Another One Finished and Gone ~

Oh, how lucky am I to have the freedom to sew and donate to those in need.  This is just one of 15 quilts  delivered to CASA headquarters this morning.     Making quilts for others is a much more enjoyable way to spend time than getting into debates  over the who, what, when, where and why....and sometimes how? of  politics. 

Keeping it simple, this one is stitched with 5" squares that were donated to me.  Just the right size for a toddler to drag about or cuddle down with. 

My Town ~

It's quiet in my town this morning. 

What a wonderful feeling to have a finished quilt.....one that is heavily quilted in a random big stitch design.  Each evening  the quilting began, not knowing where it would start, where it would end.  Freedom to enjoy the hand-quilting moment. No cares, no stress, no critique. 

"My Town" a finished quilt by Marty Mason
Big stitch on Japanese Echino fabric
50" x 70"

Now that we've gone full circle and around the block in my town, sit down and rest a spell and have a wonderful day.

A good read ~

I've been reading more this summer than ever before and just finished the last Louise Penny in her Gammache series and I cried.....not while reading the book, but in her acknowledgments. 

You see, this book A Better Man was dedicated to her deceased husband's best friend, the dog Bishop.   Bishop passed away during the writing, leaving Ms. Penny alone. 

How do our animals know?  How desperately we can need a friend or someone who listens....truly listens to what's being said?   If you've ever had a dog, then you  know the dedication and depth of understanding and the comfort their presence provides. 

Here's looking at you, friend. 

Who am I?

Many faces, I wear.  But who am I?  Really?   A vulture!

Yes, that was my name for the day a couple of weeks ago.  Why:  because I took away a quilter's fabric to save it from being dumped curbside.  Yes, I did it then and will do it again.  Because I know that when I take, I also give back.  Of the 24 yards + of fabric, I made 24 pillowcases for community service and the remaining yardage went toward quilt backings for the children in need.  Enough.....

The quilting group finally got to meet last Thursday and what a pleasure it was to be among kindred spirits.  But lo, as the meeting was closing, the group leader laid a fat quarter at my fingertips.  The sane part of me wanted to scream "NO"  since there were knowing eyes upon me.  But the vulture won out.  With no shame, I came home with more than I took with me. 

My happy ending is that there is now a zippered pouch made from that fat quarter ready to be given back....hopefully with a smile. 
\

PS:  The leftovers are mine.  

Nattering About ~

My big outing for the week for which I showered, dressed, even applied makeup, was to go to the Farmer's Market.   Heat and humidity is humbling so it was a quick trip.  Tomatoes, cucumbers, cantaloupe and watermelon are still plentiful but there were no peas...perhaps this week, I was told.

Now comfortably dressed and back in the sewing room, I've been nattering about.....chatting idly......to some quilts in stages of finished or not  that have been stacked helter skelter for way too long.   Now I'm nattering to them and sorting into piles.

A pile that is quilted but needs binding.

 A  pile of finished quilt tops stacked with backing and batting - some pin basted....some not but all are screaming to be quilted.

A pile of quilt tops and backing but no batting. By far the largest stack!    Batting is on my 'to be ordered' list.  In the meantime, I really need to use some restraint here and play catch up! 

and finally those totally finished that needs to be fondled one more time, then put away until the next visit.

Perhaps I've been in seclusion too long!