Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Did it just rain again?

Really I'm not an ungrateful sort of person, but if anyone out there would like some rain let us know -- Ohio is one of those parts of the USA that has been getting more than we need and I'm sure we'd be happy to share at least one rain storm with say southern California -- yikes!!
 
See that cute little yellow pan on the edge of the pond -- it was empty Friday,
but by the time it was safe to go outside again on Sunday morning, it had a good 3" of water in it.
That meant there was little choice except to sew all day Saturday!
Gordon helped me finish the quilting on this charity quilt. 
He keeps it from sliding off that end of the table?!?
On Sunday, I trimmed and bound it.  As I trimmed it, I was reflecting on how much I learn about machine quilting every time I finish another charity quilt. 
I did a great deal of straight line stitching to give it a graphic masculine feel.  I like the look of it, but it's a lot more work than free motion meander quilting. 
I should have done a bit more pre-stitching math to calculate line spacing on some areas of the quilt.  By the time I got all the green squares and triangles on the front filled with straight lines, I was bored, too.  So I switched to some free motion meandering and my spider webs. 
This top was my February stash busting project to create a donation quilt.  I used the Moda Love LayerCake Quilt pattern cutting my 10" squares from the green shelf.  The fall floral for the background has been in my hoard for over 10 years.  I'm not sure the "cute" panels do much for the quilt, but it's another lesson learned -- they are too close in value to the central green triangles.
But I did use a lot of green -- about 9 yards altogether!!
And the quilt will head down to eastern Kentucky with a local mission team in July spending a week working for the Appalachia Service Project.  I think it will be a good quilt for a man -- so often our charity quilts feel more like they should go to a child or a woman so I always try to get one or two manly ones organized. 
This is my fourth finish from the list of goals I set back in early April for the 2015 Finish-Along over at On the Windy Side.  I set eight target projects and while I didn't get four more finishes, I did make progress on three of them.  So I'll roll them forward into the third quarter at the top of the list!
 
Today's post is dedicated to Coal, my frequent companion over the past four years in the garden,
in the sewing room,
and around the neighborhood.   
One of my daughters and I live together. Coal was her dog but when she is working, he has been my dog.  We lost him rather suddenly Monday to a neurological disease that wasted his muscles. 
I will miss stepping over him on my way to the ironing board and our daily evening walks.
Rest in peace you old sweetie!!
 
Mary Huey
 
Linking up with all the other finishers at the


 
 

10 comments:

  1. What a nice idea to stash-bust with charity quilts. Your quilting looks great and it's a bonus to always learn something new when doing those quilts. So generous of Gordon to spend his free time helping you hold the quilt on the table :-)
    I just heard on the news last night that we've had somewhere in the neighborhood of 12" of rain in June. I'm in the Washington, D.C. area. So,, no thank you to your offer of additional rain.
    Lastly, but not least, my condolences on your loss of Coal. Always so sad to lose a faithful companion. They do have a way of moving into our hearts.

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    1. Thanks for visiting, Pat and your nice compliments!! I should check and see how much rain we've had this month!!

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  2. YES....please send some our way! If only.....

    So sorry to hear about your beloved buddy. They have a way of worming into your heart.

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    1. Thanks, Mom -- I just came down from my studio wondering where Coal had got to and then remembered, it will take some time.

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  3. I'm sorry to hear about Cole. It is so hard to say good-bye to a dear friend. We had to do the same thing last week for my Mom's cat Winnie. We have plenty of good memories and it looks like the same is true for Cole.

    Gordon is a very thoughtful and helpful cat. I have two and only one of them is interested in helping out when I quilt.

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    1. Thanks, Karen -- hate losing them but wouldn't be without our pets!!

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  4. I'm so sorry for your loss of Coal :-( It's a hard time

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  5. Can I say how sorry I am to read that you have lost Coal, we have always had our four legged doggie friends with us but boy is it hard when they leave us!
    I found your words on Building Momentum on Adrienne's blog (I live in NZ also) so very interesting and then hopped over here - definitely adding your blog to my list!

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  6. I am so sorry to hear about Coal. I am often sewing on my own, but I never feel lonely with a dog snoring on the floor.

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  7. The greens are lovely in your quilt and it is a perfect design for a man! So sorry to hear about your dog Coal.
    *Visiting as a member of the official 2015 Finish-Along cheerleading squad.*

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