So much for the kit

I guess I couldn't resist sitting down to sew up these blocks right away.  The dark half of all the blocks are sewn. I still have to cut the large muslin triangles for the other side of the block. I should be able to get those done lickety-split, but one never knows what kind of interruptions  are in store for us.

One more round of blocks gets added to this layout. I ended up turning these blocks on point. So that means I cut too many little squares. I already have something planned to do with those, but I will wait to see if I add to the collection of scraps so there is some difference in prints between the two quilts. 

Mark has been retired for 13 months now and I suppose were as adjusted as were ever going to be. He is a mite bored this winter due to the extreme cold and snow. I was hoping and even expecting to get him to do some longarm quilting, but not so far. We did just order some snowshoes though. There is still plenty of winter left to use them this year and the temps are likely to start rising to something tolerable. I'm looking forward to enjoying the snow and exercise. Till then, I will enjoy the blogs linked up to Judy's today and probably a little sewing.

Another Adjustment

I haven't done any sewing or quilting in the last two weeks. I was working on 2 quilt tops - my Flying Geese quilt and Bow Tie blocks done; these are the newest.  I'm loving it. The Flying Geese blocks are waiting to be joined. I should be able to get back to it soon now that things are settling down.

I haven't written in 2 weeks for several reasons. First, I came down with the flu. We were at the hospital with our 92 year old neighbor that we help take care of. I went to the bathroom because I felt sick to my stomach. A nurse found me there and very quickly put me in a wheelchair put a mask on my face and a pan in my lap and pushed me out the door. Mark got sick just a few hours after me so we were not at Dorothy's bedside when she died the next day. By Thursday we were better so we could attend the funeral and then helped clean her stuff out of Assisted Living.

 
Adjusting to Mark's retirement has been easier because of Dorothy. He would go visit her nearly every day, leaving me a few hours alone.With her gone we will need to make another adjustment to our lives. Preretirement  Mark was gone at work nearly 12 hours a day. Now he will be underfoot even more. One of the hardest things for me with him around all the time is that I want to retire, too. Yet I like my job. And work just started for the season. With everything going on between  my fella friend and Dorothy  it's been hard to focus. I'm anxious for a new normal to settle over us.

It's also Show Season! I enjoyed the Mukwonago Crazy Quilters Annual Quilt Show on Saturday followed by the Sun Prairie Heritage Quilters show on Sunday. I went with Judy on Sunday. We had alot of catching up to do. One thing for sure. The quilts in the shows are getting better. Lots of fancy machine quilting. The Baltimore Album customer quilt that Judy quilted won best of show in Mukwonago. Way to go Judy! I didn't do much damage to my wallet. 32 different half yards and  a pack of Bali Crackers. All very inspiring. I hope you can enjoy a few shows this spring.

A Hint of Honey

My stars! Are all your latest quilts one of your favorites too?  I put these together the other day and have been enjoying it on my flannel wall since. Now I am trying to resist the urge to quilt it right away because I have other quilting I need to get done first.   Sue offered to hand quilt it because it looks old and shouldn't reproduction quilts all be hand quilted?  My argument is no, that there are actually examples of machine quilted quilts going back to shortly after the time when sewing machines were invented.  She also thought it ought to be quilted with simple straight lines going diagonally through the blocks.  Again I had to point out that feathers were not uncommon on antique quilts. I plan to quilt feathered wreaths. They are fun to quilt. And to think at one time I thought they were kinda ugly.

This top  finishes only 73" and I am also trying to resist adding a border, pieced or otherwise.  Borders on antique quilts were common enough, but amazingly if it wasn't narrow, the border was often only added on one, two or three sides. The longer it sits unquilted the greater the chances of it having a border added.  I will take my chances. It's certainly nothing to worry about.

I spent yesterday getting some tops ready to quilt.  I need to get them done for the next book.  I won't start them though till the sampler I'm quilting now is done.  So, if I don't post much, you will know what I am up to.

My honey is thinking of keeping bees in his retirement and noted the honey colored background in this quilt. And it sure looks yummy to me. He likes it too.

Mile A Minute Quilt

Rummaging through boxes of Christmas decorations, I came upon this quilt top stuffed in a bag. What a hoot! I have no idea how, when or why it was in with the Christmas decorations.  I made it 5 or 6 years ago and never finished it. You can call it a Crazy Quilt, but to me that would indicate there would be some fancy embroidery and there is none. Some call it a Crumb Quilt. That name works for me, but I had this labeled on my computer as Mile-a-Minute Quilt. Whatever you call it, they are fun and fast to make and I am ready to make another.

Tuesday was our regular meeting day at church, and because not everyone showed up the week before, I thought I could go again this week to see if anyone shows up cause they missed the message that we changed to last week. Lois did show up, dropped off her finished quilts and left. I stuck around and sorted through the fabrics again, pulling out all the small pieces that need to be cut for scrap quilts. I brought a bundle home to work on.  A big part of me always wants to have ALL the scraps cut and sorted before I do any kitting and yet I know that isn't going to happen. I need to constantly remind myself  that the scraps are never ending and that I should  kit up some scrap quilts with what is already cut And make another Mile-A-Minute Quilt. I don't know if it is cause it's the holiday season or what, but I'm having trouble focusing on a project that would require more thinking. A fast project like  this would be ideal. First I need to clear some room of wrapping paper and gifts.


I went into Milwaukee with Mark yesterday to turn in his ID badge - not quilte 40 miles. On our way we noted all the changes in the 45 years since he started working there. For starters, the freeway was built about 39 years ago. I remember that, cause the exit to his house was opened when we were still dating.
Then we noted several cell towers, water towers, business/industrial  parks, shopping centers, homes and subdivisions. In Milwaukee, we passed where I once worked as a teenager and where I hung out with my friends and the parking lot at the airport where the kids made out and families watched the planes take off and land. I wonder what will take me there in the future and what will change. We did finish our shopping and never contemplated getting the Accuquilt cutter.

Today is Mark's first day of retirement. So far, so good. We haven't gotten any of the snow forecasted yet. It should start this afternoon. 4" to 10" depending on the way the storm blows. Here is hoping that everyone gets there gifts finished in time to give. And I hope you all find a little time to take a few stitches this next week too. I am sure I will.

2 days and counting

I'm happy with all the quilting I've gotten done in the last month, considering it's holiday season. All my bindings are done plus a few other projects including this mystery quilt. I made one more block to arrange them  6 x 6 instead of 5 x 7. I had enough of all the fabrics except I was short one purple rectangle. It's sure nice to have an extensive stash to find a suitable substitute.

Considering the holidays aren't a real big deal around here, you would think that my stress level is pretty low especially with all the sewing I have been doing .  Well, it's not. That is probably cause I really hate the shopping involved. So every year I procrastinate when it comes to shopping. I don't know why I procrastinate. My husband loves it and every years he rescues me. He doesn't do it all or even alone. But I find going with him enjoyable. And he spends far more than I ever would alone. That is actually a good thing.

So Wednesday he's going to work for the last time, just for a hearing exam and to turn in his ID card. He wants me to go along so we can go shopping afterword. For what???? He doesn't have a clue. Is this supposed to be some sort of retirement celebratory purchase? Something for Christmas? For who? I might have to take him by JoAnn's and show him the Accucut Go . . . Do I want it? And except for wrapping a few gifts, I'm nearly ready. How about you?
It's Design Wall Monday. I am going to check out the blog's linked up at Judy's to see if everyone is getting their projects done for their gift giving.