Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Daisies

Happy SQI today! It's the end of March (a grandson's birthday) and we're all still in quarantine. This week I hope to add a few daisies (Shasta, maybe) to the garden of flowers that are thriving in the yard. And so, I thought that perhaps daisies would be a good theme for quilts. Guess what?! It is!

And because SQI must always have quilts, here are just a few that I discovered...

I suppose you could say we're doing great. When I think of the alternatives: a sick baby, a family member suffering from the Coronavirus-19, severe, pervading depression and so many other horrors that the world holds. I am grateful for our beautiful, healthy, God-fearing lives. I hope you and yours are all doing well and manage whatever quarantine rules have been recommended for your area. 

SLW quilt ~~ a finished top

I started this quilt in a Sherry Lynn Wood workshop back in November. Since it was a two day workshop, I brought home only the beginnings of something. I could not determine what that something was. Can you tell from this picture that I was not impressed? Thanks to my friend Glen of Quilts and Dogs for taking this shot when I was completely lost in my piece.

In January I challenged the Cotton Quilters' Guild to bring a difficult unfinished project to the next meeting. At that time we would each present the project and tell the group what our challenge was. In March we were to bring the project to show. The beauty of the idea was that everyone got to choose her own piece and decide for herself what she would try to accomplish. 

 For example, one lady brought in a completed top and challenged herself to have it quilted (though not necessarily completed). I brought in the "SLW mess" and challenged myself to figure it out and complete the top. In March I would show the top and challenge myself to quilt (or complete) it.

Since AHIQ (adhocimprovequilts.blogspot.com) was having an hourglass challenge, I decided to add a few hourglasses. That was the pivoting point. After that the pieces seemed to just make themselves. 

As you all know there have been all manner of crazy things happening in the world. The March meeting was a sewing room tour and, because of the Coronavirus, we won't meet in April. 

I decided that I would still meet the challenge and get it to a completed top for the beginning of April. But look at that messy confusion on the design wall. I needed a strategy. Back to AHIQ, of course. At one point we had a Chinese Coins challenge going...What if? 

   



I tested my theory and voila! If you have too much happening, separate the confusion. Calm it, slow it, sort it. Just do something to give the eye a way to see the ideas individually. I used every inch of the neutral. Otherwise I'd have made the top and bottom strips wider to make the quilt longer. I am much happier with it now, however. I'm not exactly looking forward to quilting it, but once it's on the longarm, something will happen.

Pin It Weekly #310

Welcome to PIW! 
My most recent pins have been additions to the "mixed, media" board.

These pins are from Susan Camata. I didn't translate, but I think we can all figure out what she likes, especially considering that this is one of eight sewing boards.

And these are from Dawn Hunton's "floral applique" board. Talk about inspiring!

Stay safe everyone. Remember, social distance helps to protect you and to avoid you from carrying the CoVid19 home to your loved ones. 

Face Masks ~~ finishes

Yesterday's SQI was about making cloth face masks for health care workers and patients since there appears to be quite a shortage. Today the president said there would be ample supplies shortly, including face masks. I won't argue with the president. I'll just say I've made a few masks and have plans to make more. 

These four are for my sister, Laura. Her chemo treatments wreak havoc with her immune system, and she must wear a mask every time she goes outside. 

I realize that she'll probably need to wear the CDC approved masks while in the clinic or hospital, but at home or in the car, she can wear one of these. Since she leaves home at least once or twice a week, this will help her to save masks for when she knows she'll encounter people.

These are two-sided so that she has twice the options. She loves flowers but may not always want flowers splattered across her face. Though now that I look at them again, the backs of two are tiny flowers. Well, they'll have to do since the envelope goes out tomorrow. I'm used this PDF pattern but I think I'll try this pattern to decide whether I like it more. Neither one looks difficult and the first ones sewed up pretty fast. Are you making face masks for family or organizations? Do you have a great pattern? Share a link in the comments.

Sunday Quilt Inspiration: Face Masks

With all the issues of the Coronavirus pandemic, running out of supplies seems to be in the forefront of the news. The situation is expected to become much worse in the coming months. Makers can help alleviate the problem:


 "In settings where facemasks are not available, HCP might use homemade masks (e.g., bandana, scarf) for care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort. However, homemade masks are not considered PPE, since their capability to protect HCP is unknown. Caution should be exercised when considering this option. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face.” Forbes

It occurred to me that if medical personnel are having trouble finding masks, ordinary citizens are also. But there's a difference. People who have compromised immune systems are staying home. Their masks are for added protection and they are not coming in contact with the virus. If these people use the handmade masks, it frees up available masks for those directly treating Coronavirus patients. 

At the very least, it provides some protection for those who are unable to get masks at all. 

And here's the good news: the masks are easy to make and do not take much in the way of supplies: fabric and elastic.

Here are a few tutorials on how to make the masks: 

Botton Counter

Craft Passion

Courier Press

Hush, Hush. The snake's in the garden...

All photos from Google

One might think that I've been enjoying the beautiful spring weather and the studio so much that I've neglected everything else. Well, that's not quite true, but there's a story, so sit tight for a minute. Firstly our living room television died. Completely. A few days later while running errands, I convinced Richard to just go ahead and get another. 

Long story shortened: there's a new TV over the fireplace looking like it is the most important thing in the house. Oh well. My pretty little decorations had their turn, I suppose. Anyway this is a SMART TV. It connects to the wifi. 
Woo whoo!, since we have Netflix. 

Abraham Woodhul / Culper, cabbage farmer turned spy

I discovered Turn: Washington's Spies, a show about the Revolutionary War of the USA. Mostly about the spies and intrigue and lie piled upon lie. I could never be a spy: I barely remember the truth of my own life. I watched the trailer, then the first episode. Then dragged Rich in against his will for the second episode. 

Last night, finally, we closed the four seasons of 10 episodes each. It took two weeks and much discussion to keep up with everyone and their lies and their truths and their deaths. Some characters "died" several times--spies are a hardy bunch, apparently. (Yet another reason I'm out of the spy game.)

By the way, that "Hush, Hush..." title is the beginning of the theme song for the show. You'll hear it 40 times if you watch every episode, which you'll do if you watch one episode. 

Captain Simcoe, a horrid antagonist who
later emancipates slaves in Canada 

There are characters to love and hate, ones that will annoy you, others who will break your heart. Most of the series is meant to show you how these dangerous intrigues were accomplished, but to do so, it must include the heartbreak, loneliness, and fear. Women gave themselves for the cause, men gave their lives, everyone pays. 

General George Washington

What is I like most about this show is how it depicts both sides of the Revolution. We "cheered" some of the British as much as we disliked some of the Americans. For others we changed our feelings completely. Knowing the outcome of the war didn't matter. We were still invested in the players, their motives, their outcomes.

Caleb Brewster

It's a series I definitely recommend (perhaps not for binge watching unless you are held captive). For us, watching the entire series in a two week span was a bit of overkill; but as one episode closed, the cliffhanger had us in its grip. We just let the TV start the next episode and watched several in a sitting. It's the first time I've watched TV the way I'd read a book. That, in itself, is my best recommendation.

Pin It Weekly #309

Welcome to PIW! It's time to meet new followers. Thanks to everyone who follows Fleur de Lis Quilts on Pinterest! If you'd like to be featured, please let me know in the comments or at mary.marcotte@gmail.com. Include "Add Follower" in the heading, so I can distinguish it from all the other "stuff" that comes in. Let's get to it, shall we?

Hello to Sharon Pinney! Look how fun her "Embroidery stuff" board is.

Mastajustin Buck has many weird, really weird boards, but there are a few not too-weird-for-me ones. "Miniatures" is interesting.

And finally Duy Tran's board "Garden bamboo."