Quilting Miscellany

Hi everyone! It's Columbus Day weekend already! Today is very blustery, the big winds of winter are looming closer as the weeks move on. Earlier the sky was filled with swirling flocks of tiny birds and some monarch butterflies. All headed east--wrong way, guys! And I believe the oystercatchers left on schedule, on October 2nd. Will try to walk down tomorrow if the wind lets up.

I keep getting locked out of Instagram, ever since the crash they had earlier this week. I have spent hours recovering the account, only to have it blocked again. I enjoy IG for the people and posts I wouldn't see on FB or Blogger, wonderful quilters and also home décor and ''mudlarkers''/ beachcombers. So I don't want to lose  access entirely. 

Between power failures, eye issues, IG probs, not so much quilting was done the past few weeks. But Mo insists on his daily afternoon sewing time every. single. day.

I was very surprised when my dogwalker said dogs have no sense of time. [she was 45 minutes late and Mo was frantic for morning walkies/ I had taken him out to potty when she didn't show]. 

Mo seems to know exactly when the walker should come for his morning run, and at 345 every day he wants his deck hour. And lately because of my vision issues I've been watching TV after dinner, my mid range and distance sights are still good. Mo likes to sit behind me on the sofa and snooze through House Hunters etc. Last night I wanted to work in my sewing room and he was quite miffed.

The Thanksgiving Pineapple is my main project, hand sewed wool---hopefully very forgiving. I don't know what I will do if  it looks awful when my eyes are treated and when/ if I see more clearly.

 I added the cutouts on the coxcomb flowers, used bright cheddar for reverse applique.

Mel suggested ages ago that she'd prefer a more realistic stem on the pineapple instead of the big star. I like the star but I think she may be right?

This is my antique block from Lori of Humble Quilts, the challenge to make a small quilt using an old block. I have a design all planned, for needleturn applique, but cannot do that right now. I think we have til May? My other choice is my Giraffe at the Pyramids block. It will get a machine pieced setting. May submit that instead, as I think I can machine sew some days. [my vision fluctuates, which is now making docs consider issues other than just cataracts, so scary!]

With mid-October approaching even I must begin letting go of summer.

I got out ALL or almost all of my big fall quilts. Why I do not know, as I can't possibly display them all even if I rotate for October then November.

I put this wonderfully brown prim quilt on my bed! Made in 2011/ 2012, it was my first large appliqued project. Designed by Lynda Hall here A sewalong, again with Lori/ HQ.  A Little Porch Time Oh I was so proud but of course it was slammed by my family. My son was the kindest, saying it looked like Fall not Summer [it represents a summer garden really]...

After almost ten years in the closet, I did bring it out for Fall. I kinda love it! 

However it's far too hot and heavy for the current temps [70s, sunny, pushing 80*] and after one night I put out this long stored Lone Star, an antique. Good for it to be aired for a few days.

Turkey red and very faded cheddar, beautiful quilting. It probably was a rainbow of colors, the blue and green long gone.

Next week I'll bring out the bright orange Halloween-y Wedding Ring quilt, maybe.

Probably will not use any/ many little quilts this year! I am paring down even more. Much as I love them

****************

Just because I have too many Fall quilts that doesn't stop me from planning more! I fell in love with this quilt in one Jan Patek's early books, found on Thriftbooks.com   here.

This is the book.

In the book, apropos of nothing, I LOVE this little Thanksgiving quilt. Next year 

someday?

Since I think perhaps my shirt thrifting days are over [covid/ distance/ thrift friend issues] I was so pleased to see this new group of homespuns in the new catalog for Connecting Threads. Love the look, though shirts are far easier to sew with. I am picturing butternut yellow [mustard/ old gold]; medium blue, browns, ivory palette.

This new group also caught my eye, with similar color planning: Maria's Sky [Mariah?] :

I especially loved these prints.

And from way back, must be 5 years now, I finally found a fabric for the background of the Blackbirds in the Marshes in winter, for my wintery version combining When the Wild Geese Fly and Blackbirds/ Morning etc, again by Jan Patek. Don't be put off by the pine and holly, both grow wild in my marsh.

You may recall first trial color way which was a Fail, not at all wintery!

So I have lots planned for the coming winter, staying as hopeful as I can. But right now, it is --again---deck time with Mo. Must wash the windows first though. Have a good weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....

Off topic again: when I went for pre-op testing for my eyes I hurt my shoulder very badly. Not sure how or why, but a month later it's still agony. A friend gave me this and I am very impressed. It has kept me going. Expensive but only use a pea sized bit. Beware of the strong menthol around face and especially eyes; wash hands etc. [no I didn't see a doctor, couldn't deal with yet another issue. Hope it heals itself, etc...]

CBDMEDIC

not being paid to endorse!

Out and About ~ A few Shopping adventures

Good evening! Oh my it gets dark early now, doesn't it. Yesterday my friend L and I did a bit of shopping, just for fun. It was very nice to put on pretty clothes, even if just khaki capris and a colorful autumn cardi. Yes, a cool snap has arrived for a few days.

It was chilly enough that the marshes have picked up an early hint of amber and gold. Photos from a moving car, and far away, but we noted the egrets already flocking in the marsh's pools, like bands of avian ghosts.

Of course we went to our favorite Home Goods. 

I give Home Goods credit for still having Halloween items that looked new and fresh.

Blue pumpkins, anyone?

How about embroidered? Lovely hand stitching on linen, from India. Not my idea of a pumpkin though.

More.... I really so do not like this new Fall Y'all  trope. Reeks of phony redneck down home sappiness.

You know I love bowls! Black and white for Trick n Treat candy. (Will T & T even happen this year? Should Mo get a costume or just a Halloweeny bandana? Or?)

I loved this large striped bowl with the pumpkin colored glaze and punkins inside. Not expensive but I know from others I have bought that this line chips really easily and quickly looks unattractive. Pass.

Paper napkins: this photo is for blog friend Kit, A Montana Life. She's a huge football fan.

And I liked these tiered display stands. Love the funny old galvanized tin. Great for showing off collections like carpet balls or fishing floats. Wobbly though, and where would I store it? 

Almost no Thanksgiving items. I hope this once beloved traditional holiday does not fade, squeezed as it has become  between Halloween and Christmas? Politically correct scorn may also be a factor? But Home Goods has lots of Christmas already. I couldn't buy anything , just could not. I guess this is when the best stuff is offered though.

Mo got a new bed, for when/ if he goes on sleepovers in the future. It's his favorite style and brand but so far he has spurned it. Only $19.99.

*****

A few weeks ago we also went to a new to me Italian deli. Our local one burned down! This shop was tiny but the foods looked amazing, all specially brought over from Italy.

Enormous cooler case of antipasto makings attracted me, but on a hot day I was dubious. I treated myself to their special eggplant lasagna instead. It was very good, though my lasagna or eggplant parm are both better.

All summer I have been reading the Inspector Brunetti crime series by Donna Leon. The series is set in Venice and besides the central crime [which sometimes escapes me, as Italian law is of course different from US law, etc], there is quite a lot of description of Venice itself, people and clothes and food and wines. I bought a wonderful big coffee table type cookbook on my used books site, called Brunetti's Cookbook. All about the foods he and his family shop for, prepare, consume. Too bad the font is so tiny and pale I can't read it. Maybe someday. I'm interested because the northern Italian cuisine featured in the books is very different from the Sicilian cooking I grew up with and make still.

Brunetti's Cookbook

*****************

I am also writing a timeline of the Covid Plague years. 2020 had become a jumble in my recollections. It was interesting to sort out the past year and a half.

***************

After we got home L and I were texting, making plans for more things we hope to do. Our lives have become so constrained with covid and Delta Covid edicts that even going to buy a dog bed is exciting! Have a great weekend, as we welcome October.

"Is it cold enough for a cup of hot tea?" 

asks Mrs Tiggywinkle,

 when she emerges each October.

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

PS Mo's ears are still being treated, but he seems so much perkier, poor mite.