Sewing a Binding for Slow Sunday Stitching

I finally made and sewed the binding to the front of Everyday Patchwork last week and began the slow task of stitching it down on the back last Thursday.  I think I stitched an inch or two then, but today, I hope to stitch more while watching the Memorial Day celebration on PBS. 

I also plan to add a few more quilting stitches to Parsonsfield. I tried to add a photo but Blogger seems not to want to let me share a photo with you. I guess I'll post that another time or when it's finished.

I hope you're having a pleasant and restful Sabbath and have a good Memorial Day tomorrow (for those living in the U.S.)

I'm linking this post to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts. Thanks for hosting, Kathy.

--Nancy.

Straight from the Quilting Hoop

At long last and with not much time to spare for my April One Monthly Goal, the quilting on my version of Cheri Payne's Everyday Patchwork is finished!

I first posted about this quilt in June, 2018, when I began making blocks.  Gosh, that's a lot of years!  I'm glad it's almost finished.

It is quilted with Baptist Fans, beginning at the bottom right side of the quilt and finishing across the top from right to left. I always wish the top edge of the Fans would end a quarter inch from the top edge of the quilt because I think the lower vertical edges of the Fans don't look quite right.  (You can click to enlarge this photo and see what I'm talking about.)  I suppose most people, including me, don't notice after the quilt is completely finished.

I have a question for you quilters who are reading.  When you cut the batting and backing edges off a top that's been quilted, do you cut along the quilt's edges or do you use a straight edge and a square at the corners to make sure the quilt is square?  I never have but I also notice that sometimes my quilts are not square, with one side or end a little longer than the other.  I'm just wondering what you do.  Thanks for responding (if you do).

I'll post details about this quilt after it's bound, washed, and dried.

I'm linking this post to
  >  April One Monthly Goal Finish Link Up at Stories from the Sewing Room
  >  Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.

One Monthly Goal Finish for March, Declaring a Goal for April

My One Monthly Goal for March was to hand quilt 3 more rows of Baptist Fans across this quilt, Everyday Patchwork. 

I met that goal by the end of the first two weeks in March, but my fingers were sore.  I took a little break, then continued quilting, and now, today, have finished 4½ rows of fans.  (I hoped for 5 or 6 rows but wasn't fast enough.) 

I'm so close to the top, to the finish!  So I'm setting April's One Monthly Goal as quilting 2-2½ more rows (or how many ever it takes) to finish this quilt.  I'm sure I can do that!

When I read others' progress posts for either hand or machine quilting a large quilt, I usually can't see the progress (unless there are a lot of photos) but I'm always cheering for the person posting.  Quilting takes a lot of time and effort.  When I'm the one doing the hand quilting, it's always so evident to me exactly how far along I am on the quilting.  I suppose that's because I'm so close to the quilt, the one doing the stitching, making the progress.  

I'm linking this post to
> One Monthly Goal Finish Link Up at Stories from the Sewing Room. 
> April One Monthly Goal at Stories from the Sewing Room
Thank you for hosting, Anne-Marie.

--Nancy.

Nearly Three More Rows on Everyday Patchwork

My One Monthly Goal for February was to hand quilt two rows of Baptist Fans on Everyday Patchwork.  I'm pleased to have finished nearly three rows.  I think I have three fans left to get to the end of the third row.  Maybe I can quilt them tonight and tomorrow before the end of the month.

In the photo above, you can see that I have a little more than two more rows of blocks plus the top border before the quilting will be done.  So I'm already setting my One Monthly Goal for March:  to hand quilt three rows of Baptist Fans.

I'm marking the fans with Prismacolor colored pencils, using a yellow/cream color on the darks,

and a dark green on the lights. (In the photo above you can see that my new phone's camera creates garish colors!)

I've used these colored pencils to mark quilts before and the colors have washed out. The green seems to be lightening as I quilt but I'm feeling a little concerned that it won't wash out completely.  I'll have to use cold water for the first wash.

In case you missed it in the paragraphs above, my One Monthly Goal for March is to hand quilt three more rows on Everyday Patchwork.

I'm linking this post to
> February One Monthly Goal Finish Link Up for my finish and March One Monthly Goal for March's goal.  Both at Stories from the Sewing Room. 
> Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
Thank you for hosting, Anne-Marie and Alycia.

--Nancy.

Tipping over the Edge of Halfway - One Monthly Goal

I'm so sorry for more photos of this quilt so soon.  When I'm working on only one or two quilts or projects it's hard to share something new with every post.

I finished hand quilting to the middle of this quilt today, or just above the middle.  In the photo below it's to the middle of the fourth row of blocks counting from the top of the quilt, the row with the pink and white skinny plus block. 

I considered quilting from the top down on the rest of the quilt so the fans would meet near the middle.  But when I quilt from an edge the fabric seems to shift forward ever so slightly, so I've decided I should probably keep going the direction I've been quilting.  Why risk a small mound of fabric in the center of the quilt?  I'm not sure why that happens.

My monthly goal for February is to hand quilt two rows of fans across this quilt.  I think I should be able to accomplish that.

On a health note, my vertigo seems to be gone--has been gone for longer than a week.  I can't tell you how happy that makes me.  The physical therapist recommended that I continue the eye and balance exercises the rest of my life!  Vertigo is one of the maladies that, once you've had it, can return unexpectedly at any time.  The exercises aren't so bad and they only take a few minutes.

I'm linking this post to
> February One Monthly Goal at Stories from the Sewing Room and
> Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia's Quilts.
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.

Slow Stitching Today

After debating with myself for a week or so, I decided to participate in Ann Wood Homemade's 100 Day Stitch Book.  The idea is 15 minutes a day of slow stitching for 100 days (or 5 days/week) on 20 pages of fabric cut to 5½" x 7".  I like the idea of play and lack of rules.  And small.  No grand effort to make a whole quilt.  I thought, I can stitch 15 minutes five days a week.

I've finished two pages (the second of which is a little too pink in the photo),  and am in progress with the third.   Changes will happen to this page, below.

Ann works improvisationally, places fabric, stitches it, then adds to it.  (But participants can create by whatever method they like.)  I like her idea of "yes, and?"  No mistakes, no pressure, just visual and needle play.  I'm not second-guessing myself, not removing stitches, just choosing, cutting, and arranging fabric, then stitching, and there's lots of play involved with the choosing, cutting, and arranging.

I won't be stitching on the stitch book today but I will likely be quilting a few more fans on Everyday Patchwork.  I'm nearly half finished!

I'm linking this post to Slowing Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Kathy.

I hope you all have a great Sunday!

--Nancy.

Marking was the Right Thing This Time

I lost momentum on Everyday Patchwork about a year ago and the hand quilting stalled. 

Now that I'm using colored pencils to mark several fans, I can just sit and quilt without the interruption of having to mark as I go.  Yes!  I'm no longer stalled on this quilt.

I love using these homemade templates, imperfect as they are.

I'm almost halfway finished.  I started quilted rows from across the bottom, upward toward the center.  I'm thinking of turning the quilt around and marking from the top to the center, then finish by quilting the fans in arcs from the sides to the center.  If anyone notices, it will be something interesting for them to wonder about.

My vertigo has been gone for a week!  Hooray!  I'm so very grateful.  I hope it doesn't return.  Having vertigo after a knee replacement prevented good improvement on my balance and gait.  Physical therapy will help so I will finish the few weeks of appointments. 

I continue to have the months-long headache.  The doctor thought it might be one of my prescriptions so she asked me to stop it for two weeks and see.  It's been 10 days and the headache persists.  It may be that my eyes need a new prescription for glasses (appointment scheduled).  Since nothing else has helped, I hope that's it.  Also, sadly, my body chose stress-induced sciatica for the next challenge.   Ouch!  It's not as painful as the last time I had it but still painful.  If I can manage the stress the sciatica will go, and it has been slowly decreasing.  One of these days I should be back to or better than the old normal.

I'm linking this post to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Thank you for hosting, Kathy.

--Nancy.

Dreaming of Possibilities in 2025

I might see these in my dreams but I'm not promising myself progress on any or all of them.  Since what these need is so clear cut (except for Bramble Blooms), it makes sense I should be able to do something to move them forward to become finish tops or quilts.  But then there is life....

These are quilts I might possibly work on/play with in 2025, in no particular order.

Blue (+ brown) and lights blocks

My idea with these blocks was centers with a square set straight or on point surrounded by a square set the other way, etc.  But no stars.  I chose blues and lights but when Lizzy of Gone to the Beach sent an antique brown block, I decided to incorporate several more brown blocks.  The blocks will finish at 12" and I intend to use fabric in the pink/coral range for sashing and border.  Four across will make a quilt about 65-67 inches wide.  The challenge will be the length.  Five blocks down will finish between 81-83 inches.  Add one more block to the length and it will finish at about 93 inches which is perhaps a little too long.  I intend to make square-in-square cornerstones. The patterns for all of these blocks came from Judy Hopkins's book, 501 Rotary-Cut Quilt Blocks.from where I learned that the same pattern may have different names depending on the color arrangement.  Anyway, I need to make either three or seven more blocks.

Bramble Blooms

Dear, dear Bramble Blooms.  What a failure I made of my first effort.  I unstitched all but the center and a narrow border I'd added.  My fabrics are still in stacks and I hope to get back to this soon.

rose fabric squares

I've cut about half the number of squares I need for the quilt.  My intention was a one-patch but other ideas keep popping into my head.  What about a few subtle stars?  What about applique?  What about a border around each block?  What about . . . ?  I have a length of toile with children in old-fashioned clothing, playing old-fashioned games, also with beautiful bouquets of roses which might work for the back. 

Everyday Patchwork

The quilting is in progress.  I just need to make progress--stitch and get it done.

scrappy stars in mostly the red range

I'm using these 6" stars as leader/enders, except when I'm not.  Cutting takes time....  Still debating layout and size.  Rows with sashing?  Alternate plain squares?  On point or straight set?

little 9-patch in autumn colors

This is also a leader/ender and, again, cutting takes time.  I have plenty of scraps to cut.  Layout and size yet to be determined.

100 Day Stitch Book
I don't have a photo for this because I haven't decided whether to participate or not. Ann Wood Homemade hosts the 100 Day Stitch Book sew-along in which we cut fabric pages, stitch on them for 15 minutes every day for a week (or five days), then move to the next page.  Most of the finished books are not just stitches but have layers of fabric stitched in place. The appealing things about this are the aspect of play and that turned fabric edges are not necessary.

Will I have time? (It begins on Friday, January 17 and ends in April.)  Will I have the energy or the focus or the concentration?  I certainly have plenty of fabric for this.

I was looking online about vertigo and someone asked why he or she was so tired.  The responder said the brain is working harder than usual to try to keep the person balanced.  I translate that as, I wouldn't be so tired if I stayed in bed all day.  However, that would absolutely not be good for me or my muscles, and I think both the doctor and physical therapist would agree.  But it's sure tempting some days....

Another possible time limitation will be trying to sort and clear out some of the things in our home.  Changes will be coming but I'm not sure when.  We have too much stuff!

Yesterday it snowed.  It was cold and beautiful.

Today, well, this afternoon, it's much colder even though we have clear skies and sun.  I sometimes think how bored I would be if every day were the same, always summer or always winter.  I love living in a temperate climate.  How about you?  Do you love the climate where you live?


Wishing you a good day!
--Nancy.

Trying for Normal and Baptist Fan Templates for Everyday Patchwork

One of the quilts I've been thinking about while I've been trying to get past vertigo is this Everyday Patchwork.  I was hand quilting it and had finished about a fourth to a third of it, then lost interest.  I wondered why.  I normally enjoy hand quilting but this quilt stalled—maybe for a year—so I've been hoping to get going on it again.  Maybe not right away, though, because hand stitching and vertigo aren't exactly friends.

I had been marking each arc with pins before quilting and wondered if that was the problem.  I decided to make templates so I could mark several fans at a time, or even a whole row. 

I know I can buy ready-made plastic templates but I wanted one with the arcs 1 1/4" apart.  I finally settled on using cardboard (maybe from a cereal or cracker box), using a protractor to make partial circles, each a 1 1/4" larger than the previous. 

You can see the results here.  They aren't evenly spaced!  The outer and inner circles are just the right size but the middle one is a little small.  I decided to either shift its template toward the larger arc or quilt on the outside of the line to even the distance between all three arcs.  I used Prismacolor pencils to draw the lines on the fabric.  It has washed out on other quilts so I think it will be fine.  In fact, it may be too fine because part of several lines disappeared before I finished tracing several arcs.  I also have some washable Crayola markers to try if the Prismacolors don't work.

Trying to do what I normally do while living with vertigo is no small challenge.  I feel like my body is being held hostage, limiting me in so many ways.  And the constant headache doesn't help, either.  I went for an MRI yesterday and to a physical therapist today.  After some tests, the PT confirmed that it's not positional vertigo and is likely vestibular neuritis just as the ENT doctor thought, though the PT also said that it could be caused by something else but wouldn't know until we see whether the exercises he prescribed help or not. 

He suggested that if some particular actions (lying down, looking up) make me dizzy or feel like I'm spinning, I should repeat the movements at least several times, waiting for the dizziness/spinning to stop before repeating.  The idea is that this will retrain my brain.  Crazy!

This beautiful frozen kale greeted me on my way into physical therapy today.  Flowers in the snow!

We had a beautiful snow, though it happened at night so I didn't get to see it falling.  It was only about 4" but because it's so cold, it's lingering.  I love it!

I hope you have a good weekend.
--Nancy.

Slow Sunday Stitching

Today I'll be appliqueing this block.  The two stems on the right are finished and I just started stitching the stem on the left.  I fold over and pin pieces (the leaf and the flower) if they're in the way.  After the stems are stitched, I'll finish the inside of the basket handle, then sew the leaves, and finally the flowers.

I'm amazed at the detail an enlarged photo will show compared to what I see through my glasses.  I was surprised to realize that some of the pins look like they are rusty!  What?!  I can't feel the rust with my fingers nor see the rust when I look at them.  I suppose I should get rid of those pins, don't you think?  Leave them in longer than a week and I'll have a rusty zinnia.  (If you want to see, you can click the photo to open it in another tab, then click again to enlarge.)

I may also continue quilting Everyday Patchwork.  I haven't put a stitch in this for several weeks, at least.

I was going to post last week for Slow Sunday Stitching but didn't manage it.  Below is the block I was stitching, which is now finished.  (Though no photo of its finish.) 

I added another leaf on the right side of the stem on the right.

I don't see any rusty pin in this block, below.

It seems that summer has waltzed into town.  We've had a beautiful, relaxed, and slow early spring.  Lately the temperatures have been in the mid-60s and low 70s, but today it's in the 80s, and probably will be for the next week or so, if my weather app is correct.  It's time for short sleeves, at least for now.  It could be in the 50s again in two weeks.

I'm sorry to have learned of the death of one of my blogging friends.  Susan Nixon, who blogged at Desert Sky Quilts, passed away last week.  She'd fought cancer for several years.  Rest in peace, Susan.  Maybe you knew her?

I'm linking this post to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Click through to see others' handwork.  Thanks for hosting, Kathy.

--Nancy.

One Monthly Goal Finish for January

My monthly goal for January was to finish hand quilting one more row of fan on Everyday Patchwork. 

This is the end of that row.  (I quilt fans from right to left.)  I think I calculated/estimated how many more rows I have to quilt but I can't remember.  I just know I need to pick up the speed or the amount of time quilting so I can finish this quilt sooner than later!

I'm linking this post to January One Monthly Goal Finish at Stories from the Sewing Room.

Thanks for hosting, Anne-Marie.

--Nancy.

Slow Sunday Stitching and One Monthly Goal

I keep having to remind myself: 

     A quilt won't get finished unless I stitch it.

I've been unmotivated for a few months now.  (I didn't set a monthly goal in November or December.)  But I need to keep going with Everyday Patchwork or I'll never finish it.  (And yes,  you've seen that Maple Star block before.  I guess I keep posting it because I love it?)

My goal for January is to finish the row of Baptist Fans I'm currently quilting and quilt one more row of fans across the quilt.  That will finish the quilting on two rows of blocks.  (And I've been at this for months and months!)

If I have minutes to stitch today I'll have this quilt in my hands. 

I'm linking this post to
> Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts and
> One Monthly Goal at Stories from the Sewing Room
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

--Nancy.

Quilting Everyday Patchwork

I really like this Maple Star and it's wonderful scrappiness.

It's one of the blocks in the second-from-the-bottom row of Everyday Patchwork.

You can hardly tell from the photo that I met my goal of finishing a row of hand quilting.  In fact, I finished one row (I was about a third of the way along it), then finished another complete row, and am beginning the next row.  That gets me to only the second row of blocks.  I really have to pick up the pace -- faster quilting or more time quilting -- if I want to finish this quilt any time in the next year.

The weather has gotten colder here with a chilling wind.  When I looked out the window just a few minutes ago I saw snow on the ground and it's still snowing!  I believe this is the earlier snow I can remember in my life in Ohio.  It's crazy!

I'm linking this post to October One Monthly Goal Finish Link Up at Stories from the Sewing Room.  Thank you for hosting, Anne-Marie.

--Nancy.

A Row of Fans: One Monthly Goal

I think I've been quilting Everyday Patchwork since the middle of August and have made only a little progress--just two rows of fans across the bottom.  If I continue at the rate I've been going the quilt won't be finished until next year around this time.  If it had dense quilting I would be satisfied, but I'm quilting Baptist Fans at 1¼" apart!  Definitely not dense quilting.

When I was quilting the border, it was easy going, though I needed more and better light than usual.  Now that I'm quilting the blocks, the seams make it a little challenging. 

I admire all the finished quilts others post on their blogs and decided that if I want to get this quilt finished, I need to dedicate more time to quilting it.  Finishing one row of Fans will be my One Monthly Goal for October.

I'm linking this post to October One Monthly Goal at Stories from the Sewing Room.  Thanks for hosting, Anne-Marie.

--Nancy.

Slow Sunday Stitching

I have a choice of two things to stitch today.  Or maybe I'll stitch a little on both.

First is this little plaid basket with bright zinnias.

I haven't taken a single stitch on this block yet and before I do, I'll reevaluate the placement of the parts.  Do I like that stem in the middle?  Are its leaves a good size?  Does the flower on the right need a few leaves?  Does the flower on the left need another leaf?  Those kinds of questions.  I always begin by stitching the stems and I think the ones on the right and left are in good shape for me to stitch today.  (It's just the middle on that's in question.)

Second is hand quilting Everyday Patchwork.

I've quilted only one row of fans across the width of the quilt.  I like how the green thread mostly disappears.  For some reason, it's easy for me to do other things instead of hand quilt if there's not something to watch on TV or a book to listen to..  But I want to make progress on this so perhaps a few fans will be just thing thing for today.

I'm linking this post to Slow Sunday Stitching at Kathy's Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Kathy.

--Nancy.

P.S.  Blogger is currently not sending comments to my email.  If you leave a comment (and I hope you do!), I'll respond here on the blog and if I know your email address I'll respond directly to you. 

Everyday Patchwork--August One Monthly Goal Finish

My version of Cheri Payne's Everyday Patchwork is finally layered, pin-basted, and quilting is in progress.  That was my One Monthly Goal for August.

Of course, now I can see how some blocks could have been placed differently.

I deliberated what quilting pattern to use.  I'd been leaning toward Baptist Fans and finally made the decision to go with three arcs per fan, each about 1¼" apart.  I've never marked the fans before and I didn't really want to this time, but I always feel uncertain about the irregularity of my freehand/free motion hand quilted arcs.  I found encouragement in this article, "How-to Quilt it Freehand," by Joe Cunningham at Threads magazine.  My arcs will never look like his, but then this is a primitive-style quilt in which perfection is not expected, right?

Quilt beginnings with dark green thread, right through the appliques.  Will I like it?  I don't know but I wanted to try all-over quilting on an appliqued quilt.

I love the combination of teals, dark greens, and greens-leaning-toward-blues.  Cheri used black for her background but I just couldn't do it.  These dark greens were the closest to black I could find on my shelves that looked pleasing to me.

It's a wonder I'm getting anything done.  I have little energy and no motivation.  Maybe it's the heat.  Even with central air conditioning, the humidity and high dew point make themselves known.   I'm looking forward to fall and cooler weather.

Just for Fun....

My husband grew a small patch of sunflowers a number of years ago....  The centers, with their amazing symmetry, never fail to attract and hold my attention.

And our girl, Nona, tight-lipped and not thrilled to be the Airedale-of-interest for the camera.  (She is always thrilled to be the Airedale-of-interest in person and loves any bit of attention.)  This is one of the first photos in which she looked my way and held a pose.  I'm still working to help her adjust to being photographed.  

I'm linking this post to
> One Monthly Goal Finish Link-up at Elm Street Quilts
> Needle and Thread Thursday at My Quilt Infatuation
> Put Your Foot Down at For the Love of Geese
> Finished (or not) Friday at Alycia Quilts
> National Dog Day 2023 at Quilt Fabrication
Thanks for hosting, ladies.

I hope all is well in your part of the world!

--Nancy.

Next in the Que for Quilting: Everyday Patchwork

Don't quilters always have ques?  The quilts we want to make.  The quilts in progress to be finished.  The tops to be quilted, the tops to be bound....  We always have some quilt in the works at one stage or another.  Maybe not you, but I do!

Now that I'm sewing the binding on Flowers, it's time to get another top ready to quilt.  Since I have backing for my version of Cheri Payne's Everyday Patchwork, I'm getting that ready to layer and baste.

This is a bright, busy quilt.  I especially notice this when I contrast it with Flowers, which has large blocks with plain backgrounds.  Both are wonderful, just different.

I need to wash the backing fabric, which you can see at the bottom of the quilt in the photo above, then cut and sew it, press, and tape to the floor.  I like printed fabric for the back of a quilt but because this front is so busy, I thought a solid would be fine (especially because it was on sale at a really great price.)  The color is not exact to any that are in the top but close enough to work on the back.

I also need to cut out the fabric behind the appliques.  That's always stressful and requires great care so I don't cut into the fabric on the front.  Yikes!  I've done it before but not on a finished top.

This applique technique is not how I usually stitch, but is overhand stitching through the turned edges of the applique pieces.   (Sorry there's no photo of the front.)  I saw that Cheri stitched hers this way.  I don't know how well it will hold up to regular use including washing and drying.  I may end up having to restitch the appliques.  But I like the look of it for a more primitive quilt so decided it was worth a try.

My One Monthly Goal is to get this quilt layered and basted.  I'll be using Hobbs 80/20 cotton/poly batting for the first time.  So many others use and like it.  I hope I will, too.  That shouldn't take too long so I should include beginning to quilt as part of the goal.  I don't have a guess how to quilt it.  (Sometimes I don't know until the quilt is in the hoop and my needle is threaded, but I would rather make a decision before then.)  My go-to is often free-hand Baptist Fans but I'm not sure what fans might do for this quilt.  Diagonal lines?  Straight lines?  A different pattern for each block?  Ideas, anyone?

I'm linking this post to August One Monthly Goal Link-up at Elm Street Quilts.  Thanks for hosting, Patty and Anne-Marie.

On the AireGirl front
We finally chose the name Nona, pronounced with a long o.  I was concerned it might be confusing to her if I use "No" as a command, but so far there hasn't been a problem, maybe because there are very few times that I have to tell her "no."

She's still not a fan of the camera.  When she's sitting near me and I call her name, she looks, but when she sees the camera she looks away.

If I call her again, she looks even further away.  Any other little thing is so very interesting when someone has a camera pointed in her direction.

On the other hand, if she's investigating somewhere and I call her name, she comes racing.  Dear girl.

The weather has been hot and humid--too hot for paws on pavement, so few walks for Nona till the weather's cooler.

I'm grateful for central air that makes it comfortable to have a quilt over my lap while I stitch a binding.  I'm not yet halfway finished.

Thanks for visiting.  I hope you have a good weekend.
--Nancy.

Out and About & Buying Fabric Online

My daughter and I took two little jaunts a week or two ago, first to a corn maze and farm market and another day to Slate Run Farm, a living history Metro Park.  These are two photos of the corn maze we visited, just to walk through the corn field. 

I love pathways that are bordered on either side by arched trees, high shrubs, etc., and corn stalks.

I also love the expanse of corn stalks and sky in this photo. 

Toward the end of the week we went to Slate Run Farm where they plant, harvest, can, cook, and bake (among other activities) as they would have in the late 1800s.  Perhaps you can see the corn shocks at the end of this pathway to the barn?  They were harvesting corn when we were there.

We discovered a persimmon tree, sometimes called sugarplums.  They are beautiful little fruits.

They looked ripe and were soft to the touch so my daughter tasted one and quickly spit it out.  She said it was sweet but felt really dry.  We talked to a farm hand a little later and learned that persimmons are best eaten (or canned or turned into jam) when they're overly ripe and have fallen from the tree.  (Read more about them here.)

The most delightful find was this hazelnut seedpod. This one had four nuts in it.  The pods are connected at their base and face outward in different directions.

For some reason it made me think of ladies in frills, dancing in autumn-colored silk skirts.  Isn't it wonderful?  I brought two home to add to my collection of seed pods.  I don't know how long they will last.  They are fragile.

Last month Fat Quarter Shop had a sale on Confetti Cotton (which I notice has not increased in price even now in November).  Speaking independently here--no affiliation with Fat Quarter Shop or Riley Blake--I just love the feel of this particular solid fabric.  I was looking for a good teal to go on the back of Everyday Patchwork.

I chose Cape Verde, hopeful that it would be close to one of the sashing fabrics in the quilt.  (It's definitely a scrappy quilt, with three or four fabrics in the sashing.)  From the photo I thought it went really well.

The fabric arrived less than a week after I ordered it, but I couldn't bring myself to open the package.  Does anyone else feel apprehensive or uncertain about color choices when buying fabric online?  I think it's especially hard when I'm trying to find a fabric to go with a quilt I've already made.

The color of the Confetti Cotton is not quite the same as at the FQS website, not as intense and it seems a little more blue than teal, but I think it will work okay for a back.  I hope this quilt will be up next for hand quilting but I won't get to it till next year since I just started quilting Flowers.  Still, it will be good to have a quilt ready for the hoop as soon as the previous one is finished.

We're having beautiful autumn days this week but the forecast for the end of the week is rain on Friday and daytime temperatures in the 40s.  It'll be time for my silk underwear soon!

Thanks for visiting.
--Nancy.