I wiped away the weeds & foam. / I fetched my sea-born treasures home... Ralph Waldo Emerson







Thursday, February 26, 2015

XXOOXX Hugs and Kisses





Hi, everyone.
Before I show you my little Hugs and Kisses quilt, I want to share these amazing pictures sent to me by my friend who lives in lower Manhattan. These were taken just two days after the pics on my last post. Those showed a densely grey but unfrozen span. The following day we had an ice storm, snow, and temps in single digits. Look at NYC Harbor now!


I've never seen the Hudson River and harbor frozen like this. This is the harbor! It's salt water, so picture how cold it is. We'll be yearning for ice blocks like this in August.



It reminds me of old 1800s stories about the city's rivers freezing and winter fairs being held on the ice! [urban myth?]. This is view from Battery Park towards New Jersey/ Jersey City.



Statue of Liberty and Staten Island Ferry in distance. The ferries seem to make their crossings despite the icebergs.



Now for my little February project. As I've mentioned before I like to have a special little quilting project to look forward to when I know I'll be home alone for awhile. Of course now I have Mo, but it's still fun to have a sewing treat.
This is my project from Valentine's Day through Presidents Week. Kids off skiing in icy Vermont.



The pattern / design is from Temelcula Quilt Company's Valentine's day quilt freebie, here. I simplified the pattern. I call it XXXOOO or Hugs and Kisses.




I wanted to try out the little blocks for filler blocks for Mo's quilt. Cute, though the X has to be manipulated to turn on its points. Otherwise Mo will get Plus and Zeros, not very puggy, is it?
I used favorite little scraps, like this tiny moss rose bud from a new charm pack.


A small antique white ground sprig or shirting ground.



I tea dyed the whole quilt to make it look antique-y.




Used this somewhat awful print for the backing. It came in a recent order, and to my eye is so , well, ugly, because of its large scale---a mistake sent by the seller, I think. But serendipitously a very authentic looking backing print, so I used it up here [only 1/4 yard anyway].



The little heart charm is a Sally Jean soldered charm from my collection. I wish I had more of them, I don't think she is working anymore. Usually I use it as a scissors fob so my kids don't borrow my best scissors. [no rotary cutter for me, you know].



February is almost over. I think we'll be back  tomorrow or Saturday with the finished Flags quilts! I can't wait to see everyone's quilts. Stay warm...


Mo's bed collection that he has carried
into the warm sunshine on a cold morning 


love 

lizzy 

gone to the beach....


what's this!!!?



It tastes wonderful!
This little glass thing is so crunchy. Yum!

I will hide it from Mommy!

Your what? Who me? I never ate it,
no huh uh, not me.

late February. Sunset.