Funday-Sunday is here!

This morning's coffee on the porch with Penny was uneventful. It is gently raining and there is neither bird nor deer to entertain us. That's okay, though, because we have the whole day to sew and putter in the studio. I may go to see Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris this afternoon, but that depends on my movie friend, Leslie, and whether or not she can get away. It doesn't matter. I have lots of projects to keep me busy.

My trunk show on Monday was well received at the assisted living facility in Ellijay. The ladies were attentive and asked many questions.Thanks to my hauler-holder-folder buddy, Audrey, for her help with the heavy bags of quilts.

Back in the studio, I finished some customer projects and worked on a few projects of my own! First, was this flowery garden of Tilda fabrics. I thought butterflies flitting over the top would be appropriate to the subject matter.

So fresh and pretty! The maker tells me she didn't repeat any of the fabrics! Wow!

Butterflies, swirls and flowers in the quilting.

The backing is a lovely toile de Jouy. Idyllic scenes in the countryside.

I bought the pattern for the Mondo bag on one of my recent fabric shopping trips, and decided to give it a whirl even though I hate making bags. It turned out well, but it is really big! (I guess that's why it is the Mondo bag...) I had a box of leftover Kaffe 2 1/2" strips, so I used them in this project. The lining is a green and periwinkle dot fabric.

Here it is! I figure I can get a pretty big quilt in here for show and tell.

I like the lining, too!

Here is a look at one of the other sides. The blue fabric peeking out of the inside is the panel with the pocket in it. It's kind of a stupid pocket because it is on a slant in the bag. anything you put inn it would inevitably fall out. If I make another one, it won't have a pocket.

I recently succumbed to a dear friend's request to quilt her niece's first quilt. I figured it would be a small project, easily quilted and returned to the customer. Oh boy, was I wrong! It is 106x112". It took two days to finish, but it looks nice. She plans to use it on her king sized bed. I'm happy to not have to apply the binding!

One giant batik quilt. Perfectly square and flat! Pretty good for a first quilt.

I used a non-directional panto because I had to load the quilt sideways to fit it on.

The backing is this lighter batik, so I used a lighter thread than the steel blue one on the front.

A good way to switch gears is to make a 2-3-2-6 charity quilt...or two! That's what I did yesterday.

This fabric is from the sale room inn the Hayesville, NC shop. I think it will be a swell quilt for a gentleman in the nursing home.

Panto: Abracadabra

Solid steel blue on the back.

The second top is finished and will be quilted today. These fabrics came from Hobby Lobby.

If you want a chuckle every day and are on Pinterest, there is a guy from the UK who draws ridiculous pictures of reader's pets, complete with his take on their personalities. You should check him out. Here is my favorite so far, Patti O'Doors. Click the photo to see it enlarged.

                                       https://www.innstagram.com/portraitsbyhercule

Some finishes and prep for a trunk show.

Another week in the books, and a busy one coming up. I quilted a custom job for a friend, and have determined that I can't do this anymore...at least until my back is better. It was an easy project, but I had to stop a few times and rest when my back started to hurt too badly. Oh well, baby steps with my healing, which is so hard to do when there are quilts to be done.

This simple Chinese coins quilt is sophisticated in its use of color. The different fabrics are grouped by color family within the stacks of 'coins'. I love the soothing look of the quilt. These fabrics are all Tilda fabrics from a couple of different collections.

The customer requested ribbon candy quilting in the sashing and a double feather-leaf in the coins. It was a straightforward job, very zen to free motion quilt.

Lovely backing, too

The same customer also had this Edyta Sitar basket quilt to be done. This one used all Laundry Basket fabrics in the design. It is also quite beautiful.

Her piecing is precise and perfect. The hand buttonhole stitch on the basket handles added another level of expertise. The entire project is wonderful!

Panto: Alpine

The backing is one of the fabrics used in the construction of the top.

I worked on my Japanese indigos Usagi quilt, finishing the appliqué and adding the sashing, cornerstones and borders. Selecting the fabrics for the sashing and borders took a while, as I auditioned quite a few prospects before cutting and sewing. I am pleased with the resulting quilt top. I may hand quilt this with big stitch, but am apprehensive at how well I could do it. I'm not a stellar hand quilter.

Here is one block with the appliqué stitch shown

With the buttonhole appliqué done, I began adding the sashing and sewing the rows together

A few hours later, here is the finished top.

Around the yard, it is becoming evident Summer is on the wane. The hydrangea are getting their pink blush, and some are already turning brown. My pots are slowing down their blooming, and I have already emptied two that died completely. The hosta this year has been the biggest and most lush since we planted it years ago. Thankfully, the deer have left it alone this year. Mr Wazoo keeps everything weeded and trimmed, making our place a beautiful addition to the neighborhood.

We got another yard ornament at the Butternut Creek festival this year. This metal cut-out raccoon adds whimsey to the front yard.

The flowers may be slowing down, but the shades of green together  make a calm and soothing landscape.

Today, I have a trunk show to present in Ellijay and have my two giant duffles packed and ready to go. My friend Audrey will be with me again, helping hold and fold quilts. The last show was a big hit, so I am now engaged to go to the sister facility of the first place. There will be some napping done when I get home! It is a lot of work doing these shows, but worth it to bring some excitement and knowledge to people. Plus, someone gets a free quilt! It is a win-win situation for me and the audience.

Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold.

 I learned that song in the Girl Scouts. We sang it as a round, sitting around a campfire. Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold. A circle is round, it has no end. That's how long I'll be your friend. I felt this today when an old friend called to say hello and thank me for the Wisconsin quilt. We were Girl Scouts together and are still friends these many years later. I think about her often, so it was good to hear her voice. Just knowing the quilt is in Wisconsin with her makes me happy!

This quilt is home where it belongs; in Wisconsin!

Back in the studio, The customer came and picked up his grandma's crazy quilt, and he was thrilled with it. A couple of days later, I got a call from his sister who also has one of Grannie's tops and wants hers to look as marvelous as her brother's. She is posting it to me next week. I wonder how many are out there?...

Gone home!

I also finished the queen sized tee shirt quilt. I managed to squeeze all the shirts on the front! 

I chose lime green for the binding to keep the color going clear to the edge.

There are a lot of shirts to look at in this one!

Panto: Rounded Squares

Swirly turquoise backing.

The last of the charity quilts has been quilted, and I'm now doing the buttonhole stitching on the bunny blocks. I have four more to do before I sew it all together.

I quilted and bound this lovely shadow quilt.

Pant: Watercolor flowers

The backing is the same as the binding. All ready for a nursing home resident.

I talk with my grandson a few times a week, and his latest excitement is the pace at which he is losing teeth. He is becoming a well funded boy!

Happily showing off the latest hole and the newest tooth poking through.

My son finds these little secret places for the family to go and cool off. 

Doesn't this look refreshing?

At my house, the temperatures have been cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoons. No scorching heat wave here. We have had a huge amount of rain this summer, so everything is full and lush. The deer come every day. The babies are growing and getting more inquisitive. This fawn came right out onto the driveway to give me a look. Then she scampered into the deep darkness of the woods. 

Mama is never far away. I suspect she was eyeing me, too.

Deer and skunks and bears...oh my! In the summer it is so dark in there, I don't venture in often.

At night, it is even scarier! Penny and I don't stray far from the sphere of light from the yard light.

My pots like the rain and sun, for sure!

Poor Penny got a close shave at the groomer. She probably jerked when her nose ws being buzzed with the trimmer. Silly girl. Thankfully, it grows back. She and I sit in the screen porch and have the morning coffee every day. It is so peaceful then. We watch the hummingbirds fight over the feeder, the deer pass through as if we weren't there, and squirrels and bunnies scampering through the crunchy leaves on the forest floor. What more could I ask for? Quilting!! Of course!

Slow stitching and works in progress

 This week was a bit slower than usual. I didn't have to go anywhere, and got a good bit of sewing and quilting done. Very s-l-o-w-l-y. When I take little breaks during the day, I find my back doesn't hurt as badly and I can accomplish more in the end. So I did some slow sewing and quilting, getting some projects closer to the finish line.

I finished the stitch-every-ditch quilting done on the crazy quilt, and I admit that made it way more stable. I did notice some split silks, and will be repairing the quilt when I'm done with the binding.

My favorite assistant photo bombed me again...

She loves to pose in front of the quilts!

Muslin backing and Hobbs 80/20 for batting.

Outside, the birds, bugs and butterflies are plentiful. The herd of deer come through daily with a big buck and two teen bucks with short antlers. The twin babies are getting bigger and their spots are almost gone.

Tiger swallowtails and these beauties (I think it is a spicebush swallowtail) come to my porch flower box daily.

All the small birds and the butterflies love these black-eyed Susans.

Pretty butterfly just wouldn't open his wings all the way.

On the quilting front, I have been working my way through some charity quilts for the guild.

This pretty quilt will go to a nursing home resident

Panto: Argus

The leafy panto really shows on the back.

This small quilt shows the love, doesn't it?

Panto: Heart struck. I had this backing in my stash.

Also from my stash is this lively stripe for the binding.

Last, but not least, is the tee shirt quilt. I received a note from the customer that she would like it to be queen sized. Hallelujah! There are 40 shirts to use, and it is much easier in a bigger quilt. I am assembling the rows into a top. Hopefully, I'll be ready to quilt it tomorrow!

Two rows to do today, then I'll be ready to quilt.

I'm off to the studio and more quilting adventures!