Saturday Sewing,Sauerkraut and Sorting Books

This morning I finished quilting the leaf motifs in the center of this quilt and then stitched around the borders with the walking foot.  I haven't decided what to do with all those narrow borders and sashing but I don't think it will be straight lines as suggested by the pattern picture.  It looks good but I just don't think I can handle that many straight lines. But that's a decision for another day.

Tom and Sharon, members of our Sunday School Class who hail from Pittsburgh, PA, host a New Years lunch each year at their home.  Bratwurst, Braised pork, Sauerkraut, and Mashed potatoes.  That was their traditional New Years Day meal so they recreate it for us.  Nothing fancy - just a hearty meal.  And we had a simple pound cake and coffee after.  There were 28 of us there today.  Wish I had remembered to take my camera or phone in. It is amazing how they manage to fit us all at tables in their family room.  Fun!

Later, I went by the Woman's Club to help sort the books that had been donated for The Literacy Project.  I think we had about 200 books and as many magazines. The Wendell Chamber of Commerce along with the Woman's Club has held an art exhibit at the Woman's Club for the past 3 years.  We had the doors open for visitors to the exhibit this weekend so it was a convenient time to go through the books. Most will be donated to the  local senior center or assisted living homes.

When I got back home, I had time to sew 4 more scrappy trip blocks.  I have 20 done and about 20 more cut out.  Oops! Looks like I need to workon arrranging.
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Tomorrow is our 52nd wedding anniversary! The family is coming over for an impromptu family get together in the evening.  My favorite kind of party  - no planning - just go with the flow.  

Spider Web Finished

I finished the binding and threw it in the washer and dryer. All the excess dye washed away and the back looks good.  Yea!  It now measures 52 x 64".

I cut about a hundred strips and started this Scrappy Trip Around the World.  I know I will have to cut many, many more strips. I made 16 blocks and I like that they can be arranged in log cabin designs. 

  This afternoon I started quilting this quilt that I made in May 2011. I got 4 blocks done.  I am starting out by following the quilting ideas shown in the pattern.  There are lots of straight lines in the sashing and borders so we'll see how it goes.  I'm using a variegated purple/green thread that I had on hand.

Probably all the time I'll have for sewing for a couple of days.  Tomorrow I am hostess for Woman's Club.  So I will be providing the lunch and setting up for the meeting.  I'm going to make Connie's Baked Spaghetti, Strawberry Spinach Salad, Rosemary Foccacia and Lemon Bars.  Then I take Em to the Orthodontist and Disciple Class in the evening.  Thursday is my day to work at Food Pantry, a visit with an old friend and then Capitol Quilters Guild in the evening.

 

Turning Leaves & An Amusing Memory

 

I finished sewing the borders on this Turning Leaves quilt that I started back in March. It is now 56 x 73". 

The picture was taken outside in the sun so the color isn't really correct.

I sewed the backing (bright green with purple markings) and made the binding (purple batik, same fabric as outer border) also.  I think I will like it better once it's quilted.

I am still looking for a border fabric for my string quilt.  I have checked  through my fabric at here at home and am not happy with any that I've found. Guess I'll have to look at Whistle Stop Thursday when I meet with Connie, Cathy and Sally to sew.  

I bought a fabric I thought I might use at Ladybug when I was there to teach my quilting class on Saturday. But once I had it home I decided against it.

Oh! that reminds me of an amusing memory!

My Saturday student is a retired Home Ec teacher from Ithaca, NY.  ( She doesn't look old enough to be retired). I'll have to tell her this on Saturday when I see her again.

When I was in 7th or 8th grade in New York State, Home Economics was a mandatory class that all girls took.  We learned the basics of cooking and other useful knowledge such as how to make a bed properly.

One day, I think we may have been getting ready to start sewing classes, our teacher demonstrated the proper way to put on a bra.  Well you can imagine the amusement of a bunch of teenage girls watching an amply endowed middle aged lady putting on her bra (over her dress, of course). 

According to her, you were to put your arms through the straps, reach behind your back to fasten the bra and then bend over at the waist so that your breasts would  fall naturally into the cups. 

 Most of us barely needed bras - so we hooted about that all through high school.

Pink Eye/Pieced Squares - Finished

I started this post in Feb. but here it is March 4th. I have no clue if one can change dates.
This afternoon, I took the quilt outside and hung it on the deck for a picture.  It is 84" square. I finally remembered the blog where I saw the quilt.  http://www.imagingermonkey.blogspot.com/  It was in October 2010 so you'll have to check her archives. Wow - looking at the picture I see I have one of the border blocks upside down. oh well.

The back pattern, "Pieced Squares", was in the 1984 Edition of Lady's Circle Editor's Choice Patchwork Quilts. There was a color picture on one page.The directions consisited of one paragraph, a square for the pattern and a diagram of a block. I started the blocks in the late 80's. I don't even recall when I sewed the sashing on them and partially sewed them together. Last year when I was cleaning up and rearragning, I was going to toss it. When I layed it on the bed it just need one long seam left to sew. So I sewed it! 

I brought in and tossed it in the washer and it is in the dryer as we speak - so to speak!

Picked out some batiks and made a couple of these blocks.  The pattern is in an old issue of Quiltmaker (10/2002) called Turning Leaves.  I am planning to make the sofa size which just needs 24 leaves.  I cut out the squares, leaf pieces, and squares of heat and bond.  I'm going to machine applique them. I'll look for a border fabric when I go shopping with my sister next week.

Found this camellia hiding out on the north side of the house.  It is really out of sync - usually blossoms late in spring.  I brought it inside to enjoy!Happy Weekend!