Gone To The Beach

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

The Escape Artist

Hi everyone! Wow, break out your bikinis! The temp today has hit 40*. It's drippy and grey, but ''warm''---8" of snow coming this evening though.

the neighbors' koi pond

Last week I had a medical treatment that leaves me very groggy and sleepy, so Mo was invited to spend the weekend at my friends' house while I recuperated. Mo adores visiting my friends and is usually a very good boy. We didn't even lug his crate next door, he gets to sleep on the bed when he visits.

But this time Mo was a naughty boy. He cried when my friend left the house! OMG, so sad. [at least he doesn't bark.] On the first night he woke my friend up late in the evening and insisted on having a run on the frigid snowy and very dark beach. Yes, Mo was indulged.

Then the next day Mo escaped! My friend was carrying out the trash and Mo snuck out too. The garden gate wasn't securely latched and off Mo ran, heading off to the territories like Huckleberry Finn. The more he chased Mo the further and faster Mo ran! Mo thought it was a game. It was especially scary because Mo like most pugs doesn't wear a collar or tags indoors and he has not been chipped yet. Finally my friend stopped and far away Mo stopped and sat. They stared at each other...then Mo took off again, running away down our little street. The speed limit is only 10 MPH but there are occasional cars. This time a car did come---the guy stopped and got out and captured Mo, who was carried home in disgrace.

Now remember I told you Mo cried when left alone? That's bad enough but when my friend came home Mo was so excited he bit him in the butt. LOL. Just a nip but naughty. It's one of Mo's less charming tricks.
Then Mo peed on the groomer.

I'm afraid Mo may not get invited back!
He sure was happy to be home on Sunday though.

On a looking for spring note, I want to show you my forsythia twigs again.

Now they're in full bloom. It's amazing the pleasure a tiny burst of butter yellow flowers can give a winter-weary soul.

Hyacinths too---coming along. See the buds! Yay!

And a little quilting note. These are screen shots from last week's Hawaii Five-O. The guys were on a stake out in a supposedly old lady's home. On the sofa was this gorgeous cheddar, green and white Pineapple design traditional Hawaiian quilt!

Isn't it beautiful? I love the colors. Look at the beautiful quilting. I'd love to make this quilt someday.

Do you notice things like quilts in films or on TV? And / or tell me what would you do if your puppy escaped? Do you think he'd come home on his own or what? [He'll be neutered and chipped in April as soon as he is one year old. I do know he must be chipped asap.]

love

lizzy

gone to the beach

More Mo.

Most of the Mo pix and both vids are from his babysitter. Screen shots from H5O.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Flags of the American Revolution Top is Finished!

Yay! This project went quickly, didn't it? Lori set a fast pace and here we are six months later with a cool patriotic quilt top complete.

Here are February's assigned blocks:
I just couldn't sew the word "Death" on a quilt that someday a loved one might sleep under. I know it's inauthentic, and I am being superstitious, but too bad.

I redid this block with an antique block from a friend and , having paid close attention to other quilters' input, I redid the tiny tree in hand dyed wool.

Here's the signature block.

Many thanks to all my friends who pitched in to help sew, to Lori for the Eagle's star fabric, to H for the antique block from his mother's block collection. Mel, L, and BJ all sewed many of the appliques when my hand was so painful this fall. Thank you all, it made this a special project.

Here the top is complete! I'm relieved to find my fabrics and colors work okay.Though the Star to the left of 76 isn't so good. Redo?

I was determined to mostly use stash fabrics for this quilt. The Dark border is a navy and white star print that I overdyed with dark brown, for a less gaudy effect.

You guys know I always make a big deal over the backing! I have this red star fabric, about 3 1/3 yards, from my stash. It's not as wildly vibrant as in the second photo but it maybe could use a tea bath.

I will piece it with something else to make it big enough. Like this from Home Sew [thanks, Mel]. Look at that great price! Or maybe I'll find the 2000 millennium Eagle fabric, khaki colored, that I have somewhere.[It's always hiding when I want it]

edit: Yay! I found the Millennium fabric:

And this nice butterscotch dot sateen:

Also this patriotic toile, in case I need to piece the backing to make it wide enough for my quilter? I could set a section of this across the middle back. [1 1/2 yards only.

I'm so pleased to find stash options for my backing.
****
I made this quilt in honor of my dad and his handmade Cape Cod cottage flags. It would have been his birthday last week, and I was happy to finish for his special day.

I read this and laugh---my dad would have been very unimpressed! He didn't believe an ''artist'' should use a pattern made by someone else and he'd not have been too pleased that I used Jan Patek's wonderful folk art Flags. But---that's okay.

"I done my best."

Thank you, Lori, for a fun project! (Humble Quilts http://humblequilts.blogspot.com ).

love

lizzy

gone to the beach......

Please be sure to go to Lori's blog to see everyone else's Flags: here

Thursday, February 26, 2015

XXOOXX Hugs and Kisses

Hi, everyone.
Before I show you my little Hugs and Kisses quilt, I want to share these amazing pictures sent to me by my friend who lives in lower Manhattan. These were taken just two days after the pics on my last post. Those showed a densely grey but unfrozen span. The following day we had an ice storm, snow, and temps in single digits. Look at NYC Harbor now!

I've never seen the Hudson River and harbor frozen like this. This is the harbor! It's salt water, so picture how cold it is. We'll be yearning for ice blocks like this in August.

It reminds me of old 1800s stories about the city's rivers freezing and winter fairs being held on the ice! [urban myth?]. This is view from Battery Park towards New Jersey/ Jersey City.

Statue of Liberty and Staten Island Ferry in distance. The ferries seem to make their crossings despite the icebergs.

Now for my little February project. As I've mentioned before I like to have a special little quilting project to look forward to when I know I'll be home alone for awhile. Of course now I have Mo, but it's still fun to have a sewing treat.
This is my project from Valentine's Day through Presidents Week. Kids off skiing in icy Vermont.

The pattern / design is from Temelcula Quilt Company's Valentine's day quilt freebie, here. I simplified the pattern. I call it XXXOOO or Hugs and Kisses.

I wanted to try out the little blocks for filler blocks for Mo's quilt. Cute, though the X has to be manipulated to turn on its points. Otherwise Mo will get Plus and Zeros, not very puggy, is it?
I used favorite little scraps, like this tiny moss rose bud from a new charm pack.

A small antique white ground sprig or shirting ground.

I tea dyed the whole quilt to make it look antique-y.

Used this somewhat awful print for the backing. It came in a recent order, and to my eye is so , well, ugly, because of its large scale---a mistake sent by the seller, I think. But serendipitously a very authentic looking backing print, so I used it up here [only 1/4 yard anyway].

The little heart charm is a Sally Jean soldered charm from my collection. I wish I had more of them, I don't think she is working anymore. Usually I use it as a scissors fob so my kids don't borrow my best scissors. [no rotary cutter for me, you know].

February is almost over. I think we'll be back tomorrow or Saturday with the finished Flags quilts! I can't wait to see everyone's quilts. Stay warm...