Nothing Much

Happy Friday! Today's blog is "about nothing"---anyone remember the old Seinfeld episode about the TV show about nothing, lol.  It's been a quiet week here at the beach, grey, drizzling, not too cold, but not warm either---35, 40*? I noticed the city was very warm, almost 70* one day. I thought I'd have Fall Festival to show you guys today, but no. I am working intentionally slowly, measuring each piece many times. My ''word'' of the past year and for 2018 is good craftsmanship, and I think it shows in FF.

The beach is foggy and desolate, but the spring cleanup earth movers have arrived already. They started early, Feb 15 instead of March 1. Maybe all my complaints about scaring the migratory endangered birds has paid off? Oystercatchers will return March 17! Plovers April 1st.

I'm always wary of walking on the beach when the trucks are working. Last year they ran over someone, in a town nearby! Sure they paid him a few million bucks but still.

New candle for March: "Happiness", a mix of bergamot and mandarin. I love it, though I'm not thrilled with the jar , too dark.

And I treated myself to a trial 3 pack of perfumes from PHLUR. $18.oo. here I love the idea of an aware and ecologically good perfume company with natural ingredients. Not crazy about the scents themselves though, or the name Hepcat, yeeesh. Bad choice, they just could have called it Brooklyn instead? I have worn Angel from Thierry Mugler for years and it's hard to change. I love perfume and wear it daily, just a light spritz, even on days I'm home alone in old sweats. Like brushing my teeth, just something I do.

The flowers of the week are pussy willows. I went to a different market and they had these exceptionally lovely grey velvet plushy branches. Usually the PW branches are scrawny and rustic--- yes, charming, but not gorgeous like these.

 Ten stems $3.oo.

I like winter-y branches. Mo and I collect them after windy days. Sometimes they flower or sprout tiny leaves, you never know.

Even if not, the linear dark lines appeal to my eyes.

I am learning to use my new "Rolls Royce" printer. I bought special fabric paper pages for it. Here is the first  label.

Too expensive though, I think it was 14.99 for 4 sheets of printer fabric. Is that possible? More experimentation is needed.
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Thinking ahead, once Fall Festival is done---I have had requests from etsy customers for more of my velvet strawberries w silver caps or handles., so if you would like one pls let me know!

Then, when FF is done, I can begin new projects! I joined an online group to make this beautiful quilt this year.

I haven't dared start yet though. The project includes the option of buying a monthly kit. It's fun to see what someone else chooses and so far the fabrics are lovely. I always have wanted to make a Feathered Star block, but I think it was the inspirational words on the corners that sold me. Lots of nice applique for next summer on the beach, too.

I won't try to keep up with the group, of course. lol. Did I tell you about the Block of the Month [different project] group on FB, I had to resign? They kick you out if you do not make each month's block on time!? How anal is that!--- I can't think of any nicer way to put it. So I bowed out; I have the pattern anyway, I just would have enjoyed seeing other peoples' work.
I'm also still dithering about Antebellum Album colorways. The taupe is eliminated. Blue the front runner.

For the person (Denno / Denise) who asked me about the Covered Wagon fabric, you are a NO Reply blogger! I put ordering info on the blog post you wrote to me. Right now I do not have scraps as it will be the backing of WW, using full length and width til trimmed---and it is very costly to mail to Australia. Fat Quarters Shop will sell you a one yard for under 9.oo USD and mail it, they're set up for international shipping. I am sorry I am not, even for a freebie. Send me your email though if you want me to contact you when my quilt is finished; it could be months though.

Today's chores include mending socks and nightgowns, pinching pennies here! But mostly I mend socks because I can no longer find the soft puffy ankle socks I love. I also have to do alterations on Mo's newer raincoat. You can see his opinion of a walk in the sleety rain, below.

The newer raincoat is too long and he can't potty with it on, poor little man. It also had armholes like sleeves! This one has sleeves too.

How many dogs will let you put them into a coat w plastic sleeves, so stupid. Not Mo, he cries.

So I better get busy here,  I'll see you all soon. Have a good weekend.

love 

lizzy 

gone to the beach....

A Whisper of Spring?

Good evening, friends! February is racing by isn't it! Already I am searching for hints of spring. And nothing says spring like a cold dark drizzly day---and daffodils! 

Aren't daffodils just the very best most happy flowers? These appeared in the grocery store after the last of the scorned Valentine roses were carted away

Two bunches of 10 stems for $4.oo, imagine. Twenty flowers. From Ireland. They were furled tight, like skinny green bunches of asparagus, but they uncurled in glorious profusion in a couple of days.

Makes up for the  very dark Monday here.

Not exactly spring cleaning, but after I finished Westering Women, and even though Fall Festival is still in pieces, I decided my little sewing sewing space and equipment all needed a clean up/ tune up.

The good sewing machine got carted off to the sewing machine spa for a very expensive fix-up. Somehow the shuttle that holds the bobbin case popped out! I replaced it but then couldn't get the machine to sew. It's okay, it needed a good cleaning and oiling anyway, and my old Brother machine is actually better for upcoming patchwork sewing as it has an exact 1/4" seam allowance. The Janome is metric [?!], and while is sews beautifully with varying speeds, good stitches, and needle down option, the metric set up means 1/4" seams are a guess at best.
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Sometimes other quilters show their sewing spaces and I always marvel at the perfect neatness they maintain. No wonder their quilts are perfect, I think.

I spent a whole day dusting, sweeping, organizing, and afterward, things looked about the same as they did before I started.

Bins for fabric stashes,

then deep baskets for in-work projects' fabric choices. I also like low trays or baskets for the actual quilts in progress. Silent Night on the left, Fall Festival on the right.

I know where everything is! Really.

These shelves hold my collection of pinkeeps, plus Mason jars of buttons, and other treasures.

I have my big ironing board, then small board I set on top of it for small project sections. Standing and ironing is still very difficult for me and leaning over means painful joints after only a few a minutes, so even the extra 2 or 3" of the little board are helpful.

I worry that the floor, no rug, will be too cold for Mo, so I have a big dog bed that is about 5" thick, then on top is one of Mo's plushy donut beds. He will use this lavish set up for as long as it takes him to gobble a duck jerky kebab [4 minutes?] then off to his plastic bin he goes. I left him some shirts there and blankies and got a new bin for the rest of my recycled plaid shirts! It is stored in the cupboard, safe from snoring little pugs.

In other news:
Kel wanted to see my Fiesta Ware. I didn't take it down but here's a picture of it, top shelf.

Sorry this one is messy, I have to climb up and redo it. It's the cupboard that things fall out of anf hit me in the head!

Pineapple cutting board: I washed it thoroughly and dried it well, but thought it needed to be oiled.

My friend brought me these products, he uses them on all his cutting boards.  Mineral oil [food grade] and beeswax. Worked really well!

My hands liked it too!
And winter sales: These are UGG snow boots! Look at the pom! sigh. How cute is that. I love them.

Happy Presidents Day!

love 

lizzy

 gone to the beach....