Going Through The Motions

In Memoriam 

 

 

First things first; a huge "Thank you" to all of you who have, seen or unseen, expressed your love, prayers, and sympathy for Raven's passing over the Rainbow Bridge. It has helped me as I grieve her loss.

None the less, life goes on. I didn't do very much yesterday at Sunshine Club, except to help Sue to rip out a few of her miscreant four patches that were going in the wrong direction.

We got them all going the right way, as you can see above. You can also see that our chocolate dispenser is on the table and open. Hersey's Milk Chocolate Nuggets to the rescue!

Margie was diligently at work, cutting more 5" squares for her yellow and blue baby quilt.

Back at home, I must confess to investing in what may be folly, but it pleases me to no end. From a fellow stashbuster, I paid the shipping on this huge box of two inch squares.

The photograph looks awfully "blue" due to the low light conditions at twilight when I took the picture. Just look at all those 2" squares!  She even included a booklet on machine quilting, too. Thank you, Donna!!!

This is a picture of Miss Raven and Miss Tanner enjoying a final sunbath together on the deck. Raven was such a gentle soul that she never once chased or teased the cats. But she did steal a lot of their kitty milk from their dish, LOL!

May you find the bright spot in every day, no matter what is happening in your life.

Happy sewing, too.

Every Good Dog Goes To Heaven

Snow baths

Silly sleeping poses

Sleeping beauty

Cuddles with Puppy-Mom

Favorite squeaky duck toy

Rest in Peace, Raven.
Puppy-Mom and Puppy-Dad will see you there someday.

Halfway Through August!

These are my first efforts at regrouping my Sawtooth Star potholders reserve that blessedly sold out last Saturday. Felix says that the one with the blue corners looks Medieval to him.
And I actually made two that are exactly the same!!! That's unheard of for me, LOL!

This is the one that I thought was breathtakingly beautiful! I wish I had more of that Jacobean floral in the center square.

Today's cooler weather energized me! Here are some pictures I took after making the trek down to The Friday Quilters at The Golden Gese Quilt Shop in Concord, New Hampshire. This is Beverly working on her heavenly teals and blues.

Maureen had a table runner that she was very carefully matching up the stripes of the binding to the quilt. So patriotic, hooray for the Red, White, and Blue!

I totally forgot to ask for them to take my picture for this blog, because we were all laughing, chatting, and yes, chomping a little chocolate, too!
So while I have no picture of me, here is a driveway shot of my current progress on my Scrappy Jacob's Ladder.

You'll notice that I got the scrappy neutral 2 1/2" inner borders onto the barn raising center. I think that the whole thing measures 76" square right now.

I'm joining more 4-patches for pieced borders, so that will add another 8" for a finish around 84". It is wonderful to have a nice supply of the 4-patches from the swaps.
Speaking of swaps, I sewed and pressed some 4 1/2" HST's to stay ahead of the October deadline.

I think it's October, isn't it? Must check! (I did, and yes, it is October 15th) ;)

Happy sewing!

Sunshine Doings

We had two young visitors to our Sunshine Club yesterday, Kayla (pronounced, k EYE lah), and Arturo who are back from camp but not yet back to school.

Sue was working right along chain sewing her sub-cut units into four-patches.

It was too hot for me to want to bring in my Featherweight, Scottie. I was content to finish one bat wing block for The Farmer's Wife by Laurie Aaron Hird.

Later that day, I took the Lost & Found quilt out to the clothesline to get pictures of it now that I've finished hand hemming it.

It is a period piece from the 1980's in a matchy-uppy Log Cabin. I wanted to honor the departed piecer, Frances Irene Harris, by completing her UFO.

Her now-elderly son found it in a box of fabrics in her attic and brought it to me as a donation. I chose a backing, batting, and binding that I thought were in keeping with the spirit of the work.

I hope that someday, someone will finish my UFO's, too!

I was able to practice quilting some free-style feathers in the borders with just spirals in the center.

The overall effect is soft and restful, and I'm pleased with it. Matthew desperately needs a new futon quilt and this may just be perfect!

Happy quilting!

More Sew Along

Last night was "catch up" time on the Marcus Brother's Sew Along, link here.

I'm showing my progress here

So that you can vicariously get a sense of my process.

Paula Barnes, of Red Crinoline Quilts (formerly Bonnie Blue Quilts) did a great job with this block!

The steps were many, but they were easy to get perfect results.

I am committing heresy here. Sorry, Marcus Brothers, but this was on top of the rockpile.

This is Paula's design:

But I was up for trying another design tweak. This is my playing around with the corner HST's, but I put it back, I liked hers better!

All sewn up!

Now starched and pressed.

Flipped to measure...ahhh! Perfect!

Sew happy with the block!

A special "Thank you" is going out to Sarah at Homestead Hearth's Blog. My comment made me a winner of this neat McCall's Quilting magazine!

As ever, my favorite view from my easy chair is to gaze upon a lazy lady Labrador. Miss Raven awoke as I snapped the picture.

 I pray for the family of Robin Williams, may God rest his soul. He will be greatly missed.

Happy sewing.

Vanity Of Vanities

Oh, happy day, my quilts did not sell!
LOL! I know that I put them into Keepsake Quilting's First Annual Outdoor quilt show, but I didn't really want to part with them!! One was my Calliope Music, at 92"X104", priced for $910.

This is such a pretty quilt! Here it is up closer.

The second quilt of mine that I offered was Easy Street, which is 96"X96", and quilted by me with Baptist Fans.

I listed Easy Street at $1,560.00. If it had sold, I think that I would've cried. Who am I kidding?

I love my quilts! How could I ever part with them? These are both Bonnie K. Hunter designs and here is her blog. I could spend a lifetime making her wonderfully crafted patterns!

Ahh, but when I was there at The Mothership to pick up my quilts, a few yards from the outlet store called to me, "Victoria, Victoria...come here...you know you want me..."

The shop wasn't too crowded so I only waited a minute or two at the cutting desk.

I loved the tie-up ribbon that Laurel chose for me, it was CROSSROADS!!! That's from the quilt that I just finished, LOL!

Here's the neat loot inside!

Each was a one yard piece and each was $5.99, so I escaped for only $30, LOL!! Next is a terrible picture of a wonderful fabric's selvedge.

I guess it's time to make more potholders, at least I don't mind selling those, LOL! I have none left!

Raven is about the same, healthwise, so we take it one day at a time. She sure is funny when she sleeps, though. Who could hold this pose?

Treasure every moment and,
Happy sewing!