Good Vibes Help the World Go Round..

Good Vibes quilt-a-long today...via Zoom...great fun!!

I finished two potholders with scrap African fabric

Two sided fabric bowl using my African scraps.

Fabric bowl pattern with 10 inch leftover layer cake

Two sided

And finished quilting my Love Chain quilt for donation.

Just needs threads snipped.

Sewing, visiting with friends...all day...It cannot get better!!

Anna is one of our Good Vibe quilters.

Anna's House

My friend, Anna, lives on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation in Oregon.  This is where the confederate tribes of Warm Springs live.

This is the tiny house she lives in with her husband.  It is his generational family home; 500 square feet with two rooms.  There are 150 acres of woods and fields at the end of a 3 mile dirt road with no one else on it.  It has a beautiful view of the Cascade mountains.  Since they have a 50 year lease on it.   they have been improving it for themselves and the next generation of tribe members.  Anna and her husband built a barn on the property where she plans to put her sewing studio,  When her husband was young, 11 members of his tribe lived there in that one tiny house.

Anna is part of our Good Vibes quilt group of 12 quilters.  Some in Charlotte, some in Oregon, one in Minnesota and one traveling by caravan, but often in Florida. This happiness Zoom has brought us.  Most of us have never met, but have become fast friends.  It could have been called a Covid group, as we have been meeting almost a year.  We were created by Suzette.  We are kept in line by Vickie.  We always have fun. !Today this group is having a Sit and Sew by Zoom.

Below is a newly finished doll quilt by Linda.

My son has taken his children on another bike ride in the cold dark.

They do not go in the road, just through the woods.  They LOVE it.

I hate it...I think that it is a generation gap!!

Grateful  to stay home and sew.

 

Little Aoife Cheers us so

Little Irish Aoife gets a new hat.

She also gets pink Irish cheeks from walks around Portland city.

People say that the Accuquilt wastes fabric.  I do not know.  Here are the left over scraps from the wedge cuts from one yard.  I am going to use these for the placemats we need for the CMQG outreach.

I love scraps. Evidently Stitch loves scraps too...Together, here we have set the top for a potholder.

another potholder top..

Wednesday night's Zoom on CQG was great.  Nice to see familiar faces.

Praying here for Tuesday's shot to come through.

A true light at the end of the tunnel.  Or a little light, at least.

This photo does not do justice to Linda's brilliant repro star top.

It is indeed stunning.

Another joy...Aoife crawls...six months..sweet Aoife is now on her way!!

In the darling cap her mommy made her from Liberty fabric...

Tonight my son and his children cleaned up the  kitchen.  He took them to the library to get my book...Oh, no...the library told him he could not get the book without an appointment...Dear me.

The sound of silence is emphasized by the end of a chaotic day. Poor Dylan hates zoom learning.  I do not blame him...but it is not Grandma's fault...sigh..

There is a possibility that he will go back to school part-time February 16. 

 We will see...With Covid, it always seems to change.

I think it was early December? that he went back for 3 weeks.  It was great for him because there were only 4 kids on his bus and 6 in his class. Many parents kept their kids home...Time will tell.

Poor teachers.

 

A Crisp Carolina Blue Day

Good Morning Yellow Bird

Due to my newest experience of working with dead fusible, I thought I would just finish off any applique I had hanging around. With inspiration from an IKEA tray, my bird is done.

Humming along, grateful for a new finish, I saw gunk on my iron.  Online said, "use toothpaste."

Scrubbing, I realized pieces were falling apart in this iron.  Guess that an iron, over 10 years old that is used non-stop....has a shorter lifespan than I realized. I certainly got my money's worth.

Bye-bye trusted Panasonic cordless iron...Bye bye...

New Panasonic cordless to arrive in two days.!!! 

Hmmmm, Here it is already!

Can you imagine the times we live in??

I had no idea that I needed a new iron until that one broke and this one came.

What a big difference/ improvement in 10 years...I am so lucky.

Joy comes in lots of packages...I am a Panasonic lady and a Janome woman.

 On BBC news last week, I saw an article about how men are flocking to sewing.

The statistics were....52% men vs 47% women are hot to sew....Forgot the details of this study, but I do find it an amazingly new generation!!

Energized I am....I did 5 walks up the ramp today instead of 4.  A good night sleep. Amazing how the light shines in the morning.  You know PT folks do not care about pain...Just keep on going..so I did and I do.

Also moving up from a size 6 to a 7 in weights for my bi-cep curls. That is supposed to help old lady improve her wobbly balance.

Just finished using up one yard of my dear and lovely new African Fabric.

I was able to cut 6 wedges with my Accu-cutter Go  And, African fabric is thicker than most cottons.

Thank you COVID for helping me explore new things right in front of my own eyes.

Very brave me just let a soon newly 12 year old and a soon newly 11 year old walk around the block alone, together with the phone.  They are taking books to the little library. Then walking by friend's houses with their masks in their pockets.  We live in a small community.  They are growing up.

(update, they saw workers in the street and came straight home. I am glad that they are better safe than sorry)

I am cleaning up!!!! As usual.

The New Month of 2021; February

My February UFO challenge includes machine appliqueing these three pieces, fused forever ago..Maybe 3 or 5 years?  Must be the fault of my cataracts that make my stitches a bit irregular.

This is the problem of a long wait to sew a fused project.  A piece or two fell off and are lost???

Some workshop helped me produce this African-like tree.

Growing up in Phoenix, I kind of think, this tree looks arid.

This task is all but finished....It is the (but)....that is the problem...finding the missing piece or making a new one........some day....Oh, well...somehow, the pattern appeared, happenstance under orange webbing saved for sponges...Now, to find the fabric, in a box in my son's room and he is asleep.

This pattern said it was drawn by the author, Betty Boynik, The pamphlet says 1974..

So glad I keep everything...maybe lose it, but keep it.  My life is like a scavenger hunt and I do not know what I am looking for...Surprise!! When I find it.

Last night I used my wedge die on some new African fabric...Hmmm

I am trying to be calm as I wait the next 9 days for my second vaccine....There is hope..

I see now, that I should have fussy cut the stripes and not just stuck the fabric in the cutter.

Also, my new design boards are not working.  The tape is already coming loose from the batting and will have to be stapled as before.

Below are the luscious scraps I have been fondling last night..My kind of meditation!!

February brings Lynsey's birthday, Dylan's birthday, Emily and Brian's wedding anniversary, Valentines day...Sunday afternoon, Eamon took the kids, double masked to Aldi for the weekly shopping. Lynsey has in mind the week's menu, starting with stuffed peppers tomorrow night.  It is easy- peasy when both kids help. Then, in minutes, they have eaten it all up and are still hungry.

After Aldi, their daddy took them once again to some hill in the woods behind our house to roll down.  They love spooky things..TBTG they have a daddy around for these things now.

Last night

, Lynsey made dinner and a salad....Next Lynsey and  Grandma played two hands of canasta and two hands of Old Maid.

She bribed me with the making of brownies for the playing of more cards.  

I think it was a win-win situation.

Today is more remote schooling and continued cold weather (37 degrees F)

I just ate my blueberry breakfast and watched a news clip.  This specialist said that the Covid hurricane worse than #5, is up ahead.  He also said that 30 percent of Americans only cover their mouth with the mask, not the nose.  Whatever...It is too early now for anxiety, so I am off to find the repair fabric for my block

The Repair:

In 30 minutes it is fixed....Hmmm 30 min vs 4 or 5 years????

 

Don't Worry Be Happy

 I realize now, that is not just me...Everyone has the  jitters now- a- days. I am working on my COVID get it together deal....Don't Worry, Be Happy

Made myself some new Design boards...YUP ..getting stuff done in isolation. They are cut from ceiling tiles at the hardware store...found in my garage...wahoo...Cut to size by my son..about 13" by 16"

My old ones were stapled batting to the boards.

This time, I am doing it easier.  I cut the batting exactly the size of the cut board, I sprayed the board with 505 batting spray, just to hold it.  Then, I covered the edges with my awesome, buy myself a present for the holidays...Colored Duct Tape...so worth it!!

Fixing Fabric Bleeds by Suzy  This is a good one..

I had terrible Crabby Mc Nasties  this morning...terrible.

As I sat grumbling at my computer, a smiling Dylan arrived with a treat he had made me..

I am such a lucky grandmother!!!

Tomorrow we are due for rain and sleet....all day...

Another happy....:

Thanks to an idea from Patti...Musical Gund elephant arrived in Portland in one day.

If Ellie gets one, Aoife gets one too!!!

Too bad I do know how to transfer a video from Whats App,...because it is darling to watch her laugh.

I put my sewing room into disaster mode again looking for some applique that was about 3 or 4 years old. When finally I found it, part had fallen off...

Oh, Lord, Won't You Buy Me....

For Grandma's peace and quiet, they are playing Old Maid on the porch.

They are laughing, so my guess is that a rainy 39 degree day doesn't bother them much.

Here are my January finishes..

My son is working on the neighbor's car.

The children are outside running wild.

The dog is old, deaf and almost blind.

The cat is sneezing up a storm.

And, the frozen pizzas in the garage refrigerator are thawed and not frozen.

Want to eat them anyway, but I am nervous.  Hope that freezer is not broken.

My style is being real...Real is talking about life as it is., not hiding the hard stuff and only talking about the pleasant.  I am a happy person living with some tough stuff, that I like to share sometimes.

My son is now taking his darlings to get a burger and to help shop at Aldi.

I sent a list to both my son and my granddaughter's phones..

I ordered some black paper masks to double mask over the cloth ones I made.

I love my 37 year old PCP,  She has told me not to worry about Covid in Charlotte, just take precautions, because she is first on her practice list to be called into the hospital if they need doctors for Covid.  And she was still in the office....Oh..dear...yesterday, we tried for an appointment, and she is in the hospital for the month of January to help out.  Evidently the big hospital downtown has doubled its beds in rooms...so much need.

I am cozy inside.  There is a beautiful big fat Cardinal outside my sewing room window.

There is quiet in my house...

We keep on keeping on.

Fun Friday

My present to me!!  Although, I did make myself do my exercises before I opened the package.  

$3.99 a yard...Amazing deal

Just in case you did not know...I love fabric...and especially love a good deal. Never would I say that I have enough, even though I have more than enough...I love it so.  Quilting and fabric collecting are two different passions...sigh!!

Soo, today came my first order from:  African Fabric...

This all was $3.99 a yard..(almost free)..since full prices are around $11 a yard  .And, yes, I did leave some behind...although it was very difficult and the children did say that they have to eat and have shoes, etc.

I have tons of reasons why I did this, but no excuses...I cannot wait to get these washed in order to play with them.!!!  Life can be soooo much more wonderful with stunning art supplies.

My January finish:

This scrap quilt started with random 2.5 inch squares made into four patches.

Four patches matched with triangles. etc.

Imperfect is cuddly as well as perfect is cuddly. And, I am sneaking this in as a finish even though I have not snipped the threads...Eager to start something else!!!

Brilliant sunshine today but a freezing high of 45 degrees.

Gone are the days of my warm living in Phoenix and Miami.

All is well.  Life is good and the children are thrilled it is Friday.

Living Life Covid Style

Covid socializing 2020 and 2021.  In the garage, door wide open, masked, 10 feet apart, heater and quilts...OK...hats too...Show and Tell, the One Block a Day Challenge for 100 days.

I love my Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild  Last night we had this speaker from Washington State.  All by Zoom.  It was so wonderful.  We had 52 participants....One from Australia, others, not members.  I think I might join the Seattle and Portland Modern Quilt Guilds to visit their meetings and speakers..The new Covid style  meet ups. Our Guild is going to do again, placemats for Meals on Wheels.  Their group has changed with the pandemic.  I am going to have Lynsey and Dylan make some as well.

The Good Vibes National Quilters are having a UFO 12 month finish deal, to help us get going.

This blue and yellow pinwheel in on my list of 10 UFOs.  I could have put 100 on my list...but I so wanted to be modest.!!  Never the less, I refuse to be left behind.  There are only a few more days of January.  I quilted half of this tonight and plan to finish it in no time.  I am Covid driven!!!

Now we are being told by Science to wear two masks or doubly reinforced masks.  I love this style

After a few tries, it is easy as pie.  Plus she has a free video tutorial. Two layers with a filter or two in the middle, and ties that adjust themselves. 

New and improved Olson mask tutorial  from Sew She Can....my favorite mask tute...I ordered filters online...mailed from America!!

 Debra C...Thank you for your comment.  Would you give me your email address so I can chat more with you about the cutter xo Thx.

Pouring rain in Charlotte.  When I get stressed, I go onto my screened in porch and lift my weights.  I can do 25 bicep curls with the 6 pounds and 25 straight and side with the 3 pounds.  My PT told me that this would help with my balance.  I know I told this before, but for my own reminder, I must tell it again. Tomorrow the sun will shine..

PS  Tonight I played two hands of Canasta with Lynsey.  She went out on me BOTH times..leaving me holding the bag.  Then I played Old Maid with her...yup...She left me holding the Old Maid card too...Is it red wine or chocolate, to soothe my ego..????

Then and Now....

 My Accuquilt practice session...dies of 2.5 inches and 4.5 inches    The verdict so far...no corners to clip and perfect piecing...Seems slower than the old way, but I am just getting started..Can you believe I have had this machine 9 years and rarely used it.

Using the padding, for bowls that came today, to hold the cut pieces.

The wool pressing mat I have owned over a year and never used...Nice..

As long as I am doing the memory thing.  Here we have my dear man, Head of Children's programs  for Catholic Services, and his guest.  They are discussing programs for children with disabilities..

Must be around 1979 or 1981..... Bet you cannot guess which one is my husband!!!

Last night while I was sleeping, I heard Mr O'Quilts say, " Good Night Sweetheart."

I rolled over to give him a hug and awoke to an arm full of pillow.

Dreams are strange.  This upcoming Easter it will have been 6 years since he flew on...

I will never be the same.

Living in Miami for over 20 years....Some years, we have great memories of swimming all summer in the awesome Biltmore pool. It used to be a private estate, then an army hospital, then a wonderful hotel. It just happened to be a few blocks from our house..

Aoife being cute.

Two things to look forward to tomorrow:

A scrap sorting visitor and Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild meeting by Zoom

I just watched Mary Mashuta and Roberta Horton showing their studios on, "The Quilt Show".

They are indeed my favorite.  Those twin sisters are 80 now...unbelievable.

Cousin Ann bought for me,  a year subscription to the Quilt Show...

I love it already.  They have a number of videos and lessons on antique quilts.

Almost midnight again...xo

My Accuquilt Go Experience 2021

Midnight and everyone is in bed TBTG

My balance of free productive time is uneven.  Tonight I tried Accuquilt piecing for the first time.

I have had the machine and dies for at least 9 years..  I have used it for applique, not piecework.

This die has a 2.5 inch square, 2 triangles that make 2.5 when sewn and a 4.5 inch middle block

I wonder what other blocks I can make with this combination.

A few years back, I was gifted this blend of fabric.  Good thing to start on fabric not favorite...where waste will not cause heart disease...

These blocks are on my portable design wall.

I also need to know  how to store them...I have seen others with little boxes, etc.

I am hopeless at organization...so looking for help.

Since I decided on this midnight project, my sewing room is a total disaster.

I clean, I get distracted by lovely fabric and UFOs and new ideas...OMG.

Where is a personal assistant when I need one.

Everyone has their own passions. Now, Lynsey is busy on her new Christmas phone learning new Tik Tok dances and, by the way, sign language..Dylan is forever on computer games.

Tomorrow, I will check out ways to store these pieces

I will check out ways to use the pieces in different blocks.

Let me know which dies  you all use...if you do.

Maybe I will clean and maybe I will sew.

Maybe I will do my 25 bi-cep curls with my number 6,,,,such a brave lady.

Maybe I will read a book.....or maybe I will make dinner....again..

There are only four of us now in the house.  But, one would think there were 40 with all the eating and snacking and the food bill.

Midnight.  I can clearly hear that only my son is asleep.  There is furniture moving upstairs, There is probably a sleepover with sleeping bags...food hidden where it should not be.

Maybe after my second Covid shot, I can hire cleaning help....For some reason there are chocolate cake crumbs all over the floor.

No, guess no hired help yet.....with the new mutations.  We have to clean the house ourselves.  The dishwasher goes 3 times a day and so does the washing machine.

My son is a smoker and children all over are getting Covid more often.  

Time will tell.

Meantime, we have a nice house in the woods, we are warm and together and so far...mostly healthy.

Life is still good.

 

Family Memories

Going through things.  I found a picture of my grandmother in 1945 at my mother's first wedding.

I was born in 1947, so this must be 75  years ago.  My mother was 25 when she had me and my grandmother was 25 when she had my mother...I figure Grandma was 48 in this picture?  Wow!!  I am not the greatest at math...but wow.. She died at 99 from a last minute non- hodgkins lymphoma.

My mother had a double wedding with her best friend.  My grandpa walked them both down the aisle.  He was fourteen years older than my grandmother...Here he is....62. He died at 74 from a heart attack.

 My parents. A few months before my mother died, she told me that I reminded her so much of my father.  I had never heard that before...smart and witty...OK, I will take that..

My father died at 74 from complications of TB

My mother died at 93 after falling out of her wheelchair and breaking her neck.

She had Parkinson's.

With all Lynsey's preparations for the birthday festivities...looks like her daddy is too sick to participate.

That is  the life.  Oh, nope...he got up and we sang Happy Birthday...whew..

For fun....:It did not take folks long to get this together...!!!

Bernie's Mitten Tutorial