More QAYG Blocks

Got a few more orphan blocks quilted this week for the Soy Amado charity block drive.

These blocks date back to the beginning of this blog in 2010.  I was thinking of making a bento box quilt at the time, but it fizzled.  It's still on the bucket list, though.

It feels good to finish these up quilt-as-you-go style and send them off to where they'll be made into colorful quilts for those in need.

Again, just doing what seems natural when I sit down to quilt these.  I have always wanted to try wishbone quilting, but my attempts on paper have been pretty wonky.  Well, it came out just as wonky in the actual quilting too, but hey, that's why it's called practice.

Looks better from the back, perhaps.

* * * * *

Last Sunday afternoon, I had the pleasure of hearing the fabulous Jeni Baker of In Color Order talk about her quilts and her career as a pattern and fabric designer!

She spoke to a group of us at Mill House Quilts in Waunakee, Wisconsin, within easy driving distance for me, and the weather cooperated, thank goodness.

It was fun and fascinating to hear about her quilt making experiences and what sounded like a true Cinderella story when it came to her entry into the world of fabric design.

I loved seeing her trunk show.  So much wonderful color and pattern!

I was especially enamored of this one (below), an early quilt of hers replicated from a quilt her grandmother had made:

We even chatted a little bit before her talk, about Pyrex, her bunny George, and the joys of thrifting. 

Her new fabric line, due out in April, is an ode to her love of vintage linens, called Dreamin' Vintage.  I meant to tell her that her Lazy Daisy Raspberry reminds me very much of a bedspread and sheet set I had on my bed back in the day.

I probably got a little carried away by asking for a photo with her, but she happily obliged.  I am a giant by comparison to her petite frame, so I squatted down a good bit for this shot.  Work those quads!

Jeni was such a delight to hear speak.  Her energy and bubbly enthusiasm was infectious, and I left with a big smile on my face.  

And a little bit of fabric too!

H2H Progress Update

I have had my Hands2Help charity quilt blocks done and set out on the floor for over a week.  I need to sew them together now.

Here I have auditioned the three borders.  I think this is going to be it.

There is a Hands2Help progress update linky at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Lots of pretty quilts in the works!

One more story from the wild kingdom:  We have a pair of mallards that walk through the yard regularly.  This seems to happen every year in spring with a nesting pair. 

The hen (in the dull coloring) leads the drake wherever she feels like going.  Back and forth they waddle, across our yard and the neighbors', checking everything out.  If the hen pauses to look at something, the drake stops a step or two behind her and waits.

It reminds me of a husband dutifully following his wife around a shopping mall.  If the drake were a man, he might be holding her purse.

"Honey, can I ask you something?"

"Sure, babe.  What is it?"

"Just wait here, I'll be right back." 

"I want your opinion."

"Just a sec..."

"Almost ready..."

"Does this tree make my butt look big?"

Have a good day, wherever you may roam!

Point A to Point B

I wrote a post yesterday, clicked "Publish," did something else for an hour or so, then came back and deleted it.  Then, almost immediately, I regretted deleting it, so I went to Google Reader and salvaged it from there.  Sheesh.

Ever second guess yourself?  (Maybe the better question is, how often?) Do you ever think, oh no, someone is going to read this and get the wrong impression, thinking this when I meant that, and then...

Then what?  Criminy, I need to quit imagining things, (a), and (b) own it.

I gotta be me.  Even if me is an overthinker.

So here is yesterday's post, and below that, an update.

P.S. - I'm pretty jazzed about the update!

* * * * *
Trip or Skip?

Are you Scrappy Tripping?  I'm happy for you, if you are, as I am very much enjoying seeing all the cool blocks turning out.  I have wanted to get on board with the Scrappy Trip Along since early on, but now here's the thing.  Now that there are 5,256,682.5 other people doing it, I don't so much want to anymore.  Isn't that ridiculous?  Don't answer that, please.

See, it's the contrarian in me.  The part that's still a college student a credit short of a full load, deciding to blow off class once again, riding her 12-speed past the other students on the mall and then beyond and out to Tripp Lake (ironic, but a real place), slathering up with SPF 0 and frying in the midday sun while chain smoking herself dizzy on a half pack of Salem Lights.

But I guess I've learned a few things in the years since, and not all of them from the Surgeon General.

So instead of breezing on by, I decided to see how much fun I might be missing.  And now is as good a time as any to say, you all sure have some fine-looking scraps.  Either that, or it's really hard to make an ugly block (and there again is that part of me that thinks I should be the one to try).

Well, I made two...

 

...and I think that may be it for me.  Maybe I'll knock out a few more at some point, or not.  In any case, I'm happy to enjoy the Trip vicariously, if nothing else.  

Now, has anyone seen my bike?

* * * * *
Update:  So I had an idea this morning, as I paged through 15 Minutes of Play (love-love-love that book).  Why not "play" with my Scrappy Trip blocks?  Cut them apart and make something else with them, like "made" fabric?

And, oh my gosh, was THAT fun!  By doing some judicious cutting, I was able to make two blocks from one repurposed Trip block.  First, I made Square in a Square, Squared.

Then I made a Sawtooth Star.

And finally, a Scrap Star.

That, my friends, is what I'm talking about!  

So, to summarize: Follow the crowd, follow your own path, but always follow your bliss.  Say your piece and mind your piecing.  

Someone remind me of that when I forget again.

Favorite Things Friday 1-11-13

It's ba-ack!  Favourite Things Friday, hosted by our fearless leader, Shay, at Quilting in My Pyjamas.

Just a quick one this week.  It'd be twice as long if I could remember the other commercial I thought was so hilarious.  Alas, I had an almost-senior moment.  Technically, I did forget, but I'm not quite a senior yet.  That is, I don't yet qualify for discounts.

Here's the one I did remember, which made me cackle perhaps a bit too loudly the first time I saw it.  I think Norm was caught off guard.  I could feel his eyes staring at me like I'd lost my mind.

Enjoy!

Randomness

Linking to Live a Colorful Life's Really Random Thursday seems like the perfect thing today.

Alas, I am surrounded by randomness.  So many things to be done or in the works.

There is a backing for the Breathe quilt in progress.

Some of the last tomatoes (and a petite pepper) picked from Dad's garden yesterday.  We've had a frost or two.  The vines are turning brown.

My three vintage typewriters were posted on craigslist yesterday, in an effort to try to sell them locally so I don't have to worry about packing and shipping.  I kinda hate to part with them, but it's time for someone else to enjoy them. 

A few things waiting to be photographed and listed on eBay.  Not pictured is the pile on the chair and chaise behind me.  Someone shoot me if I buy another leather jacket or Harley-Davidson shirt at Goodwill.

Orphan blocks languishing on my couch.  I should just give these away.  Any takers?  Gone ~ thanks!

The reading stack next to my bed. 

Mostly quilt p0rn.  Optical illusion quilts and one- or two-color traditional quilts are my current obsessions.  I hope I actually make something before the whim passes.  Does that ever happen to you—you think it to death?

Plans and patterns from some clever folks that I'd like to try.  This is just what I've printed out or obtained in the last week or so.

Finally, this new fabric, which makes me giggle with glee!  Alexander Henry's Hurry Down the Chimney.  Such pretty packages...

I bought every last yard on the bolt at the shop.  Christmas presents for girlfriends, most likely.  I not-so-secretly want to hoard it, but 'tis better to give and share the fun! 

That is a look behind the scenes here.  What kind of randomness have you been up to?

Interlude

It has been a blast reading all your comments and suggestions on the last post.  I'm so glad I asked!  Thank you all so much for taking the time to comment  thoughtfully.  There were so many wonderful ideas! 

I'm loving this coleus, a last minute random planting.

Now I'm pretty sure I know the direction I'll be going.  The corner squares will stay and be a bit larger.  I'll probably do a narrow border of the same dark fabric as the corners, and a wider outer border of the black and white crosshatch background fabric.  In between those two borders and/or at the very corners of the quilt, I may do something scrappy.  I'm leaving myself some "creative wiggle room," as Elizabeth called it, until I get to that point.

As far as "Failure to plan..." you had some thoughts on completing that sentence as well, such as "freedom to accept what comes along (Sandi) and "allows for spontaneity" (Pokey).  One offering, by the very funny ThreeOldKeys (who invites you to check out her melons), completely cracked me up.  I thought it deserved a special graphic, so I "MacGyvered" one together at lunch today:

Hee-hee!

I am looking forward to working on the string ring quilt again this weekend.  First I have to finish some deadline stuff in the meantime (which I am totally procrastinating on at the moment, I know). 

Until then, I leave you with this fine musical interlude.  My friend Kathy sent me a link to this video yesterday, thinking I might like it.  How right she was!  I like this instrumental better than the original song.  Fantastic fingerstyle guitar playing by Mike Dawes.  Enjoy!

Monday Miscellany

I missed doing a Sunday Sundry post, so it's Monday Miscellany instead.  

Found a plant for the vintage Shawnee planter.

We spent yesterday celebrating Father's Day and our 29th anniversary.  Got to visit a bit with our daughter, which was lovely, and then went to a movie, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.  I really enjoyed it.  Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and an all-around stellar cast made for a great film.

We'll have to see how this works out.

Now that the baby quilt is done, it's time to get cracking on the string ring quilt again.  I was originally going to use red centers for the scrappy Dresdens, but then I had an idea to try a black and white polka dot instead.

I liked it, but I sought the opinions of my daughter and husband, who both preferred the red.  Not what I wanted to hear, but I appreciated their input. My daughter thought the black centers looked too much like pupils and crazy irises.  I hadn't thought of that.  Who wants to look at a quilt that looks back at you, creepily?

So I came up with a compromise, which got a thumbs up from Norm, and tonight I did some fusing while a Lifetime movie played in the background.  

I mostly ignored the movie, but now and then I'd pay attention to the dialog.  I think I may have lost a few IQ points in the process.

Reading the newspaper at lunch today, I had a good chuckle over this headline:

Eh, live and let live, I say.  Let a cougar enjoy those perimenopausal years however she likes.  If she can parlay her 40s for a couple of 20s, more power to her! ;)

Passing It Around

I just had the best belly laugh this morning watching this video a friend emailed me.  Had to share.  Looks like it's been out awhile, but if you haven't seen it before, it's worth the click.

Favorite Things Friday ~ Cars and Drivers

I went car shopping with my daughter M. on Monday.  I don't mind car shopping, actually.  I've negotiated for and bought every car we've ever owned.  Norm doesn't like haggling about cars, but it doesn't bother me in the least.

I also like hanging out with my daughter, so any day we get to do that is a very good day.


She has a great, wry sense of humor.  Take, for example, this exchange.  

We're heading out of town where a new building is being constructed, and we both muse over what it might be:

M:  It looks like a vet clinic. [Daughter is a veterinary technician]

Me:  [On seeing the sign out front]  Oh, it's a funeral home.

M:  Same thing.

Now, see?  That might make some people groan or gasp, but it cracked me up.  Dark humor?  Yes, please. 

The day ended without a car purchase, but a possibility on one of the lots we visited.  And I got to drive a sporty black Saab, which was fun.

But the icing on the cake came when we were in the drive-through at Wendy's at the end of the long day.  We were behind a car with the Coolest. Bumper. Sticker. Ever (if you are a Twilight fan).  I made M. take a photo with her iPhone.  "Augh, you're such a fan girl, Mom!"

And here is Edward Cullen himself (or his stunt driver).  This is the best clip I could find; it's dubbed in Spanish, but the words aren't important.  What I really want to know is how to make that 180 turn at 30 seconds in.  Put your seat belt on.

Happy Valentine's Day!

My husband came through with my special request for Valentine's Day!

He had to go to three different stores before he found it, commiserating along the way with a few other beleaguered spouses in hot pursuit.

Whatta mighty good man.

I had to share this chuckle, straight from today's newspaper Police Beat column.  You can't make this stuff up.

I bet the Fashion Police would beg to differ...

May you all have a good day and be surprised by your special Valentine, who should know whether to bring the pizza or the fishnets.

Favorite Things Friday - Thrift Score!

It was a good week for thrifting, despite the frustrating experience described in yesterday's rant.  At a different thrift store on Wednesday, I hit upon several really cool things, and those thrift scores are the subject of my Favourite Things Friday post this week!

First up was this vintage Stetson platter, which dates to probably the late 1940s.  It appears to be hand painted.  In fact, it looks like one of the stems is missing the rest of the leaf.  Maybe that's the way it was supposed to be, who knows?  And whoever might know the name of this pattern, please tell me.  I did some brief research but didn't come up with anything definite.

I love the colors!  It's in really great shape too, no cracks or crazing.

Sometimes it's nice to be on eye level with the higher shelves on the racks at Goodwill.  That's where I spotted six of these Missoni for Target mugs!  I bought every last one.  I may sell a set of four on eBay and keep the other two for us to use.  I could not believe my luck finding these.

In the fabric area, there were multiple yards of a couple vintage pieces.  This flannel:

And this funky-fabulous turquoise, pink, and green piece: 

Underneath it is an aqua colored vintage muslin flat sheet which was still in its early 1970s package.  It's a poly-cotton blend, but it feels pretty stable.  I'll wash it a few times and see how it goes.  I'm hoping it will work as a quilt backing.  If not, I'll just use it as it was intended.

I also scored a new queen-sized bed skirt and matching pillowcases still in the package.  I thought the pattern would go nicely with a scrappy quilt and the dark wood in the bedroom.

I *heart* thrift store shopping, and a fun day of finds is one of my favorite things!

Pop over to Quilting in My Pyjamas to explore some fine folks' faves and link up too, if you're inclined!