Here is an updated picture of my Tulip UFO. The block are from a Quilting bee I had in 2004 (ahem) I first posted about them here in 2005, last spring I dug them out and started work on them. But put them away at some point, the scrappy patches that I love to look at finally overcoming me.
Springtime in Utah has arrived blowing in with blustering winds and intermittent sunshine. but I’ve already bought another pair of sunglasses and been sunburned twice (must by a hat!). Also I finished those three quilts I meant to finish before I left Washington, so it must be time to check another UFO off my list!
Also fitting nicely in with our Springtime theme. Our learning to tell time theme. Halfway through the making of flower power I thought maybe I should have made a sun for my extremely gender correct, covers his eyes when he see pink, seven year old.
But then I figured, if I don’t scar him emotionally, someone else will!
Tip Toe through the Tulips-Tiny Tim
This boy turned 7 over two weeks ago. Lest you think we forgot, we did not. but life here has seemingly been and an unending stream of visitors. Not unwelcome, but somewhat wearisome. So much so that we sat down last week and made a list of weeks not to say yes to visitors. It is rough, you know being so popular that everyone want sto come visit you in your new Sunny! spot. But in order to have what it takes to enjoy those visitors, we, and I particularly need some down time.
My annual quilting weekend, part of my pre approval for moving to Utah, was this past weekend. I’m still an ocean girl no matter how much I am enjoying the Utah sun. Walking on the beach is still one of my favorite things to do.
And a group of women I have know and loved for ten years gathered around sewing machines?
Ahem, sewing machines!
And also nine patches, I love my nine patch, I didn’t get to work on it much though because I was busy finishing the Aqua rose quilt. All done, and four years later back with it’s owner. I first started working on that quilt at our very first beach retreat Which I guess was only three years ago not four, that’s nice to konw.
Anyway..Done.
Life’s a Happy Song-The Muppets
This year my Quilt group’s challenge was a red and white quilt. I finished mine just in time. Hours before we leave The Burrow I bound my red and white quilt that was inspired by the necklace my oldest son gave me for Christmas last year.
*Mickey Mouse club song
Much like Santa, I’m a list maker and I’ve been checking mine twice and marking things off. Like this North Star quilt that I not only finished before I left but also mailed! Thus the pictures Dragon Island Mama sent me of Dragon Island baby all passed out on Thanksgiving on his new quilt. I was inspired to make this quilt before Sarah even asked if I would. I was so thrilled to be asked to make a quilt for someone who really wanted one. It was a pleasure. And big brother’s quilt is darn close to being finished. I did have to relegate it to the mailed from Utah pile because the time it runneth out.
Meanwhile Hobbes has done very little packing. Slacker.
*Every Sunday-Footloose
My Quilt group is pretty awesome, you’ve heard it before I know. At my last meeting they made me this cake.
And this quilt. And words pretty much fail me now.
Not entirely, but pretty close. Some say actions speak louder than words…and I think in this case it does.
I feel loved.
*If you could only see the way she loves me-Tonic
Well not really, but it feels that way. This weekend was my semi annual or bi annual, well twice a year quilting retreat. A group of women from my Quilt group rent a beach house, and head out of town, projects and sewing machines in tow. We’ve gotten it down to a science, the meals, the sleeping arrangements, only the projects cause problems. Sometimes you get to the retreat and find you don’t have it in you to finish that project and what she is working on over there is way more fun. But you don’t have the fabric.
I had a list of things that have to be finished before I move an I accomplished all of those things on the trip which was perfect for me, as I currently feel like I’m spinning in circles not able to decide on where to start first, pack, work, school? eat? sleep? Quilt?
This tablerunner was the project from our last retreat, and I had the strata cut out but not cut or sewn together, and now finished! you know except for the backing and binding. But soon. sooooon My pretties.
More adorable fabric for a Thanksgiving table-runner.
And my ninepatch is coming along admirably. Sunday evening I returned back to the reality of boxes and packing and also texting family members on the East Coast to make sure they were safe and dry before the destruction of Sandy hit. Because it did hit, and we don’t know what that means right now, as my family has not been allowed back to their houses yet. There is time for that though, for now I will plod on here, and wait to here what needs to happen next.
After all I have a few quilts to finish.
*the Final Countdown-Europe
The high for today is supposed to be 70. Which is 10-15 degrees higher than it has been all week. I’m writing this post wearing sweatpants and a thermal underwear shirt. I have fleece lined shoes on. I’m officially starting a Christmas in July celebration. I’m thinking of making cookies.
It is hard not to be a little gloomy in July when you are seeing pictures of other people at the beach and you are trying to talk yourself into not turning the heat up. Of course there is a lot of excuses to drink more tea and quilt while watching Home Alone with the kids and after they go to bed popping in Love Actually.
My June Quilt wrap up is coming (so is Christmas! it’s a theme!) but since it is officially July, I allowed myself to start working on my July project, even with three big projects in the works, two that need to be done this month and one next month. I really wanted to work on this and so I broke out the scissors and started this large reverse applique project. It’s like Christmas! (dead horse, beating it)
Kitten pictures…you’ve earned it.
*Christmas is all around us -Love Actually
My basement studio.
I find that organizing and cleaning out tends to look more like a huge Clusterstorm. Of course that could be me. My organizing plan usually centers around moving everything into a big pile and then slowly putting it back, in the goodwill bag or throwing it out. Or, often, deciding I need just one! more! bookshelf. Then I will be organized! Yes! The bookshelf will do it.
Also I need to go to IKEA! Definitely! this is often problematic, budgetly speaking. But still new bookshelves I need them. Anyway after the organizing dust had cleared and I piled things in the area where I need another bookshelf hello! I took a look at my May Tally in the quilting. And then I was sad but, then I remembered all those pants I mended, seriously Son the Second….what does he do in those pants? Napkins I hemmed, shirts I repaired (some sort of kindergarten snipping incident) and hats I knitted (three this month). And I didn’t feel better, but then I made my list for the next month more realistic.
May Quilty goals
winter blues star quilt binding-check!
This months 28 nine patches-check (ongoing project for quilt group)
yoko ono quilt block jan/feb-not so much
dragon island top-no
aqua quilt 30 hours- again no, I am struggling the struggle to get this done.
Tulip Quilt-way too much time spent on this project that leapt onto my list.
Oh well, better luck next month.
Somehow, in the middle of all my careful Quilty list making, this tulip project slipped in and became a quilt instead of a tablerunner. Sometimes that happens. Especially when you are spending all that time at your quilty station, staring at something, it just morphs…and this one did.
Mr. Turtle pin cushion is disapproving from his perch on the unfinished nine patches from the list. He thinks we should stay the course! no deviation! He is afterall a turtle.
*Stand by your man- Tammy Wynette
*And I love her-The beatles