Late August/ Quilt Finishes

 Hello, friends! August is almost over, I'm so sad--we waited so long, counted off each frigid day, patiently waited--now boom, September looms.  School starts early, before Labor Day, unheard of here, another tradition broken. I don't have little ones in school but I  so remember secretly crying as they happily ran into class, summer already just a memory. 

A grey drizzly day like today is definitely a harbinger of change, even though Summer, oh so hot and sunny, will last well into October, maybe even November. That makes me smile. I'm still sewing bindings every afternoon. Earlier this week I finished  Merry Christmas, a tiny feather tree mat for a friend.

I had planned to hand quilt it but this much loved and cherished Santa feedsack backing proved much too heavy for that plan; 

Lori C to the rescue! She did swirls and stars, very Van Gogh, very winter night.

This was a practice piece where I used the fusible method of sewing small squares. Worked so well.

This is the binding section I accidentally chopped into. I think the ribbon patch is so cute and plan to leave it. I'm always charmed by make-do's.

Now I'm working on the final biggest finish, Noah's Ark. This is why I don't cut the binding ahead of time. It was always intended to be a crossgrain stripe. 

Loved the stripes on Lizzy's Tulips and Blue Pineapples...

But oh no, a big Fail on Noah. Those quilts were modern--Ark is primitive folk art design. Stripes did not work at all. Auditions:

even tried out the blue Cowboy Bob. Love a hint of whimsy.

But no. I chose the big bubble dot that echoes the sashiko dot on the back. [such a stupid choice, backings should scream Joy! Hello! Surprise!]  Just now I sewed one side of the binding w no thread. Time to walk away. 

I'm still struggling to fix the Lighthouse red roofs. Second resewing, all bunchy and bad. Prob why I set it aside 20 years ago.

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And I made the first K-pop Demon Hunter rockstar outfit for my little friend's dolly.  She wants three outfits,  I am not so sure. The white satin was really hard to sew.

Here's the girls who reenact the pop group for parties. 

I think I captured the ''look''.....designed  together with my little friend who who was captivated by the velvet and trimmings sent by one of my designer friends. I always save her drawings to show her the process of how her ideas become actual clothes. 

August is surf camp for the kids. Little friends is six, has been surfing since age four. Crap waves/ shore break in this pic, but looks so fun, doesn't it!!

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PS Did I show you this? This is , I think, the ''curated '' shop that sells size nothing,  fairly recent designer clothes with big bucks price tags. Perhaps the market is limited? And the vibe too exclusive and clique-y? ? I know if I had a shop, I'd welcome everyone who wanted to come in to enjoy my wares and shop. [Feeling a touch of schadenfreude here.]

Grey and drizzle continue tonight, no full moon, no eclipse view. Too bad.

Have a good weekend.

love 

lizzy 

gone to the beach....

Quilt Finishes and Storm Prep

 

Hi! Another Friday as August wanes and drifts away. I had planned a shopping trip post for us today, but my friend canceled, so disappointed. We did have excitement  briefly last night as all the phones lit up with friends being sure I got the tornado warnings (no, not til hours later!). Much discussion back and forth about tornado prep and where is a safe spot. Tornadoes are very rare here but common where I grew up in the Midwest.

A blog I read, by a woman in the UK, was very scathing and judge-y about American storm prep, asif being organized is the same as being a mad MAGA apocalypse prepper, who is also possibly AI clickbait.[??????]. Little does she have any concept of how conditions can go bad very quickly here. And of course all the UK folks chimed in about ''crazy Americans''. I felt so bad--the times I have been in hurricanes are some of the darkest scariest memories I have. It was so hurtful to read. These fools couldn't understand that storm prep is a carefully thought out, wise move! Do they really want to be THAT PERSON who stands on their roof in a flood, waving frantically at the rescue helicopter? Not me, I'd rather make a list and prepare. above and below, last night, not here but not too far away/ pics from social media :

A waterspout that became a tornado as it came ashore.

The tornado missed The Beach here, but a reminder these dark clouds can cause destruction and even death. See that little protrusion on the left underside of the barrel cloud? That can become a tornado or water spout. This is looking out my windows.

I had medical appointments this week and kinda lost momentum on my deck quilting. Merry Christmas remains untouched. Noah's Ark binding is scheduled for the last weeks ahead of summer's end, as my hand slowly heals maybe.

Here is what I finished, bath, scrunch and all. Googly Eyed Jacks is done. 

I love this border. It's actually Wild Geese blocks.

Eyes, including button pupils on  Jacks--creating mischief and horroified stares, some faces. Sooo cute, right. The eyes are somewhat wonky; this is how the primitive style pumpkins were designed--and I love, though I do see a few threads etc to be clipped.

Spidey

Pinky

Bluey

Backing. Darling panel square, called Trick or Treat, which is the original name of this design by Cheri Payne [OOP or in her FB group files]

Wonderful Spiderweb quilting by Lori C.

I do hope it fits on my front door for Halloween.

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And Grey Baskets, aka February March, as the grey echoes my long grey  lonely winters. If you're a new reader or forgot, these are reclaimed antique blocks gifted from a friend. On point setting to hold a bowl or candle etc.

Winter Pansies backing.

I'm not loving these labels--too phony/ commercial, I'll prob return to no labels, my regular habit It is having a brief showing with the current subdued display in the bench corner.

The ''marbles" are Victorian carpet balls, plus a couple repros. An indoor game like bocce.

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I'm also working on the first K-pop rockstar girl outfit. Out of my comfort zone, I hope it pleases.

You may recall I'm not good at project juggling. Too much happening = nothing happening. Maybe next week will be better?

PS Blog friend Penny found HER childhood collection of marbles. Shown in a beautiful Spode dish. Anyone else find theirs? Send me a pic:  lizzzz.d@gmail.com

Have a great week!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...