10 Blocks Down

Five to go. I can't believe how fast these autumn leaf blocks are coming together. If I could sit long enough or sew reclining, I could probably have had them all finished in a couple of days.

I have decided what I'm going to do with all my leftover autumn/halloween scraps when I'm finished with these blocks and my Halloween tree wall hanging. (Oh, yes! I'll have bookoodles of fabric left.) I'm going to make an autumn charm quilt. I've always wanted to make a charm quilt and never have. And since I love autumn so much, I think that's the perfect theme for my charms. I have ordered a 6-inch acrylic template in a tumbler shape for cutting my charms. One tumbler from each fabric, in true charm quilt fashion.

 

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On 08/29/2016, Pat said ...

Can't wait to see the charm quilt, as well as the ones you're doing now! Your leaves are so pretty.

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On 08/29/2016, Nancy Morey said ...

I have the 6" tumbler for my Accuquilt GO. If you give me 7" squares of each of your autumn fabrics, I can make quick work of the tumblers. Even though we are moving to another house, I can actually find the GO and know where the dies are!

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On 08/30/2016, Stephani in N. TX said ...

Love the idea for the tumbler charm quilt, love the leaves even more. I have a pattern for a leaf quilt, if I could just get 'rountuit.
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My Darn Dogs

I love my Skipper and Sophie. Truly I do. But sometimes they can be a trial and a tribulation. I think I'll change their names to Trial and Tribulation.

Take for instance, they like to get up early--very early. Sometimes they beat the sun into a new day. And that would be ok, if they would get up quietly. But no way. As soon as Skipper arises, he starts his ear-splitting bark to tell the world that this day has begun. Sophie gets down out of her sleeping chair and starts bumping her head into my bed and snorting. Now you tell me: How's a person supposed to sleep with all that going on?

So I get up too, bleery-eyed and wobbly, running into furniture, barking my shins (as they say up north), trying to find my way to the coffee pot. After I get the coffee going, I feed my little lambs their breakfast (one little container of Cesar each) and let them outside for their morning constitutional.

When the coffee is made, the doggies back inside, and calmness restored, I sit down on the couch to have my first cup. And what do Sophie and Skipper do? Sophie climbs her ramp up into her daytime chair, Skipper finds a spot of sunlight coming in through the living room window to lie in, and they both fall sound asleep. Me, I yawn and drink more coffee. No way I'm able to go back to sleep after all the activity.

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On 08/28/2016, Little Penpen said ...

ha ha ha, I can totally relate!! Sometimes I want to go bark in their ears while they are sleeping, just for payback!! But don't we just love them?

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On 08/28/2016, Pat said ...

Exactly mine & Oscar's mornings, snorts, too.

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On 08/30/2016, Dolores Tanner said ...

I Know!!! mine do the same thing! here I am up!! then they go back to bed, tummies full and empty bladders, most times I can go back to bed, but have found I can get more done in the morning if I just get up and start going.. but not nearly as satisfying as sleeping in!!
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It Had To Be Done

I finally had to call a halt to sewing and clean up my sewing room. It was a total disaster and had been for some time. What spurred me on, I think, was when Jesse walked by, stuck his head in the door, and asked, "How do you find anything in here?"

The above photo, taken after the cleaning, doesn't tell much. That's my sewing table. It and the table next to it, and the ironing board behind it, and the floor all around it were piled high with fabric. The entire room looked like a scene from "Hoarders." I was working from the hoard. Now the fabric (except for my Autumn/Halloween stash, which are the ones I'm currently working from) are all color organized and back in their bins on the shelves. Except for a whole bunch of bagged pieces that I'm going to take to guild for the free table. I found I was using the same fabrics over and over in quilt after quilt until they were beginning to look too much alike. Or at least I was getting bored with the same fabrics. But don't worry; I still have lots of pretty fabrics left, more than I could ever use, I'm sure.

The task of cleaning up just about did me in. I finished (except for vacuuming, which I will do today, maybe) at about 3:00 yesterday afternoon. I hobbled downstairs, crashed on the couch, and passed out. Every once in while, the dogs would wake me up to let them out or let them in. Then at suppertime, Jesse brought me two Sneaky Pete slaw dogs, I ate them, watched "American Gothic," and went to bed. This morning, I felt pretty good, which was a surprise. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get out of bed. Maybe it was the Sneaky Petes that pulled me through.

Huge bag o' scraps that I have ready to give away to the first quilt guild member who speaks for them

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On 08/25/2016, Trudy Abernathy-Neill said ...

Hi!. I wish I was a member of your guild...I would be honored to have some of your give away fabric. I am glad you feel up to working on the sewing once again. I am so busy right now trying to get caught up on the canning from the gardens...it is hot and tiresome work. I keep reminding myself how useful it will all be this winter tho. Hope you continue to be able to enjoy the things you love. All the best....Trudy from Windermere Farm.

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On 08/25/2016, Little Penpen said ...

Your room looks great!!! Love all the pretties on the walls!
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Filling My Design Board

I had a couple of down days lately. Fatigue and back pain got to me. But I'm back in the saddle today, working on my quilts again. On Monday, my sister Ramey went with me and we delivered the Farm Girl Sampler and the Little Owl Quilt to Lena for long-arm quilting. We stopped by the thrift store on the way home, but we didn't stay long because of my back problem and Ramey's recent battle with plantar fascitis. We're falling apart, we two. I told her yesterday that it would be a race to see which of the three sisters (me, Ramey, or our older sister Joanne) moves into Shady Pines first.

I've been working on both these quilts. I'll make a leaf block, then I do some blanket stitching on one of the dollhouse blocks. I like variety.

All righty, back to the Bernina. Happy Hump Day to all.

 

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On 08/24/2016, D Wylie said ...

Hope you have many good days ahead...

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On 08/24/2016, Joanne Cage said ...

I wish I had some tops ready to quilt. BTW, when you and Ramey get too feeble, you can come live with me. I'll take care of you. I'll even peel grapes for you.

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On 08/24/2016, Barbara said ...

Aging is definitely not for wusses. Love your design board and so glad you're having more good days.

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On 08/25/2016, Stephani in N. TX said ...

Love your leaves. Thank goodness autumn is coming and we will all have leaves of our own soon. Your quilt progress is amazing, love it. It's wonderful to have a hobby that we can tap away at, occasionally surge ahead, and enjoy all the time. Isn't Shady Pines the home referenced on "Golden Girls?" Wonder if they have room for my fabric.

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On 08/26/2016, Beverly said ...

I know it isn't one bit funny, but I had to grin. I just looked at my husband a few minutes ago to say "we are getting old". We both laughed - and agreed.

I must say I am loving the dollhouse blocks. Can't wait to see more.♥
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Dollhouse Sewing Room

All the machine blanket stitching is done on this block. I still have a little hand embroidery to do, and it will be finished. On to the next one. (My favorite feature of this block is the fabric I chose for the floor. In my actual sewing room, I always have a floor full of fabric scraps and squiggles of thread. I thought this print captured that condition very well.)

I got some more pieces cut out for the autumn leaf quilt too. My fibro-remission, or whatever it is, is holdiing. Still feeling pretty good.

Meryl Streep is amazing in "Florence Foster Jenkins."

On Wednesday, sister Ramey and I went to see the movie "Florence Foster Jenkins," which we enjoyed immensely. We were going to the matinee, which started at 1:50. But, best laid plans and all that. We had never been to this particular theatre before, and it was in, at least for me, a confusing area of town (Hoover). By the time we finally found the place, the movie had already started. I don't like to go in after the movie has started. So went to Jim & Nick's for barbecue and then spent a good hour in Barnes and Noble looking at all the books. I found that I had read most of the interesting ones, but I did see a few that I plan to download on my Kindle as soon as I finish reading Indignation by Phillip Roth, which I have just started.

Okey Dokey, I'm anxious to get back to quiltmaking. Happy weekend, everyone.

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On 08/19/2016, Julie said ...

The Dollhouse Quilt is so cute; I really like that!

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On 08/20/2016, Sandra Hutchins said ...

Remission is good! Your quilt blocks are lovely.

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On 08/21/2016, Pesky Patti said ...

Ooooh...I love all of the bright and happy(gay) colors you have been using lately!

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On 08/24/2016, Mary Bolton said ...

Try again to see the movie....my hubby and I enjoyed it very much!

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On 08/25/2016, Susan Ramey Cleveland said ...

Oh dear, Mary. I forgot to add that after the BBQ and the book store, we did go back and see the movie--from the beginning.
And we loved it.

Sent from my iPad
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Lots of Stuff Going On

Dogs Days have been good to me this year. My infirmities have been manageable, and I'm getting a lot of stuff done. Not nearly so much time spent on the couch as during the past few months. I'm pumped.

I won't get a lot done in the sewing room today because my sister Ramey and I are going to the movies to see "Florence Foster Jenkins" starring the amazing Meryl Streep. I have only a vague idea of what this movie is about: some woman who sings like a banshee I think. But Ramey wants to see it, and if Streep is in it, it has to be good.

I have to stop by the grocery store on the way home to pick up some necessities, including cat litter. So after all that, I'm sure I won't be up for time at the sewing machine later.

I got another autumn leaf block constructed. I think this is going to be one of my favorite quilts. But then they're almost all my favorites.

 

I have also pulled out my Dollhouse Quilt that I started a couple of years ago. I'm determined to have it ready for next June's quilt show. I have most of the blocks fused, but I still have lots and lots of edge stitching to do.

I got my "Pretty Playtime Quilts" book in the mail yesterday. I saw it online and ordered it last week. As soon as I get some of these other projects finished, I'm going to start on the Garden Fairy sampler. I sure hope my physical stamina holds out and the vicious pain and fatigue stay at bay until I get some of these things done. I'm having fun.

 

 

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On 08/17/2016, Pat said ...

Sooo glad you're feeling better! Love the fall leaf quilt. I'll have to check out the new book! Sew many plans!
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Buddy

My sister Ramey has added a new member to her family. His name is Buddy. Ramey sprung him from jail at the Pell City Animal Shelter. He is a fine dog and well behaved. Pay no attention to his stance on this table. Ramey went outside without him and he panicked. He promised he would not do that again.

Buddy is a border collie, one of the smartest (if not THE smartest) dogs in the world. I have known many a border collie. I even wrote several stories about the breed when I was working for Progressive Farmer magazine back in the 80s. They are accomplished herding dogs, and they also make devoted companions.

I met Buddy on Sunday and fell in love with him immediately. We had a nice chat while I petted him. Then we played a spirited game of ball, which Buddy won. When he has become well acclimated to the family, he is going to come to my house for a play date with Sophie and Skipper. I can't wait.

Welcome to the family, Buddy.

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On 08/16/2016, Nancy Morey said ...

My daughter's family had a Border Collie named Glory. When she got hot, she would nose open the refrigerator and lay just inside the door. Left the food alone, but didn't always remember to close the door.

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On 08/17/2016, Joanne Cage said ...

He's a beautiful dog. I look forward to meeting him.
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October Dreams

I got the backing stitched up for the Farm Girl quilt, and this morning I moved on to working the autumn quilt from Quilters World magazine. They call it Fall Frolic. I'm thinking of October Dreams for the title of my quilt--because that's what I do all summer, dream of October.

I need only 15 (12") blocks for this quilt, so I have 13 more to go. I found some great fabric for the sashing. The lighter one came from my stash. I have used it in something else, but I can't remember what. I think it's a backing, maybe, for one of my other autumn quilts. I found the autumn-colored batik at Hobby Lobby a few weeks back with the specific intention of using it in this quilt.

My plan was to take the Farm Girl quilt, my little owl quilt, and my Granny Squares quilt to Lena for quilting today or tomorrow. But while getting them reading to take, I discovered that the last row of the Granny Square quilt had only been pinned, not sewn. I have to hand sew it since I could never get my points to match on that quilt with machine quilting. Too many seams and layers of fabric coming together. I'll try to get that done tonight, and get over to Lena's in Roebuck (east Birmingham) by midweek at least.

Remember my Hooties? They're finally going to the quilter this week.

I realized I had never stitched the last row when I picked up the folded top and stuck pins in my hand.

A Sampling

I opted to border the sampler quilt. I had this red floral print that I picked up at WalMart a while back. It seemed made for this quilt, so that's what I used for the border. I have a little over three yards left of the fabric, which I will probably combine with something else to make a backing.

I used four of the smaller six-inch blocks for the border corners. I have one six-inch block left, the little flag, which I plan to incorporate into a label for the back of the quilt. As soon as I get the backing constructed, I'll take it to Lena for quilting.

The six-inch blocks made perfect border corners.

This Little Piggy

Henny Penny


Miss Bessie

Thomas Turkey

Stripes the Barn Cat

Note: Those who follow my reading list at left might be interested to know that I finally updated it. I had fallen behind. I have added the last four books that I have read this summer.

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On 08/12/2016, Carolyn Sands said ...

Very nice!

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On 08/12/2016, Jane said ...

Susan, you did a fabulous job on this quilt. I think you need to readjust your opinion of yourself as "very productive" with time outs here and there! One word of caution: red fabric has ruined many a quilt in the wash------maybe you can get away with never washing it!!!

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On 08/12/2016, Joanne Cage said ...

Wow! The border made all the colors stand out. I love this quilt top.

I see you've read T.K. Thorn's Angels at the Gate. That's on my list to read sometime soon. Hope it's as good as Noah's Wife.

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On 08/13/2016, Judy Wilming said ...

Love it Susan - really great job as usual.

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On 08/14/2016, Sue, a Florida Farm Girl said ...

I love it!! That red print worked just right.

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On 08/14/2016, gailss1 said ...

Very nice top and love all your hard work....nice to have a finished top and makes room for the next one.

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On 08/15/2016, Trudy Abernathy-Neill said ...

Hi Susan, I adore this quilt and have enjoyed watching as each block came together. I think the red is perfect to pull it all together. I told my husband I MUST have this book for the pattern and have it on my Amazon list. Looking forward to seeing what you do next...take good care....Trudy of Windermere Farm.
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Sampler Rows Finished

My Farm Girl Sampler rows are all finished and sewn together. Now I have to cut and sew a border--if I decide I want a border. There's a version of the quilt in Lori's book that doesn't have a border, and I like it. But I like the bordered one too. So I have to give it some more thought and audition some of the fabrics I have and decide which way to go.

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On 08/12/2016, Sue, a Florida Farm Girl said ...

Borders are always such a personal choice. One, two, none? I like borders myself and think a red one, not too big, would be gorgeous on this. I love those blocks but don't know if I'd ever have the patience to do them.

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On 08/12/2016, Beverly said ...

Another stunning quilt, Susan. Question. Do you have a fovorite block on this one? It is hard to choose, but I am loving the bumble bee.♥

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On 08/12/2016, Pat said ...

Beautiful! This is what happens when you keep on keeping on! Can't wait to see it finished, and the NEXT one!

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On 08/12/2016, Linda Enneking said ...

I love your quilt, and I agree, the red fabric seems to have been made for it. Congrats for hanging on and getting this done.

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On 08/12/2016, Barbara said ...

Your quilt is so cheerful and cute. I love the border fabric. Good choice.
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I Know, I Know, I Know!

The Lyric is back!

I've been a bad blogger--and a bad quilter too. I haven't done either in, what?, a couple of weeks I guess. It's not that anything is wrong--at least not anything new. It's just that the things I have to do (laundry, meals, a tiny bit of housework, grocery shopping) take all my energy. Then it's so easy to just ignore the things I like to do--like blogging and quilting. I know that sounds totally wimpy, but it's true. A simple trip to the grocery stores wipes me out.

I went to a concert on Saturday with my sister Ramey. This has been planned for month. The tickets were bought. I could hardly back out, although I imagine I would have if I hadn't already spent money on tickets.

It was a wonderful concert featuring a local group called Three on a String, which Ramey and I have followed for decades. It was held in the restored historic Lyric Theatre in Birmingham. The place started out in 1914 as a vaudeville theatre. In my youth, it was a movie house. But it closed down in the 80s and had gone unused and uncared for for many years. But now it's restored and beautiful.

The Lyric (left) back in the day, directly across 3rd Ave., N., from the Alabama, which has been open since the 1920s and is much bigger than the Lyric.

Before resoration

It's small theatre. We sat in the balcony, which back when I was a teenager, was reserved only for black people. You know, Birmingham during segregation days. Back then, I was a bit jealous of the black people because I always thought it would be such fun to sit in the balcony. No more. I don't envy the generations of people who had to sit up there through a movie with their knees touching their noses. There is virtually no leg room between seats. We sat for two hours plus in these uncomfortable seats, and I have suffered ever since. I haven't been able to bend my left knee since then. And my back is more painful than normal even.

A view from the balcony

Beautiful and extravagant details. So many young people today have never had the experience of watching a movie in such luxurious surroundings.

But I did enjoy the show. If any of you ever have a chance to see Three on a String, take it. They play all over the country and the world, although their performances are not nearly as numerous as they were in their heyday.

This photo is best described as Four on a String instead of Three. Pictured are Bobby Horton (far left), Jerry Ryan (third from left, background), and Andy McGinnis (far right). These are the Three on a String that I first met in the 80s playing at The Stage Door in Homewood, Alabama. When Andy moved on to other endeavors, Brad Ryan (second from left, Jerr's son) took over. All four of them, plus others who had played with them through the years as well as other Birmingham musicians appeared in the 45th Reunion Concert, which my sister and I attended on Saturday.