I finished all the tendrils and vines and flowers and now just have the center circles to appliqué and so I started thinking, what’s next?
A border with leaves…with flower buds and occasionally not flower buds. This wasn’t my first idea, but it seems to stick. I was hoping my brain would cough up something a little wilder, like Gaugin, or something. I can’t figure out a title for this quilt-in-progress, having gone from Midnight Garden, to Twilight Garden. Which sent me down the rabbit hole of what is twilight?
I wanted a title for how flowers look when the sun has gone down but it’s not yet dark, and it turns out I have three different descriptions: civil twilight, nautical twilight and astronomical twilight. I think I was trying for nautical twilight. Stay curious and read about it here.
What else?
I used to be paranoid about releasing my ideas before they were a pattern [coming soon!], but I know whoever is looking at this won’t steal it, right? But this is how it looked in my head and this is where we are today:
Inverted Log Cabin. Yep, I sewed that last seam, raced downstairs, grabbed Dave and we snapped a photo in — what else is on my brain in this post?–twilight. I’m thinking Civil Twilight.
Now to figure out how to quilt it. I’ve been highly influenced by Christine Perrigo‘s ideas (took a class from her at QuiltCon once) about how to think outside the lines. On the left, last night’s attempt. On the right, this morning’s. I just worry that it may all obscure the center floating square. And what color of thread? I try never to start with my first ideas, but let them jell a bit.
I received this amaryllis from a friend for Christmas, and on the left is how it looked when it bloomed in December. On the right, is the flower now, nearly DOUBLE the height. Is it because it’s a low-light window? When it is on the countertop, it’s taller than I am now and almost taller than my husband. Should I stop watering it? Let it go dormant? Does this blooming ever stop? I’m looking for tips from all the amaryllis experts out there.
And it’s awards season so we get to see what all the stylists dress their clients in, as well as see Fashion Week’s street fashions, as well as things that in the shows. Mostly, I think: “There’s no way I could ever wear this!” And the Fashion Person replies, “Made you look.” Although I do like some elements of all the fashion shots above, remember, they are highly curated. By me.
That pocket is black check, sewn on in a non-factory method, on a navy-checked shirt. I think Dad sewed it on at one point, because his shirt didn’t have a pocket. Or he took it to a terrible place that had terrible machines. And where did he get the square of fabric? (He was highly resourceful, all the time.) I only took two shirts from his closet when we cleaned out, and we donated the rest to a group at the local university who lets students “shop” from the selection to look spiffed up for interviews, etc. I am pretty sure they wouldn’t be needing this one, or another worn one. I cut off collars/cuffs/buttonplackets and will use them in a project I have in mind. In the background are couple of my husband’s old shirts, too. Now if I could just find the bag with the other blocks from this Project I Have In Mind, I’d be really happy.
I have since distributed these, but I also brought home his paintbrushes. Several members of my family wanted some, and it’s nice to know he’ll be thought of, whether they are put to use, or tucked into a pencil cup. All of this is a way to re-integrate parts of my life together.
I had been feeling this way, for a bit too long. (I’m going to start calling things on my To Do List “Mysterious Activities.”) But this week I had a whole free day without anything scheduled and pushed forward on several fronts (like finishing the appliqué at the top of this post). And a quilt showed up from my quilter:
Halfway there on getting the binding on my 2023 Temperature Quilt. I am aiming to finish it by February 29th because how cool to finish a quilt on Leap Day, right?
And the last thing in What I Dragged Home from my Parents’ House Category is this reading stand. No, I didn’t get it from the parents, but it has to do with them. I borrowed my mother’s journals back from my niece and am slowly reading them. Having this, helps.
Almost done here, hang on. This is the set of trees, made for the Gridster Bee, for February. It’s from someone’s pattern, but it kind of drove me nuts, because…the center seam on the tree. (Why?) But the game in online Bees is they choose the block they want. And we make them one, or two…or three.
I went to pick up my friend to take her to her Birthday Lunch, and this gorgeous hibiscus was blooming in the rain on her front patio. Couldn’t resist snapping a photo.
And even though it’s still February, I have already put out March’s St. Patrick’s Day girl, because right before that holiday is the Dreaded Daylight Savings Time Shift on March 10th (hate it because I like morning light, and NO, DST doesn’t give you “more light”), and right after THAT ignominious day, we will have St. Patrick’s Day, then dance in our gardens for the First Day of Spring (March 19th), and and then after that we drag out the bunnies and eggs and stuff for Easter, which is the last Sunday of March. Couldn’t we have spaced these out a little more?
Happy Whatever!
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Ha! I love your this and that posts! We put our st pat’s decorations up yesterday so they could have their day in the sun before we get those bunnies out!!! Love that log cabin. Made me think of Weeks Ringles’ latest mystery quilt, which I once again wish I had participated in, but I just can’t handle the Facebook groups. 😜
I, too, have hauled home some bits from the folks. Trying to keep it to a minimum. But she gave Hayley her largest kettle and then didn’t have anything to cook the spaghetti in Sunday!!
I get a little twinge when I see yours and Allison’s shirt projects. I have a photo of my dad holding newborn Hayley in his Georgia Pacific workshirt with his name on the pocket and goodness I would do anything to have it. X
Good morning Elizabeth. I woke up thinking of you this morning and was delighted to see your latest blog post pop into my inbox! This is a light-filled post indeed- twilight, low light, early morning light. I hope you are inspired to find a name for your latest quilt, it looks lovely. I’m musing over a name for my Checkered Garden, thinking there has to be something more interesting and meaningful. All the fashions from Fashion Week have interesting elements and parts that I love. I think in my younger days I would have loved to have worn the Louis Vuitton number! Happy Whatever!
Instead of using the word twilight for the name of your Applique quilt, how about “In the Gloaming”. Gloaming is an old word for twilight, and has the feel of that mysterious time of day when colors of flowers pop as night approaches. The word itself seems to move mysteriously, as opposed to the clipped sound of twilight. Anyway, always a pleasure to read your posts. Xoxoxoxo Susan
There’s so much happening at your house! Love that appliqué quilt. You should name it “The Dreaded Time Change”. lol. I am so excited for this one, but dread the fall one. That’s so interesting that that added pocket is so different. I wait until my amaryllis flowers die off and then leave the green leaves through the summer. I then let the bulb dry out, transplant it with a little bone meal and bring it out of a cool, dark place at the beginning of December. In CA you can plant them outside. They do really well, but bloom later than Christmas. Cute little doll for St. Patrick’s Day. I put my green out today too.
Your quilts are so vibrant, even (or especially?) in the twilight. And your quilting design ideas are amazing! I’m with you on daylight savings, just ugh. How wonderful to be able to read your mother’s journals. Best wishes for tackling any and all “mysterious activities” ;).
I love the second mock-up of the quilting for your blue quilt: it would make it stunning!! Hugs, H
I just saw your post of the Bee Happy Quilt (June 7, 2020): I love it!!!! I have the book for the quilt but haven’t gotten around to starting it. I seem to have lost my sewing mojo lately, with watching my 2 yr old grandson 3 days a week, and somewhat loosing my sewing room to my daughter who has gone back to college and uses it for a study room. But come summer when she is out of school for a bit, I hope to get back to sewing and will use your beautiful quilt for inspiration to hopefully get my mojo again!! 🙂 Have you quilted it yet? I’d love to see what you did for it. Hugs, H
now I just saw your post about finishing up your”My Small World” quilt. I love the colors you used and the quilting you did on it. It’s another quilt that I have the pattern to and want to do someday 🙂 Hugs, H
Really enjoyed starting my day with your post – moved from astronomical to nautical to civil twilight by the time I finished checking out all the links!!!😊. I especially like how your musings always get my mind musing in insightful and useful ways for my psyche. I mentioned in my last comment I was hoping to join your NYB sew-along, but too much else is happening and I don’t want to get even more scattered as I focus on my 5 (!) currently active projects so it will have to wait. Love that blue background on the flower quilt!
I love the paint brush idea! Those little reminders that can be tucked away in places safe but frequented. I took a jar of chili powder from my grandma’s kitchen. It’s in my spice cupboard and being used. I’ll keep the jar once it’s empty. I have other reminders — the triple lamp held up by Greek women, the framed print of “Dance at Bougival” and her Singer from the 1920s — but this simple every day object makes me feel close to her, too.
A beautiful quilt is that Civil Twilight…congrats! Lovely post to read this morning. Thank you!
I love all the definitions of twilight and am quite familiar with them due to flying (it’s quite important to know them when you fly VFR). Looks like you have several quilts that fit the different twilight timings quite well.
A little late seeing this post. I had no idea there were degrees of twilight. Always learn something when I read your blog. I saved some of my Dad’s clothes when he died (43years ago) and recently was inspired on how to use them now that I have a grandson named for Dad. Perhaps that quilt I thought I’d make years ago will now get done for my little Ollie. I love that you have journals from your Mom. I really wish I had more info and about my parents from their perspective. It’s one reason why I’m spending a lot of my time right now writing my own life’s memories while I can. Hope you’re well.