. Hundreds of half-square triangles. Hundreds, seriously, these are just some of the ones for the current block I am working on.

After pressing, and more pressing and then pressing some more, I am ready to trim another round of HSTs. This was where I happened upon a great stroke of luck. Years ago, a friend out in the Chicago area sent me the most wonderful square up tool for half-square triangles (yes, Dawn, that would be you!). I happened to find it again, going through my large tool basket looking for my Easy Angle. Found both that and the Groovy 4 ruler as well. You can see it here in this photo of trimmed blocks.

What makes this tool so useful is that it has a groove along the diagonal that corresponds with the diagonal sewn while making HSTs. When you set the tool on your block to be trimmed, the grove hugs the diagonal tightly and you can trim with ease (read a review here). I think that it really helps in making my blocks more true, and I seem to be zipping right along-at least with the squaring up portion of each block. This weekend, as time permitted, I was in the sewing room working on this project (2010's Web Sampler) while I wait for my next installment of Patriots in Petticoats. I will be alternating the piecing of the sampler, PIP and my Civil War Tribute blocks. It keeps the interest level up and running, and gives me a rest from the CWT- which can make me totally crazy some days!

In my last post, I mentioned sewing a block totally wrong, and wondered if I should pull it all apart and "do it right". Now that I see the blocks filling up my smaller design wall, I am not so eager to pull out the industrial strength seam ripper. I'm thinking who would know (other than other sampler makers) which block is the "oops" block.
What happens in the end remains to be seen- but I am enjoying this process. Here's a peek so far:

This could be the end of a daily sewing session for me. This week is going to be quite busy, and Friday I return to work. Spring is around the corner, I hope, and that means inside and outside work to be done. I guess I will have to play with the idea of getting up earlier (nah....) or making time whenever I get home. This daily sewing thing has taken hold, and I'm not so eager to give it up!

I Might Be Doing This Backwards!

2011-03-25T08:02:00.004-04:00

I have been taking time each morning to cut fabrics for one block to work on when I get home and settled at night. Wednesday A.M. I cut to begin sewing these:

Sewed my little heart out that night and finished this block:

So, I thought to my smug little self. This system could really work! Just think of all I could get finished if I could sew a block a day. Notice the operative word in this sentence is smug! So Thursday morning I made sure to cut for another block of this same project. All the pieces were waiting for me last evening when I sauntered up to the sewing room and began to sew. The process of putting the block together was straight forward and quite simple, as long as I continued to refer back to the designated letters on the patten sheet (there are no color photos for us to reference). By 10:45pm I had the next block all pieced and pressed to it's glorious 12.5" square. Isn't it nice?

So why do I think I'm doing this all backwards?? Easy- at 11pm as I was closing up shop and took another look at the lovely blocks on the small design wall- it occurred to me that I didn't remember seeing a block that looked like this one in the small printout that came with the blocks. Now which one was this block?? The rentitions were also not in numerical order, so I kept hunting. That is when the light bulb in my head went off! Holy Seam Ripper, batman!! As nice as this block looks- it is all wrong!! The reds should be sewn against the reds and the navy against the navy. Do I leave it and have my own version of the project?? Who would know (besides me and now all of you!)??
I'll bet that by tonight it is going to bother me so much that I'll be doing the rip-it-out dance. We'll see. Maybe I am indeed doing this all backwards, and should cut at night and sew first thing in the am?? Stay tuned!

Good Bye Elizabeth

2011-03-23T18:24:00.010-04:00

Today seems like the end of the Golden Age of Hollywood with the passing of Elizabeth Taylor. I admit it. I love the movies. Always have. Not so much what gets churned out now by studios, but the good old movies. The ones that had honest to goodness movie stars. What can I say- I'm of that age. Clark Gable's Rhett Butler made me want to be a southern belle in distress. Kate Hepburn made me feel just the opposite- give me a great pair of pants, an man's shirt and I too could be strong, capable, a feminist before it became popular. Bette Davis- those eyes! I still love to watch Charlton Heston lift his staff and part the Red Sea (I thought that was a great visual effect- and it was back then). But Elizabeth! What can one say about this amazing woman other than the word beauty?? Yes, there were the husbands- all what? 8 of them if we count Richard twice?? The scandal surrounding her marriage to Eddie Fisher. Frankly, it pales in comparison with what goes on today. I will remember Elizabeth (who hated to be called "Liz") best like this:

Who didn't love Velvet Brown?? National Velvet is still one of my favorite movies, along side Who's Afraid of Virgina Woof. I think Elizabeth the person may have gotten lost in Elizabeth the headline maker. I think the things I admire her most for is her love for her family- her children, her grandchildren. And what she did from the heart. The money she helped raise for AIDS research. To me Elizabeth defined ICON and am saddened by her passing.

How Many Ways Can We Frustrate Ourselves??

2011-03-22T13:25:00.006-04:00

It's official. I'm frustrated. I have disposed of and recovered those pesky Jo Morton blocks (see post here) more times that I can shake a stick at. I decided that I did like the dark colorway I chose after all, but was more than frustrated at how they were going together in the final setting. How a block can measure perfectly and then lose points is beyond me. I was so frustrated and thinking that I was a quilting moron that I went over to Jo's Yahoo Group and looked at pictures of other Amy's Quilt projects. Know what? Most of them had cut off points. I am still putting mine away for now. I have a club meeting tonight and will bring up the subject of the missing points. Somebody has to have an answer!
So as if little frustrations weren't enough, I decided to use today to jump back into the BIG frustrations. I guess I am hell bent on branding myself a Quilting Moron, so I pulled out the Civil War Tribute blocks' basket. Just call me crazy! I spent the morning making this:

I've made some major decisions about this journey. It will NOT be perfect. Again- I measure everything twice. I square up, I pin like crazy (and I'm normally not a pinner) and still- several disappearing points, sections that shift just ever so slightly even though they've been pinned within an inch of their life. But, at least the block is the 18.5" it is supposed to be. So- I'll downgrade myself to a lesser degree of moron. I will work on this major pain in my quilting life project, I will enjoy the process, and know that once it gets to the finishing stage and is sent off to an extraordinary machine quilter to be quilted heavily, it will be just fine. It isn't going into a show, it isn't going to do much other than grace my own home. It will serve as testament to my own perseverance. It will also remind me not to jump on the BOM bandwagon just because I saw one beautiful block with the most perfect purple fabric. I have learned to investigate who the designer is...because I know there are some that I just don't get along with well. Please tell me perfection is over-rated. OK, I know it's not, but will just live with "good enough" as far as this project is concerned. I have seen a finished piece, both at a show booth and at a LQS. I have seen tops on some of the blogs I follow and know that I am not the only person who has a few little bald spots from tearing our hair out. I also know that in the end- it will end up on one of the kid's couches- keeping a dog, cat or other animal warm. OR (heaven forbid) be sold at the "estate (garage) sale"! They wouldn't, would they??

How a great day got even better....

2011-03-18T14:38:00.008-04:00

Imagine! a second post for the day..from me of all people. The day is only half over and already it has been a perfectly wonderful day. First, I visited with my mom, who wasn't half as agitated as she has been the past few days. Once she realized who I was, she was so happy to see me and we had a lovely visit- working on her word puzzles and preparing for lunch. Menu sounded pretty good to me- crab cakes, mashed potatoes and sugar snap peas. I saw a lovely fresh watermelon on the kitchen island, and Caroline (one of the staff) told me there were a few chocolate covered strawberries in the fridge- and to go steal one before she ate them all herself,lol!
After leaving Mom, I took a chance a friend up the road might be home and drove over to see. I was glad to see both she and her DH were both in, and we got to have a long overdue catch up. A few weeks ago, I accidentally found out that she was diagnosed with cancer and I was a bit overwhelmed as to how to broach the subject with her. We both lead hectic lives and hadn't talked to each other for some time. Happily, the cancer was caught at stage 1 (by a fluke!) and she is now cancer free. She has had some problems due to the needed reconstruction- leading to four more surgeries, but all in all she is doing well and is in high spirits. I am so happy I decided to "just go over".
When I got home I wanted to answer some emails from this morning and found one announcing I'd won a giveaway!
Mom doing well, today. Friend's health scare successfully treated. Being gifted with generosity. I'd say it's been a fabulous day!
May yours be just as wonderful.

A Good Start

2011-03-18T09:19:00.007-04:00

With the return of small snippets of free-time, I've been more than happy to spend the time in my sewing room working on projects old and new. I'm especially happy to have caught up with my Patriots in Petticoats BOM. We are 3 months in with 2 blocks per month- and I've pretty much completed all six. Block #1 is short one 3" square of fabric so it is 99% finished. I'll be getting a scrap of fabric from Fran when I go down to the shop in the near future. In the meantime, as promised, here are my first 5 blocks in all their glory. I am enjoying the process, and think this is going to be one lovely quilt in the end. I hope the sample is still hanging at the shop when I get to drive down. Blogger was having issues this am, so loading these photos was an ordeal. the order is a bit haphazard with block #6 being first, but it truly doesn't matter, does it?

Here is Block #6:Mary Pickersgill. Mary made the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the poem that is now our National Anthem.

Next we have Block #4: Elizabeth Gilmore, who (supposedly) dressed in men's clothing. She was listed as a "Ranger of the Frontier" and served at Valley Forge.

Block #2 highlights Ann Bailey. Ann became an Army courier and scout, and was nicknamed "Mad Ann". She deserted in 1777, and a warrant for her arrest was sworn out. When it was discovered she was a woman she was fined and given two years in prison for "appearing in men's clothing".

Block #5 is for Sarah Bradlee who some call the Mother of the American Revolution:

Block #3 commemorates Margaret Cochran Corbin, who fought along side her husband and was the first woman to receive a pension as a disabled soldier. She is buried with other soldiers at West Point:

I'm looking forward to the next two blocks and the history behind them. Reading about these brave and distinguished women brings our nation's history alive for me. I've always loved the history behind this "hobby" of mine. So many women came before and I hope so many will come after- quilting is deep rooted in our history. It is a joy to carry on the tradition. Making something that highlights the women who entered the Revolutionary War will be a true labor of love.

Another Workspace Wednesday

2011-03-16T19:40:00.003-04:00

This week's photo highlights the beginnings of this month's project for my Jo Morton Little Women's Club meeting. When I pulled fabrics for it (during the end stages of our family scourge) I thought I would ultimately like my choices and how the project would turn out.
Right now, I'm not so sure! If I step away for a day- it doesn't look so bad, but when I'm working on it I really doubt if this is what I had intended. These little blocks are giving me fits. Everything measures out just fine, but when I put them together into the 3" final block- I will lose points adding the sashing.
I think I need to just put this one away for a few days and give it and myself a rest.
If I'm going to struggle to get it "perfect" I am going to have to work with some happier colors!

On another note, I've finished the first six blocks for the Patriots in Petticoats BOM.
Stay tuned...photos will be posted either tomorrow night or Friday.

So This is Free Time?

2011-03-12T10:36:00.016-05:00

Knowing that things are looking up, and that Mom is getting the care she needs makes for a full night's sleep these past few nights. Getting that much needed sleep also makes for waking up bright and early- 5:30am this morning. I found that to be ridiculous, but when I couldn't fall back to sleep, I decided to use the early dawn hours to do some sewing.
I am working on my blocks from Patriots in Petticoats so I can catch up with the current mailing (blocks 5 and 6) and am doing my best despite a few setbacks: block #1 is on hold due to needing ONE 3" square of fabric! Block 4 is on hold as my kit did not contain the green fabric needed for the block. I will have to give Fran a call and ask if she can send me the missing fabric(s) so I can finish up.
Sewing at dawn's early light, gave me the opportunity to use my most fabulous LED lighting system, and I just love it! I took a few photos (forgive the bad shots- my camera ate the battery again and I used The Daughter's, which I had trouble figuring out!).
This first picture shows my light as it sits around my machine set up. It is free standing and doesn't get in the way of a thing. I can use my cones of DMC sewing thread and I have all my necessaries right at my fingertips, including the pattern directions (above on the pattern rack) and my snips.

This photo is from the side...you'll see there are more storage drawers here as well. I'm sure in time I'll know what to fill them with other than my handy dandy seam ripper.

This really doesn't do justice to the fact that the extended bed of my machine now looks like a landing pad with the unit on:

Compared to what it is like without the extra light (again- no justice served with this photo!):

This is the block I finished this am- just pretend you can actually see it!

Two more blocks and I am completely caught up- and it is only March 12th. A new record!
I think I like this free time! It has been a long time in coming, but I wouldn't have done things differently.

Along with sitting at the sewing machine, while caring for mom this past month and a half, I was working on my hand applique. I have started my Civil War Bride Quilt blocks, and have been accepted as a contributor at the CWBQ blog. You can see my first entry and my first two blocks here.

Lights! Camera! Action!!

2011-03-10T07:37:00.013-05:00

No, no, I'm not attending, starring in or directing a movie (bet you're glad to hear that!). I came home Thursday night to the words "Your box arrived".
My box? MY BOX!!
You see back in the olden days of yore..that would be November of 2010...The Husband asked what I might like for Christmas. Having not even one single idea of something I really wanted or needed, I didn't give him any ideas. Being "The Husband" he had no ideas of his own so gave me an IOU. Well, can I tell you this worked out just perfectly. Right after the holidays, I was reading a quilting list I am on (and I hardly ever have time to do that, but fate stepped in and I did read it that day), and heard about this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knU0e-cr_0g&feature=related

You'll need to cut and paste- I can't get it to link up properly (sorry!).
The short video posted on YouTube will give you some idea of this fabulous product!
This weekend I will take a few photos of it set up with my own machine and share the happiness. Patty of RoboWhittler was more than wonderful about answering my countless questions via email (email address appears at the end of the video if you'd like more information. I know you'd be happy to explore this product more for yourselves.

Workspace Wednesday

2011-03-09T19:55:00.002-05:00

Welcome to another addition of Workspace Wednesday. I offer this as proof that I tried to squeeze in some stitching in my "off hours". My question...just how many times can a quilter rip out a wrongfully sewn seam?? Hummm...maybe I should hold a contest. On second thought- I'd be embarrassed to admit to how many seams and how many got ripped out time and time again. Maybe I should actually fill that new bi-focal script??

The Winter That Never Ends

2011-03-07T07:25:00.003-05:00

Didn't anyone tell Old Man Winter that he could pack up his bags and head off else where now? Seriously, I have had enough. More than enough...at this rate we'll be looking for spring in June. I kept waking up last night hearing the winds trying to blow in my bedroom windows (and mine was half open- I needed the air). I couldn't help but sit up and watch for a bit as I realized I was truly seeing ice coating everything around. During another wake up period, the sky to the east was lighting up as if we were going to have "thunder ice" (as opposed to thunder snow). I'm not so sure that it was as I kept hearing the very distinctive low eerie vibrations of groaning electrical wires. I could also hear the faint sounds of sirens. This scenario continued for about half an hour. Something was definitely going on.

This morning I woke thinking that the ice was making the neighborhood look foggy- but quickly realized that it was snow! Increasingly heavy snow over the sleet and ice coating everything around (see the above photo of the tree across the street). Looking out the back door, I noticed a tree branch from our old Maple lying across the middle of the yard. Looking around more I saw this:

What this WAS is my once lovely (and large) Butterfly Bush- split right down the center. Look close, you'll see the center branch lying there- no match apparently for the weight of the ice. There is a city police car and a truck on the side street- wonder if there are downed lines?? **

Now I know this is not cataclysmic, the rest of the world is suffering its own assaults from nature, many worse than another ice/snow storm. I'm just a bit whiny and tired after our house has also been visited by "The Plague". Mom's assisted living facility was ravaged by a very nasty intestinal virus. With my being there 13 hours a day just before and while ran rampat getting both residents and staff, it was just a matter of time. Mom came down with it last Tuesday. It was horrible. I'll spare the details, and am just glad she is now better and has no memory of it at all. I went down on Thursday afternoon, and since Saturday AM the cry around our home is "man down" as both the husband and the youngest child succumbed. I am actually thinking Youngest has the flu (we are at the height of the season here) but no matter- we've all have been/ are sicker than sick.

Today is the first day I've felt almost normal- and thru all this have dropped about 5 pounds (the only positive!). I've done no sewing, but did pick out fabrics yesterday for the next Jo Morton Club project. I looked at it again last night and it surely reflects my mood- somber. I may change it up, but then again, it makes a statement and I may just go with it! We'll see....as will you when I next post.

I hope the world around you is in better spirits.
As for me- all I can say is "Go away winter, please go away"!

** Hubby walked the dog around the block- side street is closed due to a tree down.

I Made A Quilt!

2011-02-20T23:53:00.007-05:00

I made a quilt! Yes, I did! I made a quilt. It isn't a big quilt. Actually, it is rather a little thing...quite small, but I love it. I do, really. It isn't a perfectly perfect little quilt. I still love it. You see, I haven't sat in front of my sewing machine (or any other machine for that matter) in over a month. This week is my Jo Morton Club meeting for February; I can't be there this month as I will be with my Mom, but I wanted to complete the project. Last month we received our first installment of Jo's new Little Women's Club for the year (#10). Lizzy's Quilt was a good way to start- something one could finish easily. For me that meant declaring this past free weekend "Me Time". I even considered spending all of Saturday in my PJs. Didn't quite do that- but I did manage to pull fabrics from my Jo Drawers and scrap basket. I even managed to rotary cut all the pieces I'd need for little Lizzy. Then I managed to (shhhhh....) turn on the sewing machine and set it to sewing. 1,2,3,4....little pinwheel blocks. 4 little 4 and 1/2" pinwheel blocks to be exact. Sew, press, square up. 1,2,3,4...
Set together into an 8 and 1/2" center block. Press. Square up. (How am I doing?). Top inner border. Bottom inner border. Four outside borders. Done! Well, almost....Actually I was done in. This was quite the accomplishment seeing as I had put a very full week behind me. Sunday afternoon I had more "Me Time". Time to revisit little Lizzy and see what I thought of her. Not so bad....now to finish this. Batting, backing, just the right thread, wind the bobbin, load the machine, sew away. Cross hatching never felt so good. Simple. Just right. Maybe not perfectly perfect, but I'm learning to embrace imperfection. She is lovely. Cut the binding strips- 2 to be exact. Remember, this is a little quilt. Sew the binding, making those self mitering corners. Nice! Sit and stitch it all down by hand. Not perfectly perfect, but nice non-the-less. I declare Lizzy finished. I show off my handiwork to Youngest Child. "NICE!" she declares. "It matches your rabbit." she adds. Indeed it does. It will now be known as Rabbit's Quilt. Rabbit is happy I made a quilt. I am happy I made a quilt. It is a small quilt, but it is good. Oh! Would you like to see? OK...behold!
My version of Lizzy's Quilt (for Rabbit).

It's Been A Long Week

2011-02-19T07:53:00.003-05:00

It has been a very long tiring week. By yesterday afternoon I was praying for patience and pushing myself through the next hours. Caring for mom can be difficult on many days, but when exhaustion sets in- it becomes particularly difficult. But this too shall end in a few weeks when we have her in her new living situation where we can be assured she'll be safe and cared for properly.
The days with my most adorable grandson are my respite days. By Thursday of this week, we were finding ourselves enjoying almost balmy weather. The kind of weather where no matter what, one puts on hat, gloves and boots and heads outside for a change of pace!
After our exploratory walk up the street and back (melting snow rushing down the hill into the grate is fascinating to a 20 month old), we decided we'd gather snow:

and build a mini snowman!

as fun as this activity was, grabbing handfuls of snow and pelting Nana with "snowballs" was much more fun! I have to agree. It felt great to laugh from the bottom of my soul!

I hope you have a chance to find these kind of days too!

Go Grab a Cup of Coffee

2011-02-13T09:19:00.005-05:00

There isn't much that grabs my attention (and keeps it) these past few weeks. I'm among the walking exhausted...Without any whiny details, along with sitting for my 20 month old grandson (and apple of my eye!) 3 days a week, we have also taken on family care for my aging mother who is waiting for placement in a safe, skilled nursing facility. We have found a wonderful placement- modeled on the Greenhouse Project for elder care. The only problem right now is that it is not slated to open for another 3 weeks. We trudge on- and do what we need to do. Not much time for reading or emailing- I hope those who visit this little blog will bear with me, and for those I faithfully follow- I read when I can, but have little time for commenting. I use what little time I have for myself wisely-groceries, laundry (you know the drill) and then I hit the sack! Long days- short nights, but this too shall pass.

Are you wondering why I wanted you to grab a cup of coffee?? Not so you could sip and listen to me lament. Heavens no! I want to share THIS with you all. I found it mesmerizing (and not because I'm bleary-eyed!) and think you might too. Enjoy!

Passing it on

2011-02-09T18:09:00.007-05:00

In my last post (Feb.5th), I mentioned that I was thrilled to be nominated for a Liebster Blog Award- given to small blogs with under 300 followers. Boy do I fit the criteria!
I also promised I'd be listing my own nominations and was waiting to hear back from the lovely ladies I wanted to recognize. As of now, I have heard back from Linda at the Quilted Pineapple and am so happy to recommend her blog to you. I just know you all will like it as much as I do!
Stop by, say hello, and enjoy her posts. I LOVE her latest work in progress- a woolie rendition of Edyta Sitar's Hop To It. You can see that book here ( click the link to books) along with her newest book- Friendship Strips and Scraps. I have to get that book, just so I can make the cover (house) quilt!

Happy quilting! Don't forget to stop by and say hello to Linda!

You Like Me!

2011-02-05T07:50:00.013-05:00

Anyone Remember Sally Field's acceptance speech years back? That was exactly how I felt last week when Annie emailed me and told me she would like to bestow a Liebster Blog Award to me (well, to my little blog, actually). It was a nice way to perk up a day that was less than stellar. Not to go into any detail (everyone has an imagination!),however, I was quite under the weather not only with snow storm upon snowstorm, but with a horrid stomach bug that was wreaking havoc. I feel more human today and can think clearly enough to post a "thank you"!
I've often thought of this blog as a way to just clear the air, brag a little, or share a bad day/happy day/quilt project/life thought. Never expected to cause any ripples- but i did once, to a fit of hysteria when my daughter informed me of my 15 seconds of fame as the younger set took my post to task for a day or two. It was a fun flash in the pan of the blogging world.
So thank you Annie for finding my blog worthy of reading. Most importantly, thank you for saying it was one you found creative and humorous. Sometimes I take myself way too serious, but try to write with a "twinkle in my eye and a smile on my face".
I will be back with another post after I contact the bloggers I'd like to recognize as ones that make me smile.

Quit Your Belly Achin'!

2011-01-16T09:20:00.003-05:00

After watching this I am coming out from under my covers and stopping my belly achin'. What an inspiration she is! Watch and enjoy. Makes my "lousy" week a walk in the park, and makes me proud to be part of the sisterhood of quilters.
I'm off to do some handwork. It will be a pleasure to not only feel the fabrics, but see them in all their beauty.

Have You Ever Had...

2011-01-15T16:48:00.007-05:00

Have you ever had one of those weeks where you just want to crawl into your bed and pull the covers over your head? That is the kind of week it has been here for me. I should have known. I was getting smug. I was getting things done. I was walking around like a peacock- well, only for a day or two. It all really started on Monday night. Waiting for me that night was an official looking envelope from Citibank. Hummm...don't deal with Citibank. Was going to recycle, but it looked suspiciously like it contained a check. After opening the envelope I did indeed discover a check- a good sized check- made out to Key Bank. Huh?
Well the official letter stated that this check arrived at Citibank on Dec.16th (now remember- Monday is Jan. 10th!!) in error. They are no longer the bank holding my credit card account. I know that, I told my credit union that months ago, but non-the-less, the electronic payment went to the wrong bank. Great! Late fee on my account! Immediately called Key Bank and confirmed that Dec. payment was never received and I went on to explain my tale of woe. Just exactly when was my last posted payment I asked (knowing full well I had made another payment on January 3rd). November 2010! Say what??
Come to find out not only was my December payment misdirected (they worked with me and waived the late fee after bringing in the Citibank check), but January's was missing in action. Another good chunk of change had been sent to an inactive account! Now this payment can't be found and I have spoken to 2 different people at Dell Financial and as of this morning 4 different people at my credit union. Everyone is giving me a different scenario, and as of tonight the ball is back in my court-I have to fax information to Dell tomorrow am. Can I just mention that this still leaves me with out my large chunk of change? I'm not happy, and everyone I spoke to knows it and are trying to be nice. Poppycock!
To sooth my nerves, I decided that I would spend the rest of the day in my sewing room and just do what makes me calm and happy. Turn on my machine, push the set up for my quarter inch stitch and wham! Beeping and yelling from my machine that it can't do that. What?? Turn off machine. Start again. More yelling and beeping. Eject stitch card, reload. Still beeping and yelling, and now my screen is telling me I am going to rip the fabric and break the needle. NO, NO, NO!!! Turn machine off. Try once again with the regular stitch card rather than the quilting card. No go. ##$%^$$^. Yup- that is what I said (just thought I'd spare you your delicate ears) and then I had a total meltdown. So Missy Machine is going to work with me on Tuesday so it can get picked up Thursday (or will that be next week? I'm unsure of the new schedule!) and go to get a look see at the "sick machine clinic". Hopefully fixed?? Did I mention I have lost a big chunk of change from my account this week? I did?? Just checking. I'm looking at a nice bill for repairs I'm sure- the new rate has electronic machines in astonomically high repair territory.
OH, and did I mention that on top of it all I have a nasty, yucky head/throat thing??
Yup- going up to bed, pulling the covers over my head, and will not come out until I'm sure its safe to put my feet on the floor and deal with what life can throw at me.

The Return of Workspace Wednesday!

2011-01-12T11:59:00.008-05:00

It has been what seems a great while since I was productive enough to post a workspace Wednesday post. I want that to change in the new year, and even if it is one block, I intend to get back to "showing off" what is being stitched up this year.
Kelly (whom I seem to mention a lot lately!) had us think about those fermenting projects taking up space in our sewing rooms and beyond. I know I have more than any one's fair share of fermenting masterpieces and decided to "reconnect" with them throughout 2011. Reconnect is my word for the year, and I've already jumped in with both feet- having reconnected with my small monthly friendship group. Some of us quilt, one of us scrapbooks or works on her cross-stitch. Mostly, however, we vent, we laugh, we munch healthy goodies, and vent/laugh some more. Last Sunday was no different other than I didn't have to get the post stitching day "we missed you" emails. It was wonderful, and semi-productive. This past week, I made the conscious decision that I would work on one or two fermenting blocks before allowing myself to pick up my latest endeavor(s). It is working beautifully, and I've found one project that has been sitting in the to-do basket since it's inception last May that I am absolutely crazy about. I find myself working on it every chance I get.

Today, this

is happening outside my sewing room window (as well as all over the east coast), and my son didn't want me to brave the elements or the roads to get across the river. I am home sewing while he and most adorable grandson are having a daddy-son day at home. I hope the sled gets a bit of a workout once the brunt of the storm slows later this afternoon.

So now, without any more built up.....

Ta Dah!!

The first 4 finished blocks of Creme Brulee - a block of the month my partner in crime ran at the shop the past 9 months.

This is actually its second running, and I passed on the first- much to my chagrin when I saw the finished project. I wasn't going to to pass again. I have 2 more sets of wedges ready to prepare on the machine. This is a combination of machine piecing and hand applique, and so far this one is my favorite block:

Sunday when the girls and I got together, I finished the applique on a Jan Patek pattern, Give Thanks, that I had fully intended to be done for Thanksgiving. Oh well....next year it rolls around again, and I will have Mr. Gobble all set to go. I intend to add the inner and outer borders later today and get it all ready to hand quilt. Now where exactly did I put my linen thread?? I think it would be a perfect way to quilt the little guy. I'll have a photo for you next week (such a tease!).

I also finished this since the beginning of January:

These 4" blocks are just part of the blocks I received in a swap with the Quilter's Circle that meets once a month at the shop. I haven't gone to the sewing get-togethers for quite some time, but did make blocks to leave at the shop for swapping. This is one of the groups I want to reconnect with this year. My top of broken dishes will get an applique border similar to Jenna Kimball's Fairmount Fair:

I had enough blocks left over to complete a second little top that I would like to set with sashing strips and cornerstones. That will be next in line to complete.
And with that- my Workspace Wednesday post comes to a close. Time to change a load of laundry and get back to enjoying a snow day!! The real world will return in record speed, and I intend to enjoy every minute of today.

How many of you got an impromptu day off today?? What are you going to be doing??
Whatever it may be- have fun!

"Word Up"

2011-01-07T07:38:00.003-05:00

To start out the new year, Kelly our fearless (Charming Girls and Guys) leader has asked us to chose a word that will guide us through 2011 (and perhaps beyond). I have thought about all the wonderful words out there that might be a good fit for me- especially as many days life continues to spin out of control . "Control"- would that work? I just didn't think that was what I was going for as far as an anchor to keep me grounded this coming year. Many things in life are very hard, if not impossible to "control". In fact the more I thought about it, the word control took on more negative aspects for me than positives. After much thought I have decided that my word for 2011 will be RECONNECT:

• v. [tr.] connect back together: surgeons had to reconnect tendons, nerves, and veins. ∎ [intr.] reestablish a bond of communication or emotion

Now there are days I feel as if the transitive verb fits well- my nerves could use a good reconnection, but what I am looking to do is the intransitive. Over the past year I've let a lot of connections fall by the wayside. I've lost part of the strong connections I've always felt to myself and my family. I've lost the connection with friends that keep me grounded, I've lost the emotional connection with new ventures- and just gave up on many things I've planned or hoped to accomplish. All of that was put on the back burner as time became a commodity. Sadly, I also felt I lost the connection I've always had with my quilting. I found it a chore. It was work, literally, and thus much of the joy of creating was taken away. There was always something to "produce", to think about for the next month, the next season...things that I wasn't 100% connected to but forced myself to complete.
Toward the end of 2010, some of the old happiness was sneaking back into what I was doing. I accomplished a few things that didn't have to be hyped, packaged, sold... it was a feeling of reconnecting with something I love and it felt good. No! It felt GREAT!!
So, this year, I will make a conscious effort to do more reconnecting with myself- stop hiding feelings and emotions I should acknowledge. I will make a more conscious effort to reconnect to family. It is not that I've turned away from family, mind you, but many days I have gone through the motions rather than feel a part of the family picture. I will reconnect with those special girls (you know who you are!) who keep me grounded, and not find excuses as to why I can't spend time with them at least once a month sewing, laughing, sharing secrets and stories and opinions. I need to reconnect with several long time friends who I know are just as crazed and as busy as I am. If I just sit around waiting for them to connect with me, that is more time wasted waiting. I have to make the move instead of making excuses.
I would like to reconnect with several groups I've let fall by the wayside and remind myself that I CAN spend the time to contribute once again without guilt. I'd like to reconnect with all of you who may be reading this blog by posting more! Most of all, on those days when all I want to do is let out a primal scream, I think I might just do that- it could be a good way to reconnect my nerves to the rest of my body...and then move on!
As far as definitions go, my word might be a stretch, but RECONNECT surely seems like the word that fits, and will bring more of the Good Things back into my daily life.

Looking Back

2010-12-31T18:01:00.011-05:00

It has been an interesting year on many fronts. 2010 was the year I became totally and completely in love with grandmother-hood. How can one not, when you have a devilish little imp that delights you each and every time you walk in his door (or he into yours). It is the year our revolving front door saw one daughter move home and another move back to Chicago. I celebrated "the big one" (yes,the 6-0) and survived. There have been ups and downs as family members continue to age, as things change in the work arena and as friends found less and less time to get together. But over all, 2010 was not terribly traumatic.
Many of the quilting blogs I read have been showing a round up of 2010 projects that have been completed. Some have a very impressive list- complete with photos. Makes me wonder what it was, exactly, that I managed to accomplish in my sewing room (other than creating a complete and utter mess??). I could say "not much" but what I did complete made me extremely happy. Here are some glimpses of completed quilts as well as some in need of quilting. Now bring on 2011- I think I just may be ready to face it.

1.This spring, I pieced several projects from the book Remembering Adelia. This top was one of my favorites. It is earmarked to go to the quilter soon.

2. This full/queen Yellow Brick Road was an overdue retirement gift for a friend. She got it on her birthday this year, and absolutely loved it.

3. I hand stitched my first full wool (on flannel) wall quilt- Festival of Trees from the book Juniper and Mistletoe. I am completely thrilled with it as is my family. It hung on the foyer landing this Christmas, and because it doesn't scream Christmas Quilt, it is going to remain up until spring arrives.

4. I caught the small quilt bug. This is just one of several I completed this year, and the only one I could find a photo of. I love that I am able to quilt these fairly easily by either hand or machine. I've done both and realized just how much I love hand quilting. I hope to do more of it in the coming year.

5. Another Yellow Brick Road was a collaborative effort by Youngest Daughter and myself. She chose the color scheme and did the block designing. Since she was on a very tight deadline, I did the sewing as she handed me blocks. Once she had the layout just the way she liked it, I put the rows together. It was machine quilted, and DD bound it over a three day time period, then it was packed and off to Poland with her to give as a gift to her boyfriend's mother on Christmas. It was very well received!
(*Note- the lighting was harsh so this picture doesn't do the quilt any justice. I do wish I had gotten a better photo before the quilt left the USA)

6. This Stars on Point pattern was originally going to be the quilt I kept for myself. As I was sewing I decided that my sister might really like it and that I would give it to her as part of her Christmas gift. I was right! She really loved it, and I have found out that she doesn't want it to be destroyed by the cats. She plans to hang it in her bedroom on the focal wall. I feel quite honored! Again, I'm not sure what is up with the camera, but this photo is rather dull in comparison to the "real deal"!

6. This is my latest project begun in 2010. It is also the project I spend 6 hours (round trip) in a car to sew with a great group of girls. Quilting has brought much into my life. I'm looking forward to the new year, more sew-ins, and catching up on my Folk Art Gatherings.

I have made a promise not put any pressure on myself this coming year. I will enjoy each and every stitch I take either by hand or by machine. I will make time to reconnect with the girlfriends whose company I enjoy so much-who make me laugh, who remind me of the good times each and every time we get together. I'll make the most of this new year on my own terms.

Happy New Year to each and every one of you out there....
may you greet it on your own terms, and find the joy in each and every day.

Snowy, Snowy Day

2010-12-27T07:44:00.033-05:00

With over a foot of snow on the ground and more still falling, both our house and the juniors' house have decided to wait it out a few hours before taking to the roads.
Probably a very smart move as son and daughter-in-law live east of the city and have gotten even more snow than we have here. The few extra hours of down time this morning means I can actually catch up on some blogging. Life gets really crazy in December, and this year was no exception. I do hope you all had a very happy holiday and that this next week leading up to the new year is one where you too can find a few minutes of solitude.
I am hoping that for 2011, I will find more quilting time than I did in 2010. I've already determined which 4 projects will be the focus this year, one being The Civil War Bride Quilt from Threadbare Patchwork and Quilting. I have been accepted to blog about my progress here and intend to post my first completed block very soon. My (monthly)Sunday stitching group has already decided we will finally work on Welcome To the North Pole by the Piece of Cake gals. We have been talking about this now for about 2 years. I'm glad that we are finally going to put our fabrics where our mouths are (so to speak!). I did make up one little block yesterday, just to see if the back basting method is the way I want to go with this project, and the answer is a resounding YES! Many of the pieces to be appliqued are quite small, so doing this method helps me be as precise as I'd like to be. I'll be embroidering the "impossibly small" pieces, and others in that category will have wool or ultra-suede as the fabric. I'm excited. I do love Christmas quilts and this will be such fun to work on with the other girls. We do have one non-quilter in the group, but maybe we can change her mind if we carry on enough. If not- we will just appreciate her cross stitching masterpieces! My other 2 projects for this next year will be from the "Finish This" vault! One is Birds of a Feather by Blackbird Designs, and the other is the long overdue "Wedding Quilt" for my son and DIL: Vintage Valentine. Most of the blocks are either done or in the process of being done, and I would really love to cross it off the list of things that need to be finished! I will have to be really organized to accomplish these particular goals over the next year. I also have Cheri Payne's Folk Art Gathering ( see Cheri's blog!) started and will continue to work on that as well. I do so love my applique- thank goodness!

Now for just a few catch up items! Remember the stars in this post? Well I can finally show you the finished project! It was given to my sister on Christmas day and she was thrilled with it! I'm so glad. I loved this lap quilt and since I still have another unused jelly roll sitting around gathering dust, I just might make one for myself!

Here is a close up of a star. I hope if you click and enlarge the photo you can see some of the fabulous quilting done by my machine quilter. The photos aren't the best I've ever taken. I will have to take my camera along next time I visit the sister and see if I can get better shots.

And for now, that is that! I should go find my boots and go help the hubby make headway with some of this snow. I at least need to find my car in the driveway and get it shoveled off....but before I go face the elements, I want to leave you with just a glimpse of this Nana's special little Elf. This is truly what Christmas is about- the joy of a child's discovery. This is my favorite of all photos taken over the holiday, and probably the best reason of all to go out into this snowy, snowy day.
Until my next post- stay warm, stay dry and above all, stay well.

2010-11-25T09:20:00.003-05:00

Wishing one and all a very happy turkey day! Here at the house we are filling the space with the most amazing aromas! These were made totally from scratch by the Youngest Child and are cooling on the back table- I am not sure how much longer I can wait to cut into them.

Turkey breast is in the basement oven, cranberry relish is chopped and ready to put into pretty bowls. Stuffing and fresh yams need to go into the upstairs oven. Last minute- the fresh greens, raspberry and goat cheese salad. Oops- better not forget to make the sour dough croutons! Come noontime, it is over the river and through the woods to (no, not grandmothers!) sister's house we go. We are all looking forward to spending time with the family and friends who will be able to join us this year. For those who can't- you will be missed. I hope each and every one of you reading this post find the same joy in your day.

What I've Been Up To

2010-11-06T19:38:00.011-04:00

Besides nurturing my first bronchial disaster of the year, I have managed to accomplish a few things here at home. Today youngest child, the father and I loaded a 10' U-HAUL and managed to get the furniture that has been in the garage since the Kentucky move off into a storage unit not far from home. It will be nice to be able to put one of the cars into the garage now that the colder weather is becoming the norm. I'm not so sure I'm at all ready for this. I know my immune system isn't. Ahhh, well! Flu shot in another week and then maybe I can rest a bit easier. But for now, I'll continue to cough, blow my nose and just generally feel sorry for myself (smile).

I am on a bit of a sewing roll, however. This little lovely is my homage to the holidays and will be the featured little quilt at the shop. Several months ago, I had proposed starting up a club where ladies who would enjoy making smaller projects could come once a month and begin (and if it is a good night-complete!) a project. October was a fairly packed house- seven lovely ladies came prepared to sew, laugh, make new friends and share a fall treat in our small, but cozy classroom. I taught them a simple square in a square project- about 16" square, and every one was completely different, each was lovely and all the ladies were thrilled to go home with a completed top. They will be bringing back their projects to our next meeting (which has picked up 2 more ladies!). The girls are excited to begin making this next project:

I am calling it my Ode to the Holidays as it is not the usual Christmas fare. The colors in this piece are not your typical holiday prints, but the I found them rich and quite lovely. I know it will look nice in my home, and several of the girls have asked for kits of the same fabrics for their own project. I have baskets up my sleeve for them to make in February, and I think I am going to start off the new year with a bit of a larger project- 30" by 36". A nod to the 150th anniversary year of the start of the civil war that 2011 brings. Stay tuned. I promise to tell you all about it.

I also got to enjoy doing some "continuing education" by taking a class with my workmate, Mardi. I told you all about it in this post. I've been working on my star blocks as time permits (and there hasn't been much to spare these past couple of weeks) and am so happy to report that I have gone from this:

to finishing all 13 blocks. I am ready to set them on point and put the top together. Since I have definitely decided that this is going to be a Christmas gift, I'd like to arrange to bring it to my machine quilter next week. Can you tell I am positively excited?

In the mean time, my other October projects have suffered. The "block of many parts" begun last month during Friday Night Sew In is still in pieces (but there is another night of sewing scheduled for the 17th), and my Paganini Schnibble by Miss Rosie's Quilt Company is still only a single block! It's all cut out, I just need to sew it together. Maybe it will become my November small project instead of starting a new one. Think that could be a good move. Once the holiday season gets underway, I think my free time will become even less that it is now. Que Serra, Serra so they say. At least I'm getting somewhere....

My Own Sew-In

2010-10-23T08:08:00.009-04:00

It was a dark and stormy night....
oh wait, that is another entire story......

It was a quiet and peaceful Friday night here at "Mi Casa". Youngest was winging her way to London for a long weekend with boyfriend. Hubby was off at a hockey game. Just me and the 4-legged creatures. It was a perfect night to sew!! I had joined my favorite comrade-in-crime last week for a class she taught at the shop. The class used a jelly roll pattern by a new- to- me pattern company- Whistlepig Creek . If you take a look around, go to their jelly roll patterns for Stars on Point . It is just the most fun, and extremely easy to put together. I have 4 more blocks to go before it can be set together! I am feeling very proud of myself; this is going to be a Christmas gift for a family member who right now will remain nameless. I shopped the stash (Imagine!) and chose a jelly roll of Madeira by Blackbird Designs. I am loving how it looks. I have another Blackbird jelly roll in the stash- Harvest Home, and yardage to go with it, so I see another star project on the horizon. This time for me! Of course I said that about this project- at least until it began to take shape- and then got hit by the idea of gifting my labor of love.
I'd show you pictures of the finished blocks, but my camera also took a vacation to London, so I'll just have to let you wonder for a few days.
I hope you all have a productive, happy weekend! I need to do some general housekeeping and then I am rewarding myself with another date with my sewing machine.
I love this!!

Friday Night Sew In for October

2010-10-15T22:16:00.006-04:00

As I mentioned in my earlier post, tonight was the October Friday Night Sew In.
I was excited to continue working on my stalled Civil War Tribute blocks. I am way - very way- behind! Tonight I intended to make at least one of these:

I need 4 of them in total!

Here is how the night began:

5:30pm- leave work

6:00pm- arrive home to pick up the DH for dinner at our favorite neighborhood pub.

6:30pm- order is in, Youngest Child is pulling into the parking lot. We catch up on each others day over yummy-ness.

7:30pm- return home. Check mail, love on the dog a bit (it's been a long day), have a cup of coffee.

8:00pm- finish cutting the last of the 300 triangles needed for blocks. Yes, you read that number right- at my calculation, it will take a total of 300 triangle units to complete all 4 blocks:

8:30pm- begin construction of the 3" (unfinished) half-square triangle units:

10:00pm- begin squaring up the half-square triangles. Tendinitis is setting in!

10:30 take a break from squaring up and construct the beginning of the 4 needed blocks using these instructions:

and get this far- 4 square in a square units, addition of Flying Geese units to two sides (x 4):

11pm- call it a night- these blocks can be a bear and definitely need fresh eyes and a clear head. Besides, I have a class at the shop tomorrow at 10am sharp!

At least I got something done this time around!

Oh yes, and forgive the quality of the photos- it is late after all, and shadows are just bound to happen. I know y'all will get the essence of the blocks!

And another Friday Night Sew In comes to a close for this girl-
I can't wait to see what some of the more productive gals got done.

Good Night all!

October Sew -In

2010-10-15T08:18:00.003-04:00

It is time for another sew-in night! you can read all about it over at Heidi's blog

here

This time around I hope that I can actually get myself into my sewing room and participate. Always have the project, don't always have the time. Tonight I will continue working on my Civil War Tribute blocks. They aren't easy! Very time consuming blocks here, tons of cutting and even more piecing- multiple blocks with many construction techniques that can test one's patience. I'll carry on. I love this project. If I'm too tired to think about precision I am sure there is lots of applique that needs to be done!
It is a rainy, gloomy day and it isn't supposed to clear up anytime soon. A sew-in is just the thing for this evening, I think.

Rain, Rain, Go Away!!

2010-10-07T07:20:00.011-04:00

Another rainy day- will it ever stop? Managed to get some fabric cut for month 2 of my Civil War Tribute Quilt, but no sewing done last night. My evenings rush by way too quickly!! Since there is nothing new to show today, I thought I'd share this with you:
I would love to spend the day doing this...and I think I have a perfect companion. Oh wait! I'll be in MA that day, and my perfect companion is in Chicago. Ah well, maybe another time. There is always the Ghosts of Albany Tour or Haunted History. Maybe I can make one of those walks!!
In the meantime, I'll just hope for a day in the near future to catch up on some stitching.

Postscript:

The rain stopped! Just around noon today the skies turned a lovely shade of blue between the fast moving puffy clouds. I could kick myself for not having my camera in hand. Not for the clouds, but for a photo to answer this question: what do you get when you mix a big mud puddle and a 16 month old little boy?? Bad Nana for forgetting to get that one on record!! Let's just say I had to get said little boy naked right there on the front porch before we went in for an afternoon nap!
Happy night, everyone...I know I'll fall asleep with a smile on my face tonight.

Hiding behind the Fabric Piles

2010-10-05T07:47:00.010-04:00

I have signed up to participate in a local Quilter's Treasure sale. I have way too much fabric. I have way too many books and patterns. I have come to the tough conclusion that I do NOT have the time to ever be able to make, read, dream about it all! I have always lived by the adage: one man's trash is another man's treasure, so off it is going to go- hopefully to a new home where things will get read, used, quilted, loved.
Now I have to deal with the aftermath of tearing things apart- the reorganizing. Urgh. I thought giving things up was hard, this stage of the plan is worse. I still have "too much" and feel as if I should take a tougher stand on several keepers. It's hard. Very hard. But things have to get done, and I'll make the tough decisions, or at least will attempt to!
I did decide to reacquaint myself with my sewing room and sat at the machine last night. I am 9 months behind (how did that happen??) on my Civil War Tribute block of the month from my local quilt shop. Actually, I made the 18" and the 12" blocks for month one some time ago with disastrous results. Both blocks ended up a full inch larger than they should have been. How I did that I have no clue! At the time, I decided to just trim them down, and then was immediately sorry as I would now lose all those points I carefully made. Darn!!
What would you do in a case like that? Are you comfortable in leaving it as is, or (like me) would you decide to seek out replacement fabrics and remake the blocks??
I finally got the final 2 fabrics I needed last Tuesday night, so I decided that I would organize a tad and then treat myself to remaking the 18" sized block #1 again. Success!
I am pleased too say this one came out 99% perfect. I think there will be one iffy point connection when constructing the entire top. I also think it will be barely noticeable, and for an 11pm construction point, I am more than pleased. I think Miss Molly is too- she is quite quick to give her opinions, but I keep her around anyway. Here she is sitting in front of the finished block:

and here is a block close up:

Doesn't look too bad after all. For tonight, the 12 incher is a go.
Happy Stitching.....

Ahhh--It's Time To Relax

2010-09-26T17:57:00.012-04:00

Relax. Just for a minute at least. I've finished. FINISHED! Three more quilts are sewn, quilted (thank you, my wonderful, loverly machine quilter!), bound (at least 30 hours of binding over 5 days) and given to their new owners. I am thrilled. They all turned out well, and I am now able to think about getting back to my Cheri Payne project, and begin seriously collecting fabric for my big 2011 project. The joy of it all. You can read about the fun we had meeting and getting the Cheri project off the ground here
As for the quilting frenzy back here at home, here is the very LARGE Yellow Brick Road quilt. It was a long over due retirement gift for a friend. Hey, she heard all about how I'm on the "Five Year Plan". I was only 6 months behind on this one, but I got brownie points for giving it to her at her birthday celebration. This picture really doesn't do it justice, but it is as good as it is going to get:

Here is a small close up. The colors are off here too. I used the Blackbird Designs fabric line, Aviary by Moda Fabrics. It is much prettier than these photos show.

The backing shows a bit better. I just love this graceful bird toile. You may see some of the cabbage roses that were quilted:

Next is the lap quilt I made for the hubby. No particular reason other than I am trying to make sure each family member has a quilt from me. Both girls have one; my mom has one. Now the hubby. In the works are quilts for son and DIL. The baby got his at his shower (amazing! something that was early!!), but the "2 year old quilt" is planned and fabrics ready for the making, and he is only 15 months old right now. I have plenty of time, lol.
Anyway- back to the husband quilt. He is quite pleased with it! I'm glad.

And last but not least, I did tease a bit in this post by showing you my little red birds and a silly tree. My flannel and wool applique project is done! I love it, the family loves it, my partner in crime at the shop loves it and the shop manager thinks it is spectacular. That is a very good thing as it is my new Block of the Month offering. It has been selling just by word of mouth and by my working on it during down times at the shop. I think it is going to sell out soon. That too makes me happy. It is always nice to have all your hard work appreciated. So here is the finished wall hanging, Festival of Trees from the book Juniper and Mistletoe:

and a small close up of just part of the top. Hopefully you can see the quilting in the blocks. I love it. I love everything about this one, and hope it can come home to roost very soon. I'd love for it to be hung on the landing as our winter quilt. What do you all think??

and so now you know why I'm ready to relax just a bit. Not long...I would certainly get bored. So in the meantime, I've decided to do a purge of the quilt room and the overflow in the attic. Too many patterns, too many books way too much fabric. I'm hoping to get a table (or two) at the local Quilter's "Garage Sale" held each year at a local high school. It will be a good thing. Maybe then I won't feel so guilty or overwhelmed by all the projects that are going no where. I just bet there is a quilter or two out there that would love a new book, pattern or half finished project that needs a good home!

Memories!

2010-09-11T08:15:00.006-04:00

I know I promised myself not to blog on weekends, but reading this post just brought back so many happy memories! When I was growing up, my family lived in a two flat house- my grandparents and aunties downstairs, my parents, sister and me upstairs. Our street was lined with large, beautiful American Chestnut trees. One of the favorite seasonal past times of the neighborhood children was collecting those big, lovely brown chestnuts! We didn't just want the ones that fell naturally to the ground . That would be much too easy! We would gather fallen sticks and then spend hours throwing those sticks into the trees knocking down the spiky green covered chestnut fruits. Even more fun was stomping on the outer hulls to release the beautiful brown nuts and see how many we could collect. Sometimes we'd get lucky and have a double chestnut!
I remember sitting on the porch steps stringing chestnuts into necklaces and bracelets.
Childhood times- so simple, so fun, so many wonderful memories. All good things!

I Was A Bad Girl

2010-09-10T07:53:00.015-04:00

I was a bad girl yesterday, a very bad girl. I had an unexpected day off, and instead of staying home and getting some last minute work done for the shop, I decided to play hooky for the (entire) day. First Born and I jumped into the car and headed off here.
It was a beautiful day for a drive into the Catskills, and well worth the trip. From the minute I walked through the front door of the shop, all I could say was OMG!! I think I repeated that phrase at least 5 times in the first 3 seconds!!
The store is bright, large, extremely well stocked, played great music in the background (come on! Simon and Garfunkle right as we walked in- my kind of place!!). Most of all, what can I say about Fran and Murray!? They are so adorable- I think they are going to be my new best friends.
I went armed with a fabric list "just in case". While surfing the net I came across this blog and thought: "I was a child born in 1950. I love stars! I think this could be fun...and it would be really fun to do in fabrics that might remind me of the 50's. That led to the fabric list- you know, "just in case". Well that is when the bad girl in me set in. In case?? Heck, it's a quilt store- and a quilt store that has a collection that is really cute, and it reminds me of the 50's AND it is on sale (the entire collection!) at $5.00 a yard!!
Score! So I bought this:

There were lots of samples that I have patterns for. Just in case no one noticed, I love reproduction fabrics, and the shop had some beautiful samples hanging from patterns I had previously downloaded from the free pattern page at Windham Fabrics. I am definitely going back with some of my print outs in hand. Actually I have to. I signed up for the new historic Block of the Month: Patriots in Pitticoats which starts in January. I'll be driving to Windham once a month as long as the weather cooperates. You can read about the BOM here
The shop also has all the Presidential Fabrics printed in commemoration of the upcoming anniversary of the Civil War. We decided that I'd make placemats and napkins for my nephew who is a bit of a history buff, and lives and works in D.C. We chose this after seeing some made up:

the bottom fabric with the large postage stamp type presidential print was a must after we saw it framed! The portraits were cut out and then feather stitched to an aged muslin with red pearl cotton. The entire thing looked very antique and both The First Born and I wanted to reproduce our own framed piece of fabric art. Simple project with a lot of bang for the buck.

I also couldn't resist these fat quarters and a Renee Plains pattern:

After all the fabric merriment, we drove home through the back roads of the Catskill Mountains, stopping in Woodstock for an early dinner at our favorite bistro.
My French Lentil soup and Chicken Avocado sandwich were beyond yummy!! The stop gave us the fuel to continue our drive. We arrived back home early evening, tired,happy and fabric laden. I was so pleased with my hooky day!! I should take one more often.
Smiles and happy stitching
Karen

Off The Worktable and Onto The Rack!

2010-09-09T08:30:00.010-04:00

Since I posted a rather long post yesterday, I thought I'd hold my Workspace Wednesday post for today. I mentioned in this post that I would be traveling to MA this Sunday to begin a journey of new friendships and stitching. Our project Folk Art Gathering has large pieced backgrounds to which we will add our applique at our monthly get-togethers.
Here is month #1's finished background! I just love it. I especially loved trolling through my rather extensive stash to pull fabrics. I have made it my goal to use what is on-hand and not buy anything (OK, I'm only human, not buy much )for this project.

I am especially in love with these little half Log Cabin blocks. Not exactly sure why- I just think they were fun to piece and are quite cute!

Later today, I will dive into my collection of wool. I intend to mix wool and cotton applique in this project. I need to be prepared for the weekend. Can you tell I'm excited?

Happy Stitching
Karen

October/November Goals

2010-09-08T08:48:00.012-04:00

Kelly wrote a very inspiring post as to her self-care goals and how it can add more stress to one's life. She learned life lessons that I think are quite commendable, and should be something many of us, me included, can learn from and incorporate into our day to day lives. I know I tried to do the self-care thing. It didn't work. Well, it worked some- for a bit, but fell apart miserably towards the end of our two month goal period. I need practice, and am not sure that it is in my nature. A goal worthy of keeping in the forefront of daily living. We'll see what happens down the line. Our next challenge, so to speak, is "Quilting the Quilt". I had to smile at that one, and will definitely be checking in with the other Charming Girls to see their quilts, hints, techniques. It is always interesting to see how others handle the "quilt as desired" that comes once all the piecing/applique is done. I've taken hand quilting classes; I've taken machine quilting classes (thank you, Harriet Hargrave). I don't have many personal tips to share, but I do know one thing. I am a hand quilter. I don't have the right set up to machine quilt comfortably, and I am a tense machine quilter- not good for the body. I adore the calming effect of sitting with a quilt in my lap and hand quilting. I also know I don't do enough of it. This is going to be one of my goals for October/November. I have had a pink and brown churn dash quilt I named The Slave Quilt ready to quilt for several years now. I hang my head in shame. I love this quilt. I would love to have it see the light of day again. I made it using blocks swapped with girls from a monthly sewing group that meets at the shop where I work. When I put these blocks together, I was inspired by a book about the Underground Railroad and a photo of a slave bed with its churn dash quilt. Simple. Unassuming. It was love at first sight. I will also make it a goal to finish my bigger than big applique project! It was intended to be my son and daughter-in-law's wedding quilt. It is three years in, and it is still not finished. You can see the pattern here
Two big goals, but goals I would like to meet over the upcoming months. Vintage Valentine will go to a long-arm machine quilter. It needs to be given to the kids before more time goes by. Another anniversary is coming up in October!!
I'd not want it to look as if I haven't accomplished anything! If you have read this far and would like to visit (or re-visit as the case may be) a few snippets of what I've been working on (and a planned quilting trip for this weekend!), you'll see I'm still practicing the concept of self-care by taking a fun day for just for myself. I'm excited!
Happy Stitching!
Karen

Fun Packaging

2010-09-06T19:30:00.002-04:00

Just when I thought I'd be done sewing for the day, I remembered I had promised to do some creative packaging for The Youngest. The child (ok, ok, young adult...who am I trying to kid) had spent countless hours creating a mini scrapbook of memories for her BFF back in the beautiful state of Kentucky. The girls had worked together at the Equine Hospital at Louisville and there were many hours of work, play and general moments of merriment to put into tangible form. When it came to making sure it was safe and sound in its packing box, I came up with a bright idea. What else would you use to cradle and create another surprise element for the birthday girl?? A pillowcase of course!

A quick look through some old stash I had planned to part ways with, 20 minutes of cutting and sewing (french seams and all!)time, and this is what we came up with:

I wonder if I have enough fabric to make one more?? I think there is another stylish young lady who would like a matching pillowcase!

Karen

So Where Have I Been Exactly?

2010-09-06T08:36:00.011-04:00

I'd like to say I've been hanging out with other wonderful quilters, stitching my fingers to the bone, enjoying laughter and companionship. I'd like to say I have gotten so much done no one would believe me. I'd like to say...
what exactly?? Maybe the girls know??

I may not have hung out with the girls, but I have been stitching my fingers to the bone. It is September! How did that happen?? The heat (oh, the heat!) was pushed aside by a Canadian cold front (thank you Canada!) which kept Hurricane Earl from causing too much havoc, and today I woke to a balmy 48 degree morning. Actually it was loverly. I am surely hoping that the 90 degree days are behind us. Schoolchildren return to the classrooms of NY this week, so naturally we will get a mini-heatwave. It's tradition. But, Fall looms in the air, and it excites me to no end. Fall is my favorite time of year!! You can tell by the work I have been stitching on. Would you like a sneak peek? Yes? Ok, here goes!

What could these little cuties be looking at?

Could they be looking for a roost like this little guy has?

Maybe they are worried this one is too lop-sided for all of them to call home.

Stay tuned,I'll let you in on their secret in just a little bit!

I've also been constructing a house! Yes, a house. Ok, so not a cut the lumber, drive the nails kind of house, but a house none-the-less. Next Sunday, I will be packing my house (and the needed construction tools: needles, threads, fabric scraps...) into the car and heading off to The Quilted Crow in MA. I am very excited to meet "Simply Libby" from blogland! A small group of us will be working on Folk Art Gathering, a new pattern by Cheri Saffotti-Payne. We will be working right along as Cheri designs. I have parts 1-3 in my possession, and even Cheri isn't sure how many parts there will be in the end. I love a good mystery!
I'll share a peek at my house-even if it is still under construction. Just a few more timbers to top and bottom and I'll be set to get to the applique next week at "The Crow".

This:

has become this:

and I hope to get to little log cabins this week!

And there you have it! Where I have been- besides soaking my poor sore fingers!
Are you curious to see where all this goes?

Karen

Not so Wonderous

2010-08-26T19:30:00.002-04:00

Remember her?

Nothing was too much for her, she could make anything right. She did it all...and then some.
Surprise! I'm not close to being Wonder Woman....
Maybe next week I'll done my WW costume, maybe not. But for now- I'll settle on being ordinary. Out of time, ordinary. Too much to do ordinary. Deciding to procrastinate ordinary.
Yup- sometimes ordinary is good. I'll let Wonder Woman solve the problems of the world at large.

Karen

Not Much Stitchin'

2010-08-22T21:24:00.007-04:00

Not much stitchin' was done over the weekend, but that was fine. Just fine, mind you, because we partied on Saturday and I relaxed quite a bit on Sunday (wow, who knew how nice lazy can feel on occasion!).

Saturday, my sister and I threw a "post birthday" luncheon for my mom, who found herself another year older on August 17th. She claims she never thought she'd make it to 85! I had no doubt she'd get there and she will no doubt greet a few more.

Family and friends gathered to celebrate (otherwise known as "eat"),catch up with each other,and just spend a few fun hours with the b'day girl. We descended upon a local Italian eatery that opens by noon (a must when Mom is involved), serves family style, would give us a private room and whose food is generally quite good, considering. The room was dark- with strange lighting so photographing was interesting to say the least, but we have lots of fond memories in shades of orange/red tint(even after photo editing!).
The party wasn't technically a surprise, but since Mom suffers from dementia, to her it was a complete surprise- and she loved being the b'day girl....she was having a good day. I have proof positive (see below). Happy Birthday, Mom (even if it is a bit belated):

(waiting on Grandma: The Husband, The Youngest, The Son and The Little Man)

(Arrival of the Birthday Girl- notice the delight as she waves to her adoring fans!)

( Birthday Girl and her Sisters-smiling pretty for the camera)

(Great grandma gets a very big hug from a very important Little Man)

(Applause for a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday to You!")

A good day was had by all!
Happy Stitchin (and look for a sneak preview come Wednesday)
Karen

To Russia With Love

2010-08-20T19:45:00.002-04:00

My first born traveled to Finland to participate in a history conference being held in Helsinki this week. Since she was "so close", she and Travel Companion decided they would take a three day side trip to Russia. It meant the girls needed special visas, but when she sends me a photo like this....well all I can say is "I die!".
This has to be one of the most beautiful Russian Orthodox Churches I have ever seen!
Having grown up in the Orthodox Church myself, I'm sure First Born knew how much I'd love this photo.
The interior shot she sent was equally amazing (I neglected to download the interior photo- something I should do immediately!).
Such adventure!
-Karen

What ever happened to...

2010-08-20T08:15:00.002-04:00

What ever happened to the Lazy Hazy Crazy days of summer??
Mine have just been crazy of late. No time for much blogging.
I'm hoping to put aside time to sit and download some photos from the camera, and just take a bit of a personal breather. But not just yet- the crazies are continuing!
Stay tuned, I just know things are going to slow down! Right??
I hope your end of summer days will be nothing but Lazy....
Karen

My Workspace

2010-08-12T07:32:00.006-04:00

Once again, it is not technically Wednesday, thus the omission of that word from today's post title! You know the old adage: A day late/A dollar short? I'm one up as I'm not a dollar short for a change, and I think any one reading this blog can forgive my being a day late. Life happens, you know!
So without much more fanfare here are two of the current projects on my work table (and the ironing board- which accounts for the weird angle of the quilted piece).

These little (5" finished) blocks are a group challenge from Kathy Tracy's yahoo group. She had collected floral FQs and decided to do some "Romantic Stars". They will be quite lovely. I don't often do lovely, and had a charm pack of Miss Jump's Scrapbag I had forgotten about. I pulled some of my favorite pieces and set to work making Miss Jump's Stars:

I'm not 100% sure how I'm going to set them yet, but I do know the piece of fabric they are lying on will NOT be used *smile*! Stay tuned.

Next up is a little quilt- frankly just a cute square in a square. I had a small piece of a bucolic farm toile and wanted to do something with it other than just sit and pet it. Since I've spent the summer playing at city farming. and being somewhat unsuccessful- darn squirrels. I thought I'd just throw it into the center piece of a little quilt. I love playing in my sizable stash. It's about time I did so. Collecting fabric for years is great- but if it never sees the light of day,it becomes a waste. I get that now!! Won't stop me from collecting, but I've promised myself I will use it not just love it from afar. This little goodie needs only to have the binding finished; I think it needs some defined quilting in the outer border as well. I'm not sure what just yet. It can live in it's present form for awhile, don't you think??

And there you have it! Workspace "Wednesday" on a Thursday no less! But I'm sharing...yes indeed, at least I am sharing.

Karen

How We Spent a Lovely Saturday, or What Not To Do On A Weekend

2010-08-08T16:30:00.013-04:00

Bright and early Saturday morning the call came through, followed by a text message. "IT" was on its way. "IT" (almost as scary as the same titled book by Stephen King) was a very large, very full POD containing Youngest Child's belongings that were packed up and shipped from Kentucky and stored here in the area short term. "IT" is very expensive to maintain. So The Father cleared the garage to made it storage ready, and we arranged to have "IT" brought to the house and deposited in our driveway- just like this:

Looks good,no? Well it would be, IF that was OUR driveway "IT" is sitting on! However, the POD arrived on the truck bed and the drama began.
The neighbor next door immediately had a problem with "IT" being plopped in the driveway and began a long and heated conversation with The Father as well as the truck driver. Said truck driver just keep looking and shaking his head "no". Didn't look like we were going to be getting Youngest's things no matter what. First, he paced off the 16' I guess is needed (we were never given delivery specifications and "IT" fit just fine in Youngest's small driveway at her Kentucky house. Seems the way the houses at our end of the world are situated, 16' put us onto the city sidewalk, so we would be against code. Code or no code, Neighbor was not letting "IT" be put down overlapping her grass. We had another problem. "It" would overlap our small landscaped area at the driveway. What to do? We couldn't put "IT" in the street in front of the house; we need a city permit to do that and it is Saturday AM, mind you.
Youngest is now freaking out, The Father is less than happy, The neighbor is miffed, Truck Driver is looking annoyed. My solution? Call the Good Neighbor! So we did and she generously said "of course!"... she even came out and moved her car into the street so we could get "IT" into her drive.

So there "IT" sits. We unpacked "IT" right away- walking the furniture and boxes (and everything else) around the block onto our driveway. Good Neighbor ran out with a heavy and very well received hand cart for our use (God Bless you, Good Neighbor, God Bless). By the time the afternoon hit its peak, the women in the house were bearing this label, and probably more than earned it:

But we managed to pack, cover and protect the large furniture in the garage, bring the "in-house boxes" up to the second floor to determine what goes into the attic and what stays in the main house. The hallway outside the bedrooms still contains lots of these in need of unpacking:

But the priority of the day was to take down the little (uncomfortable) twin bed that occupied the former guest room and put up Youngest's real, honest to goodness, sleep like a baby, comfort to the max bed. Looks good!

In fact, the honest to goodness, comfort to the max bed is so comfy, Spoiled Doggie gave up this favorite sunny spot in the room

To claim this new one as his own. Awww....now how can one argue with this much happiness?

And thus as the no good, infuriating, exhausting, happy-it's-over day drew to a close, and the moving bruises started to pop, the women of the house sat down to one of these (hand made by Youngest)

And several of these:

and life was good.
The End (for now at least!)

Friday Facts for July 30,2010

2010-07-30T12:36:00.006-04:00

Fact #1- having your Internet go down is annoying.

Fact #2- having it finally up and running again makes for a happy girl, who will feel no obligation to try to catch up on a lost week.

Fact #3- I can still show you what I was working on this week (even without a regular Wednesday Workspace post!).

I have been an admirer of Kathleen Tracy for awhile now. I have both of her earlier books: American Doll Quilts and Prairie Children and Their Quilts, and totally fell in love with her last book: Remembering Adelia. I had pulled her earlier books a few weeks ago and added them to the revisit pile in the sewing room. Tuesday afternoon was a slow time at the shop, so I pulled several fat quarters of a blue and yellow collection that has been sitting at the front of the shop for a few weeks. It isn't my usual pick of fabric, but I wanted something just slightly out of the box for me- but still close enough to my beloved repros. It was after all- "just a doll quilt". I whipped up the half square triangles while customer-less and completed the entire top last evening. Working small has it's advantages. Here it is with some of the quilting stitches done:

I will finish the rest later today after some afternoon obligations. I really do like what this little ditty will look like once finished. I need to scout out the attic and find that American Girl doll bed I painted up years ago when DD the youngest wanted one for her prairie doll. I made the bedding for it and a small quilt made from 1" squares of fabric swatches sent to me by an online warehouse I dealt with back in the days of doing the local craft show circuit.

As for other things Tracy, Kathleen has started a monthly club! I signed up online earlier this month for the American School Girl Club and have been eagerly awaiting my first two patterns. Kathleen was recently in the hospital, but is now home and recovering from her ordeal, and had enough energy to send out the patterns for June/July. I am so looking forward to this adventure. Look at how lovely the pattern packets are:

each (pattern) is extremely well written, well photographed, and the packets contain lovely facts about a time-gone-by. Do go take a look at her website (see above link) for yourself. I bet you'll be glad you did!

Progress

2010-07-24T09:26:00.010-04:00

I made a commitment NOT to blog on weekends, but it is pouring, the laundry is done for the weekend (I think) and all I have left is to clean Miss Izzy Guinea Pig's cage. As I mentioned in my last post, I joined in on my very first Friday Night Sew In over at Heidi's blog. I had already chosen this Schnibbles pattern

and this Charm Pack by Blackbird Designs so it was easy to get started on a little project (yes! another one!!)

My night went something like this:

7:45pm- start a load of whites so that mom's pants would be ready for my sister to pick up in the am

7:55pm- head to attic to pick out a background fabric from the huge stash hidden from plain view

8:05- background chosen, begin cutting the following:

85 background squares at 2"x2", 44 side triangles, 4 corner triangles, 72 assorted print squares at 2"x2", 36 2"x5" assorted print strips.

8:45pm- let the sewing commence!

10pm- change laundry. Pat myself on back- three rows are finished! Four more rows are set to go.

11:30pm- Eyes are crossed, I've been up 17 hours so far, and as much fun as I am having, I think it is time for bed! Is that allowed at a Friday Night Sew-In??
I'm half done and expect to spend my day tomorrow sewing to completion. What a great way to spend a quiet Friday night.

Stay tuned, more to come soon.....

Karen

Time to Sew

2010-07-23T19:47:00.003-04:00

It's another Friday Night Sew In...but the first time for me.
Great way to start the weekend...and lord knows I've got plenty to work on!
Then of course there is the "new bee in my bonnet".
What to do, what to do??
To read all about it and see who is sewing away you can go here:
http://handmadebyheidi.blogspot.com
The link to the sew in will be on the right hand margin of Heidi's blog.
Happy surfing....

Friday Facts

2010-07-23T08:42:00.008-04:00

Fact #1. Having children who cook is a wonderful thing. Wonder how long I'll have the girls home??

Fact #2. I officially HATE squirrels! Just in case I forgot to tell them- I DID NOT plant my garden for their foraging pleasures. AND it is completely RUDE to take my tomatoes, nibble bits and pieces and leave the remains to rot on my deck floor and railing.

Fact #3. Doggie surgery is EXPENSIVE, but oh so worth the cost when your four-legged baby is no longer in pain and has a new lease on life! Not only does Goober Beagle look better, he is positively puppy-like these days. It is a good thing.

Fact #4. I am seriously procrastinating this am. Why can I get up and out at the crack of dawn on "baby days" and then sit and groan like an old lady on "shop days". I need an attitude adjustment.

Fact #5. It is officially the summer place to be. Saratoga's racing meet begins today. New hat anyone??

Fact #6. New job, very happy child. It is all good!

Happy Friday. Happy weekend....
Karen

My Wednesday Workspace for July 21, 2010

2010-07-21T17:56:00.008-04:00

Under the watchful eyes of my faithful companions, this past week saw just a bit of sewing. Most of what went on was a lot of organizing of all the projects I've chosen to work on at the same time! Thanks to Target and their home organization aisle, I was able to get myself more of the canvas boxes that hold my fabrics, patterns and completed blocks perfectly. I came up with one extra so that got the makings for the mini-scrapbook Youngest Daughter and I are planning as a birthday gift for her BFF back in Kentucky. Now to invest in the cubbie unit that will hold the canvas boxes. I have the perfect place to put it- just have to swap out the small plastic tables under the side window of my sewing room...it will be a much better use of space. I'll be able to get to the makings of my Civil War BOM, my Buck-A-Block project, the Blocks and fabrics for my Teach Yourself Blocks from the Past in progress, and then there is my Jo Morton Little Women Club binder and what ever little quilt we are currently working on.

My workspace cutting table is now free (somewhat) to be able to cut the fabrics I've been pulling for the next 4 blocks I have planned...

I managed to sew away on small, very small, ridiculously small pieces Saturday evening and early Sunday morning...

By the end of Sunday afternoon I had this block done:

As well as this one...

And after one failed attempt that landed straight in the garbage, I managed to complete this block...

I am still not 100% happy with it. It isn't "perfect". Now I say that while shaking my head, because I have a personal tolerance level that would accept this block and be done with the self-nagging. BUT! I've gotten it in my head that this quilt may be my entry for the Vermont Quilt Festival 2011 (yes, I've made that my goal for next year) and blocks like this don't say "Show Quilt" to me. Especially not at a venue like VQF. I may make it again, or I may take my knocks and use it as a learning experience. I may scrap the idea of showing this quilt all together. We'll see...

As we leave my space for another week, take a look at the completed blocks on the design wall...not bad, but still a long way to go!

Tuesday Tidbits for July 20

2010-07-20T09:22:00.007-04:00

Maybe it is the heat? Perhaps the impending "weather"??
All I know is that my brain wants to shut down and not co-operate for the day.
Doesn't bode well for work today!
I have few tidbits of my own to share (see above excuses!).
My agenda is light- dog for a post op check and removal of the drug patch that has been keeping him comfy.
Then- work. Tonight I hope to get some inspiration and some sewing to share with you tomorrow.
Until then, I have started following a lovely quilting blog (www.campgramma.blogspot.com) and the sign off just about says it all for me. I will share it as my tidbit for the day:

Life is too short for drama & petty things,
so kiss slowly, laugh insanely,
love truly and forgive quickly

now what a wonderful world it could be if we just ascribed to that sentiment.
Karen

Friday Facts

2010-07-16T07:46:00.005-04:00

Fact- It is really hard to think straight when you've been up since 5am! (For me this is an ungodly hour, but I did get a bit of sewing in.)

Fact: When your toothbrush "violently" jabs that little piece of skin tissue that keeps your upper lip connected to your upper gum line it hurts like blazes- and bleeds like crazy for a long time! (With thoughts for you, gentle readers, and for my own dignity, there will be no photo.)

Fact- Mahj Jong isn't just an "old lady" game.

Fact: I was very excited about my little backyard garden and its delights

UNTIL we took a neighborhood house and garden tour. I stepped out onto a back deck and saw this:

This garden had 3 (or was it 4?) levels...ending in a complete apple orchard which was espaliered along the back fence...seriously! In the city!! How come I didn't get a long double lot with my property?? Wishful thinking!

Fact: I don't have time to keep a garden like the one above! Get over it!!

( Wednesday) Workspace Tour

2010-07-14T07:26:00.009-04:00

Midweek seems like a good time to peek into the world of my workspace. I had most of last week to sew, and not only did it feel great, I was able to get a lot of things from the list moving along.
This first look is an over all glimpse of my cutting table. Yes, I was able to cut on it earlier, much earlier, and once the camera did its job, all the chaos was put into its rightful corner. You will see my sew-along project from Kelly's Charming Girl blog hanging from the shelf in the background. I had a whole different concept in mind until Le Poulet arrived in the shop! Workmate Enabler told me it was in the office, and I just had to use it! I love this group of fabric. The design utilizes a bordered 4-patch and a 16 patch. Small but great fun. I love working with small blocks. You have to sew carefully (after careful cutting, of course) but it is so worth it!
Looking at the surface of the cutting table, you will find my Teach Yourself Blocks from the Past blocks. I am happy with how these 6" (finished) blocks are shaping up. This is the year I am challenging myself to use blues. I don't often use this color in my projects and it is high time I did. The color scheme will be blues, shirtings, creams and tans, black, brown, red and cheddar. Sounds like a "hot mess" I'm sure, but it will be wonderful when it is done...I just know it!

Here's a better look at the blocks making up the inner design of the sew along quilt and a closer look at the books in my clear box:

I have to definitely decide between two of the Schnibbles projects I'm waffling between. Here is choice one- the one I am leaning towards (sorry the photos ended up sideways...tried several times to fix but I'm not sure if it is me or blogger that is having an issue today!

and choice two:

What do you think of the color combo for my blocks?? Hot mess, or going well (you can be honest!):

These little packages hold 4" (finished) swap blocks. Several months ago the sewing group at work decided to do a monthly swap. It was organized by our former shop partner who moved off to Cape Cod on a permanent basis when her husband received an offer from a hospital in Falmouth. JS missed the fun and camaraderie of our sewing circle and drummed up support for a Broken Dishes swap. I don't have the time to get to the sew-ins any longer, but make sure my blocks are left at the shop for swapping the last Thursday of the month. I really liked these combos this time around. I was a month behind and so you will see June's tan and gold blocks as well as July's tan and red all set to go:

Moving on to the right of the cutting station is my design wall. Three more projects are sitting and waiting here:

This is the first of 2 Civil War Sampler BOM blocks (the 12" block). The second finished block is the same fabric and design only done at 18".

I have also completed my two colorways for the "Buck-A-Block" program at my favorite shop- one will be pink and browns and the second shades of red repros. You also get a glimpse of my current Jo's Little Women Club project-- 3" finished stars! My DH thinks this is just totally crazy, but I love them! They will be all scrappy browns and beiges/tans.

And there you have it...tons of ongoing projects, very little time. But! I am a happy camper that so much is done so far. Hopefully next Wednesday I'll have more to show you- or at least a decision as to which Schnibble I'm making!
Let the sewing continue!!

Tasty Treats for Tuesday

2010-07-13T08:37:00.004-04:00

Seriously???

I have to get me a bag of these...

Question of the day- can you just eat a few??

Bet NOT!

more serious blogging tomorrow when I show you my "Wednesday Workspace"!

Have a great day, and may each day be a M&M kind of day- no matter what that hard candy shell encases!!

Snippets of Life

2010-07-12T09:05:00.014-04:00

A few months back, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed by life in general and gave up my participation at an online site I enjoyed. Kelly's Charming girls and guys group had up to then been a source of fun and involvement, but I was falling behind on my self imposed commitments and feeling lousy about not having the time to commit to the group and quilting in general. I told Kelly so, and hoped I would find the time to once again participate and enjoy the budding friendships and the sharing that comes with getting to know other quilters from around the country and beyond.
Since that time, Kelly has overhauled the group so that it works without the stress we tend to impose upon ourselves to be over achievers, not only in our hobbies but in our day to day interactions. Work. Family. Outside interference. Internal struggles.
The new bi-monthly commitment to "self" has been a new awakening for me. Thanks to Kelly for allowing me the means to rejoin and participate with a group of ladies (and gentlemen) who are committed to finding time to better themselves through the pursuit of things they truly love (see http://cottoncharmquilts.typepad.com/charmingchatter).

The theme in the group for the months of July and August is Self Care.
Interesting concept for many of us as we "age". Remember- age is relative, but I know that I am looking at a number I never thought I'd be (well, I knew I'd get there eventually- just didn't think it would happen so fast!). The magic number, 60, made me take stock of what I had accomplished, where I had been (I love saying a child of the 60's..the Woodstock generation), and where I am going. Where I've been has been quite the adventure, but where I am going seems to be even more of one. There aren't some of the major stresses of life anymore, OR more rightly put, I feel better equipped to handle them most of the time. I am at the stage where paring down and making life somewhat simpler, cleaner, more organized is where I want to be, it is a good thing for this next phase of enjoying my surroundings.

I've come back to my first love, that of sitting at my sewing machine, of creating something that sooths the soul. Quilting had done that in the past, and is filling the creative void once again. Some of the other off shoots of wanting to live a creative life have taken a back seat right now (scrapbooking) some have become less of a joy and more of a burden (art journals, altered art), and will be swept clear once I finish several commitments from the past year.

Busy Quilting Companion and I returned to Vermont for the Quilt Festival this June after a year's absence. Not going last year was for good reason, I was anxiously awaiting the birth of my first grandchild; I forgot just how much going to a venue such as VQF gets the creative juices flowing. To walk the South Hall at the Expo center and see so much lovely work, some simply charming, others drop dead amazing, is a sight to behold. My biggest joy is walking the North Hall hung with an impressive array of antique quilts from the Pilgrim/Roy collection. How how two men can collect so much of our quilting past/history is amazing to me. Gerald Roy is a delight in person and his collection is awe inspiring. No photos are allowed, but just pick up any tome on quilting history and the ideas, colors, patterns can't help but excite. I am and always have been in love with old fabric and old quilts. I continue to be drawn to them time after time. I gave up trying to work "outside my box". I know that it makes you stretch your imagination and see quilting in a new light, but for me the joy is in recreating the old. It is just who I am, and it is who I will always be. With that I am more than happy.

If you have managed to get this far, thank you for staying with me as I mused.
The reward is a few photos of some of my favorite quilts from Festival, made by women like us- quilters who find the time to live their passion. I hope you have the time to indulge yourself as well.

Quilt Documentation: Civil War Stars: Ruth E. Whitaker, Shelburne VT. Track machine quilted by Nancy Tatro. Second Place winner, Bed Quilts- Large Pieced.

Quilt Documentation: A Bash on Baltimore: Rebecca J. Magaus, Bloomfield Hills, MI. Track machine quilted by Linda Thiefoldt. Second Place winner, Bed Quilts- Appliqued.

Quilt Documentation: No One Gardens Alone: Leslie Justice Cook,Greenfield, MA. Stationary machine quilted by quilt maker. Second Place winner: Bed Quilts- Appliqued.

Quilt Documentation: Sunspots by Deborah Elliot, Mount Royal, Quebec. Track machine quilted by Colleen Paul. Second Place winner: Bed Quilts-Pieced.

Before I actually forget, here are my goals for July/August:
1. Take time for myself within the constraints of family needs- read, relax, do something nice for myself. Remind myself that just a little will go a long way in that regard. I may even allow myself to stop feeling silly about my guilty pleasure- Bravo TV! Yes, give me Housewives (preferably NY and NJ) and a bit of Bethany Getting Married and I'm a happy girl. There I said it, laugh all you want, but a bit of late night silliness is just the best thing to lull one into a good night sleep!

2. Blog (thoughtfully) during the week, but never on the weekend which will be set aside for family and friends.

3. Continue to work on blocks from Teach Yourself Blocks from the Past by

4. Continue to finish past "artistic" commitments so I can put that chapter behind me

5. Go to Sunday get together with quilting buddies- a few hours out with friends is a perfect way to find laughter in one's life.

6. Be more of an active participant with the "charmings"

Not a bad bucket list for the summer

Friday Facts

2010-07-10T14:20:00.004-04:00

(This is a second attempt: Factoid- it is not at all a happy time when you write a post and have it eaten by cyberspace!)

Fact 1: It is actually not Friday, but Saturday- see above note)

Fact 2. Post birthday party streamers and extra Cheerios are WAY fun when you are one!

Fact 3: Excessive heat and lots of watering turn THESE into monster tomatoes! ("after" photos to come)

Fact 4: Taking a quilting class with a teacher you really like (Cindy Erickson) is a "GOOD THING"-- even if you are really self-critical and HAVE to re-applique that not so perfect handle on your Double Handled Basket block. (see Indigo and Shirting block at bottom of group). Another fact-remembering what your classmates' names are is impossible, making it very difficult to give due credit for blocks that share photo space with yours!

Fact 5: Quilts like this make me want to run (fast) to my scrap bin!!

Close up of center with applique:

Quilt Documentation: "Dutch Oude" by Mary Elizabeth Kinch and Biz Storms. Track quilted by Sandra Reed. Third Place ribbon Vermont Quilt Festival, 2010.

Fact 6: I will spend the day sewing! Results will be shared next week, because:

Fact 7: There will be no blogging on the weekends!

We're Having a Heat Wave!

2010-07-09T08:28:00.005-04:00

(Apologies to family members in this long ago photo!)

It has been hot, hot, hot! Little energy to do much of anything- even sewing has been hard being that I am a drippy, yucky mess! That being said, Last Born and I decided take a ride out to the hill towns to visit my (our) favorite quilt shop. It was cooler- slightly- and the company was grand. I managed to pick up some goodies, including a few half yard pieces off the sale table. I'll have to remember to thank quilt buddies 2 and 3 for leaving something behind. I feared for the state of the sale tables after hearing about their shopping spree last week *wink*.

Upon our return home, I cranked up the air conditioner in the sewing room and told myself I WAS going to finish the wall hanging project over at Kelly's blog: Charming Chatter. I made great headway, stopping only to prepare the ingredients for our dinner- grilled burgers with avocado and smoked Gouda, simple potato salad and a mixed green salad simply dressed with Balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Yummy. First born had made a fresh green bean salad with shallots and Feta earlier in the day and we added that to the menu as well.
By 7pm I was back in the sewing room doing "quilt math" and constructing/applying the top border. Good work! It fit perfectly, so I decided to call it a night. I am so very pleased with this project!! Tonight after work I'll put together the bottom (and final border) then decide how it might get quilted. I'll take photos this weekend, promise!!

I also want to share some of my favorite photos from the Vermont Quilt Festival...
but I need to document them first. It's only fair to give credit where credit is due, don't you agree?
Until then- stay cool and find the time to do something you love!

Ready to Return to Blogging

2010-07-03T08:01:00.003-04:00

Been doing a bit of life cleaning. You know the drill....figure out what is causing the stress and try to do away with as much as you can to return to a peaceful state of mind.
I've cleaned up my act, taken a quilting vacation, thrown in a few "just for me" things (like a trip to Boston to attend a Lady GaGa concert- imagine!!). I feel refreshed, a bit more relaxed and a lot happier with the state of my creative soul.
With all the happy changes, I've declared the hiatus from blogging over, and would like to redesign this space, but not today! Today is the weekly trip to our favorite Farmers Market, some much needed garden weeding and sprucing (the mulch arrives Tuesday) and a self-rewarded time to work on a little quilting project. I'll have more for any readers that return (stumble upon) my blog.
Until then- I hope you all reward yourselves with something "just for you".
Happy 4th to those celebrating...
to all: enjoy the weekend. I'm looking forward to puttering in the garden, sewing and getting together with friends and family.

Going on Hiatus

2010-03-29T18:14:00.002-04:00

As you can see, I manage to sit and actual blog about once a month. Not enough to keep anyone reading my musings. I also don't have much in the way of show and tell either! Because of the crazy life I'm leading right now, I've decided it is time to take a hiatus from blogging. It's time. It's necessary. When I come back to blogland I'd like to actually be able to share something with readers. Thanks to you who have stopped by and left comments. I'll look forward to seeing you again in the future.

Too Busy

2010-03-05T07:49:00.003-05:00

It has been almost two weeks since my last post...I've been busy, but I couldn't tell you with what exactly. Baby, work, more work, and just plain old "where did the time go days" haven't been conducive to visiting blog land! This morning along with my cup of pre-work coffee, I decided to try and catch up on some of my neglected bloggers. This made me glad I did:
http://rosebudscottage.typepad.com/rosebuds_cottage/2010/03/flossing.html
Oh how very, very lovely! Wouldn't you love a cabinet like this...floss, buttons, beads...it wouldn't really matter. I just love it!!

And It Just Keeps Coming

2010-02-24T11:39:00.002-05:00

(scene from the upstairs studio window)

The snow keeps falling- it's been well over 24 hours! Wet,heavy, great for snowmen snow, but not so great for tree limbs and power lines! At last count I guess there are over 30,000 customers in the area without power. BUT...it really is beautiful outside.
the snowman across the street now looks like a giant marshmallow monster- and we're itching to get out and make one of our own. Guess you never grow up when there is a great snow storm to play in!!

On second thought- maybe I'll just stay in and do some studio organizing!

Be Careful What You Ask For!

2010-02-24T00:00:00.002-05:00

I've been complaining there hasn't been any snow to speak of this winter. Well, with February almost behind us and spring lurking around a corner somewhere, we are getting hit with a big old snowfall. A foot is expected by the time we wake in the am,and now we hear that we could repeat this all again for Thursday! I'd groan, but honestly...I love it! It is a big, wet, heavy snow. The kind of snow that gives birth to great snowball fights and wonderful,jolly snowmen. OK, so driving home tonight was a nightmare, but I'm home, I'm warm and all I can say is "let it snow"!

More thoughts

2010-02-23T23:44:00.004-05:00

Outside My Window... it is hard to imagine we are poised for a snow storm

I am thinking...it is crazy to worry that the new washer and dryer are too tall for the space in the laundry room.

I am thankful for...good friends who make you laugh

I am wearing...sweats and a turtleneck, non-skid socks.

I am creating...a soft, femanine quilt top

I am going...to plan to clean up the studio so creativity has room to grow!

I am hoping...not to get some sad news this evening.

Around the house...waiting on appliance delivery, doing chores, planning the dinner dish that is going to make me like brussel sprouts again.

One of my favorite things...quiet days to myself.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: continue to work on the new quilt, finish the February mini book, work on a journal or two,do some studio organizing.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Another February Day

2010-02-15T10:32:00.006-05:00

How did last week get away from me?? Funny how those things can happen.
Life chugs along and suddenly time has flown by and can't be recaptured.
No sewing will be done this month- not even a start or a small finish for the Charming gals (guys and gals now!). I'm ok with that- for now. I did find an intriguing pattern I'd like to try- a twist on a disappearing nine patch. Maybe I will get things together for March.
Now on to the regular Monday Daybook post:

Outside My Window... the clouds are getting thicker in the sky. We are told there will be snow tomorrow.

I am thinking...they keep telling us there will be snow- but it just isn't happening.

I am thankful for...the little things that make each day special- no matter how "bad" I feel

I am wearing...my day off gear: black sweat pants, black and pink polka dot shirt (post Valentine silliness?), blue non skid socks!

I am creating...a mini book that I have fallen in love with.

I am going...to continue building a new friendship that began at the beginning of the month.

I am reading...nothing right now. I should, but it makes me sleepy!

I am hoping...that grown up decision making doesn't tear the youngest child out of the workings of her family.

I am hearing...silence. It truly is golden.

Around the house...there is napping, there is studying, as for me-I'm just doing my morning thing.

One of my favorite things...baby smiles.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week: dinner with friends, Organizing a sewing group at the shop, finishing the book project, planning some sewing. Hoping for uneventful days.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Daybook Week 3

2010-02-02T11:34:00.003-05:00

Outside My Window... the small pond is still covered in thick ice. My Adirondack chair waits quietly until spring arrives. I can see the perennial gardens will need an overhaul. I love the smell of fresh earth in the spring.

I am thinking...life is good. I need to stop worrying about what I haven't accomplished and just continue to "do". We make life much too complicated

I am thankful for...the ability to be my own person, and use my creative talents.

I am wearing...sweat pants, a mock turtle neck and two pairs of socks to keep the toes warm. It is the "day off" uniform.

I am creating...order from chaos.

I am going...slowly and happily thru my day.

I am reading...nothing at the moment. I did promise a friend I would go back to Eat,Pray,Love. She said I gave up too soon.

I am hoping...to continue organizing my creative space so that I can be more productive.

I am hearing...the adorable snores of a sleeping dog. Naps are good, no?

Around the house...the floors are swept and mopped. The dishes are washed and drying in the rack and the laundry is getting done. It is all good.

One of my favorite things...the soothing sounds of silence. Our world holds too many audio assaults.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:

*see the baby
*work- extra hours
*make a new creative friend.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Just Under the Wire!

2010-01-31T09:42:00.005-05:00

It has been a crazy month- with being sick, family obligations, and work! Hard to believe that February is just one day away. This month's tag over at Kelly's Charming Girls Quilt Club was to show how we decorate with our quilts. I managed to snap some photos before the camera battery decided to die, and it will be fun to share. Some of the photos are not perfect in quality (thanks, Mr. Battery!) but you'll get the idea.
The tour starts as soon as you enter the foyer of our home. This small primitive quilt hangs on the door of an old barber's cabinet that holds my eclectic Americana collection: folk art people and animals, flea market finds, wire willow tree and the like. I love the oval boxes that sit on the floor, and the quilt will change with the seasons. This particular quilt is one of my favorites!

Sitting under the hall table- the daffy, two legged one with elephant heads/trunks for its legs (yes, elephant heads- you read that right. Loved it for years- now I'd love to replace it! Oh well....) are two more small pieces. One is a Pat Sloan folk arty design and one is a Jo Morton piece. They sit on a stool that is in need of recovering- maybe a quilted one??

Next, as we walk into the living room, my small quilt rack holds some of my other primitive and small pieces:

and I store a few more pieces (including a yellow satin pram quilt that was purchased by my grandmother (in duplicate- she had twin girls) hoping that one day they would be used by her grandchildren. My twin Aunts never married, but I inherited the quilts and used one in my children's carriage and kept one for "show". They are beautiful and show none of the "ravages of time" like the rest of us!

On the mantle along with a larger folk art print framed in barn red and two of my antique pitchers and a willow star is this framed bird I stitched up in wool. The outside border is silk matka and is the exact color of the framed piece it sits with. I love the texture it gave the piece.

On the coffee table is a small Jo Morton piece. The lighting was horrid in this photo- it looks much better in person.

On the door between the living room and our dining room is another Pat Sloan design- Mama's Garden. I still love this piece, and it is one of my sister's favorites!

On the porta-crib in the corner of the living room is a fabulous I-Spy quit made for me as a "granny gift" from one of my best quilting buddies. I was surprised beyond belief, and little Tyler loves all the "pictures".

In the dining room, I have another Jo Morton piece- again a bad photo. It is greens, browns and creams. This one sits on a small oval table that has 2 great shelves for some of my favorite "coffee table" books, and of course my favorite framed photos.

There are other quilts that didn't have a chance to be photographed (poor things), such as the large basket of "grab me up" quilts so we can be warm and cozy on a couch on a chilly evening. And I have another favorite hanging on the foyer landing...my stripy quilt embellished with large flowers on wool. It warms up a large wall, and looks beautiful from the base of the stairs (she says humbly!).

My goal is to have one or more hand made quilts on each of the beds one day. The small guest room's twin bed seems to be the winner so far- it has two smaller ones on the ottoman at it's foot and I have its pink and brown monkey wrench waiting for hand quilting. It will also get my January finish- Baking Day when it is quilted. There won't be a photo of that one until I get a new battery. Hopefully that will be soon. Seeing that my bed and the larger guest room (currently occupied by my daughter who is home for the year researching for her dissertation) are both queen sized- it could be some time before they get one!

Monday January 25, 2010

2010-01-25T17:48:00.003-05:00

Week #2- and I didn't forget, or give up! I do like the idea of sharing simple pleasures once a week. Today's entry, January 25, 2010:

Outside My Window... dark, bleak, rainy! A storm system blew in today bringing 60* temperatures and tons of driving rain and wind. If this was snow.....well, thankfully its not!

I am thinking...how warm and cosy a home is...not just a house, but a home. Favorite things lying around, your dog happily greeting you at the front door, warm smells from the kitchen, your family safe and sound. A home is a wonderful thing. My heart goes out to those who do not have this.

I am thankful for...family and good friends. Enough said.

I am wearing...sweat pants, a mock turtle neck and not so much of a jammie top that it can't pass for a waffle shirt! Comfortable and just warm enough.

I am creating...a bit of this and a bit of that

I am going...merrily along my way..just happy in the small blessings.

I am reading...The Shack by William P. Young- still.

I am hoping...To finish my first quilt top of 2010 by the end of the month

I am hearing...chatter between the daughter and the husband....the evening news from the living room.

Around the house...all is back to normal. Christmas was officially retired in total on Sunday

One of my favorite things...a hot cup of coffee and some quiet thoughts.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
*take mother to her doctor appointment
*attend my Jo Morton Club meeting tomorrow evening. The new issue begins and I am excited about that
*spend Wednesday and Thursday being "just nana"
*stop by the scrapbooking shop for club issue on Thursday evening
*enjoy an evening out with friends and co-workers Friday night

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

(remembering the joy of urban gardening, and looking forward to doing it again this year)

Simple Thoughts on a January Monday Morn

2010-01-18T09:28:00.015-05:00

This morning while catching up with some of the blogs I read on a regular basis, I came across mention of The Simple Woman's Daybook. The idea behind it is to simply record a snippet of your life once a week- Monday being the chosen day as one would outline a few thoughts and plans for the upcoming week. I found it an interesting concept and something I think I would like to do. It would be a way to capture a few moments of personal history over the course of the next year. Thoughts, feelings, plans, gratitudes- little random bits of "me".

If you are curious you can visit the blog that got me thinking here:
http://thesimplewoman.blogspot.com

Let my weekly journey begin:

FOR TODAY - January 18, 2010

Outside My Window... it is a wintry wonderland. It snowed, rained and snowed some more over night. Outside is more like a January thaw than a snowstorm. Warm(ish), white and gloppy! But- it still makes everything look cleaner and prettier than it was yesterday.

I am thinking...I would like to feel better. It has been days since I've felt up to par. It is the first real "illness" of the season, but it has caused me to feel unproductive, tired, and less than enthusiastic about things. I also miss time with my "little man". Don't want to infect him, so this Nana stays home.

I am thankful for...Kleenex, saline solution, apple juice and warm coffee.Family members who are concerned and empathetic.

From the kitchen...Oatmeal with a large handful of blueberries. Warm, soothing. Simple.

I am wearing...jammies; they are clean and new--and have silly polar bears all over. At least they make me smile! I will shower soon and throw on comfy clothes.

I am creating...a dent in the bed's mattress. I don't normally allow myself the luxury of napping at will, but that is all I seem to want to do. When awake and with half a wit about me, I am slowly adding borders on a utility quilt. It looks warm and inviting in its deep colors. I will hand quilt it. I will curl up under it one day and be happy.

I am going...to stay in today! One more day of rest and recuperation. Tomorrow I will head back to work.

I am reading...The Shack by William P. Young

I am hoping...to see the grand baby later this week. I miss his sweet little face, his laughter and his smiles for his Nana. I heard him screeching on the phone last evening when his mommy called to check up on me. He has found his "loud" voice and it makes him happy-- silly little baby!

I am hearing...the sounds of neighbors shoveling; melting snow- dripping, dripping, dripping on the back roof...slightly hypnotic.

Around the house...Christmas is still evident. I would like to find the energy to start putting it away- it is mid January after all. Perhaps this upcoming weekend. One more week of holiday trimmings can't be all bad.

One of my favorite things...knowing that there are no plans for the day. Just relax, recoup. Ready myself for the rest of the week. It is time to return to the land of the living.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week:
*organize for work tomorrow
*have dinner with friends on Wednesday evening. It is our long overdue holiday get together. It will be nice to see them.
*spend Wednesday and Thursday with the "Little Man"
*spend a day at the shop with my very favorite co-worker
*get in a bit of sewing, reading and actually cook a real dinner.

Here is picture thought I am sharing...

URGH.....

2010-01-14T11:31:00.001-05:00

Sick, Sick, Sick! I should be sleeping, but I can't put my head to the pillow with out feeling like my brains are going to fall out- so I thought I'd share my latest little obcession. In November '09 our shop's order contained one copy of the book The Farmer's Wife as well as a couple copies of Teach Yourself Blocks from the Past. Both books feature 6.5" blocks and work well as companions to each other. I was so inspired by this that I proposed to run a club at the shop where others who share my passion for this kind of "historical" quilting could come and spend time working on blocks together. Isn't that what quilting is all about- learning, sharing, friendship?
I am totally hooked on these little blocks and just wanted to share what is finding their way onto my design wall!! What do you think?

After a nap, I think I may put a few more sashings on my charming project of the month (Baking Day by Lynda Hall) so that it can come off the guest bed, ready for hand quilting. I'd at least like to offer one semi-finish for this month. I think I commited to just finishing the top. Then I can work on those ladder blocks and check off another UFO from way too long ago.

I Resolve Not To...

2010-01-05T19:42:00.000-05:00

make any resolutions!
It has always been my January tradition....
I resolve to ...
*re-start the diet
*re-start the exercise
*re-start the organizing
*re-start (_______________) fill in the blank.

This year, this new decade, this January 2010....
I resolve to not make any resolutions...well, maybe just one-
I resolve to finally understand that no matter what I do, I am my own worst enemy.
So I will just chug along, trying not to over extend myself.....
I will do what I can -one thing at a time.
I will be honest with myself about my ability to do everything I want to do, then do nothing because I have paralized myself. I will not beat myself up. What good is a ~~hobby~~ passion if all it does is make you sad that you don't do enough of it??

So I will just do what I can do. That being said, I will make one commitment for January's Charming Girls Club. I will finish putting together the top for Baking Day. Hopefully, I will brave the frozen tundra of the attic to find some fabrics to add to the shorted fabric amounts the (long ago) ordered BOM contained. IF I can do that in the next few days, I might even begin to hand quilt this one!
I get side tracked easily when I hit a glitch. But I love this top- tons! So I will brave the tundra and find some additional fabric. Isn't that why we love scrap quilts?!
Happy 2010!
Karen

Grateful Musings

2009-11-27T10:53:00.000-05:00

This is my first truly official month of being a "Charming Girl" and with that comes the November Tag. Kelly asked us to share some things we are grateful for AND one of our other hobbies.
The other hobby is fairly easy- I've fallen under the spell of scrapbooking/minibook making and altered art. I won't bore anyone here with endless musings about my other works of art- I'll let you discover it IF you want. I keep a second blog which hasn't been updated much. You are welcome to visit http://merrymercs2.blogspot.com should you wish. I've contemplated merging the two, but I find myself here on this blog more often and feel it is more a representation of who (and where) I am right now in my life.
So on to gratitudes. I feel that my life is blessed in so many ways. I am grateful for:
1. a wonderful family who put up with all my creative messes
2. an extended family who can brighten even the darkest of days
3. laughter
4. a warm and cozy home;my (poor neglected) gardens
5. becoming a grandmother for the first time, and having the ability to care for my little man several days a week
6.Friends who round out my life and make it richer each and every day.
7. Becoming a Charming Girl just before the group was closed to new members!

I am truly a lucky woman....

Now since November is drawing to a close (how did that happen so fast!!?) I will fess up that I did not get time to complete the small list of November accomplishments I had hoped finish. So with the holiday crazies really coming into high gear I will spend what quiet time I can grab for myself this December continuing to work on both my Jacob Ladder blocks and Baking Day blocks. My half square triangles for the sew-along are still giving me fits of indecision, but I hope to get my mind made up and get the borders finalized by the end of December as well. Then I can get it off to be quilted. I'm looking forward to getting really organized in 2010 and getting lots of those older projects off the shelves and finished. Like the "Little Engine Who Could"..I'm just going to tell myself I know I can!
Happy Stitching
Karen

Charming Projects

2009-11-03T20:10:00.008-05:00

November is here,and I'm set to work on the next round of projects. This month I am committing to finishing the tops for two older block of the month's that have sat idle for way too long. The first is Baking Day by Lynda Hall (Primitives by Lynda):

The second is a shop BOM from either last year or the year before! It is a Jacob's Ladder done in (mainly) the beautiful Worn and Loved line of fabric I fell completely in love with! This should look wonderful once done. I can't for the life of me remember if I decided to add a border or not- so I have to go searching in the fabric drawers and see if I did buy yardage. This is one quilt that doesn't really need to be bordered,so either way it will be nice to have it done and off the "to-do" list!

I am also pretty much on target with the Half Pint Sew Along! I really like the softness of the 9-patch top. I wasn't sure, but it does work....

Now to decide if I really like the plain red HST border, or should I "follow directions" and make the scrappy red ones??

Comments please! All thoughts will be appreciated.

I'm off to stitch!
Karen

Rainy Halloween Night and a Finish

2009-10-31T18:44:00.006-04:00

Tonight will be a short post- when the rain lets up those Happy Halloween Candy Lovers stream out to "Trick or Treat", AND I'm trying to adjust to my new life schedule. Starting next week, I'll be out of the house every day rather than just three days a week, so I'm cooking ahead! Wonder how long that will continue?! Tonight is a beef stew, and tomorrow's intent is to make a large pot of cauliflower, potato and cheese soup. I also bought the fixings to make Black Forest ham sandwiches with cranberry mustard to go with that midweek soup ....well, all but the ham. I'll get that fresh come Tuesday night.
So without much more fanfare, here is the finish for my October commitment to the Charming Girls Club....all neatly hand quilted and bound with a single fold binding. I loved doing the hand quilting!! It has been a long time since I actually hand quilted something, and I just enjoyed it so much. I also love how the single fold binding lays on this small quilt. The usual double fold would have been too thick for this little treasure.

With fall in full swing, I am feeling that urge to dig in and sew more. Good thing- I have LOTS of little 9-Patches to complete for the Sew Along over at the Charming Girls Quilt Club! I also have a couple projects to work on for November. I am bound and determined to give a couple of quilts this Christmas, and if this commitment thing works- I think I can do it!!
So off I go...Happy Halloween to one and all.
Karen

2009-10-28T15:30:00.009-04:00

Back again but not as quickly as I had promised! Without much fanfare, let me get right to the quilts and then perhaps a bit of musings...if there is time.
I promised to share some of my favorite bigger quilts from Empire QuiltFest, held two weeks ago here in the Albany area (Clifton Park to be exact). It was a wonderful show....
this neutral quilt was one of my favorites. I don't do "neutral" well, and really admired it for the choice and placement of the fabrics. I must once again apologize to you and to the quilt makers. I didn't have a catalog of quilts so I can not give credit where credit is due. I hope if any of the quilt makers find me (by accident - I'm sure)they will leave a comment so I can remedy that.

this next quilt is another I put in my "maybe some day" file- or at least a quilt very much like it. I love stars of any kind:

this quilt sported three ribbons-two, if not all three were Vendor's Choice, and it is a nice rendition of the Hunter's Star:

This one took a lot of hours I'm sure!

and these both appealed to my more rustic leanings:

This top quilt is just the perfect scrap quilt to me

This was a shop hop pattern from either one or two hops ago:

And then there was my own personal heart stopper!! I don't know if I would ever seriously contemplate beginning a Baltimore Album quilt! I do entertain thoughts now and again, but am realistic enough to know it will never happen. Enjoy this one:

And time has run out. I will try to get back tomorrow night and show off the dolls from the traveling Hoffman Challenge. Back in my dolling days I would have run right home and started planning out a new doll project. Now I'll just stand back and admire the time and dedication (as well as the creativity) it takes to execute one of these creatures. I find them all completely amazing and know you will too. Until then-
Happy Stitching
Karen

Empire QuiltFest

2009-10-19T18:02:00.007-04:00

The Theme of the Empire Quilt Fest this year was Voyage of Discovery (in honor of the 400th anniversary of the voyage of Henry Hudson) This Particular quilt really caught my eye- and was just one of many in the challenge category. As you can see it received a ribbon, and rightfully so.

The show was filled with wonderful quilts- with several applique stand outs. This Rose quilt has a touching story. These hand appliqued blocks were found by a friend's co-worker after the death of her mom. Said friend offered to set them together so that co-worker would have a quilt stitched by her mom. It was then given to a local long armed quilter to quilt. The final product is just stunning! I hear there were lots of happy tears shed when it was unveiled. I'm not at all surprised, because the story still makes me tear up.

Same friend exibited and won a blue ribbon in the Mixed Technique Category for this (hand) appliqued and (machine) pieced quilt, Old Glory, designed by the gals of Blackbird Designs. I think it is one of of my favorites, and every time I see a new project of Pat's, I think THAT ONE is my favorite! I love the talent of my quilting buddies. Congratulations, Ms. Patty!!

I wonder if someday I'd be able to produce anything half as beautiful as this Baltimore Album??
I wish I could give the quilt maker her dues, but since I was working the show, I had to run through the exhibit very early, and didn't have a program, or pen to make notes!

The local Jo Morton Club, which I finally have the time to join this year, put on a tempting display of quilts made by their members. I am so happy to be able to participate now, and am eagerly waiting for Club #9 to begin. I think I heard it will be ready come November?? No matter, I'm itching to get working on Jo's small projects. This stars in a log cabin setting has such great color. I don't think it photographed well, but I'm showing it off anyway:

This version of Hattie's Baskets was made by another friend, and received a third place ribbon. She was so excited- congratulations Linda!

Another of Jo Morton's basket designs. Love the paisley border on this one:

Another quilting buddy made this one. Isn't it gorgeous? The bird print in the setting triangles and outer border just makes me swoon. Another congratulatory wave - this time to Liz:

And here are a few more smaller quilts:

I love the cheddar in this brown, cheddar and blue:

And these Pinwheels!

Seen enough yet??
How about tomorrow I share some of the larger quilts that I particularly liked!
Don't want to overwhelm blogger tonight! Besides, I have some 9-Patches to work on for my Sew Along with the Charming Girls group! Time to get the machine fired up for a bit.
Happy Stitching to one and all.

Karen

No photos today, but...

2009-10-14T20:50:00.004-04:00

I did spend most of the day at the sewing machine! Last night I finished re-piecing a candle mat from a new project book by Holly Taylor. Now, I should mention that it was all pieced and ready for binding, but something didn't look quite right to me. It took a couple of days before I realized that I used the outer border fabric in the "twist" instead of the red "main" fabric. It was a matter of wordy semantics. When I think main border fabric I think "outer" border. What about you?? Oh well, since I was partially under the weather, I'll give myself a break. So, my seam ripper and I got totally re-acquainted and I had to rip off all the outer borders, remove the wrong twist pieces and do a bunch of resewing. It was totally worth the effort! At least it is almost done and will be ready to be used in the shop's booth at this weekend's Empire QuiltFest in Clifton Park,NY. Today I did all the (machine) quilting and got ready to bind. Wouldn't you know-- I don't have the intended binding material here. Either I never cut it, or I left it at the shop over the weekend. Darn it all. Now I will have to "rush" to make sure it is done for Friday night set up. Thankfully it is just a candle mat and not a quilt!! I'll get it all done tomorrow evening. Happily, I was pleased with the outcome of the machine quilting this time around, but made a mental note that I enjoy hand quilting so much more. I hope to do more of it this winter.

I'll fire up the camera this weekend and take a photo (or two) of my latest endeavor as well as my Jo Morton 9-Patch.

Now it is on to the Acorn and Oak Leaf block for Sunday's get together with some quilty friends. I don't think I'm going to have 4 other blocks done this month, but at least I can have this assignment finished, since I was the one who chose it!

No Quilting Today

2009-10-12T19:18:00.010-04:00

It was such a beautiful fall morning. With a day like today there was only one thing any respectable New Yorker could possibly want to do--hop in the car and go apple picking!
This past weekend was the annual Apple Festival at this particular orchard, and the aftermath of the hoards of folks tromping through was evident....

but there was still lots of good picking to do in several of the sections today. We got to choose from the Romes, Crispins or Red Delicious. First born and I decided we'd pick some of each and fill our bag full of yumminess. The Tree below is a Rome apple, and it has lots of good pickin' left on it:

I tried to encourage First Born to climb on high, but she was convinced the ladder would collapse and drama would ensue. So she posed instead! OK, I admit, I made her do it!

and she payed me back,and shot this one with her camera:

Once we filled our bag, we headed off hoping to find just a pumpkin or two (or three if lucky!) in the completely picked over pumpkin patch. It was still a great view, even if hundreds of pumpkins were snatched up by festival goers Saturday and Sunday.

We managed to find two cute pumpkins, all the while being overcome by the smell of apple cider donuts baking in the shop. After paying for said pumpkins (and lugging them and our apples to the car), First Born and I made our way towards that wonderful smell, mouths watering in anticipation. What is a day of apple picking if not to end it with cider donuts for home?

Our day:
Seven pounds of apples
Two pumpkins
One dozen cider donuts
One home made apple pie
One jug of pressed cider- direct from the orchard's cider mill
One teeny jug of maple syrup
One jar of pumpkin butter
One jar of white chocolate peanut butter (omg- so good! And we know because we taste tested all 3 options)
Three strands of old buttons
One great old lunch bucket from the corner flee market shelves
A stop at the winery display to see the offerings (when is wine tasting??)

I'd call it a successful and relaxing morning.
Tomorrow (after a trip to the repair shop and work) I'll quilt- maybe!!

Wow, another entry!

2009-10-10T09:42:00.009-04:00

This blogging without obligation thing is sure freeing! I've written 3 posts in about as many days.
I won't pat myself on the back too hard, as I don't know if I can keep up with myself *smile*.
My thought for today is to share the projects I've chosen to work on in October. As of today all I need to do is finish up some quilting stitches and bind a little piece done with Jo Morton's fabrics (photo to come). I've re-made block one of Prairie Flowers, Encore. Just 8 more to go,and I'm not seeing an October finish for this one.

I've finally chosen the color pallet for the quilt along over at Charming Girls
http://cottoncharmquilts.typepad.com/charmingchatter/2009/10/lets-quilt-along.html

I really wanted to work with something a bit different than what I'm doing now- meaning no repros. I have collected some sweet red and whites and think that this is the project for them. I'm hoping it will be a very light and airy project- and instead of the lap size, I've decided on the smaller version- mainly because I was only collecting half yards and I'm not 100% sure I'd have enough for the larger version. But I'm subject to changing my mind yet again-stay tuned!!

So there you have it. Photos and all. Tomorrow is a play date with DD who will be coming into town tonight. I may not have much to share until next week. But there are no blogging obligations- remember!

New beginning

2009-10-09T08:55:00.002-04:00

A few years ago I started (and almost finished) Prairie Flowers from a booklet by Jo Morton.
I pulled it out a few nights ago and said to myself--yuck!
Well not technically a real yuck, but just not "me" at this point and time. So what is a girl to do?
Well, this girl packaged it up, will offer it to someone who might love- and finish- it, and I pulled all new fabrics and chose a new setting option. I am now working on Prairie Flowers , Encore.
I'll have block one done this weekend and will post a photo.
Fall is truly here and I feel the nesting instinct kicking in- I want to hunker down and sew.
I have to decide on a definite color scheme for the sew-along over at Charming Girls. The cutting directions are up, and I've ear-marked Saturday for that. Seeing that I just realized that today is Friday I'm already feeling a bit "behind" lol...
Watch for photos......................

Blogging without Obligation

2009-10-06T18:21:00.003-04:00

somewhere out there in blog land, I read about blogging without obligation- complete with a badge for your blog! Now that is for me, I thought....
No obligation. Blog when you can. Looking at the last post on this my "quilting" blog shows I don't have much in the way of blogging obligation! Truly-- how many months has it been??
The honest truth has been that quilting has not been high on the priority list. It became an "obligation" to work on something. Too much work quilting, not enough home quilting.
All that took on a positive change when I made a conscious effort to push past "tired" and go to a meeting of a Jo Morton club at a fairly "local" shop. What a wonderful evening. I took my needed-to- be- bound Emma's Quilt, and even shared it at show and tell. Many of the women around the table were known to me as customers from the shop at which I currently work. Chatting and sewing took on a life of its own and I found myself loving every minute of it.
Quilting does hold onto a (happy) piece of me- and I really wanted to grab hold of that and go back to all those projects sitting about in various stages-- you know the ones: tucked away, sealed in their own special holders, just waiting for the time I'd decide to let them loose and turn them into the beauties they knew they could become.
About the same time, I ran across a new blog- The Charming Girls Club. What fun I thought.
But I knew myself. If I can't carry through with the "obligation" of blogging, could I really add some "obligatory" quilting to my life? A few questions to the club founder, Kelly, and all my "fears" were put aside. I was ready to commit to becoming a charming girl.
So here we go...I'm a day late I do believe, but I am still going to commit to finishing a small project this month....a little Jo Morton 9-Patch complete with half square triangle borders.
I can do this. And if I don't....
well so what!
According to Kelly-- no lashes with a wet (quilting) noodle.
Sounds like just the right fit .

2009-03-03T19:52:00.003-05:00

Isn't this just the most relaxing and wonderful spot you've ever seen?? I can just imagine myself curled up on the window seat, warm sun streaming thru the window...reading a favorite book.

thank you purplearea for the thoughts of spring...they seemed so far way earlier today!