Looking Ahead

Hi everyone! January and this is indeed a dreary day, dark grey dripping rain. Better than snow of course and if I was feeling well, I'd bundle up for a nice rainy beach walk. Not to dwell on illness but yesterday was the first day since mid-December that I have felt even somewhat normal. Quilting recently bores me to tears, as does reading, knitting, sketching--well, everything. Yet having end of year projects to finish--requiring no thought!--has truly been a blessing. A reason to walk into the sewing room and do something. I finished binding Old Red Baskets last night. I so hope to find striped tulips for at least a brief photo shoot. 

And I cut out and set up the final Snow Babies for Silent Night.

Re-found the hat pompoms and eye buttons for the animal's. too.

The little make do Christmas quilt needs its stars quilting, had that set up but undid to do pants hemming favor with useful but ugly knit specific cover stitching.

The house is again blue and white with a few interesting deep red touches for warmth, including a lovely gifted knitted throw from Boll&Branch. I'm momentarily bored with displayed quilts/ kitsch/ twee, clutter though I enjoy my winter drieds/ big bowl with new orange neroli candle: 

I wanted dried pomegranates, but they're wildly expensive. So I'll dry a few or maybe new orange pomanders would be fun?

Having said NO handmades, I am so in love with this remnant of an Ocean Waves quilt. It was a gift in my box of antique treasures from my brother and SIL. I think it is so refreshing. Maybe it will be a pillow after all?

So back to Winter of 26, what's on deck besides Noah's Ark patches turned into a top and off to Lori C for her magic?

 Usually I have the winter sewing all planned out. I had thought to make a 250 USA commemorative project. They are just so fabulously interesting in another 200 years! This was a choice: https://www.janpatekquiltsinc.com/product-page/liberty-garden-book

Or this for a smaller faster piece:

I think from Julie Porter though a pattern isn't really needed.

However with the politcal reality here in the US, I am not able to celebrate. So what to make instead. This fun Fall cutie was near the top of the maybe list--but I have so many, too many Fall quilts and only a few weeks to use the. 

Pat of its appeal was the very plain Cats Cradle [Puss in the Corner/ Variable Nine patch] nine patch background blocks.

These were ideas I like, a bit modern?

Explore String quilts?

I esp love this one, Boardwalk:

And this from TQC

, though I get confused by her ojos and always give up. [I'll make Julie's method instead if I make this one.]

For more primitive ideas: This darling Baskets, sent by Penny. Good colors, texture, interesting layout....

 But it's BIG! And if reduced it becomes too Bramble Berries?

This Cheri Payne Sampler---since Whatnots was so fun. Add in the challenge of searching eBay for affordable old blocks for the borders. [another that is rather large tho, 36 x 42" ish]. Note the old pattern photo, 1980s/90s has darkened and run, my colors will be prim but bright as one would expect.

And last-ish but a probable, this Miami Ohio sampler

a traditional regional style from my pioneer families' part of Ohio. [Once we were so proud of our land grants further south in south central and south western Ohio. Oh how history has been rewritten. No judgement as to better or worse, just confusion, where we once had pride and patriotism.]

 Anyway, I started this about ten years ago based on two patterns. In one  book it clearly states the block patterns don't fit together! And the Jan Patek version had no measurements at all. I can make do, but was discouraged; gimme a hint?  And so, a  a rare occurrence, set it aside. Penny to the rescue a few months ago. Her pattern has all the measurements! It will be a good deck time hand sewing project, I think, as would the Cheri Payne Sampler above. Images are an antique Miami Valley Samplers from my files. I believe there are about ten quilts in this style from this late 1800s community.

I think this is a modern version, maybe Lori D's [Humble Quilts? version.

So what do you think? Any opinions or suggestions? Yes I said No More big quilts but during Christmas as I refolded the little quilts--so many! a hundred? Why?

.............................

Mo is back from rainy day walkie-roo.

He has been a lovely boy for me as I struggle to regain energy and focus. Zzzzzz

And something to notice, to look forward to, tho I don't know why my local weather feed showed Philadelphia
instead of NY?

Have a good week! January is almost over, hahaha.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....