About Me

My photo
Shoreline, CT, United States
I would love for you to join me (a retired senior)in my zany crafting adventures with quilting (waaaaay too much fabric); scrapbooking (will I ever catch up?); redwork; counted cross stitch; crossword puzzles; reading; and cooking.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, et al

 

While these two "marinate" on my 
design wall; and until I decide
whether to add more blocks or not....

I am picking up this project 
below to
keep my hands busy....
↴↴↴↴
Remember this???
My Granny Stripe Afghan...
I am calling it my "Meditation" piece....
As,
the repetitive nature of the crocheting
has its own rhythm that is
so soothing and relaxing...

I am able crochet two rows 
at one time...
And, if I don't go crazy
and do too much, 
it doesn't seem to bother my
hands; most likely because
it uses different muscle
movements...

All the yarn is part of my leftover stash
that I kept 
[rather, I could NOT bear
to part with👀] 
after giving most all
of my stash and 
knitting needles away...

I must say I do regret giving
those needles away--some were my
Grand-mere's even.....
[Note to self: think long and hard
when you de-stash to avoid
"de-stasher's remorse"]

Here are four of the 5 variegated colors
I am using...They are all from
"Miss Babs" online store...just
really such soft and yummy yarns
in such beautiful colorways...

I have made quite a bit of headway;
I am crocheting the longer, lengthwise
sides (R to L above).

What's really nice is that 
the crocheted part keeps my 
lap warm while I am working 
on it ;))))).

************************
Since today is Halloween we always
have our bigger meal @ Noontime.

Tom made us Creamed Tuna on Toast.
He makes a mean white sauce--
so, so good!!

In the past two years we have not
had even one "trick or treater";
but....
a lot of new families have moved in, 
so I do have some candy on hand--
just in case....

Amazing that the two types I chose 
are our favorites...hahaha:

Snickers and Mounds...

Guess which one is mine,
can you???👵

Hugs on this spooky day,
Julierose,
La Blageuse
(crocheting-away-euse)









Thursday, October 26, 2023

STARRY-EYED JACK IS BACK, et al

 



My one and only Halloween piece is now
up in my living room corner--

[this pix really is faded compared
to the quilt itself--much more colorful}

0n:
My Grand-mere's old oak chest of drawers....
I house a lot of my smaller quilt pieces in
these drawers...
************************************

Our backyard trees are finally beginning to turn:
69 degrees 
and sunny with that blue, blue sky
today...We'd be sitting out on
the deck except for the neighbors' 
lawn maintenance crews doing
their mowing and edging--
SO VERY LOUD!!! 
***************************
I've added some green blocks in "Natale"--
and some of that older Jason Yenter print--
one of my very favorites...along with
that Kaffee Fassett green one...and
my pine boughs which was a gift from
a friend long ago...
I am scouring my Christmas bin 
to find a few more that will 
keep this vibe going...
 AND...
Here is the "L'autonne" progress....
I decided to add some dark maroons 
that almost look on the "brown" side
colorwise...

I like the alternating bar colors 
(tans and grays) a lot to
add interest to the plainish
brown triangles...

I have more of both Old Italian blocks
ready to sew, as well as a few
more fabrics I've pulled out...

Actually, the "bar" colors 
will determine the
end sizes as I have the
least amount of those on hand...

*******************************
We went for a morning walk 
the  playing fields this morning; 
I made the distance of a 1/4+ mile and 
Tom did his
mile....
*************************
Tonight's supper will be
yesterday's leftover roast
chicken dinner....and
fixins'...so--no cooking today...;)))

I hope you are able to enjoy this 
warm Fall weather...
Hugs, Julierose,
La Blageuse,
(Leaf-peeping-euse)










Friday, October 20, 2023

ANDIAMO, et al

 

My Old Italian Blocks are mounting up nicely;)))
14 of this colorway now....
Named "L'autonno" with these Fall-like
colors in "leafy" colorations...
I love how the "bars move in both
diagonal directions...

AND....Then...
↡↡↡↡
What I am calling:
"Natale" ..
["Christmas" in Italian].

They remind me of the tiled
floorings that we saw all over
Italy on our trip a few years back now....
There are
12 of these so far....
These blocks are definitely scrappier and
more "dense" looking...

I will be pulling out more of my
Christmas stash leftovers 
in reds and greens for these...

Both sets of blocks have red/rose shades
as centers...some even to a 
mauvey coloration.

["Andiamo" was what our Italian tour leader
used to say to us as we stepped off the
bus to do MORE walking..
meaning "C'mon, let's go people"!!
;))))
We loved listening to his tour guide
talks about the history of the 
places we visited.
Franco was a charmer for sure;))) ]

*****************************
It is another gray day here, but much warmer
than it has been the past week; we hear that
rains and wind are in the forecast for later
on today and tomorrow...
So......
Happy that we have Formula One (F1)
racing to watch this afternoon and
early evening...it's in Texas this
time...

Hugs, Julierose,
La Blageuse
(sewing-my-way-through-Italian-memories-euse)



Friday, October 13, 2023

FRIDAY'S FROLIC, et al

 

My Old Italian Blocks are mounting up....
They are such a fun project...
Using up stash cut-off fabrics...
I spent this morning cutting and setting up the
next batch...


Some 6" squares and 2" strips and possible
strip fabrics....
I am sticking with reddish-pinkish 
2" squares for the centers.

I don't know  yet if I will enlarge the 
colorways  for a totally
scrappy look or not.  I need
to get more blocks up on 
my design wall
to decide that....

************************
My small gardening season has
definitely come to a close:
Our Fern pathway along the front walkway 
has begun to sport yellows and rusts as they
fade away....
and
A few lonely, petit marigolds
have bloomed since we've had rain...
I will dry them for a few more seeds...

A Youtube friend, (Susan Hiles Art), and I
have exchanged seeds collected for
next year's planting--hoping that we
get growth and blooms from them.
She sent me marigolds, zinnias and
calendula seeds...
i am storing them in my fridge to
winter them over...
💕 thanks so much Susan 😊
*******************************
Winged Strings is all pin-basted
...and ready to be quilted....
*******************************

I have finally hand quilted 
Autumn Stars around all the star points
I love how the white quilting shows on the 
nighttime back starry sky fabric.
[I don't know if you can make it out on the 
turned over square near the edge
 on the right hand side]

*******************************
We ordered a take out pizza as
 a luncheon treat
this noon with pepperoni:
When Tom got it home it had 
spicey ,super hot tofu bits on it instead of
the pepperoni!! 
A total
disaster from our point of view!! 

UGH from the two of us...!! 
we couldn't stomach it...

[I know it's good for you, and many
of you like tofu, but it plays
havoc with our tummies!!]

What a disappointment--
Could this be 
Friday 13th JOKE?????
👿👹👺💀
NOT FUNNY!! 

That's the status here today,

Hugs, 
Julierose, La Blageuse
(drinking-hot-tea-to take-
the-taste-and-spice-away!!!)

















Monday, October 9, 2023

MONDAY SUCCESS, et al

 

DH and I got our covid shots
early this morning--yay!!

Third time lucky-- as
the Nurse told us that after
our shots she only had THREE more
until their next delivery!!! 
So far, no reactions 
to the shot
from either of us..
😇😇


*************************
Here is what I am working on
in short sewing sessions:
↓↓↓↓
The Old Italian Block

I am following Beth's ("My Sewing Room"
on YouTube) tutorial online....
They really go together so easily...
I have a few cut and waiting
in the wings...

I am only using cut offs 
that can yield at least a 
6" square (for the triangles),
and 2"x5" strips, with a 
2" center...

All from leftovers
in my stash...

Here is the next one set up

I love that triangle fabric...
I've had it in my stash forever...
And my very old strip fabric...

Just using what comes to hand and
worrying about the final layout after
they are all made...

************************
This morning dawned cool, 45 degrees,
but nice and sunny...
We hope to go for a walk at the 
fields later on when it warms up
a bit more...

************************
Simple celebration meal tonight
after actually getting our boosters:
👵👴
Cheeseburgers on our grill,
with fried onions
and french fries...

*******************
Oh, 
and I have my Winged Strings
about 2/3rds pin-basted....

Hugs, Julierose,
La blageuse
(enjoying-sewing-euse)









Thursday, October 5, 2023

FALL JUNQUE JOURNAL, et al

 

Here is my Fall Junque Journal;
first, I ATE UP all the 
delicious crackers 
[of course I did-- hahaha]

and then.....

I created my new 
Fall Junque Journal
from the box...
;))))

There are five signatures
and plenty of room that will most likely
take me through December...

Here is today's page
for the 5th of October:
⇊⇊⇊⇊
Staying true to the concept of
a junk journal, you can see
that I even included my 
allergy med label that 
came in today's mail...;)))

A Lot of the pages come from 
an old, used cookbook
that I saved from my 
last journal which was 
an that cookbook Altered
into a Journal...

Sometimes, as above, I write 
right on the page; other times
I add journaling pockets and
cards for a more private
scribblings...

Here is tomorrow's page:
The page is from an old Monet
calendar; there is a little mushroom
journaling card in the pocket 
on the right...and just bits and
bobs that drew my eye...
{stamping my girl on each
page...}

[you can click if you wish to enlarge
all these photos]

Across the top is part
of the packaging from my 
9 1/2" squaring up ruler
from Quilt in a Day...

What fun to include 
all these little items...
💃

******************
On the Covid Booster Shot
front:
FOILED AGAIN!!

We were scheduled for
appointments at 9:40 and 9:50
at Walgreens this morning--
Just as we were leaving our phones
rang to tell us that they couldn't
do them as they had too
many to handle ...
???????????????

What kind of reason is that?
Why let us even schedule
an appointment?
AAAARGH

Well, after fussing and fuming
for quite a bit, the two of us
decided to do the weekly food
shopping instead...I mean
we were all set to go out anyway...

S I G H .....
👹👺👽👿💀

I have friends that have been 
cancelled 3 and 4 times..
Who IS getting those shots?

So, we are trying one more time
and have made appointments for
Monday morning....
STAY TUNED...
Fingers and toes crossed!!

Hugs, Julierose,
La blageuse
(making-myself-feel-better-by
having-fun-with-my FJJ)