KEEPING IT SIMPLE while THE WORLD IS ON FIRE

The kiddos were here on the weekend and I came up with an art project that, 1) they loved and 2) lasted most of the morning....BINGO that's a win! I had used up some fabric on a few bolts and hated to just toss the cardboard , so I decided to put them on the table with a bunch of art supplies and said 'go for it'. 'Go for it' they did, what started as making -'people board's' went to pure unrestricted artistic expression. I love that kind of kid art! Let them run with imagination.

We have a GIANT fire burning about 50 miles up the canyon from us and the smoke is awful! It has been blocking out the sun for days, some days worse than others. So besides for COVID reasons, we are locked inside our homes due to the thick smoke. Oy Vey, what else is 2020 going to throw at us?

A few projects that I have completed are:

--sweater for Gus

---rainbow socks that I am keeping for me

---the disaster quilt for Gus

I call it the disaster quilt because of all the mistakes in the quilt. One would think- this is the first quilt I have ever made and I have close to about 150 under my sewing belt. One thing that I finally cried "uncle" on -is my straight edge ruler. It must be 15-20 years old and has few markings  left on it that I can read and the edge is all gouged and nicked. I ordered a new one! If Disaster quilt was not going to little Gus I would of thrown it out. It almost landed in the trash several times but I thought, Gus is just going to drag it through the dirt, stomp on it and use in fort building....well now, it may just be perfect for him. Betty saw it and thought it was so "beautiful" and asked if it was for her?

Me: no Honey this is for Gus.

Betty: But Mimi, Gus does not SHARE! 

Betty:  I know, You can make me one too!

Me: Of course I will!

The quilt is made from scraps and I mean true scraps. I have buckets of small scrappy quilt fabrics. I can't bear to throw out fabric, it's expensive and I can always make something from the scraps. 

I'm anxiously awaiting a Di Ford -BOM quilt and book to arrive, it will be the first Di Ford quilt for me. Lots of piecing, (so glad I ordered that new ruler), and some appliquéing, best of both worlds. 

Also on the agenda is a Hexie Quilt that will be done by hand! Hope I live long enough to complete this beautiful quilt, another quilt inspired by Di Ford.

Presently, I am machine quilting the Brown and Pink Reproduction Quilt. 

Reading:

The Good Lord Bird by James Mc Bride

Caste by Isabel Wilkerson

Needled to Death by Maggie Sefton

Joining Kat - Unraveled Wednesday

FOUR-TWENTY TWO-NINETEEN

It's a busy month for us, April is. I celebrate a birthday, as does Betty! Then of course Easter landed in April this year. I must say, I think it's genetic that we totally suck at the bunny easter egg thing. I never cared for it when my children were young, always hiding a few chocolates and eggs in mason jars 2 seconds before kids came down the stairs. Yes, mason jars, I never had grass for the baskets, nor could I find them when needed, (the baskets I had from my childhood). Well, my daughter and her husband seem to be no better at this easter egg/candy thing. Note, no baskets, we had to dig up some old grocery bags! Poor Little Man here didn't have matching shoes and they were his sister's, plus his jacket was forgotten. He is such a good easy going guy, didn't concern him in the least.

The daffodills are blooming, not so much the tulips-yet.   I have been busy sewing on the Hospital Appliqué Quilt. This is a "Quilt Along" with Civil War Quilts. Love the history this blog offers and all the fun quilting projects. I'm behind (as usual), but I am good at catching up! I, also did some dying of fabric. This is the first time I have ever dyed cotton fabric, have much to learn and learn I will.

Also an apron was made with a sewing bee on down---to---earth. I have followed Rhonda's blog since she published her first post. So much great information!

Happy Spring

I think it may really be here!

28 JAN. 2018

(sorry about the blurry picture)

And the beat goes on…..

Lots of knitting going on, unfortunately I always forget to get finished pictures of completed knits. I’m talking about the vest (Shoreline Vest), I knitted for my youngest. Let me just say she was pleased with the vest and sported it all day…it looked great on her!!!!

Also, moved to the finished list, is a pair of overalls for No fuss Gus. They turned out great!, and much needed for the Women's March we all attended in Cheyenne. Let me just say the March was great and it was COLD, COLD!

I am moving forward with my EZ Guernsey sweater but have concerns. It looks big, too big. Will recheck my math and compare sweater to an already knit sweater. Any other suggestions will be gladly welcomed and appreciated. 

Somehow in all the activity of the past week, I completed a book! The Longmire series is one of my favs. Always interesting with twists, turns and a shocking end, now the wait begins for his next book.

Amazingly, I have five days with no young kids and I plan to sew! I have on the docket, little pants, hopefully a dress for me and borders to complete a quilt. A little hand quilting will be thrown in the mix for a well rounded weekend. 

My youngest ( here from Minnesota last week, she is one amazing lady and so good to see her), husband and I went to the movies. I am not a theater fan, love movies just not theaters. We saw the POST and it is well worth the time and money. I  must admit, more money was spent on Little IKes ( I think thats what they are called) and popcorn than any adults should eat in one sitting. The show stopping line in the movie for me :The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.

11 DECEMBER 2017

Sunrise on the Foot Hills

This time of year is always busy, but this year with the Christmas gifts mailed today to family I feel a huge EXHALE! I drove over to a little town just north of my home to mail my boxes and 1) had a lovely drive through the foot hills, 2) saw plenty of wildlife and 3) had a very short wait at the tiny USPS, helped by some very pleasant postal workers. I strongly encourage people to seek out small Post Offices, well worth the trip.

Have been spending lots of baby holding time as well as walking my girl. Love having 2 Grandchildren.  If not with the Grand kids, I am working on a half square triangle quilt. Very excited to put this quilt together, love love the colors. I bought the fabric in Wisconsin at one of my 3 favorite quilt shops west of the Mississippi.

Reading: The World of Laura Ingalls Wilder

I truly hope the rest of this month remains calm and SLOW!  I no longer enjoy the business that often is a mark of Christmas, some of the business is our own making and some is the hype around the Holiday Season. Lets slow down and be aware of the season as well as those suffering this December-California Wildfires. 

14 JUNE 2017

I can remember trying to slow down my life ever since having my first baby way back in 1981! I never felt that I was EVER meeting my goals, always something more to get involved in, always that tension of involving self and family in activities or not. Balancing, another word I never was good at in my 60 years. I have the personality of either I'm all in or out! But, breaking my foot has truly slowed and simplified by world. I complete only tasks that need to be done and I only complete one or two tasks daily. My amazing husband has filled in all other gaps...particularly, driving me around when needed to save my sanity and get me out of the house. All the above pictures were taken from a sitting position either from my daughters front porch, my back porch, a park bench or my bed. I have been knitting a pair of socks and happy to report, they are almost done! I have also been working on my Brassy Dress that will be, a loonngg knit, though wonderful, mindless knit, (something much needed at this time). I picked up a long ago appliqué quilt that never made it to my complete pile;-[  Something is different about working on this quilt, I am really enjoying this appliqué process, slow as it is! I ran out of the gold fabric and went to a  local fabric store that carries a large collection of reproductions to see if by a miracle I could find this print. I know, I was giggling as I was asking "do you by chance have this in stock?" 

Worker: "let's see, do you know who the designer is?"

Me: "no, i bought this about 15 years ago, maybe." (almost slapping my knee at how ridiculous that sounded. I can only blame this absurd errand on the fact-I'm going stir crazy with this broken foot.)

Sweet Worker: "oh!"

Me: "how about something in the same color range?"

Well, that sweet lady looked and looked for me, however, every bolt she showed me my response was," i have that at home."( which I truly did.)

I left the shop with no fabric, but did purchase a new thimble that I am enjoying, Clover Protect and Grip.

It's heating up here on the Front Range-expecting 90, high 90's over the next week! Yikes- I am not a heat fan and less so with a aircast on my lower leg. New chore-staying cool.