Thank goodness....it's OVER!

Okay, so it's together. That, however, doesn't mean my troubles are entirely over. The blocks are NOT lying flat in the centre, so it is going to be impossible to quilt.

Here's my plan: I'm going to wet the quilt top down, and put it in a hot dryer to see if the stretched bias edges will realign themselves. If that doesn't work - I believe it's a goner! If anyone has any other suggestions, that doesnt involve picking seams out AGAIN, then I'd be happy to hear them.

title? I don't need no stinkin' title! Baking, thrifting, quilting

Hottest day of the year, and I'm baking cookies! I'm going to a quilt day tomorrow, and thought I might take a batch of these along to share. One must keep up one's strength to sew, mustn't one?

These are a particular favourite of ours. The recipe was invented by a family friend, and were her late husband's favourite as well.

Bob's Cookies

2 c flour
2 c oats
2 c coconut
2 c brown sugar
1 c oil
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
handful of raisins
2-3 Tbsp of water - - add only if the ingredients don't seem to be combining together very well, because it's too dry

Drop by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets, and bake at 350 for about 10 min. They are soft, and chewy, and full of wholesome nostalgia. Makes about four dozen.

I stopped into a thrift store this afternoon, just for a peek. I found this adorable cross-stitch on linen, with a line from the poem by Sam Walter Foss. I've tossed the frame, and found the linen whip stitched to the cardboard backing. I've cut it away from the backing cardboard, and zig-zag stitched around the raw edges. I'll give it a bath, and perhaps turn this into a patchwork cushion.

The House by the Side of the Road
by Sam Walter Foss (1858-1911)

There are hermit souls that live withdrawn
In the peace of their self-content;
There are souls, like stars, that dwell apart,
In a fellowless firmament;
There are pioneer souls that blaze their paths
Where highways never ran;
But let me live by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

Let me live in a house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by-
The men who are good and the men who are bad,
As good and as bad as I.
I would not sit in the scorner’s seat,
Or hurl the cynic’s ban;-
Let me live in a house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I see from my house by the side of the road,
By the side of the highway of life,
The men who press with the ardor of hope,
The men who are faint with the strife.
But I turn not away from their smiles nor their tears-
Both parts of an infinite plan;-
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I know there are brook-gladdened meadows ahead
And mountains of wearisome height;
That the road passes on through the long afternoon
And stretches away to the night.
But still I rejoice when the travelers rejoice,
And weep with the strangers that moan,
Nor live in my house by the side of the road
Like a man who dwells alone.

Let me live in my house by the side of the road
Where the race of men go by-
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish- so am I.
Then why should I sit in the scorner’s seat
Or hurl the cynic’s ban?-
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

I also got a couple of "My First Little House" books, to put away for a future grand daughter. (Much, much into the future, please children?) I was a big Laura Ingalls Wilder fan when I was a little girl.

Speaking of books, I just started a new book this afternoon: "Winding Ways" by Jennifer Chiaverini. If it wasn't so darned hot and humid outside, I'd be on the front porch reading right now.

Still working away at my Jelly Roll Diamonds. Four more seams!

Slooooow....but sure

Just five more seams to go. 'nuff said.

Itty Bitty's band is playing Thursday night at the Iron Horse. I think they are "head-lining" so they will be playing closer to the 9pm to 10pm range, I would imagine. I think (now I try to pay attention, but a lot of all this rock band stuff goes straight over my head) he said they are doing three cover tunes, and three or four originals in their set. But I could have that all wrong. He might have been telling me something completely unrelated!!!

Band practice was in our attic this afternoon - - so Hubby and I took a walk over a few blocks to visit friends, and enjoyed blender cocktails in the shade. Good times! I'm liking this vacation thing!

BEHOLD! The antithesis of mindless, relaxing sewing

OMG!!! This is a freaking nightmare.

I was feeling so confident this morning! It looked so pretty up on the wall! I just wanted to dive in and zoom-zoom-zoom! There should have been a Surgeon General's warning on the front of this pattern. Holy moly!

I have twelve more seams to sew, plus the setting triangles. How am I going to get this done?? It is NOT going back in the box.

Progress : What's on the Wall?

I repaired all the diamonds. There may be a couple of seams that I don't want anyone to look to closely at, but they are all a far sight better. I started adding the sashing strips this morning.

With any luck, I think I can finish this flimsy today. The only tricky part is to try to make the kitten understand that he shouldn't play with the bias edges.

Onward, HO!

Once I got the doll quilt top done, I cut a backing for it, and set it aside. Then made a label, pieced the back, and made binding for my Bedazzled Mystery quilt from Claudia's Quilt Shop

So now I've pulled out another UFO: Jelly Roll Diamonds using Prairie Paisley fabrics. I think it's been stashed away for a year, or maybe two. When I realized what a mess I was making of the diamonds - - not one matches up correctly! - - I put it away. So now, it's out, and I'll have to unsew them all. The jelly roll came was purchased on a Shop Hop, and I had to travel far and wide to find matching yardage to finish the top. It deserves to be completed.