Murky Monday..........

I hope the sun is shining where you are. Here we have had days, and days, of wet, gray weather, and I am sick of it. It isn't even that cold today, though it was this weekend. It's just so dark, dreary, and yucky. Also, it's a no mail holiday, and I am one who likes her mail delivery.  I am happy to report that I finally got the first dog tooth border on, as well as the four setting triangles. It was not an easy task, either. I realized about half way through, that I have never successfully completed an "on point" medallion. They are tricksy little boogers, what with all those bias edges.

Some of you thought the dog tooth a swell idea, and some did not, but I like it. To me it defines the center, and adds a bit of crisp, geometric interest amidst all that applique. A bit of tart to break up all that sweet, if you will. I have appliqued dogtooth borders before, but this one is 1.5 inch pieced, using my trusty Tri-Recs ruler. If you don't have one of these, I can tell you that it's a truly great tool, and well worth the money. Now, I need to decide whether, or not, to put a second one around this whole 59" square before moving to the next border treatment. Due to "trimming" the center down to 59" (it was supposed to be 60") making a pieced border may be problematic. I'll have to have a think about what to do. One comment made by those who voted against the pieced border was a lessening of quilting space, but I think there is still plenty of room for stitching.

How many of you are going to vote with your credit cards for Sue Garman's new BOM, Friends of Baltimore? Check it out at Quakertown Quilts. I ordered a bolt of Kona in Snow specifically for the project. I'll probably regret it, because I never do the darn things, but it is just so gorgeous, and I am so weak.

Happy stitching where ever you are everybody. Michele

More neutral..................

Okay, if you haven't gone to sleep, lulled by the lack of bright colors, here are four more blocks. There is actually one more finished, but let's face it...............it's DUMB to have to do three posts in one day, just to show 9 stinking photographs. Grrrrrrrrr. If this makes no iota of sense, please read previous post.

For those of you who expressed concern for my wellbeing, I thank you. I am sporting one heck of an ugly shiner, or "mouse" as my husband put it. I guess it's a good thing I wasn't wearing my glasses, or I'd have probably had cuts as well as the abrasions.

One last request: a lovely, warm, Canadian quilter, whom I've mentioned on this blog before, suffered a terrible fall ten days ago. Her husband emailed me to say she had been on life support since the fall, but had finally opened her eyes, and smiled at him. Her name is Bonnie Tooze, and I hope that you will take a moment to say a little prayer in her name. She was in Houston for Festival in November, and we had lunch together. It is hard for me to wrap my head around her being injured so very badly, because she is so full of life, and joy. It's a real reminder that we need to live each day as though it were our last. Thank you all, Michele

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.......................

Okay, some pictures, and a question. Here is the 32" center of my "neutral" quilt. Technically I suppose it isn't neutral at all. It is actually variations of murky greens/black/taupes with an orange accent in each block.

I pieced the background with 2" squares, and used batiks for the Princess Feathers.

Here is the first of eight completed 14" blocks. There will be a total of 16, so I am over half way done. My problem has been that of uncertainty as to what to use to segue from the center to the outer blocks. A frame, or multiple frame borders? A pieced border...............what? I realize for you to provide any feedback you really need to see it all together on the design wall. I will do that once I have completed the rest of the blocks.

Now, here is my question:  If any of you wonderful bloggers understand WHY Blogger/Picasa limits me to four photos per post, could you enlighten me? I would be extremely grateful. Extremely. I know there's a way, because so many of you do post more than four. I've tried using the "Help" button, but I never seem to ask the question in a form that will get me an answer I understand.

Till I figure this out, I will continue to do two posts, instead of one. So, to see more of the neutral blocks, go to the next post.  Michele

The day I got the crap knocked out of me................................

Today, on my merry way to the mailbox, I was literally knocked flat on my face in the dirt by three, very large, and boisterous dogs. My nearest, and dearest, (read ONLY)  human companion being away for a few days, I lay there wondering if I'd be able to get up. Naturally the dumb dogs were capering around my prone body believing that this was a game designed for their amusement. They hit me knee level, from behind, and when someone says they fell ass over teakettle, I now know precisely what is meant. The right side of my face is scraped and swollen both above the brow, and below the eye. I am a beautiful sight. Plus my right knee (that would be my GOOD one) is sore. I am not a happy camper. That is the scary thing about living far away from people, and often being alone. If we leave this family property, which I have come to love, that will be the reason why. I wonder if I'll have a black eye? Stay tuned.

The two winsome faces, pictured below, belong to Mabel Jane, on the left, and Woodrow, on the right. This is where they spend a lot of their time when indoors during the day. Out of sight to the right of the photo, is a bank of windows looking out into the fenced yard, and beyond to the land of the "woman assaulting large dogs". They can even see distant cars far down the drive, scene of my humiliation. Aren't they sweet? I do love my puppies. Poppy wasn't available for a photo op, being otherwise occupied with digging up a fine mole to present to her parents

 

I have finally completed the applique for the four setting triangles. Whew. Thank goodness. I know you are all rather tired of seeing the same thing so starting next post, I will show pictures of another applique quilt that is over halfway completed. It is my neutral quilt, and attempt to emulate the wonderful Japanese taupe quilts, but with a little twist. I want to get back to it but I'm stymied by what to do around the center medallion. Perhaps one of you will have a suggestion. Perhaps not, but I'll show you what I've got and go from there.

I don't know if you've seen the ads for the HBO series coming in April called Game of Thrones. I ordinarily do not dip into the fantasy genre for my pleasure reading, but I was caught by the medieval look of the promos. I am currently in the middle of the third book, and I will tell you it is keeping me from my sewing. It is a marvelous, complex tale reminding me a lot of Ivanhoe, and Robin Hood, a true, old fashioned adventure tale. It is only that the country/world is imaginary.

I hope your January is passing happily, and accident free, unlike some peoples. God Bless. Michele