Indian Summer...

January is quickly coming to an end, and we are finally getting some winter weather in SE Pennsylvania with temperatures in the teens and the prospect of a bit of snow tomorrow. 

Days like this make me long for a fireplace.

Yesterday, as I was trying to finish up this Kaffe zig-zag quilt, I discovered that I had misaligned one of the borders. I spent most of last evening with my trusted friend, the seam ripper, correcting the problem.

Today the quilt top was completed, and I will attempt a better picture when the weather warms up a bit.

I have named it "Indian Summer."

This block for the Autumn Color Project 2012 is now finished and on its way to the

Republic of Moldova.

I am making progress on my CQJP 2013 project. I now have two of these mirror blocks and have started stitching the block that will sit in-between them. 

I went out bead shopping the other day, successfully gathering some new beads and ornaments that might make their way onto this wall hanging.

Tomorrow, I will let you know who will receive the jelly roll set of batiks. 

Until then, stay warm!

Hurricane Sandy

For me, Hurricane Sandy has come and gone, but, for so many, the effects will linger for a long time. The coast was hit hard, and the stats are pretty bad. I lost no power, and the only reminder of all the water is the large puddle in my backyard. This actually makes my River Birch very happy.

All day yesterday, I sat at my sewing machine working, listening to the increasing winds and rain, wondering when the power would go off. We were all prepared with candles and flashlights. The lights flickered on and off several times. We were convinced it was inevitable. We were very fortunate.

For the Autumn Color Project 2012, Tatyana from England had dyed so much fabric....enough to construct several blocks. So Masha, the lovely woman who put this project together, asked me to make some more blocks with the fabric, lace, and motifs that I had left.

So, yesterday, I put together three more blocks and STILL have fabric, lace, and motifs left over!

This week, all the blocks will be off to other parts of the world to be embellished.

My thoughts go out to all those affected by the hurricane...

The rebuilding begins...

Blocks and blocks...

Life has been so busy lately that I haven't had a moment to post anything here. My second son was married in Belgium a week ago. A whirlwind trip full of friends, family, wine, beer, shopping, chocolate, and very little sleep. I don't think that I ever adjusted to Belgium time before I had to return to the States.

The minute I returned home, I was back at my machine working/playing/creating....

all fun!

The first thing I did was complete the next block for the Millenium Compass Quilt. This will be part of a BOM class starting in October, so I need to get the sample done.

Next thing I did was begin an online class called Encrusted Crazy Quilting with Sharon B. The first week's assignment was to create a crazy quilt block between 6 and 12 inches. I'm happy with the first one but wonder how difficult this will be to embellish due to the bold prints and dark colors. Sharon B assures me that I should go for it.

For the second block, I chose a wider variety of fabrics but toned down the colors and patterns. We'll see how this turns out. For the second week, I am to begin stitching. I have been experimenting with another block, so I already got my feet wet and am ready to go!

I thought that before I get too involved in my CQ class, I would get my Block Swap for August done. This month's partner wanted any block in black and white with a splash of red. Anyone who knows me well knows that this is one of my favorite color combinations. My partner posted a picture on her blog of all the squares she has received so far, so I tried to create a block that she didn't have yet....an offset Log Cabin.

Well, since I had the fabric out, I decided to do another one. I had recently purchased Karen Combs' acrylic template for making cubes, so I decided to give it a try.

So, it's been a great week home. I'm definitely back into the swing of things.

Finally...the elated lovers...my son, Luke, and his beautiful bride, Clemence!

Our online selves...

In general, bloggers keep their private lives off their blogs. We all put our best foot forward and choose not to talk about the problems that are an inevitable part of life. I have noticed that this has been a recent subject of two blogs that I follow....both bloggers decided to be adventurous and get personal. The responses were numerous, thoughtful, and genuine.

Quilting, sewing, creating....these are the things that keep my life in balance. These are the activities that help me manage the rocky terrain of life. So, this is what I talk about. However, here's my moment of disclosure. Lately, life has felt like a game of dodgeball, and when I was least expecting it, I got blind-sided with a ball and got up stunned. It happens...and it hurts like hell. I haven't even had the energy to take the cover off my machine.

Recently, I have become greatly inspired by the work of a lovely woman, Masha Novoselova. She is a remarkable fiber artist. Through her, I have become interested in the revival of the Crazy Quilt. I haven't done embroidery work in many, many years. Last night, after making a small crazy quilt block, I got out my needles and floss and began.

Masha had given me some general direction and ideas for stitches and placement, but I realized that as you work, the fabric begins to speak to you. I found myself asking, "What do you want and where?" In the process, I learned the blanket stitch, the cretan stitch, and the threaded back stitch.

I have only begun. I have a lot more to do. If I add beads, I will need to go get a tiny needle. Not everything that I stitched stayed on. You just have to love your seam ripper and embroidery scissors for removing everything that goes awry. I am hoping that I end up with something that I like. Regardless, it was fun to begin something new that progresses at a slow pace. I need slow right now!

Last week, I got the border on my morning glories. I think maybe the French knots was the beginning of something new...

One-third of the way...

I'm sitting at my computer on a Friday afternoon thinking about the fact that one-third of the year is already gone. It's actually difficult to wrap my head around the movement of time. Four months ago, I decided that blogging might help me get some work done around here. I think that in many ways the idea has brought success. However, the prime idea was to finish projects that I had already started, and what I've accomplished has been a mixture of many things. So, I started putting my sewing into categories. I have real unfinished projects, I have stash projects, I have brand new projects where I grudgingly have to go out and buy fabric (hahaha), I have class prep projects, and finally the Block Swap Adventure.

Although I felt as if I kept very busy during April, I don't have that much to show for it. I made a ribbon quilt top for a friend, made a Judy Niemeyer quilt top, "Reflections", made the red and white New York Beauty for a class, bound four quilts, and participated in my first block swap..

So May is here, and I'm plugging away at the new setting for my brown star BOM class. I only have one more piece to construct for the corners.

Then, I need to go over to the shop and pick up the other six star blocks and put it all together. This is what I have so far...

I also finished constructing all of the morning glory squares, put them together, and embroidered yellow French knots in the center of each flower.

Now, a border?

I guess I need a new stash pick, don't I? hmmmmm...