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.

Maple Row

Maple Row

Autumn has arrived, even through the temperature doesn't agree. Ninety degree days aren't what I had in mind for Tennessee in late September.

Nevertheless, I have a fall quilt for you today made with scraps in gold, brown, tan, and green shades. Maple leaf block is a vintage nine patch design.  

This was the first project I pieced using Midnight, our recently refurbished dark blue and silver Singer 404.  Lovely stitches and smooth running after a few adjustments.  I added 1” sashing to separate the blocks plus 5½” wide borders.

Midnight: Singer 404

Using medium tan thread, I quilted wavy lines horizontally and vertically across the whole quilt using a rolling wave ruler on the Janome 9450. This is one of my favorite allover designs to quilt since it doesn't have to be precise to look good.

Maple Row finished at 49” square. It looks snuggly but I won't be under it until this summer heat goes away. It will have to decorate the back of the couch for a while yet.

Stay cool, and have a wonderful week!

Dies used:
Accuquilt
55195 Maple Leaf BOB 8” finished
55488 Strips 6”
Blue Wren 6015 Strips 1½”

Mowing Leaves

Here's another autumn quilt that's super quick and easy to sew, inspired by nature.

I used only two contrasting fabrics on this one, a gorgeous green and rust fall leaf print with green and cream crosshatch design. Each 8” block is constructed with 2½” x 4½” rectangles.

I chain stitched them all before assembling the blocks. After sewing them all together, I added three borders using 1½”, 2½”, and 3½” strips. Final size for Mowing Leaves is 53” square.

I quilted with light green thread, using a scallop stitch in rows 2” apart. This one didn't take long at all, mainly because of the two color palette. 

You can probably guess the name came to me while we were mowing our leaves. It seems like they're staying around longer this year, as we still have them falling. I'm hoping the wind might blow some of them away but we'll be out there again this week unless we wait till they're all down.

Accuquilt dies used:
55159 Rectangles 2½” x 4½”
55017 Strips 2½”
55032 Strips 3½”
Blue Wren 6015 Strips 1½”

 

Spicy Autumn Curves

Soothing fall colors give this quilt a relaxed, cozy look. Doesn't it make you crave a cup of spiced tea or hot chocolate?

Mixed prints in gold, brown, coral, tan, cinnamon, black and cream blend beautifully in this half ring pattern. Some fabrics were from a collection of 10” precuts, others came from my stash remnants. After sewing and arranging the 8” blocks, I added borders made up of 4” x 8” rectangles.

Quilting with medium beige thread and a gentle wave ruler, I created an allover grid that looks similar to netting. Spicy Autumn Curves finished at 56” square. I believe I'll keep this one for myself. 

Spicy Autumn Curves

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6858 Charming Rings 8" finished

Accuquilt
55160 Rectangle 4½” x 8½”
55017 Strips 2½”

Diamond Chain

Diamond Chain

Simple squares and half square triangles can be combined using different sizes and configurations to create interesting quilt patterns.

Diamond Chain is my impression of a photo clipped from a magazine many years ago. I used scraps of navy, blue, wine, and green prints and added cream muslin for the four-patch blocks. The larger squares are dusty peach floral and cream. Two borders frame this fall throw nicely.

Quilting with cream thread, I sewed scallop stitch diagonally in rows 3” apart. Diamond Chain is 58” square.

I love the variety and challenge of experimenting with new designs. I truly enjoy seeing a quilt photo and figuring out how to sew it. I find ideas all the time, in tile patterns, clothing, magazines, architecture, and nature. Always looking, because the next cool project might be just around the corner.

Accuquilt dies used:
55006 3½” Square
55009 3½” Half Square Triangle
55000 6½” Square
55017 Strips 2½”
55032 Strips 3½”

 

Golden Galaxy

Yesterday I finished a lovely autumn table mat for our dining room. Shades of gold batik along with brown and black prints show up nicely on a background of toasty taupe.

I used the Star Links die from Blue Wren, which looks complicated but is really very easy to sew. I previewed color placement in EQ8 before cutting.  

A simple quilting pattern emphasizes the block design. I used taupe thread in a straight stitch, making a 1½” grid. Golden Galaxy finished at 36” square.

Dies used:

Blue Wren 6967 Star Links 12” finished

Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

 

Pumpkin Harvest

Fall wouldn't be the same without pumpkins. Even before pumpkin spice flavoring, they were a staple for autumn decor. I detest pumpkin spice in anything edible; I never liked pumpkin pie. But I do love seeing them as jack-o-lanterns and for decoration.

This year I whipped up a couple of pillow covers for the couch. These are quick and easy envelope style. I found the perfect burnt orange and brown prints from my stash. I quilted curved detail lines in a decorative stitch with medium taupe thread.

See y'all later, I'm off to do fall household chores before the frost gets on those pumpkins.  Yeah, I do other things besides quilting when I have to...but I'd consider hiring someone to take care of those distractions so I can concentrate on sewing.   

Accuquilt dies used:
55330 Snowball 6” finished
55017 Strip 2½”

 

Fowl Play

It's officially fall in Tennessee, and boy do I love the matching weather. Cool mornings, warm afternoons, and lower humidity make the days just right for open windows.

In keeping with the autumn theme, here's my latest quilt. I took elements from Blue Wren's Turkey Tracks die to play with an old block design. The main print is a cream with orange, gold, terra cotta, and navy flowers. I pulled various fabric in those colors to make up the 8” blocks and used terra cotta for sashing.

Fowl Play seemed like a fun name for this 42” x 52” quilt. I quilted vertically with dark melon thread using a serpentine stitch 2” apart. I used the same terra cotta fabric for backing and binding.

Fowl Play

Over the past two weeks, I've had three quilts going at the same time. Having Annie, my Featherweight, set up for piecing allows me to keep Janelle (Janome) free for quilting. I really prefer to work on one at a time to keep my room neater. But the ideas kept coming and I just had to get started.

Dies used:
Blue Wren 6664 Turkey Tracks
Accuquilt 55017 Strip 2½”

You can't go wrong with colors from nature 

Breezy Evening

The last few nights around here were refreshingly cool and less humid. We had windows open with a fan circulating a breeze. Lovely weather!

For this quilt, I cut black, blue and cream batik into parallelograms, paired with light blue triangles and rectangles, and arranged them into mosaic blocks. I laid out the simple but striking design in EQ8, using the batik again for rotary cut 5” borders. Breezy Evening is 51” square.

I quilted free motion with dark gray thread in an overall meandering pattern. I switched to a satin stitch to make a square in each block center.

Now our weather is changing back to hot and humid...it is Tennessee, you know...so windows are closed and the AC is running. That's ok, my plan is to sew and clean all week.

Accuquilt dies used:

55797 Qube Mix & Match 10” Block

55017 Strip 2½”

Take time to delight in cool fall evenings 

Hearth & Home

I've been sewing up a storm the past few weeks. Annie is running smoothly and stitching perfectly. This quilt is the first that I've pieced on her and I don't know why I didn't get a Featherweight before now.

The vintage look of chimney sweep blocks in these rich colors says autumn is near. Green, coral, wine and teal prints are lovely with tan and black accents. 

Hearth & Home is 42” x 52” size. I added the strip border and quilted a 2” straight stitch grid in light gold thread. I did the quilting with my Janome since she has a larger sewing area.

I'm happy to have choices of several machines to do my sewing. Annie (Singer 221) is my new favorite for piecing, with Rockette (Singer 500A) close behind. Janelle (Janome MC9450) has the electronics and wide bed for quilting, with automatic threading and cutting a huge bonus. I try to use them often enough so that they stay in good shape. After all, I sew nearly every day.

Accuquilt dies used:
55222 Chimney Sweep BOB 10” finished
55017 Strip 2½”

Autumn Vortex

Autumn Vortex

The calendar shows it's fall, but the temperature says something else entirely. It has officially been the hottest and driest September on record in Middle Tennessee. Though endless summer sounds nice, I do not like ninety degree days this time of year.

I've stayed indoors, happily sewing with autumn colors: brown, black, gold, burgundy remnants with cream and white for contrast. This simple kaleidoscope block was cut with two Accuquilt dies. I combined the center sections of 4” triangle in square and kite blocks.

Alternating the dark and light colors creates a striking effect, much like swirling leaves. I pressed the seams so that they would nest together, which helps them lay flat at the center points. After sewing the 30 blocks together, I added borders in a black burlap print. 

Quilting with dark gray thread, I used a straight stitch to outline the overlapping octagon shapes. The intersections made an interesting star design. Borders were finished with a serpentine pattern. I chose Black Dimples 108” wide print from Keepsake Quilting for backing and binding. Autumn Vortex is 48” x 56” in size. 

Maybe soon it will get cooler. If not, I'll turn the thermostat lower so I can actually use some of these quilts. 

In the meantime, I'm drinking iced tea and listening to Endless Summer, the classic Beach Boys album.

Accuquilt dies used: Kite 55254 and 4 ½” Triangle in Square 55409

Midnight Star

This week's quilt is my version of the Hunter's Star block, using pieces from the Accuquilt Lemoyne Star and 4 ½” square dies. Rich brown and cream print and a subtle midnight black swirl provides the contrast needed for a striking design. 

I added a 3 ½” leafy brown border to four 9” blocks to make a 25” square table or wall quilt. I straight stitched along each section in a square pattern with tan thread. Backing is the same brown leaf print. Midnight Star is another favorite; I plan to sew a bigger one later.  

It's finally feeling more like fall! Now that we're home from camping, the temperatures have dropped. I wasn't exactly planning for 90 degree days on our October retreat, but we still had a good time at Defeated Creek. There was a breeze off the lake and our site was shady. Two side trips had us exploring the Roller Coaster Yard Sale and the Granville Quilt Show I wrote about last week.

Our trip was relaxing, even with the heat. Good books, yummy food, and leisurely walks fit perfectly into my plan for taking things as they come and enjoying the journey.

One little monkey wrench when we got home Friday: our 3 year old refrigerator had quit. All food lost. Four trash bags full of mushy, thawed and questionable stuff. We plugged in our 24 year old frig; it is now running fine in the basement. 

Fortunately we have extended warranty, food spoilage reimbursement, and the repairman is expected today or tomorrow. Who knows how long it will take to get parts, fix or replace?   To be continued...

Maple Syrup

I've been waiting to share this quilt until it felt more like fall. I mixed several dies to create four leaf blocks in rich autumn colors. 

Sashing is a coordinating vine print; backing and binding are a yellow and brown scalloped stripe. I quilted in straight lines with a creamy yellow thread. 

Maple Syrup is 27” square and could be used as a table mat or wall décor. It's hanging in my dining room now.

Autumn is a wonderful time of year. The crisp air is invigorating but relaxing. Brilliant leaves, cooler temperatures, hoodies, boots, camping, and fall festivals are my favorites. For the record, the pumpkin spice flavor craze in hundreds of foods and beverages is not for me. I love pumpkins as decorations but I can't stand the taste.

This year I plan to embrace the glory of fall by slowing down, taking it all in, and enjoying every moment. My life, my decisions, my journey.

autumn
shows us
how beautiful
it is to
let things go

Lilac Medallion

Lilac Medallion

On this fall morning, I had coffee on the back porch and enjoyed the cooler temperatures. What a welcome change!

This week's project is stitched from pieces in my remnant box, finished last month. It's a 30” square, made up of nine kite blocks cut with Accuquilt. 

Sweet lilac prints and dots are paired with white and cream. The color layout forms a medallion shape. The backing is a tiny purple rosebud design. I quilted with white thread in parallel rows of continuous triangles.

Today seems perfect for a little yard work, a bit of cleaning, and of course, our windows are wide open to the 70 degree breezes.

Take time to savor

the first hints of fall

September Thoughts

I always think of September as a time to reset, probably because that's when we started back to school in the 60's. Thoughts of new notebooks and paper have me working on fresh planner and journal designs.

I took advantage of last week's cool mornings to tackle some outside chores. I reworked my flower beds (pulled the weeds so I can actually see the flowers). Adding a few colorful mums will freshen up the bare spots.

September means transition: to cooler weather, new clothes, and fall décor. It's the best of both seasons, really. Warm enough but less humid. Porch sitting. Airing out the house. Walks in the woods. Grilling steaks. Enjoying the last days of summer.

My plan for one of my favorite months: reflect, renew, and re-energize.

A Good Life

I love fall. What a busy and fun time! 

I didn't get around to posting anything last week, but that's ok. I was busy enjoying myself and I think I will focus on doing that more often. A good balance of solitude with family and friend time made my days joyful.

Today I've opened the windows to let in the cooler air that's come our way. As for the rest of the week, I'll just go with the flow and see what each day brings. 

"If you stop, look, and listen, 

you'll realize that life is amazing."  

--Unknown

"A good life is a collection 

of happy moments." 

--Denis Waitley

 

Disconnecting For Today

It's beautiful outside, so I'm disconnecting from technology for a while.  I plan to spend this gorgeous fall day in the fresh air, before winter temperatures blow in later this week. 

It's good to get away from technology every now and then. 

Recharge your brain's battery.  
Go.  Outside.  NOW.  


"I'm not LAZY.   I'm just in ENERGY SAVING mode."  --Anonymous
 

Falling Leaves

November is here! I see a rake and a leaf blower in my immediate future. Nothing like rain and wind to strip the trees of their leaves. That's ok, I like being outdoors in crisp fall air. But I could just wait for another windy day to blow them on down the road. 

 

I've put away our summer clothes and pulled out fall sweaters, hoodies and boots. Hot chocolate, flavored coffees and teas are ready for sipping. Chili and homemade soup are on our menu. 

 

It's definitely fall, y'all...take time to enjoy each and every day.

“Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day.” --Shira Tamir

Ten Reasons To Love October

It was a crisp 46 degrees up here on the ridge this morning, a perfect fall day ahead! While drinking my coffee, I quickly came up with ten reasons why I love this month.

Cozy sweaters, hoodies, and boots

Walks in the woods

Hot chocolate, hot tea and hot coffee

Brilliant autumn leaves against bright blue skies

Fall festivals and craft shows

Warm snuggly quilts

Homemade soup and chili in the crock pot

The end of grass cutting season

Pumpkins and Halloween candy

First frost...no more bugs!

Campfires should be on the list, however that may not happen this year since our favorite campgrounds have been shut down by the government.  Guess I'll have to build one in the backyard.  

September Decorating

I absolutely love this time of year! Temperatures drop to a comfortable level with crisp mornings and warm afternoons. Windows are flung wide to air out the house and my sun roof is open while I'm driving around town. Summer shorts are swapped out for jeans or khakis. And I've already decorated for fall.

I like autumn decorations because they stay up until after Thanksgiving. Warm shades of rust, copper, dark sage, pumpkin, and sunflower gold coordinate perfectly with my neutral paint colors of cream, cool taupe, and ripe gourd. Last week I made quilted valances in green, tan and muted rust for the dining room.  I've ordered oak mini-blinds for those two windows to complete the Arts and Crafts look.

I filled my porch flowerpots with gorgeous fall mums, changed the doormat, and added a swag of leaves and fall flowers to our back door. It's a relaxing season for reading, walking outdoors, mowing leaves, and pulling the last of the weeds. Next comes hot chocolate, homemade soup, snuggly hoodies, boots, and our last camping trip of the year.

I've been doing battle with spider webs...they are weaving them high up under the eaves and between tree limbs. Doesn't that mean big snowfalls this winter? I'll have to look that up later. Right now I'm going to sit on the back porch with my mama to watch the last few hummingbirds.

“Autumn's the mellow time.” – William Allingham