Monthly D.E.A.R. Report and Something Sweet

Here's my August reading list, these were all good; actually, D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything And Read) time has become one of our favorite hours of each day! I especially enjoyed the historical fiction works: A Well Behaved Woman, The Giver of Stars and The Union Quilters, as that's become my latest favorite genre but the other was a great read too. The Giver of Stars was most interesting to me because it is the second book in two months that I've read on the pack-horse library initiative of the WPA under President Roosevelt to supply rural patrons in the hills of Kentucky with books and reading materials during the 1930's. I've been giving our own local library a vigorous workout, using the library-to-go feature: ordering my books online and then picking them up in a "holding room" outside of the library proper. It works well, I put the title on hold for my local branch and when it comes in I receive an email. I'm super grateful to my daughter to turning me onto this service. The money that I'm saving on buying books can be directed toward fabric purchases; a  definite win-win!

When Lucy Ann was here the week before we made a fabulous, no-bake, freezer dessert: Ice Cream Sandwich Cake. This particular recipe is a new twist on an old-stand by and really is a keeper!

It might just be that repeating chocolate pudding/crushed Oreo layer that puts this one over the top, 

I'm not sure, but I highly recommend this as an easy to prepare and delicious summertime dessert. 

You're welcome!

Life is Good!

Puzzling

Our first completed puzzle on the dedicated table. It's fun to have something that we can spend a few moments pondering over together after dinner, finding a sought after piece and placing it into position. I'm always worried that we'll lose a piece and not be able to complete the picture; this time we had the opposite to occur!  

We finished the puzzle with a piece left over! 😲 It's a brand new puzzle, I had to break the seal on the box to open the lid and cut the plastic bag containing the 501(!) pieces open to start. All we can figure is that it should be in another box and this happened during the packing process, it's from this puzzle: it's a duplicate piece! So, if you have this puzzle (Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia from Vista Puzzles) and you only received 499 pieces in yours, let me know-- we can definitely get you that missing piece!

Life is Good!

From Bits and Pieces

I was cleaning out and tidying up the other day and I ran across a bin filled with pieced four inch sub-units from a multi-session course that I attended a few years back, offered at my LQS. The course was "Tucker University" and we used  Studio 180 tools and technique sheets to make basic units: half square triangles, quarter square triangles, combination units, shaded four patches, square in a square, flying geese, high-low blocks, sidekick blocks, corner beams, little houses and pickets. At the time I chose the focus fabric (dk. blue multi print) and pulled the coordinating scraps from the stash for a controlled (sort of) palette. I blogged about it here almost three years ago. I never stitched any of the blocks together, simply bagged the sub-units together and put them, and the background and focus fabrics, together in the bin. I've had SO MUCH FUN this week arranging them, changing them, taking them apart, rearranging the components and putting them back together again on the design wall-- like quilter's building blocks. The beauty of using these tools is the precision achieved after the trim down step; everything fits together perfectly, they're completely interchangeable! I was surprised (and tickled) to realize that I had enough pieces to put together an entire sampler-style quilt top! 😲 I'll sash it up with the focus fabric and put the leftover pieces (yes, this was a loaves and fishes bin!) into the scrap basket to run through the die cutter. All this time at home is yielding lots of happy benefits. What's lurking in your closets?

Life is Good!

Back To School?

It's a whole new world, learning-wise. Last week Lucy Ann had a full school day on Friday, even though she was visiting us, and away from home, she brought her "classroom" with her and didn't miss a beat. She set up her laptop in the bedroom, closed the door, and only emerged for breaks and lunch. She and her brother have opted for virtual learning this entire school year. Mason is beginning Middle School and Lucy Ann is in the fourth grade this year. Their typical first-day picture shows laptops replacing their backpacks. 

After that picture was taken they simply turned around and went back inside the house! North Carolina is still a mixed bag as far as opening up is concerned, and the whole school situation is complicated. The more populated counties have held fast to distance learning (at home) for the first quarter and will assess the in-person option once again as time moves forward. Faced with that decision to make (go back or go virtual), and not knowing what the schools will look like, exactly, when/if they do re-open: masks, social distancing, removal of social activities like recess and specials, this family chose the virtual all year option. They approached the decision as a family and were in agreement. Our daughter, their mother, is a teacher assistant and has chosen to do that virtually as well. They've each carved out their own work spaces at home and this seems to be working, there's still a few kinks but each day is getting better and going more smoothly.  

Our son's family has chosen the same path, they've reached the same conclusion as a family, our daughter-in-law not only has Gregory and Lynnleigh at home but also another brother/sister team for their learning days. Our son constructed the work station for them (in background) to our DIL's (also a teacher) strict specifications. She's been on "furlough" from teaching for some time, but once a teacher always a teacher! This photo (above) is from our local newspaper. The family was featured in  a front-page article on Monday on this very subject: virtual classrooms. 

 Lynnleigh was excited and very proud to have her picture on the front page, above the fold! 😉

As you can tell from these photos, also from the featured newspaper article (!), back-to-school is looking quite different for families this year. Just like everyone's comfort level is on a sliding scale for venturing out, we need to trust that everyone is making the best, most informed, choice that they can to stay safe and healthy wherever they live. We're all adapting in an upside-down 🙃world right now. Wishing students everywhere the best of all learning years, even if that classroom just so happens to be their own kitchen!

Life is Good! 

 

Tie-Dyeing Fun and a Milestone!

What a fun weekend we had! Lucy Ann spent a few nights here with Nana and PawPaw, she was eager to complete the sewing portion of her quilt top from a few weeks ago; we had big plans to tie-dye the back for that quilt as well. In anticipation of this activity I ordered a tie-dyeing kit from Dharma Trading Co; it included everything needed for good results at home, this was a first time experience for both of us. 

We read all the instructions through and Lucy Ann chose the effect (spiral) of tie-dye that she hoped to accomplish. 

Along with a prepared-for-dyeing extra-wide length of fabric for the backing I had also ordered a plain, white T-shirt for her. Armed with all the knowledge from the booklet, we set up our dyeing area in the garage on Thursday afternoon, it had been was raining, more was forcast, and we didn't want to take any chances doing this outdoors. We mixed up her chosen colors; she was quite liberal with the application. Then, after she was satisfied with her dye-soaked bundles, we wrapped them tightly in plastic and let them sit undisturbed for twenty-four hours. The waiting was the hardest part!

In the meantime on Friday, between virtual school sessions (more on this later, in another post), she finished her piecing. Finally, late in the afternoon, it was time for the big reveal. All day long she had repeated how she "couldn't wait" to see how the tie-dye turned out. I had commented to her at lunchtime that I hoped the results would be what she was hoping for, she said: "Nana, however it turns out will be perfect!". We all need more of that Lucy Ann attitude, she is a happy ray of sunshine.

Finally, it was time! We unwrapped her T-shirt first, and she rinsed it off with the hose. It's hard to believe that those white areas were hidden inside that tightly wrapped, dye-saturated shirt. She loved it!

Then, the backing fabric! To say that this was a successful experiment would be an understatement. Look at her smile! From this point, it was into the washer with hot water and Synthrapol detergent. 

The quilt top is complete and the backing is ready to go. One more weekend for loading it onto the longarm and she'll have it quilted; she is very hands-on and wants to do this project herself, from start to finish! I cannot remember a time when a quilt student was more enthusiastic (or this Nana was any prouder).

Saturday was our sons's birthday, a milestone one this year. Our DIL had a surprise outside for him!

If someone can please explain to me what kind of warp-speed time trick exists that has transported us  from the top picture to the bottom one in what seems to me to be only a blink of an eye, I'm all ears-- how in the world did this happen? I certainly don't feel any older.

One more shot of the newest quiltmaker because the joy on her face says it all. 

💗

Life is Good!

Too Much?

I've been quilting pumpkins and leaves on "The Quiet Road". I fell in love with the pantograph and really wanted to add a bit of color and lots of texture to this simply pieced quilt top. 

As I worked along however, row after densely quilted row, I wondered if it was a perfect example of a project that was completely over-quilted; maybe this was just too much. I used a TON of thread! 

Off the frame and ready for inspection: no, I didn't feel that it was over-done any longer, I really liked the result-- this was exactly the way I had pictured this in my mind's eye.

The diagonal plaid on top is the chosen fabric for the binding, the orange piece, underneath is the backing. I am considering piping the binding with the orange. But then, the more I thought about it I wondered if, again, this was too much--  this time I'm thinking about the work involved just to get that binding applied and done, an additional step (albeit a striking one). Would this extra bit actually be gilding the lily? No, I hope not, I have to stop talking myself out of things! I'm going for it, why not? This humble quilt is getting the royal treatment all the way through to that final stitch!

But, back to the original question;

can you have too much of a good thing? 

Let me tell you the answer to that: "yes, you can"! A week ago Friday, at my well-patient exam, my PCP reminded me that it was time for me to receive the pneumonia vaccine. "Okay", I thought, "that's a good idea." I received the injection before leaving his office. At this same visit he suggested that I look further into getting both part #1 of the shingles vaccine as well as the flu shot which is available. He thought that it would serve me better, insurance-wise, to check into those at the local pharmacy. I was well-intentioned when I left his office and thought about getting to that right away. Then the ache set in; that pneumonia shot HURT, and ACHED, by Sunday that week I could barely lift my arm. I did call the local pharmacy a few days later and checked into receiving the other two. They pulled my paperwork and told me to come in when it was convenient. If you know me, you know that I like things to be quick and efficient. To have this all taken care of in one step seemed smart and like good time management. So, one week later, after the pain had barely subsided from the pneumonia vaccine I received two more vaccines in that same arm. (To me , at the time, it seemed smart to leave a "good" arm to roll onto while sleeping.) Those two put me over the edge; not with an aching arm this time, but with complete and pure fatigue. I was, literally, wiped out. I suppose my body didn't understand what antibodies it was supposed to be developing and supplying; I had reached overload status. If I live to serve any purpose, it is to be an example. Too much; sometimes, it just that-- too much! Moderation would have been a better guiding word here; if you need vaccinations I would suggest spacing-- them-- out. If for no other reason, simply to understand which vaccine you may be reacting to at any one time. Now I know-- and, hopefully, so do you; sometimes too much is NOT a good thing. Today, everything's back to normal and it's all good. 

Life is Good!

Done and Done

"The All American" has been installed in its rightful place on the porch and the puzzle table, lovingly crafted from a cherry tree (removed from our property years ago), has been placed in front, as designed. The R,W & B wall quilt was just the pop of color that the plain, boring, brick expanse of wall needed.

The table measures 18" X 48" with the leaves down, as pictured (48" X 36" with leaves up). The plan is for many hours spent around this table constructing jigsaw puzzles from our vast collection. I hope to add two bar stools (possibly red) on either side to complete this work area. Mr. Goodneedle constructed this beauty without any hardware (except the hinges and leveling feet), it is solid wood throughout. I can't wait to break out that first puzzle, this is just the pastime I've dreamed of for this space! I Face-Timed my parents to show them our completed projects and my mother declared that Mr. G and I made a good team; yep, I assured her that was because we'd had years of practice! 😉

Life is Good!

Sibling Quilts

Here they are, "Sister Bear" and "Brother Bear", both finished at last. Each of these are made from hand embroidered blocks done over a number of years, from the same book: "S is For Stitch" by Kristyne Czepuryk. These were fun to work on; and, like human siblings, each one has its own unique personality! 

It wasn't until they were both completed that I realized "Brother Bear" was larger than his sister quilt. I cut the logs for this one just a skosh bigger. That's okay, they're not identical twins. 😉

I quilted up the borders differently too; again, keeping them similar~ but different in their own way.

Mr. Goodneedle always asks me the same question when I'm hand stitching the binding down: "where is this one going?"  I honestly have no idea when it comes to these two. 

For now, it's simply enough that they're done! 

Life is Good!

Top Ten (?)

I was recently challenged by a friend to post one quilt picture a day for ten days on Facebook. I took her up on that challenge and enjoyed scouring the files for ten photos of some favorite quilts that I've made over the years. I had so much fun that I thought I'd share my selected ten here in collage form. Some days I get so busy planning the next project that it's nice to reflect on projects from the past. 

And, because I don't need to limit this post to only ten photos, here's just a few "leftovers"; for fun!

As we move forward sometimes it's nice to take look back at where we've been, 

(and what we've actually finished! 😉) don't you think so too?

Life is Good! 

Gettin' Chubby

I'm getting chubby these days; well, maybe (hopefully) not me, but I'm getting chubby with my binding! "Chubby binding" is the preferred binding method of Kim Diehl and it is explained in all of her books. I spoke about it here, having used it on a quilt last month. The appearance is quite nice and the corners turn perfectly square each and every time. "Brother Bear" has been prepared with this binding for hand finishing.  

This method uses a Clover tape maker (size 25) for turning a 2" cut strip. Since this method uses a single-fold over the raw edge instead of a customary, double-fold, binding I wouldn't recommend it for any quilt that gets a lot of use. For a wall hanging or light-duty quilt, however, it's my new go-to method.  

"All American" is quilted and off the rails. It will hang on a brick wall out on the porch, it will get  its chubby binding applied this afternoon. I can't wait to get this one done and hung! 

"The Quiet Road" has been loaded and the quilting's begun. I almost talked myself out of quilting it with orange thread and considered a neutral linen color; I'm SEW glad that I didn't listen now! 😍

The Tie-Dye kit that I ordered arrived yesterday. I've never done this before but am looking forward to having fun with this along with our oldest granddaughter. Lucy Ann decided to tie-dye her quilt backing fabric, I'd better get busy and read through all the directions in preparation for our dyeing day. 

Another year, another batch of nap blankets for the Pre-K program at a local elementary school. I'm not sure how long the small quilt group of which I'm a part has been contributing 45 nap blankets (three classrooms of fifteen), but I'm guessing somewhere between seven and ten years. This years' contributions will be "held" until the Pre-Ks return in person (at least nine weeks from now) given the amended school calendar concessions for COVID-19. They've been delivered and we'll start looking ahead, the need is ongoing; it's never too early to get a head start on next year's batch. 

Life is Good!