My creativity, when it comes to titles, has gone AWOL at this late hour. When I get tired, I either cut right to the chase or get squirrely. I think it's going to be a cut to the chase kind of night.
I took a look at the scraps littering the cutting mat from the Breathe quilt and decided to go ahead and make a mini.
Since I had lights and darks and reds lying there, I thought I'd try a log cabin block. I couldn't remember ever making a log cabin block before.
The back:
Little loopy quilting. I threaded the Juki with some shimmery, light gold Sulky 40 wt. 100% rayon viscose thread. I fully expected to have to dink around with the tension, but whaddaya know, it was just fine.
I did a second mini with the "scraps left from scraps." I've got to finish the binding on it and take pictures, maybe tomorrow.
[lack of segue here...see above re tired]
I tried a new chocolate chip cookie recipe the other day. Here is how it starts:
You are not hallucinating. That is bacon.
With the name, The Best Paleo Maple Bacon Chocolate Chip Cookie (In the History of Man), I had to make them.
Cut to the chase: YUM!
You know, I thought about doing Blogtoberfest, where one blogs every day for the month of October, but I just can't commit. I am way behind in my current commitments already, and my to-do list grows ever longer. Still, I think I may try to post a bit more often this month.
It was a very nice weekend here, beautiful fall weather. Look at the wonderful colors!
These were taken yesterday on a walk with my sister near the marsh. You can't see the marsh here, but trust me, it is just beyond the trees, the southern portion of some 32,000 total acres in size.
Saturday was a big day for Dad. He had his book signing.
Sales of the book upstairs in the gift shop were brisk. Dad was busy with pen in hand, signing nonstop from 8:45 until about 12:15.
Folks were lined up down the hall, waiting patiently.
He had asked some of the people he had interviewed over the years to come set up some marsh-related displays. It was very interesting, and I had fun talking to fellow collectors, craftsmen, and hobbyists.
Check these out...they are handmade, SEWN decoys! (The two geese and the two ducks in front of them.) They date to probably the Depression era, made by a relative back in the days when money was scarce but ingenuity abounded.
They are stuffed very tightly with something—no one really knew exactly what. One of the decoys had a tiny hole in it due to wear and age, and what was coming out seemed to be some kind of brown, crumbly, natural material, like perhaps marsh grass or straw.
After stuffing, a needle and sturdy thread were passed through a couple of times to shape and hold the decoy together (see the long stitches on along the backs). The canvas-type material was then painted and shellacked to make it waterproof. And apparently, they floated just fine!
This scene was painted by my next-door neighbor when I was growing up. I loved going to the neighbor's house to visit, for all sorts of reasons, as they were a fun family to hang out with. Watching him work on his art was always a special treat. If he didn't like pesky kids standing at his elbow when he was working, he never let on. He had a studio just off the kitchen with knotty pine walls on which much of his artwork hung.
And here is a group shot at the end of the morning with some of the folks that were left. Many of these people had brought displays, and the rest are relatives. I am on the left, standing behind Dad and one of my uncles. Co-editor Bob is the young man standing in the center behind the table, and to the right of him are two more uncles and then my two brothers standing at far right.
It was opening day of duck season, hence a proliferation of camouflage and flannel at the event, although you can get away with that at least half the year here, if you're a guy.
I did do some sewing this weekend, but I'm running out of steam this evening so will have to share that another time. Hope your week is off to a good start!
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?
The snail's trail top is officially a flimsy. I've been referring to it also as the "Breathe" quilt, as that is the pattern name.
This went together very well. The snail's trail blocks were fun to piece. The alternating blocks were sewn onto foundation paper—I used phone book pages cut into squares. It tears off easily and is nice and lightweight. And I think the odd apple print worked out okay after all!
Now to find a suitable backing or make one. I had a bolt of a cute print fabric in my arms at Joann earlier today, but I put it back. Need to shop the stash first.
I enjoyed a great audiobook while I sewed this week, Dearie: The Remarkable Life of Julia Child, by Bob Spitz. It is very well written, and the audio version is superbly read by Kimberly Farr. I highly recommend it, especially if you like biographies, food, things French, cooking, mid-century life, or hearing about the hijinks of clever tall gals!
Thanks for the input on the cornerstone conundrum, those who chimed in. It was very helpful. Hubs was initially in favor of the yellow-gold option, but once he saw the finished top, he was happy with the turnout.
I'm linking with Sarah's Friday linky, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop! Better late than never! This is also a NewFO for September, so I'll be linking to Cat Patches in a few days as well. Can you believe it's already the last week of the month? I can't!
