Gone To The Beach

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Update / Quilting ~ Blue Pineapples and Cartwheels.

Hi everyone! March is rushing by, isn't it. I am not accomplishing record amounts of sewing but slow and steady, I remind myself. [A juggler of many projects I am not!]

I feel like I'm doing okay. My main hope for March is to complete the top of Blue Pineapples and get it off to the quilter for this summer use.

0rdered two backings, extravagant but I measured carefully and didn't order too much. Whichever I don't choose can be pillow cases for summer beds.

Binding: premade, something new to try.

Working without a pattern is freeing and I enjoy it, prefer it. But time gets spent figuring details, especially settings.

Here the layout begins.

Seems to work, but spacers and sashes are needed.

Put together.

Many of you asked about the sashing and use of the white The white is a pigment white-on -white cotton, tropical hibiscus flowers.

I have just enough of the white to add the final borders, 3 1/2" each side and maybe a narrow framing strip top and bottom. The final bit of yardage cuts into about 1 3/4".

The white was originally purchased for Baby Pineapples, but the person I made it for wanted that grey background. I still prefer the white, but it was her daughter's big girl bed quilt for someday. So my friend had final say.

Looking from a distance, I see polka dots not pineapples. Ugh.

And this project reminds me of Blue Baskets/ Cheddar Handles, in its graphic impact. I did not need TWO.

....

Last week the solids for Cartwheel's borders arrived, faster than I expected. Fat Quarters Shop always ships really slow, even before the pandemic or storms.

I am not sure the new solids are okay. Certainly they do not match.

I ordered a Kona color card for one last try, bit of course that too is a delayed item from I forget where.

Below is is a small antique quilt top, fragment rediscovered as I searched for more antique turkey red for Cartwheels. It is a perfect size for a doll quilt, just needs a few repairs. I washed it and plan to hand quilt it in a simple diagonal. Maybe add some small wool motifs appliqued, from the files of the Cheri Payne group on FB. Just a for fun. The old thin cotton should be easy to quilt.

I'm working on more hearts for winter storage/ spring cleaning and summer bowl and basket displays. My friend L used to help me finish the hearts, I miss her exquisite sewing so much.

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

And this gift-to-myself arrived, ordered as a preorder back in maybe January.

I couldn't imagine what was in the envelope.

Authentic and useful light shirtings, for my quilting palette and stash; often they are hard to find. TQC is offering an adorable, slightly modern-ish Tiny Baskets patterns to go with them and these cream ground pretties are in stock now. There is also a free pattern for fabric Easter Eggs. HERE [free downloads]

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The other evening I could NOT find Mo!? Oh no, had he escaped? Frantic, I searched everywhere. Here he was found, in the sewing room, in his shirt bin. Waiting for me get busy sewing!! "And bring me a chew treat, mommy! Yeesh.."

The first day of spring was his 7th birthday. He had puppy ice cream instead of cake.

Have a good week~

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

Friday, March 19, 2021

Spring

''Summer makes me drowsy. Autumn makes me sing. Winter's pretty lousy, but I hate Spring.'' Dorothy Parker, 20th century literary wit

Like it or not spring arrives tonight. It is very cold, very windy. It would be a nice day---in January.

I'll mark the turning season with my self-indulgent ranunculus photos. I always have loved this gently beautiful late winter flower. I imagined a winter wedding inspired by their dainty petals: bridesmaids and flower girl dresses in palest shares of barely there pink, cream, celadon green. Perhaps deep brown or black silk velvet sashes on the flower girls' frocks. Thin soft silk organdy. Masses of ranunculas and white hydrangeas, lemon herbal candles, a sprinkle of white seashells. My dress would be that faintest creamy white silk taffeta.

Of course I was married on a snowy morning, in jeans and workboots, at a courthouse. No party.

I saw ranunculas for the first time, in real life, growing in city garden planting pots in San Francisco, years later. It was winter in NY but spring in SF. I was again charmed by their unworldly perfection, their delicate extravagance of petals and velvet centers.