Monday, May 27, 2019

Wedding quilt for a June bride

What a wonderful way to kick off upcoming June with a finished quilt top and backing whose final destination is for a new bride. I used up the entirety of my low volume fabric creating this twin-sized quilt. 

I had grand plans of setting the four patch blocks on point but made the blocks with a 1-1/2" border and sashing and didn't like the look. I set the project aside for a couple of weeks. Then out came the seam ripper and I deconstructed what I had done.

Since I want my piecework to improve, I took care to match all of the seams in the blocks. There was a lot of redoing in my quest for excellence. 

I wanted to make this as big as possible with my fabric on hand. I saved all of the smaller precuts so I could make the big piano key border. This quilt used up all of my low volume and feedsack fabrics. 
I will update the post after I "quilt by check," so this will be ready to be gifted in a couple of months. 

Linking up with emsscrapbag.blogspot.com for Moving it Forward Monday.

Making an appearance also at myquiltinfatuation for Needle & Thread Thursday. 

Saturday, May 25, 2019

What can be done with a bag of remnants?

Post title sung to "What Do You Get When You Fall In Love?"
I had seen this bag of remnants at thrift before but I passed on them because I had just donated a large bag of the same. Half off day this Memorial Day weekend meant the remnant bag was only $2.25, so I thought "why not?" 
I knew the work involved to process this material.
It had to be washed because no matter how clean the home, fabric picks of the occupant's scent. 
I ironed the material while still damp and then trimmed. It turns into a tangled mess when you don't use a mesh bag. I had too much fabric to use that technique this time. 

This aqua/orange companion fabric of different sizes and cuts can be worked into a sampler. There were a few pieces of feedsack prints and others, all keepers, no uglies.  
When I first started buying fabric secondhand in bags or lots, I would separate it all by colors. Now, when I see mystery quilter had purchased a fabric collection, I keep those pieces together. 

I hope to get some quilting done this weekend as I bought a new walking foot and some size 16 needles. Fingers crossed my next post will feature a bound quilt. I am also shooting for completion of my composition quilt for the county fair. We'll see, I have been highly unmotivated now heading into the summer months. 

On my creative plate now are the composition quilt (nearly quilted), the vintage fan quilt (needs to be bound), the nifty novelties quilt for a hop this August (needs to be bound), and the  magnolia needlepoint I began on challenge this February (1/2 complete, goal to finish by November to have framed). 

Monday, May 13, 2019

Visible Monday and pre-retirement ponderings

A blogger that I haven't linked up with in a long time is Patti at notdeadyetstyle.com. She hosts a Visible Monday where she encourages others to "Just compose a post that includes any outfit, accessory, piece of jewelry, hairstyle, cosmetic or other adornment that makes you feel more confident, alive and visible that day."

I pronounce that my outfit centers around a piece of jewelry, a pendant necklace by Marjorie Baer. It was one of those thrift shop finds that make you exclaim out loud, "I found it!" More for your benefit than for any others.



My mother also collected numerous pieces by Baer, mainly clip-on earrings. While I was growing up, I didn't really appreciate her modern sense of style. I was all into the romantic, frilly, fluffy, lacy type stuff. 

While the Mr. doesn't like camo, I love it. This is a pair of way-too-big-for-me pants, perfect for being out and about on the property. My usual footwear is hiking boots (camo ones too) but opted for these cute and comfortable Birkenstock quasi-gladiator sandals. 


I am sure some of Patti's linker-uppers are in my peer group. I turn 60 next month and it still boggles my mind. I don't feel 60, at least the majority of the time. I will be retired at the latest when I am 67, at the earliest when I am 63. 


What does one do all day when there is no job to go to? I have been honing my quilting craft but there are some days when I question whether that activity could carry me through. I could go back to college, but to what end? I stopped taking further job-related coursework because the expense didn't justify the means to an end. I have considered becoming a musician again (former French hornist and violinist), maybe even becoming a song writer. 


There is also so much need in the volunteer world. One could say I am cut out for being a thrift shop volunteer. Maybe I could be a neonatal baby cuddler.


Then the mantra will be, "So much time, so many possibilities."

Thursday, May 9, 2019

Greenhouse update


All of that seedling generation the last two months meant I could finally plant them. I still have the center row and part of the back row to fill up. 

The garden beds outside of the greenhouse duplicate what is inside with the exception of rhubarb, zucchini and artichoke. Those plants all tend to need lots of room. 

My crafting has suffered because of my gardening and the Mr.'s insistence on housecleaning (say what?). I have also been stricken with some form of eczema on my hands and feet. Hoping my dermatology specialist appointment at the end of this month will shed more light on my condition. 

I just discovered a blog hop highlighting Christmas projects for those who have the time and energy for that.
creativeblondeblog.wordpress.com/2019/05/09/christmas-rapping-plus-giveaway/