Hangin' with Harvey

There's a sameness to every day right now. Although I do try to keep to a normal (for me) schedule during these days-on-end of staying at home and quarantining- (getting up at 6, dressing for the day, morning walks, regular mealtimes, cleaning house on Fridays, ironing on Saturday mornings...) I dispensed with decorating the house for Easter this year. I can't remember ever NOT doing that before.  There were, however, a few exceptions... I did get out my bunny and chick salt and pepper shakers and an embroidered rabbit tea towel. 
And, I ordered a table runner pattern for NEXT Easter, it was just too cute to resist. It's from Up A Creek quilting if you're interested in the source. It will be added to my "to do" list for next year. There's great hope in looking forward!
But, for the most part, the sameness of each day- one. after. another. left me uninspired to decorate. But, of course, then there's Harvey! Harvey has been the large-as-life touchstone to this month of April for me. I greet him every morning when I enter the studio and blow him a kiss goodnight when I shut off the lights at day's end. He hangs proudly and faithfully on the door, performing sentry duty.

Harvey is a Country Threads pattern. I made him up a year ago and he went together quickly and easily. If anyone would like this pattern he's still available for $10 and a SASE to: Country Threads, 2345 Palm Ave., Garner, IA 50438 (make sure you indicate "Harvey' on your check memo). Harvey and I have been great friends since he came to live here and I'm grateful for his presence on days that seemingly run together right now. He'll be replaced soon by Uncle Sam. Along with my VISION 2020 scrap quilts that I'm cranking out; this will also be the year of American flag quilts for me. I have two more flag patterns calling my name and a big box of curated red, white and blue fabrics set aside expressly for that purpose. 

This shirt has more meaning than ever this year!😉 I've been wearing it a LOT lately. 

You know what they say about how people come to look alike after spending loads of time together?

I suppose there's some truth to that, especially since I've been hangin' all day, every day, with Harvey!

Life is Good!

 

YAGOF

YAGOF = You're A Grand Old Flag! Yep, the Flag-A-Day project has progressed into YAGOF. This flimsy is made from the "Stars and Stripes" Thimble Blossoms pattern by Camille Roskelley, it measures 56" X 71". 

I used a mushroomy beige/gray setting fabric; this quilt will be used on our new screened in porch this summer, it will live on the back of the sofa out there for comfort on chilly nights or early mornings.  

I'm eager to quilt this one up. I have a custom quilt on the rails right now, this will be up next!

As I pieced YAGOF another tumbler quilt grew beneath the needle, leader-ender style. At this rate, I'll have a stack of these quilts to donate come fall. 

This is the magic scrap basket which sits at the base of my Accuquilt cutting table. It's a "loaves and fishes" basket, it never empties but continues to provide-- with leftovers! I feed it with pieces too small to reshelve: anything smaller than 12" X 18" inches. There seems to be a constant supply, and SEW it goes...

Life is Good!

Up next: Chain Reaction

It's A FAD

It's a Flag A Day (not a passing fad) for me, this has been a habit that I began last week and it's fun to watch the flags slowly stacking up on the design wall. At a time when it seems like our personal freedoms are being revoked it helps to remember that we are Americans and this won't last for us forever. Our country is blessed to be founded on freedoms and we need to remember that now more than ever. The inconveniences that we're experiencing now are temporary, thanks be to God; we have freedoms and rights unique to us under the Constitution and as Americans with those rights we, as citizens, have a heavy, serious and solemn responsibility to one another right now-- to stay at home and help to slow the spread of this deadly virus!

Quiltkeemosabe gave me this panel a few months ago, I plan to quilt it up and turn it into a sofa pillow for the porch. I had already planned to make some American flag quilts for out there and, suddenly, there's no time like the present! The first one that I've tackled is "Stars and Stripes by Thimble Blossoms.  I'm going to sash mine with a neutral gingham-y fabric from the stash. 

As you can see, I'm doing slightly scrappy version. I've also made another 24" -"Which Way Now?" quilt block. As it is so aptly named, I'm not sure where I'm going with that one-- time will tell, I'm not in any danger of running out of scrappy triangles yet. 

Adapting to an upside down world🙃: A grocery run yesterday was hit or miss; the items missing from the shelves is random (or it appears that way to me). It reminded me of a time in my life (mid 90's) when we lived in Puerto Rico. I was never exactly sure what the grocery store would have, or not have; so, I carried my recipe files with me and would make menu planning adjustments as I shopped! 

Entertainment: We're watching old episodes of "Coach" in the evenings, the sitcom starring Craig T. Nelson from years ago; we have a set of DVDs. It feels good to laugh. 

Prayer request: Please continue to pray for Quiltkeemosabe and her family; her husband remains hospitalized and they cannot be with him. Thank you so much. 

Remember to take care, be kind to yourself, listen to the directives

and wash your hands🧼; this won't last forever.

"For you, O Lord, are my hope, my trust, O Lord, from my youth."  Psalm 71:5

Life is Good!

Up next: "On The Plus Side"