Hi everyone! Yes it is Saturday. I know it's not blizzards or tornadoes or other big scary things in the news, but yesterday as I sat down to write my Friday blog post, the power flickered, then heaved a big [imaginary] sigh---and died. No excuses, it was sunny, warm-ish, not a speck of wind. A month or so ago when this happened the power company said a mylar balloon blew against a transformer. Hmmm? The transformers must be very delicate if a stray balloon knocks them out. No word yet on this one and the power did return around the time I got all the candles lit, the lanterns and flashlights set up.
Glad my Irish Soda bread was not baking--it's in the oven now.
To be followed by asparagus/ goat cheese quiche.
[recipe from my brother], his is spinach/cheddar.
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Anyway. A month or so ago I fell in love with a Halloween quilt posted on one of my Facebook quilting groups. Made by Vicki Stidham who kindly said I could show her quilt here.
This is the pattern, though I think I will enlarge the blocks.
And so off I went to find appropriately colored shirts to add to my already robust assortment.
These were a bit less expensive than the blue plaid I showed a few weeks ago. Around $9.99 each.
I also found a few non-quilting treasures, a couple of bowls. The Polish pottery with the stars is for Mo, who likes a straight sided food or water bowl. $1.00
And the art glass bowl is odd for me but interesting. My fave green, my only green.
I bought it for possible summer display of my art glass marbles from Cape Cod. There was a gallery there, in Orleans, that specialized in glassworkers' art; each visit I'd buy a marble. [as I recall in range of $30-50.oo each]. I put the marbles away because small children especially guests/ playdate kids, wanted to handle them. One child put some in his pocket to take home even! So they languished in the highest cupboard above the stove. My quandary now--I'd love to re-seed my beach's seaglass with them, casually dropped now and then. But is that littering? And--maybe sucked up by the Big Trucks? Or simply lost in the acres of sand. That might be bad or useless....So here is a bowl, I'll look at them this summer and consider.
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After hours of shopping my friend and I were tired and hungry. Too early for dinner? Nope! We decided on this cute and very popular taqueria by the thrift shop.
Not as wonderful as our old place [that fought back after H Sandy, only to be defeated by Covid ten years later]---but delish! And friendly service too.
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Back to the thrifted fabrics from upcycled shirts. From Penny in South Africa, her beautiful presented thrifted plaids will also go into the Pumpkin quilt. Just a serendipitous gift from her recently.
From Nikki [our Sparrow Mail carrier over the many miles], formerly of SA, now relocated to the US: gift of these fabulously vibrant South African shwe shwe prints. Mine from Nikki have the large trademark DaGama Three Cats printed on the reverse, always makes it so hard to cut into. You can read more about shwe shwe HERE or search online.
Last, recent great book gifts from Penny and Lori D, feeding my current uplifting brights-are-good mindset. Gorgeous books by Kaffee Fasset, and a darling inspiring Christmas project book by the designer of the Pumpkin Quilt, Cheri Saffiote Payne.
Look at the pages in the Kaffee book, fascinating record or his fabric designs c. early 2000s I think.
All the books are vintage, exceptional finds. Thanks you dear friends.
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The soda bread is fragrant and evocative of so many St Patrick's Days and Parades in both NYC and Chicago. In Chicago, they dye the river green! Or used to anyway. I was fascinated always.
Mo and I wish everyone a Happy St Paddy's Day---lots of green beer.
[not this year's pics, but the OC just arrived 2024]
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"Top O' the Mornin' To Ye" from a part Irish gal;))) here. My Mom used to wake us up on St Paddy's Day singing "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling"--she had a lovely voice...ah, fond memories...
ReplyDeleteWe are having Hot Cross Buns this weekend, but no Irish soda bread was made here this year...
Lovely books and pattern and fabric finds, Lizzy. Are all the shirts you use all cotton and can you use wovens, too?
Love the Pumpkin quilt--so cutesey-scarey;)))
What fun...can't wait to see how you interpret this pattern...
I love Mo's outfit--a "verra" Irish doggie for sure...hugs, Julierose ;)))
P.S. "May the road rise up to meet him every day"
What a lovely Halloween quilt. You will enjoy making that one, and indeed, finding the right colour plaid shirts in the thrift stores too.
ReplyDeleteNo Irish Soda bread here, just my traditional crusty from the oven bread. Your art glass bowl is beautiful.
I've not seen the Swedish Quilts book by Kaffe Fassett but have seen his recent work on display at Powis Castle last year. His colours are a bit strong for my palette. I have never heard of the South African fabrics, but they will make a wonderful quilt.
Mo looks Very Oirish tell him!
You've collected a super batch of shirting fabrics for your new halloween quilt. Fun pattern that just invites further improv with the quirky facial features! You also got a good deal on the Polish pottery bowl, and the art glass one. Is there any possibility that the glass one is from the Corning Museum of Glass? No soda bread here, just another loaf of sourdough yesterday.
ReplyDeleteHi, I have been searching and searching for the Trick or Treat pattern. This happens all the time. A blogger shows an old pattern they are using and I spend hours trying to find it, without any luck. Do you happen to know where I can pick one up? I love old shirt quilts too
ReplyDeleteI hope you got my email w info to find the Pumpkins pattern?
DeleteAbsolutely perfect shirts for that pumpkin project. The quiches look great, both of them. I like Quiche but my husband tolerates it so I don't make it very often. Kaffe's color sense is so enriching and motivating. I decorate with more subdued colors but I sure enjoy seeing what he comes up with. Mo sure looks dapper in his green hat. When my DNA results came back I was surprised to discover I'm 19% Irish - who knew?
ReplyDeleteHi via John Going Gently 's blog (nice to find a commenter with a blog!!)
ReplyDeleteI like the shots of the birds on the beach.. Don't they make interesting shapes!
Thanks for visiting, welcome. I love watching the birds, and yes , capturing their shapes in my sketchbooks. Harder than it seems, for me anyway.
DeleteWhat a fun pumpkin pattern!!
ReplyDeleteI'm so far behind reading and commenting on blogs! So sorry.
ReplyDeleteHow sad about your electricity! You've had a go of it with first the water and then the electricity. Let's hope that's it for this year!
Yummy looking food!
Oh, those pumpkins are too fun. You found some wonderful shirts. So expensive for used!
I love the Polish pottery bowl. I don't often see straight-sided bowls these days.
I'm glad you're putting your marbles in the green bowl instead of on the beach so you can enjoy them (instead of wondering if anyone can or will).
Such beautiful African prints! I keep finding yardage with browns.... I love browns. I just wonder why I never see the brights like you have here.
How wonderful to get the books. I need to go through my bookshelves and pass on some of the books I have. My daughter keeps reminding me that I have duplicates of at least 4 or 5 books. No Kaffe on my bookshelves but I have several Cheri books, and duplicates of one or two.