A Happy Girl

 This is Colette.  She just graduated from Lyons Township, and she is happy.  While she is happy for many reasons, in these pictures she is happy because of a quilt her mom gave to her.  For a couple of years Colette's mom has been playing dumb whenever Colette would ask about  certain t-shirts.  "Gee, I don't know what happened to it..." 

While I know my quilting is important, to get an email and these pictures from Colette's mom on the same day as the graduation party was a neat treat.  Janice said her daughter kept saying repeatedly how much she loves this quilt.  Part of the charm of this quilt is that these meaningful t-shirts have all been used and are nicely soft.  The other part of its charm is the batting and long-arm quilting done by Terri and Frank Karls.  This quilt is soft and a perfect weight.  It also helped that the temperatures were in the 40's when Colette received her quilt. 

In the Queue

Just sold my Molly Market Tote, so I must make another.  Love that comma fabric by ZenChic. 

This kit featuring Noodlehead's Trail Tote in Carolyn Friedlander's Doe fabrics was half-priced from Keepsake Quilting.  The pattern and the fabric for under $30.  Yes, thank you!

The Hazel Hipster by Sprouts is a fun pattern with several options and goes together quickly.  Marcia Derse fabrics are perfect for this cross-body bag.

This little bundle of fat quarters of Allison Glass's Handcrafted was made available through MassDrop and delights me.  I don't know what I am going to do with these yet.  I'll figure it out!

John is slowly recuperating, and the house is returning to some semblance of normal.  He's sad to miss our granddaughter Nikki's graduation from Crystal Lake Central today - a nice milestone for her as she prepares for the Indiana University in August!

Eye Aye Eye

John's second caratact procedure did not go well. His retina detached, and he now has a silicone bubble in the back of the eye to promote the healing - he is miserable and we are both pretty terrified about the prospect of him regaining vision in that eye.  I've been too distracted to blog about Colette's quilt - she  is a terrific young lady who went to St. Xavier in LaGrange and then Lyons Township for high school. She's thoughtful, talented, and busy - that's what comes through these t-shirts. Her mom assures me she will be thrilled with this quilt.  For now all of my attention is on the first floor with John - amusing, feeding, keeping up with house chores. I amquietly doing handwork on this quilt top.

Binding

I Get Crabby When I Don't Sew

There.  I've said it.  I am not saying it's right or wrong:  it just is.  John's had a complication with his second cataract - we are hoping that tomorrow's procedure will correct the issue.  So, John does everything in the house.  And when he's unable to, I have to do all these things.  And I'm exhausted.  I can sew or I can take care of the food and house.  Clearly I cannot do both.   John really does do it all.  Meanwhile, I sew in little bits and snatches, which just isn't enough.  And do you believe we ran out of the little cloth Mors bags.  So I have found my too ugly to live batik pile and am making several of those.  They are simple - just haven't been able to get to them.  Meanwhile, I dream of the projects that I want to do and projects that I must do.

See?  Too ugly to live

But perfect  to keep in the car or back pocket for those little trips to Walgreen's and Trader Joe's

Shades of Grey for an October Wedding

These Marcia Derse fabrics are out - perhaps for another October wedding present

All Together

Not me.  This t-shirt quilt top!  Just delivered it to my favorite long armers Terri and Frank (actually, they are the only long armers I use...).  Now I can go back to my Trapezoid Tote! 

Guess what time it is?

It's Graduation T-Shirt Quilt Time!  These 30 shirts are all 12.5" x 12.5".  Ready to go!

I Must Be Getting Ready for Next Winter

 With the leftover wool batting from the quilt I just basted, I am now ready to baste this panel of Yoshiko Jinzenji fabric that has two strips of appliqued circles a la Carolyn Friedlander's Aerial Grove inserted.  This panel is 44" x 44" and ready for some Sashiko work. 

And my Trapezoid Tote by Indygo Junction is all ready to go together - straps, pockets, lining, outer panels. 
Now, where are those photos I said I was going to edit...

Two Hockey-esque Finishes

There are two quilts just like this. They are my nod to the Blackhawks and their Chicago origin. Google the Flag of Chicago for an explanation of the Chicago six-pointed stars. There are only four on the Chicago Flag, but there has been talk of a fifth star since 1940. Besides, the math worked out better for five rather than four stars.   These quilts are 60" x 80" and for the fathers of my brother's granddaughters, my great nieces.  Jim is the father of Amelia, Olive, and Elle.  Chad is the father of Isla.  These men are terrific fathers and beautifully parent all four girls.  Jim was interested in having a nod to the Bears on his quilt, and Chad wanted a nod to Notre Dame on his.  Meanwhile, I am still having a hard time believing sports is a still a thing.  But I did what each dad wanted - see pictures below.  Chad's birthday is this week, so I am passing this off as a birthday present.  Jim will be marrying Katie soon, and this quilt will be their wedding present. 

The back of Jim's

The back of Chad's

Meanwhile I keep eying the Trapezoid Tote by Indygo Junction using this feature fabric -an Art Gallery fabric called Hello Bear.  Perhaps this week.  Getting over jet lag and the 17-hour time difference has been difficult.  I am still in my head and ears.  Long walks have helped some.  So did a planned sewing day with a couple of quilty buddies. 

I still need to edit my pictures from New Zealand and do a post.  Now that I have this quilt top basted and ready to sashiko-quilt, perhaps I will settle down a bit...  Perhaps...

Hi Ho Hi Ho...

It's off to New Zealand we go where apparently the lambs are the real thing and not made from pound cake batter. This year was 9 lambs, 8 of them with both ears, and 2 more to make when we get home. I'll study the real thing the next few weeks and see exactly how many jelly beans the New Zealand lambs wear. This is Henry, an honorary grandson!