Manual Labor

The weather last week was warm and sunny, so we gathered up our gear, the tractor and mower, then headed outside for some much needed yard work.

Picture me, dressed in overalls, ball cap, and boots, armed with a hand-held mini chain saw, hedge clippers, and a rake. Although there's no photo evidence, I'm definitely a redneck Southern woman when I need to be. Not quite the sweet little old quilt lady you're used to, huh?

We attacked prickly wild rose and blackberry vines, overgrown weeds, crabgrass, unruly shrubbery, nasty poison ivy, stubborn privet, dead bushes, and a couple of fallen trees. We stripped out all the shrubs around the house to create a clean slate for new landscaping later. 

Even though there was sweat, sore muscles, bruises and a bit of blood, overall we had a good week. We were out in the sunshine every day.  We got lots of exercise chopping, loading and dragging brush and logs. I lost two more pounds. We took our time, laughed, enjoyed the breezes and admired the fall colors. The yard looks better and Jerold bushhogged the back field. 

I'm not sure how it got so out of hand (well, maybe because we played instead of working) but it's almost whipped into shape, at least near the house. Out in the country, there's always something that needs to be done. Could be time to think about a place with a smaller yard so I can sew instead of doing manual labor.

Wine Country

Here's another lap quilt made with a busy print fabric in grape, tan, and green. The overall design is almost modern, even though the material has a vintage country vibe with little star blocks.

Solid olive green makes the triangles stand out next to the signature shapes. I normally don't sew two fabric quilts, so I forgot how relaxing they can be. No worries about color placement, just merrily stitching along.

I sewed the blocks on Black Betty, our restored Singer 201. She's a sweet quiet machine that makes such pretty seams. 

For quilting, I switched to the Janome for her walking foot accuracy. I sewed straight stitches in green thread, following the zig-zag lines. Wine Country finished at 48" square. Quick, easy, and done! I celebrated with a glass of sangria. 

By the way, leap day is this Thursday. What will you do with your extra day? Here's a link to a previous blog post for some fun ideas to celebrate!  

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6656 X-Quisite 6” finished
Accuquilt 55017 Strips 2½” binding

Sewing and wine

make me happy

Cozy Cottage

Cozy Cottage, Useful Remnants 2022

Sweet vintage style prints are the perfect choice for this quilt. Soft aqua, green, lilac, and blue fabrics remind me of a country getaway spot or a beach house.

I used EQ8 to experiment with color placement before cutting the 12” blocks. This snuggly 48” throw was quilted with light gray thread, using a wiggly wave ruler. The backing is a cream vine design.

I may just brew a cup of tea and settle in with Cozy Cottage quilt and a good book. 

By the way, for those who are keeping track, my final 2022 project count was 50.  I was a busy girl!  

Happy New Year everyone!

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6958 Candy Star
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

Granny's Wash Day

Memories of sheets and housedresses hanging on the line at granny's house prompted me to design this adorable quilt. Some of the fabrics are 1950's vintage, from Granny Rose's collection of sugar and flour sack remnants. I added new pieces that would complement them, along with white muslin. 

Each four patch block is made up of chisel sections and triangles turned to create the design. This one didn't take long at all, since most of the colored triangles were already cut. I think it looks a bit like the dasher in an old time washing machine. 

A simple quilting pattern of even squares finishes off the vintage look. I used light yellow thread for the straight stitches. The backing is an old sheet of pale yellow with pink, blue, and yellow flowers.

I am lucky to have sweet childhood memories of summer days on the Tennessee farms of both sets of grandparents. And, luckier still to have Jerold's grandmother's fabric to use in my quilts. For more of my posts about Granny Rose, Granny Hill, and sugar sack fabric, click on those labels below.

Accuquilt dies used:
55735 Chisel 2¼” x 4½” finished
55147 Half square triangle 2¼” finished

Remember when

life was simpler,

and we didn't have a

care in the world?

Summer Sampler

I'm back after a much needed break to catch up on a few chores. Being a carpenter's helper, housekeeper, lawn care associate, and home organizer is hard work in this heat. Not quite caught up, but I feel better now that my surroundings are neater and my to do list is shorter.

I did squeeze in sewing time to finish another project.  Summer Sampler is an adorable retro style table topper or wall hanging, made up of four different blocks in the same colors. The cheery red and blue daisy and strawberry print was my inspiration; I found coordinating fabrics in my stash to cut triangles and strips with Accuquilt dies.

Summer Sampler

The bright white tone on tone print is the perfect contrast, set off with plaid sashing. This cute 30½” square is channel quilted with white thread in a decorative zig-zag stitch. Wouldn't this brighten up the breakfast nook in a country farmhouse kitchen? It's for sale now on my Etsy site.

By the way, aren't those veggies pretty? Local farmer's markets are brimming with fresh produce right now. There's nothing like the rich mouth-watering flavor of Tennessee tomatoes right off the farm. 'Mater sandwich on white bread with mayo...mmmm good.

It's difficult to think anything but pleasant thoughts

while eating a homegrown tomato. ~Lewis Grizzard