Flora's Bee Crazy Quilter 
Side Quest
I attend a bunch of groups run by my quilt guild and some of them get a lot of donations from downsizing families of elderly quilters. So on 10 March we got a big donation of 4 lovely bins of fabric and parts at our Tuesday at the Grange sit and sew from a lady downsizing her mothers sewing room.In them were all kinds of goodies and amongst the boxes were finished blocks of various sizes. When we finished sorting everything there was a pile about 8" high, I took those home to see what I could come up with.I started to organize them from largest to smallest, trowing the 4- 16.5" blocks up on the design wall. hm. found 7- 15.5" blocks put them up there with 2- 13.5" blocks. foo, still not enough for a whole quilt or even enough to fudge it! After scrap pack, on the last Wednesday of the month I found or was given, another pile of finished blocks. I now had 45 or so 12.5" blocks, I made a 60x60 flimsy and had enough for a 48 x 60" flimsy, mmm, not quite big enough so I added 7- 8.5" blocks down the middle, I've plenty of those. That made that one 50 x 60", hey I have an Idea, Make a gypsy quilt!I have always wanted to do one and this was the perfect opportunity, I have a tottering stack of finished blocks!A quick rearrange of the design wall later and here we go!a few 6.5" 4" 2" and 1.5" insert rows where needed and we have a whole quilt!This is the finished result, I quilted them all with a loopy pattern, all they need now is binding and these can all go off to community service donations. Woo!Not bad for a 3 week side quest.Now back to the dungeon of the Tumbling blocks Quilt. Which is having trouble fitting together *Sigh*😔 I wish I could just say "Play nice!" and they would. Why I think it will work for quilts when it didn't work with children I don't know but one does have to try anyway doesn't one?
Sometimes one needs to revise their designI just hope you do it before the project is finishedPart of my boggle was that there were still some pieces that were wobbly and the whole piece buckled in places and that is just not right. Not when I have already put so much work into it, It should at least sit flat.And whilst I had it apart I decided to make it one row bigger up and across So here we are againI am just now adjusting and resewing things back together Making sure to get it FLAT this time.
To our everlasting shame
I have been very quiet as of late, watching our country disintegrate into an steaming rusted dumpster fire rolling downhill into a asylum full of orphans and fluffy bunnies Now to our everlasting shame we are embroiled in this shit-show of a presidency. Buckle up Babycakes this is going to be a rant of pent up epic rage. So if you don't want to be triggered please go someplace else this is not a safe page today unless you too are mad as hell and aren't goin to take it anymore.May we pull the ship-of-state out of its tail-spin before we crash-and-burn? Who knows it's still to early to tell though it does look like someone has woken up from their business-as-usual coma, at least. I won't even get too far into just how obscene it is that the only thing that seems to move the needle these days because its Not the stripping of constitutionally mandated rights by the president and the rubber stamping by his supreme court, no that would be bad enough, remember when we were loosing our shit, when he was just saying he liked to grab 'em? *Sigh* halcyon days. Not the systemic world wide human trafficking ring, selling the rape and torture of women and children, Which BTW IS an actual Manchurian candidate situation, * she said rubbing her temples in frustration* no that's not bad enough. The 34 or is it 35 now state sanctioned federal murders? nope still not bad enough. It is the possibility that somebodies name might just pop up in that thrice-be-damned file! What THe Actual Fuck!There is no hell because all the devils are hereIt’s already going to take three maybe four decades, on the optimistic side, to recover some semblance of dignity from this utter fucking clown-car of destiny. Though it was always going here as long as we appeased the republicans and the religious right, whilst everyone took money from corporate interests to pontificate on "how wonderful being US" it is! In one breath and turn around and undermine the country in congress and the press, in the next. Their big lie being "Why Should We Apologize for anything? We have Never done Anything Wrong!" BullShit!The question isn't why do I make my opinions known about all of this crap, It is why don't you? This is important stuff for our country. How we treat the people in our country is important. As Lincoln said A treats B so but treat C thus, Where does it end?Better Intellects than I have already made all these arguments already, but it seems up to we the people to drag them out and give them a good shake in the disinfectant of sunlight. As they have been hidden in the back of a basement cupboard too long. Truth will out.So there that's my Linda Blaire moment.Showers are on the left, soap is on the shelf and fresh Towels are in the cupboard.Don't mind the cat he likes to watch, we know, he's weird.
Story Time
The holidays are a time for family and cooking those special dishes everyone loves and waits all year to get. It's also the time, at least in my house, for the annual Christmas eave gourmet dinner. The Children when they were small and adventurous, would badger the chef until you'd break and tell them what was on the menu, my ex, or have fun with them by playing "Can you guess?" That would be me. I almost miss the constant kitchen traffic and queries of "What cha' making?"When The children's father would cook it was lobster, crab or Prime rib. The first year we got live lobster and let the kids race them across the kitchen floor, with much laughter and joy. This is where we learned the lesson of "You don't name what you eat" It makes it hard to cook and eat them later.The ex was all "More for me!" but I could see the the look of betrayal in the eye's of my child. They ate only the sides that year, of which there was plenty but that isn't the point is it?Speaking of those sides, of garlic mashed potatoes, a large salad, Buttered broccoli and a cheesecake of which only the flavor changed from year to year. The ex had definite idea's on food.I on the other hand liked to experiment, and for the most part my family would eat my experiments happily, no complaints, no leftovers. Every once in a while the food gods did not smile on my efforts, usually when I was not feeling well or was distracted beyond the usual big dinner, 3 kids and a husband variety. Those disasters didn't happen very often and when they did they were pretty epic.Like the time we had to ditch the Beans because the child didn't realize the can of mushrooms should not exhibit an attitude when opened, it spit at him, and he threw them in the casserole anyway. Good thing he mentioned this behavior before we all ate!The time I over cooked the shrimp and we could have played table tennis with them, they were so chewy. Or the year the oven door decided after 40 years it had had enough and fell off, dumping the entire roast duck A'la Orange on the floor. Breaking the pyrex, splattering lava hot orange sauce and duck parts allover the kitchen floor my arm, one leg and leaving a divit in the linoleum, to remind us all to be very careful when using the oven. The same oven the ex swore up and down he had fixed and I must have "Done something to" the last time it flopped open after the loose spring finally broke. I had been holding it closed with a wooden spoon to bake for a month before the supposed fix. needless to say it didn't take.Disasters aside, I'm a good cook and I like to try things I have only had or made in the restaurants were I worked before marriage. The year I decided to make Greek Youvetsi Arni a lamb shank stewed in tomato sauce served over Orzo. Roasting anything well takes hours and people get hungry, and by people I mean my family, so i decided to make a few side dishes and appetizers as well as the annual Christmas cookies, so the kitchen was a right mess. We had my ex's sister and friends over so there was even more confusion and noise, extra children and glasses of wine. Every time I would take cookies or crab cakes out of the oven, they would disappear, so I was getting a little crabby. In order to not starve before dinner, I was hiding a couple of whatever in a cabinet, it kept them out of the blast zone and safe from the ravening hoards. I used to cater weddings and business meetings so I know how to feed a crowd but nothing keeps up with pre-teen stomachs. I had prepped most of the cookies stuff the day before and the dinner was pretty straight forward, hunk of meat in tomato sauce and herbs in large roaster in back of oven 3hours and your done. the rest was scoop on trays bake and serve. everything was labeled, except the salmon roe.Between the making and the baking and the whipping of things the roe got pushed to the back of the counter, where one of the kids wanted to know what the pink stuff in the bowl was. Being busy I assumed it was one of mine and told them to try it and find out. Them not being one of my children, they did.Ruining the joys of Terramosalata for them forever after. Though possibly teaching them an important lesson, Grown ups are not to be trusted.
Well that was fun
So new updateit's not almost doneSomething was not working out for me so I tore it apart.very carefullyon the good side I was gifted a lovely Burgundy velvet skirt that just looks luscious as a border so I finished hand sewing on the corners before I tore it apartof course because, reasons.I'll get back to you on that when I have it figured out.The plan is make it wider?fix the blocks that bug me.I want to embroider silk ribbon vines in the velvet bordershopefully actually finish it and not take a year doing so.And here is what would have been the last blockHad I not decided to shred that idea.Embroidered water vase, Brass instruments, silk ribbon Flowers.
Almost Done
There Almost done sewing it all 19 blocks together, now for the cornersI feel the need to make it square.
The last two Blocks
We are in the home stretch on this part of the projectThe last two blocks are doneBead Spider and web sewn with fine silver thread surrounded by greenery as is very common around here At this time of the year they are huge and covered with dew so at least you can see them before you walk through them.The satin stitched Octopus was sewn over an outline and some padding of chain stitch, the coral rocks are an old piece of tatting from my mother-in-laws stash and some small charms and beadsAnd the last Block which is not yet done I have 2 sre folded flowers and leafy DMC branches in the whiteA DMC embroidered vase with water streaming out is done but the seam treatments around it are notand I have an idea for the dark panel but haven't gotten much farther than thatThanksgiving was lovely but I still need to clean up a bit from the chaos of the run-up to the day and the day itself.There is also all the stuff I need to do in the studio, customer quilts to be finished and projects to be started. There never seems to be enough time in the day to start, let alone finish, but it all seems to get done eventually, so I won't sweat it here.
More Tumbling around
More Tumbling Blocks are afootI am even sewing them all togetherHere we have a sword pierced sacred bleeding heart picked out in satin stitch and goldwork, a basket of SRE flowers and a nosegay of blue SRE posiesTurkey-work moth, an Antique Tatted purple glove surrounded by SRE flowers and a Bullion Bee, Lacy Bead Owls ,seam treatments with more beadsPhases- Goldwork in couched Silver passing thread and couched braided silver flat cord, Glass Bead Pineapple,Stumpwork Swan and lily padAll seeing Eye made with Beads, Fairy in satin stitch with goldwork wings,Satin stitch mouse climbing down a branchSatin stitch cat, split stitch fox, Yellow SRE flowers and a woven wing butterfly.
I am so tired of this BullShit
My Mother is a hippy so when I say "I have been protesting since birth" it is not hyperbole.I have protested the Vietnam war, Nixon, birth control, women's rights, nukes, the gulf war, the Afghanistan war, LGBTQIA+ rights, abortion rights, women's rights again, Abortion rights again, no kings, worn pussy hats, carried signs, written letters called congress critters and seen some shit.Because a bicycle ride through Lincoln park was our mode of transport back in the day, I was in the Chicago Riots at 4 years old. I have smelled the sting of pepper spray and felt the ring of the billy club against the metal frame of a purple schwinn.And still, and still I have never feared the government......until now.What will it take for america to wake up to this insanity? To the atrocities being done with their tax dollars, in their name, with a secret police reminiscent of the brown shirts of nazi fame?It preens on a stage in front of men who should know better, about how strong they areI have never before seen such an embarrassing display of weakness and incompetenceIt rhymes already, it quacks, it beats unarmed protesters in the streetsIt rappels onto the roof of apartments and arrests american citizens at 2 in the morning, with flash-bangs tear gas and tactical gear.It Zip-ties babies in their underwear on a cold night at 2 in the morningIt crows about how it's making it safer and better, but I don't feel safer or betterIt shoots protesters running away from them.it is not out of the realm of possibility they will kill someone, soon.
In Memoriam
It is my sad duty to relay that after a long illness my mother in Law Robin Paula Bernstein has passed.She was feisty and jocular until the end. Her body failed her in the wee hours of Wednesday morning,Passing peacefully at 2:34 am. She was attended by her son Adam and myself until the end.We will Miss her gentile council, feisty nature, calming presents and sardonic matter of fact out look.Everywhere she went she made friends, with neighbors delivery people, stray cats and humming birdsTo the wonderful staff at Evergreen Memorial Hospital. We thank them for their reassurance and gentile Professional care."Weep You No More, Sad Fountains"By John DowlandWeep you no more, sad fountains;What need you flow so fast?Look how the snowy mountainsHeaven’s sun doth gently waste.But my sun’s heavenly eyesView not your weeping,That now lie sleepingSoftly, now softly liesSleeping.Sleep is a reconciling,A rest that peace begets.Doth not the sun rise smilingWhen fair at even he sets?Rest you then, rest, sad eyes,Melt not in weepingWhile she lies sleepingSoftly, now softly lies
Beginning the blocks
Here they all are so far sewn into blocksAnd arranged on the floorThis is about 1/3rd of them, I haven't finished the rest yet.So you will be seeing more as I get around to them but unless they are stunning I don't know that I will be showing the individual diamonds as much as I have been Below are the individual tumbling blocks if you care to peruse themI wish I could bunch them up a little more but Bloggers, gonna Blogger
Some new diamond blocks
It's just a photo-dump of completed blocks from last monthIt's hot out and I am not motivated to be chattyI am a delicate flower, stay frostyEnjoy the eye-candy
Fixing the original tumbling block, plus 3 finished blocks
This poor wobbly block was my first draftI was testing out my color choices and wether I could take a step out by sewing the 3 diamonds together as a piece.I decided I didn't like the look of it this way as it was too easy, for me,to "scribble over the lines" and loose the definition of the three separate blocks which was the look I liked in the first place bUtwhy waste a perfectly good block? I tried to fix it. AAAnd I still didn't like it, so I set it aside. For about a year (2 actually) and went ahead on other projects and Since I already had the studio to build, I did that instead.When I had the mojo back for this project, I started againIt's much better now.Here are 2 other blocks put together, in what I think is, the proper wayThey don't look any different you say?Well good! I did a good job of it then.Stay tuned for more blocks of diamonds you've already seen.They are working well together though, I had this fear they would look weird, but I always have that fear. Just because I can name it, doesn't mean it goes away.I want to finish with the embroidery / embellishment on the rest of the diamonds before I put more of the blocks togetherBecause as you can see by these three I already have a little problemThat is 2 are dark on one side whilst the top one is dark on the otherSounds like an old Star Treak episode doesn't it......It was then that our heroine discovered all her dark and medium blocks were not all going the same wayWell Foo!This means some rows will be dark/light and some rows will be light/darkWhy does this matter? Well I'm not sure just yetAnd this is why I need to finish the embroidery first.I'm fairly certain no one will notice any of this but me.
CQ Tumbling Blocks so far so good!
So here we are again in update land I am trying to get at least 2 of these blocks done a weekI have finished making and binding all my diamond blocks so after they have all been embellished I can just sew the blocks togetherI'm now in the process of adding lace, ribbon and what-not to each piece before starting to embroider and embellish the individual pieces that will make up each 3 piece blockI Embroidered two Bullion Birds and a bird bath with some fancy ferns made from curl of stem stitch and lazy daisy stitches followed bya seam made from 2 Cretin stitch and beadsThis one is a bit plain (For me) > I added a line (Lump?) of daisy chain stitchesto continue into the block, then added the spray over each bead clusterI embroidered a feather stitch along the seam and layered the metal flower onto a lace flower and the fern is from a bigger piece of lacePlaced a bit of ribbon to the seam and a seam treatment of chevron stitch over that with lazy daisy and beadsOn this piece I used a satin stitched Bird, was started on felt cut out and tacked onto an embroidered branchwith french knot hydrangeas which were embroidered separately on muslin cut out turned under and tacked on. The leaves are silk ribbon and I'll finish the seam treatments with beads laterThe Feather was embroidered with variegated silk thread in steam stitch I placed a bead at the topThe seam treatment above it is picked out in alternating button hole with lazy daisy and red glue on beads that I drilled a hole in and sewed on (After all I'm not a heathen!)The feather stitch is laddered down the yellow seam and there is another bit of slanted button hoe below it I'll embellish those a bit more laterOn this piece I ran out of thread for that alternating button hole stitch one or 2 stitches from the end and covered it up wit a bit of daisy lace there are rice shaped plastic pearl beads and yellow glass beads for embellishmentI completely covered the cretin stitch seam treatment with silk ribbon rosebuds and leaves and some glass flower beadsThe other corner is a bit of lace and a piece of sequin embellished ribbon lace the wings of the dragonfly were done separate on a bit of gauze with gold thread, they are my first attempt at stumpwork wings and not great but good enough for a first attempt I think. the rest of it are a real pearl and a glass button followed by fake plastic pearls. I just didn't have the spoons for this last one, I threw a bunch of loose odds-n-ends at it, tacked it on and called it good enough. And thats ok. I figure I have 75 diamonds, making up 25 blocks. I can fudge a few here and there, and not feel bad about it. Right?I'm still working on that last bit.It's all about giving yourself a little grace.
Rainbow Scrap Challenge(RSC)
This months color is Purple,And here are my blocksAnd the 4" square in square6" 9 patch star