sewing Saturday options and choices Two designs from one block

 

Welcome to this week's sewing round up!  let's start the show, shall we?

Remember last week I made the lozenge blocks in RSC color of yellow for October! When I make those I sew the cutaway half square triangles and use them in a bonus quilt every month.

 They are 1.5" before finishing

                                         ... I made some leaf blocks which finish at 3" then started to play...

 

cute and graphic

 

also nice

I kind of like these flashes of color too!

 

love this!

 

the final design with 10 blocks

 

But then I wondered what they would be like with log cabins of fall fabrics around them...

I ended up liking both orientations, so I split up the blocks, did log cabins with 6, kept 10 in the more formal orientation that looked quite Art Deco to me and went in two directions at once!!!

I looked and looked to find just the right setting fabrics, the dragonfly is gold on cream, the corners are my fave metallic gold on white swirls, and the border fabric is a batik that made me think of the "deco" style.
 

I think it's going to look very pretty quilted in metallic gold with crystals or beads on it! 

Can you believe it's made with the tiny HST's that most people would have cut and thrown in the trash?

the logs were lots of fun! Some hand dyed fabric, some fall scraps. Some leaf blocks some interesting squares used instead on other blocks, all carefully sewn and put together into a swirl of colors like fall is to me

Then I thought, what about some tiny geese inserted into the border? so out came the scraps and I printed some little paper piecing lines and put on my book

 

 so I have more decisions to make on this one... the border fabric I like best, the blue with bats is no longer available and I only have a fat quarter left. There are not that many blue fall fabrics out there.

Does that happen to you? 

so I am assured of lots of sewing fun the next week.

 I'll leave you with the thought that covid numbers are high, because our country didn't take action during the first shut down,  preferring to pretend this wasn't real... nearly 2 thousand people are going to be dying a day. EVERY day I hear about a friend who is touched by it

PUT ON A MASK! Even republican politicians are now calling for them after they spent time in the ICU because they didn't take this seriously. It's not political even though they've tried to make it so. It's a global HEALTH CRISIS  

I am just an older artist, trying to live in peace... sorry for feeling like I have to at least keep saying it here but I pray for guidance daily and am told to use my voice.

LINKING TO

http://www.inquiringquilter.com/ Wednesday wait loss
Midweek makers wednesdays

design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays

oh Scrap Sundays 

 scrap happy Saturdays

Paint Party Friday a tale of two crystals

 

Welcome to this week's painting round up! 

I decided to try to paint my lovely pink quartz rock by our fountain. This lived in our garden paradise in MD and now lives on rocks of Colorado. 

 

I first painted the one on the right, and didn't like the perspective plus it looked like a shoe. I did like aspects of it, I liked the texture of the fountain, I liked the wash of color up on the right corner, and the bits of green on the brown rocks. I also enjoyed inking in the rocks after the paint dried

but it looked like a shoe so I started over

I really liked the rock much better, but now I got too many rocks! And the shading is off... 

 But I like it better. I don't like to repeat a subject but I see the value in it. Painting in series teaches you a lot, and allows you to home in on one aspect. If I was to try again, I'd like to keep the negative space at the top right of the first one, an the lines and shading on the second rock. 

 

LINKING TO

https://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/

I Like Thursday #215

 

Welcome to this week's list of likes... always something to like if we only stop to think about it, right?

1) we saw some blue sky peek through the smoke this week. These leaves are already gone, blown off by the winds Sunday! The air quality comes and goes now... the temp Wednesday was 76 going down last night to 34... extremes. 

Let's get this party started shall we? 

Reading

2) I finished City of Girls and loved it so much. The reader was the actress Blair Brown. Next up is by Jodi Thomas, set in Texas around 1900 and lots of fun, she knows people!

3) At night I'm reading the first book in the bakeshop series, because I somehow missed it, Meet your Baker. Love this series

watching

4) Ooooo we found the Great British Bake show on Netflix... a new episode dropping weekly. Covid edition.

Bachelorette, covid edition started this week on ABC... what a train wreck! 

Dancing with the stars continues and I have hopes for Johnny Weir and Vernon Davis 

5) Amazing Race returned last night!!! (they taped this show two years ago )

Random news

6) the mancuso Pacific National quilt show is in session! On line HERE

Gardening

my tomatoes continue to be green but one I pulled off the stalk is turning pink. Are they safe to eat green? I googled it because I fondly remember eating fried green tomatoes and they contain solanine like potatoes that should not be eaten if they go green... 

 7) my blue flower that looked like a little mini cauliflower turned into this!

Fine Dining

recipe

8) our cider had a quick exp. date so I baked an apple coffee cake that came out pretty good. 

Since the oven was hot and we had to use the egg whites anyway, we also baked another blueberry cake, so very good!

then scrambled the rest of the eggs with cheese for a very good breakfast for three!

9)  I am tired of my cooking and missing the Greek diner in Annapolis so we ordered tzatziki sauce this week and I made chicken souvlakis for lunch. In case you want to know how I did it...

We used cooked chicken from the store, sauted it with:

olive oil, lemon juice, white cooking wine and spices (I poured about 1/3 cup EEOO in a 1C measuring cup, added about 1/4 C wine, and 1/8 C lemon juice, but I didn't measure) A lot will depend on your amount of meat.

I made a Greek spice mix with:

garlic powder, basil, parsley, rosemary (a bit less), paprika, a tsps of oregano, salt and black pepper (sorry no measurements... about half tsps of each, more of parsley and oregano)

put a good amount of the spice mix in the saute pan with the meat and liquid, and let the chicken cook if raw, or absorb most of the liquid if cooked already.

A lovely scent came up as the liquid was absorbed.

I didn't have pita so we used some flour tortillas. I rubbed them on the pan  to pick up a bit of the lovely oil, and layered on:

 tsaziki sauce, fresh chopped tomatoes, thin cucumber slices, diced red onion, shredded lettuce, feta cheese and the meat. curled the bread around it and was it ever delish!!!

sorry no recipe, just my little explanation, but it was good. We made two more sandwiches for Thursday's lunch, had some oven fries as our side, and poor Milo was left wanting with only a small piece of chicken and one fry!

Products I'm liking

10) I have thin hair but these shampoos fluff it up. The pantene Rose has a lovely scent, the fekkai has a wonderful lemon scent, the roth smells gorgeous! All give me more body.
 

Painting

the rock is in the middle

11)... my pink quartz rock... twice since I didn't like the first one... story tomorrow on Paint Post

sewing

12) lots of sewing going on, story on Saturday's post

 shopping...

Spoonflower fabric

13) I liked the poodle fabric at spoonflower

MILO's MOMENTS

I hurted my leg last week and now Mama won't let me run and play! She piled this up on the stairs to keep me down stairs by myself , it is not fair! But... I did get scrambled eggs and that made it better

I like to play it cool, but scrambled eggs with cheese?

I LOVE cheese!

More please!

now sit! Stay! visit these nice humans to see their lists!

New this week! http://livelylatte.blogspot.com/

https://canadianneedlenana.blogspot.com/ 
maryinpeoriahandmade.blogspot.com 
http://3poodlesandanana.blogspot.com  

grammajudyb.blogspot.com 

 craftscaviescontras  

  https://whataboutrheema.blogspot.com/ 

 http://littlepenguinquilts 

 http://www.piecefulthoughts.com

http://homesewnbyus 

  http://imworkingonaproject.blogspot.com/ 
https://scrapatches.blogspot.com/  

 

https://lavenderdreamstoo.blogspot.com/  
https://knittingquilter.blogspot.com/   

http://dreamworthyquilts.blogspot.com/

https://100sweets.blogspot.com/2020/10/hi.html

the knitty quilter

https://quiltschmilt.wordpress.com/blog-posts/        

 

not posting this week

https://faithtrustandbreastcancer.blogspot.com

 

LINKING WITH

Thankful Thursdays pet parade  

rosie and the boys nature pics   

friday smiles at a stitch in time

https://www.myslicesoflife.com/ 

http://newthursday13.blogspot.com/
http://goodrandomfun.blogspot.com
http://itsasmalltownlife.blogspot.com/

T is for Chooseday

 

If it's Tuesday, I'm linking with my friends at T is for Tuesday where we share a bit of our lives and then mention what we're drinking!

filtered water

I struggle to drink enough water here in Colorado. I liked the swirly glass, with the curvy woven table showing through that glass,  in this picture! 

We also ordered some of this because we miss New England in fall 

I made some muffins that came out dryer than my hands... but Saturday we made a coffee cake I'll describe on Thursday's "I LIke' post because it came out good! Apparently the secret is to reduce cider by half to intensify the flavor. (and add in some more liquid if you live at 6000 feet above sealevel)

As to making things...

current fabric design wall

I try to stay creative, with watercolors, drawing, fiber art and writing. Each category has a posting day so I don't want to overshare but I did try to paint this pink quartz rock this weekend, and am moderately content with how it came out.

paint party is on Friday

Just for fun...

want to see the questions of the day at    https://tuesdaysplace.blogspot.com/?

 Q:  1 You have won a trip and can choose to go to Hawaii or  Paris? Summer or winter?

A: What a hard choice, I've never been to either! Assuming both are safe from a deadly virus... 

right now I think I need the culture of  Paris in summer. After seeing the Louvre and other landmarks I'd like to tour the Loire valley chateaus, and wine growing regions, see fields of flowers, tour ancient landmarks and get to know French people a bit. 

I'd take walking tours, see lots of art, take so many pictures 

 

   Q: 2 Little dog or big dog which do you prefer? ...

A: We have always had big dogs and I love big dogs. I'd probably step on a little one, but there is value in little pups... they can sit on your lap at night, and are easier to take into hotels. I love a big dog.

   Q: 3 Which TV/book/movie character do you    identify with, and why? ...

A: none actually... I'd LIKE to identify with the ones who are lucky, and life works out perfectly for them like on a Hallmark movie. I identified a bit with Eat Pray Love when she sat on the beach and forgave herself for mistakes and human frailty. 

    Q: 4 What did you wish for last, like at your birthday or when throwing a coin into a fountain?   Christmas wish list?  Somethings that you need to buy?

A: can't tell or it won't come true! 

always wish to feel peace, for safety, for good health. For satisfaction with one's life. To be able to love and be loved. 

 

 this tree was brilliant for one day til a MASSIVE windstorm blew nearly all leaves off the tree in two hours here Sunday...but it blew the smoke away for a few hours too... and we saw stars last night for the first time in months

want to take a lovely trip with me? Yes... we all want to get away...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdjNQOvW3P4 

 

Like jigsaw puzzles? This one is fun, you can set your own amount of pieces too

https://www.jigsawexplorer.com/online-jigsaw-puzzle-player.html?puzzle_id=pumpkins-and-wheelbarrow

LINKING TO

all seasons

T stands for Tuesday... like a "drink' post 

 https://tuesdaysplace.blogspot.com/

 

sewing saturday

For my sewing round-up this week I have some yellow blocks to show for RSC's color of the month. We are encouraged to use our yellow scraps so...

into the yellow bin I went and found some pretties! I remember many years ago a friend of mine gave me the face fabric scraps after she made  nurse's scrubs for her brother. 

of course there were bonus HST blocks to be used next week...I have an idea of how to use the 64 1.5" bits...

I got the idea to use hair clips to hold the Halloween quilt binding on to sew, and I did double fold binding so it would be easier to sew to the back this time

I felt very accomplished finishing the quilting, choosing binding fabric from a list of auditioners, making a sleeve and blocking it. Full shots come later.

Meanwhile the design wall looks a bit sparse.

I have now finished four red blocks from Deb's 80's pattern re-do.

I liked playing with the geese from last week next to the lozenge blocks! 

These are labor intensive, fussy cut, sewing lines must be drawn on, hand stitched stopping at each intersection. But here is one in yellow... I like it too.( Deb ) is doing them all in multi and they look great!

I'm not  sure what will come of these but for now they keep me busy and off the streets. 

Our heat wave continues with temps in the 80's and smoke choking us all

brighter than normal

and no precipitation in sight to stop the fires raging and spreading almost as fast as the virus 

They say cooler next week but also smokier, so we still can't open a window. 

I tried a new to me mask design from Joann fabrics... it fits well 

 ...then I saw this on you tube and think it might be simple and easy to make. In halloween fabric...haven't tried it yet

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzCyEuyLmjY 

I shared a painting post yesterday, but have spent most of my creative time this week in studio, listening to City of Girls on audio. It would make a fine movie! The reader is swell, in their 1940's vernacular. 

I zoomed with Joy again this week, and it is joyful to talk to her, and sewed on the yellow 80's block, and it may be virtual but I am WITH her while we zoom. It's a great thing to share your life with friends.

Fall is happening despite the weather

the question of the day at (https://www.kwizgiver.com/  )is : tell us of a song you could hear every day... this is an interpretation of mine

Linking to

can I get a whoop whoop Fridays  

http://www.inquiringquilter.com/ Wednesday wait loss
Midweek makers wednesdays

patchwork Sunday   

design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays

oh Scrap Sundays 
 slow stitching Sundays

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

paint party Friday

 

Welcome to this week's painting post... it's been a worrisome week for me and not a lot of painting. 

I did continue to follow along best I could on the free online course Start Your Art and learned a few tips along the way. Unfortunately I didn't paint any masterpieces. I might just share a couple points that hit home however, and I did paint portraits of the teachers so there is that. 

It's good practice for "seeing" 

from one teacher I learned that painting a color wheel with your own paints is a record of how they look on your paper... She would hold her chart up to a real item to be painted and get an idea of what color to use for realism. Smart.

I also learned when blending the secondary colors you won't necessarily use equal amounts as different colors come in different intensities... good to know!

I was challenged to paint using two colors only, and all the ways you could blend them... I watched and will try that soon... it wasn't the week for concentration. I also spent most of my time this week in the studio working with fabric, and listening to my book City of Girls.

From the classes I learned the value of creating a storyboard. I'm not a big planner, I work intuitively using everything I've learned along the way, using inspiration from odd sources, using my wonderful supplies. I do not plan well. It takes joy away for me, but.... but... I saw the value in a storyboard. 

Especially for fabric art. Collect representative colors, textures, mood words, pictures all in one little sheet, to see them together. It's got a place...

One person taught us a LOT, maybe too much info, on calligraphy. I didn't want to rush out and get her supplies but I had lettering markers from a Christmas present so at least I took them out of their package and put ink to paper to try some of the lessons. Push down when going downward for a thick line, and light as air coming up for a thin line.

One speaker say to meditate, see what images come to you, what colors, what words...

It was really too difficult to concentrate (my poodle had injured his leg the night before and worries of having to see a vet in an area where they don't take covid seriously makes us scared) but I tried to meditate with her, and saw blue and green, and wings so I put that down. I see this exercise could jumpstart an art quilt session.

I did a quick collage yesterday after listening to another teacher, who's lesson did nothing for me but it slowed me down mentally enough to at least do a page in the journal from ripped papers and paint.

 because I love this song, it's Fall, and it's Neil Young and Nora Jones together... enjoy the music and scenery

and another request to take covid seriously. Unless you have daily tests for you and everyone around you in order to catch it early, unless you have top national medical care and access to cutting edge treatment, unless you can be whisked to a top hospital before showing symptoms, you are at risk.

 I heard a story this week from my friend, about one of her relatives.  A woman who didn't believe it was a threat, went about her life as normal, gave it to her son, dil and their tiny baby. It's not responsible or kind  to ignore this health crisis that is world wide.

 Linking to

https://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/