Baby blocks for Dotta's - the next generation

I'm behind, but that's ok. Rick's son Luke and his wife Nancy had little Clancy in early summer. He will get a quilt made from these blocks.

Then Rick's son Nick and wife Zetta will have a girl this fall, and she will get the quilt coming from these blocks.This one may end up pretty large. I may need to pick and choose from the blocks to keep it the right size, but how to decide what doesn't go in the quilt?!?

Time to think about travel again!

I'm letting work occupy my attention these days. I haven't had a reason to travel for work since end of March. I've enjoyed the time but it has't been reflected in me finishing sewing projects. Now I'm in the throes of working on logistics to return at the end of August for a follow up day long workshop in Uganda. 

Just so I get my priorities straight though, July will see me on a quilt guild retreat and then a week away on a family vacation. That should set me right for a quick trip to Haiti and then Uganda.

June About to End

Catch up with Viet Nam-fabric finds

While I don't have the Abidjan fabric to show yet, I do have these delicious pieces I purchased last October when in Viet Nam. There are about 8 meters of fabric and they cost me about $25. They are a bit shinier that a real quilter's cotton, kind of a sateen finish. I could see the blue and rose pieces contributing to an 8 piece star Stack and Whack style. Or maybe cut into curved pieces repeated in a central medallion? The vendor offered to make them into a dress/garment for me, and I didn't even try to make her understand they were destined to be cut into smaller pieces and put back together. Once I find the heart to cut them up!

What?!? January is already gone?!?

What a way to start the New Year. I've had little contact with my sewing machine, and almost no time being creative with fabric. January saw me preparing for a work trip to Cote d'Ivoire in Africa, and all my time spent at home was binge watching programs I normally don't get to see when the regular schedule of T.V. shows occupies my evenings.

The only thing I have to show for my quilting passion will be the fabric I purchased from a vendor in a market in Abidjan. No photos of those yet . I do have photos of the market though. There was fresh, live poultry, some butchered meat, but the best are the places selling the fabrics everyone uses in their garments. It took a bit of searching but I eventually found some appropriate for quilting. Don't know if I have the heart to cut into them, and I'll show them off in a future post.

 Near the entrance, where you can have your livestock purchase butchered.

 Turkeys!

 Yes, he is bringing in chickens!

 More chickens.

 Colorful fabrics for garments.

 Looking down one of the market aisles.

 More fabric!

A seamstress ready to turn purchases into a garment, or make repairs as needed.