Is the garage for a car?

The garage, oh my!  I like most of America have a two car garage that doesn't house a car.  If there is a car in the garage, let alone two you just can't move around.  No way to get to tools etc.  I have had my car in the garage a few times, but then I start a DIY house project and it gets moved out and never gets back in.  Well today was the day to make space!  The weather forecast is for possible snow...

The Before pictures.  Quite a mess!  A lot of this was boxes from Christmas and online shopping that needed to be broken down and recycled.  I like to save boxes to make sure I don't need to return an item, but then it just  laziness...I'll do it later.  My miter saw was out and there were shelves and lots of stuff that I had cleaned out of the house waiting to go to the Goodwill.  I was able to find someone who wanted the wood bookshelves and got them picked up. Win-win!

Loaded my car with boxes (8) for the Goodwill, put away stuff (as best I could) and took care of all the boxes.  Also loaded the stryofoam into the car to take to the recycling center. Volla!  There was space for my car.  It's a tight fit tho.  I can get out of the car but I can't walk around it...tradeoffs.

Took the loot to Goodwill and on the way home took a detour to the State Park near my home to watch the Sunset and walk Tula.  Lovely day, tide was really low!  I don't ever remember being at this park at low tide before.  Surprised at how far it went out.  Weather has been unseasonable warm in the 50's and today was a sunny day, a very big plus!

Hand stitching project

This is a top that I purchased off of eBay many years ago. I recently rescued it from a bin in my garage. It has twelve blocks set with sashing.

I think the blocks were made using trichem paints on an embroidery design. All the blocks are the same. I’m not sure I knew that when I was bidding. I believe I thought it was embroidered. That’s eBay.

It was all pin basted and two blocks were quilted. Initially I thought I would use it for practice on my HQ16. Well that never happened and I learned how to use the HQ16 in other ways. (Well, I’m still learning...seem to avoid that thing...story for another day)

So, in August I was starting my process of downsizing and I put it out at my garage sale along with the other 4 quilt tops I had “won” on eBay. No takers. 3 of the tops went to Goodwill, this one and another stayed behind for awhile longer.

I’m hand quilting this one. First time ever hand quilting. The original maker was using quilting thread in red and large stitches marked on the embroidery design. It just wasn’t doing anything for the quilt, in my opinion. So I’m using Aurifil 12 wt embroidery thread that I have used for redwork. Not quite a quilting stitch but not quite a big stitch either from what I can tell, but I’m happy with it. Not sure what I will do for the sashings.

I’m sure I’m breaking every rule for hand quilting. Just sort of making it up as I go. Tried using a
hoop but it didn’t work for me. It’s pin basted but I think it’s alittle sparse, I move a few extra pins to each block as I go.

Twelve blocks for the quilt. I’ve completed 5, starting #6.  I’m attempting to do at least 20 mins a day, it’s going to take a while.  I do see improvement in my work. It’s definitely not perfect but I am enjoying the process. I see myself finishing it...eventually.

The cats seem to like it. In fact Harley will come straight in from the wet and icky outside to hop in my lap when I’m working on it, dirty feet and all. I’m sure that is only because it is white...with a few paw prints. Hope it washes well!

Begin again?

Wow it’s been along time since I posted!  Actually I really kind of forgot I had a blog. I guess they don’t go away with inactivity. That’s good in a way, it’s been interesting to review the past. And sad too because even with my good intentions I’m pretty much in the same place with my house and quilting. That doesn’t mean there haven’t been changes...

Let’s see...the last post was the start of the Grand Allusion mystery. I didn’t keep up with it as intended, but that was a blessing of sorts. I really didn’t like the outcome on that quilt so I was able to adapt mine to a smaller version with some changes. It’s still a UFO...what a surprise...but it’s in the TBQ que.

The clutter around my house in general has lessened a bit. I participated in the challenge of 2017 and 2018 to rid myself of 2017 and 2018 items respectively. I was able to accomplish that and beyond and I can tell that there is some more space but there is still way too much stuff!  Especially when it comes to my quilting. My space is so crowded I do not like being in it and therefore have done very little sewing at home over the past several years. The sewing I do is limited to my quilt group meetings twice a month or so and quilt retreats, about 3 per year. Fairly stagnant I would say. I have slowed the acquisition pace, thank goodness!

Am I going to resume blogging?  I think I’ll give it a try. Having just retired a few months ago this is going to be a year of transitions. It will be a journal of the progress and I hope motivation to be mindful through the changes.