Blackberry Winter Has Arrived--I Think

Our pleasant weather continues here in north central Alabama. It feels a little like March (cool and breezy) and a little like Blackberry Winter, which I guess is what it is. After all, it is the last week of April. I guess it times for blackberries to be blooming. Whatever, I'm just loving the cool temperatures and dreading the summertime heat and humidity.

I've been able to spend some time in the sewing room, mostly straightening up and putting away from the last few projects. After that, I got out the dollhouse quilt and did a little work on the last block I put together. It needs its blanket topstitching and then I can get started on the remaining blocks. I have two blocks, the roof, front door, and the background to go.

I have also finished two books (see "Books Read in 2023" in left sidebar) and started another one. I think I'll try to finish up the dollhouse block's edge stitching this afternoon before I go back to reading. 

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On 04/25/2023, Barbara Anne said ...

Good morning!
I love your table runner, tea pot, cup, and saucer!
Our weather is much like yours and last night's low was 38*F, if you can believe that.
Well done in getting back into your sewing room and getting back to the doll house quilt! It will be so satisfying to have that finished and a joy to behold! I need to find my sewing mojo as ot seems to be missing.

Hugs!

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The Best Part of Springtime

If spring would stay like this, I'd be more pleased with her. It's cool and sunny with green leaves and flowers popping out everywhere. I don't do much yard work anymore (actually, I don't do any). But my sweet lavender clematis that I planted several years ago is showing her beauty these days. My knockout roses have new leaves and some buds. And my yellow irises have popped up out of the soil, but no flowers yet.

But I know any day now, the mercury in that old thermometer will pass 90, everything will wilt, and I'll be miserable.

I have not yet pulled out the dollhouse quilt and started back working on it. I've mostly been reading books (see sidebar at left for updated "Books Read in 2023" list). My strength and stamina seems to have taken a real nosedive lately. I need something to boost my energy. I think once I get started, it will be easier to continue. But first I have to straighten up my sewing room from the mess I made with the last couple of projects I worked on. That's another hold-back.

So talking about it has made me want to work on the dollhouse quilt. Maybe I'll make it up the stairs today.

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On 04/18/2023, Barbara Anne said ...

Lovely clematis! Like you, I cannot garden much at all anymore but need to go attack the ivy. As my mother used to say, "The only good ivy is in a pot." Alas, this ivy is rampant and much be stopped.
Have you started the Bookcase quilt yet?
Hope I'll be inspired to tackle several UFOs.
Wishing both of us more energy ...

Hugs!
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I Love Her World of Color

I learned this morning that this wonderful creative soul, Elinor Peace Bailey is under hospice care.

I first met Elinor at the Houston Quilt Festival back in the early 90s. I signed up for a dollmaking class she  was teaching. I began the witch doll in that class (photo below) and finished it when I got home. Elinor actually painted the face for my witch doll. She has a name, I'm sure, but right now I can't remember what I named her.

I also bought Elinor's pattern to make the "Susie and Charles" (me and my cat Charles--I don't remember the actual name of the pattern) a photo of which I coincidentally posted last week. And I'm posting it again below.

Whether you have met this dear lady or know her work or not, I hope you will hold her in your heart or maybe send up a little prayer for her. 

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On 04/11/2023, Barbara Anne said ...

What a wonderfully creative and colorful soul Elinor Peace Bailey has and am so sorry she needs hospice care now. I will certainly keep her and all who love her in my prayers.

Lucky you and all of her other students who got to take her classes and share in the joy. your dolls are delightful! It is hard to lose the bright lights in the quilting world like Mary Ellen Hopkins who has been gone a long while.

Hugs!

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On 04/15/2023, Stephani in N. TX said ...

A prayer for her peace and comfort, the angels will never be the same when she reaches Heaven. Thank goodness for her time with us.
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Happy Easter Weekend

Wishing all peace and happiness during this most special of Christians holidays. And if you aren't Christian, Happy Ramadan, Passover, and even National Beer Day. Just have a happy. whatever you celebrate.

I won't be working on any projects in the sewing room this weekend. I have cooking to do and other things to prepare for Easter Sunday.  There are three times of year that I make chicken and dressing. Easter is one of them. The other two are Thanksgiving and Christmas. We'll have several sides to go with it. And for dessert, I'm making a chocolate brownie cake. I haven't made this cake before, but daughter Andy requested it so I'm giving it a try. I'll take picture.

Again, wishing you all peace and blessings at this most special time of year.

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On 04/07/2023, Barbara Anne said ...

Your Easter door decoration is so pretty!

Hope you'll share the brownie cake recipe, please and thank you

May peace prevail on Earth. Happy Easter and every day!

Hugs!
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Progress Made; New Deadline Set

The Front

The back

The label

I got Karen's quilt delivered to her; she and her husband Paul were most appreciative. It matches just about everything in their house. In fact, one pillow is almost (but not quite) the same design as the quilt; it definitely is the same colors. Karen really likes black, grey, and red.

The Booklet Covers

I also got 50 Emmaus worship booklet covers delivered. After much due diligence, I found another yard of the needed fabric (red with hearts and swirls). As the photo shows, I made a prototype and used it to cover my 2004 (when I made my walk) copy with the rose fabric that I already had in my stash.

Rosie's Dollhouse

The Kitchen

The Living Room

The Sewing Room

I've been wondering what project I'm going to work on next, and I think I have decided. Some of you long-time visitors of my blog might remember when I started my dollhouse quilt. The pattern was Rosalie Quilan's, the sweet Australian quilter who lost her battle with breast cancer a few years ago. I had just begun to know her and her husband (ex-husband shortly after I met them via Internet) when Rosie passed away. I have since lost touch with her ex-husband too.

Anyway, I started that quilt some ten years ago, hoping to finished it by our upcoming quilt show. I missed that quilt show deadline, along with the next three shows. So I'm setting a new deadline. I intend to have it finished by our next quilt show, which will be coming up in June 2024. I have all the blocks except two made, I think. If I take this deadline seriously, add a little determination, I think I can do it. Wish me luck.

I'm making beef stew for dinner tonight. I already have a pasta salad made and cooling in the fridge. Daughter Andy is coming to have dinner with us. And we might watch a movie if she isn't too tired from working all day. She has a pretty stressful job, managing and office crew.

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On 04/10/2023, Pat said ...

I do remember you working on the doll house quilt. It’s really nice and well done. I had been working in Farmers Wife and set it aside. I should set a deadline for myself to finish it. Covid hit. Other family illnesses (not Covid). Lost my interest and now am kind of into junk journals although I think I like accumulating supplies more. My sister and I are teaching ourselves to play the piano. She’s a good bit ahead of me. And then there are books to read. So many fun things to do and I’m sure not getting any younger or feeling any spryer! Have enjoyed reading your blog for many years.
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Like a Sheered Sheep

 

Jesse came around the corner just now and almost scared the life out of me. I didn't know him for an instant. He has shaved his head and his beard. I think it had something to do with his mom taking his picture yesterday. He didn't like her doing it. Well anyway, he looks about 10 years younger now. He wouldn't let me take his picture, but he sort of reminds me of that sheered sheep above, except he doesn't have the topknot. 

I have to make a trip to Hoover, which is 20-25 miles from me, to pick up some fabric. I'm making worship booklet covers for my Walk to Emmaus group's next walk, which is coming up fast. (If you don't know what this is and are interested, Google it. I was to make 35 covers, so I bought the fabric for 35 covers and made them. Then the Agape leader called me and told me we need 10 more, but I didn't have any more of the fabric. The store where I bought it (Joann's) was showing online that they were out of it. I searched every fabric store I could find online from Tuscaloosa, Alabama to the Georgia line. No luck. So this morning I called Joann's and the nice lady was able to find me a yard--just what I need. So I'm going to get it. Later, Gator.

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On 04/03/2023, P.P. said ...

Just wondering why they all have to be the same?

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On 04/03/2023, Barbara Anne said ...

Wonderful fabric! Safe journey to you.

I had to laugh about how smooth face Jesse startled you. Decades and many houses ago, DH shaved his beard and moustache off without telling me. When I got home, I didn't know who he was when he opened the door for me!

Hugs!
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No Excuses--Well, Just a Couple

I was recently looking for something in the basement and found this doll that I made many years ago. I took a class from elinor peace bailey (yeah, that's how she writes her name, all lower case). in Houston at Quilt Festival in the early 90s. The doll was a result of that class and is meant to depict me and my then cat Charles.

I seem to have lost intent in keeping my blog even close to updated. I don't mean to. I just go about the day, doing only what absolutely has to be done--then suddenly it occurs to me that I have neglected my blog for weeks. Mostly because I haven't really done anything blog-worthy, and also because it's not something that absolutely has to be done.

I watched "The Banshees of Inisherin" last night and wished I hadn't when it was done. Not that it wasn't a very good movie. It was. The acting was amazing, and who doesn't love Colin Ferrel? But it was so sad and filled with unnecessary tragedy. It made me very sad.

I just finished reading The Maid by Nita Prose, which wasn't sad but pretty uplifting. Up next on my reading list is Marathon Man by William Goldman. I don't know why exactly, except that I've never read any of his books, and I think I should. But I have seen lots of his movies--he was a screenwriter too, you know.

We celebrated Jesse's 34th birthday yesterday. I Can't believe he's that old or that I'm the age I am. But as they say, tempus fugit. 

So to close this long overdue post, here's a picture of Jesse as we celebrated his birthday yesterday. He's showing his card from his mom. She really capture him, didn't she?

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On 04/02/2023, Shirley Elliott said ...

I love your doll and I don't even like dolls. She is awesome!
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