June ~ Quilt Update and other Frivolity

Hi! Another soft fluffy [means windy and humid, but not too hot] early summer day.

I have no quilt prepped to work on out on the deck, so I'm very glad I have my FG fabric collage to work on.

 Even though it seems a bit, well, pointless, as the stitching really doesn't show at all.

I had a severe hip pain flare up, woke up Sunday barely able to walk or stand. That means I probably overdid with machine sewing and standing to press and iron . I am also not sleeping well, plague dreams again, so scary and real, plus the very short nights--it is light here by 4 AM, barely dark at 10 PM. All  a warning to me to sit down and rest.

Penny has sent me a wonderful idea for a heat pillow. I bet we all could use one sometimes. She uses hers not only to soothe aches and pains but to keep warm when cold winds blow from her Cape down there at the chilly tip of Africa. Wheatbbags  instructions in their sidebar on the right

What did I accomplish before my sad weary body gave out? I sewed as far as possible on Baby Pineapples. This is a tryout done by the recipient, for size and color. The grey that's ''wrong'' is lower right corner. If I wasn't also waiting for the paisley backing [ordered wrong one last winter!] I'd probably use this grey. Not as ''off'' as I first thought.

Next I pieced the main body of Year in the Country [this project needs a better name! Help!? No ''country'' here...] I'm tempted just to call it The Year [of the Virus]. I decided extra sashing would add nothing. Eliminated that step. I do think it is so fun and so cute. (EDIT: Julie is right, no ''virus" words or names on quilts. I'll just stick to its real name, A Year in the Country.)

All along I've been planning to add asymmetric borders---wide on the left, medium wide at the bottom, and narrow at the right and top. [8" 4" 2"] I want it to be squarer. My idea was that running up the left side would be a panel of pieced homespuns, with a folky floral applique.

I've been collecting ideas for two years now. My name, date, title? to be appliqued along the bottom, fairly largely.

I had my heart set on hollyhocks for awhile. I have a wonderful  Linda Brannock book with hollyhocks for inspiration.

Or sunflowers. But then I thought the main 12 blocks don't need a distracting piece off to the side there. I chose a brown apron print and a green one instead, no applique.

Thought for a few days. I don't really like wide floral borders with no internal reference in the main design. Hmmmm.

Decided yesterday that I really do want the left panel and that this original inspiration, is perfect. I have the pattern somewhere, . by Lynda Hall. here

I'm going to make the panel and if I don't love it on The Year, I'll save it for this ''someday'' project, yes, more Baskets.

My favorite block. 

But I love them all. 

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This seems to be a Baskets and Pineapples year or even two or three. Since I quit doing sewalongs I have more time to explore motifs I love, many from old books I missed during the years when I didn't sew and now find on used book sites for very tiny prices.

But, well.

One of my FB groups offered these Tiny Baskets as a small sewalong! I did ! I made mine, a reward for finishing Blue Baskets.

The designer, Julie Porter, is quite creative. She stitches her pieced blocks to linens sometimes, adds embroidery and or appliques.

Here I'm auditioning my Tiny Baskets on a beautiful linen towel with handmade lace, from QB. A maybe?

The Baskets are meant to hold metaphorical wishes: be kind, have hope, peace, freedom, whatever we chose to imagine. A sweet thought.

The little Baskets are only 3/ 3 1/2" finished/ unsewed. Precious.

I also treated myself to the fun of using very special fabrics from my Most Loved basket that its on my desk but is rarely used. All/ most gifts from friends.

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And last: I am in love with this fabric!

It's brilliant cheddar yellow, more orange than schoolbus yellow. It's---um---yes, it's modern, it's whimsical. The motifs are paper boats like I relearned how to fold a few winters ago, for loading tiny cargo of my own wishes, dreams, and love to those now gone, to be set sail from my beach. [yes, litter police, I picked them up afterward.]

This fabric designer makes the most interesting darling fabrics, like Man in the Moons--pink moons, chocolate sky!--- and honey jars shaped like bears [we all have them, right?], so  delightful."Far Far Away2" by Windham Fabrics

Dare I use this print for It's Yellow? It's wildly inappropriate (but I love it, she whined).  Better order it anyway for something, someday.

Off topic, a little hint. Many quilters seem to struggle with color and fabric choices. One trick is to choose an inspiration fabric and use the color registration dots for a guide in choosing other fabrics.  I for one, never have that problem, hahaha, but I always look closely at this tiny useful bit of info. This also works for home decor choices, even for clothes.

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Yesterday was Mo's adoption day party. Okay it was a tiny party, but he had fun.

"Did you say Ice Cream, mommy?!" @@

Six years ago Mo arrived here from California, the bravest tiny mite ever.

My little best friend. Thank you, Mo! I love you!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....