Ta Da!!!

Drumroll, please!!!  I have finished one of those forever UFOs!!  You know?  The ones that you still really like, but they sit at the bottom of the priority ToDo List.  High school grad quilts take precedence.  College grad quilts take precedence.  Wedding quilts and baby quilts?  Take precedence.  With all that precedent taking, some quilts just sift to the bottom and sit there, waiting patiently to be noticed.

Well, what better motivation than a Stay at Home order to get some forward progress on one of those I-love-you-but-every-other-quilt-is-more-important projects?  I set a goal to finish this quilt before the end of April.  Ta da!!  It is finished!!

 You are looking at the quilt on the bed.  The binding is navy blue, I've set it on top of another quilt.  There is no white border.  The color in the picture above is closer to accurate.  The design in the picture below is more evident.

 This quilt is FULL of memories!!  I was piecing it when I worked in the dining room, with my sewing machine on the dining room table and a flannel sheet taped to the wall.  I was piecing it when we had two cats who are since long gone, who liked nothing better than to maraud through my sewing space and destroy whatever they could find.  A favorite midnight treat was to shake all the block pieces from the flannel wall.  If you look closely, the piecing of this quilt is pretty intricate.  Actually, the piecing is easy.  It's the color/fabric placement that was a bear.  And now it's done, and it is all hand quilted.  hip hip hooray!!  hip hip hooray!  hip hip hooray!!!

I worked so diligently on that quilt this week, I didn't make time for much else.  I made one little birthday card, for my mother-in-law.  It reminds me of Tahiti.

 Back in December, I talked with a contractor about updating our 80's lighting in the bathrooms.  He finally got us on his list this week, and the first stage of improvements has been installed.  Gone are the cracked plastic/fluorescent light fixtures and in their place are LED's, set in oak.  The second stage will involve adding a shelf above the light box, and up-lighting.  I plan to display shells there, when all is said and done.

So, while others are chaffing at the bit, wondering what to do next, I am very pleased with this week's progress.

I even have my next hand quilting project all set and ready for quilting.  My plan was to begin by 3pm this afternoon.  Unfortunately, at 1pm, I sliced open my finger on a can of tuna.  groan.  No stitches necessary, and I had a tetanus shot within the year.  All I have to do is wait for it to heal a bit because the next hand quilting project?  Cannot be christened with a bloody finger.  That much is certain.

The other quilt-related thing that I did this week was to enter two quilts in the Mancuso South Carolina show.  I'm anxious to see if they are cleared to hold it.  South Carolina is one of the states easing restrictions, if our news in CA is accurate.  I hope and pray that all goes well with them and that they pave the way for the rest of us to regain our freedom of movement.

April has been a long month.  I do hope that May holds only 31 days.

Happy Quilting!!!

Some Saturday in April

I'll begin with a pic taken in my front yard.  It is iris season.  Despite the rain, the snails, and the mildew in the roses, the beauty out there grounds me.  On sunny days, I'm out there pulling a few weeds, tossing snails into the street, and grooming dead leaves from the plants.  I find it very therapeutic, and a nice complement to being inside, bent over my various quilting projects.

Today is a rainy day, so quilting, it is.

This past week, I had a bit of an epiphany.  Though I have literally dozens of UFOs waiting patiently for attention, I don't have the creative juices needed to give them the attention needed to move them forward.  Instead, I find that I need something repetitive and fairly mindless, to keep me occupied.  I've got so many unspoken thoughts flying through my brain, apparently there is no space for blatant creativity.

Instead, I have reverted to traditional piecework.  When I say "reverted," that might give negative connotations, which is the last thing on my mind.  I LOVE traditional patchwork!  But I don't usually have the time or the patience to create a quilt one block at a time, repeating the same pattern(s) over and over again.  And yet?  Like a jigsaw puzzle, this is the kind of activity I find that I am craving.  

When 2020 rolled around, had you told me I would be indulging in scrap patchwork, I would have laughed at you.  "I don't have time for that!"  And yet?  Now?  I have PLENTY of time for that.  I mean, what else is there to do?  I could clean house, but, really?  Is that the BEST use of my time?   If we are all potentially 14 days away from the ICU, would I rather be found with a cleaner house?  or a finished project?  Apparently the answer is another finished project...or a new UFO.  hahahaha!

This past week, as I flipped through various UFO's, I remembered my box of binding trims. Each time I make binding, I trim the triangles, stack them up, and toss them in this shoe bin.  It is to the point where the lid barely fits.  I decided that it was again time to start making them into half-square triangles.

 At this point, I usually piece them into 8 pointed stars, but this time?  I wanted to do something different.  Some of the half-square triangles yield 2.5" pieces, some only 2" pieces.  That just means that instead of one project, I guess I'm doing two?  Just keep sewing, and decide later!

 Last year, or was it the year before?  A friend asked me to dissect a quilt and find the quilt block it was comprised of.  Turns out it was a Delectable Mountains block.  I've had that pattern on my design wall since that time, wanting to make the block for myself.  oooh!  I like it!!

 Look at that!  Four blocks are even better than one!!

So, that's what I've been doing this week.  Relatively mindless piecing, repetition, working with a calming palette with a few splashes of color here and there.

And while I'm doing this?  Well, let's just say that the house is not cleaning itself.  Witness my sewing space, where I use the word "space" quite liberally.

And on that note, I hope that you are staying safe and staying healthy, and using your time to ground yourself, doing whatever it is that brings you peace and joy.  Take care!!!

Blursday

Well, Easter has come and gone, in a manner reminiscent of Christmas after the Grinch's visit.  It came without family, it came without congregating, it came without fancy clothes, it came without a feast, and yet?  It came just the same, via Zoom and online sermons and multi-family Facetime.  Indeed, He is risen!

I finished the fifth and final installment of the Mystery quilt, designed by Material Girlfriends, and shared by Calico Mermaid.  I altered the piecing of the second block, so my border blocks are unusual, and not according to design.  The colors are more vibrant than this shows, in gorgeous tropical batiks.

One step involved trimming the blocks from 9" to 8".  I used the trims to make these Easter cards for the grands.

 I thought about embroidering their initials, then decided to put my collection of Tsukineko inks to good use.  I was pleased with the results (and the ease with which they were reached!)

I made a few more masks, for family and friends, but I've put mask making on the back burner for a few days.

I continue to work on the hand quilted quilt from the early 90's.  I am hopeful that the quilting will be finished before the end of the month.  Goals are good!  I have 7 strips of color to complete.  Each strip is composed of 8" blocks, so, well, that's still a lot of blocks that need quilting.

I have to say that my days are consumed with stitching and working in the garden.  Without these hobbies?  I suppose my house would be a lot cleaner.  With them?  The house is still in the same state it was in when we first began the Stay at Home.

If I ever make it through my stash and finish my UFO's, I promise.  I'll focus on the house.

hahahaha!!

Stay safe, my friends, and take it one day at a time.
Happy Quilting!

Mask Making

I've added another 17 masks to the number I've made so far.  These are the latest installment of adult masks.  I also made some child-sized, for the grands.  These are a sneak peek at Easter gifts.  What a year, right?

Yesterday, I made some Easter cards as well, but I will save those for another post.

My Mystery quilt remains stalled at step #3.  I'm glad I didn't sew the blocks together, after seeing the layouts.  I'm going to do something a bit different in piecing one of the blocks, so I'm thinking my version might be a bit unique.  I hope to piece those blocks today.  We'll see what happens as the day progresses.

 I've been doing some baking, but it came to a halt when I ran out of eggs.  Savemart had no eggs in the store, when I went in search of them.  I am very thankful that a friend has chickens, and came to my rescue with a dozen.  Later, my son waited for 30 minutes to get into Costco.  He bought some eggs for me there, as well.

 The one thing that has not changed is that the garden is still celebrating the arrival of Spring.

We've had a lot of rain in the past week, which has helped keep people home and indoors.  The iris look a bit bedraggled today, but the unopened buds are still pushing, so I've got a lot more to look forward to in the coming weeks.

I hope that you are staying healthy, and safe.  The days are pretty crazy.  Good thing I know that God is in control.  He's got this, and will work it all to the good.  Families are definitely getting to know each other, and time?  I've always lamented the lack of time to get things done.  I have no excuses now, since all I've got is time at home, time to get things done.

What am I doing?  I'm spending a lot of time reacquainting myself with my sewing machine!  I liked the post that said, "I used to be a fabric hoarder.  Now it's called being prepared!"  yup.  There you go.

Happy stitching!!

One Day at a Time

And so it goes.  Home alone, for the most part, just me, my sewing machine, and my stash.  We are keeping each other quite entertained, so no worries on that part.  I'm continuing the hand quilting on the queen-sized quilt that I showed in the last post.  I am more than halfway through with the quilting, which feels like a milestone.  Indeed it is a milestone, seeing as it took me from May 2000-April 2020 to get this far!  I'm not sure if that is more horrifying or embarrassing.  I've been told that other quilters would have trashed the project long ago, rather than allowing it to linger in the back of the closet.  Different strokes.

I've been making quilted cards, and mailing them out.  It's a single stamp if they are less than 1/4" thick, but almost $4 if I add buttons and the like.  Here are my most recent quiltlet finishes:

 The first was for a friend who is recovering from knee replacement surgery.  I finally had time to make her card and mail it.   The second is for a friend who has been housebound since the pandemic began.  Her birthday is in a few weeks, but I couldn't wait that long.

 The next is for another housebound friend.  I hear that she is recovering from an illness, so I was glad that God set up the timing for delivery of this card.  It arrived the day she returned home from the hospital.

 And this one?  For yet another housebound friend, who is recovering from pneumonia.

So many people are stuck at home these days.  I find it fascinating how many people, who might otherwise be tempted to ignore the warnings and run out and about, have been forced to stay home.  Me?  Were I not under prohibition to lift anything over 10 lbs, I suspect I might be sneaking out to see the grandchildren.

Our local quilt shop, Calico Mermaid, has been sharing clues for a Mystery quilt.  I've been keeping up so far, having finished the first 3 clues.  Clue #4 arrived today.  I'm not quite sure whether I want to sew the blocks together now, or wait until the last clue arrives.  It might affect my choices for color placement.  or not.  I have no idea.  I guess that's why it's called a mystery, right?

Here's what I've been working with:

 The pale turquoise looks washed out in the pictures.  All of the colors look a bit washed out.  They are actually quite vibrant.  I suppose I will look at them for another day, to see if I want to sew the blocks together, or wait until the final reveal on Tuesday.  Patience has not been my strong suit.  Then again, procrastination has been.  Funny combo, right?

And I guess that will do it for now.  I hope that you are staying home and staying safe and healthy.  This too shall pass.  I'm looking forward to having a lot of show and tell when it comes to an end.  How about you?

P.S.  Our Thursday group, the Itty Bitties, has been unable to congregate.  However, on Thursday, we held our first Zoom meeting.  It was great fun, especially since we were able to include our friend who moved to Ohio.  It's been a long time since we've all been able to visit together.  I highly recommend it!!

Staying at Home

 The above picture was taken in 2011, as I worked to hand quilt this queen-sized quilt.  This particular quilt has lived for YEARS in the UFO pile.  Last week, I picked it up.  I've gradually been working my way across it.  At the rate I am quilting, I hope to have it finished by April 30.  Goals are good.

 I made a second set of masks.  The smaller masks are for one DIL, the larger are for another.  I'm hopeful that they will fit.  If not, I will move on to making masks with ties, since I've run out of elastic.  I definitely have plenty of batiks available to make many more masks.

 Instead of adding the scraps to the scrap pile, I turned some into a birthday card (above).  A few weeks ago, I cut up a worn piece of embroidery to make a butterfly card (below).  I mailed them both yesterday.  And then I started some new cards.  I'm hopeful that some will be finished and mailed today.  Goals are good.

Things here are pretty quiet.  Husband still goes to work everyday, as Ag workers are essential.  Same with one son.  One DIL has been furloughed, though she is in a health-related field.  Those of us staying at home are spending time cleaning and organizing and the like.

But, for the most part?  I'm digging through my stash of fabrics and UFO's, and trying to make a dent.
Hope you are staying safe and sane.  Be well, and let's continue to illustrate what a good investment quilting is.  Goals are good.

Quiet Week

With the quilt show on postponement, I found several hours last week in which to sew.  I spent some time making masks for my DIL, who is a licensed social worker in the medical field.  Each day she interacts with patients.  She has been understandingly concerned.  They seemed a bit large for her, but I've yet to have a chance to make more.  Perhaps today.

 I attacked another UFO, which had been untouched for maybe 5 or 6 years.  The outer border is actually a reddish violet, lighter than it shows in the image.

 I've had a break from sewing this week, as I had surgery on Monday.  The hospital was eerily quiet, with no visitors allowed.  I came home on Tuesday, and have been keeping quiet.  Easy enough, with the prohibition on getting out and about.

It rained for several days, and now the gingko trees are pushing leaves.  Ahhh, the promise of Spring.

 And finally, my iris are putting on a show.  Love, love, love being here to enjoy them.

I have pulled out an OLD handquilting project.  It is the next easiest item on my UFO list to tackle.  I'm not to lift anything over 10 lbs, so UFO's in bins are going to have to sit idle for a while.

I do hope that you are staying safe.  It's a crazy time around the world to be sure.  I am thankful to be a quilter.  I do not expect to become bored, no matter how long this Stay at Home order stays in place.  I have more than enough to keep me busy.

Happy Quilting!

STAY AT HOME

Well, what better hobby/obsession to have than to be a quilter?  How long have you personally been looking for some extra quilting time?  Looks like we all have it, whether we want it or not, that is if you live in California.

I spent the first part of the week sending out notifications that Best of the Valley Quilt Show, originally scheduled for April, has been rescheduled for October 9-11.  The response has been very positive.  It does my heart good to know that people did NOT want it to be cancelled altogether.  We have a LOT of support from the quilting community.  Thank you!!

After finishing the bulk of the notifications, I took a few hours on Wednesday and Thursday to work on a UFO.  It's been hanging in my closet for over a year.  It required about 2 hours of quilting and then binding to finish it up.  And here you go, my first COVID19 UFO finish:

I still have 38 UFO's on my list.  That is more than enough to keep me busy for a long, long time.

This particular quilt was put together with one set of blocks from a two-block mystery quilt.  The blocks were made sometime in the 90's.  When I sewed them together, the result was hideous.  I took them all apart, and separated the blocks.  I believe this is the third quilt I've made from that particular project.

hmmm.  I wonder if I have digital pictures of the first two?  hmmm.  Seems not.  Maybe scanning more old-school photographs is something I can do if I find that I have idle hands as we wait out this emergency.

Last Friday, I probably went to the last local estate sale for a long time.  I bought 200 skeins of DMC perle cotton.  There were no duplicates in the bunch.  When there were two of one color, there was one skein of size 3, one skein of size 5.

 Finally, the pandemic has had no effect on my iris garden.  The buds are beginning to pop, and their beauty is enough to calm the most frantic heart beat.

Be wise, be safe, stay healthy...

And get some quilting done!  :D

Abundance of Caution

Now that's a phrase going around a lot these days.  Close this, close that, do not congregate.

What is a person to do, when planning a quilt show scheduled to take place in one month? With announcements of closures happening every time you turn your head, how does one make an informed decision?  If Spain is closing their entire country, following in the steps of Italy?  Well, does that make the decision to shut down any easier?  I just don't know.

We're meeting this week, to discuss our options.  Once we've come to a decision, we will be notifying our competitors, sponsors, vendors...but how do we get word out to the show-goers?  We have a page on Facebook, but not everyone has found Best of the Valley Quilt Show.

sigh.
'Tis a quandary, to be sure.

In other news, I finished the little bird quilt, and took a terrible picture of it.  I call it "Sing For Joy."

I think he turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself.

Other than that bit of sewing?  I've been thinking about the quilt show, pretty much day in and day out.  We will have a plan before April 1, though what it might be?  I just don't know.

In the meantime, stay safe, stay healthy.  Aren't you glad that if you're anything like me, you have enough quilting supplies to keep you occupied at home for a long long time, should it come to that?

yep.  I am very glad that I am a quilter.  My husband?  If he ends up stuck at home?  Is going to climb the walls, because we don't have one single solitary dairy cow anywhere on our property.  huh.  Maybe he can take up quilting?

Stay healthy!!

woohoo!

I received an email late last week, from M-AQF Mancuso, regarding my quilt, "Sunset Stroll."  woohoo!!  It was awarded Best Handworkmanship at last week's show.  I am thrilled!

The entry deadline for the Best of the Valley Challenge, "Seasons," is March 15.  I've started mine, it features a little bird.  I'm basing the quilt on a picture I took at Asilomar, at least 5 years ago.  I heard this LOUD bird song, and looked around and around.  There was a tiny little thing on a hedge, singing for all he was worth.  He was definitely worthy of a quilt.

This picture doesn't do the blue justice.  It is really spectacular.

Okay, well, this little piece is not quilting itself.  I'd best get back to work.
Happy Quilting!

Checking In

Wow!  Hard to believe it's been a month since I last posted.  The days are flying by quickly.  2020 will soon be a memory if it keeps advancing at this rate!

We spent the second week of February in Oceanside, CA.  Hubby was there for the first part of the week.  I spent the second part hunkered down with my quilting.

 I had a view of the water from my upstairs suite.  Very nice!!  At one point I worked on this wonky fish quilt, but it wasn't coming out the way I'd hoped.

 Eventually I switched back to "Two Beauties," and was able to finish it in time to enter in the Best of the Valley Quilt Show.  The entry deadline was February 14.  Acceptance letters went out this past weekend.

I was busy finishing the facing on Valentine's Day, so hubby had to wait a few days for his valentine.  I decided that our little beach getaway was the perfect inspiration.

 Earlier in the week, I'd put together this valentine for our oldest granddaughter.  She will soon be 9.  I used a hand towel that I'd found at an estate sale sometime during the past year.

 I had lots of quilted scraps that I put together for granddaughter #2's valentine.

 Her valentine was 2-sided, and stuffed like a tiny pillow.

Granddaughter #3's valentine was stuffed, with a rattle inside.

 It was also 2-sided.

 Granddaughter #4's heart was also stuffed, with a rattle.  If I remember correctly, both sides were similar.

 Last, but not least, our grandson's stuffed heart also contained a rattle.

 His had this cute bird fabric on the back.  Very baby boy manly, in my opinion.

And there you go.  Some stitching has been happening, but not a lot.  From now until the end of April, the quilt show will be my priority.  Goals are good!