AWOL?

or A WALL

Sometimes a mess stimulates me; other times, like now, it depresses me.  So no stitching this week while I continue organizing/reorganizing things in the studio.  I want to get fabric out of totes/bins and up on a shelf where I can see it.  That requires shelves!

DH and I assessed what elements we already had on hand, and what we needed to shop for. So on his grocery run yesterday he stopped by Lowes for a bit of this and that.  The standards are too long for this area, but we had them left over from the last house so we used them.  

Lowes cut the longer shelves to fit the left wall, but DH has to hacksaw the shelves we already had to fit the other wall.  And that's a project for another day.

Now that the dust-producing step is out of the way, I'm going to start loading fabric!

One of Those "Duh" Moments

Passionate for Paisley is nearing completion.

Since there is a touch of gold embellishment in the paisley fabric, I thought a metallic gold flange would be a nice touch in the border.

Well, it's been a while since I've done a flange anywhere, much less in  border.  I thought why stitch the flange and then the border when I could do both at once.  Here's why:

Oops!  A little reverse sewing (ripping) will take care of the problem.  I should have a finished top by tomorrow.

A Do-nuttin' Kinda Week

Some weeks are like that ... 

 

Three projects in the works, and little progress on any of them.  For one thing, I've been sleeping later in the morning.  That could be a good thing.  And I've been helping DH install mesh in the gutters before the temps get out of hand.  By "helping," I mean I hold the straps so if the ladder falls it doesn't break a window.  Forget about what would happen to him!  And I've lost an hour out of most days bleaching my teeth in anticipation of some serious dental work that starts tomorrow.

So here's where I stand.  Jack's in the Pond is together except for the borders which are cut and standing ready when the mood strikes.

The panel wall hanging-which-has-no-name now has three borders (sorry, no photo).  I shopped my stash and found something that I think works.  The forth border is wavy and needs to be worked on, and you know how I feel about sewing borders ...

And, finally, Passion for Paisley has progressed from a spark to an almost-finish.  I am putting a metallic gold flange in the border.

I have given up on the garden.  It has been too hot with no rain and even twice-a-day watering is not helping.  I get a handful of cherry tomatoes every other day.  The three Bradley tomatoes refuse to ripen.

I have also given up on feeding the birds. The squirrel has figured out how to climb the hook and the birds don't seem to like the "squirrel-proof" feeder I got as a replacement.  Add to that the mess they are making .... well, you get the idea.

It was a big mail week, though!  I was the lucky winner in The Joyful Quilter's 10th blogiversary drawing.  I requested a mug rug in red to go with one she sent me a couple of years ago in a swap.

On the positive side, I have been doing some organizing around the house, a little at a time.  And since returning from the TOALT I have lost over 10 pounds!

I need your help - Update

I recently pulled out a very early project (circa 2004) to finish the hand quilting during the pre-dinner hour only to discover the excessively long needle is "welded" in the fabric.

There is no evidence of rust, but I suspect that is the cause.  Any suggestions on the best way to extract it with minimum damage?

Thanks to everyone for their thoughtful comments.  I went with the first option - pliers - and it worked!  There was definite rust on the needle where it went through the seams.

There is no evident rust on the fabrics.  This is a Christmas wall quilt so if any rust appears, I'll just applique a holly berry or something else on it!

Where Did This Come From?

Apparently left field ...

or maybe the Far East

Needs a name

I honestly don't remember where I found it.

I was clearing some things off the work table and noticed that the "Asian" bin needed attention.

The "Parts Department" was also on that end of the table.

So it could have come from either one.

The little squares were cut and coordinating fabrics were folded inside.

So I decided to put the pieces on the wall to see what needed to be done.

Two days later, it's all together except for the final border.

I don't have enough of the border fabric I planned to use so I may have to shop.

Obviously it started with a panel.  It was so crooked I didn't think I'd ever get it into a rectangle.

As a result, the panel was smaller than the size specified in Sidelights, the pattern I was using.

I had to make adjustments in the strips between the little squares to make everything fit.

I hope to make it to the E TN shop hop next week, 

so maybe I'll find a border for this one and several others.

Stay tuned!

Passionate for Paisley

Somebody, please give me blinders so I don't see all those shiny things in little plastic bags!

More on this next week ...

A Beautiful Day

DH and I were honored to witness the marriage of this beautiful couple today.

R and E

What lengths folks will go to to tie the knot!

Davidson County Courthouse

The bride is an immigrant from Togo.  She has made the best of a bad situation and now has found her soulmate.  She was part of our A-Team of caregivers for my MIL for nearly 10 years.  She worked the night shift most days and when the company we hired them through decided to move to Texas, she and one of the other gals formed a company to keep serving us.  She was holding MIL's hand when she passed away.  

We were touched that they wanted us, her "Nashville Family" to be part of this beautiful day.