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). 

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."

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/

It wasn't me and wedding quilt prep

Leading off with "What do you do when the Mr. discovers your stash?" Fabric stash people, the other stuff is legal here in Northern California.  

Do you claim it isn't yours?
Do you insist you are holding it for someone else? 
Do you find other hiding places? 
Do you feign ignorance? (It wasn't me)
I'm so busted. 
Progress on the wedding quilt patchwork piecing is turtle pace, but coming along. This is totally off list for any of my quilting challenges, but I decided this would be an amazing gift for my hair stylist June bride. 

First layout revealed I need to make more blocks. I was going to border and sash the four patches in grey, but now I think I will just sew the four patches together on point and finish off the corners and edges in gray. I am determined to make this quilt from just my stash. 

Second layout just to get a head count revealed I still needed more blocks, thinking 12 ought to do (I am just about out of all low volume fabric at this point). 

I am also being pickier about my work, literally. If the points don't match on the four patch, I rip out the seams and try again. I hate to admit on a couple of the four patches, I had to do over again 3-4 times. 

Finally found fabric in my favorite form - in bulk. A $10 purchase at SPCA thrift, hoping there will be something useful inside. 

Shamelessly showing off
bottlebrush in bloom

There was some prequilted stuff I don't like. Luckily, some Cranston print yardage and other fabrics saved the investment.

Facebook quilting challenge prompt for May is #4, my black/cream/pink quilt. On my wish list, but no plan in mind. Another punt.

I am still working away on my magnolia needlepoint with the intent of giving it framed to my mom this Christmas.  

Patchwork Times challenge prompt for May is 11 which is my art with fabric blog hop quilt. It is partially quilted but my machine insists on only piecework right now and will not quilt without skipping. Drives me crazy. 

So, do you have to hide your fabric (or any other) purchases?  

Sometimes it's a unicorn in the laundry room

I admit I am a kid at heart, this thrifted Circus Circus Las Vegas plush joined my collection.  

I picked up this trio of mystical creatures a few years ago. The Friends Cherish Each Others Dreams unicorn cross stitch was also  a thrift shop find.



Rounding out this passion for purple is my hydrangea.

Quilting and sewing have taken a back seat to gardening now that our weather has turned gorgeous. This is my first year I have made a concerted effort to start my garden from seed. It is a lot of work! I take the sprouted seed and plant it in a bio degradable or leftover planters. They then await permanent planting in the greenhouse.

 

The beds outside the greenhouse are planted with zucchini, arugula and heirloom tomatoes. Another bed is planted with aloe vera, now joined by rhubarb (2 year nursery matured) and an artichoke. Once summer dries all of the surrounding vegetation, we might have to electrify the fence to keep deer out.  

One year we had the start of a wonderous artichoke plant, the next day the plant was withered and dead. Some critter had eaten the plant at the root and that was the end of that. Our new cat Susie is  quite the hunter seen routinely with a captured mole. I am hoping she will solve our mini mammal problem.  

My only thrift purchases over the weekend were a small framed picture and a scarf (total $5). With pictures, I upgrade. This deer themed print was double-matted and numbered. I thrifted back two other framed pictures I had previously purchased second-hand. 
The scarf I knew would go perfectly with a top found a couple of weeks ago. 

Wishing everyone a delightful Easter weekend!

Going Gonzo Gardening

As a follow up to the Quilty Orphan Adoption, a small group of quilters that offer fabric, quilt blocks, etc. to other quilters, I sent out two boxes, recipients posted here, and threw my name in for these seminole bands offered by Nann at withstringsattached.blogspot.com.

Even prettier in person

She mentioned she might send fabric, or a book, or a pattern, and Boy Hardy, did she! All kinds of fabric, a pattern and a slew of books with my favorite being an OBW (one block wonder) and Mad about Plaid. My interest in a colorwash quilt is waning and my interest in an OBW has taken hold. 

My hair stylist is getting married in June and I would like to surprise her with a low-volume bed-sized quilt utilizing fabric remnants of pastels. I did a fabric pull and cut 5" squares, chain pieced a few and will see how it turns out. 

Linking up with Jennifer at inquiringquilter.com for:

Thrifting didn't produce much even though I hit up 5 shops. My finds included a summer shift, blue patchwork maxi and a larger hoop for my hexagon hand quilting. 

On the gardening front, I've got quite a few seedlings growing in the greenhouse. So far they include heirloom tomatoes, purple carrots, arugula, beets, peas, sweet peppers, beans and onions. Northern California weather has been stunningly beautiful so I have spent every moment outside. My goal is the have the greenhouse jam packed with edible goodness. Images to follow in the weeks to come ~

Quilting IRL

Having taken the month of March off for quilting challenges, April's prompt for UFO Challenge over at Patchwork Times is 11. That was my patchwork crazy prompt highlighted on qwilt-qwazy-queens-and-doodle-quilt.

The FB prompt for American Patchwork & Quilting's UFO Challenge is 5. The vintage blue quilt is in the queue but I am not ready for it. I continue to winnow down my fabric stash by giving it away to thrift shops or on a quilty-orphan-adoption. 

I had the California holiday of Cesar Chavez on April 1 and finished a project sent off to the longarmer. The creation will be highlighted on the Nifty Novelties blog hop, my post to go live on May 24.  

Looking ahead, I have three quilts in sandwich form. My machine has gone to the shop with it skipping stitches when I use the walking foot. 

I really have to turn my attention to piecing my daughter's quilt. I won't have to worry about running out of fabric because I bought more than enough. 

Finally, I found a quilter Bernie at needleandfoot.com who encouraged her readers to post comments about their mistakes and blunders encountered while quilting. 

I have many rookie mistakes because I taught myself how to quilt. Let's dive right in!

Mistake No. 1: Not keeping to the 1/4" rule. We all know what happens, fabric skews and that pretty grid you were going for is now a mess. Threw away my first quilting attempt. 

Mistake No. 2: Misunderstanding of fabric values. My second attempt at quilting was a log cabin quilt in blue. Blue, blue, blue and more blue. I still have that one, it was also a study in free motion quilting, "study" being the operative word. Let's just say it is not an heirloom quilt. 

Mistake No. 3: Not knowing your limitations or the limitations of your machine. Now this mistake I have been doing much better on. I have given up the idea of quilting bed-sized quilts on my domestic machine. It frustrates me and I don't like to do it. Free motion quilting hurts my wrists and back. It was time to concentrate on perfecting my piecework. 

There you have it, my mistakes were mainly early ones in this craft, but like anything practice makes perfect.