And This One Was Just Right

Remember when I mentioned in my previous post that I had started working on Jeff's quilt, and found some fabric, but didn't have quite enough? Well I knew it was a Hoffman 1895 but I wasn't too sure what color green it was.  I found some and ordered, but because I am never too sure about colors when ordering off the computer I ordered 3 different greens from Fabric Fanatics.

The color I needed was called Frog, at least I thought. 

Perfect match! This one was just right. Which meant I could work on the 2nd block.  I decided I wanted to have flying geese surrounding the motif on the shirt this time.

I think it is good for me to figure out these different borders for the shirt motifs because I have to use my brain, and do math. 

I was very pleased with how it turned out.  The 2nd block turned out nice and flat, it wasn't as frustrating as dealing with the cross stitch block.  So now I have 2 blocks finished. 

 Since I decided I wanted it to be scrappy greens and yellows I have been looking for those colors. I decided to look at Missouri Star because I had a sale notice with free shpping....big mistake. I went to their sale page and found a bunch of reproduction fabrics which were on sale.  These will be nice in my saw toothed square quilt. 

Browns.

A mustard yellow.   I have been having a problem finding a buttery yellow yet.

Then of course if you can find black on white, or white on black it is a staple of your stash.

Oh yeah I did find a yellow for the t-shirt quilt too. Yes I know it is a bit feminine, but it will blend in.

Of course since I was shopping, after fighting with the cat about pins I decided I needed a magnetic pin bowl. Lucy and I have a slight truce right now as long as my stuff doesn't mess up her feng shui. 

And I take a few minutes to pet her, and brush her.  She decided tonight I would be a nice lap for her to sit on.  I have never heard her purr, but tonight she sounded like a small weed whip, she was so loud.

I did my bag lady block for the month for guild.

I am not too sure about the use of the center fabric.  It is lovely, but it doesn't really pop like I wanted it to. 

I read another e-mail advertisement and got these from Donna's Lavender Nest.  I love the yellow flowers with the green plaid leaves.  There was only a fat quarter, I wish there was more.  I want to use it in the quilt too.

The rest I bought for the Swoon quilt I have been working on, more off than on, and of course loved the red daisies, and the blue plaid with fruit.  I was also gifted 3 charm squares which I will trim up for my tumbler leader and enders. 

Finally my mom, and her cousins have been working on a book for several years, tracing our family from California,back to New York and Nova Scotia.  One of the  cousins passed away about 2 years ago from cancer, so my mom and and the other cousins finished the book and had it published. 

This is the 2nd book on our family and its genealogy that my mom has had published.  I am so proud of her and all the work that she has put into this book.  

Its nice when you find fabric which is just right. 

Wrapped in Love

Life is simply amazing at times.  For every thing which has happened there are moments which are truly a blessing. 

The aunt is in the hospital, she is declining rapidly.  I spend a lot of time there with her, so not a whole lot of time to sew.  When I do get a chance though I can snatch a few minutes I can get so much done.

 I got my block for the friendship block of the month at quilt guild.  This is so much easier than it looks.  The guild fabric was the pansy, and you added a purple.  I had a fat quarter of Wilmington Essentials.  After I cut my parts I thought I would cut out parts for the Dandy Drive QAL quilt I would like to make.  Hey if it is there cut it right?  Um yeah I didn't have quite enough so I had to try to figure out which color it was and order more. 

I made my first block for Jeff's t-shirt quilt.  I lost a point or two, gosh don't know how that happened, but it went together fairly easy.  I will say because the cross stitch was not stabilized while it was being done, even after I added the interfacing it wrinkled.  I was so pleased with the block, I grabbed the next shirt and worked out a design.  I found the perfect fabric too.

Unfortunately I didn't have enough so I had to order some more of that too.  But I figure I will be using it throughout the quilt.  Yes I am mixing batiks, and everything into the quilt.  Hey if the quilt police don't like it, arrest me already.

The last few days have been very stressful.  The aunt being in the hospital, her having anxiety attacks.  I have to remember that I am acting based on her wishes.  But at times it doesn't make it any easier, and when I get home I feel very down.  This big house is so empty without Jeff, and now her, sometimes it is difficult to walk into the door. Imagine my surprise when I had a box sitting on my porch, and inside was this beautiful quilt from all of my friends in blog land.

Unfortunately my quilt holder is no longer with us here on earth.  I am sure he is smiling down on me though.  Receiving this quilt was like being wrapped in love.  Thank you so much all of my friends for this wonderful, loving gift.  I put it on my bed, and I will say that last night was the first night I slept through the night, without waking up multiple times or in tears.  Words cannot even begin to express my gratitude for all of you that contributed a block/blocks.  I will say that receiving this lovely quilt was a blessing that I truly needed that day.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Finally my mom had pictures of Jeff, and Jeff and I when we visited Oregon for my daughters wedding in 2012, as she was going through her computer she realized that there were a bunch that she had not given to me.  So she put them on a thumb drive and mailed it the other day.    I look at those pictures and I see the way he looked at me and  I know that I was truly loved, and adored by him. 

Jeff was not one to have pictures taken of himself, but he was always willing to have them done with me.  Or without me.  Maybe it was his "rugged good looks" he was willing to show off.  I miss being wrapped in his arms, but if I can't be in his arms the beautiful quilt that you ladies made me is a loving substituted. 

Why the Cat Sabotages Me and Other Quilty Conundrums

When the Ancient Ones moved in so did their cat Lucy.  To say that Lucy works against me much of the time is an understatement.  If I upset Lucy she throws up on demand.  I thought I would try to sew today.  Imagine my frustration when I realized that my HST that I make were on the floor.  Obviously it didn't suit Lucy's aesthetic. 

I sat my bin of tumblers on the couch where I could grab them while I sew. 

Yeah look who thought I could take my tumbler bin and shove it.

Speaking of tumbler bins.  Dawn at SewYouQuilt2 was showing off her tumblers.  They all look so nice and neat.

Yep mine are a hot mess. 

I started working on the t-shirt quilt.  I measured all the motifs and started drawing on graph paper trying to work out a layout. I was not being very successful.  So I decided to take a different tact. I designed a border around one block, and cut the block out, after putting fusible on it. 

I then started playing with the fabrics I had.  And hate them.  So this will be set aside until what I ordered arrives, then we will see. Ever have that problem?  Have fabrics in mind but they are just not what you wanted after all?  Once I get my first block done I will build around it. 

I love sales, and of course over the Easter week there were plenty online.  I need to quit looking at the e-mails.  Just delete!

 I got these from Hancock's of Paduchah.  Seriously who can resist 12 fat quarters for less than $20? 

On another site I saw this super cute table runner pattern.  See the top one with the sewing machine?  Of course the store had a kit, (well actually they had all 3 kits), and I loved the fabric so I bought the kit. 

And of course then I needed backing from the same line. 

I also got a yummy squishy package from Kris from Kris Loves Fabric.  Be still my beating heart!

Gorgeous fabrics, texty fabrics, blues I can't wait to play in them.  Thank you so much Kris.  It cheered my soul on a stressful day. 

Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all of my friends. 

I keep thinking of sunrise service when I was young. The pastor would say He is Risen, and we would reply He is Risen Indeed!

Of course I had to throw in a vintage post card!

Enjoy the day with your family and loved ones.

RSC Catch Up

Wow how much life can change in the blink of an eye.  I fully expected to be able to keep up with the RSC challenge this year, and finish up last years blocks.  There is an old Yiddish proverb which states.

Man plans, and God laughs

The color for February was aqua.

You can see the original block I made here. I was not thrilled with it so I found another kind of aqua but it reads more of a mint green to me. 

Then March rolled along.   March was red.  I love red!  I made my red block!

 Then a poison green block.

 Bubblegum pink.

 Burnt Orange.

And another red block.

Now I have 16 blocks. 

I am not really feeling the scrappy block this month.  I think if I have the time I may work on a yellow, gray, and whatever else I can rustle up if I have time.  I would love to find a rich chocolate brown, a nice tan, buttery yellow I think it would add a lot to the blocks.  Maybe the April all mixed up the center block would be a string block with different triangles around the outside?  Something to contemplate.

Cathartic Sewing

ca·thar·tic

kəˈTHärdik/

adjective

adjective: cathartic

1. 1.

   providing psychological relief through the open expression of strong emotions; causing catharsis.

   
   

   "crying is a cathartic release"

Sewing has been a challenge as of late, the aunt, my wounded heart, all make doing things so difficult.  I had some blocks to make for quilt guild (3) and I will admit that it took me about 2 weeks to make those blocks.  But I needed to get them done. 

 This is the March block.  The guild fabric was the shamrock print, I had to add a medium or dark green.  

This is the April block.  The guild fabric was the light and you were to use two complementary blue fabrics.  At least this one will be turned in on time.  I hope.

I also had my bag lady quilt block to get done.  Yes I finally had time to sew it Thursday morning so it will be ready to be turned in to quilt guild tonight. 

Sewing is very cathartic.  While I worry about my cutting because my mind wanders,  once I get the cutting done, I can throw together a block pretty quickly.  The hum of my machine soothes me, and sewing on the little featherweight machine that Jeff bought me as an "anniversary" gift--to celebrate our 1st year we knew each other and being together,  brings smiles.

I was reading some blogs when I had a free moment and  I saw this really cute quilt made by Designs By Sarah J.  She had a line of fabric out called Dandy Days by Marcus Fabrics.  When I saw it I knew I had to have some.

I love the colors, and the text fabric with its buttery yellow background was a balm to my soul.  While I may not be doing the QAL, I will make sure I save the instructions so that when I am ready I will be able to make the quilt. 

Picking Up the Pieces

Today would be one month since Jeff was killed.  Every day seems to be a challenge, while I try to pick up the pieces of life.  The AA has been ill, I had to put her in the hospital with pneumonia again, and so life has taken another turn.  She was released on Wednesday, and my days have been filled with medications, oxygen tanks, and trying to keep her calm.

I still haven't written all of my thank you notes, it is hard.  I only get one or two written a day, there are many tears, and memories of Jeff sharing about each and every one of his friends and co-workers. 

I have tried to sew, but I was afraid of trying to cut anything because I am so distracted.  I did fix my curtain for the family room, but I can't put it up.  The hardware is missing.  I did buy a new rod, now just to have a few moments, to retrieve the ladder, install new hardware, and do it.

I have received some lovely care packages.  I am hoping to get my quilting mojo back.  Having the time to just sit and sew even for only a few minutes helps immensely. 

Nancy from Pug Mom Quilts sent me lovely flowers.  On gorgeous blue fabrics.

Dawn at Sew You Quilt 2 sent a care package.

A lovely table runner of Kaffe Fassett prints.  Of course Lucy claimed it as her own.

Gorgeous fabric.  Love the chicken, barn, and windmill.  Jeff's favorite things.

A get well pillowcase for the Ancient Aunt.

A mug rug of selvages. 

And a To Do list which I keep plenty of these to keep track of what I need to get accomplished every day.  It helps me focus right now.

Cheryl of Cheryl's Teapots 2 Quilting sent me some books.  I am looking forward to some time to sit down and read.

Recently I bought this book by Jen Kingwell  called Long Time Gone after seeing Kris's blocks for a QAL from Kris Love's Fabric I knew I had to make a quilt using the pattern leaflet.

I know I have shared that Jeff loved antique John Deere tractors, he had rebuilt and sold or donated a couple previously.  He had two that he was currently working on.  He at one time had handed me a bunch of shirts and asked me to make a quilt for him. 

I kept putting it off.   Just a short time before he died, he asked me why I hadn't made him a t-shirt quilt out of his shirts.  I told him I am afraid of messing them up.  He chuckled and said they are just a bunch of old t-shirts, heck honey you think nothing of cutting up fabric that cost $18 a yard, but you won't cut up a bunch of old raggedy shirts?  I guess it is time.  I started by cutting off of the collars, sleeves, and all the different motifs.  I think my next step is to measure all of the different motifs then design a quilt.  

I thank everyone for your continued prayers and for checking on me.  Those prayers and well wishes have helped me through more times than I can count.