So here is my fat quarter bundle, loving packaged by Sew Fabulous.

One of my favorite prints from the collection:

Now a feature of this fabric line were the adorable panel fabrics, presumably of Miss “Pam Kitty.”  I did NOT purchase these, cute as they are, because much as I like girly things and childish as I am, these were just a little too little girlish for me.  But aren’t they fun to look at?  I borrowed the image from the Fat Quarter Shop, another good online purveyor that quilters fancy.

I paper-pieced, most grumpily, the first four blocks.  As I have said, I cannot argue with the results, but I do not enjoy the process.  And if nothing else, quiltmaking should be enjoyable!  So I elected to just use templates and piece this block by hand… no paper backing in sight.  I was pleased with how quickly it came together, and how my handsewing skills (after the first two seams or so), don’t appear to have deserted me entirely.  I also like how quickly the sewing can be whisked in and out as the opportunity allows.  I do have a sewing machine tucked out of sight but conveniently close at hand in my office at work, but setting it up requires more of a commitment than my lunch time, etc. may allow.  If I only have 15 minutes or so of leisure, this is far more practical.   I think my sixth block will also be pieced by hand. 

As with all Farmer’s Wife blocks, the unfinished size is 6.5 inches square.

YouTube to the rescue… there are a number of excellent how-to videos for crochet in all shape and form and process, so it was easy to dig one up, buy some yarn needles, and dig in.

I am very proud of my potholder/dishrag/Barbie blanket LOL!  Mr. Bun also approves, apparently.  If not, he was kind enough to say nothing about it.

P.S.  I am working also on scarves, one for hubby and one for me, but naturally had to pick more difficult fibers to work with, rather befuddling to the newbie… organic cotton which separates strands if I breathe on it wrong, and a very fuzzy, stretchy and easily tangled alpaca.  But both fibers feel very yummy, and we’ll just wear our scarves beneath our coats.  ;-p

FOR TODAY … 16 December, 2011

Outside My Window… heavy grey skies, unusually dark considering there’s no snow or rain on the way.  At least the ice finally all melted out of my driveway.

I am thinking… that if AT&T touts two-day Priority Shipping, it ought not to take 4-5 days for me to get my new cellphone!  (Impatient much?  Yes, yes I am.)

I am thankful for… the prospect of a trip to Florida in less than two months – a winter event I can look forward to LOL!

From the kitchen… going out tonight, but we are thawing a chicken for hubby to smoke-roast this weekend, served with a unique white BBQ sauce.  Most yummy.

I am wearing… blue and white checked shirt, khakis, dark brown boots, and a silk scarf from Bali bought from Novica.com.  Fabulous store!

I am creating… basting my Sunshine State quilt, hope to get quilting on that this weekend.  Also added a few more rows to an alpaca scarf I am crocheting for my hubby.

I am going… to the car wash.  Poor salty and dirty red card. 

I am reading… “Ivanhoe”, and getting much further with it than I did when I was 14 LOL!

I am hoping… that our dear friend is able to get her new car quickly, so we can get ours back!   Being a one-car family for three weeks has been… interesting. 

I am hearing… the soft trickle of our cats’ water fountain.  It’s very quiet at home today. 

Around the house… finished doing a bit of cleaning, not too much to worry about.  I would like to clean out my flower beds, and probably can this weekend now with a break in the rain (that actually occurs when I’m NOT at work.)

One of my favorite things… my grandma’s old piano (actually was my dad’s when he was a boy, but it was in Grandma Elly’s home for all the years I knew of…. 1909 Steinway.)  Gonna play on it tonight, I think.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… haircut tomorrow, followed by dinner and karaoke at some lovely friends’.

My Picture Thought … I wanted/needed a teapot for work so I could share my brews occasionally.  “Pristine” brand teapots from England are becoming increasingly difficult to find, other than Made in China (which I refuse to buy.)  I want the real thing… made from good English clay, typically from the Staffordshire area.  Anyway.  I found this on eBay, listed by a seller in the UK.  Their listing, its terms and conditions specifically, were absolutely hilarious, and had the color not enticed me to buy, their humor would have LOL!  But I do like the color:

…as well as watching the Miami Dolphins with my dad and grandfather.

The wavy border fabric reminds me of some sorely missed saltwater surf.

Granted, on premium summer days and with visiting tourists, the four-car limit made for an occasional wait, but there are worse things to do than stand on the shore of a lake and watch the sun dapple-dance its way across sparkling water, listening for the approaching putt-putt of the ferry’s motor.  That was the signal to get back into our cars and await the instructions of the often crotchety captain who may have been the same age as the ferry itself.  (I have to be careful here; as an employee of the County of Charlevoix, my father had the opportunity to substitute-captain this fine craft on occasion.)  Speaking of captains, I did learn in my research that long-time ferry operator Sam Alexander is listed in “Ripley’s Believe it or Not!” for traveling 15,000 miles while never being more than 1/4 mile from his home over a period of years.   In recent years, I had the  misfortune of being piloted by a taciturn young man in his late teens duly plugged into his iPod who never even looked at his passengers, so it was a pleasure last month to meet a wonderfully outgoing middle-aged captain who obviously enjoyed such a unique job. (Clicking on photos displays a much clarified image, depending on one’s monitor settings.)

We arrived on the Charlevoix side to find the ferry just departing from its Boyne City shore.

While waiting, I looked south down the aforementioned Arm, towards my old hometown of East Jordan.

Soon, he will dock here and we will squeeze onto the deck.

Say, he's chugg-chugging back this way! Better get back into the car.

Posted signs direct passengers to remain in their vehicles. However, I didn't obey this edict when I was 5, and I'm certainly not starting now. One misses too much scenery from the passenger seat.

The command center for this carrier.

The designated box for walking passengers, who travel at a greatly reduced rate. However, I rarely see hikers remain in that yellow square any more than I remain in my car.

Glug glug glug (I have a thing for boat wakes.)

Landings Bar and Restaurant, where I have gone with friends by boat. Closed for the season here... (so-so food, good beer.)

Oops, almost to the other side! NOW I'll get back into the car.

Early as I can remember, fares were 50 cents.  Now they charge $3.25 (but I think walkers are still .50, and bicyclists are charged $1.00.)  However, if as part of your commute you will need the ferry service frequently, it is useful to purchase a book for $50, which contains tickets for 20 passages.  Handily, our family still has our book… purchased according to the inner ledger for a whopping $6 on May 1, 1976.  There are two tickets left in the book, but I doubt I have the nerve to use them.

Ticket Book

For how many bits of our childhood disappear as we get older, I’m awfully glad this fondly remembered relic is still around. 

But wanted a basket!

When I was Cincinnati last Spring for the International Quilt Festival, I was struck by the variety of vendors selling items that were not really sewing or quilting related.  Case in point was the local Cinci jewelry dealer who sold beautiful accessories made from Thai silver.  I got a fabulous deal on pretty earrings and a pendant, and felt it rounded out the whole exhibition experience for me.

One vendor whose extra large booth I saw only from a distance had a tall rack from which hung what looked to be gorgeous, grass-woven baskets.  However, the crowds in front of this seller, even on the night before general admission to the exhibition, combined with my own aching feet, dwindling wallet and the silly notion that I wasn’t there to buy baskets, discouraged me from pursuing my curiosity.  The next day, I was to regret that I gave up so easily.  My neighbors in the bed-and-breakfast where we were guests HAD braved the aforementioned mob at this unique vendor, and had a large, lovely, incredibly unique woven basket to show for their efforts.  (Inside, the basket was piled high with fat quarters from festival fabric vendors, the combination creating a wonderful piece of eye candy sure to grace anyone’s sewing room!)

I would not have another opportunity to return to the Festival and secure my own basket, but I made a mental note to later look up “Ghana Bolga Baskets”, and was intrigued to learn about the tradition behind this practical art form and that the more reputable retailers are all members of the Fair Trade Federation.  Crafts such as these are thriving throughout the world thanks to Fair Trade efforts, allowing local women to earn their own income while simultaneously preserving their own culture heritage.  I love stuff like this. 

Anyway, I went back today to the Baskets of Africa website, and finally treated myself to my own woven beauty:

Here is the link for the Bolga Baskets specifically, available in all sorts of sizes, shapes and colors. 

Here is the fourth block I have completed, then shown below with the other three (CLICK TO ENLARGE)…

FOR TODAY … 1 November, 2011

Outside My Window…brisk air, blue skies, waning sunlight

I am thinking… that this office is far too quiet.  Perhaps I should throw a party – get a DJ, clowns, ponies.  Hmm…

I am thankful for… lovely, long-term friends, thanks to whom I’ve never minded not having siblings. 

From the kitchen… cooking up the last of the garden’s bounty, now that we’ve had a killing frost.

I am wearing… black top, tan jersey cardigan, blue jeans, black boots… and a gorgeous scarf from these folks.

I am creating… working on my orange and white quilt, and almost done with my fourth Farmers Wife Block.  Need to bead a necklace to wear this weekend.  Oh, finally got my backing fabric for the orange and white quilt (aka, The Sunshine State)… a fun and brave (for me) print:  Lark, from Amy Butler:

I am going… to go for a walk tonight, since the sun shines and the temperature is… acceptable.

I am reading… Mary Jane’s Farm (Nov 2011 issue), as well as her large “Idea” book.  Also finishing up “Pilgrim’s Progress”, the classic by John Bunyan.  It is referred to so much in “Little Women” that after 35 years of curiosity, I decided to check into it.

I am hoping… that I can afford snow tires within the next month.  If the early predictions for the winter are correct, I’m gonna need ‘em!

I am hearing… my squeaky chair.  I had no idea I was so fidgety.

Around the house… need to dust.

One of my favorite things… writing in my journal with my favorite fountain pen.

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Week… need to shop a little for a skirt, shoes, and possibly gloves if I don’t find mine soon!  Every autumn, I forget where I stored my last gloves the previous spring.

My Picture Thought … speaking of shopping, I am really digging my new coat.  I’ve never been big into animal prints, but this is gorgeous and comfy and flattering (and the print will hide the cat hair that would otherwise visibly collect all over this wool blend.)  $50, from the Old Navy outlet store at Birch Run, Michigan: