October Quilting Projects, Plans, inspirations

Hi everyone! Welcome November, one of the most beautiful months here at the beach, plus a special joy-filled holiday at the end of the month, yes, Thanksgiving.

Editing these photos today I see I got more accomplished than I imagined during October. No work on Giraffe, though, the weather was oddly chilly and fall-like, more knitting happening than quilting during deck afternoons.

I finished Best Friend, a long ago project that I set aside when my first pug died at age 11. My dearest friend, he was a small chubby affectionate little person who filled my world with companionship, cuddles, and love. Miss him still, but was pleased to finish his quilted tribute. Yes I know they are Scotties, die cuts, in the style of Little Quilts.

He was on my etsy Reserved orders page!

Took me days to sew on the tiny buttons.

I am notoriously bad at button attaching. The spacer buttons are Victorian, red and black swirly glass, the eyes are early 20th century mother of pearl baby buttons.

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I made this TQC Postcard of the Month quilt for a Christmas gift. Pretty sure the recipients do not read my blog.

I made the pattern bigger, the original was super-tiny.

Unfinished on corner cabinet so you can see it is still tiny, despite being 60% or more enlarged.

Still waffling about the jack-o-lantern in one corner. Special duck egg blue gingham from blog friend Penny in SA.

These friends are moving and this little quilt may next year be seated under a pumpkin in the window of their soon to be built new home! 

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Cartwheels arrived back from the quilter, beautifully finished as always. [Lori C at Quilters Imagination]

Usually I rush to finish a big project like this, two years or more in its planning, begun as a Covid lockdown pick-me-up, blocks from eBay, as I recall.

But I am unsure about the proportions? Should I trim it smaller? Do the make do borders overwhelm? And--should I wash it? It has surface age soiling, but is not nasty as it is.

Speaking of washing: if anyone ever doubts the effectiveness of Color Catchers, take note of this. A couple red t-shirts in a mixed color load of wash. Not a hint of pink on any of the stray socks or khaki shorts.

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I screwed up my courage/ enthusiasm and made three of the big pieced Stars for Winter Marsh. They finish 8 x 14" , sewed. Not squared up in these pics. 

I need[ed] four large blocks and told myself to give these a try! "If awful, you can do something else". They're made with freezer paper templates ironed on the tops of the plaids/ batiks; I cut the seam allowances freehand, adding extra on all the outer sides. The first one took two days of focused sewing, but the second and third went together quickly. I think they'll be fine.

I have one more 8 x 14 block to fill. I am thinking to change things up with an appliqué block, featuring marsh grasses and pods. Again, can't hurt to try.

Another filler idea is this traditional Flock of Geese or  Geese in Flight block.

I will make the setting sun block some snowy day when I can really concentrate on its points and curves, so for now it's back to making many Wild Geese blocks.

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I also worked on and figured out the borders for Welcome Pineapple, not shown. I wonder if my Thanksgiving dream of loved ones together at my table, turkey plates and good silverware, fine wine, dear friends, will ever again come to be.

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More projects: These are my tea and rust dyed fabrics, following Julie's instructions.  HERE for her blog.

They sat out on the deck in the sun for about three weeks, drying entirely in the tea solution.

I did wash  and treat the results with Retayne, because as Nancy pointed out tea dye is not permanent. And I plan to use them on my Sarah Sporrer applique project next summer [or sooner].

The Heart was made using a tin heart mold and a rusty washer from my urban treasures jars. Interesting if not dramatically wonderful. Galvanized tin does not rust very well, I see. I guess ''rusty tin cans'' is an urban myth, as only iron and steel corrode into rust.

More pieces and fun selvedges. I dyed n assortment of cottons and linens, all results were good.

The project [in my imagination] also uses ticking stripes and rough natural linen. I was pleased to find two very nice tickings in my stash. Perhaps they too will be teadyed, I have not decided.

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Inspirations: My volunteer coreopsis continues to bloom lavishly, always brings a smile to my face as I open the back door for Mo each morning..

And color! These are IG shots , projects from color master artist Kaffe Fassett. They do call to me

More color inspiration, a small quilt, a Humble Quilts sewalong c. 2018? It was supposed to be madder, a brownish red! This is my second try, in ''my'' colors.

From TQC, these were the fabrics in their $6.oo scrap bundle this time. So beautiful. I love even the tiniest new piece of fabric. 

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Clocks go back this weekend, ugh. I find it so discombobulating. Will Mo and I have to sleep later or get up early? Will it be dark for his dinner walkies? Why do we do this, anyway? 

Oh well. Warm sunny days ahead it seems/no hurricane alerts---Fall is headed my way. Enjoy!

Goodbye, October!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

PS The tiny, teeny tiny! marigolds are perhaps this? From a mixed herb and wildflower packet?

Something pretty from artist Vanessa Bowman, especially if your summer was perhaps too short, too fast: HERE

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Scribble journal: