Design Wall: Park Avenue Coin Quilt

Posting pictures of the design wall sure is helpful. At a glance I can see which blocks I need to switch. Amazing the different perspective you get from a picture.

I didn't realize Park Avenue was a holiday print. It is so pretty. I've planned a coin quilt for quite a while. Since it's a holiday print, it's time to get on it. So far, it's a quick and easy project. I wish when I started the quilting bug again I had started with easy projects with precuts. It would have saved me lots of money and headache.

I'm thinking of sashing in white. Might go buy some of that blue. Kind of depends on if I want to get out of the house and buy more fabric.
Reds and blues are matching up too much.

We are hoping for rain today. Have a restful Sunday.

God Rest Her Soul

My beloved Bernina 1080 is not well. Over Labor Day weekend I went to spend much needed time sewing. When I stepped on the presser foot, no go. It's a belt or something in the motor. I will take her to the hospital but it was time for a new machine. I have loved her. She was such a splurge 20 years ago. I have not had an ounce of trouble. Love this machine.

Here is my new beauty. It was a huge decision. I tried a less expensive Janome but I'm a Bernina girl. And, you know they have that 830 which sells for $6,000 dollars. That is just crazy, but if I had $6,000 under my mattress I would have spent it on that machine.

I love my new machine. I feel so fortunate to be able to have such a beauty.

I'm on a disappearing nine patch binge. I finished this top in a day. That's unusual for me. It's just a little more than 2 charm packs. I bought way too much of the border material so I went and bought more charm packs. This is what some people are getting for Christmas.

The Bird of Paradise is blooming! We go to a mexican restaurant every Friday night. It's our Margarita Night. I love that tradition. We walked past a bird of paradise every week. I think they are so exotic. My honey bought me one. I think of our Friday nights when I see it bloom.
I found more Chenille plants. I love their fuzzy blooms.

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Found Time

No posts recently. No sewing recently. During vacation I sewed every day. I made the committment, again, to sew a little each day even when work started again. During a workshop, Edyta Sitar said we should sew 1 hour each day. We would finish our projects that way. It sounded so reasonable. I know I spend an hour a day reading blogs and watching tv.

For the first time ever I turned down a professional opportunity. I was all signed up to start my doctoral program. I would be doing it with a friend so we would work on things together. I went through the GRE exam, the interview, the essays and application, etc. As it got closer I got this panicky feeling that I just didn't want to do it. Add that I found out the total cost would be about $35,000. I don't know about you, but for me that's a really nice car. Lots of money for me. So, for the first time in my life....ridden with guilt....I chose to pass on a professional opportunity and focus on slowing my life down.

So, my theory is that I have "found time." I would be going to class every Monday and Tuesday night until 9 PM. Then I would be studying on the weekend. Why can't I put at least half of that time into sewing? Why, why, why?

The first 2 weeks of school have passed. The swelling in my feet is mostly gone. (Mostly, sure is getting harder as I age.) So, I will spend time doing the things I love- sewing, gardening, reading.

I bought the City Park kit. It says that it is for all skill levels. I had to read the directions 5 times before I could get it. Guess I'm below all skills levels. It's lots of cutting but looks like easy construction. I love the City Quilts book. Simply and striking quilts.



After the first week of school my whole body ached. I left telling my friends I was going to pay for a massage. Instead I went to the nursery and bought....

Brazilian Cloak

Blue Pea Vine

Aggie Giner

Ginger...whose name I have forgotten.

Off to the sewing room or quilt shop. Have a lovely Saturday!