Seed Packet Quilt

This began with mystery quilter's donation to thrift of the seed packet remnants. Then mystery quilter #2 donated the gray interior designer fabric (selvage from 1983) and mystery quilter #3 donated the 4" precuts. Once I had put together those segments, I knew I had to supplement with retail fabric. I use FabHopShop, not only to enter quilting-related prizes, but also to shop for particular fabrics needed to finish projects. I chose a floral panel and the last couple of yards available of Garden Girl fabric. 

Marking the quilting lines

Once I visited my mom at her assisted living center, I knew this project would be perfect for a Mother's Day gift. I had given her a couple of my creations when I first began quilting and was truly embarrassed to see my newbie quilter work. Still learning free motion quilting and tension settings, the quilts are something now I would never give away. I had to redeem myself and mom needed a new lap quilt. I had hoped for a finished product by this post but will update when it is quilted.  

Ending with little ditty on Stylactivism - Defying Ageist Fashion Rules. Link to one of my favorite bloggers Melanie at Bag and a Beret
http://montecristomagazine.com/essay/defying-ageist-fashion-rules

Retro block, cards and 78 RPMs

I continue to follow along with the 2018 Monthly Color Challenge with Green being the quilt block color for May. 

The background is a mural near Harv's Car Wash, the retro radio material from the SPCA Thrift - it is truly a "Sacramento" block.

Of the paper things I collect, one of them is cards. I wish they were dated - they look to be from the 1950s and 1960s. Here are a few of them.













I discovered this archive of 78 RPMs and Cylinder Recordings, part of the Great 78 Project.  
The Great 78 Project is a community project for the preservation, research and discovery of 78rpm records. From about 1898 to the 1950s, an estimated 3 million sides (3 minute recordings) have been made on 78 rpm discs.
https://archive.org/details/78rpm
http://great78.archive.org/

Watercolor Quilt

My next project (I keep bumping my other PIGs-projects in grocery sacks and WIPs-works in progress) is Watercolor Quilt. I scored the book thrift while visiting my mom. Here is the fabric pull. The criteria for this quilt for fabric is florals, paisleys, geometrics and theme prints. 

Instructions are to cut 2" squares and then combine the values. This is the type of project where you would need to plan out the blocks. 

Since I have immersed myself into the quilting culture, I am still surprised and delighted by new methods and techniques. 

In the first image, you can see the flimsy I've begun for the Art with Fabric Blog Hop next month. The challenge is to interpret a piece of artwork and then translate it to fabric. 

I did not follow traditional piecing for that project and will detail it more in my blog post in May.  

Patterns of the Day

I don't collect as many patterns now that there is an online repository. I only buy them for the image as I don't enjoy sewing clothing. Here are a couple from the 1950s I hadn't posted yet.

One from the early 1960s

Another from 1969

Ending with two patterns from 1970.

Obligatory Quilting Content

Oh how I love fellow AtoZers. One gal, Sue McPeak at CollectIn Texas Gal I have followed for years. Her "B" post for the challenge included some knitting terms, including "Obligatory Knitting Content" and my "O" post was born. 

Since I have identified myself as a craft blogger for purposes of this challenge, I really should post some craft stuff.  

While I will wax poetic about quilting on my "Q" post (go figure), gonna go all OQC on you with O-themed quilt blocks.

Not gonna happen to me

You have heard the phrase "an accident waiting to happen," happened this week. 

I commute 3 hours a day (1-1/2 hours each way) to Sacramento. I try to keep to the 2 Second Rule - leave 2 seconds between you and the car in front of you when traveling faster speeds. 

AWH (accident waiting to happen) decided I wasn't going fast enough down the highway doing 70 mph, so he passed me.  He then kept to his 0 Second Rule and tailgated each car in front of him. 

Then, it happened. Following too close, he rear-ended the car in front of him. I see this so often, I think to myself AWH. 

I admit I was an awful driver in my younger years. Beyond awful. But now, there is nothing or no one that is so important that I have to rush to get there. 

Allow for more time. Be a courteous driver. Don't be an Accident Waiting to Happen.  

Marshmallow Dressing

This was one of the delights I enjoyed as a kid at The Nut Tree. 

Mom and me, Nut Tree Railroad 1969

Tami, Nut Tree, 1969