Saturday, January 20, 2018

Sewing Again, Thomas Fire, etc.

Since I virtuously devoted two evenings this week to clearing surfaces in the sewing room, including hours cutting down and sorting/storing rats nests of scraps unearthed everywhere, I felt I deserved a sewing reward.   

One of the project boxes I cut for last year is Jewels In the Curio, a Moda Bakeshop project by Jo's Country Junction.  Jewel Box blocks and a scrappy squares border drew me in.  I had already done all the cutting and sewing of the block components, and spent a happy hour or two choosing sets and stitching up the first dozen.  These are from a jelly roll and 5"squares CW pack, with some CW prints from stash.

Scrappy blocks and the barn raising setting drew me in.  I have a total of 64 to make and look forward to more pairing and stitching.

Yesterday I spent a frustrating time shoe shopping.  Somewhere either at Kohl's or Famous Footwear (I'm cheap about shoes!), I hurt my hand.

The blood vessel in my ring finger popped and was painful and sore for hours.  Have no idea what I did.  Today it is more purple at the base of the finger, a little tender to touch but not swollen, and I can put my wedding ring back on. I don't think there's anything that needs to be done for it, but watch.

While pushing around the cart at Target with one hand, I searched and found the new collection by Jo Gaines of Magnolia, love her clean and rustic farmhouse style.  
I have these displayed on my mantel with a "birch branch" light set bought on 80% clearance at JoAnn's, but my photos didn't come out this morning, too much light coming in and I'll have to wait for the afternoon.

This is our Ventura Modern Quilt Guild's Opportunity Quilt.  It is called KaBloom.  It looks even better in person, since this pic is before it was even quilted!  I made the big red flower in the right middle.  I mailed off some opportunity tickets to my aunt the other day, thriftily reusing the blank card she sent her money in, and I decorated it with a log cabin block.  Want a chance to win? Chance tickets are $1 each, or 6 for $5.  Drawing is mid March 2018.

The VMQG booth at Road to California is 6H.  Members who arrived to hang our Thomas Fire Quilts were greeted by Leo 9 Textiles with a huge donation of many bolts of fabric (pic swiped from our guild FB page).  Amazing! Many more finished quilts and blocks have come our way.  We thank all who have been so generous with their time and efforts to help us get 700 quilts to evacuees and fire victims. 
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Everyone is hoping that Highway 101 will be open again through Montecito on Monday, since they have spent an additional week clearing mud and debris from the road around the clock, repairing the guardrails, and inspecting the road.  Our son took the crowded train to visit his girlfriend last weekend in Santa Barbara, she is taking the train to Ventura today.  I'm sure it will be very crowded as well since we have a huge storm swell and the boat ferries are not operating this weekend.  Okay, I'm off to the sewing room again, need to get my own Thomas Fire quilts finished.

4 comments:

Janet O. said...

That is a wonderful scrap quilt in the making. I, too, love those blocks and that setting (but I have never made one).
It seems the older I get, the easier my blood vessels break in my hand. It used to be I had to catch a hard thrown Frisbee, or hit against something pretty hard. Now I have experiences like the one you describe.
That is a fun opportunity quilt. I will send $5 your way and you can just hang on to the tickets and let me know if they win. :)
What a generous fabric donation!

Joyful Quilter said...

Hmmm...I really like the scrappy quilt, might have to check out the pattern. LOVE your guild quilt, also gives me ideas.

Alas, I think the hand/finger bruising is age related - especially if you have slender fingers. Mine do it a lot, good thing is they go away fast.

Janet said...

Great post. Glad things are getting better weather wise in your neck of the woods....I too spent what seemed like eons cleaning and sorting my sewing room...but isn't it nice when it's done 😊

Unknown said...

Not to worry. I have had this happen several times. Usually dissaperars in 3-4 days. After research I have self diagnosed that I have Achenbach syndrome. If you look it up you will see that you needn't be concerned.

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