Blurrsday? Already?

This week I'm back in the sewing room working on a fun new liberated basket project.

I love this process of making each basket with no pattern.

I'm using beautiful Indigo and Woven Japanese fabrics that Gladi sent me as a thank you for some fabric I sent her.  I got the better end of that deal.  She has wonderful blog you can see here.

I made these on Tuesday afternoon and was disappointed with the lack of contrast.  Everyone on Instagram thinks they are black and they do look black!

I made six more blocks yesterday on a light cheddar color.  (seen here under a very bright light).

It is so fun to make different shaped baskets.

I added this little fishy as a band on this basket.

I am using a quick method of top stitch applique' for the handles.

I had no intention of combining these blocks but while waiting to join a Zoom with friends, I arranged them on my wall and what they heck?  I like it!  Do you?   Stay tuned I plan to add more liberated blocks.

Quilting update:
 I'm quilting along on my Whig Rose when I can.

Here is the back.  I have just started my third block of outline stitching.

Here is the section where I've filled in the background cross-hatching.

Here is a little marker so I remember where I left off.  It is just a ribbon on a safety pin.

I've had my head down putting the final touches on my new Lecture:  Sensational Solids.   Which I'll be sharing Monday night with the Pen Oaks Guild.  Looking forward to it!

You can see a description at the top of the page on the Lectures/Workshops tab.  Your guild can contact me for information on my  ZOOM programs.

Please visit Janet's blog post about kindness and Loving your Neighbor.  I was so touched by her remarks and I think you will be.

Here is my quilt "Won't You Be My Neighbor".
In my quilt, and in my life I welcome anyone to be neighbor.  I make an extra effort when I do go out to be kind and thankful to all the people working in grocery stores, drug stores, post offect, doctors offices, etc.  There is no such thing as being too Kind.

I'm taking a morning workshop Saturday and then a 2-day workshop Saturday and Sunday afternoon.  Should be fun!

Have a Happy Blurrsday.

xo

Love Birds

I finished my Friend Sew Along top and I'm calling it  "Love Birds"

It measures 50" x 56" and is made of many orphaned and rescued blocks and 4 Star Swap 2019 blocks.

 Here are some close ups of some of the blocks.  I love to include little moments of whimsy using novelty prints.

This was the center block when I started.  Pretty Bare Boned.

 After adding 2 birds, more leaves and more berries.  More is More.

An early audition of things.....almost none of this idea stuck.

 When working without a set pattern, it is really important for me to stay open to revisions and changes along the way.  It is a fun journey.

Nutmeg doesn't seem to be having fun, lol.  She is waiting for sewing room treats.

I'm continuing to hand quilt the Whig Rose when it is not too hot or humid.  Here are my favorite notions for hand quilting.

I purposefully put these three greens in close proximity on this block because they are 3 versions of the SAME FABRIC.  

Green flower with yellow center on green background with coral or twig fill.  

I'm also working on a UFO project of Jill Reids'.  She did not like applique', she might have said she hated it but she started this group project back in 2006-2007.

Jill loved Northwood Themes and this quilt has quite a few.

I need to embroider the ropes for the Hot Air Ballon.

When I picked up the project earlier this year, I found her needle here in the Heart in Hand block.  It nearly broke my heart remember Jill.

I'll be sharing more about this group project in another post soon.

I need to get a photo of Susan McDs (hint hint) :)

On a final note, Alice F. sent me a photo of her finished Quarantini Quilt - 9 Olives.  Isn't it cute?  Thank you Alice for sharing the photo.

 My free tutorial is here if you want to make one.

Have a great week and I'll see you again soon!
stay well
xo

Just Peachy! You?

Late Summer means Peach Pie!  My recipe is at the end of this post.

Peaches are such a nostalgic comfort food.

Add sugar, egg and butter

and it is summer heaven.

Big News here in Fun Land!

My son, Andrew, has finished nursing school with very high marks.  He will sit for his boards this fall and also start the BSN degree with 3 more semesters which will be on-line.

Because of Covid there is no pinning or graduation :(  

so we celebrated with pizza :)

We went to Sally's in New Haven.  They were set up very safely and the pizza was fabulous.   (note the potty trailer in the background....nope).

Last weekend I made pesto for the first time.   It was fabulous!  Next year I will be planting more pesto.  That vintage Cuisinart was a wedding gift 33 years ago!  Still works perfectly.

I used this recipe and I've been spreading it on just about everything and really like it on eggs.

Oh Look, finally some sewing!

I'm working on my Friendship Medallion quilt project.   I've added another bird and Nutmeg approves!  She loves birds almost as much as I do.

I'm still working on getting everything to fit together.  Fitting everything together is the challenge of every medallion, don't you think?  No, the quarantini won't be in the finished quilt.

I'm doing this little challenge with Wendy, The Constant Quilter, and Randy, The Barrister's Block.  Visit their blogs to see their progress.

Speaking of Randy, she sent me a few jigsaws and I've started this one.  What a cute sewing puzzle.  Thanks, Randy!

I hope you are doing well and find some nice home activities to pass the time of Covid.

xo

Sweet Peach Pie 

9" Pie Shell unbaked (I use refrigerated crust)

4-5 Large Ripe Peaches, sliced

2/3 stick of butter - melted
1/3 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg 

• Fill pie shell with sliced peaches.
• combine flour, sugar, salt, add vanilla.  Beat in egg.
• Add butter to flour mixture.  Combine and pour over top of peaches.

Bake 325 degrees for 1 1/4 hours

**Peach Pie - Perfect anytime of day, especially breakfast :)

The Big Blow

Just when you've had enough of 2020 and all that is happening, we got a big blow.  Thank you to all the friends for checking on me I so appreciated it and I'm grateful for my social media friends.

Hurricane Isaias hit us very hard.  It was a mostly dry event with twirly swirly wind.  We lost power about 4pm on Tues. 8/4/20

Now, I can do without power but we also lose water. .....that means no bathing and no flushing.....

My entire yard looked like my deck.

This was a common site all over our town and surrounding towns.

Mr. Fun was able to find a hotel room with poweso that he could continue to work.  I stayed home with coco and drove the 45 mins to sleep with a/c and have shower and charge up my laptop and phone.

While home I ate fresh vegetable and bread salad so I wouldn't have to open the fridge. (note the hand fan)

To break the silence of my house the roar of neighboring generators I started watching The Civil War Documentary Series by Ken Burns.  It was good company for quilting.

I also put together this puzzle.  It was a gift from my friend, Nancy, and it was a great diversion!  Thank you, Nancy, it is coming your way soon.

With the power still out on Friday afternoon, we scrambled to find a hotel that would accommodate us and our dog, coco.  (Andrew was able to stay with friends closer to the home).

I was so grateful to return home on mid-day Sunday to start the big clean out and clean up.  The fridge and freezer had to be trashed except for a few things that weren't open.

I was so grateful for power, I didn't even mind cleaning :)

Nutmeg was so happy to have us home again.  She was happy to pass judgement on my medallion quilt project.

Here is hand quilting progress on my Whig Rose.  This is the back so you can see the stitching.  I used Moda Natural wide muslin.

I'll be back for more on this project next time.

If you are missing quilt shows as much as I am, you will enjoy this short Documentary.

Hope you are all taking care and staying well.
xo