Steady as she goes

Three things to be happy about:
(1) knowing when enuf is enuf
(2) round eyeglasses
(3) a new photo ID

I just got an email from DC government reminding me my driver's license expires in two months.  Yaaay.

Meanwhile I'm working diligently on the neutral 4-patches for En Provence:

Pressing and cutting fabric into strips...

cross cutting pairs into twosies, the slow way...

pairing up twosies...

sewing twosies together...

spinning and pressing seams...

I just love my dry iron from the Vermont Country store!

twosies become 4-patches...

50 done, about a gazillion more to go!

Sew forth and sew on...

En Provence!

Three things to be happy about:
(1) leftover spaghetti and meatballs (they taste even better the second day!)
(2) tea tree aromatherapy blend
(3) getting safely home after a trip

I hope everyone had a very happy Thanksgiving and, if you went away, I hope you arrived home safely!

Yesterday I was able to start on step 1 of the En Provence mystery!

First of course I went to my 2" strip bin, pulled a lot of strips from there that I just cut into smaller lengths and sewed together into pairs.

I'll use as much of those as I can before I start cutting into yardage.

I found this Christmas fabric in there that I can fussy cut, I like the texture that the dove wings will add to my 4 patches!

Any little odd pieces that are neither fish nor fowl can be tossed into the strings bin.

Ye olde brown paper bag test - these will do just fine as neutrals!

I like adding little odd prints in my quilts!  I can work around some of the larger printed areas.

This fabric is printed with vintage cereals but when I was a kid I don't remember seeing Pep cereal, this even had a toy inside.

But on the other hand mama never fed us cold cereal anyway ... it was either a plate of hot grits - or a plate of hot grits!

Sewing neutral strips to neutral strips...

looking good!

Sixteen 4-patches done, can you see the dove wings?  I may need to rethink some of my neutrals but for now, it's a start!

I will be linking up with Bonnie Hunter's En Provence Linky party so you can see what other participants are doing!



Sew forth and sew on til later...

Showing and sharing at the bee

Three things to be happy about:
(1) hearing wedding vows
(2) sweet potato cake
(3) learning a new tip

Yesterday was bee day, and the energy level was very high.  Everybody seemed to be revved up, it must have been all the turkey on Thanksgiving!  Seriously though, we always enjoy seeing each other, specially if we haven't met in a month.

Here are some quilty items we shared with each other...

Sandra E made two lovely bags

Loretta finished her sweatshirt jacket...

CC's quilt for her niece, front...

and back...

Linda S finished her square in a square quilt...

and made wreaths...

Patty D is a scrap lover, just like me!

A sewing maching buddy by Sandra...

and one of her molas...

and last but not least, my Scrap Crystals...

There you have it - we are a talented group of ladies!  Enjoy your Sunday, sew forth and sew on...

It's a Mystery! Again!

Three things to be happy about:
(1) Peppermint sticks
(2) Peppemint patties (the red and white ones - not those York peppermint patties, they're too sweet!)
(3) Finding loose change

My sister has a group she walks with just about every morning.  She tells me that every time they go walking - every single time - they find money in the street!  It may just be a penny or a dime; once they found a handful, just laying there!  So far I've only found two pennies, one greatly used.

Go figure.

Are you ready for another mystery??

I was sewing the binding on my Scrap Crystals quilt and lo and behold, it wasn't long enough!

I was so sure I cut enough strips, and what you see on the left is all I had left of the fabric I used, sheesh!

Had to go on a fabric hunt...

I hope this piece is close enough, I couldn't find anything else!

See... you can barely tell the difference, right?

Attached to the quilt ...

I don't think you can tell at a glance that they're different.

People in polite society won't notice, right?

Whatever.

So I'll be sewing this down by hand while we're buzzing at the Bee today.

I believe today is new officer nomination and election, and committee appointments.  Anyone not showing up will likely be appointed where they're needed, in absentia.   Ahhhh, democracy!

Sew forth and buzz on

It's a Mystery!

Three things to be happy about:
(1) Black Friday deals (for those of you who go there)
(2) The Vermont Country Store
(3) Jingle bells

Yes, it's a mystery ... it's a mystery why I procrastinate so much!  By now I should have finished the granny square quilt I was working so diligently on ... oh well, I fotted around and didn't reach my goal!  

While my Scrap Crystals top was at Missouri Star being quilted I was supposed to make the binding so that when I got it back, I could just sew it right on.

That didn't happen, so now I have to make the binding as well as sew it on!

There wasn't enough of the border fabric to make binding, I was looking at these two fabrics as possibilities...

I chose the fabric on the left because it's less busy, there's enough scrappy activity on the front!

This morning I cut the strips and sewed them together...

I think my choice will look good with both the back and front of the quilt.

So now, rather than being able to start the En Provence mystery along with everybody else, as a punishment I have to attach this binding so I can hand sew it at Bee tomorrow.

Another reason not to procrastinate?

I dampened some fabric for my granny square quilt and placed it in a baggie to soften up.

Well, I didn't get to the pressing and it molded on me!  When I didn't press it after two days I really should have placed it in the freezer.

And what's with the pink area on the right edge??  Yuck!

My friend Charlene suggested I add vinegar to soapy water and wash it, and the mold should come out.  If that doesn't do the trick I'll just toss it, I have plenty more of that particular fabric.

The up side of this experience?  I learned two good lessons!  Sew forth and sew on...

Guild meeting

Three things to be happy about:
(1) sorting out your thread
(2) snuggly socks
(3) gas prices falling

We had our next-to-last guild meeting yesterday, where has the year gone??!

Of course one of the main attractions was the marketplace!  Fabric brought in by fellow members Nadine (The Fabric Peddler) and Katherine caught everyone's attention.


And now here's some quilty show n tell eye-candy ...

Pretty African ladies

Tussets seem to be the coming thing now

New York beauty.  Cynthia also likes working with small pieces:

... a beginning quilter.  She plans to quilt this one herself

and a paper-pieced hanging

sweatshirt jacket

Cornelia is determined to have this one quilted in time for Turkey Day!

As usual we all had a great time showing, sharing, and reconnecting with friends we hadn't seen since the last meeting.  We also had representatives from two guilds who brought their raffle quilts ...

this one from Friendship Quilters of Linthicum is for me!

Sew forth and sew on