Heading towards December

Some samples of things I plan to sell in a local craft fair Dec 2

Down Stairs repair and renovation

Heading into the 9th week of having people banging away at my house, sometimes 7 days a week has been an experience that I believe only people who have been through it understand. I never realized that it is a joy to sit in your pj's in the morning. I am retired and I like wandering around a bit. I have one eye on the clock because the refrig is being moved across the new hardwood floor at 8:30 am.  During this period I have quilted more. I made a huge wedding quilt for the next nephew or niece who ties the know. I have done some art quilting, I decided the big Penobscot quilt is going to be quilt as you go and went back and quilted the 8 blocks.
The garden has died. I get a few veggies still, carrots, kale, beets, parsley.

November Rains

It is pouring out.  There is a slight chance it will turn to snow.  We head to Portland, Maine, which it two hours south of where we live. We are going to visit my favorite daughter.  After the frenzy of quilting the group only needs one  quilt from me. The two and a 1/2 I churned out will be added to the UFO pile. I will get photos in here soon.

Quilting for 4 days ..... 12 hours a day

I think my swim exercise class is paying off as I kept my sewing machine roaring from 7-7 daily.  I will take photos of what I accomplished today. I brought a bag of African safari fabric that only a child could love... The gorillas are particularly grouchy looking. The bag was bought for 35 dollars by a friend.  Much picking apart and redesigning resulted in a twin sized top ready for sandwiching.
Than I machine quilted two more quilts.  The final deal was take a bunch of strips and making another donation quilt.  I left my purse home... eek so no photos there....Here is a friends photo...

quilting while the world falls apart

Some times I can not bear the nightly news anymore. I wat an wept as they began the light of the dead from the mass shooting in Los Vegas.  Why? There is no why or any way to make reason of parts of our world. Each and every one of the dead were chosen in an random fashion.  Some how some way there needs to be a voice of reason that changes how people get the guns ...

In my little world of having my house renovated... I have been grumbling about not having a kitchen. Than there are the people in Texas and Florida and in Puerto Rica that don't even have roofs or walls.

I am watching the sun rise, thankful for my house, my family and being able to live another day.

Quilting keeps me going on the harder days....

Irish star triple chain with and with out the chain.

I put them on point, not having read the directions closely... Than as I was using my friends design wall... I wondered how it would look as a stand a lone star.... For the 2.5 inch squares the setting triangle and corners are 16.5 and 8.5

September

The wedding quilt has gone. I am getting ready to make a pair of pillow covers to match it. I have been working a a few art quilts... started on the Irish star triple chain in blues. The star is a bit of a pig with 26 parts in each 10 inch block.

It is in the 80's right now, warm for Maine.... Will post photos shortly.

Wedding Quilts and Promised quilts

Most of June and July were spent on a trip to visit relatives... and making two quilts.. one for an up coming wedding. The second one is for the significant other of a relative at the wedding.  I feel some days like I am on the viking Slave block making boat lol.

This is the wedding quilt in progress.

350 block project

Through  Prairie Moon Quilts I have been participating in the 350 block project.  This has inspired me to keep better track of the block I make.  It also tens to have me upping my productivity close to the end of each month.

I have been inconsistent in posting.  I have been gardening more.  I have been playing with Rob Appell Man Sewing's  checker cross... and my 2.5 inch scraps using  Miss Star Quilts split rail star.

I just keep pulling the fabric out and sewing..

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh my!!!

It has been a busy month.  I participated in a free motion work shop that managed to get me over the hump. Than I went to a retreat and free motioned two baby quilts. Than the turn around had me spending two days with my college room mates. .... who are not clothies like me.

The class with Eliz Busch left me with lovely hand made fabrics and a burnign desire to get my small art quilt completed...  tired!!!

baby quilts for sale...

 

If you are interested in either one contact me. They are cribish sized.

March

I completed the two red and white squares , but turned them in before taking a photo. So I guess you will see them when the donation quilt is finished.
I have drifted into a variety of quilts.  I learned how to make the prairie braid, which is foundation pieced. I plan to back up and finish that quilt and put it away.Today is going to be a clean up and put away day.
I have really enjoyed putting away fabric in the new piece of furniture that is especially designed for fabric.

quilts

dyeing yarn

progress on savananh quilt

progress on hexies

penobscot quilt

start of my scrappy

prairie braid

One amazing storm One short month

The drift to the left was above waist deep

this was the window partially blocked

can you find the squirrel

Snow...

February can be a challenge in Central Maine.  We are in this snow... break more snow pattern.  We have 18 inches promised for tomorrow.  Fun events cancelled left and right.

iI

have gotten the 12 paper pieced blocks bordered and if I have my design wall up they would be doing the design dance.

I have been storm locked.  I had an art quilt ( self portrait that used some of this rather boring red in it...) I got a version done...and they cancelled the meeting.  I designed and finished one more Penobscot County block ( Steven Kings house) than started on Dorothea Dix...I found that pink valentine quilt also with the wonky crosses and have it in my air traffic control circling. I said yes to a three day retreat in Jackman Maine 135 for everything... food etc.. Sorry I could not resist...

Some updates on January

Some progress on the found blocks

 possibly getting some paper piecing fever here.

mid month

I have a large bag of scraps. Any one want them? Seriously... Getting through your stash one scrap at a time is very slow.
I have not bought any fabric in the month of January.
I am working on some 14.5 inch stars using all scraps..... have 6 blocks completed.

Something old...Some thing new..

Starting the 350 block count for 2017.  I picked up a pack of 9 patches at a state meeting. The fabrics were very very traditional ie I believe the 70's with that dusty rose pink.  Forgive me if you love that color but I certainly dont.  I tried a disapearing  nine patch. That looking pretty bad to me.  Mind you the blocks did not have contrasting

value. Than I got the idea to miss two blocks together. The result was chaos.  And I WASTED alot of time trying to improve it.  Finally it was give up or ... It is a small swiss dot and it does lie flat
I hadn't ironed enough before the photo. It  is a lap quilt now... Hopefully some one will love it.(Donation scrappy quilt one 17 blocks.

Final Count down two and three

Two clear surfaces.... This was a great one as I had clear and clean to pit 4 people in my sewing room. There is a clear reality that a clean surface needs stuff on it. I have triangles laid on on one, and cut down squares from scraps on the second.

Than I sewed.

Three: Commit to a year of.... I commit to using the fabric that I have.  Which is enough to cover most of the eastern sea board.