Thursday, April 9, 2020

Deja Vu all over again...



Yup, more  masks. Some more of my neighbors asked for masks, so I started making them as soon as I got to the studio. I made 20, gave away 4, send one to my dad, and kept one for myself to switch out while the other one is in the wash. I didn't take a picture...you've seen what they look like!
So we ventured to the post office and mailed another box of masks off to Wisconsin and Texas, then to Home Depot for potting soil. Mr Wazoo wore his mask and got the stuff quickly while Molly and I waited in there car. I was appalled at the laxness of the other shoppers. People were socializing and chatting in small groups by the entrance, and some even had their children with them. The virus is here in Union county, with 5 confirmed cases so far. A week or so ago, they didn't have tests, so I am sure the numbers aren't correct. I hate to think it, but we are in for a bumpy ride if this is how people take the social distancing order.
Nothing to show you...so I will leave you with this tidbit and another video of my grandson.
Please stay home. Stay safe and sew. I'll be there with you in spirit.

Good for us!! The quilting fabric masks are pretty effective. Keep making them!


                                      


More masks!!

Yesterday was a bit gray and drippy, so I stayed in and made more masks. I'm plugging along on there customer quilts, too, and feel like it is almost business as usual in the studio. Too bad it isn't business as usual in the United States. On Tuesday, my Wisconsin friends had to stand in long lines during this pandemic to exercise their right to vote. It is a new kind of insanity in our government right now.
Last night, Mr Wazoo and I watched the sky at 8:35 to see the space  station pass over the house. At least they don't have to worry about getting Covid 19.
Our  old neighbor called yesterday from Wisconsin. They need some masks for their family. The good news is they are going to be first time grandparents in August! I'm really happy for them all.
Staged parts ready for assembly
Chain sewing makes the task move faster


The pile of tee shirt strips for the ties

And the finished product, 20 more masks. That's the pattern I am using next to the masks. It has taken a beating over the last week!

Ready to wear!
I finished the last of my sister's quilts, and sent them off in time for her birthday. Happy Birthday, Anne!!

I think this is a wonderful use of ombre fabrics. It is so colorful and happy!

Panto: African Samba

This pineapple fabric sets it off perfectly!
My next customer made two quilts from a collection of ethnic fabrics. Both are colorful and exciting. I love being able to see all these fabrics together while I quilt.

This stack and whack example is beautiful and full of energy. 

The fabrics give the illusion of a spinning motion. I used the panto: African Samba again, but see how different it looks on this quilt, with variegated thread!

This is the backing she chose.

The second quilt used the fabrics in a delectable mountain block set like saw blades. The purple inner border pops, and sets apart the blades. A few of them escape into the outer border, taking the interest  right out to the edge of the quilt. I love it!

Panto: African Storm

It's hard to see, but the thread on the back is the same color purple as the inner border. Set on the black backing, it looks quite dynamic.
After I finished work for the day, I took my walk around the yard to see what happened while I was toiling inside. All of the hard work Mr W puts into the yard is showing in the way the trees, flowers and shrubs are bursting with Spring color.

We planted this small pink dogwood tree two years ago, and this is the best it has ever bloomed!

The flowers are so delicate and pretty.

We also planted this flame azalea two years ago. It gets more blooms every year!

The dogwood next to the driveway has fully bloomed too, and is beautiful.

I think the dogwood trees are the best thing about living in the south.

The iris are slow to open, but are coming on.

Mr Wazoo loves pink and purple flowers best, so you can catch the theme of his garden  on every side of the yard.

The assortment of potted pansies are blooming a last hurrah. They will fade when the weather warms up.

More purple...
We stay in touch with our kids and grandkids with the app, Marco. My son sent this little video of how my grandson uses some of the pent up energy he has from being trapped in the house. Don't you wish you had this kind of exuberance? I sure do!






Monday, April 6, 2020

Another day in isolation

I started the day delivering masks to my neighbors, as well as some cupcakes I made last night. It was good to see some other faces than Mr Wazoo, and chat at a distance about what's going on in their lives.
Yesterday I quilted a customer quilt and worked on the flannel HST quilt. The customer quilt is one from my Cat Stairway to Heaven class, and this is her finished project.

Masks for the neighbors, ready to go.

The lady who made this is gifting it to a friend who is battling cancer.

Panto: Twinkling stars

Starry back, too.
The only time I get outside these days is during the walk down to the studio. The flowers and trees are really coming on now that the weather is warm and sunny.

The gardening gnome is keeping watch over the bird condos. The blue on has a bird coming and going, so I think there will be a nesting pair there. We also have the Eastern Phoebe back, building her nest on top of the yard light. It is sheltered by the eave from other predators, like crows.

Two colors of phlox are blooming en masse, and the bees are already taking advantage.

We had this sign in Wisconsin, but it works just as well here!

The iris are about to pop.

Lilacs are also making an appearance.

Mr W's Japanese maple made it through the winter and has lush foliage. It was a gift from some of our friends for his birthday last year.
Now, I need to get to work. With Millie back in service, I should be able to get busy on one of the commission projects. Stay safe...stay tuned!



Sunday, April 5, 2020

Planets aligned...Millie on the move!

We fixed it!! I am so happy, I could do a little dance...but I will spare you that image. Mr Wazoo and I started over at square one and put in one element of the "fix" at a time and re-tried the machine. It took a while, but we found out it was the second cable that was bad. $35 for the fix. The un-needed parts are boxed up and ready to ship back to APQS. I really hope I never have to call there again...

To test the machine, I quilted one of my sister's quilts, figuring if it went awry I could fix it and she would be understanding. Nothing went wrong, and the quilt is lovely!

This pastel, low volume quilt is very soothing to me.

I used the panto: Flower Power

Paris on the back, too!
I continue to make masks and get them sent to the places that need them, but I am tiring of doing the same thing over and over. I think I will work on something else today.I made us some sausage biscuits for breakfast, and have enough of the biscuits left for supper tonight. Mr W did a brief house cleaning yesterday, so we aren't looking like a dust bin! Outside, it is sunny and cool. We soldier on and pray this isolation passes soon.

Some of last week's masks made it to their recipients!

I think the lilac bush we almost gave up on is going to bloom this year!!

The back garden is waking up. I'm glad you can't see the dog poop in this picture...it would spoil the illusion of Mr W's perfect landscape.

The trees have just the tint of the leaves opening.

Daughter in law watched some You Tube videos and bravely tried the machine I gave them for Christmas.

She made the family masks!
As you can see, they are a Super Family!

I'm impressed with the fussy cut bear on grandson's mask!
I think she did a good job!