Cats and Creating

stitching has resumed on the two color quilt

not that many blocks left to stitch

with Olivia's help

it only takes twice as long to get things done

a few blocks sewn together

most just pinned up

still not sure of the size

for now I'll be packing it up

when all the blocks are stitched

I need some more color

showing off her claws

I've never been able to trim even one

ears of annoyance

after being shooed to her chair

started a beachy rug for Debbie St Germain

this wasn't working

 this is more like it

turning on the charm and purring up a storm

am going to try this recipe tonight

the buffalo chicken dip was so-so

had it for dinner and pitched the rest

nothing wrong with it

just not for me

celery is great dipped in salsa

but I do have to measure out the salsa

or the carbs will add up

I hope you're having a great weekend!

Use It Up Stitching

current work tote bag project

using cream homespun as the light

will only be as big as the homespun on hand

inspired by this top 

found on Pinterest

love the cheerful look of these colors

my stash is sooo boring to me

#useitup

next up in the dye pots

the three pieces of wool across the top are small pieces

the windowpane gray is a yard

it's a Moda wool, I don't care for their wool at all

hoping the dyeing will help me use it

purchased a bundle so plenty more to dye

edited to add:
this batch turned out nice
recipe a bit of this and that
the Moda wool smells awful when dyeing

the sun is shining in Ohio...today

Olivia is baking between the glass and drapes

In Progress

I have been on a real

red, white and blue kick this summer

this is one of many small quilts

in progress

*****

plus a few favorite Pinterest finds...

 this cat!

 

this quilt!

I've already started cutting the triangles...

 

 this door!

 

this is me...

Wishing everyone a wonderful day!

 

Two of Many

one of the many pieces I've been working on lately

there will be patchwork flags

stitched along one side

will hang horizontally...

sewing room angel (invisible wings)

inspired by antique cookie cutters

have a bunch drawn up...

most with more than one angel

*****

work has been very stressful lately

financial troubles 

leading to layoffs and cut hours for some

working short all the time for everyone else

learning a new normal 

for now

I still have a job and all my hours

trying not to worry

about how long it will last...

I work for a non profit hospital 

it's one of the last independently owned 

 

Simply Squares

 all images from Pinterest

I've been doing a lot of hand stitching lately

plenty of 9 patch blocks

along with other random stars, flags and log cabins

mostly just squares

with no real plan for the squares

I search antique quilts for the perfect setting

by the time I find it

there may be enough squares for a few

bed size quilts 

 

forever drawn to green

this one really has my attention

I have also been hooking some

sewing room angels

based on antique cookie cutters...

As my fabric collection is too large

to require any shopping

I am tea dyeing some of my pinks today 
just to change things up

 *****

I've also been keeping busy

being one of the administrators of an amazing

Facebook group

Quilts by Cheri ~ Friendship Group

as you may know, Cheri passed away 

April 15, 2018

it has been my pleasure and honor 

to help keep her memory and spirit alive

she started this group in 2016

to share her love of primitive quilts with kindred spirits

please be sure to request membership 

if you'd like to join in

our goal is to be positive at all times...

Hugs,

thanks for hanging around during my 

blogging lulls...

Hooking and Stitching

this is as far as I got yesterday

using strips from the worm baskets

out of colors I want to use from here on in

 personal challenge to finish hooking

without cutting another strip

Inspiration:

 

from New England

1920-1930

love those faces

 

haven't stitched on naything in ages

maybe even since Mom passed in May

log cabins are a perennial favorite

cutting some strips this morning

to put in my work tote

*****

also in my work tote is some car wax

we wax the x ray tables and slide boards

making it easier to move patients on/off from carts

since I'm obviously not keeping up with car waxing...

Wishing you a beautiful Sunday! 

Stitched

 

yesterday

I got to stitch

for the first time

in about forever

the seating was uncomfortable

the lighting not so good

but I stitched

 

Mom kept watching me

but never asked to help

finally I asked if she wanted to stitch

 

her reply

"not today"

 

so maybe today she will

am taking something different for her

would love it if she

became engaged in something

anything

 

her every thought is of coming home

she asks if I would like to be there

 

I always so of course

a place where they bring me my meds and food

where I can get my hair done

play bingo

and sleep in late

what's not to love

unless you have to be there

 

the therapists

all rave about her progress

so praying it won't be too long

maybe a few more weeks

 

not soon enough for her

she was ready to call a taxi last night

 

spunk

she's full of it!

Decorating Delayed

 

 

a certain cat in our house

decide to eat the small artificial Christmas tree

as we were attempting to assemble it

 

knowing that if he ate it

another little cat would too

we put it back in the box

out to the shelf in the garage

 

 

alternate plans are being made

but who knows

maybe our only decorations

will be outside this year

 

 

on the bright side...

Mom loves her new red barn coat from LL Bean

there's been some stitching done every day

peanut butter cookie recipe a huge success

I have 6 days off after work tonight



Stitching Saturday

hand piecing

the log cabin blocks

so easy and peaceful



 

Van Gogh

 

yep yep yep

 

 

you know I love nine patch blocks

but these are

calling to me now

 

 

Mom has some applique to do

so she is a happy girl!

 

I made peanut butter cookie dough

before going to work yesterday

so she and Cara (caregiver)

could make the cookies...

 

ha...she was stitching

so Cara got to bake and do the dishes

Mom was happy to sample the cookies though...

 

 

 little every day joys
that ease our grieving





Patches and Thread

I see this in browns...

when time allows

Mom has been going through her

sewing room

finding container after container

full of thread...

who knew she collected more

than scissors and fabric?

sgcountrysampler quilt

image

found on Pinterest

oh boy do I love this one...

easy scrappy

easy enough for the sewing machine!

another for my

someday list

A Small Goal

antique little quilt

my goal this week is to create one of my own

at least the patchwork part

no promises on the quilting

going for very simple this week

another photo found on Pinterest

katie swim bike quilt

this is on my to-do list too

I already have the nine patch ready!

for rug hooking I've been thinking houses...

lots of houses...

# # # # #

thanks for all your kind words and thoughts

regarding my parents...

you know I see so many patients

at work with no one 

Dad is doing better today

still more confused than usual

happy to have him in the hospital 

getting plenty of attention

Nine Patches

It really felt like I'd stitched more blocks...

I know there are enough squares for dozens more

my baskets are overflowing with

olives/greens so I need to add much more to the blocks

working on making the blocks more colorful/brighter

than my usual

there will more pink in the next batch...

when I get another bunch of blocks done

I can start dividing them for little quilts

like Cheri's examples...

the sashing and alternate blocks will be olive

applique a cat and flower

tomorrow I'll be switching over to hooking

 only stitching on breaks at work...

Happy Monday!

I Blame Cheri

I've been obsessed with 9 patch blocks

for the past week

ever since Cheri

started her latest quilt along

I don't care if they are uneven 

blocks like those above...

or even and coordinated...

another uneven 9 patch

these modern blocks are from

Fresh Lemon Quilts

blue and tan!!!

blue and brown and tan...

more uneven 9 patches to love

I have been cutting and stitching 

patch after patch

will share some photos of my blocks tomorrow...

I might blame Cheri for this

but it's a good thing

Little Wooly Swap

somewhere around November I suggested a little wooly

swap to a few friends...to be done in 2013

aren't they great?

Dogwood from Sharon

Heat and Hand from Cathy

Rabbit from Betty

the theme was anything prim

size 4 x 4 minimum...

Red Bird is my contribution

Star from Patijane

Pennies from Ginger...she even stitched a penny in the pillow for good luck

later this year I'm thinking of similar swaps

with different themes...

fall comes to mind for sure...

this is my sewing board

styrofoam covered with flannel

I can pin my patches and blocks to it 

a mini design board to look at while I'm stitching

right now it holds the green and red blocks

for a small Christmas quilt

and

the 9 patches for Cheri's latest stitch along piece

hope you're able to spend some time creating today

*****
I've finished reading A Week in Winter
so sad to leave the last page...
will have to start looking
for all her earlier books to reread
it was wonderful to hear from you about her books