Back from the Quilter- Bramble Blooms! Old Blue Baskets!

 

A package arrived the other day---what did I buy?, I mused. But no. It was my two small Spring 25 quilts back from my wonderful quilter, Lori C./ Quilters Imagination. I know I say this every time but I am always astounded---filled with joy---when a boring, long fussed over, sigh I hate you top is finished and magically comes to life. Well, any top, actually.

Remember these are not bound yet. I'll get back to that later in this post.

Old Blue Baskets is made from recycled vintage blocks. I needed an extra cottage-style little quilt in blue. Lori's quilting is so cute.

Its binding will be a blue calico of some sort, maybe something in my extra binding jar. The back is a black calico with a teeny tiny rose sprig. I love it.

Bramble Berries: a conundrum. I had planned a wide 1" binding in very bright colors, lots of reds and fuchsias. 

Or Rainbows...

Or  my favorite Inner Tubes. Grey Stripes?

Or maybe the backing stipe?

The backing btw is darling! Happy, happy.

Anyway, as you can see the finished design is much bluer and cooler tones than expected. That's good bec I wanted it to work somehow in my blue and white house, but surprising to me. The bright bindings I auditioned, wide or narrow, were distracting. The Beach Balls print has become the star.

At the moment these are my final choices: classic navy or black and white 3/16" stripe [modern]. The grey and black Fish Lips, which when cut narrow will just be random splotches. Or, same premise but that hint of bright, the wild KF floral.

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

Knitting:

Blog friend Penny sent me a wonderfully small wool scarf pattern the other day. I tried the ugly red yarn from Hobbii with a strand of neon pink mohair, a popular technique on Instagram lately. (The blue for a sweater is NOT that soft periwinkle in the photo. It too is unattractive,  dark steel gray. )

It's a tad scratchy. At first I thought a big NO, use the soft grey from Mo's sweater, silly.

Now I am not so sure. It's growing on me. But it's bright and cute and I could do basic mittens to go with, as I have twelve skeins of the ugly red. It knits to gauge too despite being worsted not Penny's DK.

I swept up and bagged debris to carve out a sewing spot for me and Mo.

I doubt I'll get to Noah's Ark this summer, or the Funny Face Jackolanterns, but ya never know. I am supposed to still be elevating my spider bitten leg, but lying around was making me crazy. Trying to compromise.

Here is a selfie of me and Mo. Unheard of, I despise selfies, lol. And he is a camera hog.

He's addicted to fans and air contioners. Whatever will he do in January?

Mo is doing ok, but new vet, many tests, meds stopped or changed. I'm still unclear  where we are headed, test results pending. I'm impressed with the Elle Vet emergency relief/ calming treats. HERE I was not pleased that to help his pain he was super drugged w Gabapentin and Rimadyl. Zombie pug. Early days yet, he begins a different treatment next week.

The grocery guy brought me roses and sunflowers. $6.99 a for a mixed bunch. Locally grown maybe.

Have a good week. 

love

lizzy

The adorable preschool kids---soon to start kindergarten, learning to swim safely in the big August waves. Brings back such memories.

Zinnies rescued from the brick rubble.

*I haven't worked on my nature drawings since June. Maybe his week?

Mid-July Zinnias and Choosing Quilt Fabrics

 

Hello, hello! 

I'll begin by saying the past three days have been glorious summer days, big puffy breeze, bright blue sky, lots of sunshine, low humidity. "Summer afternoon..."

Right after I posted my braggeroo about my little garden, my back wall, my deck wall, has needed an emergency repair.  I sobbed, knowing my flowers are doomed.

The workers are efficient and kind but oh what a mess. Today the deck was totally blocked with scaffolding and supplies, so the foreman took my watering can I gingerly proffered out the door, and he kindly watered my flowers. Mo and I are devastated. Our summer room, our special place, our heart space is a shambles.

And then, back on demo day one, I climbed out to water and sweep debris and got bitten by probably a spider. I say a spider, but it could have been as small as a gnat, I am horribly allergic to insect bites. It was not a tick bite [they tested], like blog friend Julierose has been struggling with. By evening my lower leg was purple and swollen, but I had to hang on for four days before I could get a ride to the ER. By then I was sicker than I had been with my recent bout of Covid. I was given IV meds then giant Tiffany blue capsules and allowed to go home, mostly I think because the ER doc saw I was terrified. The fever is now mostly gone and I'm better, but am on ''bed rest'' for ten days. Or. Else!

Meanwhile I had the PC doc on my phone saying my anemia is very bad and I need a transfusion. I said, "Get in line."

I can sit up some and prop up my  leg, so I did some late night night retail therapy and ordered this darling packet of fabrics, seen on IG [HERE]. 

Two Thimbles was so nice, what's with people surprising me with nice-ness---they are lovely to buy from. www.twothimbles.com 

They graciously subbed a couple fabrics for me. 

And they added the Fat 8th of gingham later, perfect touch. The other cuts are fat quarters

Such a darling group. I just needed something happy for me.

Also late night IG scrolling I fell in love w this antique crib quilt, maybe for my Two Thimbles  fabrics? From Vintage Blessings. here

It could sort of be  inspired by my brief beautiful flowers, if I add some pink.

Note the antique background--and this cutie from 2T. It's a yes.

.....

I was well enough today to make a simple pasta casserole for the weekend. A week of saltine crackers and electrolyte drinks was just too much to bear. 

 Baby Mo is puzzled but supportive. Pugs are very attached to their routines, so I am grateful for his patient company.

The last weekend of July! Enjoy, have fun, eat hot dogs, hug your kids.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...

random pics/ surfboard quilt someday?

Little projects and Whatnots

 

Blog note: I am answering all or best as possible all, comments here on the blog. If I can also email to you I will do that. I do love comments, so thanks!
Hi everyone. Isn't it hot! Poor puzzled Mo has been indoors all day. His wonderful walker just came now almost 8 PM to walk him. A sunset walk. 

 I finished the memory spool a couple weeks ago. [hard to photograph, sorry.] 

Well, this is embarrassing, misspelled remember not once but TWICE, never noticed a thing til today. I will fix it soon, I suppose.

The Beach Balls is my fave section. And I love the beachball button, a gift from blog friend Mel.

Here's the back. 

I cheated and machine sewed the label and if I make another that may be my method, as the boro running stitching proved very painful for my hands and neck/ shoulder.

It was a fun cute useless project!

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

Then I spent an unbelievable amount of time making a Dolly and Me sundress set.

This was for my little friend, sadly she no longer wants to color, draw, read with me--an iPad kid , but she still so far has liked the doll clothes.

I haven't used a store bought paper pattern in years, since middle school probably. It was challenging. No wonder new sewers get discouraged. I kind of read the sizes then made my own.

I actually made the girl's dress twice, I was sure the first was too small. How awful for it to be too small for  fast growing girl. The second though now is too big.

 

If making just to please me, I'd have added the embroidered pockets and gingham buttons.

But the family like things as plain as possible. I did use the vintage flower buttons, though the mom put them in the back.

I tried though, will she remember the gift made with love someday?

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

I've been working on Whatnots. I try for two motifs per day. I am having vison difficulties and am very slow sewing with the black thread.

Someone on FB showed her Cheri inspired black primitive whipstitching. Beautiful, so perfect and so tiny. I don't like a too small whip stitch, the bite is what keeps the fraying edges attached. As for tiny and perfect--how is that prim? My way works for me, I do my best. No doubt my stitches will improve as I continue to sew.

When we are outside Mo---never a cuddly guy--stays as close to me as he can. I suppose it is his way of showing our bond. I do love him so much of course.

Next up is binding on Silent Night. May be postponed due to heat waves. We'll enjoy one day at a time.

PS As I write this July 15/ 16 I am seeing the sudden barrage of Halloween on Instagram. Fourth of July was less than two weeks ago--11 days. But I suppose that is better than Halloween on July 5. Or, like Easter. [old Google photo from my files]

love

lizzy

gone to the beach...