the toughest year - an homage

no quilty chat today.....one year ago mom stepped on heaven's shore.....as she aged, every day we breathed a thankful prayer as she escaped dementia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, loss of mobility, nursing home placement and mental decline, not imagining ugly cancer would invade that shocked and horrified us all.  the day before she died it was early Sunday morning and i caressed her shoulder.  she opened her eyes and i said "good morning sunshine, i love you"  with a bare whisper she mouthed "i love you"...no more whispers after that. 

yes, i still grieve and sometimes cry but it's normal, it's just because she was so dearly loved and is so dearly missed.  grief has forever changed me.  it shattered my heart that has yet to heal.  grief is individual and a journey that takes however long it takes, but days now include more warm memories than tears.

when i meet or interact with people, i want them to see her.  i want them to see qualities in me that she taught me, that would make her proud.  she had many mothering regrets, but as a motherless child herself, her best was more than good enough.  as the oldest, i'm now the family historian and now her glue to keep us together in a loving, edifying and compassionate way.  it's what she would expect and how she taught me anyway.....thank you mom.

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" Psalm 147:3

weekend sewing

the weekend list got trimmed a bit due to an outing with a quilty pal....a gigantic local craft show and a nice lunch out...very enjoyable until later that day when word came one of our group had passed away...not a surprise but a somber reality that we are all seniors and anything can happen.  while pondering which project to tackle veered off the list....

remember this?

thinking about sprucing up the kitchen, pulled it out and this happened...

rework required to fit a specific wall place....i actually think i like it better this way anyway...but didn't stop there....remember these?

i had put these and the original top up for sale on a yahoo group with no takers...turns out glad they didn't sell...

sewed up this runner 16x24 for the new-to-me table....not into much decorating but an occasional change isn't too time consuming...so now two more UFOs...LOL...they will get done soon tho.  they are sort of the carrot that will entice me into spring cleaning...

also worked on a window treatment for said kitchen...someone left a linen shower curtain in the giveaway box...brought it home, sewed on a sleeve and will get lined with some gifted flannel...for keeping out the chill from a large double window and the sun in summer...

both evenings found me in the happy place recliner with my quilting project...

this week's plans?  finish doll quilt, start quilting "africa", more "dreams" quilting and more rows on challenge repro triangles...temps fallen back to 60s so not quite summer...and the laundry basket again leering at me...

off to start the day...have a blessed one!

friday report

sitting here with a thunderstorm brewing outside, awoke to lightning....i do love them!  it's been a week filled with blessings...the recently acquired recliner is perfect for evening quilting and that's just what i've been doing--a happy place indeed!  but miss sunny hasn't been ignored....

this is Baskets I....it was on my design wall and needed to finish the top freeing up the space....still have a stack of those basket blocks and thinking about a different setting for Baskets II...

then this came out from under the ironing table....

hung it sideways so it fits...10 more rows to flimsy...this got unearthed along with it...

the pile of neutrals and repros that got set aside for the remaining rows...once this is done and gone it'll be another container emptied...the only glitch is the scrap basket is getting fed, but saving that task for either end of year or next year's challenge.  the little bird pincushion was a wee gift from janet who makes such beautiful and stunningly challenging minis...

today is quilt group friday...taking the doll quilt and the 'africa' piece to quilt...and with 2 of 3 long-time prayer requests answered, now anticipating the last with eagerness...so joyful at my Savior's love and care AND provision, but still mindful of so many others who grieve or in need of comfort and care.  

here comes the rain!!!

 

april's challenge

the number chosen for April was #4 BUT doing a switcheroo and backing up to #3....the repro triangles top...this needs to get done ....10 rows to go...

why?  i want to finish the borders on the panel project so it can be basted and put in the quilting pile AND the pieces for the triangle project have been sitting under my ironing station and in the way.  a month should be more than enough time to do both.  i'm a bit saturated with applique right now.  PLUS #4 is the wensleydale, which is essentially a new start.  not really in the frame of mind to start something else right now.  

the latest....

a sneak peek at the last border....am thinking those elongated pieces are a tad too wide for this border so plan to tweak them a bit....seem to be overpowering....i'll keep the length as they just fit the border....the side borders will go edge to edge...

if both do get done, then might try and get a couple of basket tops together...and spend quality quilting time on "dreams" that has been ignored the past couple of weeks.  oh and baste the "i spy africa" top too, as that would be a fairly easy finish...

have a few projects in mind to start in addition to the challenge ones, but focus at present is on some UFOs...

april fool's joke by mother nature...yesterday 85 today 60...just a tad too cool to sit outside...but sunny and bright...have a blessed day!

quick post

the weather is awesome and no time to spend in front of the computer....but a quick update...

friday night spent with my zoom pals...as you can see we were all quite busy with chatting going on per usual...these gals rescue me from gloom every time i can join in...

and what was i working on?  this....nearing border finish and with the corners settled as well...

the pieces for the final border have been counted out and planned so getting closer to that flimsy!  a finish this year is possible....

keeping busy has kept the grief episodes at bay...not just mine but the loss of a neighbor and a quilty pal on her journey....so thankful for griefshare emails that help me process and deal with often overwhelming sadness, not just these losses but homesickness, daily life concerns...and keeping things in perspective is this wise young man...

so yes, nathaniel, it was a good day!  wishing you the same....

P.S.  thanks to all who requested to adopt....wish i had more to send along but these are now gone to a new home...

what's up friday/up for adoption

tangible sign that i AM using up fabric and finishing things...

the shoebox that held the dutch panel project is EMPTY!  the 3rd border is prepped and the pieces for the last fit in a sandwich baggie...leftover fabric went back on the shelves and not much of that either.  the long-range goal is to clear the space under the table...oh some will stay, those with precut pieces, but the UFOs need to be done and gone!  

the "i spy africa" top got finished and now ready to baste and quilt.  this will go in the library display later this year and hopefully will sell...

i used on-hand kona solids from years ago and the weave was quite dense, very noticeable compared to their kona solids of today

underneath the "africa" top are these.....

inspired by janet's top, these 25 blocks got played with and fabric for setting triangles found in the stash...plenty of baskets left so might make a tad larger and easily enough for 1-2 more...

last, now that i've satisfied my hexie period, offering these for postage only...will fit in a $10 flat rate envelope....some finished hexie flowers, plenty of littles to put together AND a baggie of precuts with the papers too....

these were for a repro of the 1861 healy quilt, gorgeous indeed, but would have taken up the remainder of my lifetime if not more

the quilt is in the Smithsonian and a true vintage and yes, gorgeous indeed....leave a comment with your desire to adopt...

another week nearly over and spring is inching toward us with still cool-ish days and yikes!  tomorrow 82?  but it's a rainy day so no walking outdoors...that has been the pattern....cool sunny days and warm rainy ones...mother nature's menopause!  it's also been a week with some unexpected blessings and continuing evidence of God's love and care for me..still waiting on that car tho AND trying to avoid the rantings of an unhinged and vindictive, emotionally immature bully-in-chief...

 

thursday throwback

 

yesterday 3/26/25 was my 9-year anniversary....moved to maryland in 2016...has been a tumultuous span with 3 major surgeries, a move east, losing mom, car bit the dust....a challenge to be settled when it feels as though i've been dropped into a foreign country.  plenty of events to take in but without car, totally impossible....an incarceration of sorts....

on the upside have left long winters behind, see my daughter more often, learned to enjoy crabcakes (an easy one), carefree cozy apartment living....perturbed that i've been put out to pasture while still vibrant and capable and mentally with it...downright annoying and exasperating!  

to keep sane, i've been sewing up half hexies this week and the other 3 borders are ready to finish...also been planning a couple more wish projects and today making spaghetti sauce.  i've also upped my bike time to 20 minutes and thinking 5 days per week gives me 100 minutes...respectable goal to keep heart healthy as long as the knees hold up....LOL

anyway, the sun is out and spring days increasing with nature's colors exploding...not a moment too soon!

monday design wall

pretty busy weekend sewing-wise for a change...to jump start the mojo saturday morning, pulled out a picture i saw on instagram for inspiration....

don't recall which of kaffe's books this is in, but i've always been tempted by it....and so i caved!  i'm a follower of wanda's blog, she is always making tantalizing things with kaffe's fabrics...she and this photo were my inspiration...

i stopped at 16 blocks that are 7" finished...photos are great as i can see some block moving needed...

even sewed up the bonus triangles AND ironed them to put aside for another project...aren't you impressed?  

friday at quilt group got 1.5 sides of the hexie border pinned and ready to sew...hoping to have all 4 done before friday.....march is speeding along and april challenge will be posted in just over a week.  more african resist print blocks got appliqued...this should be a fairly quick finish and keep me on target for april.  

a bit melancholy saturday--weather dismal per usual--sent me to the bright kaffe fabrics...before the day ended, tho, a surprise squishie arrived in my mailbox and the day perked up exponentially.  such dear friends sent along these delightful items...

a reusable bag from Oz thanks to chooky, a small packet of goodies from Janet--charm pack, chocolate, mug rug, some norwegian cloudberry sweets and soothing soap she had made.  i am so blessed by these dear souls and their over-the-top kindness to me, am truly humbled 

another dismal day but i've a few things on the task list so should keep me occupied...we are still below normal rainfall but do prefer sunny spring days instead...i'll keep calm and sew on!

caught up for now

 

that would be on the scrap thrift sew along....more pieces need to be cut so i'll be raiding the stash and scrap boxes for them.  the goal is for 7 blocks per week so done for a couple of weeks...

spring has sort of sprung here...the number of days at 60+ are increasing albeit with fierce winds that are icy so not yet long string of days to be outside.  then this morning in the 30s again...with rain days inbetween.  the cherry blossoms are about to pop...what else going on?

lots more half flowers have been sewn and one border is ready to sew down and another almost.  my goal is to finish this border before march is gone...that leaves the last border, so hoping for a flimsy before summer's gone maybe?  

thursday afternoon a friend took me to a new local shop for a "featherweight fellowship" sewing time...patterns were emailed prior and all things were assembled...this was the project...

i had one of these eons ago and it got grungy then tossed.. it was a matter of grace vs. the pattern but i finally prevailed...miss phoebe featherweight had fun meeting new friends and it was a delight for me as well.  it's held monthly and we're planning to go again.  

aside from a grocery trip not much doing.  trying to psyche myself into starting spring cleaning, maybe next week, to finish before the good weather stays.  spending way too much time dreaming over beach photos on the internet sent by friends and family and on instagram...here are a couple from old orchard beach, my hands down favorite place of many, many good time memories...

when mom and i vacationed, we would walk this short path to the sand...sit and read or sew, often late afternoons when we sometimes saw bluefish jumping during feeding time....

often we would stop at our favorite fries stand for a cup (not a box like this)...these were our absolute favorites....we considered ourselves connoisseurs...LOL!

back to reality here in the land of fried chicken...just read ANOTHER chicken wing place opening...there are only about 12-13 within a 5-mile radius...it doesn't really tempt me at all--no baked bean suppers in these parts whatsoever.  off to make the weekend list and see what i feel like doing....LOL!  have a blessed day...

not much doing...

wacky sleep pattern has made me zombie-like for about a week...time change culprit?  maybe in part plus the cabin fever too i imagine...even my sewing mojo was hibernating...to give it a kick i signed up for a doll quilt swap...one i've done before hosted by lori over at humble quilts...this was one i received in the past...

and it did give me a bit of oomph to do something else....

cutting pieces and pinning to sew blocks for the economy sew along...so far i've pulled scraps and a few FQs to make these blocks...even managed to sew a few more together...

unfortunately i ran out of energy before choosing a background and getting those hawaiian appliques at least pinned, if not basted

while sorting some finished pieces, pulled this one out as it needs a sleeve....made in 2012 and gave to mom...she hung it in her bedroom...still missing her so very much as the one-year mark approaches.

also prepped pieces for an upcoming sewing afternoon with a friend....we're making thread catchers...chose some spring-like kaffe prints for mine....

lastly, more quilting got done on 'dreams'....i've finished 3 star blocks and now almost the 3rd cross-hatch block....don't anticipate this will be done before june at least...

last night slept thru the night save for a usual bathroom visit.  *** i've been reading on my kindle since losing my transportation and i read online that it may be a culprit with interrupted sleep patterns, so after i finish my current book i'm going to trade off to the paper kind to see if it matters.  also wondering if it might be a contributor to my excessive dry eyes.

yesterday watched st. pat's day parade from boston....so thankful for youtube!  not everyone knows that it is also a state holiday for massachusetts--evacuation day--the day george washington with the help of general knox drove the Brits out of boston, actually dorchester heights.  next month the patriot's day parade will be a big deal since it's the 250th anniversary of the founding of our republic...a very big deal given the state of things today...

sun's out, temps to 60+, spring here....how good is that?  have a blessed day...