Be*mused

Round and round we go

Juggling so many active projects was starting to get messy...piles of fabric everywhere, strips and blocks competing for space on the flannel wall.  Sometimes I thrive in a big fabric mess and sometimes, like this week, it starts to get on my nerves.  This top was close to being done so I spent a few hours yesterday finishing it up. 

I often insert a narrow inner border around the center patchwork to set it off a bit from the chosen border treatment.  This time I decided on a solid black which is barely discernible from a distance, but sets off the sawtooth edge nicely, I think. The edging is comprised of 2" half square triangles.  They seemed giant compared to my other ongoing project!

 

With the intention of hand quilting this top, I cut the borders wider that my intended finish size to allow more cloth to grab in the hoop.  But now I think the wider borders set off the center better.  It makes me cringe a little to tell you that I originally planned a 6" border because I'd like to hang this in a space that won't take a larger quilt.  Sort of like buying a painting to match the couch.  

I don't think I can ignore what the quilt is telling me.  But I may just remeasure that wall before I decide.

***I realized this week that Typepad hasn't been forwarding all of your comments to me from the last few posts...but they're supposedly straightening it out today.  I've tried to catch those that they missed, but it's difficult to reply outside of the forwarded format.  Let me assure you, I do read them all and love to hear from you.  To all of you in the states, have a wonderful holiday weekend!

Zig-zaggin'

  

That's me this month.  Zig-zagging from one thing to another.  Pulled in a bunch of different directions, in family life and in my projects.  Thank goodness for the quilts...a wonderful distraction!  For all I've been working on, I have remarkably little of interest to show today.  When much of what's in the works is handwork, the results are a little bit slower to materialize.

 

I love a good dogtooth edge, don't you?  For some reason, I'm surprised each time that I appliqué them how quickly they work up.  I always seem to think it's going to be a big commitment but these edgings took me only a few evenings to finish.  I love, love, love the red pindot that I used, a Blue Hill fabric from one of their first lines that seems not to be found anywhere now.  The weight of their base cloth and the perfect turkey red of this print makes me wish I had a bolt of it.  A little more sleuthing's in the cards, I think. 

I was going to tell you about our big yard project but after numerous unsuccessful attempts to upload the photos (Is this your problem, Typepad, or is it me?), it will have to wait for another day.  Summer gardens are definitely on my mind, though.   

Do you know where this is going?  Oh, and speaking of gardens, did you see Sarah's post this morning?  *Swoon*!

Hello, hello

I'm guessing that when I said I was going to visit my parents for Mother's Day, you were expecting me back before this.  In fact, I was gone for a bit over a week.  On Easter weekend, my healthy, active mom suffered a medical event, the aftermath of which has left all of us in the family a bit stunned.  It was a trying week on many levels, but I'm glad I went and I know they were happy that I came for a stay. 

 

I prepared a bunch of handwork to take with me, but I can't say I got very much done on that front.  I'm home now, decompressing, and time spent in the sewing room is my usual, no-fail antidote.  I've already made some new progress on several projects and am so happy about the direction of two of them, I'm finding it difficult to keep myself focused on a single one.  So, not much to share today, but I did want to *check in*. 

Two quick things.  I spent very little time on the computer while I was away, pretty much just stealing away now and then to check email (my in-box is still overflowing...please bear with me), but I want to thank all of you who were so kind to alert me to this happy news.  Boy, if there was ever a week I needed a pick-me-up, this was it.  And what a pick-me-up!! 

Finally, a bit off of my usual topics, if you are over 60, please consider getting a shingles vaccine.  As one who is generally ambivalent about such preventive measures, I can assure you that I will be standing in line for one when I reach that birthday milestone.  It's not always just a painful but short-lived rash.  It can leave one in continuing, debilitating pain and change your life overnight.  Shocking, really.

Happy Mother's Day!

Wishing all the Moms out there a happy Mother's Day this weekend!   I'm heading off to spend some time with my mother (both parents, actually) several states away.  I had planned a different post for today but the packing and last minute running around ate up my time.  I'll be back before you know it!

Crossing over to the dark side

 

Admittedly, I maintain a large stash of fabric from which to work.  It's my palette so despite its size, I'm still always on the hunt for pieces that expand my color range or can add some spark in pattern, print or scale.  Because of limits in budget and storage space, most of my fabric is purchased in half yard cuts.  If I need more length for a quilt border, I use my small stash pieces to audition print scale and color/value and then purchase needed yardage in the same, if still available, or something similar, if out of print.  No matter which border I decided on for my HST quilt (and thanks for all the love!), I had to order more, putting the project in the holding pen for a few days.  In the meantime, I've been assembling my black wagon wheel top.

Maybe I'm still on some sugar high with the candy colored HST project.  Or it could be that nothing would look good after I wandered over to Amy's this afternoon and caught sight of her narrow spoke wheel blocks(!)  Whatever the reason, I'm not feeling the love for this one like I was.  It's a wintery-looking quilt and with spring busting out all over...*eh*.  I'll at least attach the triangle borders this week.  It does feel good to revisit an in-progress piece.

On Sunday afternoon, M & I took a walk up to an art festival being held in the park in our town's center.  After excessive indulging around here lately, I intentionally left my wallet at home which seemed like a good call until I waltzed into the WeenerWare booth and I spied this *Pincushion Girl* pin.  Ringed in Swarovski crystal rhinestones, it features a reproduction image from a vintage pinbook found in the artist's grandmother's sewing box.  Yes, it's made with a bottle cap and glitter.  Yes, I'm over 10 years old...but I still love charming, sparkly pins!  And yes, M's a sport, pulling out his wallet as he watched me linger over it and wishing me a happy Mother's Day.   

 

My border fabrics arrived this afternoon.  Move along...no clues here today!