Signs Of Spring

Here's a sweet quilt that reminds me of April rain and flower blooms.

I used batiks of shades of peony pink, lavender, sky blue, light teal, sunny yellow and grassy green for triangles to accent the calm gray pin dots. 

The backing is pieced using a white and gray wood grain print, strips of 3” x 6” rectangles, along with a section of gray dots.

Signs of Spring is 48” square. I quilted with pale gray thread, doing free motion scribbles diagonally across the blocks. The die is another new design from Blue Wren, called X-Quisite.

April is one of my favorite months. I just feel energized when the weather is warm, with flowers blooming. And, my birthday is in a few days. I think cake and ice cream should be on the menu, don't you?


Dies used:
Blue Wren 6656 X-Quisite 6” finished

Accuquilt
55005 Rectangle 3” x 6” finished
55017 Strip 2½” binding

 

Savannah Jane

Savannah Jane

Now that I've delivered this adorable baby gift, I can share it with you. I finished back in August but waited to embroider her name and birth date. 

Her mom chose a mermaid nursery theme in pinks and gray, so I coordinated soft pink, white, and gray fabrics to match.

The clamshell design imitates fish scales and will be perfect in her room. I quilted 1/2” from the seams to accent the shapes on this 41” square quilt. Backing is a pink and cream clamshell print. It was a joy to sew for a sweet baby girl called Savannah Jane.

Accuquilt dies:
55436 Clamshell 8”
55017 Strip 2½”

Indulgence

I treated myself to a couple of birthday presents last week. First, I ordered a new extra large 30” x 60” cutting mat that fits my cutting table. This Martelli mat is commercial grade, reversible, and self healing. One side is purple, matching my décor. The reverse is a cheery yellow. The markings are crisp, with grids in ½” increments and numbered down the center as well as each side. You can even iron on it if you cover it with a good quality ironing mat.

Next, I splurged on an ergonomic rotary cutter from the same company. The design is unique, with a cushioned handle perpendicular to the blade, making it easier on the wrist and hand. There are right and left handed models. So far I love it! It has an easily operated spring loaded safety guard, and can cut up to 15 layers at a time with less pressure needed. The blades are supposed to last 3 to 5 times longer than typical ones. Check the Martelli website for details on both items.

Upgrades for my sewing space are apparently in process this year. There could be more. I spend a lot of time in here. Investing in better equipment, supplies, and accessories helps me enjoy the experience so much more. And that is a good thing!

A treat is a small pleasure or indulgence that we give to ourselves just because we want it. ~Gretchen Rubin

You have the freedom of indulgence. Be extravagant. Allow yourself to think and feel and do what you please and hopefully…everything you do will make your life better. Stronger. Enabling you to live in happiness. ~Michael Feeley

Milestones

After a relaxing week at the campground, I'm staring right at a significant occurrence in my life. Yep, my 65^th birthday is here; I have a Medicare card to prove it if you don't believe me.

I have officially reached that milestone. I am OLD. Senior. Elderly. Antique. Mature. Over the hill. Maybe even wiser. I have learned at least three things in this adventure called life:

1)  If it makes you happy, do it

2)  If it doesn't, then don't

3)  Go your own way

Turning 65 isn't so bad, really. I'm not yet senile, ancient, a doddering old crone, or ready for the nursing asylum. I have added a few extra pounds but they smooth out wrinkles and might give me a bit of a cushion if I fall down. My bones are occasionally creaky but isn't that what Aleve is for? I am still sassy, curious, and eager to learn new things.

There are nice perks to getting old. Senior shopping discounts save me a few bucks. I can eat early and get home in time for the news. Medicare costs less than my previous insurance. 

If the weather is bad, I can stay in and read. If it's pretty, I can play outside. I can sew all day if I choose to. I don't have to drive at rush hour or care what anybody thinks. I have plenty of time to enjoy my home and the world around me.

So what if I'm 65? It's just another milestone. Senior life is good. I've quit saying someday; instead I'm asking what about now? I'm looking forward to many more years of following my own path.

Now that I'm old,

I don't want people thinking

“What a sweet little old lady”

I want them saying

“Oh crap, what's she up to now?”

Making Time

Recently I was in between projects, but needed a little sewing therapy. I grabbed a stack of 2” scrap strips and a box of 3 ½” half square triangles and started making blocks. I made hourglass and strip blocks at random, then laid them out on my design wall as I finished each one. I added a border of colorful dots, and quilted with white thread in a wavy design, stitched ¾” apart. The result is Making Time, a 32” by 35” mat for table or wall hanging, or maybe for the cat.

As I stitched, I thought about how much I enjoyed just sewing. Not following any pattern or design. Just playing, doing something I love. I believe it's important to make time for yourself. It is therapy, whether you're creating art, reading a book, listening to music, walking, doing yoga or meditation.

Recharge your batteries! Take a day off to play. Feed your spirit. That's what I'm doing today.

ALWAYS FIND TIME

FOR THE THINGS

THAT MAKE YOU

FEEL ALIVE

Another Angle

Another Angle

Here's a quilt of many colors that I worked on back in February.  

Using lots of scraps, I cut triangles and set them in rows alternated with a medium turquoise small print. 

Experimenting with placement on my design wall was fun but it took a while to decide on the final layout. Diagonal quilting in a dark turquoise thread accentuates the triangle pattern. The final 40” x 49” size is good for a wall hanging or picnic blanket.

It's a good thing I have been using up scraps, because I got fabric gift certificates, coupons and discounts for my birthday. Let the shopping and ordering begin!

In life, we all come with baggage.

Mine's just full of fabric!

Sixty Is Sensational

I'm celebrating my sixtieth birthday this week. WOW. That's an age I once thought of as ancient. Now that I'm here, sixty doesn't seem so old after all.   I'm not too fat and I'm still very sassy.   I'm healthy and have a reasonable number of brain cells left. 

 

I'm enjoying my life, my home, and my sweet husband. We're happily retired. Every morning is the start of a new adventure, whether it's  cleaning house or going camping. 
 
I'm lucky to have the power to choose how I want to experience life. I've learned to slow down and savor every moment. And that the feeling of having enough is liberating. 
 

What's not to like about all that? Here's to my magical and sensational sixties!

"You aren't really 60. Just 21 with 39 years experience!" - Anonymous 

 

Are We There Yet?

After this very stressful winter, I am more than ready to take off in the truck with Jerold. Soon we're going to hitch up our fifth wheel and head to our favorite lakeside campground, where we can sit by the fire and relax. Or fish. Or read. Or do whatever the heck we want. 

We've been restocking the trailer with food, clothing and supplies, probably more than we need. The bikes and hiking boots are loaded, along with hobby gear for us both. Early spring is a fabulous time to camp. The air is fresh and cool, there are no mosquitoes, very few kids, and poison ivy hasn't sprouted yet.

My mama is eager to house-sit; it's a welcome change for her to be up here in the country. Her room is always ready. I have magazines, books, music and movies for entertainment. Her favorite foods are stocked in the pantry and refrigerator.

We're good to go, so let the 2013 travel adventures begin...are we there yet?

Useful Notion:  Let spring be a natural tonic for all that ails you.  Get outside, enjoy the sunshine on your face, smell the fresh rain, notice the budding plants, listen to the chirping birds.  Discover the inspiration and peace that comes from nature. 

And by the way, Happy Birthday Jerold! 

 

Warm Wonderful Spring

What an unusually warm year we're having! Winter was mild and spring is at least six weeks earlier than normal here in Tennessee. Highs in the 70's in February and 80's in March have coaxed my flowers to show their faces much sooner. Everything has come up beautifully green, lush, and ahead of schedule.

Early iris that ordinarily bloom in April produced their gorgeous colors during March; later ones are showing their faces now. Our trellis is exploding with hundreds of New Dawn rosebuds. My great grandmother's old fashioned pink rosebushes are blossoming now instead of on their traditional Mother's Day. I had to cover them up last Wednesday night for the 35 degree light frost of blackberry winter. Yes, that's right, blackberries are blooming and will be ready to eat long before July.

My lilac bush is covered with pretty sweet-smelling blooms.  And, believe it or not, my mama and I picked two gallons of luscious sweet strawberries on April 6, a full five weeks before they regularly come in. We've already mowed our grass three times.  Our apple trees are sprouting tiny apples, which the deer are enjoying immensely.

I'm not sure what this early development means, but I am thankful for the wonderful weather and Mother Nature's show. April is one of my favorite times, probably because it's my birth month. Warm sunshine, a few rain showers, pretty flowers, and breezy days on the screened porch make me happy. I only hope that all these early warm days don't transition into a long hot dry summer.

Today is my birthday.
I will eat cake and have fun.
I will absolutely NOT act my age.