What I've been working on

Been avoiding housework lately (nothing new about that...) and taking refuge in my sewing room.  I now have three tops ready to go to the longarmer for quilting.

First up, though last to be made.  My cousin, just three months younger than I, recently had surgery for uterine cancer.  She and I were very close as children and teenagers, but not so much as adults.  But I want to let her know I am thinking of her and praying for her.   I whipped together this quilt out of the stash of hand-sewn nine-patches I have made over several years.  Many of them were made when I traveled, as a small box with pre-cut squares, a needle and thread is easy to transport.   For this quilt, I pulled 24 blocks with asian/metallic fabrics.

This goes to the quilter first so I can mail it out to my cousin.

Next, I finished a top that was started at the July White Oak "bonus" retreat: a bordello bargello for my German daughter.  She picked out the majority of the fabrics on a trip to Lancaster County before she went home.  Her birthday is in late April and she graduates from high school this year, so it's a joint-occasion gift. 

 

After the William Morris tesselated stars has been quilted, this one is next.

Finally, another project begun at an earlier retreat.  I sponsor a little girl on the Lakota Sioux reservation in South Dakota.  She is in 2nd grade right now.

 

As it is a gift for her October birthday, I have a few months to have it quilted, and bind it in red.

After retreat weekend, I have to do taxes and housecleaning, but I've enjoyed indulging myself for the past few weeks.

Making a list

Checking it twice, three times constantly. 

Quilt retreat at White Oak is this coming weekend!   I'm riding to Strasberg with Pat so I can leave my car for D#2 who is home for spring break.  And because it would be hard to find better company (much less a better roomie) than Pat!

Time to make my list of projects for the weekend!

#1 -- Top priority is to finish a tesselated stars begun at my very first White Oak retreat (2002 or 2003).  When I started it, the plan was to make a queen-size bed quilt for myself.  I set it aside in favor of other projects and it became one of my (now three) true UFOs.*  I have re-thought it in a smaller size (generous throw) as a birthday gift for one of my oldest friends.  Like all of us, he's getting even older -- his surprise 60th birthday party is in April.  The fabrics are William Morris repros, chosen originally because I love all things "Bill", but also perfect for "old friend", who is deeply enamoured of the Arts & Crafts style.  He and his partner live in a 20's bungalow with gorgeous custom built oak bookcases and furniture, including a gas fireplace with special order A&C-style tiles, and a cabinet with unique stained glass doors.  Scrumptious!  Have about half the blocks done already. Gotta finish the top so I can scoot it right off to long-armer and get it back, bound and photographed before party! 

#2 -- Next I need to set my set of "Almost Amish" swap blocks into a top as a wedding gift for the daughter of a work colleague.  I work in a small office with just six employees, and, while we do not constitute a social group, this colleague has been a blessing to me in a number of ways, especially since I've been on my own.   He helps me take the seats in and out of my car when I have to haul "stuff" to and from colleges, and is my ride when I need to leave my car at the garage for any reason.   I attended the wedding of his older daughter several years ago and made a quilt for a wedding gift.   This daughter will be married in Virginia, so I do not expect to be invited, nor can I attend, but I can send a gift.  Don't know much about their taste, but this should be a classic looking quilt so I'm hoping it will suit.

#3 -- If I can get to it, I want to finish my Rubik's Rings -- another UFO.  I'd pulled it out a couple of years ago (fall '08, if memory serves) -- long enough to determine that all my work setting it on point was useless because the blocks were totally symmetrical and the "frame" they really need can't happen if they're on point.

So I took it apart -- down to rows -- and have made enough more blocks for a queen-size quilt!   If  I get to work on it.  Fingers crossed...

*UFO = UnFinished Object   My personal definition is something started and set aside for a long time.  Last remaining UFO is the t-shirt quilt that was supposed to be a high school graduation gift for D#1 who graduates from college in May.  Projects that were never started don't qualify, no matter how long they've been on my "to do" list.  Nor do sets of swap blocks, whatever the length of time they've been waiting to be put together.  YMMV. 

Progress report: month 8 (February 2011)

February is my least-favorite month of the year, as it marks the birthdates and deathdates of several loved ones, not to mention over-hyped "Valentine's Day".   Thankfully, it is also the shortest month of the year!   On top of that, February 2010 was the worst month for snow last winter.  I was afraid of a 2011 repeat, following a January in which we were clobbered every few days.  Fortunately, my fears were for naught.  

Completed:
27.  Enter checking account data, balance account.  (done 2/28/11)
88.  Do something pro-active for eating disorders awareness.
      (Washington DC NEDA walk on 2/20; raised over $450)

In process:
48. Watched 8 movies (69/125):
      The Truth about cats and dogs    
      Nine                    
      Strictly ballroom (LOVED it!)          
     A Single man (Colin Firth = Excellent)          
     The Bucket list (Morgan Freeman ++)          
     It’s complicated           
     La Vie en rose (in French; English subtitles)           
     The Woodsman (disturbing subject but great performance by Kevin Bacon)
 49. Read 3 books (20/60, 16/30, 3/10):
     Seven sisters (Earlene Fowler)
     Arkansas traveler (Earlene Fowler)
     This is not chick lit (Elizabeth Merrick, ed.)
89. Gave blood  (1/3)

Progress:
29. Steps toward divorce. (still waiting...)
36. Get back to taking vitamins daily.
54. Go to NYC [or Philadelphia] for play or musical once a year.
      (Lantern Theatre Company in Philly for "A Skull in Connemara")
84. Extra contribution to F.E.A.S.T.
99. Updated blog with progress report (8/8)
101. Wrote two additional blog posts: Egypt (2/6) and NEDA walk (2/14)

Priorities in March:
  6. Get back to working in basement.
12. Work on more small things around house.
17. Begin to plan plantings in front and back yards.
69. Quilt for CB: add borders and get ready for quilting
(Two other quilts that weren't on my list have been added and their completion has taken priority over #74.  One is for a relative who has had surgery for uterine cancer.  The other is destined for a friend with a special birthday in April.  Serious illness has also struck that family.)  
93. Start volunteer project.

In March, I am looking forward to having my daughters home for spring break followed by a White Oak quilt retreat!