Tag: Quilting

zibaldone | 7.26.22

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 IMG_5668    sunset over Sisters’ Mountains

Earlier this morning, at the end of The Writers’ Hour, 8:59 am, ESDST, I wrote: “Time for the monthly blog wrap up/weigh in … I have an idea to share and best get busy with the post … it’s the 26th, after all… just not feeling it … too many distractions. Too many! Not supposed to rain til the afternoon … so, I think I’ll get dressed, rewrap my foot – it looks less swollen and go for a stroll in the park.” And that I did.

T’was nice to resume this AM practice after having been away for two weeks – on my trip to Sisters OR,  my favorite place on the planet (of all the places I’ve visited over my lifetime, Aruba, Hawaii, and Austria come in 2nd, 3rd and 4th, respectively).

I hadn’t been to Sisters since the Fall of 2017. I’d not planned to stay away that long but as we all know, life took a totally – can’t even think of a proper word – unanticipated turn the Spring of 2020. The world shut down!

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July 9! The day of the 49th annual Sisters Outdoor Quilt Show finally arrived. Over 1200 quilts from around the world had arrived and were hung on the outsides and insides of buildings, from trees, in parks, etc.

These were three of quilts made by instructors. The butterfly quilt was designed and stitched by Tula Pink. I tried to register for the two day class but hah! T’was sold out within the first five minutes of registration in February! Classes were limited to 20 people! Covid, you know… I did not take any classes.

But, I had a wonderful visit with my friends, was treated like royalty and made some new friends, too. The next best feature of my trip was having my desire to resume quilting, specifically mark making using bits and pieces of fabric and primarily hand – stitching, nothing as elaborate as the butterfly, rekindled. I’ve been away too long.

Initially, I’d planned to go to Washington but had to revise those plans. My intention is to return soon – in the not too distant future – all things considered.  In the meantime, I have several ideas for stitchin’.

 

it’s thursday !| 3.4.21 …

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…and as I begin to pen this post, also 4:45 pm, EST. I have had great intentions to post every day this first week of March – as they say: “life gets in the way of one’s plans…” Seems that my plans and better intentions are waylaid by unplanned events, e.g., today: I wound up making a grocery store run; fortunately, it took me about 75 minutes, portal to portal. And then, the next thing I know the day’s over and I’ve not written a word let alone a post. Oh well, I tell myself: “there’s always tomorrow.” Oh really?

Fortunately I’ve managed to carve out a 45-60 minutes block at noon, most days of the week to make a Daily Page, to play with cardstock, rubber stamps, washi tape, watercolors, etc on a 3 x 5 or 4 x 6 canvas along with people from all over the globe – also under COVID-19 restrictions. Thus far this week, I’ve also walked outside at least 20 minutes a day!!! I owe Mother Nature a huge thanks – she’s certainly brought us the weather that encourages such activity. The forecast for Sunday is very promising, too – maybe a walk to Franciscan Monastery? Weather permitting.

I am about to begin The Confetti Quilt Stitch Along. I alluded to it in my post last Thurs. Currently, I am waiting for my background fabric, on order from a shop in Texas – I think they’re back in business after all the turmoil with water and electrical grid … I am especially excited because I’ve not done any quilting since the beginning of COVID-19 …

On the reading front: I commented on Mary’s blog post for today: “Fun post AND I think “I’ll borrow a page from your book” -pun intended (I.am.so. clever – hah!): since I have yet to connect to my/a year-long read, I’ll read fiction in the morning, also! Duh! What took me so long to figure that out?!
Thanks friend for waking up a few sleepy brain cells…
Cheers~

The neat thing about this bright idea is I have lots of fiction titles awaiting my read – I don’t read much fiction and have been aiming to change that but have not had much success I think this will definitely work! Stay tuned.

Finally, I am pleased to report that soon both Norman and I will be among the 100 million who will have received their Covid-19 vaccination during POTUS 46’s First 100 Days!

Have a good weekend!

Cheers~

tgif | 10.16.20 …

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thinking : or as they say: best laid plans of mice, men and Honore´ … I wrote a draft of todays’s post earlier today but then got involved in sorting and planning several memory keeping projects for the balance of 2020. Can’t believe there are just 10 weeks left in 2020! Who-da thought we’d have the ride we’ve been on and are still on ???

grateful : for a stirring to resume a couple stitching projects – just as soon as I finish reorganizing my sewing room. one project on my agenda is “sewing school” for my nieces – they each want to learn how to sew and I have a few spare machines – one for each ( i.e., 3) plus a major supply of fabric, tools, etc. I think that with Zoom and my sister’s plus quilting friends’ help, we/they can do this…and heaven knows there are books ( many that I also have) and online resources to round out the curriculum. Christmas will be early this year…

interesting : “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” our neighborhood drugstore (Walgreen’s!) is still without rubbing alcohol – it’s been over three weeks. they are well supplied with hand sanitizers and masks and alcohol wipes and other COVID-19 related items… just no alcohol. truly a curiosity.

fun: October is another LOAD (layout a day month); I have been enjoying capturing autumn memories during this unprecedented year – COVID-19. The photo above was yesterday’s creation …

Have a great weekend!

Cheers~

unraveled wednesday |7.8.20…

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In early April, I started a noon time practice : Daily Pages, led by rukristin of the Awesome Ladies Project. We meet via Zoom and have a virtual creative party for about 20-45 minutes… each of us makes some type of art page in a journal of our choice on a technique/topic of our choosing. We can choose to share or not! No pressure. Just a lovely way to spend time during Covid-19, +++

Over the past two months, I’ve shared about 6 of my pages on this blog. The photo above shows the pages I made yesterday and today; the top half also features the little art zine booklet by Malaka Gharib that appeared in npr’s Jan 7 Life Kit (and also shared by Bonny on her blog, Highly Reasonable). I find that I really enjoy this noontime break and have at least 3-5 pages in various stages of make… No pressure. No illusions. Just fun!

Today, I went to the dentist and my hygienist inquired about my quilting. I admitted I’ve not really done any quilting. I’m not sure why – other than I’ve just not been so inclined or inspired or both.  In fact, I’ve barely stitched anything – other than mask making – since I finished Kayla’s quilt (pictured above in the lower photo) when she graduated high school June 2019!  Funny that she asked that question for just earlier this morning, before my appointment, I began again – for the first time-  a book from my personal library: Why We Quilt: Contemporary Makers Speak Out about the Power of Art, Activism, Community and Creativity by Thomas Knauer,  Storey Publishing, ©2019. Perhaps I was feeling the desire to resume quilting. I suppose time will tell.

I find it interesting that on the one hand I’m buoyed by a new creative practice and on the other, rather out of sorts with an older one … for both have in common creating something new and whole out of pieces.

Joining Kat and friends for Unraveled Wednesday.

 

sometimes mondays | 1.27.20…

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…follow Friendstitchin’ Sundays.

We had a lovely meal: great soups, salads, bread, cheddar sun chips, and coconut cake. Our gatherings, now entering year 6? 7? , are something we all look forward to and jealously guard on our calendars.

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This morning I felt a bit under the weather so I played hookey from my Monday quilt group meeting… Feeling better and back to the sewing machine; am making progress with the first of my two quilt blocks for Australia and I have two blocks to stitch for the group’s 2021 annual raffle quilt.

Tomorrow is the first One Little Word for 2020 share on this blog. I’m looking forward to our year together.

Cheers~

sometimes mondays | 1.20.20…

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… are below freezing cold.  As I was fixing breakfast, I felt my slippers sticking to the floor; looking down, I saw why: there was a puddle of water right in front of the sink . That cold! For when the temp drops to 20s, the pipe under the kitchen sink drips water and eventually, the water overflows to the floor. Breakfast-fixin’ postponed while I mopped up water. Appealed to Alexa ~ to no avail … Note to Self: call in plumber; I’m sure there’s a wrap that can be affixed to take care of that little annoyance.

Yesterday, one member of our Thurs Stitchin’ group  texted she was knitting Joey (kangeroo) pouches. ??? I replied…and she answered: Australian wildfires have left a lot of orphans…including kangaroos…so there is a worldwide call for knitted kangaroo pouch simulators. Another member shared there is also a world wide call  for tree quilt blocks for (human) families who are homeless as a result of the fires.

There are still hours left in this national holiday of service and tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King. I am now off to my sewing studio to look for fabrics to make a tree quilt block or two.

Cheers~

P.S. The temperature is currently 33°F and the sun shines; perhaps I’ll fire up Inspector Gamache and we’ll go for a quick spin around the block before the sun sets.

 

 

sometimes mondays | 1.13.20 …

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…  are a return to quilting

… This dynamic quilt is anther area quilt group’s 2020 Raffle Quilt, brought to our quilt meeting for display and to sell tickets: – 6 chances for $5. Yep, I bought a few chances…

… Every two years, we have our three-days’ quilt show; this is the beginning of our 2021 Raffle Quilt. We, the members, stitch the blocks and then a committee assembles all into one quilt. I have two blocks to assemble and stitch ….

… My quilt  group’s current president made this Baltimore Album Quilt for her parents’ 50th wedding anniversary. The little quilted book  in the middle row, center block, includes their wedding day photo. Her parents are now deceased but she said the quilt was on their bed for years. She hand quilted the white background.

… Lunch at Nordstrom:

Today’s special: Winter Salad, a mix of organic baby greens, kale, all natural blackened chicken, roasted sweet potato, salted pecans, goat cheese and white balsamic honey plus a cup of Roma Tomato Basil soup and a Rustic cheddar chive biscuit. Yummy! The best part: doggie bag for later!

Cheers~

 

… Post Script:

Monday’s blog post: published Tuesday.  I had drafted this post during lunch and planned to publish when I got home. On my way home, I stopped at an art shop and turned on my phone (no text messages while I’m driving) to find a flurry of  35 text messages from my sister and nieces: My sister was in the hospital – flu? Turns out no – a kidney stone. Passed. Thankfully. She’s home and maybe a little worse for the wear but doing well! Whew!

sometimes mondays | 12.9.19…

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… come around sooner than expected…hmmm, let me see, last Monday, the last day I blogged, I noted the weather was cold and windy; today it is cold, windy and wet! I wondered what the week was to bring; it was busy!

  • I pulled out Christmas stuff and decorated the living room except for the tree. We need a new one… and we need to have a meeting of the minds: I want real. Need I say more?
  • Saturday’s house tour was fun. Most of the 7 houses on the list were owned by young couples, with one or two preschoolers. It’s always interesting to see current trends and how people decorate their homes. Horizontal chandeliers (with 3-5 individual lamps) and beaucoup (5-8 ) pillows on the bed seemed to be the décor of the day.
  • I only attended one concert – yesterday – Handel’s Messiah. Superb!

Today was my quilting group’s annual holiday potluck luncheon; everything was good. Entertainment consisted of our singing two songs about quilting – one sung to Let It Snow and the other, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer – and solving the holiday word scramble (pictured above). Have fun!

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This photo was taken at one of the houses; of course I couldn’t resist!

 

unraveled wed | 9.25.19 …

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I’ve not added any new TBRs … On the log cabin front: the green is about 12 rows from done and I’m deciding which shade of blue to use for that last square. In one of my weekly Döstädning bursts, I discovered a few needlepoint canvases from days long gone; this one was nearly done so I finished it Sunday during Friendstitching.  Just in time too ~ Christmas is 3 months away… Just sayin’…

I am now real ... well, almost.  This morning, I went to DMV to renew my driver’s license. After standing in line for an hour, then sitting for another hour (not to mention gathering documents and filling out forms before I even went), my number was called. 15 minutes later, all the information was collected/documented and I left with a temporary paper license, good for 45 days … the real one expected in 15 days. I hope so!

We’re having deliciously cool fall weather, ’cause as Dee sez: It’s Fall, Y’all! Lots of oak leaves on the ground but color changes seem slow – or is it just my impatience? Norman’s off on a walk and I’m headed to my sewing studio to stitch more wonky stars.

Joining Kat and friends for unraveled wednesday.  How’s your day shaping up?

Cheers~