Making Progress?

Still hard to type with this thing on my finger, but managed to finish my first purse.  I learned  a LOT.  Like 1) use a pattern next time,  and 2) when you have 4 things to measure and you measure 3 of them, it does NOT mean the 4th one is "all good to go."   I do like it, wonky shape and all, but don't imagine I will show it off. I'll use it for my own shopping and errands.  That works for me.

I managed to put a heavy-duty needle on my Bernina to sew this up and I snapped off half of the screw (head)  that holds the needle in place.  So..... I guess I'm stuck with a heavy-duty needle for a while, until I sort out whether or not I need to find a Bernina part or if  a teeny screw will do.  I'll put Joe on that, he loves a project.   Until then, I better go through my stash and find some heavy fabric for a project, huh.

Fabric SOS - Where is all the Broderie Perse Chintz?

Looking forward to an exhibit of contemporary broderie perse, my co-workers and I have started our quest to creating our own (much less complex) attempts at this  beautiful art.   (So much less complex that our PR maven has nicknamed it "faux bro".  I love that.)   One problem - we can't find chintz anywhere.  There used to be reams and rolls of lovely polished cotton chintz, just ripe for cutting up and arranging artfully on a plain background. I bought a bunch of it for my bridesmaid dresses (and yes, I made the leftovers in to curtains. I'll post a picture sometime). So what's up with disappearing chintz?  Anybody out there have some leads?  Help!

Image:  Margaret Young Stansberry, c. 1830

Collection of the New England Quilt Museum

Update, Progress and a Smile

My Friday Night Sew-In has become an all day and night event. I'm home today, drinking way too much coffee and getting ready to fire up the sewing room. But first - an update.

It  is looking like 2 pincushions and one small table ornamentationesque thingie with about 8 cathedral window blocks will be the output summary of my cathedral windows experience.  I will post pictures when I have determined how to disguise my issues with intersecting points.   I have learned that people use plain muslin for a reason, that cutting those 10 inch squares requires you to strictly observe the straight of grain rules, and that I just may do this again sometime now that I have learned these and other rules of the cathedral windows road.

For today's smile, here is one of the brilliant re-interpretations of classic art masterpieces from Barbara Brackman. Check out the others (and her wonderful blog)  at Material Culture .

Lake Day

Finally home  from a long day of work - day one of the auditors coming in to prepare the financial reports for the past fiscal year. It is comparable to a colonoscopy -  honest -  except a colonoscopy is better because you get drugs. But I digress.

On  my way home I stopped at a local gourmet shop and treated myself to some nice cheese, a little pâté for Joe, a bottle of wine, and something to nibble. When I got home the answering machine was blinking and it was the  accountant,  telling me she needed to reschedule and would not be coming in on Friday.  OH.  EMM. GEEE.   Are you serious?  This means I do not have to make the commute and go to work tomorrow either.   A DAY AT HOME.  Alone. And it is supposed  to rain all day.  Does it get any better than that?

I opened the bottle of wine, made a little plate of the gourmet nibbles and put my feet up. I'm completely intoxicated with the possibilities and options of doing everything and nothing. Kinda like a snow day - or, since it is spring, a "Lake Day."  Lake Day was an unannounced holiday at my college.  The bell tower would start ringing at about  7AM and it meant classes, tests, anything and everything was canceled for the day.  We would go down to the lake and lay around on blankets, reading or sleeping or drowsing.  It was always on a really beautiful day, with no warning, no planning. It just happened.

Even with the rain (which I love), tomorrow is my Lake Day!

Now I Should BE Committed....

Okay, I finished ALL THE BLOCKS - front, side, center, connecting - the whole deal.  Started laying out the quilt on my big bed and I am completely overwhelmed.  I should have started the layout in the morning, because this is turning in to a world-class obsession session.  After messing around to the point of mental fatigue, I recognize that this is the time when  I need to STOP   before I sew myself into an ugly corner and spend the weekend with my seam ripper.

I have decided to add the most important elements of all - a snack, some sleep, and daylight.

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Now I am Committed...

Okay, I signed up.  It's throw down time, bay-bay.  I am going to finish piecing the side and top blocks and LAY OUT THIS QUILT tonight.  Yeah. You bet!  Aaauughhh! Heidi made me do it!