Cutting Today!

It is another warm day outside and I am inside cutting!

I have a lovely line of fabrics from P & B' s Washington Street Studio division called "Toy Chest" to work with today.  As a result I am not too unhappy about staying inside and finishing my work!

There are a lot of thirties reproduction fabrics in the grouping.  I am about half way through my self imposed cutting task.

Love these fabrics!

I have already cut the pieces needed for an apron and the strips that will make a small zippered bag.

Now I am working on the strips needed for the small quilts and pillows I have in mind to make.  Photos of all projects will come when they are finished!

Enjoy your day and get outside if you can.  These warm temps are soon to be a thing of the past according to the weathermen.

Have a great afternoon, 

Louise at the cutting table on the island with the windows and doors open!

September 27, 2015 Update

I just returned from five days of quilting heaven.  A quilt retreat with a very small group of quilters in a serene setting, where, guess what?, their dam needs work and they were lowering the water level in their pond!

Which brings us to today's update on all things pond related ( and quilty too!) 

Here is today's view from the deck.

Only a trickle of water down the middle!

Today's temperature photo...

Again, not bad for the end of September.

Tonight is a lunar eclipse and clear skies are forecast again.

Let's see if I can get a photo of that event!

Now on to quilty things...

Pillows finished on retreat, now sent on to market.

Ruffled pillow example

Flannel trip around the world.

Nothing to show yet from the weekend.  Most of the sewing was of units.  But as a result of that sewing, at least three quilt tops are on the docket for completion.  Stay tuned for those pictures.

Enjoy your Sunday and try to view the eclipse tonight!

Show and Tell from a small group of Quilters

I belong to a small group of Quilter's who meet once a month on the second Thursday of the month.  Over time our name has changed, sometimes to reflect the types of quilting fabrics we used, the places where we have met, to a shortened version (the initials)  of one of our venues.  So when I call the group a small group of quilters the term refers to the group of women who have been meeting for many years, in several places, with various areas and various projects as the focus.

Well anyway, last night we met.  

The highlight of the evening is show and tell! We are working on blocks from Lori Holt's new book, Farm Girl Vintage.  Most of us are making 6 inch blocks, except for Cindy, who is making 12 inch blocks.

Hope you enjoy the show!

Ellie's blocks

Lynn's blocks

Mary's blocks

Bev's blocks

Cindy's blocks, all twelve inch blocks!

Lisa's blocks

Margaret's project using the log cabin tool.  Large blocks on the left and one of the smaller size on  the right. Natalie wants them since they are purple, her favorite color!

One of us (yours truly) forgot to take a picture of her show and tell.  Sorry about that, but I guess that can be the subject of another post.

Till next time...

Seasons on the Deck (9/16/15) and Other Thoughts

It is September and leaves are beginning to fall.  But it is warm today and I can sit on the deck for a few minutes this afternoon between projects and activities.

Sadly, the water in the pond is rapidly falling as the out flow is significant in preparation for dam repairs that will be happening next month.

Above is today's view from the deck and below is from September 7, 2915, Labor Day.

I will update you in a few days with another picture.  We should be able to walk across the cove by then, maybe in mud but possibly on fairly dry earth.

 📌📝📞UPDATE. 

The picture above is from today, September 27, 2015 and now we see mud and some dried out pond dirt.  It's still not low enough at the spill way for the dam repairs to begin however.

I will update you in a week or so again.

I am not complaining, mind you, since I routinely have the privilege of living in this wonderful place on earth.

I just wish the repairs could take place when the weather is less glorious for observing the view. Don't know when that would be, but it is still a wish nonetheless.

But on to quilty matters...

Yesterday, I made these two rather large (22"), flannel blocks.  It was to test a pattern for a friend.

She doesn't actually need the blocks so I think I will make two more and then have a small lap quilt.

It was fun to do!

Monday night, Roxanne finished the top of her "produce" tablerunner.  You probably can't tell from the picture very well, but she used a 5" charm pack of fruits and veggies.  It is quite cute!

She has a lovely print for the backing and she is also going to make some window toppers or valances to match. A wonderful make over for her dining area!

On Sunday afternoon, I spent a few hours in the studio at the classroom attempting to finish up some languishing UFO's

The blocks for this top have been sitting on the design wall for a few months.  It was time to be sewn into a top!

Now it is complete.  I need to find an appropriate backing from the stash and get it quilted!  I could have used it a few times over the years for a new baby. Time to get it out of the UFO pile!

I also finally sewed the rows together for this quilt only to find that I need two more, very large, setting triangles.  This was a kit from Joann's and I am sure there is no yardage in the house.  That is the trouble with ancient UFO's.  If you are short fabric and it is not a scrappy quilt, you have to be very creative or the quilt will continue to sit in the UFO pile!  Mary thinks she might have some of the needed fabric.  But if she doesn't... I will have to put on my creativity hat for sure!

If you happen to have a three quarters to a yard of the pebble looking neutral, do you mind sharing it with me?  I will pay you handsomely (today's yardage prices) for the fabric.  Just let me know, thanks!

Well that is all for now.  I have been working on blocks and parts of blocks today.  Nothing is photo ready, so I will share on the next update.

Enjoy the day!

Random thoughts ( that I forgot to publish earlier this month!)

Today was hot, again.

94 degrees at 2:51 pm.  At 11 pm it is in the mid seventies.

Summer is still hanging on here on the island.

My Quilt group's challenge fabric.  Sharon did a cute little fold with it this time.

Maybe tomorrow I will show you what I have done with it!

A binding completed 

Paul trimming the hosta stalks.

Last year at the end of September

This year at the beginning of September

I guess history does have a way of repeating itself.

Random thoughts on a hot summer night.

From

Louise on the Island

Busy times

September has arrived and with it will come busy times.  Not that August wasn't busy.

 As I sit here on the deck enjoying another warm summer day, I am reflecting on the month of August.

A showing in the library at New England Tech

A commission quilt sent off to Australia

Blocks arranged for a strippy hexagon quilt

And more blocks arranged for a new layer cake quilt.

The top for a charm pack quilt class example, and

More commission pieces, one tablerunner, two tote bags and three pillows.  Love this fabric line... So soft!

"Surf and Sand", a top finally out of the UFO pile and 

"Pineapple Blossom" finally quilted.  This one uses 2.5 inch strips.

A block and units from last Saturday's "Talkin' Turkey" class with Bonnie Hunter in Bedford PA.

Two blocks from Friday's class, "Smith Mountain Morning"

Sunday's units at the top, all a small part of what is needed for "Carolina Christmas", the Sunday class.

Part of today's sewing... Courthouse Steps done with 2.5 inch strips and a 4.5 inch center.  Pretty big, huh!

"Trip around the World" block made with 2.5 inch strips.

Can you tell that my 2.5 inch bin overfloweth?

Okay, I went into September with my show and tell.  Will you forgive me?

Paul just came around the corner, a hint that it is time to make dinner.

Until next time....

Louise on the deck on the island, reflecting