Stop Cleaning! Start Sewing!

My short sheeted day started out like any other - but with a cut off time in preparation for getting Jason to the airport.

There was not going to be much time for machine stitching the X-Plus blocks.

Even if I was more than happy to be at my machine after giving the area a good clean up!

Under the machine are some carpet squares, there mostly to keep the machine from vibrating (it works!) but it also collects every bit of thread, lint, dust, dog ears - you name it.

What is also amazing to me is how much cut fabric pieces drop little whisker threads everywhere. Those pieces never stop unraveling!

And there was also this going on behind me:

The day before one of my front window blinds fell down, the anchor screw holding the mount to the wall giving up on the job.

There was a run to Lowe's that evening to pick up better hardware, and yesterday morning the guys by came and fixed my blind. I'm so grateful for them!

After that was done, Dave headed to therapy for his wrist, and Jason took the van back to the cabin to go pack.  I was being picked up about 12:30 by Dave on his return to go home and have a bite of lunch before heading to the airport.

Not much time to sew!

Here's a blast from the past - that neutral!

I'm not even sure where I found this piece - 

Dave and I were married in August of 1981. When we moved to our first little apartment, my mom's old Kenmore machine came with me.

In no time I had visions of grandeur making throw pillows, table cloths, and more as I attempted to make our little apartment a home.

By October I found I was pregnant and due the following June. (This was our daughter Heather who we lost at 17 days old. Jason came 1 1/2 years later.)

I was so excited that I marched right down to the fabric store and thumbed through the big catalogues searching for maternity wear patterns. I had a wardrobe for myself to make!

I made a flowy blouse of this little neutral print and wore it all through that first pregnancy.

After she passed away, those things were all packed up, but brought right back out again when I was pregnant with Jason.

Isn't it amazing that a simple fabric print can hold so many memories?

It's an odd combination - that fabric from 1981 pairing with a civil war repro from who knows when, and I think that center square is a Kansas Troubles?

I managed to get these five blocks sewn before Dave pulled up and took me home where it was grilled ham & cheese and tomato soup all around and we were off to the airport.

And yes! I finished the last bit of the hexie side border!

I wish there had been a bit of that 1981 calico to stitch into this quilt too.  As far as I know, it's all used up now.

Today - finishing touches on tomorrow's Lupine & Laughter Part Eight need to happen. That goes live tomorrow morning - ALREADY!

And Monday - the PDF pattern for Stardust drops!

I'll be drawing for 2 winners who will each receive a Stardust PDF pattern from me, and this time around a Facets of Blue color roll from our friends at  Cotton to Quilts.

Of course, Stardust will be wonderful an ANY color combo, or even in rainbow scrappy.  I can't wait to see what you do with this one.

Quiltville Quote of the Day -

Are there things you won't even attempt to try because you know it won't turn out perfect?

 
Perfection is highly overrated! Don't let your fear stop you in your tracks.

 
I absolutely love how the maker of this quilt showed no fear in cutting the gingham completely off grain in many of the patches, however her template would fit on the scraps she had at hand.

It gives this quilt life! If it were all perfectly aligned with the grain it would be a perfectly boring quilt.

 
It's okay to live life a bit off grain!

Have a terrific Thursday, everyone -