A Birthday Day of Sewing!

What a great low-key birthday this was!

For so many years I've been on the road teaching on my birthday, and while that was do-doubt fun, it was really nice to have a day to myself to work on projects, listen to audio books, watch the wildlife from outside of the cabin window, and just BE.

I am currently  re-listening to Diana Gabaldon's "Written in My Own Heart's Blood."

I own each Outlander book in hard copy.  I've read them all.  But listening to Davina Porter as narrator just makes these stories come to life for me.

44 hours of listening time in one book?  Perfect for stitching by!

So here we are today, writing this post from within blogger.  At least it is letting me upload photos today, where it wouldn't yesterday.

Windows Live Writer is still a no-go, returning 500 errors meaning it is not talking to the Blogger server.  Not that you need to know that, but it's just a bit frustrating.  There are things that I prefer to do with Windows Live Writer, and I can't do those here so the formatting may look a bit different.

Deer in the yard!

And just who are YOU looking at?

Woody the Woodpecker!

This photo may not be so clear - I had to zoom in and then crop, but he is a big fella!

I wanted to tackle THIS!

My pile of Checkerboard Rails blocks (Pattern from the free patterns tab) just demanded to be played with.  I'd had ideas of how I wanted to set them, but what I ended up doing surprised even me.

I had thought I wanted the zig zags of four-patches going ACROSS the quilt, kind of like the zig zags on Charlie Brown's sweater.

But when I stood at the end to arrange some pieces, I decided that I liked VERTICAL better!  You just never know what you are going to decide on until you've looked at any project from all angles.

This also meant that I was going to need some half-block-plus-seam-allowance units for the edges, and I found that I needed to make some 6 rail blocks without checkerboards that could be cut into the far left edge triangles.

As to the parts that I trimmed off?  I'm sure they will find a fun place to land in the backing!

This is no problem.  I have plenty of strips and four-patches to spare!

This is where I ended up.

Doesn't it look kind of 3-D?

I love how the strippy parts look like they are braided in.  And to think this is coming out of all of the "junk" scraps that have been hanging around for too long! Oh, there are some DANGED uglies in here, and that makes me love it all the more.

I'm just building it one diagonal row at a time, and when I decide that I have gone wide enough, I'll start tapering down.

I am going to need more blocks, and those are being built as Leaders & Enders between other things (Which is the WHOLE PURPOSE for this project, right?) And I'll go as far as they allow me to go.

I was going to post more from my antiquing jaunt on Monday, but since this Blogger thing is driving me a bit nuts and is more tedious to use, I'll wait and see if things aren't better on the big desk top at home.  Maybe this has to do with my connectivity here on the mountain since I am only connected by phone data.

Yesterday's #quiltvilleoftheday

Wild & Goosey from Addicted to Scraps! 

Paper piecing is one of those things I love to do on the road. I can borrow a machine, and happily piece small bits onto paper foundations in a hotel room for brainless evening relaxation after a long day of teaching.

Signed copies are available in the Quiltville Store.

You'll also receive a free downloadable PDF pattern for the Wanderlust Table Runner with purchase!

Dentist on Monday, Macular specialist on Wednesday - this afternoon.  I see him every 6 months to chart the progress of my Macular Telangiectasia as there is no cure.  Stress is a huge contributor so I am doing my best to minimize that.  Our greatest hope right now is that the progression stabilizes and holds steady instead of getting worse.

This getting older thing seems to be marked by going from one doctor's appointment to the next!

I'm home for a few days before heading off to Florida.  Do you think we can squeeze in a Quilt-Cam?

Stay tuned and I'll let you know when!

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

No matter what happens, I  alone am in control of my attitude! 

No doctor's diagnosis is going to change the fact that this day is special - and we can only live through it once.

Have a fabulous Wednesday, everyone!