A Case of the Munchies

One tends to be very hungry before metamorphosis.

That's how it goes. Eat, eat, eat. Grow, grow, grow.

Then something wonderful happens.

This little quilt, just right for a small one to cocoon in, is finished and safely tucked in the 

hope(to be a grandma)chest awaiting some cuddling action.

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

At some point cabin fever feels more like being crushed by a cabin cave-in.

We've had a little setback to Spring's arrival, but it is finally in sight.

And we're probably going to make it there without anybody getting hurt.

But it will be a close call.

Season Opener

Honey season that is. Discriminating palates prefer a little smackerel of the sweet bee treat on their daily toast.

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh," said Piglet at last, "what's the first thing you say to yourself?"

"What's for breakfast?" said Pooh. "What do you say, Piglet?"

"I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" said Piglet.

Pooh nodded thoughtfully. "It's the same thing," he said.”

“Well," said Pooh, "what I like best," and then he had to stop and think. 

Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, 

there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, 

but he didn't know what it was called.”

The bees are so ready to get at the task of making honey they were swarming our bird feeder by the dozens on the warmest and sunniest day of this week.

Odd, we thought. But a little Googling found that in the absence of pollen hungry bees will gather dust from bird seed. 

These bees were at it so vigorously that they were knocking seed out of the feeder and causing it to audibly "ping" off the metal squirrel guard.

The cardinals, titmice, and juncos were sensibly keeping their distance.

We are very happy to see our fuzzy, buzzy little friends take their work seriously as we have serious plans for future honey eating!

Happy Spring!

Period Pieces

When we are sewing we often have the TV on for company, but it can be hard to find something for background filler that isn't annoying. 

Talk, reality, game, or home improvement shows, all are just so much noise. Soaps? Uh, no.

So our default is movies. Many of them certainly owned by the networks that run them over, and over, and over again.

13 Going on 30, The Blindside, A League of Their Own, You've Got Mail, Dirty Dancing, 

oh, and our all time favorite because it features flying cows and combines - Twister.

We can tune in at any point of these movies and know exactly what is going on. And we don't have to actually watch. We know the scenes so well, we can measure, cut, and sew while listening to the dialogue and soundtrack with the images in our head. 

It is a bonus if we turn on the TV just in time for the best scenes. 

Jennifer Garner getting the crowd going with Thriller. Tom Hanks telling a sniffling Evelyn that "There's no crying in baseball." Patrick Swayze getting Baby out of that corner someone dared put her in. Sandra Bullock standing up to gang punks while wearing a white pantsuit. 

Well these little tumblers that feature pretend play characters remind us of some of those famous flix.

Made in one decade, yet depicting another. 

Dirty Dancing for example was made in 1987, but set in 1963.  And despite good authenticity of the setting and details of a New England summer lodge including cars, clothes, and decor, the actors  all still have a faintly '80s vibe. Notably perms and mullets. 

Modified for sure, but not gone. We may have detected a few shoulder pads too.

So too these little pirates, indians, cowboys, knights, and spacemen look like they live in the era in which they were drawn vs. the time period in which they might really have lived. 

We find them pretty charming. Just as for our favorite TV and movies we are totally willing to suspend disbelief when we want to.

Survive a tornado by dodging a flaming oil tanker?!? Totally possible. Bring it on! 

Again, and again, and again.

Churn Dash

Finishing this up was less of a dash to the finish, then a slow churn.

We featured the first completed blocks, in the alternatively named Monkey Wrench pattern,

here over a year ago.

The angular machine quilting design is called Triangle Tangle.

We were hoping its dizzying lines would distract the point police enough that they would not notice that more than a few are missing. Lost in seams. 

We usually work in all patterned fabrics so those kinds of imperfections are more camouflaged, but it is good to get out of our comfort zone from time to time. 

And we (mostly) pulled it off.

Machine quilting expertly done by J. Bauer.

It was Fun, But Now It's Done

So long, it's been good to know you.

But it's definitely time for you to go.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Image courtesy of The Graphic Fairy.

Bed of Roses

It was bittersweet to be sure. 

We un-sewed quilt blocks pieced by Grandma Rosie in her later life, then re-cut and reset them to make a little, soft, pastel flannel baby quilt.

Grandma loved pink and she loved her namesake roses. 

She would have liked this little quilt.

It is rather sweet. 

Just big enough for a little one to lay on for tummy time or some good arm-waving and leg-kicking exercise. 

Babies deserve to start off life in a bed of roses. 

And thanks to Grandma Rosie one just might get to.