Sunday, May 23, 2021

Projects and more

Still here - just busy with projects, perseverance and a little procrastination.  I'm yakking a lot today!

This kaleidoscope was supposed to be a hand-quilted project, a calming, introspective, thoughtful time of my life.  Nope - wasn't happening.  Problems with manicured hands and long nails,  trying out a Grace stand-up quilting frame, no-fitting or lost thimbles, out-of-practice me, 10 thumbs getting in the way, running out of time, all happened, and this morning after another 2 hours of hand quilting and being unhappy with the result, I am changing my mind and will machine quilt it -- not sure of how,  but I find it quite soft and pretty, with an amazing border, and the circles show up well, due to choice of values. It's a good size (about 70" x 85") and I want it D-O-N-E.

Below is a recent QOV presentation to a well-deserved Navy veteran.  His wife was just beaming with pride.  I donated the top, it was machine quilted by another and friend Tina did the binding.  It turned out beautiful.  Note the similar pattern to above kaleidoscope above, using a 45 degree wedge ruler.  


Below is a recent All Day Sew event and I (on left) brought a much loved string quilt for Show and Tell, made mostly of REAL 30s prints.   I DID hand quilt this one years ago.  Janice had come to visit our group.  Take note of the design because ...


Below  (Rocky Road to Kansas or Virginia Bound) is recently made from mostly scrap blue, purple, greens, turquoise, reds  that came from my discards scrap basket.  I DID have to add more lights to the final collection of scraps.  There are several more rows to assemble, (4 x 5).  Inspiration was Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.com - from one of her many delicious quilt books.  I absolutely LOVE the strings in the diamonds - this is where a person can add "glow" and I used a few turquoise and pinks that makes it SING!  It has more "bright and bold" in person.


It is laid out on my ta-da-da-da-da- daaaahhhh - NEW carpet/Design Floor!  This carpet /living room improvement project has been on hold for 2 months due to various delays, but the end result was worth the wait.  Wallpaper down, walls repaired and painted, drapes gone and wood blinds installed and a lot of corners cleared out!   Another project almost completed - I just have to move all the chatskees back into the curio/china cabinets.  

Laughing at myself - written several days ago.

I had spent hours basting a quilt, the Kaleidoscope, in prep. for hand quilting.  Just doing the basting is a humongous chore in itself, moving the heavy table inside, wiping it down, setting up, layering.  I gobbled down a handful of granola before attacking the job, not even bothering to put it in a dish.  Got that unpleasant basting job done, gathered all my hand quilting tools, set up a little work table, used a big hoop I still like, found several thimbles, even tried the expensive $22 thimble, tried them all, but they all were falling off, rolling away, or lost in the pile of quilt in my lap.   I am no longer thrilled with attractive long nails that Senior-hood has afforded me - they are causing finger fumbling!  This job has now become tedious, not relaxing which was the goal.   I spent another hour taping my finger, losing the thimbles as they rolled to the floor, or under the chair and finally found ONE thimble that worked the best, but then it also fell off and rolled ... somewhere.  Moved furniture, shook out the quilt top, checked pockets, shoes, under the chair cushion, but eventually gave up with impatience.   In frustration and impatience, I set that quilt top away for now ...  hours later I felt some of that granola that I had spilled down the front of my-shirt and was feeling itchy and  uncomfortable - dug around in my underwear ...  I found the granola crumbles ... also found the thimble.    


8 comments:

  1. Oh, you are my twin at times! This post made my day! Thank you.

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  2. Sorry for the thimbles lost but I just had to laugh at it all. It is such a beautiful quilt, it deserves to be finished and used. Love, love, love that blue Rocky Road quilt. I think the diamonds really make the quilt in this one. Awesome job! ;^)

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  3. Oh Elaine, I just love that quilt, its beautiful, what a warm feeling it must have given you to see how pleased they were. haha regarding the thimble haha join the club but 6 months after my Scot passed I lost my Wedding ring. I searched every nook and cranny. About 2 months later the daughter visited she also searched. Saturday night sitting chatting i put my hand down the chair (you know where all the crumbs collect) and yes my wedding ring too, Stay safe, enjoy each day, love and hugs (have to be cyber hugs) from down under,

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  4. The top quilt took my breath away! The colors AND layout are oo-la-la!! I have made three Virginia Bound quilts. I love that one an use up the smallest scraps in the thin points. It’s beautiful.

    We can all identify with losing something (whether it be crumbs or thimbles), but your account of it was hilarious. You have a gift with words.

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  5. You do have a knack for beautiful scrap quilts, Elaine!
    Glad to hear your home improvement project meets your expectations. That must be a good feeling.
    Oh, I had a good laugh over your story!

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  6. You are so funny! I laughed so much at the punchline!

    The quilts are beautiful. You make me want to try a string quilt... I've thought of starting, then decided I didn't like them. Put the blocks away that I'd made and now see your beautiful blue and pink one and want to go at it again. I should! I have so many strings!!!

    Thanks for visiting my blog. Yes, I'm still around!

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  7. Too funny! Worth a try, though! I gave up hand quilting long ago and I have never been able to like long fingernails on myself. I do too much typing, plus keeping them polished is just too much work. A few years ago I saw that same kaleidoscope quilt at a quilt show and loved it so much - it was done in civil war reproductions, which is my favorite. I haven't done anything on it, but maybe someday. Your is beautiful!

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