As Usual, a WIP Wed. on Thursday...

Here I am, with double layers of clothing *S*, I'll be fighting cabin fever if I don't get back into my sewing room/studio/computer central! Even dear Ebby was getting 'edgy' yesterday with 2 rooms closed off against the cold.This is another of the 4 tops I pieced last week. Parts of this one were already blocks....I always seem to make way too many of everything....or maybe I was "sewing up scraps" and got carried away..LOL Either way, it's fun to work out a combination that is pleasing to look at, and also interesting. The blocks are 6.5", and right now the top is 7 blocks by 7 blocks, or 42" square. I think I'll probably add one more row to the length. If I add two rows to the length, I'd have 42" X 56", closer to a donation size. It can just be on the hanger while I "think" about it..*VBS*
Betsy was here for tea on Monday, and brought me a packet of these lovly fabrics. The line is called "Katmandu"....part of a collection of fabrics with a Nepal flavor. They are meant to be used for embellishing.Betsy and I have a mutual friend thst own and runs a resturant in Katmandu.
Here is one spread out. She split the half yards and I got a FQ of each. I'm not quite clear on whether or not they should be "pieced" into something and then embellished or if you just start adding beads and stitching to the FQ as is. Betsy promised to make me a copy of the article she read that inspired her ordering them. We had a nice visit, I made some muffins to have with our tea and we got all caught up on grandbabies *VBS* She and DH are off to Chicago(via Amtrak) tomorrow to visit with their new granddaughter. She promised me pictures *VBS*
Thank you all you lovely gals for the opinions on the flying geese layout. I like it also, and will use it for sure. And yes, I'll send the alternate row of geese south instead of north...LOL
That particular batch of scraps wasn't hard to sew into "parts", as the HST's were already made and laying around...LOL. Making 4 patches is like eating popcorn...very enjoyable.
I'm continuing to cut scraps. I use the basis of Bonnie's Scrap Saver method, but I don't find cutting ALL strips or bricks to be useful. Right now I need the 2.5" strips and squares for 4 patches. But I am also working on a 12" Depression block top as a scrap quilt, and I am cutting 6" squares to be diced into hour glass blocks for that quilt. I have several other scrap quilts in progress, baby print bow ties for example. So I cut strips in Bonnie sizes, but I also cut squares and triangles in sizes I will be needing.
I counted things this a.m. and I have more than enough 4 patches for the Gypsy Quilter looking top, and a good start on another double 4 patch set with a bright kid print.
I don't find "scraps" to be a problem or a mess, they are my "drug" of choice...LOL. I'd rather be playing with scraps more than anything else. And even those I have scraps in many different baskets, boxes and bags, they don't seem to constitue a mess. I am finding, however, a real sense of satification in seeing them all nipped and tucked and stacked in neat piles in a shallow box. As with so many things, stacking them neatly in piles sure does reduce the volume!!! My next goal is to sort through my stash and cull out the small pieces. I will be cutting those up into designated sizes also. I have a top in progess that uses 6.5" squares of kid prints, one that 3.5" squares and I will continue to cut the 4.5"(new to me) for more Kitchen sink look-a-likes)
And I'm taking the scrap sorting one step further. Like Bonnie, I've always just tossed the cut strips into a basket or box(rubbbermade type). What I have found over the years, is that some of them have been in there so long, and pawed through so often, they are ravely along the edges. I hate that! So I've folding them along the length a couple of times and making stacks. You sure can get alot more strips in a drawer with them stacked instead of just tossed in. When I want a color I just lift the stack out and holding it in one hand, I flip through til I find the one I want to pull out *VBS* Works for me!

Sorting out.....

...what a mountain of things can be covered by those 2 words. *VBS* WI is back on the rollercoaster of weather. We had our "January thaw" yesterday...our bank temp. reached 44 degrees. Midnight found us still at 36 degrees. Seven hours later, when I got up today, the temp. was a whoppin' 8 degrees. And tossed in the 25-30 mph winds and you've considerable windchill. The Dakotas are already into double digit minus temps and they are getting winds up to 50 mph. Brrrrrrr!This won't be a very long post as I've already closed off this big room and the inside temp difference is about 15-20 degrees..it's cold in here! BUT....as promised...what I'm doing with those 4 patches and HST. This is the pic I showed a few days ago...and was considering. Several of you suggested another possible layout..
So I ran up a pile of blocks that look like this..*VBS*
The double 4 patches aren't sewn into the row as yet, and neither are flying geese units. I'm going to wait til I have all of them made and 'sprinkle' color according to where it is needed. What do you think? Do you like this layout vs. the single block way I showed above???

My Window World......

and it looks out on a 'winter wonderland'. We've had a week of deep freeze here in WI, and that has kept me close to home. Not the cold quite as much as fresh snow. With fading vision I can't tell where the edges are on the roads. Not a good thing when you are driving...so I don't. My being missing in action is due to the cold tho. My computer is in the largest of the bedrooms(master) which has a phone jack. Unfortunately the room also has a north and west exposure. One window faces east but that doesn't stop the cold impact of a west wind. So I close the door, and don't heat this room when it's that cold! This is Saturday's contribution to our snow quota. We didn't get the worst of it, just several inches.
I was suppose to go up and have a sewing day with Betsy, but I didn't. Just enough fresh snow to mask the edges of things. I can't be sure I'm on my side of the road when this happens.
But I have been busy! I have gotten 4 tops together over the past week, and a ton of stuff sorted, counted, labeled as to 'how many blocks done', etc. I've also been cutting up scraps and that feels good *VBS* And yes, I did try sewing the HST's into flying geese and I will get a pic of them..hopefully tomorrow!(If the cold stays away a bit longer.)
It seems I evoked some emotion and opinions from my readers when I shared the situation with my DD#2. And I wanted to say to the 2nd anon. reader that in sharing the picture of DD#2, and the circumstances, I didn't share her 'sins' or shortcomings, but MY OWN. She is entitled to feel any way she chooses to feel about anyone and everyone, including me. That's a right we all have, to see things the way we want to see, and choose how we feel or act or react. She has her reasons and her side of everything, and I have mine. Perhaps you don't know that all 5 of my children are adopted. Each a seperate adoption with its own circumstances. It doesn't necessarily make a difference, but if you need a place to hang things, it works. Life has given her both blessings and burdens. You can keep a wound open forever if you work at it. I'm hoping one of these days, while I am still on earth, vs. under it, she will realize the past is just that, the past. We can only change what we are doing right now, or will do in the future.
She let DD#1 take the picture knowing it would be sent to me, she could have refused but chose not to. I find that and wanting a baby quilt for her child very hopeful.

Snow Snakes and Ice Worms.....

are just a couple of the things that appear when the mercury drops to the bottom of the thermometer!! We also deal with the very real 'black ice' that car exhaust causes on ramps and bridges. The exhaust also 'hangs' in the air making for limited visibility. I don't feel alone in the 'weather extremes'....seems like there is plenty to go around. So how to keep busy??? No problem...sew, sew, sew and sort, sort, sort! That's what I've been doing almost non-stop since I was here last Thursday *VBS* BUT...my camera batteries are charging, so no quilt top pics today.I don't think I've ever posted a picture of DD#2,she's my 'missing in action' child. The 'difficult' one, the one who blames me for most anything that is wrong in her life at any given moment. DD#1 had lunch with her on New Years Eve,as both of them were off work that day. As you can see DD#2 is expecting her first child.
The babe is due at the end of February, and will be my 12th grandchild. Do any of you want to guess what it will be....LOL Yup, another little boy *VBS* He will bring the grandson count to 10! She finally called me the Sunday before Christmas, the day our get together didn't happen. I think it might be the start of something nice....at least I hope so. She answered my question about whether or not she wanted a quilt from Grandma, and she does *VBS* I have most of the top together the past few days. Will show you when I have all the rows sewn. And burp clothes from flannel, she would like those also. DD#1 says her sister really is BIG for where she is at in the expecting. We hope it's NOT twins! Not sure she could handle that.
And I've been selected or nominated by several of you for this award *VBS* I'm so very touched that you find something here that brightens your day, or gets you thinking or remembering, or that inspires you *VBS* Thank each one of you from the bottom of my heart.
I know I'm suppose to select 10 of you and visit your blog and let you know, but what I'm going to do instead is nominate ALL of YOU!! No one is left out! Please feel free to right click on the logo and post it proudly *VBS*
P.S. Someone new to blog-speak wants to know about those *VBS*....it means *very big smile*
P.S.#2 thamks for all the great suggestions about using those HST's with the 4 patches. I'm going to try a couple of those lay-outs and see what I think *VBS*

Hopes, dreams and WIP Wednesday + 1

At last, I've finally managed to get the side to side webbing done on this double 4 patch. It comes out at 40" X 46" and I think I'll add red borders.Then it can be off to a child somewhere...*VBS* It felt really good to get that VIP out of my stash, as well as making use of the odds and ends of 2.5" squares already cut.
I've had a stack of these, 4.5" HST's laying around for years now. I finally decided to sew them into these long rows until I had the width needed for a donation quilt and call it good! But with all those 4 patches from mismatched pieces....
I wondered about doing this instead...what do you think?? A row of HST's and then a row of 4 patches? Right now the rows are 48" wide.
I came across another rubbermaid type with tons cut 2.5" squares, and I spent an hour this a.m. getting them sewn into 4 patches. I'm past 400 finished 4 patches now, and I think it's easily 3 quilts worth. The VIP double 4 patch above, another one similar to Gypsy Quilter's Kitchen Sink, and maybe some of them going into the triangles quilt top. The end is in site tho, surely there can't be many more than the 1600 I've sewn up. And by the way....I didn't need to cut any to have that many...LOL. I've sewn up the odd strips(then cut pairs)and all the odds and ends of squares. While I was at it, I sorted other strips into sizes, putting larger scraps to one side to cut up.
My hope for 2008 is to finally get on TOP of my scraps, and have them in a more manageable form.
My dream would be to get them all into use, but I doubt that will happen in 12 months. And,actually, I don't want them ALL gone, altho I'm tired of seeing the same fabrics over and over.
I've never been a quilter who starts a quilt and takes it all the way through unless it's a "planned" quilt with limited number of fabrics. And I intensely dislike making that "type" of quilt.
As a scrappy quilter, I might work on a log cabin(shown as last weeks WIP)until I've exhausted my selection of 1.5" strips. Then I set it aside until the strip bin is fuller again. Same with 9 patches, or most anything else I make. If I find I have a tub full of pastel 2.5" squares(which I do right now) I'll make a baby quilt...9 patches using muslin and the pastels.
It's not that I can't "pull" enough fabrics from stash to complete a certain quilt, but I dislike ironing the piece and cutting a couple of shapes from it. I'd rather wait til I have more scraps cut up *VBS* Maybe that doesn't make sense to you, but it works perfectly for me *VBS*
Right now my stash is waaaaaay ahead of me and I've gotta get with the program and do some serious stash busting!! That's ONE resolution....LOL, there are more.

The Old River Road....

that winds its way through the countryside is as much a 'state of mind' as it is a reality. At least it is for me. The coming summer will see the beginning of my 24th year of following where that road leads me. It has become entwined with the way I view my life, my world. I no longer live at the lower end of that old road. I moved to the upper end in the 20th year. Not all roads lead you home, but for me, this one does.The old river road was very dark and cold last night. Nothing at all like this early summer picture. I can not take a picture of the road at night. Even my attempted 'moon' pictures have failed.
Last night my friend,the road, lay before me, stretching in darkness. I drive slowly at night, my eyes do not serve me well, but I manage. I have weighted the risk and found my desire to see my friend to be stronger. Jean and I had "our" Christmas yesterday. It was lovely. She and my memories are the "home" I find at the lower end of the old river road.
But last night the road had something additional in store for me. Something that has never happened before. And...actually...it happened so fast last night as to be almost 'not' believable.
You only meets a few cars on that road late at night. Except for Friday night when a game is being played at the gym or football field. Then there is a traffic.
As I drove along, radio silent, stars glimmering in the distance, my surroundings were dark enough that the moon made a huge statement, as it hung bucket-like, in the western sky. I was admiring the moon, quite a lot. But I noticed off in the distance a car was coming towards me, beyond a curve.
I lowered my headlight, slowed down even further, keeping my eye on the right hand white line...didn't want to go into the ditch.
There is the house of a retired county police officer just at the crest of that little hill, and it was next to his house the two cars would meet and pass. But what to my soon-to-be-astonished eyes should appear but a lovely, magnificent LARGE male deer! At the almost EXACT instant the front end of my car came even with the front end of the oncoming car, the deer passed between us! It couldn't have been more than a split second difference in timing. It all happened so fast you almost would think you had dreamed it.
The first bound(which I didn't see because of the hill and the curve)took him across the path of the oncoming car, and as my car almost met the other car, he bounded one more time, clearing the hood of my car and making contact with the hillside on my right.
Astonishing! I'm still amazed. A person just never knows what that old country road that leads you home might have in store for you *VBS* A gift from the Universe when you least expect it.

Foundations....

...the thing upon which we build. Not necessarily a house. Maybe a piece of paper or cloth in making a quilt. Maybe a marriage. And just maybe....a life. None of us are without a foundation. Even if that is a negative thing such as an orphanage, or foster home,or a hospital in a war torn country Your life's foundation is based, in part on where you find yourself at the age of reason, which is about 7 years.This is my foundation. My beautiful young mother and father, my beloved Grandma Lottie. I don't know what year this was taken, but the engagement was short so probably 1935. She met him during deer hunting season of 1934, and married him the following August. There is only one word on the back of this faded picture...prophesy? Yes, the question mark is there, behind the word. I'm sure the writing, which was my Mom's, was added later.The picture foretells what is to be the future.
She and my Dad had from 1935 until January of 1942 to be their own family. I was born in the 5ht year of their marriage. Then the unthinkable happened, my maternal grandfather died suddenly. He left my beloved Grandma virtually penniless and with no job skills. Needless to say, she came to live with her only daugther. And that changed the course of everyones life. But that scenario is the foundation of my life.

I stood by the stove a few evenings ago, slicing cold boiled potatoes into a smail frying pan. That was what I wanted most in the world right then. I didn't think about why or what the foundation of my craving was. I wanted fried potatoes.
The undescrible quirks of memory took over, and I followed them along a dimly lit path. What I found was my mother, standing by the stove, slicing cold boiled potatoes into a iron frying pan...feeding a hungry family. At first it was just the 4 of us, and then, as I reached the age of reason, and an awareness of myself as an individual, a new sister and 4 years later, another. That completed our family I grew up in.
Potatoes were almost always boiled at our house. I'm not sure I ever had a baked potato until I began eating "out". That must have been part of her foundation in life. Peeling potatoes to boil one night for supper, and frying the leftover the next day for lunch or supper. One of my best 'home from school for lunch' meals was a fried egg on top of fried potatoes.
As I stood there, turning my few fried potatoes, I remembered thinking about how many thousand potatoes she must have peeled, cooked and fried in her short 52 years of life. I have her black iron frying pans, most of them. Some I shared with my middle sister. I don't use them often as I dislike cleaning them.
My DD#1 called the next day, and as we conversed, I mentioned I had made fried potatoes for my supper. Her instant response was "oh, comfort food" and I could hear the smile in her voice. I never gave much thought to what or how my kids felt about being served fried potatoes on occasion. It was just "part of the whole deal" growing up in the family I raised. We had rice sometimes, mashed potatoes on other occasions. Some times boiled potatoes and some times baked. I covered all the bases..LOL Apparently she remembers fried potatoes as a good thing. That's really nice to know, after all these years *VBS* I think my Mom is smiling down from Heaven about that.

WIP Wedneday stuff and wonderful mail....

I think I'm doomed to being "one day late" with my WIP Wednesday!! But this is what I'm currently sewing on...today at least! The multiple 4 patch projects haven't wandered far. I just got sidetracked for a day....LOLCurrently I'm well past the 300 mark on 4 patches and still pulling pre-cut 2.5" squares and strips from here and there. Maybe I should get organized??? Ya think?? But sewing some 1.5" strips onto these 2.5" centers is fun for today *VBS*
In the "WONDERFUL" category, I received this lovely, lovely gift from Paula, The Quilter! I had talked about wearing a head gear know as a "jibber" here in WI when I was younger, much, much younger. Paula not only found a pattern(or 2)for them, she offered to knit one for me! What a wonderful gift!! And when I opened the package, she had also made me a scarf and put both of them in that really neat bag! I'm one lucky camper, I tell you! Thanks from the bottom of my heart Paula *VBS*.
And in my favorite last-but-not-least category, I received a box from Norma of Random Stitches. The package contained a dozen of these orphan Sunbonnet Sue blocks...a few need to be finished, but she donated them and the left over fabric to the Orphan Train project I have going. I am just thrilled to add them to the orphan blocks I have on hand. I'm sure some little girl is going to be super thrilled to have these for her very own. A very generous gift Norma, thank you sooooo much!!

A psot-a-note:The bargello direction that Bonnie has so graciously provided for us at Quiltville, are not difficult. I didn't graph out color or use EQ in doing the gradation bargello. I chose a color to start with, say a certain blue. Then I shopped my stash for a shade slightly darker or lighter depending. I even shopped Betsy's stash when I got "stuck". EVERY piece of fabric I used is a PRINT! Prints give you the leeway to introduce the next color, it work like a stepping stone. Probably the blue(just before the magent),has some magenta in it. Same with each fabric I used. The cream fabric has hints of salmon, etc.
Bonnie's bargello is done as strip sewing to result in a "tube". You make up as many sections as you want the quilt to be "wide", with the number of colors determining the length. If you are using 2.5" strips(which I did) and you wanted a 60" wall quilt, you'd chose 30 fabrics. It's very, very easy to make this quilt...check it out at Quilville.

In Search of color...

as always.If I were to make a list of my favorite things, the first thing on the list would be COLOR. Our dreary weather lingers on...it's warm enough outside for our snow to be melting, and every thing is drippy. Inside I'm feeling better for having talked about the gloom and then done something about it.I've shown this wall quilt(about 50" X 50") before. It was made using the bargello quilt pattern from Bonnie's Quiltville.The first time I made the pattern, it was totally scrappy and was just 'so-so' on pleased. I decided I'd like it better if each fabric followed all the way across. So I did one in circus colors for one of the grandsons. That one lead me to this sort of color gradation idea. After this one I made one more, in kid fabrics, for the youngest grandson. All 4 that I have done are hand quilted with perle cotton and that big stitch.
And here is today's SUNSHINE....big yellow shoes. Not sure what it is about them, but they make me smile. When I posted them last time someone thought they were CLOGS..they aren't. They are actual wooden shoes such as you would see in Holland. Not sure who painted them as I got them at a yard sale for a quarter. I've been tempted to plant some sedem in them in the spring. It would take a plant that has a shallow root systerm as there is limited soil space inside.
The yellow shoes had been in the garage with the flower pots til last evening. I brought them in so I could enjoy the color. What my window world needs today is the bright red flash of a cardinal *VBS* I'll keep looking!

Is it the winter doldrums.....?

Or just the weekend blues? The day has been long and ever so dreary. The hours tick by, one by one, the clock hands move as slow as the proverbal molasses in January. I've run and ducked. Sewn up 4 patches, cut scraps and taken a nap and still the drearies linger. It set me to thinking about time spent alone, quietness, solitude and the things we use to fill the gaps. The tv has been on quite abit of the day, some CDs have filled in spaces. But I find myself longing for Monday morning and the business of living. While I was thinking I realized I need color!Life was suiting me just fine when this picture was taken. Not hard to understand why I kept it *VBS*.
I was at peace with the world and everything in it when I snapped this early summer picture. This is what I need today, sunshine, shadows and the ability to open a window. My spirits rise as I look at this picture. But to get back to what I was thinking about....
There was a man who lived alone in a cabin not so very far away in miles or in years. It was a very solitary cabin, certainly lacking nearly all the things we take for granted. While there was electricity, there wasn't running water. I feel that would be a challenge indeed. To haul all the water you need home from somewhere else. But apparently it's do-able.
I know for certain that there was no telephone. If you needed to get a message to him, you needed to call his brother who lived several miles away. The cabin sat alone on 2 acres of land. Very sandy land indeed, where little to nothing will grow but Jack pine. It is however excellent for sand burrs and wood ticks. And a few red oaks that seem to like sandy soil. The man had a dog, maybe two. He couldn't abide cats, calling them sneaky creatures. He cooked for himself on a hot plate altho not often and not much. He did his laundry at the laundramat. He had an old oil burner to heat the cabin in winter. It was a dreary place in my eyes. Gloomy, sparce, barren beyond what I could have tolerated.
I can do simplicity but I can't do poverty of that type. It made me wonder what mattered to him. What was important. Was there anything he was passionate about. I wondered alot of things, but never why he lived there.
Today I find myself thinking of his life, which seemed more like an 'existance' to me. I wonder what the long dark hours of each day were filled with? He didn't have a tv, but I think he had a radio. Without a telephone to receive calls with, and being several miles out in the "sticks", with no close neighbors....did he sit and wonder how to fill those hours? Did he see those hours as being empty, as I do? I think maybe he read books or magazines...that would be something at least.
And what conclusions have I come to, or solutions? Color to start with. I've only recently turned off the christmas tree lights and that is probably part of the gloom I'm feeling.
And I'll light a few candles, that will help. A bowl of red apples and bright oranges on the table or counter. Some new throw pillow covers to brighten up the couch. I'll give those things a try before next weekend...*VBS*

Catching up on a Friday....

and it's amazing how far behind I feel! But I'm back with newly resolved dedication to finish up even more in 2008!This adorable little guy is a Pay It Forward gift from my dear friend Annie of Quilt Til You Wilt fame *VBS* It so warm in its colors and charming in it's flavor...I just LOVE it Annie! Thank you so very much!! Sending big new Year hugs!
And I have a finish and an almost finish to share.
I've shown this one while it was being quilted. Now I have the quilting finished and have it bound, ready to be given away. It began as an all utility quilted top, but I shortened the process by finishing it up with machine quilting in the ditch.
And I have all the machine quilting done on this one except for the border. Not sure what I want in that wide border. Something curved I think. This one I backed with flannel and it's very snuggly, can't wait to sew down the binding. I've had some business to take care of the past day or so, but I did manage to get the blocks sized for that 4 patch with blue VIP. I have them "webbed" one direction and now must press before I stitch the other direction. It's coming out about 40" X 56". I'm undecided about a border. I got some red plaid shirting flannel re-washed(with a Shout Color Catcher sheet) and will use that for backing. Very soft and snuggly.
Ebby continues to retreat from the cold weather we have by sleeping most of the day on the electric blanket on the foot of my bed. I keep it turned on low just for her, and she makes good use of it.
She hid under the bed nearly the whole time my kids were here on New Years Day, a very chilly place to spend several hours. As a result, she has the sneezes. I'm keeping an eye on her, so far she's managing to just have sneezes. If her nose gets runny we'll go and see the vet. I've had some of her picture, the one in siloutte against the window, put on notecards from Shutterfly *VBS* They turned out so very nice!
Guess that's about all that is new here. I've been sorting and cutting up scraps, a few here and a few there. I think it will be a long process, as I've let them get way ahead of me...LOL So what else is new???

Happy 2008 Everyone!

Sorry I'm late *VBS* But here I am, at last! My new year got off to a good start..!A visit from two of my kids, oldest DD and youngest DS and his sons. We're a happy bunch after presents are opened.The youngest DGS, now 4 1/2 yrs...getting all grown up with lots and lots of imagionation.
And his brother, nearly 8 1/2 yrs....way too big for his britches! He's getting to be way to quick with the 'comments'....LOL
And last, but not least, I got this gorgeous ATC in the mail last week from Studio Christine in Oz. It's just lovely and I can't imagine how she found time to make them! The fur on the boot is 'furry'...neat! Love the background fabric. Thank you so much Christine, I'll tresure it and add it to my little collection of ATS's!
I think the time period, just passed, might be the longest I've gone without journaling here on my blog. No place to put any blame...cold weather mostly, some "under the weather" myself. I did quite alot of sewing, got all the blocks for the double 4 patch finished. Just need to press them and join them up in rows. And I'm about 170 '4 patches' ready towards the Kitchen Sink Type quilt I'm working on. I've just about used up the odds and ends of 2.5" squares and strips that I had laying around.
I will be needed 240 of the 4 patch/4.5" square combos to make the top, so I've a ways to go. I'll be back tomorrow with more news and sewing stuff *VBS*