Storage unit clean up

A couple of years ago my middle son asked me if he could store a few things with me.  I don't exactly remember how we ended up with a storage unit, but we did.

Auto billed to my AmEx, of course.  I am sick of paying for it.  I asked my son if he can come get his stuff out, and he doesn't remember what is in there, so "Mom, just get rid of it" was the gist of his reply.

I was going to load it all in a truck and deliver it to Goodwill when one of my friends from work suggested I look through the boxes to be sure I wanted to give it all away.  Guess what we found?

Yup.  Two very worn and well loved quilts my mother, Linda Brannock, made.  I adore my friend for suggesting I look into the boxes. She will always be the one who rescued these quilts back into the family.

Backside of the star quilt.

My husband and I didn't get anything loaded into a truck, so I still have to figure out who to call to come get some of the big stuff.  I got so mad at my husband's lack of helpfulness that, when my cell phone rang with him calling me yet again, I got out of my car at a stoplight, installed said ringing phone in front of my tire, and, when the light changed, proceeded to run over said phone.  Really, some days you just can't take anymore of some people.  Just sayin'.  So today I ran errands, bought a bottle of wine and think I will just chill out on the sofa and watch the Georgia game.  Who are we playing? Georgia football never mattered much to me before; after a glass of wine it won't matter again (I am a true light-weight; read "cheap date").

Scooch over babies; mama needs a cuddle.

Maybe tomorrow we will go outside and enjoy the cool sunny weather.

Jackets of Many Colors

Straight Jacket from Asylum by Christopher Payne
Last week I was attempting to finish my Vintage 9-Patch (Lisa Bongean pattern), and my Bernina acted up, so I switched to my New Home sewing machine.  The result was this mess which took me a couple of days to pick out.

I had to walk away from my sewing room for a spell, so I went to the library and found this wonderful book:

These two, Helen and Scott Nearing, lived an amazing journey through life guided by good sense, moral conviction, determination and hard work.  I had to go buy a copy of the book because I want to savor it.

I also happen on Asylum by Christopher Payne.  His collection of amazing photographs of America's decaying state hospitals is accompanied by Oliver Sack's essay on the history of the system that created them.  

St. Joseph, Missouri  State Hospital (Kirkbride building) from Asylum by Christopher Payne.

I was amazed at the scope of state hospitals before litigation took away residents' right to livelihoods (most state hospitals were self-sustaining communities) and the self respect residents' may have been able to gain from meaningful contribution to the community in which they lived. 

From the book Asylum by Christopher Payne.

I had no idea straight jackets came in colors.  I find them beautiful lined up like this.  They may have been made by hospital seamstresses (residents) working in the hospital's sewing room.

Picture from the book Asylum by Christopher Payne.
After the reading break, I went back to my own private sewing room where I got a little help from my Joey.

"We" got the quilting done. 

(No animals were harmed in the creation of this quilt.)

The binding cut and sewn on.

In time to take to Spirited Quilters' on Tuesday night.

One UFO down!

We are so happy!

Forward march

I am excited about 4 things:

Hats and Wool 

1) Biopsy was B-9 (BINGO).

2) East Cobb Quilt Show

3) Brannock & Patek Together 

There was something else, but it has slipped my mind.  TYPICAL!

This weekend is going to be run-aroundweekend.

4) Silver Thimble Quilt Club 

Maybe that was it, but I think there was something else too.

I have to go to work this morning first, and then the weekend will be full blast run all around town.  Some time in the future I hope to get back to my sewing machine(s).

Mom says this is back from the quilter.  I don't remember what she chose for borders, but here is what we were considering at one point:

And here is one I want to finish.  

I also have those UFOs on my list to finish for Spirited Quilters.  Boy, I sure haven't been very focused on those.

I sent a quilt off to Ohio to travel with The Original Sewing and Quilt Expo folks. I confess, since this is the first time one of my quilts has been traveling without me, I had a touch of anxiety watching the FedEx guy taping the box shut and taking possession.  Remember, I drove my quilts 3 1/2 hours to the Alabama show.  I am kind of like an over-protective mother when it comes to something I've put so much work into.  

Benign.  Happy word of the day.

Patterns, etc

Mom asked me why I didn't blog about the bag I made while I was at her house in June.

This is Amy Butler's reversible sunday sling (in two sizes).  Mom and I had the idea of making two, but in 14 hours we completed one.

MINE (Mom's stash fabric).

I have not gone back to my heavy leather Brighton handbag since.  Even though this bag seems a little heavy, I don't really notice the weight.  Perhaps it is because it is all soft cottons.

This is usually the inside, but it could be the outside (I love reversible!).  I put the little bunny pin on the pocket where I keep my wallet (bunny-money; get it?). Otherwise I have to dig forever to find it.

The bag is so big you can stow a joey in there.

Though he might not stay for long.

I was asked about a pattern for the doll I wrote about a couple of posts ago.  Her pattern is by Lynda Hall of Primitive Pieces and is in the package called Play Date Bundle (scroll down on the page to see this pattern).

Have a great week, and I will see you on the other side.

(I hope my eyebrow biopsy turns out to be a non-issue!)

Karmen

Margaret goes on an adventure

Thanks to Margaret at Cosmos and Chrysanthemums this Margaret is ready to embrace her life.

She has packed her bag and is headed to Alaska to substitute teach math for 2 months.

She read about the job on the internet, and thinks it will be a great adventure. She had to load up on lots of food, since there are no grocery stores, or any other kind of shopping.

And since the sewing machine won't go on the small airplane that will deliver her to the fishing village, she is taking lots of hand sewing to do.

I would love to go with her.

This weekend

I've spent most of this weekend sleeping off a three day migraine.  I am not sure what triggered it: perhaps tension, maybe salt or could it have been that chocolate bar?  I'll never know, but I did get some sewing done since my last post.

I chose some fabrics from my stash to finish the last round of the Lisa Bongean Vintage Nine project I'd started a couple of years ago.

Ta-da.  Finished stitching on the last row at Thimbles last Friday.

I think I will use this limey green and tan brushed cotton check for the backing.

Mary Ellen Von Holt from Little Quilts visited Thimbles; she had some charm packs of Curio by Moda's Basic Grey . Seriously yummy.  I bought all four charm packs, and, since I love the Vintage Nine pattern so much, I started a new one yesterday.

Never mind it has taken me three years to NOT finish the first one.

I just needed to stitch, and I already had a pack of coordinating wool bits for the flowers. It made sense to me at the time.

And I spied this pattern on a website (scroll down the page to see it); just had to have it.  Don't you know I cannot wait to start it.  Hey, what about my UFO list for guild?  Shoot!  I will have to make a list of priorities.

Little Jojo doesn't have a problem setting priorities.  He plays hard and just crashes whenever and wherever he needs to. That's what I call freedom.

Still plugging along

Kitten helps me put the last border on Vintage 9 Patch (pattern/wool kit by Lisa Bongean). Vintage 9 is number one on my 2011 UFO list.

She picks her favorite block.  Red, of course, she always picks red if black and white are unavailable.

Little Jojo has staked his claim on the ugly orange thing (number 2 on my 2011 UFO list).

Looks like Sunday is good for snoozing around here.

We have made good progress on making everyone friends.

Jojo goes nose to nose with Rosebud.

It appears we have a peaceable kingdom.

Kitten makes sure Jojo knows his place, and he gives her a wide berth, so as not to disturb her rule.

Computer trouble

I am afraid I will be bumped off the internet at any time.  Perhaps it is time for a newer computer?  Apple this time?  Or maybe dump ATT DSL?  I am not sure what I am going to do.  Another thing taking up my time, and making typing difficult, is this little green-eyed grey flannel kitty we are calling Jojo. 

He is such a lovable little purr box!
We (Jojo and I) are working on the Vintage Nine Patch quiltlet I started a couple of years ago.  It is number one on my declared UFO list for 2011.

I may not have enough of the vintage fabric to make the final round because so many of the blocks I made at first were off, so I needed to practice making some.  The practice yielded this little project.

I was going to square it up by wacking off the yellow blocks until I realized that would make bias all the way around the edge of the top.  Oops! Darn, so that is why you cut the side and corner pieces out.  You gotta be on the straight of grain on the side.

I have been a little distracted trying to keep up with this little fur ball.  I think I am totally in love with him.  Sorry Kitten. 

We're gonna keep him.