November News

There has been just a little bit of stitching this 47th week of the year--mostly on a binding for the Twilight Hopscotch quilt in between telemedicine patients, with a few wool applique pieces as the whim strikes. I have been completely ignoring the messy piles in the sewing room.  How do they accumulate so fast?  Umm, can't be shopping related, right?

I hit Superbuzzy recently for some birthday discount shopping, picking up some red prints and solids, a baby print for some peepee teepees, and flannel for grandson Hunter's "square pants"--his term for plaid pajama pants  he wants me to make.  I took a trip to JoAnn's fabric for Minecraft print fabric for grandson Cove's pajama pants.  It was sold out  both in the store and online.  I struck out at the other fabric shop in town as well. Finally I checked on Etsy and found out the reason for the shortage: it appears crafters/makers are buying up yardage to resell for mask material and charging up the wazoo for 1/4 yard cuts of licensed prints!  It was pretty spendy to order a whole yard of fabric, but grandmas do what they must.

On my actual birthday, after a delicious homemade breakfast by hubby Grant, I went to donate blood, and got a special wrapping when finished:

Isn't that bow cute?  Today I got a text saying my donated whole blood had been sent to the hospital for a patient who needed a transfusion--love that they let me know.  

Later  on my birthday Grant and I  went down to the harbor for some ice cream sundaes and wandered along the docks--it was a beautiful sunny day with only a bit of a cool breeze.

There were lots of masked folks socially-distancing while strolling the sidewalk.  Our shadow selves are gazing East here towards the Topa Topa peaks in the background. 

In the far left of this photo, you can see the ice cream cone on the shop front; there was a wishing well with a continuous bubble machine entertaining the little kids, and every other person on the sidewalk had a dog or two. Most all the restaurants had outdoor areas for dining set up. It was great to get out of the house and enjoy a walk and then a drive around town.  As a special birthday week event, I finally got in to see daughter Elaine at the salon and get my wide gray stripe colored. Glad to feel I was looking younger while getting older :)

This weekend I hope to complete the last side and a half of the binding job on Twilight Hopscotch. 

The Paisley Feather quilting (done by Quilting by David) looks terrific and I can't wait to get the quilt washed and softened up, ready to use on the couch.  This pattern is from Kim Diehl's Simple Comforts book of lap quilts.  After that, I have another binding to make for the just returned Christmas quilt shown last post.  On the to do list is to finish another baby quilt and start on the square pants for Hunter while I wait for the Etsy delivery.  I enjoy variety in my sewing life breaking up the monotony of COVID lockdown.  Glad I have a productive hobby to keep sane!

Sewing and Celebrating

On and off my design floor are several small projects.  I spent more time with charm packs, as I mentioned last post.  The baby sized Falling Charms quilt got laid out and rearranged. 

This charm pack was called Wing and Leaf, lots of bright fun prints.  I have since sewn the blocks into rows and it will become a top in the next day or two.  I believe I have a good option for the backing in stash.  

I got the binding on Sid's quilt (for a family friend's son) and laid it out to show the quilting my sister did before I washed it. Love the baseball hats.  The cloudy day turned my tile pink in this photo but showed the quilting pretty nicely.  A label is all that is needed to get this one off to its new home.  

My mom turns 80 this month and there was a grand party for her this past weekend.  All told, we  were about 50 folks, most of them family, including her sister and 6 brothers, all 5 of us kids and most of her 16 grandchildren, and the three great-grandsons.  Mom requested a bagpiper to play and I managed to get a photo of them. 

He played a few songs, finishing up with Amazing Grace.   My grandsons weren't fans, covering their ears and heading into the house, but the rest of us enjoyed the novelty.  I decided last minute to make Mom a little quilt and cast about in the sewing room for something already in progress.  I happened upon the Sajou quilt from Humble Quilts' mystery sewalong a few months ago.  I had forgotten that I'd completed a backing as well.  I had set aside a green fabric for sashing but opted instead to bind the quilt as is.  A quickly pieced batting from scraps and SITD quilting and I was ready to add binding, which I pulled from stash.  

I didn't label the quilt as I wanted it to be double-sided.  Mom loved it and got lots of compliments on her gift.  I really enjoyed getting this finished and giving it to Mom.  Happy Birthday!

Design Wall Monday--Nov 14, 2011

On my design surface is my version of Flowers for Nana Girl, from Kim Brackett's Scrap Basket Sensations. 

The sashing and rows came together pretty easily, which is always nice.

I hope to get both borders as easily--this is just a mock up.

Had a lovely weekend capped by going out to brunch Sunday to celebrate a birthday--mine!  Yep, today's the day I turn 50.  Hard to believe five decades are now behind me.  From left to right that's my son-in-law Chris, daughter Elaine, me, son Nick, my mom and dad, my mother-in-law Frances, and my hubby Grant.  Nick's girlfriend Alison took the photo.

Beyond the gate we were posed against was the Pacific and a beautiful view looking out to the Channel Islands, a national park. 

This mural in the lobby of the Embassy Suites hotel where we went for brunch depicts what it might have looked like a few hundred years ago when the Spanish were settling in the area. Not much different, really!  See more design walls on Judy's Patchwork Times.

Giveaways and Birthdays

The giveaway is now closed.  Thanks for playing!

I am far remiss in posting about a giveaway I won a couple of  weeks ago from Jo's Country Junction.  Check out the adorable headbands she made with wool and her GO Cutter.  I entered by saying I liked the mum one best and she sent me these:

Parts to three different headbands!  A belated thank you to Jo for her generosity.  I look forward to spending some crafty time playing with these lovelies. 

And now for another small giveaway.  It's my birthday, but one of you will be getting a present!  In the picture below are tree ornaments with a little holly leaf cross-stitched name, some Christmas fabric, a bit of lace, and some satin cord.

These were made for co-workers and my doctor boss (his initials) for the office Christmas tree.  Over the years I made a couple dozen as staff changes occurred.  My rule was that you had to work at the office at least a full year before you got a stocking. I wish employees who left had taken their stockings with them--I have a stack of stockings with no home! 

This Santa print is my absolute favorite and is vintage fabric I got from a neighbor long ago--as in more than 25 years ago. Sadly I am down to mere scraps, not enough to even craft a stocking, I'm afraid. 

So here are the details:  I'll make the winner a stocking with their own name, plus another with the name of their choice.  It can be any name--that of a relative, friend, pet, boss, etc.   I'll pick the fabrics, 'cause that's easier. I have lots of Christmas fabrics to choose from :). 

To enter my birthday giveaway, tell me about your favorite Christmas ornament, either made or bought.  That's it, no hoops to jump through, and I will ship internationally.  I'll close the giveaway on Thursday, November 18th at 5 PM Pacific and pick a winner that evening.  Make sure I have a way to contact you either in your profile or by leaving your email address in your comment.  My goal would be to have these ready to send off by December 1st.