A "Thank You"

Oh dear, more snow predicted overnight - weatherman said 1-3 inches but by morning, there was MUCH more.  We live in town, so need to get the walk cleared, a big job for two Seniors, but we've usually managed. 

However, I shoveled a few days ago, but my body firmly said, "NO MORE" so  today was forced to call the Chiropractor to get my parts back where they belong.  Then .....who is that big guy clearing snow off my front steps?  And there on the sidewalk was his wife, and alongside her was their teenage boy, all shoveling our sidewalk AND even the front walk.  They were so bundled up, I didn't recognize them.  My heart was overwhelmed with their kindness.  Not only did they clear the front of our home, but then they proceeded to the back yard and cleared off the deck and  a pathway to the garage!   All this was done with shovels and muscles.  What kindness!  After these dear people left, we headed to the garage for my chiropractor appt. and when we opened the garage door, were MORE amazed to find the entire back driveway also cleared off. 

This is not the first time we've been the benefit of loving, caring neighbors.  Our days of helping others with this snow removal job is past, and we're now the beneficiary.  Sometimes kindnesses are found right in our own back yard.

"Thank you" to kind people who give to others, and never ask anything in return.  8-)))  Some days, life is so good, we cannot express enough appreciation.  

BASTING and puckers and pleats, OH MY. Pineapple project will calm my soul!

Basting a quilt top is my least favorite job.  I dragged one table from the garage to the house, across the snow -- it's heavier than I remember.  My top and backing are pressed nicely, batting was in the dryer with a damp towel, all is ready for the job.  This time I decided to use basting spray AND pins.  I did everything else just the same as previous jobs but for some reason, by the time I reached the bottom of the quilt, my carefully measured backing is no longer long enough - uh oh, how can that be?? 

Well, when I thought I was finished but short, I took it off the table and turned it over, oh my gosh, not just a few puckers, but now I had pleats!  Careless, ??? not concentrating ????  Disaster!  The top and batting are all OK (flat), sooooo, gathering my patience, taking a deep breath,  I removed all the pins  from the front, laid the mess backing/puckered side up on the table and pulled off the well-stuck basting spray, a little at a time, starting at the top and slowly smooshing out the puckers.  A yardstick stuck between layers helped to unstick a few inches at a time - laborious! Then I found my long needle and thread and thimble, and hand basted it all over again.  No wonder my backing seemed short, I had INCHES of fabric puckered in the back.  LIVE AND LEARN.  Never again will I use both basting spray and pins.  It didn't help when my last thimble dropped to the floor and rolled somewhere under DH's Lazy Boy and found it's forever home wedged within the under structure of the chair.

Ok, basting is done by hand sewing and this was successful.  Here's the back - you see I had already spent a lot of effort making the backing.  Hey, that's 6 yards of stash!

I am hoping to try some ruler work on this Bonnie Hunter inspiration.  BTW, this top front was made from the same "gift of scraps" from my LQS.  There are 5 projects made from that box. 

And here is another project from that box of scraps.  8-)))   I may make an alternate block, ala Hugs and Kisses, Gyleen X. Fitzgerald.  16 regular pineapple blocks made today.  I added the white fabric. 

MORE, from the FREE box of Scraps

That is a LOT of PINK!  There are various "cutsie" strips a child will enjoy.  This is the 4th! project from the same box of scraps given to me from my LQS, and there are still a LOT left over.  This is about 40" x 40". 

BTW, I was planning on practicing "ruler work" , but it looked just terrible and I took it out, replacing the pitiful "ruler work" with large meandering!  IMHO, ruler work looks best on plain areas - it also looks best by people who know how to do it!  8-)))

Covered Bridge Quilt Blocks, and a String Quilt for Kids

DH didn't have any more boats to make so he made a covered bridge.  During the process he totally surprised me by asking me to make 2 Bridge Quilt Blocks (one on each side).  I don't know where he learned to build a bridge -- he didn't have any drawings or plans.  The "Bridge Quilt block" is 1 inch.  Try painting one of those!  Those are lightning rods on the top, and each end  of the bridge are built in hitching posts.  It's right out of "Bridges of Madison County"!  

Here is my wild finished string quilt (for kids)   I did use fabric from a scrap box gift from my local LQS. This is the 3rd project I've made from that scrap box, and there is still MORE in it!  The dotty light fabric is left over backing.  It's about 40" square.

Too much stringy fun!

I am still using a gift box of string and scrappy bits from my LQS.  Every year I try to made several donation quilts thru them for Hugs and Stitches, but fell behind this year.  However, I think these will be an excellent candidate.  I started sewing strips yesterday noon time, and next thing I noticed was that it was DARK outside!  Yikes, I couldn't stop.  My studio looks like a tornado hit! 

So today, I'm putting the strips-on-phone-book-paper together, and found this polka dot left-over backing .  Isn't is somethin? 

I'm using the tube method to sew the polka dot and strings together, which does lead to bias edges.  I do need to square up.  These blocks are 5 in. raw  I tried to use strings within pinks, purples, light blues, greens and added a few "cutsies" including some hedgehogs, teddy bears, rabbit. No decision yet on the setting.  My brain is on overdrive - feel like someone sneaked something into my iced tea.  What fun this is!  (still have paper to remove but ...)

Below are the paper/strings in chunks about 12 inches long.  I need to sew them end-to-end before adding the polka strips.  There are more than I need which means another option for setting the m together.  

New projects: "Daybreak" and "Staying Grounded"

This project is from Bonnie Hunter's newest book, String Frenzy (the one with cheddar and strings on the cover).  I LOVE it but chose not to use strings in the sashings.   She calls the quilt "Daybreak".  I still need to come up with border ideas.  These blocks are  9 in. finished.  Despite the many small pieces, it went together quickly. 

Most of the fabrics in both these quilts were from a gift scrap box from my LQS .  I added a few here and there, but FORCING (almost) myself to use the box contents actually kept me more focused than if I had started rummaging for the "perfect" matching fabrics . 

There are still enough remaining fabric bits for another quilt, probably using bright strings.  Can't wait!  

The triangles in the center of the below quilt are 60 degree and by the time I reached the borders, I couldn't find that ruler again, so I used my Tri-Recs which always seems to turn out well.  Bonnie Hunter used 2 1/2 in. triangles for her center, mine are 4 in., and border triangles are smaller.  And I DID have to purchase the purple border fabric, some is not yet in the photo.  This is another quilt that both my DH and I really LOVE.

(BTW, I did find the lost ruler, exactly where I put it so as NOT to lose it!)