Stash Maintenance, A Show, and a UFO

While I ponder what I will do while Maymont is in timeout, I busied myself with cutting odd sized scraps from stash into usable two-inch squares.  These scraps came from a variety off sources including a 16-pound bag I blogged about January 25, 2017.  I found the process somewhat cathartic.

 

I also pulled out a UFO from an applique workshop I had with Becky Goldsmith in July, 2016.  It’s time to move forward with it (or not) and empty the project box.  The workshop was on needle-turn applique, but prepared edge applique is my preferred method now and I will be using it.

 

We had .59 inches of rain this morning, but fortunately, it held off yesterday and a nearby quilt club was able to hold its first open-air quilt show.  It was breezy, but pleasant.  I got to visit with a lot of my quilty friends.

A Quandary

When Bonnie Hunter published her pattern Maymont, I fell in love with the picture, and bought the pattern.  I still love the picture with its riot of colorful scraps and on-point setting.  When I began work on it, my one criterion was to only choose fabrics which felt “happy.”  I also decided to use a single fabric for the sashing.  However, as I’ve completed blocks and randomly put them on the design wall, my enthusiasm has lagged. 

 

On a whim, I decided to pin one high contrast color fabric in the small squares in the sashing, adding another touch of design uniformity.  I like it better, but I’m still not happy.  I even took a magnifying glass to the pattern picture and determined that my blocks are no more random than Bonnie’s.

 

I think I will leave this up on the design wall a bit longer before deciding whether or not to move forward, and if so, how.  I’ve made 40 blocks and would hate to move it to UFO status.  On the other hand, right now I have little enthusiasm for continuing, and I’ve caught myself browsing the Web for new project ideas.  Perhaps, I simply need a break.

 

One of those weeks

Since my post last week…

Two dental appointments to deal with a broken tooth.  There will be a new crown in my future.

Family visiting, and the house cleaning chores in preparation.

Wicked hail storm.  There will be new roof in our future too.  Grateful for home owners insurance.

AND, an unexpected visit to the quilt store in Fredericksburg where it's possible some retail therapy may have happened.

 

Otherwise, no quilting or stitching related activities to report.  I'll try to do better this coming week.                                                                       

It Got Dark

Our afternoon has been very cloudy, but fortunately there were a few, brief breaks in the clouds so we could glimpse the eclipse’s totality and see the corona.  We had totality for about 4 minutes and 20 seconds.  The viewing was a little disappointing, but much better than we feared it would be.  Perhaps because of the weather forecast, the expected crush of visitors to our area has not been as problematic as predicted.

On a whim, I dug through various drawers and gathered some of the quilting related enamel pins I have accumulated since 2007.  I decided to display them for a while on this banner in my sewing room.  I found a number of tutorials for banners by doing an internet search and this is what I came up with, again using well aged fabric from my stash.

South end of a north-bound armadillo.

This little critter has become a regular visitor to our yard after dark and is the explanation for my flower beds being so churned up.  He was not interested in posing for me and it was hard juggling a flash light and cell phone.  I am just happy he is not a skunk.  Those have been known to visit our yard too, and dogs never learn.

Bluebonnets are well past their peak, but you can still spot some fresh-looking ones.

I spotted this mail box planting on a recent neighborhood walk.  These blooms are very short-lived but sure are pretty.

More Red and White

I’ve been fussy cutting some of the new fabrics I found on our trip to South Texas, and another row is ready to be added to my red and white thimble/tumbler project. 

 

While I was sewing with my Tuesday group, I spied this remnant in the scrap bin next to the cutting table.  Of course, I had to pick it up as well.  The motif is too large for my templates, but the colors are right so I don’t have to do any fussy cutting.  I guess you could say I have no shame.

 The big news in our part of the world is the eclipse Monday.  Our area will have 4 plus minutes of totality.  For weeks we have been urged to fill our gas tanks by Wednesday this week, stockpile several days of meals, and expect interruptions in cell and internet service.  Our hotels and camping sites have been booked up for months and local authorities are warning about traffic jams.  Schools will be closed.  Now they tell us the weather forecast is for clouds and possibly thunder storms.  It will be interesting to see how all this plays out.