Quilts, etc.

 It's been sort of gloomy out with drizzle and cloudy skies.  Good days for staying inside to quilt, cook, and read.  Yesterday I made some muffin-sized quiches and a simple salad with black beans, roasted corn, and mango (very good!).  Both recipes were recommended for diabetics.  Today I'll make some bread as we're almost out.

Quilting on the Sweet Tea quilt is going OK, albeit slowly.  There's a lot of marking and turning (or should I say "wrestling"?) so I do a little at a time.  I cut purple grunge fabric for binding the Exploding Heart quilt but didn't get it ready to use, so I may also work on that today.  I can then hand sew it to the back when I want a break from quilting.  I could also cut out the binding for the Sweet Tea quilt if I feel like it.  That's the great thing about quilting at this stage of life - no deadlines, just do whatever you feel like whenever

I'm reading The Women by Kristin Hannah, a book about nurses during the Vietnam war.  So far, it's a little like MASH although more realistic, of course, with a smattering of romance.  I can understand why it's been so popular, because it does tell a good story of war from the woman's point of view.  Beyond the operating room, the interactions with the locals are very interesting, too.  A week from tomorrow, the library is sponsoring a talk by a woman who was a nurse in that war, and it will be interesting to hear her take on the book.

Last night I stopped into the library's Spring Fling fund raiser and helped sell a few tickets for the Friends' gardening raffle.  There was a band, casual food, and a cash bar, but it looked like there were fewer people than usual.  

Maybe they bought tickets but were too tired to come after the protest in the rain at the State House.  Officials estimate 10,000 people stood in the rain there, which is quite an impressive turnout.  (Photo by Daria Bishop - copied from Facebook group 50501)  There were 20 protests around the state which is pretty good for our little state, right on the border with our friends in Canada.

Blocks of the month

I wanted to make all the blocks of the month for April right away so that I could concentrate on (1) finishing the Exploding Heart which came back from quilter Marie and (2) quilting the Greent Tea and Sweet Beans variation that's been hanging in the closet since September.  The latter has the weird quarter log cabin flimsey on the back. 

First, I worked on the Heart of Vermont guild's BOM as well as the one designed by Kristin Lauren.  The "attic windows" one I made for the guild lottery is on the left.  I'm using the same fabrics for the guild BOM and the Kristin Lauren quilt because neither provided enough blocks for a bigger quilt.  I think it's going to end up as a very nice one with a black speckled background. 

I used an 8" block made with cut offs of previous months' blocks for the center of the attic windows.  The attic windows blocks were very easy because, every month, a different guild member chooses or designs it.  That means that it may be difficult or simple, depending on that person's interest or skill level.  This month's was chosen by a begnning quilter.   The half-square triangle was a stretch for her, but made for quite an easy block.  I noticed that very few people made Dresden Plates the month it was my turn!

After I finished these, I turned my attention to the Optimism blocks designed by Aby Dolinger.  I'm going for the queen-size so am making two 15" blocks each month.  I'm using a consistent beige floral background for each block and am dipping into my stash for a scrappy look.  I thought I'd make these quilt-as-you-go, but now I'm thinking I'll wait due to the various colors.  I'm not sure about sashing anyway although I have a very large piece of teal I'd like to use.  

I picked up my knitting again yesterday and worked away at the shawl I started in January.  I'd like to finish and go back to making hats for kids in foster care.   I really don't enjoy using circular needles and the shawl is wide enough to require them.   It was more or a long term commitment than the hats are, but nice for watching TV on a winter's afternoon.

Our weather has been typical for April - warm, cold, rainy, snowy, sunny.  It's hard to know what to wear, especially jacket-wise, but I have put away my warmest jacket.  I still have gloves at the ready, though, along with my puddle jumper Bogs slipons.  Tomorrow night the library is holding its Spring Fling, and I sure hope it doesn't snow!  I'll be joining Pam to sell raffle tickets for a gardening basket - what to wear will be determined by the weather.  My friend Sally says she's wearing a dress, but I will probably drag out the old faithful black pants and a top, along with a sweater if needed!