Lavender in the Dye Pots

pulled out my copy of Karen Kahle's

Little Book of Lavender...

rats, out of the dyes so made up my own recipes...

two dye pots going

one more blue, one more red

I hope

this is one of the Pinterest images 

that inspired the dyeing

might do some of those chartreuse greens next

if you want to see how my dyeing has been going

check out the previous days for the "after photos"

yesterday's grays dyed green
are still waiting for a rinse and dry

will add them to the older

post tomorrow

hope that makes sense

I am bored silly with my fabric stash

between mom and I most of it has been around

20-30 years

am not interested in new fabric though

too much to use up

or dog!

Hope you're having a great weekend

I'm off and resting my achy legs and feet

my own fault

for gaining weight over the winter

depression contributes to my eating issues

but I just like food too much!

the struggle has begun to lose weight again

~~~~~

I  hope don't mind seeing Jensen's handsome face 

for a few more days

first he makes me smiles as an actor and a person

second my electronics are giving me an issue 

with changing the header photo

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

Mig Quilts

when Mig announced on FB

she was going to be selling some of her quilts

I knew I was a goner...

I adore her work

especially anything from a Cheri Payne pattern 

 these are  few of my purchases

 

I really did have a hard time

controlling myself 

fortunately she posted them at different times

so I missed out of many

on the bright side

her sale inspired my rug sale 

I have many of these patterns 

drawn up on linen to hook

this one for a long time

as I'd always planned to hook it for Mom

lots to look forward to

my packages will all ship today

the secret rug will probably be done this weekend

then it's time to hit the WOOL!

I do plan on another sale 

later next week

whether buying or just looking

hope to see you then

Liberty Whale

hooked for my friend Debbie St Germain

the border was done last year

just waiting for the inspiration for the center

my sister thinks it look "very Nantuckety"

Melrose says it's very comfortable

now to press and remove cat fur

shipping tomorrow!

stitched this - by hand

about 30 years ago

got carried away and made it king size

I have no use for it this large

it's in the top/not quilted stage

so fairly easy to take apart to make two

smaller quilts

this way I can use and enjoy

maybe gift one to someone who likes blue

Happy Tuesday!

keeping my hands busy is easy this week

I am very thankful for that

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! 

Winter Solstice Quilt

Mom finished taking a border off the quilt for me

it was brown and just not right

I had them say "cheese"

Mom did but Ann was too busy watching the parking lot

this was my very last piece

that could be deconstructed in any way

need to find something else for her hands to do

I'll be giving this to my sister when she comes to visit

stitched it about 20 years ago

not my colors anymore...

Happy Weekend!

Monday I'll be posting the photos from

the Sheep Challenge

in Lori Brechlins Out Of Hand Hookers Challenge Group

on Facebook

I offered up a little doodle

wait until you see all the sweet pieces...



An In Between Project

I recently sent a few blocks

to a blogger collecting them for

Quilts of Valor

they were stitched pretty quickly for me

since all work is done by hand

deadlines and I don't get along

it got me thinking

about the fabric in my stash

that might never get used

mostly because I'm not a navy fan

but for Americana blocks it's a different story

slow stitching RW&B blocks

for veterans will be a breeze 

as I go through the stash

organizing by color

I've been cutting out Evening Star blocks

setting the patches in a box

to be stitched when time allows



I always like to have some mindless stitching

ready for spare minutes...

do you do that too?

seems I can't bear to just sit with idle hands





More 4 Patch

above images from Pinterest

love the total scrappy quilt on the bed

using all ugly fabrics...

in my opinion



yesterday we set the blocks out

a few different ways



Mom says we need more orange, more dark blue

we are not going to use black

or many plaids or checks

out of our normal fabric comfort zone...

This morning I spent some time

outside trimming bushes

pulling weeds

listening to the birds

other than the death glare

coming from Olivia in the kitchen window

it was lovely



Random Quilt Love



most of these quilts I love for the design

when looking at them

my mind seems them in the colors I'd use...

hot and humid yesterday and today

that means indoor work

cleaning, moving furniture around

more cleaning

lots of cat brushing

Quilt Love

Mom love this book

especially the quilt on the cover...

she has it on her little table

looking through it often

telling me she has three quilts

picked out

to stitch for us girls

when she gets home

Her hands don't work like they used to

she can barely get through her name

with lots of encouragement

But dreaming of fabric

stitching quilts

sharing with her daughters

brings such a sparkle to her eyes

I recently found out our most local quilt shop

is going out of business

on the 15th of next month

everything will be 50% off

I told Mom about it and she feels bad

after all

the owner is only 85 years old!

when I asked her what she wanted

she said all of it

I asked if she was sure

since we already have so much at home

so she amended her request

only all of the

fabric

thread

and batting

no need for anything else



A Favorite Artist

works by Welsh artist:

Valériane Leblond



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