Something Old

It is only fitting on May 23rd, my first official day of being 50, that I entitle my post "Something Old".  The birthday was just about everything I expected, or dreaded, it would be.  I realize it is just a number, but the number 34 was a lot better.  It was a happier, funner time.  The realization that you are a half-century old is hard to swallow.  It definitely bites to think that you are on the downhill side of your life.  All of these thoughts and feelings hit me hard yesterday.  It didn't help matters to have a 14yr old in complete "don't care" mode when we were trying to get out the door to go out to eat, or getting THE pan my husband really wanted for his birthday wrapped up for me, or the bit of very disappointing news that came out at dinner.  It all left me wanting a do-over... a do-over from about 2000.

I have been doing a few things for clients that I don't think I can show.  I did a little quilt for a book Bonnie Browning is publishing with AQS last week.  Once the book hits the shelves later this summer, I can show it.  I also did another client quilt, but the photos are still on my phone.  I have hand stitched about 70 tiny silk dots onto my quilt.  It still has loads of work to go before I can bind it, but its making progress.  This week I must do a Ladies of the Sea...my last large custom for a while.

A month ago, I resurrected this.  It was appliqued in 2012.  Actually there are 4 blocks, which I designed -- two are based on ceramic tiles.  I was set to finish this 1-2 yrs ago until I discovered another quilter had made one of the blocks nearly exactly to mine.  Coincidence or did she find the tile too?...no clue.  Either way, I quit.

 It was initially conceived to have a center peacock, but I have omitted that, figuring it might get done sooner this way.  I dreamed up some green frames, added some blue bias trims, and machine stitched it on.  I had bought a bunch of fabric, and wanted to use it (ie, not buy more).

 My sketch of what I envision doing is here.  There is a little more applique to do, someday.

 Here's my "cheater" background.  With the fabrics from 4+ yrs ago, it is hard to find more of them now, and it turns out that I don't have quite enough.  SO...I pulled some junk flower fabric and pieced the background with it.  This is because once the plates are appliqued down, this "junk" will be cut away and tossed anyways.

 ...as this shows.  It's not yet stitched, but given all the baseball I have in my future, I may have some new car projects.

Stay tuned to 2020, when I will show another update to this slow-moving quilt!