Cheers!

See what you can make with your Davy Crockett hat, fisherman knit sweater sleeve and a leather lace?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas...

 

....Let your heart be light.

Mmmmmarsala

"Marsala" is Pantone's color of the year for 2015. 

 I think that calls for some Veal Marsala to celebrate the new year, don't you?

Comfort and Joy!!!

The origin of our word comfort is from "strengthen" so I am wishing everyone Comfort and Joy this holiday season.  There is often sorrow and strife in everyday life, but we cannot lose heart...

Basting...

....at the library with Jessica and her pals.   It took no time at all to get this quilt sandwiched.  All I needed was a little help from her friends and a lot of "quilt talk" to keep me going.  I heartily recommend library sewing groups.  You meet the most friendly and interesting folks there!
Next??  Baste that turkey....

HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!

Wool, naturally!!

My hexies are ready for sandwiching, finally.  I have no problem picking batting for this nap quilt.  Have hand quilted wool twice and loved both the process and the result.  Needles without any stress on my hands and is so warm and lightweight that I can hardly wait to get this in my hoop.  Am planning to join Jessica's library group on Saturday.  Maybe we can have a "basting bee."

Modern Miracles

What is Modern quilting, everyone asks?  Jacquie Gering brought over 100 lbs. of examples to show the Empire Quilters guild.  This is only one of my favorites...her "log cabin" television with rabbit ears really cracked me up!

Jacquie answered lots of questions and gave her quilting story as well.  Her background in sewing finally came into fruition as a leading Modern quilter only a few years ago!  This engaging presentation won over many skeptics.  I later heard several quilters admit they didn't really care for modern quilts before...

It was a day full of surprises for me, too.  My "London  Connection" aka Dorothy Hill, was in NYC for the weekend!  It was so great to see her again...and to know she is now part of the Modern quilt group in London.  She asked about my Hexagon quilt, so I'd better get a move on....

Low-Volume Day

Naomi and I turned down the volume today.   Sometimes a quiet day is all you need to recover from 

loss...whether personal or political...

We made these low-volume blocks for Metro Mod lotto. 

  Then we had herb tea and double chocolate pecan bars. 

 All better now!

Anti-Depression Therapy

The weather forecast is for rain this week, so I am taking preventative steps against the oncoming gloom.  My Thirties Something quilt is the perfect antidote!  These Depression era fabrics always cheer me up.  I have also discovered free hand-quilting is great fun.  No marking, no rulers, no stencils...just going with the flow here.  As Gene Kelly once sang,  "Come on with the rain, I've a smile on my face."

Hampton Tiles

I saw this photo in Hamptons Cottages & Gardens magazine last summer...

...and I have been making my own version ever since.  

I will hand quilt this around each tile ( 263 in all) and revisit every single fabric once more.  Some of these fabrics came from faraway places, so I can take an imaginary trip around the world now.  Thanks again to my friends in London, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and the USA for all your contributions!

Challenge Update

Yay!!!  Naomi was the first to meet the challenge.  I love the decorative topstitching she added!  She plans to make another now.  The next one should be a breeze, now that she knows the technique.  "Keep calm and quilt on...."

Challenge

I can never resist a challenge, so I took on this project--a sewing caddy by my Japanese friend Eri.  She is a master origami maker and sewer, by the way.  

You start with 4 strips of 2 different prints, each measuring 3 3/4" x 10 3/4"  Add batting to strips.  Sew bottom together like a pinwheel. 

Then sew up the sides in some mysterious fashion leaving a few inches for turning.  I wish I could give you the exact sewing sequence, but that is the challenge.  I figured it out in an afternoon...can you?

Philadelphia

Just got a new memory card especially for quilt shows.  I took dozens of photos at the quilt show in Philadelphia yesterday.  Seeing  a real trend in Photorealism as in the quilt above...

and while I admire the skills and technology needed to make realistic images, I still am drawn to works like this one.  The Korean quiltmaker used silk organza from an old garment, which appeals to my love of recycling fabric.   I am so wanting to cut up my wedding dress now!

Unexpected

"Expect the the Unexpected!" is how Roderick Kiracofe signed my copy of his new book.  The quilts are all so fun and quirky, and very 'modern art-ish'  I really cannot say enough about this remarkable collection, so please go to Victoria's blog for the whole story...and be sure to catch her conversation with this great guy!

Who's Counting...

More hexing this week...  I watched the Open and lost track of Monday somehow.  Made some mini hexies for my little traycloth and some more Indigo hexies, too.  Jessica has her Monday Morning count over at lifeunderquilts.blogspot.com and I am happy to report I have altogether 31!  Blackjack!!

Sunflower Friend

Wanted to try EPPing a blossom for my friend's sunflower quilt.  The triangles were no problem, but the other shapes did not fit so easily.  But I know she will quilt out the wrinkles for me!  Good friends are like that...

P.S.

As a postscript for my last blog post, I have to admit I need to work on something short term once in a while...just to have a finish.  These micro mini hexies measure 1/2 inch.  The whole trayful of precut Daiwabo Taupe fabrics came in a kit from Pinwheels.  Should finish at 4" x 8" in no time.

And as promised, I sewed another page of postage stamps this week.  It looks huge compared with those teeny hexies now!  Each stamp finishes at 1inch.

Hexing Forever...

It seems like my hexies are going on forever.  Finished appliqueing another strip this week, and am  still enjoying the variety of blues with each and every one. And I have more forever projects that I am not in a hurry to finish....my postage stamp, for one.  Plan to make another page for that one next.

I have never wanted to make a quilt in a day...or even a weekend.  My favorite quilts have taken  months or even years!  I also like big books and long movies, if done well.  I just saw the movie, "Boyhood", and loved it...even though it was a very long sit.  It took twelve years to make, but it was well worth the wait.  What's the rush??

Direction

This Mariner's Compass is for a friend who is wondering about new directions.   I often get into a rut and become weary. Then I take stock of how I use my time and energy.  I try to let go of what I no longer love.  However, I do believe I will be quilting forever!!

Fan

I simply adore this fan....silk and lace always make my heart beat faster!

This was a gift from "A" very special friend.  

Souvenirs from VT

Most folks bring back cheese and maple syrup.  Pardon me, but I can buy Cabot and Camp's in my grocery store.   BUT where else can one find hand spun and dyed alpaca yarn?  and Vermont tea?

.....at the Alpaca Fiber Mill, of course!  The photo is a bit fuzzy, like my new yarn. :-)

Vacation in Vermont

I am not an outdoor person, but Vermont may have turned me into a camper.  This sunset cruise on serene Lake Champlain for starters....

The Burlington crowd introduced me to Harpoon draft.  Yummmmmm.....

The gospel sing-along at the RV Rally in Essex Junction .....

I could really go for a Winnebago outfitted with a sewing studio!!!!

Handmade

I just received this beautiful handmade card from a friend.  The leaf is hand printed and stitched on dyed cotton.  How simple is that, but how special it can be!  With a little time and creativity, we can give so much to each other.

Faded Glory

"Stars & Stipes Forever" one year ago.

Today

After hanging on my front door all year, it has faded into mellower tones.  The elements have 

 taken a toll, but it still waves!  

It All Started...

It all started at Jessica's.  I saw her helping Bernadette make a Fractured quilt, so I went home and whipped these up.  So happy with them that I decided to take a 2-day class at Quilting By the Lake.  Thought it would be a breeze.   Wrong!!!    The design was more complicated than I expected.  But somehow....

...my teacher Kathy Doughty worked some magic and they all move in concentric zig-zags...

then more quilting magic by Victoria on her new long arm...and now it's off to the QBL show!!!

Roses

The roses are blooming all over Long Island now.  I have never seen so many at once!  Must be that long hard winter we had.  This lovely bouquet arrived on my doorstep from sweet Melissa today.

Mom

My beautiful mom in 1965

Mom and me

Mom was a teacher, and she taught me many things.   Taught me to read,  to sew, and to cook.  But the last and best lesson she taught me was to enjoy every day, because life goes by so quickly.  She passed peacefully yesterday at the age of 94.  

"Thanks, Mom!!!  I love you, too."

Monday Morning Progress

Another row done this week.  I have 12 rows and several more to go before I quilt. 

 The beautiful weather has been great, but it also keeps me outside pulling weeds!  

Give Me Liberty...

Give me a Liberty print and I will find a place for it.  This one dresses up a wallet kit I purchased from BumblebeansInc.  I absolutely love it!  Now what shall I cover next?  

Personal Favorites

I saw so many wonderful quilts at the Eastern Long Island Quilters show this weekend that I couldn't possibly share them all.  Will point out some personal favorites instead...like  Norwegian Wood by Chris Gordon.  Maybe I responded to it because I am Swedish??

I spent a lot of time looking at every stitch, and I could only imagine how much fun this quilter was having making them.  (Always felt that Norwegians had more fun than Swedes)

Here is a border detail of a gorgeous applique quilt that grabbed and held my attention.  Those gold leaves are silk and the embroidery simply exquisite.

And speaking of gorgeous....more personal favorites of mine at the show!!!

Memorial Monday

Celebrating Memorial Day Monday making Monday Morning Hexies.

 I am remembering folks who have sacrificed for our country, and I am sad but grateful.  

I am missing my late husband who planted many beautiful perennials that give me everlasting joy.

I am thankful that bees are making a comeback. 

I'm glad that nature can produce miracles even after a relentless winter,

  but my garage won't paint itself!

Just as soon as I finish another hexie strip....