Hi! The other day I was out on the deck, enjoying the bright breezy day. And--the cheddar disk, the center of Posies, took off and fluttered away like a big fat orange butterfly. It swirled down the back lane, a baby French bulldog [where was his mom!?] gave it a sniff then it flew on. Oh no, almost out of that cheddar. I started over with a new Posy center, got interrupted, went back out moments later only to see the entire Posy block also flying away. Over a high grey wood fence, then it reappeared off over someone's truly ugly evergreen hedge, gone forever. I may have to do some pink centers.
Usually I have all my big potato sized beach rocks on my table to anchor my sewing but the recent high winds made me bring them inside. Imagine if one crashed through my windows. But I must put them out again, a scissors or a pincushion obviously lack the heft to serve as fabric weights. I'm enlarging Posies, tentatively will do sixteen, not 12. After I do the centers the rest of the work, except the sparrows, will be indoor machine work.
So now what. Recently I got out my Ohio Sampler blocks. I sadly recall hoping my SIL would sew this along with me, as we both have Ohio Valley pioneer ancestors that we used to be able to be proud of, olden day relatives who fought in the Revolutionary War and Civil War, were given land as payment--long ago. Folks of courage, vision, and hard toil. It is our history. But she declined anyway.
You may recall I make a big deal about finishing what I start but I gave up on this project, oh--could be as much as ten years ago. Factors: a similar album I did w vintage Tall Ships was called The Ugliest Quilt you ever made, mom. I loved it and was crushed. More to the point, the patterns weren't usable and I just gave up.
My copy of the Jan Patek version has no measurements or cutting instructions. [Thank you, Penny, for sending them!]
And the Shackleford book, though it has superficially good patterns, definitely states a disclaimer that the blocks herein are adjusted for rotary cutting and do not fit together as shown via the antique quilts. Again, discouraging. Daunting. I can make my own pattern, but if I buy someone else's pattern or book, I find it hard to wade through and redo.
As mentioned Penny had a complete JP pattern and did share. [Mine was direct from the J P website, they never responded to many emails asking for the rest of the patterns! ] I boxed them up abut never forgot the project. Now, opening the storage box I was surprised at how many blocks I have made.
Aren't they pretty. Favorites like Oak Leaf and Reel, below. Pomegranate and Carnation.
Though actually, as I study the Patek pattern which has a the cutest most folky, funny blocks, I see very few that will fit into my not very determined plan.
What to do? This Shooting Star/ Comet looks like it'll keep me busy for a few days.
After the Comet I want to make the Shoe, the Dog and The Cat. I know I won't use the Fishbowl although it is a classic Victorian motif . And the Eagle will be redrawn to be more primitive or eliminated. The Hands need to be rotated. Lots to think about.
A Good Thing!
Some stored blocks are also from an associated Fail. This was a paid online sewalong I started, back in the day when we did historic sewalongs [think Brackman]. But the designer was so afraid that someone would steal her designs that she only would post very blurry partial pics that were useless. Again I got fed up and stopped.
But seeing these semi-lost blocks has motivated me. It will be the Second Ugliest Ever, maybe, but I no longer care. LOL!
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Earlier, when I went out to water the real posies---and aren't my Zinnies adorable!---I was immediately bitten by swarms of gnats. No sea breeze, very humid. They'll be gone soon but I am very allergic to insect bites, so here I am back at the computer. The breeze should pick up soon.
Too hot to sew outside anyway. Opressive. I'll find the bug spray then go for a walk instead.
PS My Parriet Powers stamps arrived just now. Aren't the animals a delight.
And---my hands and wrists swell/ hurt and neck gets painful when I sew a lot. I highly recc this cream, best of many I have tried. I think it is mostly arnica but whatever works is good enough for me.
Have a good weekend. See ya soon.
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