The bike

Here's a picture of the bike I'm covering with fabric scraps so far.

As you can see, I have woven fabric strips through the wheels - on both sides - and am beginning to wrap the various tubes with more strips.  I tied the ends of the strips onto the spokes of the wheels, but with the tubing, I'm using Elmer's glue to hold it in place.  I worry that the fabric on the wheels will sag in our humid weather, but my son suggested some clear coat spray.  It stiffens the fabric a bit which should be good.  Anyway, it's a work in progress, but a whole lot of fun!

Keeping cool by quilting

This is one of the 24" log cabin blocks I took to the state guild meeting in May.  Everyone's blocks were cut in four, and we each took home as many as we brought.  I put my 16 blocks together in half an hour one morning (when I was feeling super energetic!).  Then I used some scrap blocks to extend the quilt to a size useful for the Parkinsons Comfort Quilt Project.

Wednesday, I sandwiched the little quilt and started quilting it quite simply, just down the centers of the logs.  It's been hot and humid lately, so the sewing room with its AC has been the place to be.  I finished quilting yesterday and now need to find something for the binding.  I'll set it aside while I work on the Lady Slipper Lodge round robin quilt which I pin basted yesterday, using the big table at the Old Labor Hall.

Meanwhile, whenever it's cooler out, I've been in the garage, covering my rusty old bicycle with strips of fabric from my "string" bin.  Studio Place Arts is organizing a "Soft Bomb" event in conjunction with Heritage Days at the end of July.  I offered to put my bike in a little-used rack behind the library.  The rack has a red metal spiral between two granite ends shaped like a Jack-in-the-box.  It's so cute that no one uses it.  Maybe my installation will encourage people to begin doing so.  Advance publicity stated that there will be a "quilted bicycle," which isn't accurate,although I may use an orphan square to fashion a seat.  So far, it's looking good, but the process is slow.  I worry about the effect of rain or morning dew.  Will it hold up?  

VQF

Mom, Jenny, and I went to the Vermont Quilt Festival Sunday, and it was great.  We arrived just in time for a gallery talk with Ruth McDowell, who is retiring from quilting (she says).   Because they're both non-quilters, Jenny and Mom really enjoyed hearing her talk about the process she used for her quilts, and I did, too, of course.  We looked at some of the contest quilts, then had lunch, and then looked at more contest quilts.  I also enjoyed seeing the antique quilts, some of which had hanging sleeves sewn by me.  Here's my favorite quilt:

It's really eight quilts showing a slightly different view of the same view.  Each could be a quilt in and of itself.  It won a third place ribbon, but I really enjoyed the slightly different techniques used in each panel, especially the sky.

We didn't have much time to visit vendors, which is fine since I have plenty of fabric.  I did get a couple of patterns for those little zippered bags - pea pods and another style - that use just one side of the zipper bent in half.  I also bought some aloe cream from a very persistent saleswoman.  If you see a "Hawaiian Moon" vendor at another show, run away fast!  It's very nice but I've got enough to last me a very long time.

Full on summer

We have had the best weather these last few days - bright blue skies, warm, breezy, not too hot (unless you're in the direct sun).  I have had to water flowers outside, but things are growing well.  Paul washed the house Friday while I vacuumed the basement, in anticipation of Mom and Jenny's visit.  They're arriving Tuesday for a week, and on Fri/Sat. Jermine and Christine arrive from Curacao and Nederland.  They'll be staying at Maplecroft.  We hope they'll enjoy being able to walk downtown and seeing our old house.

Yesterday I taught the second applique class which went very well.  One quilter had done more homework than assigned and had her floral block almost all prepped over the last two weeks.   The other had had some family emergencies so hadn't prepped much.  She cut some things out with her die cutter but they weren't quite what was needed.  That was OK since it gave us an opportunity to review freezer paper applique, making templates, etc.  I focused the session on vines, leaves, and circles, and we had a very nice time sewing together.   It was hard to get them to leave - always a good sign.

I had brought a few sample items, including two quilts.  Thinking back, one could have started with the heart-shaped applique but the other really needed the melon shape.  At the end, I showed my Hawaiian applique UFO and then demonstrated reverse applique.  Since both require needleturn, the two ladies said that would be on their bucket list after they feel more confident.  They both asked me to keep them informed about future Calico County Quilters meetings since they enjoyed the sewing time together.  A final bonus was the check I received for the two classes - really unnecessary except that it will most likely be spent at the quilt shop anyway!

Today we're off to the Vermont History Expo where I'll be volunteering in the bookstore for the morning.  There are always interesting exhibits and friends from around the state to check in with.

Getting my steps in

It was a rainy weekend, so a nice time to do a little hand sewing.  My small quilt group was "homeless" for its June meeting, so I invited them here.  Only two people came (it's a busy time of year with high school graduations and such), but we had a nice bee anyway.  I got a few Lafayette Orange Peels sewn and/or prepped.  Whatever this will end up being is coming together quite quickly.

At last week's applique class, one person asked if I could show how to finish the block I designed, so this week I hope to get it machine quilted, just to show how applique can be handled.  I think it will end up as a pillow anyway.  Yesterday I basted the parts of the same block which I will use for the next class, since this was their homework.  It wouldn't do for the instructor not to do the homework!

We did get in another forest walk in between raindrops yesterday.  Walking with Samantha is always interesting because she notices things I don't always see.  This time it was a variety of amazing fungi growing on trees.  The small group had a good time.  One of our newbies was the guy who owns the comic book/collectible card shop.  He was a favorite of Chris' when he was growing up.  These walks are a fun way of meeting new people and sharing our enthusiasm for the forest, the views, and the history of the abandoned quarries.  AND I got in almost 8,000 steps Sunday!

Lots of distractions

We started our Tuesday morning walks in the Town Forest this week.  It rained a little early but more held off until later in the day.  There were plenty of wet spots after Sunday's day-long rain, but we took a route that I know to be dry.  We had three newcomers who seemed to enjoy themselves.  One was confused by the map and wanted to follow along.  I forget the names of the trails over the winter, so I had to refresh my memory.  I hope they don't think I don't know where I'm going.  This is the fourth year of our walks, so I do know the 355 acres pretty well.  It was great to see some of our walking friends again.

When we got home, our cleaning ladies were busy across the street so we knew they were imminent.  Paul hates to be here when they come - our house immediately seems tiny with three people vaccuuming, dusting, cleaning, etc.  So it was a good time to look for a new-to-us car since our Honda CRV needs extreme repair or replacement.  It has served us well.  We test drove a Toyota RAV4 and liked it, but we weren't ready to commit.  After lunch, we stayed home, and I appliqued a few more Lafayette's Orange Peel blocks.  They are a great ongoing pick up project, and I need to prepare a few more.

Wednesday morning, I had a library board meeting followed by yoga, so in the afternoon I sewed the binding onto the quilt that came back from the quilter's.  If it ever stops raining, I'll set up the quilt rack (it's bed-sized) and take some photos.  Love it!  We got back to car shopping yesterday and tried a few Hondas, both the new HRV and a used CRV.  Now to make a decision...

A work in progress

Please forgive the wierd angle of this photo.  It is on top of a finished quilt which makes taking a photo a bit deceptive.  I may have shown you this round robin quilt after it came back to me.  I started with the very simple center block, using parts of a charm pack from Moda's "Lady Slipper Lodge" fabric line.  I added various coordinating scraps and sent it on its way to four other quilters from an online group.  They made the succeeding rounds, and the quilt came back to me about a month ago.   I love the variety that comes from a group project, and this group is one of the best - careful, timely, precise.

I spread the top out on the bed in my sewing room and then spent a lot of time looking at it, trying to figure out what to do next.  It measured 42" square when it arrived home, and I don't really have much use for a wallhanging here.  So I decided on the 8" "Indian Hatchet" squares from www.quilterscache.com.  This necessitated searching online for more "Lady Slipper Lodge" fabric which I found on www.etsy.com.  Both the yardage and another charm pack arrived quickly, and I had enough fabric from another coordinating line to make the plain border (really a wide "coping strip").

The top now measures 65" square.  Three plain borders of varying sizes - green, off-white print, and purple prints - should finish it to about 80".  I will quilt it myself, albeit slowly, and I hope to cut a wavy edge after quilting.  It looks very summery to me but perhaps that's just my own perspective.  We've had some hot weather lately and even put the air conditioning in the sewing room.  That's where I'll be if we get another heat wave.