Unicorns and Undergrowing

Pattern of the day is from the coastal sourcing series last month, a 1986 Kalico Kastle Unicorn/Horse sewing pattern.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186478083339

Seller update: There 36 sewing patterns waiting in the wings to be listed. I really have to concentrate on other categories since I am running out of space in the plastic tubs. What I like about my sewing repository is that these items are small and easy to store. 

I am considering pulling all books from the listings, with the exception of Bibles. 

I hover around 2,600 active listings. I anticipate the summer will be slow. I like to leave town for a few weeks at a time so I put my eBay store on time away. 

I have sold or thrifted my work-related clothing. I had quite a few Hawaiian dresses but I undergrew them. My clothes closet now includes:

8 maxi skirts
10 mid-length/pencil skirts
5 dresses
1 formal gown
10 pairs of pants
Over 20 long sleeve, short sleeve, graphic T shirts each
Over 20 cashmere sweaters

The fan quilt is in celebration of my 65th birthday. I returned to my original fabric pull and went with a lavendar feedsack backing. I also decided to go with a cotton batting, rather than wool, because it really is a summer quilt. I will reveal the finished quilt after its return from the longarmer. 

I purchased another mystery box of patterns from an online auction. For older patterns, I replace the plastic sleeves because they usually look dingey. 

We are concentrating on withstanding this 100 degree heat wave in Northern California. I can't head for the coast because I am still working through the end of the month. 

Why I Turned Off Comments To My Blog Posts

I have turned off comments to my posts. Random posts of mine kept creeping into the most popular blog posts. When I clicked on one of my Christmas eve posts from 2019, one comment was a string of language I could not read. 

Looking further into past comments, another post that kept popping up was from many years ago. On each of the comments, a small combination of letters and numbers were posted. That was it. Apparently, evil actors were posting those funky comments on my blog and directing others to it. If you click on the comments tab in blogger, you can view all comments on your posts. 

Gonna fix their wagons. I deleted all of the suspicious comments. Now, no one can comment. Even if you email me, I rarely check that email inbox. 

Moving on to seller update: I removed the one test item I had for sale on Etsy. It was a tiki bar quilt. Etsy seems to be having its problems. I figure nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

Sourcing during my vacation produced over 50 sewing patterns for me to list. There was one colorful needlepoint I put with my keeper projects. 

Pattern of the Day from the coastal sourcing lot is one from 1966. It is a keeper too because it is cut, cut, cut, the Gonks Galore!

 

Online auction observation - seems people get the idea of jewelry crafting and then abandon the projects. There are bags and bags of jewelry "remnants" for sale. Of course, the same could be said for any craft. Good intentions with dreams of 💰 

Greenhouse update: The plants have eluded animal attack so far. 

We are just now experiencing heat in the 90s. That means the grasses will be drying up and water will be harder to find for the wild animals.  

May Weird and Wacky

Leading off with a couple of artistic gems from a Fort Bragg, California thrift shop. 

These boots are made for ...

I frequented the Freestyle Clothing Exchange in Sacramento to discover those kinky boots. 

These weird and wacky paintings were displayed at Scout Living in Sacramento. 

I made it as far as snapping a picture of this album cover. I gots no explanation!

Ending the post with something wonderful - a button sun catcher.  

Almost But Not Quite - Patchwork Cupcake quilt reveal

I had saved the Patchwork Cupcake reveal for the California State Fair in the Almost Edible special crafts category but it was not chosen for exhibition. Approximate total time invested on the patchwork piecing, quilting, and beadwork: 50 hours. 

Ah well, dealt another blow but that is what a competition is about there are winners and losers. 

Fabric as a medium in crafting is not the easiest. The material will skew as it is quilted maybe even more so when it is straight-line. You can see some of that in the lead-off image. 

On improving technique, I am on a notification list for sewing lessons at the sewing center. Since I am self-taught, there is always something I can learn. I am looking forward to taking classes during the day, any day of the week. One month to go until I am a newly-minted retiree. 

Enjoy Patchwork Cupcake's reveal. I am striving for a State Fair ribbon, maybe it will happen someday. 

Sunday Chat and the Fan Quilt

I saw Sunday Chat on another blog and enjoyed her post. frommycarolinahome.com/2024/05/19/sunday-chat-garden-and-quilt-show Her format is similar to mine. She had a skosh of quilting tidbits and a bit of gardening news. 

Garlic chives in bloom. A deer-proof item in my greenhouse. 

I have been dragging my feet on the completion of this Fan Quilt. I have changed my mind three times on the design of the outer border. 

First, I had these blocks I was going to add. But their purple was too purple and they overshadowed the purple inner border.  

Then, I had a couple of jelly rolls that I combined thinking it would make up a piano key border. It just didn't mesh. I will save that piece for another project. 

I decided on a 2" batik border. This fabric I had pulled from the very beginning but wasn't sure how to work it in. 

I completed the backing long before I completed the quilt top. Photographed sideways, you get the drift. The middle section was a pieced portion bought in an online auction lot. 

Next quilt project queued up are these colorful blocks I bought recently at auction. Also pulled are some jelly roll strips auditioning for inclusion. 

Greenhouse update: All of the plants are coming along fine. Hope and pray an animal won't break in and ravage them, thus the chicken wire. The front entrance to the greenhouse is open but blocked by the former greenhouse door. Nearly all of the roof panels are missing so sunflowers can grow right through the roof. 

Heading to a bridal show today with my daughter, her bridesmaid, and the groom's mother. My first bridal show event! 👰

Vacation begins in a couple of days, I intend on doing no work. Taking a couple of books to read out on the deck. 

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom at a skating rink in Portland, Oregon (1995). I am about halfway through our family photo archive from her estate.

Pattern of the Day from 2009 - the best of the bunch from my latest eBay listing session of 36 sewing patterns. So colorful and spring-like. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186438806078

The Mr. and I came late to the party using an air fryer to cook food. What a delight! Grilled cheese sandwiches are now air fried. A great invention. 

A month to go to retirement. Actually, less days working days as there is a 9-day vacation planned for the end of this month. 

I am taking another couple of bags of clothing and shoes to the clothing exchange. Winnowing down my clothing even further. My go-to outfits are winter: corduroy pants, lightweight long-sleeved t-shirt, cashmere sweater; summer: T-shirt, skirt (preferably made in an irresistible print fabric), and Birki sandals. 

My Women in Art college class is completed. I really enjoyed this one. It was a revisit of those female artists I already knew, and some new ones. 

Treated myself to thrifted piece of artwork. I paid $24.99, framed, matted, and under glass. An unusual piece - I love it 😍 

I also updated my home office with the following textile art. Maybe my place-to-be in France? 💞

Plans are for lunch at a local restaurant with the fam. Enjoy your day!

Thrifting the Day Away and Deep Drop Fishing

Outfitting the summer place is the focus now. This ship's porthole clock was a $20 hospice thrift shop find.  

I have gone through a spate of buying at online auctions. This purchase nearly $50, included some really nice quilt blocks, a couple of packaged fabrics, and a jelly roll. 

Those blocks are destined for my fan quilt if my instincts prove right that they will fit right in. 

Pattern of the Day is from 1974. A keeper because it is cut and in such bad shape. Patterns from the seventies have moved into the rare category. 

On a totally different subject but related to vacation and retirement, the Mr. and I will be entering the world of Deep Drop Fishing. For us, that means ocean sport fishing at depths of 200 feet or more. We will also be using electric reels and other fancy lures and bait. I will report back on our success on that new type of fishing.