Did you ever see the movie "The Legend of Bagger Vance"?
As movies go, it's probably never going to be regarded as highly as "Citizen Kane" but I've always liked it. The point of this is that there are a couple of times in the story where Rannulph says "it was a long time ago" and he's told "it was just a moment ago".
I've always loved how time feels that way...
So really... it's only been a few minutes since I was last here.
:::snort:::
Okay. It all sounded pretty good in my head.
I know. I know. I didn't think I'd been quite so lax about checking in, and it wasn't like I hadn't thought about you. I'm just a twit and I'd think of you in the middle of the night - it's after 11 pm now - and then I wouldn't have any pictures I could think of. But when friends started asking me if I was ever going to blog again... and when friends were checking in via e-mail to make sure we were okay... here I am.
Rosie is good. I'm good. Really. It's been hot - too hot. But I think that's mostly because we're both "getting up there in years" rather than anything dramatic happening with the mercury rising. Still, it's hot enough that we're both enjoying staying inside to sew.
And I have been sewing. A lot.
I've had some bindings to attach as a couple of quilt tops have been quilted...
Shower Shuffle. Miss Cupcake and I made these quilts over the Christmas holiday last year using Camille-Thimbleblossom's video 25 Half-Square Triangle Blocks and her April Showers fabrics. Abby Latimer did the beautiful quilting, a design called Three Tours Wavy Stripe.
And Cleone Levos quilted my Nested Churn Dash using a design called Modern Curves or Modern Eccentric. I just call it "that one I really love".
Oh! The last time I was here, I said I'd check back in when my single block Nested Churn Dash was quilted... well, voila!
"Organic" Straight Lines. My favorite kind - it's a polite way of saying "they're not even or straight, and no, I didn't intend them to be that way, thank you."
I finally decided on bindings for both so they're also on the stack of "quilts to finish binding". As you can guess, sitting under a quilt isn't exactly the most appealing way to spend a summer evening in Arizona. But they'll get done.
As for the sewing... some of it has been "just because I felt like making that".
Purple Letter Day. (Red Letter Day pattern by that Thimblegirl.) I bought these Art Gallery Rock 'n Romance FQs a few years ago and I kept hanging on to them because I really liked the collection. They're not "me" in any way - they're purple. It isn't that I don't like purple, I just like it best in other people's quilts. Then it's perfect. But I really liked this fabric. And this quilt was perfect for it... I mean it still is, but it would have been more perfect but for a little "oops". I learned that I really shouldn't do my cutting late at night. You see, I had two stacks of FQs - one for the HTSs and one for the Nine-Patches and Rails. And I mixed them up and reversed my stacks. Oops. The funniest part is that even with the goof, I really love this quilt. Go figure! I promise a better picture - yeah, yeah, hope springs eternal - when it's been quilted.
One last thing - I love this Red Letter Day pattern. I know I'm going to make it again. Soon. Maybe over the Christmas holiday.
I finished my "Project 48" quilt - the one I was supposed to work on an hour a week until it was done. I didn't really keep to that schedule but who cares? It's done. It measures about 66" x 74" and I used a big stack of Daiwabo FEs I bought years ago. Because I wanted the fabrics to be the star of this show, I went with a simple-ish kind of design. While I made my quilt all-scrappy and changed the size of the diamond, my inspiration was Zipper by Miss Thimble - again. How do you say Zipper in Japanese?
Do you remember these blocks? They've been an ongoing project for about a year and I finally got them all finished - all 210 of them. This is what they looked like on the design wall. The quilt is finished and it won't be published until next year, it's going to be included in a book that's in the works. (More on that soon - I promise.)
Have you been hearing about the Cotton & Steel fabrics? They debuted at Spring Quilt Market and are finally arriving in stores. I'd managed to get some at Sample Spree in Pittsburgh and after deciding that I really loved the way it looked all together, I decided on something a little different...
I'm calling this quilt Ten Penny.
This is as far as this project has gotten - but since I can't show you the quilt I made for my very last Quilts 'n More Scrap Lab project, these will have to do.
And because I do have to occasionally do something that might possibly resemble "work"... I've been finishing patterns. The writing part.
The big patterns are done.
Seven Letters - Crop Circles - Freddy - Sugarboo. You can find them here.
And the four new Schnibbles patterns are almost done... they should be ready next week.
Zoom - Double Dutch - Harvey - Gertie. And they're all big - at least 68" x 68".
So life is good. Life is busy. Life is life.
I just wish it wasn't so hot... and no, cool weather is not just a moment away.
Great to hear from you! Love the quilts.
Posted by: JuliaP | July 17, 2014 at 04:02 AM
You've been busy! I enjoyed seeing your quilts.
Posted by: Laura | July 17, 2014 at 04:58 AM
My brain just exploded with inspiration!
Posted by: Vicky | July 17, 2014 at 05:03 AM
Wow, you really have been busy! Lots of eye candy in your post today. I love all your new patterns and can't wait for the Schnibbles, too. And a book! Can't wait to hear more. Do you need any stunt sewers? :)
Posted by: Lisa D. | July 17, 2014 at 08:09 AM
So glad you two are well. You have been VERY BUSY! I LOVE your new patterns. I may have to make "Gertie" in honor of my grandma - Gertrude (but don't call her Gertie):)
Posted by: ColleenM | July 17, 2014 at 09:05 AM
Thank you for blogging! So much eye candy.
Posted by: Laura | July 17, 2014 at 10:26 AM
I am so excited! Just saw the shipping notice on the club from FQS! Which means I'll be cutting this weekend for Seven Letters! So glad I have been collecting those wonderful low volume/contract pieces. I pushed ahead on my Project 48 too. I need to add the top and bottom border and it can go off to the quilter. Now we're a few weeks past a Project 24 but maybe I can challenge my friend Vicky to Schnibbles in 20 weeks. Thanks for all the inspiration Carrie and big hugs to Rosie.
Posted by: Mary Ann | July 17, 2014 at 12:06 PM
We went to Seattle for a few days and it was 59 in the am and 80 something later. Brr.
Posted by: Pam | July 17, 2014 at 06:58 PM
Well, cool weather IS just a moment away if you pop on a plane! I needed a sweatshirt this morning -- it was only 58 outside -- come north for the summer!
It looks like you've been on a BIG finishing roll. Your quilts are all beautiful -- Well Done!!!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | July 18, 2014 at 05:27 AM
It IS good to see you post again. I have been keeping up with you in Instagram. Your quilts, and your visits to eating establishments and (snort) your snacks.......... oops maybe that was for Rosie ;-) Anyway, it's always fun to catch up with you.
Posted by: Jocelyn | July 18, 2014 at 05:47 AM
I just got back from visiting relatives from 2 - 92, well actually several in their 90s!! I am really ready to get back to sewing! I've also got some bindings calling me!
You've been missed - me thinks you like IG :)
Posted by: Linda P | July 18, 2014 at 05:55 AM
Great post Glad everyone is fine. Great quilts, as always you have out done yourself. Such worthy quilts you have shared.
Give Rosie a hug for me.
Posted by: jane | July 18, 2014 at 06:27 AM
I just got the Red Letter Day pattern a couple of days ago...can't wait to make that quilt. Would love to make one like your Shower Shuffle, but a different line of fabric. My Daiwabo stash is still in the drawer, can't decide what to do with them, maybe put them with that new linen material, that's an idea?? My Cotton & Steel is ordered, just waiting on it to arrive...it's just that this darn full-time job gets in the way of my real passion, and that's quilting! Come on retirement, but still have several years to go!
Posted by: Deb | July 18, 2014 at 11:06 AM
Love then all! Great organic lines and Red Letter Day quilt, that's one of my favorite fabric lines cause it's so different.
Posted by: Anita | July 18, 2014 at 06:30 PM
With all the debate going on about whether blogs are dead I'm very pleased to see that yours is still breathing. I hope you won't give it up - you write so well. Looking forward to hearing more about the new book and I've added a "Seven Letters" to the "to do" list. Lynne.
Posted by: Lynne @ boutschoisis | July 18, 2014 at 11:09 PM
Glad you are ok, busy quilting along! I can't wait for ZOOM---it is my favorite of all of your new patterns. Churn dash has always been my favorite block!
Posted by: Susan | July 19, 2014 at 06:20 AM
I have the same thing with time moving oddly between blog posts...maybe it's somehow related to quilters who live with very cute dogs?
I love Ten Penny and can't believe how productive you've been! Rosie must be exhausted!
Posted by: Archie The Wonder Dog | July 19, 2014 at 12:16 PM
Love, love, love all of your quilts. Really love your Purple Letter Day -- purple is my favorite color. Every quilt should have purple in it!
Posted by: Kristi | July 20, 2014 at 08:28 PM
So glad to see you back online! I love the reasons you have been gone. You might even inspire me back to the sewing machine. Thanks Carrie for all the cyber love and inspiration. See you in your blog pages. :)
Posted by: Candace | July 21, 2014 at 06:24 PM
I love all of these quilts - and so glad to hear you're both doing well! I'm heading to your store to pick out some patterns!
Posted by: abby | July 28, 2014 at 12:08 PM
yes you certainly have been sewing a lot ..that green one is a knock out in my mind..being a 3 colour girl...I find that Classic...lovely ....and too hot..I never thought you would ever think it was too hot...here we are having 50-60 degrees...at the end of July and August for goodness sake...
thinking of you and Rosie and smiling...thanks for always leaving me with a smile..
Posted by: mdmsamm | August 03, 2014 at 02:30 PM