A Finish, a Formal, and Snow Washing my rug

I've been working like crazy to get all 110 blocks done for this quilt.   In a previous post I explained how I refound my stash of Thimbleberries fabric and finished up a UFO as well as making this quilt 84" X 88".  I figured it was a good way to use up the stash for good.

 

Well, so much for using up the stash.  But BOY did I make a good dent in it.

Pictured above is how much I have leftover.    I'm ready to work on something new.  This is going back in the closet to be maybe forgotten once again.

This is the backing for the quilt top.  The gold strip was added because I needed more length.  It is positioned between the two matching gold pieces because that particular fabric is directional and the two pieces are not facing the same way. 

Also the color in this photo is way off. . .      my couch is sage green.

This is a better picture of the chrysanthemum print but it's still off.  The background is a rich shade of rust.

Sometimes things happen that just make me smile.  I looked up at my waning spool of thread to see a heart shape as it unwound.

I recently snow washed my looped rug.  I knew I shouldn't put it in the washer and it has been folded at the base of the washer waiting for months.  It snowed last Friday and I decided it was time.  I first shook it thoroughly and then placed in a clean patch of snow.  I covered it with the snow using a broom.  

I beat it with the broom and then swept the snow away.  I should have turned it over and repeated the process but I forgot.

I swept all the snow away,  shook it vigorously again, and brought it inside to dry.  

After I got it inside I noticed some tiny areas that need spot cleaning (the cabin sky etc.) so I quickly got a damp cloth and cleaned those up.  I have a sign at the top of the stairs that says;     NO FOOD OR DRINK ALLOWED DOWNSTAIRS but obviously I have some offenders.

When it was dry I vacuumed it thoroughly.  Ta Da! 

When I have to do it again I think I'll be a little more aggressive.  I was afraid I would damage it somehow with all the moisture but it turned out great.

We had a pumpkin block exchange in my quilt group "Bound Together" in January.  We met last Monday and one of the ladies had put her quilt top together.  There were only 7 of us in the exchange which is an odd number of blocks but I think  she found a fabulous solution.

She also shared this cute star quilt.

Last week one of my granddaughter's needed me to alter a prom dress she had purchased.  She wanted a black formal and the only thing she found (that she liked) needed massive changes.  I had to bring the skirt up in the front, add more fabric to the back top of the dress, take tucks in the front bodice, and add sashes.  It was crazy!  I would have never bought it.

But, she had a great time and I got to be involved in the memory - a bonus.

Now that I've finished the Thimbleberries quilt top I'm going to put a closed sign on my sewing room door.  It's time to accomplish some other things around this house.

Robin

What to do with an old project.

 I've been working hard trying to finish up a couple of quilting projects.

I started looking for something different to add some variety to my stitching in between the other concentrated efforts to finish things.

I found this old (and I mean old) cross stitch project designed by Paula Vaughan and thought maybe it was time to complete it.  I think I moved it with us when we moved 25 years ago. 

This is how much I have completed.  There are hours and hours already devoted to this project.

I sat down yesterday evening to work on it with my now aging eyes and aching joints.  It is 18 Aida, not as small as many of the designs are now.

It's a pretty piece and I've got most of it done, it seems a shame to just abandon it.

But, after about an hour of stitching and unstitching. . . this is all I got done, the gray part to the left of the tree.  So I'm rethinking this.  

Do I want to spend a lot of time (still) to finish this up?  It is in the decorating style of the 90's.  And when I finish it, what am I going to do with it?  I tempted to donate it to a thrift store.  

Is anyone else hanging on to old projects that are mostly done but know it will just go back on the shelf if you finish it?

I'm going downstairs to sew on something that I know I'll use while I mull this over.

Robin

I'm always sewing something

I made  little set of curtains for my back door.  I love looking out on the backyard but when I come into the kitchen after dark in my nightgown I have to walk around in the dark.  

They are made from an old linen dresser scarf that I inherited when my Uncle Charlie died about 10 years ago.   When I cut it in half it wasn't quite long enough so I added some muslin and a little lace to cover up the seam.  I love the knitted lace at the bottom.  If you enlarge it you'll see a little daisy I put on the far right side to cover up a hole. (That is the reason it hasn't been used for years.)

Here is a close up of the embroidery.    This was either made by my father's mother or one of her 3 sisters.  I inherited doilies, and dresser scarves and chair arm covers and tablecloths.  I figured it was better to use them than to store them.  

I put a couple of borders on this medallion quilt.  I think I want some kind of applique on the next round but I haven't decided what it's going to be yet, maybe some more birds.  No hurry.

Still working on my red & white.  It's a slow go but it will get done in it's own time.

I've made 37 of the 110 blocks I need for the Timeless Treasures quilt.  I've got 8 cut out so I'll get busy on them this afternoon.

I've still got plenty of Thimbleberries fabric.  I wonder what I had in mind to gather all this fabric.  One thing about sewing with it lately. . . I've come to like it all over again.

Well, that's all for the past couple of weeks.  I've been sick but I am feeling good now and have some energy to buckle down on this quilt.

Our crocus' are up but that is about all that is blooming so far.

I'm excited to see one of my geranium plants thinks is time to bloom in spite of all the brown outside

Robin