Distracted again...

So what else is new?

I was supposed to be just looking for orange scraps for my next Project Improv block. I found some, all right...in the UFO corner.

Another project started, then forsaken for something more inviting, or more pressing. I'd started a couple of blocks, but the rest of the fabric was cut and had been waiting patiently to be sewn for oh, about three years. Or longer.

So in the spirit of spontaneity (and improvisation), I finished them. It was time.

Another UFO one step closer to being identified. And a little more orange fabric for Project Improv!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Kona Snow, that is.

And the other kind, too. It's been snowing here since yesterday morning and, as the song goes, it doesn't show signs of stoppin'.

And since I've no place to go -- gotta sew, gotta sew, gotta sew!

I committed to a red/aqua block for Project Improv, but I don't have many good reds in my stash for some reason -- a situation I would quickly remedy if a) we didn't have eight inches of snow on the ground and more one the way and b) I hadn't cut myself off from buying any fabric until the quilt show in April. Which is when I plan to make up for it.

So I dug. It took me a while, but I found some wonderfully whimsical Jan Mullen reds buried deep in a box, some aquas and -- inspired by the weather -- some Kona Snow and lo and behold! We have Block #2:


And here's Block #1 in its entirety:


I haven't yet decided on an improvisational project beyond the charity quilt blocks, but it may have to involve the red/white/aqua color combo, it's just so dang cheery -- and in the throes of a winter snowstorm, it's a nice little bit of sunshine.

Which means I have to keep digging through my stash for more reds.

It's much more fun than shoveling.

Jumping on the improv bus...

And Jacquie's driving! Thanks, Jacquie, for jump-starting 2009!

When inspiration hits...

...you just gotta roll with the punches!

I had a list of about twelve things I had to do today before I packed everything up and headed to Michigan for the week, but woke up to a hard, steady rain that had been falling all night -- hardly beach weather. It wasn't showing any signs of stopping (and hasn't, yet -- I think this is leftovers of Hannah, maybe, or a precursor of Ike cruising up the Mississippi into the midwest, but it's been raining all frigging day), and Archie wasn't feeling all that great after yesterday's trip to the vet for his booster shot, so the list went out the window. Salvation Army can live without all my old dress-nice-for-work clothes for another week; Bed, Bath & Beyond isn't running out of picture frames any time soon; and the beach house (a wonderful escape when the weather's nice but a little depressing when it's pouring out) certainly isn't going anywhere. Hoping for improved driving conditions tomorrow may be just wishful thinking, but that's what I'm banking on.

So instead of packing, I made a big cup of coffee and confronted a stack of fabric that had absolutely nothing to do with anything I've been working on (go figure), grabbed the rotary cutter, and came up with this:


I really like the look of Denyse Schmidt quilts, and I'd been wanting to do a Hop, Skip & A Jump-like project since I bought her book a while back, and, well, today was apparently the day. I didn't have the patience to actually cut out all her template pieces and instead chose to cut random-width strips of the colored fabric and sew them to random-width strips of Kona Snow and get crooked from there. More of a "Hop, Skip & A Little Shuffle."

Love, love LOVE yellow and pink together!

I can go pack now.

My new faves...

These blocks are the same size (5") as the little wonky & white ones I made a few days ago. I'm thinking of alternating them and using black & white polka dot for sashing. They're so much more liberating to make -- having just come off the Irish Chain project -- but they're messy! I'm usually pretty organized with my fabric during the cutting and piecing stages, but with this, there are scraps everywhere...tiny shavings from trimming the logs, and little bits that have somehow started clinging to the cat. He's had a rough week, and this is annoying him. But I'm having a good time!

I'd forgotten about this Wiggly Garden fabric until I was looking for bright scraps for my Shadow Box baby quilts -- and found the remnants of about 15 fat quarters I'd used for another top...so there's lots more where these came from!

Cleaning up just gets me into trouble

I was straightening up yesterday, sorting through scraps leftover from the shadow box quilts, and ended up making these:

I think I was just tired of SQUARES. Also encouraged by the prospect of participating in an improvisational quiltalong (no pressure, AmandaJean!).

Not sure what I'm going to do with them yet. Needless to say, I never finished straightening up.