PO Fail

One of the worst nightmares is when a package goes missing. Once again, one of mine is gone. The carrier says it was delivered but the recipient never got it. Nothing to be done. Missing doesn't mean missing when the carrier says it was delivered. Its a done deal. The only way around it is to pay extra to have them sign for it.

I am machine quilting today so just trying to not think about it. The package is non-retrievable. And if a person gets something delivered to them, they are on an honor system to turn it back in. If they opened it, it is gone. This was a holiday present to the Granddaughter who is on her own this first year. It was meant to be special and its gone. I am deeply disappointed.

Thing is, another package might be missing too. It is also listed as being delivered. Sigh. 

Basting Day

I really love this quilt. I say that with many of them, yet this one holds my heart right now. Things change, but usually by the time the quilt comes to the clubhouse and gets pin basted, I have found a passion with it.

Usually during the basting session, I make a choice for how to machine quilt it. At first my plan was to vertically channel stitch it. However, it is 3 blocks wide by 5 blocks long, so it needs the optical illusion that adds more to it side to side. I will machine quilt it horizontally.

The next challenge is which thread to use. The back is the same orange as the borders seen on the top. So I am going back and forth on using either orange or black. The 5 panels, obviously are black and would look better with the same color of quilting. However, any wobbling or errant stitches would show the black on orange in the back. I could have one of each, but sometimes the needle will lift the color from the back and show it and little tracks. 

Still thinking.

Comfort Quilt

One of the things I want to do more is make comfort quilts. It seems like I've had so many 'planned' quilts that I haven't taken the time to do them. Well, I have been making what I call quilt backs by piecing the scrap squares. 

Here's the story: A quilt was requested to give comfort. As luck would have it, all my quilts and projects were completed for this year so I agree to it. The guy wanted some tee shirts that belonged to his Step-Father before he passed to be the foundation of the quilt.
Well, he sent me three and they are all Harley-Davidson themed in black, white and orange. I went through all my scraps not knowing what I was going to do. Usually it takes 12 or more of the tee shirts to make a lap quilt.

Luckily, there were enough finished blocks in orange, black and white that I traded in a block swap group I was in years ago.

It took me all morning to piece those blocks with the tee shirt panels, while adding more fabric pieces to make 5 rows. I found an orange batik to make borders (with measuring about 52" x 72") and have enough to do the back as well. I absolutely love it. It needs to be basted, and then be machine quilted and bound. It is the perfect size for a personal lap quilt.

One of my friends commented that she hoped they appreciate the quilt. I have learned over the years not to DO it for anyone else. I take my own joy in creating it from something sitting in my closet. This one is stunning. I hesitate to post it as a commissioned piece because I would not want to get into that. Tee shirt quilts are a lot of work. 

Shopping From My Closet

I have an exchange for Swapbot where we make something seasonal for our partner. I thought about the block I am to host of the Guest Designer quilt and realized one of the blocks would work perfectly!

It is a centerpiece table topper. The extra gift is this darling creamer & sugar bowl. I machine quilted a small grid over it and used the same holly fabric for the binding. 

What I like is make these reversible so here is the other side, which I would use more myself if it were mine to keep. 

I was able to iron on the stabilizer for the tee shirt quilt and cut them to size. I found a lot of the orange, white and black 12" blocks that will go perfectly. I plan to spend time playing with layouts before stitching up the top. I found other scraps for the back but need to finish the top before starting on it. I also found a bag of unopened batting AND located everything else that had gone 'missing'.

It was a good day. Lights are hung on the windows, floors dusted and vacuumed, and leaves raked in back (with only a few more to come down). I've set out ingredients to the dolci (sweets) I plan to make and ship on Tuesday.

Thanks giving Sunday

I've spent the last couple of days working in my gardens, raking & mulching. I've also put away the harvest decor and started bringing in the Winter Solstice things. Right now, I want to string inside lights around the windows and make sure the timers work.

Meanwhile, in the studio, I found the applique fabrics for the last block I am working on, and sorted through everything so I could make a in memory quilt for a woman in MN who will be spending this holiday season alone.

It is my turn to keep the candle & hold energy for a group of Strega Sisters I have belonged to for decades. I try to do something special each day of my week's service. This week, I am using things  I find online and putting in my own prayers: May you be well. May you be happy. May you be loved. May your deep needs be met. May you be brave. 

And for you as well.

Gratitude Wednesday

I came home pretty exhausted from my trip to Palmdale. I was able to buy some fusible for the tee-shirt quilt.

The label is embroidered & ready to go on the back. It is such a nice thought of her Son & Daughter to have this quilt made for her from her husband's tee-shirts. I am thinking I will cut a heart-shape for it, stabilize it with some iron-on and hand stitch it to the back. As I look at the pic, I may do something more fancy with the K, or at least extend the 'legs'.

They told me the shirts should be in my PO box on Monday. The back is done. If it goes together easily, with luck, and blessings of the old gods & new, it may be back in the mail to them on December 5. 

There is a Time for Everything

It was almost 3 hours to Ventura, an hour on the Ocean beach, dinner and then 2 hours being inked, and almost 3 hours home. No quilting. Part of my skin wouldn't take the ink so I may need to go for touchups. He wants a pic taken and sent back in 2 weeks. I am ok with that because it means another trip to the ocean.

Today, I put wrapped gifts in family boxes, taped them, labeled them for shipping. No quilting.

I have 3 boxes of holiday cards. First, I'll address and stamp the envelopes. Then I write letters. Maybe I will type them and glue them inside. My hand writing is so bad. All I would need to do after that is sign each one. Stages. No quilting.

Cookie baking comes next. The plan is to bake on Mondays and ship on Tuesdays. No quilting.