I have been neglecting blogland lately--posting, replying to comments, and even, gasp, reading blogs. Not for anything major; I've just been overwhelmed lately with work stuff and life in general. So, this past weekend was a welcome respite as I was able to attend a mini-retreat with my sewing group. We had a great time: lots of laughing, great food, and some seriously focused sewing time.
I dithered about what to take, but it was pretty easy after all. I had a couple of projects still in their boxes from the last retreat I went to in September. One is this album or chimney sweep project which I'm sewing using a jelly roll of Civil War Homefront from Barbara Brackman.
By Sunday afternoon I had made some progress and I had a few more blocks to add to the growing pile. I am in love with this pattern. The pieces go together so easily. I counted up what I have left and I'll be able to make 20 blocks with the jelly roll fabric, but I would like to keep going, supplementing with my rather alarmingly large civil war stash.
And aren't these two blocks just the cutest thing ever? Don't you just want to gaze into each design? I love, love, love kaleidoscope patterns!
At one point I was afraid I wouldn't have enough of the the border fabric, but I was able to pick up some extra in September, so I can easily continue. This is a published pattern called Stacked Posie Supreme by Mary Lou Hallenbeck.
Our sewing group decided to do a block exchange of improv trees for this retreat. I'll have to put up a picture later since it was too dark by the time I got home from work today to take a decent picture. But I've got 24 beautiful, crazy tree blocks to play with. And I chose a completely out-of-character background fabric to put it all together. And, oh my gosh, making all those improv blocks was a very messy affair! There are bits and scraps all over my cutting. And floor. And ironing board. And sewing table. But it was great fun and I'm looking forward to our new improv challenge for next year.
I have a question...
Does anyone know why suddenly Blogger won't let me upload photos from my computer? I use Picassa to edit my photos and I store them on my computer. In the past I could click on the photo button on the Blogger tool bar and the window that appeared had a button that allowed me to search for the photos on my computer. Now, I don't get that choice. I have to upload them to Picassa web albums first. Did I inadvertently change a setting somewhere?
6 comments:
Love your album blocks. I am going to make some of those, as soon as we break for winter holidays :-)
Kathy B
Yolo CA
You’ve made some lovely blocks! I’m curious to see the crazy trees!
Sorry, I can’t help you with the uploading question of pictures to blogger.
Your blocks are adorable. And I've no clue what Blogger is up to.
Your photos might be too big of a file to upload. Blogger has made changes in the past few months that you might not be aware of, and file size might be one of them. Try saving your photos as to something around 900x800 pixels. That usually will bring the file size down.
I'm glad you got a chance to go to a retreat. Your blocks look great! I don't have any difficulties with uploading pictures, not sure why you would. My pictures are usually too big, but blogger turns them down to the right size, they come up huge, and it takes them a minute to come down to a more reasonable size.
ooough - those are some cute blocks. Yes you are right kaleidoscope patterns are fun but this one with the on point borders for each block is too cute!
~bonnie
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