Summer Blues

 

Good morning! I got so busy yesterday, bedazzling a child's camp shirts, shorts, hoodies---I forgot to write my Friday post. Eeek. I kind of lost count of the days with the contractor and crew here, so unexpected. They have finished. Wonderful repairs; a few jobs not done because they need more planning. But what was done is fantastic,

I did remember to light my Solstice candle and to welcome the full Strawberry moon.

Coincidentally yesterday's Modern Tarot draw:

Now I must get my thoughts back together for a productive happy summer. Mo insists that a freezer full of doggy ice cream and evening walkies is all. we. need.

The Favorite Things [my name] vintage blocks from Sarah Sporrer. Next is the Pineapple.

And I want to do the Giraffe pull toy.

The pattern for Noah's Ark came. 

I'm making it at 75%, in shades of blue. My working stacks, below, including wonderfully perfect choices sent from Penny in SA.

And my collection of modern-ish blues in the cupboard, yes, I know it all needs refolding but the workers were using my stepstool.

I'm going to try this new-to-me applique paper. It's like freezer paper to use, but the magic is one need not pull out the paper. It goes away [ mostly?] when washed. Before I start, I want to make a tryout swatch, just in case it's a gloppy mess of wet Kleenex in real life.

My quilter has had machine issues; I am still awaiting my quilts. I did tell her not to rush. I'd rather wait and be sure her equipment is working. But that means no lovely mindless hours of binding sewing just yet. So other projects resurfaced for consideration

I have this much loved worn out blue and white quilt to repair. 

This is rather embarrassing, I found almost the same pic ---from 2017!

...when looking for Mo baby pics. Problem is, I love the quilt, I want to fix it, but get discouraged. Closer I look, the more tattered it reveals itself. But I could at least make maybe three replacement patches to sew over the worst damaged areas? Get started?

I also have this quilt to take apart, a Mennonite top from Illinois.

It was my mom's; I lent the top to a friend who without asking me, had it ''finished''--as in tied or knotted, not quilted, using very puffy polyester batting.  It is very thick and hard to store. She used it for years in her sons' summer bedroom and one block is very frayed. Edit: Many blocks are very frayed. The original blocks were made with that early 20th century very frugal 1/16" seam allowance.

My plan was to undo the ties, fix the blocks. Maybe switch out the ghastly fuchsia for light cheddar. But just now, on close inspection, I decided it is hopeless, and have no idea what to do. [I should give it back to the friend!].   The cheddar in real life is not baby poop brown!

I did a little work on BB1, auditioning the KF Rainbows for a border. Was surprised it didn't work at all. 

Next week Ill sew the Beachballs on instead, then I can estimate how to take apart my nine-patch top from eBay If it all goes smoothly, that may be ready for the quilter by, August?

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On a positive note, some pics from a friend who def knows what she is doing. She designed and made this gorgeous HUGE 102" x 102" blue and white beauty for the bedroom in their new house. I love it so much.

Note how the slightly Art Deco feeling of her design melds so beautifully with their Art and Crafts antiques.

I think that's the first quilt she ever has had longarm finished; she does beautiful hand quilting. And then there's this wonderfully authentic Airplane quilt. Great colors and design. Her photos aren't compatible w my upload system, sorry for sideways.

Another  beautiful blue of summer: the hydrangeas just this week have burst into bloom.

We're back! Rushed in from dinner walk by a sudden rain squall. I don't mind getting a bit wet but there was lightning. Mo was baffled, had to be coaxed home with promises of "yum-yums', a word he knows well. Enjoy this lovely last few weeks of June!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

oh look, the Painted Coreopsis did reseed and regrow. Not as lush as last year, I must allow more seeds to form this year.

And my friend's red campion reappeared also.