FABRIC PLAY

The large pieces of these blocks made this a quick top to gather---I still have to stitch all of the pieces into a top.  

I thoroughly enjoyed sorting and pairing the layer cakes 

before cutting them.

And now they are cut and organized into their box 

to await stitching!

Lena was looking out the window like a statue;  I didn't center her too well in the photo but in just a few seconds,

 she had jumped down!  

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

All of the large HST's are sewn and trimmed!  --  all 48 of them!

I sewed only one of the star blocks

 just to see a few blocks on the design wall!

And the large top is done with its quilting! 

Now to load the newest table runner but I will not get to this until Saturday because I have a doctor appointment in St Augustine! My friend, Mary, will go with me and we will make a day of it-shopping, lunch and together time!

 

PUTTERING FOR THE FUN OF IT!

A new block called out to me--

I made two and have the third one cut out and will piece it later today for a new summertime table runner!

I blocked out the second half of the shawl.

Left-before       Right--after

Bill and I did some front yard weeding as part of the 'Front Porch Spiffing Up' and I even spray-painted the chairs--our sunshine does a brutal job on plastic!  

 

BEAUTY

My big and wonderful sewing machine has had a hiccup and it is going into the repair shop.  I am glad that I at least have my little portable machine that I take to classes.

These are the pieces that I combine to make the corner blocks--

See, I told you it was a very fancy border!

All of my caladium are up and glorious!

I try to add another variety each year.

They are so colorful and interesting!

These are the first two I bought and they are so full and beautiful!  I love the color they provide!

 

PIECES

I made the binding,  backing and cut the batting for the table runner so when the frame is cleared of its present quilt, 

I can load this on and get it on my table!

I also enjoyed arranging and piecing two simple placemats, 

and used the leftover charms and a bit of fabric

 to make a matching table runner!

We also had some rowdy guests at the bird feeding station!  On top over the bird feeders, we have a heavy metal pan we use to feed the crows but today, a committee of turkey vultures moved in and knocked over the pan and had quite a picnic on the spillings!

 

You can see the crow on the trellis to the right of the bird feeders---he was waiting his turn!

SETTLING BACK INTO MY WORLD

Someone (Lena) kept asking me to make a 'lap' for her

 and I finally gave in--we savored an hour together!

 And then I played in the studio with the latest Fat Quarter Club that arrived in the mail! I enjoyed a beautiful time playing with the strips of fabric to make a good fade table runner!  

And then I finished the pair of socks I was knitting on the airplane! It's Stroll Handpaint in 'Left of the Dial' colorway.

Though the second sock ( on the left) pooled very differently from the first sock and I might just rip the leg out and do it again to force the yarn to make a similar pattern to the one on the right!!!!

TOO MUCH FUN

I was able to start sewing the rows together but had to interrupt my pleasant thoughts to go the doctor's office in St Augustine.  Bill was my taxi driver this time.  The verdict is that I have to go again today for a cystoscopy which sounds like too much fun.  

We are hoping to get to the source of the UTI problems.

ON POINT!

The other day, I had fun pulling out old charm packs 

and setting them up on the design wall.

Then it was a matter of pulling a solid 

from the stash to fill in the edges.

I always cut my outer triangles larger than needed so that they float the inside and it is easier to square it all up when finished!  Now to stitch them into tops!

 

A SQUIRREL OR TWO

I changed my mind about the borders around the center panel and stitched them in place.  I had bun with the heart blocks.  It's nice to do a top that is just because you want to! 

Bill decided to put up a squirrel feeder....

It is right outside of Lena's window--about 2' away!  She loves it;  her very own squirrel tv show!

 

SOMETHING NEW AND BLUE!

I have wanted a brad nailer for several years; in fact, back when I crawled on my hands and knees for weeks drilling pilot holes and hammering finishing nails into the baseboards in my whole house!!!

There were a few spots that were not quite completed and today, I filled in some of those gaps--the ones behind big pieces of furniture and this corner.

I had to pull the bookcases  out from the wall to fill in the baseboard behind them, too.

 I still have 3 major ones to attack but one is off the list and this tool is a life-saver! This is a souvenir of the grand-dog's visit. 

I will save it for another day--I am not going to ruin the piece by trying to remove it from the wall--I am going to use wood putty!

(I still have to crawl around on my knees, though!  UGH!)

When I was totally undone from walking back and forth to the chop saw in the garage and into the house over and over again, I sought comfort by piecing the batik blocks into a sweet little rail fence quilt top!  I even spent some time at the frame and the last QOV is more than half done, too!

Today I am headed to a new Rheumatologist's appointment;  

Mary will go with me and we will do our usual shopping and lunch also.  I don't know why, but I am feeling nervous about this appt! 

Just take a deep breath and pray on the exhale... 

 

MAKING BLOCKS

Because I love to piece more than I love to do the quilting frame, I did only one row on the frame and enjoyed a lot more time piecing these rail fence blocks!  I had one block left over that will end up sewn into the backing.  Today I hope to get this sewn into a top!  Which will have to be quilted eventually!

In the evening I enjoy stitching here, where it is cozy and warm!  I know, no snow here, but it is very cold at night (high 20's) which is a very brutal winter for us!  I have all of my blocks now crocheted and will have to get them all crocheted together and then add a border.  Lovely evening work!

 

DOING A LOT OF STITCHING

The Navy Blues quilt is loaded on the frame! 

 No stitching yet but it's ready for me!

I also added the borders to the 4-patches quilt.  I have the backing for this, too, so as soon as the one is done, I can load this one!

 

PIECING CONTNUES

All of the four-patches are united into a top but the borders are just  pinned in place.  I hope to attach them today.

I've also cut all of the borders for the Navy Blues quilt top. 

 I don't think I will get them all sewn in place because I am heading to my QOV leader's home to cut up 'kits' for the Nat'l Quilts of Valor Sew Day which is in the beginning of February.

And look!  I have blooms on my baby Bougainvillea plant!

 

A GOOD START

I had a pretty slow day; a new p-b-n was started which was beach in stark contrast to the weather here right now!  The new year greeted us with 29*F!

Bill has picked the Glorybower berries (cleredendrum) for me before the frost got them!  I am picking each of those berries from the stalk so that I can make a dye bath.

It is slow going, I might add!

I finished piecing the four-patches and gave up on the diagonal layout because there were too many directional fabrics that looked silly sitting sideways!  I arranged them so that the  diagonal lines show up in the fabrics and not the blocks.  Much better.  I have two borders to apply after I piece the blocks to each other.

 

START OFF THE WEEK

I headed out yesterday morning to cut some more pieces of wood to play with on the lathe.  I want to make some fancy ornaments!  Practice will be the key!  On the left are several pieces of Cypress, the center pieces are of Live Oak and the two on the right are from a downed Poplar tree. It was 52F which is chilly for us but the wind was very brisk 

so I had on a sweatshirt--not something I often wear!

Back at the house I finished quilting this on the frame and then picked out some fabric for binding. 

 I will apply it this morning, I hope!

I did play with some more of the shadow blocks-

-only two more rows to go!