Ravens quilt top is done

This is Block #4 that I just finished Monday.  I added the little bird so there would be 12 blackbirds on the quilt or as my DIL says; "A Murder of Crows."

I finished this one last week.  It is Block # 7. It is one of my favorites.   I love the big full moon.  And the flower in the upper right matches the border.

 And here is the top completed.  It is a delightful quilt, such a fun design by Blackbird Designs.  And another "someday" quilt off of my bucket list.

I'm considering taking December off from quilting and just enjoy the baking and candy making and family.  I wonder how long I can stay out of the sewing room.  .  .  .

I've got company coming tomorrow so I need to motivate myself to clean and make a dessert.

Robin

Here you go

I realize Halloween is over but I'm continuing on by finishing these blocks.  I've done two in the last two weeks  Blocks 8 is on the left and Blocks 3 (which I am putting in the #9 spot) is on the right.  I only have two more blocks to go.

I know it isn't that noticeable in the pictures but the two seemingly identical black birds/ravens are done in four different black fabrics.

 

This one is done with a mottled black on the body and a stripe on the wing.

And this one is a script print on the body and a dotted piece on the wing.

I really enjoyed Gone2thebeach recent post.  You should go visit.  I love her cartwheel quilt.  I've seen a number of them this Halloween season.  I sure would like to make one with the lovely black background.  Yet another "wanna make quilt".

This is a table topper I started about 2003 and finally finished last year.  It has two of my blackbirds on top.  Yes, blackbirds are a staple at my house.

I put a quilt on my couch that has some autumn vibes to it.  I definitely need more fall themed decor.

I also put this falling leaves quilt on my kitchen table.  Don't worry, we take it off before we eat.

And speaking of falling leaves. . . I love it when we have a hard freeze which we did last night.  The English Walnut trees hold tight to their leaves until the temperatures plummet.

 And then they drop all their leaves at once.  It's like magic.

Robin

I have been asked to make 200 cinnamon rolls for an upcoming party in December.  So, I made up one batch of my favorite recipe to see how long it would take (4 hrs.), how many it would make (75+), and if I could make them ahead - would they still taste fresh.  We'll see how they are fresh-wise tomorrow.

Rolls all put together and rising.

The problem is that I need to have these made for a breakfast.  I may need to stay up through the "wee small" hours to get them all done.  

My husband volunteered me for this.  Part of me feels complimented and part of me thinks it's a lot to ask.    Oh well, they are pretty yummy.

Here they are frosted and ready to eat.

 I finished block #1 for The Raven" quilt.  I've got five blocks done so far.  This is like a full time job.

We had a beautiful sunrise this morning before the big storm blew in.  Winter has pushed autumn aside and we're expecting snow.

 I put the picture in my header above.

Robin

Who's up next?

Well, I finished a fourth block.   This is what it looks like with the four of them together.  The lighting wasn't very good so it's a bit dark on the right side.

I'm not going to get done by Halloween (of course) but I'll probably get another block done by then and that will mean only four more to go.

 Here is the finished block by itself.  It's Block #9 but I'm going to use it in the #3 space.

I still haven't got my Halloween decorations up.  The boxes have been sitting out for 2 weeks, I'm not sure why I'm so unmotivated.  I might dig out my ghost snowglobe that plays the Phantom of the Opera and call it good.

I put apples in the dehydrator this morning.  I think that is the last of the food preservation for the year.  It always feels good to see that come to an end.

Robin

The Age of Remembering

 I knew this would happen someday.  

I just realized today was the day.

I knew that someday I would be still and it would be quiet and I would just want to remember.

I would want to remember the little things;

My mother's smile

My favorite coat - the green one or the fur one?

Playing with the neighborhood kids after dark

Slurping grape Shasta and eating snowballs at Adams park

Swimming lessons at the old high school pool

My Dad behind the wheel of our green & white Chevy station wagon

My first crush

I am finally at the 'age of remembering'. 

The part of my life where I have more time . . .  than things to fill it.

I've been looking forward to this for years.

Robin

3 done and 6 more to go

 

I finished Block #2 for the Ravens quilt.  I'm not doing the blocks in order.  I'm just doing the ones I feel like doing at the time.  This one looks different with the darker left side of the pumpkin but it all blends in well when the other blocks are around it.  I was thinking about doing purple berries but that will have to wait for another block.  It feels good to have 3 of the blocks done.  I might be done by Christmas (wrong holiday!).  

I've got to get busy and decorate for Halloween or the night will have come and gone.  I have a few fall decorations out but I need to get serious.

My husband (the garden gnome) picked all his pumpkins last night for the grandkids to come and claim.  They are all close to the same size this year instead of giants or tiny ones.  Seven of them have been spoken for already.

 One of my previous quilt  tops got some piano key side borders recently.  It measured 60" X 90" and I wanted it wider so I added 12 1/2"  X 1 1/2" strips.  It looks like it got spilled into the living room.  I'm just going to tie it for a picnic or camp quilt.  Someone will like it, I'm sure.

I love the slant of the sun in October and I am really enjoying my mornings in the sunshine while I do my applique.  November will come soon enough with it's clouds and cooler temps but for now I'm just soaking it all in.

Robin

Block 6 of Ravens Quilt done

I finished the applique for Block 6 of Blackbird Designs "Ravens" quilt.  It was a much easier block than Block 5 (see previous post).   I've decided to do Block 2 next (another complicated one).    The fabric for the wing has the poem "The Raven" by Edgar Allen Poe written all over it.

And because I've been spending so much time working on this Halloween quilt . . . when I saw this Art Gallery post on Instagram, I immediately pictured it made with black, orange, and purple fabrics.

Wouldn't it look terrific in those colors.  It's a free pattern on their site.

Two friends and I went to Midway yesterday to stop at the Christmas store - Kringles. 

It's not at the peak of autumn color yet but the red scattered over the mountains was sure pretty.

Kringles is  a sweet store.  I should have taken more pictures.  Isn't that hydrangea pretty with it's pink hue.

After  about 18 texts back and forth between my son and I - I bought this little gnome snow globe for him.  It has rainbow glitter for the snow.

At another store my friend modeled this Cleopatra-like necklace pillow.  There were earrings to match - ha!

After Kringles and the pillow store the skies opened up and we really got rained on.  We haven't had much rain in the valley this summer (Midway is up in the mountains) so the big drops of cold water felt good.  I had on sandals and didn't feel the cold till much later when the rain had stopped.

There were a lot of cute little houses in the small town with gingerbread trim.  Fun to see.

 We ended up eating lunch at a Mexican restaurant that was really slow but the food was sure good.  We were in no hurry and enjoyed just visiting and some new food items.

I should have taken more picture but the restaurant was dark and then I forgot about it.  

It was a lot of fun being together and taking some time away.

Robin