Mad as a March Hare

To be as "mad as a March hare" is an Old English phrase derived from the observed antics, said to occur in the breeding season (March) of the hare. That the hare will behave strangely and excitedly throughout its breeding season - This odd behavior includes: boxing at other hares, jumping vertically for seemingly no reason and generally displaying abnormal behavior. Although the phrase in general has been in continuous use since the 16th century, it was popularized in more recent times by Lewis Carroll in his book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which has the March Hare as one of its main characters.

Is this why we have March Madness? Does it apply to 'Cabin Fever'? Maybe it explains why I have this urge to jump vertically for no reason - well, from one project to the next; I don't jump. Some 'Quilting Gods' tell me that's abnormal behavior. As long as all my planned projects get done for the month, I will be happy.

This is block #13 for the BlockaPalooza. Wow, getting close to being done. I changed the center 9-patch to smaller size and set it on point - oh, the math made my head hurt. There's me jumping abnormally.

And block #10 for the Layer Cake Quilt Along. Another project nearing it's end. I behaved on this one and did the designer's pattern as written. Maybe because I did it after my morning's coffee - and a day late.

I am so excited and jumping up, down, sideways, and backwards. My dear sweet longarmer did my Charm quilt before another customer because she knew how stressed I was on having this done on time. She did a wonderful job - we planned the quilting together and she so, sew did a beautiful job. It is quilted with a lovely lightly verigated linen/grass green thread. There will be more photos, but I have to get the binding done.

SQUARED UP

Traditional March games in history during the Lent Season are jumping rope and marbles. Gosh, does that go with the whole March Hare theory? Jumping and losing our marbles?

My marble playing will be snowball blocks. Since I am using charms (actually I cut all my charms from scraps), my squares are 5" and the corners are 2" squares. My snowballs will have a little 'odd' shape with these cuts, but remember it is March Hare Season. With small setting squares I usually 'aim and shoot', but you can draw your diagonal line and then sew. I work a few blocks at a time, chaining them- then trimming corners - then pressing. It's some hopping, but then I don't get tired of doing all those blocks at once - after all , there are 100 squares.

Here are a few blocks laid out to see how they set together. Odd shape, but interesting. Not the normal snowball, but I like the 'Let's Play Marbles' look to them. That's my new quilt's name. I know, there are a few other quilts in stages before this one, but they will all get done in their (ab)normal time.



Do you act like the March Hare this time of year?
Sewingly Yours
Sharon

Mother Nature Laughed

I knew I should have taken a photo of our first few patches of 'green grass'. It warmed and rained and washed enough of the last storms 3' of snow to see some lawn (and worry about flooding). Even the wild life was emerging - a few raccoons have been pests in the feeders, smelly skunks brawling, and the lumbering possum, but the old gal had the last laugh. Started with sleet and then snow that must be at least a foot and still coming down.

I'm getting low on the freezer stock ups and used my last packages of corn for my favorite dish.

CORN CASSEROLE
Ingredients
1 pound bacon
1/2 cup butter
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 red pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups sour cream
2 pounds fresh corn (or frozen corn, thawed)
Salt and pepper
Spring of chopped parsley
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the bacon, then chop it into bite-size pieces and set it aside. (I hate the mess and smell of cooking bacon so use the Micro-wave brand). Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, celery, and peppers until soft. Stir in the flour, then the sour cream, until well combined. Add the corn and most of the bacon bits and season with salt and pepper.
Pour the mixture into a 9- by 13-inch baking dish and sprinkle on the remaining bacon bits and the parsley. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until lightly browned. Serves 6 to 8

I took creative license and changed the setting of the next BlockaPalooza block for more of a 'floating' geese layout. I just love this linen green.

I finished the HST quilt. The border print fabric is what I used for the backing. I just did stitch in the ditch around all blocks and then the same for all the diagonals - large cross hatch. Washed and dried and in the shop.



The quilt for the Moda Bake Shop Charm Challenge is at the long armer, but you will only get a sneak peek - no unveiling until voting on MBS.

Another 'in progress' - the next UFO for Judy's (PathcworkTimes) challenge. I have almost all the fused pieces hand-blanket stitched. I think I am going to use a mix of machine and hand quilting for added texture on this fun quilt - Noah's Ark.

And a tease of a sneak peek at 'in-progress' monochromatic quilt for the Project Modern - Challenge #2. I need to draft a plan of action for quilting and then this puppy is going under the machine.




SQUARED UP

I have been so busy with getting challenges, contests and swap projects done for the end of this month, that I haven't a project for here. But I would like you to check out Melissa's disappearing 16-patch block. http://happyquiltingmelissa.blogspot.com/ (quilt along) and she also gave the tutorial again on Stash Manicure today. (see button on side for both)

Also, I want to thank everyone for their lovely comments here and in private e-mails on the new banner. Some of you were 'no-responders' so I couldn't send you a message back - again, to everyone, THANK YOU.

Our lives are like quilts - bits and pieces, joy and sorrow, stitched with love.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

New Banner and Goals

The new banner was a painting we commissioned (local artist) for my parent's 50th wedding anniversary. It is 'the house on the hill' that I always talk about. Yes, that is the homestead. The red barn is the State Landmark - first court house. Two of our barns were dismantled the year before this was done - old post and beam Dutch - one resides at a museum in Vermont and the other is at our local museum (Old Stone Fort). The main house was an Inn for people attending court. It is one of the valley's/family's original homesteads. Yes, my ancestors were the founders of Schoharie Valley purchasing the 'land tract' from both the Queen of England and the Iroquois. Original maps list it as 'Vromans' Tract'.

The quilts in the foreground are special quilts that traveled the first year that my Mom was inducted into the Quilter's Hall of Fame - Catskill Region.

I have enjoyed being a member of the Charming group. Setting goals, encouraging each other, finding ways to make our quilting and lives less stressful.




MARCH GOALS
CyberQuilters Yahoo Group UFO Challenge (done)
Carol Doak Yahoo Group UFO Challenge (done)
PatchworkTimes UFO Challenge (done)
Brown Bag Quilt #2 (done)
Moda Bake Shop - Charm (done)
Cherries Picnic quilt (done)
Modern Quilt Challenge - Monochromatic (done)

APRIL GOALS
CyberQuilters Yahoo Group UFO Challenge (done)
Carol Doak Yahoo Group UFO Challenge (done)
PatchworkTImes UFO Challenge (done)
Moda Bake Shop - Accesories (done)
Stretched Stars quilt (done)
Prep two quilts (finished) for early May show (done)
(Clean,attach hanging sleeve,paperwork)

And I know there will be some fun things along the way to be added. Bloggers just keep me happy and inspired.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

I Missed a Few

I was tickled that so many enjoyed the FUN monthly special days. I was gently reminded of a few others. I really need to address two important ones - no I really didn't forget, I was waiting for my first March posting.

FOR PDF OF THIS YEARS QUILT http://nqaquilts.org/free-projects/

I needed the work space, so went ahead of the group and assembled the entire quilt top for Melissa's Happy Quilting quilt along. It needs a couple of borders to make it twin size. I really love how this looks - might just have to make another one of these. It isn't too late to join in - button is on the side.

This is a UFO challenge list project for one of my on-line groups. It is a HST (half square triangles) quilt made from layer cakes. I think the LC was from Connecting Threads - Hearth and Home. I just need to hand sew the binding and done. My Moda Charm project has gone off to the long armer to play with. Then I will have that binding.



SQUARED UP

I liked the HST quilt, that it inspired me to finally cut into the FQs I got from my grandson for Christmas. First heavily starch and press your fabric as you will be ending up with bias edges on all your squares. I just matched 2 FQ, layed right sides together (RST) and cut two 10" squares. The left over strip I will save for borders.

Sew a 1/4" all around the outside edges. I sew off edge, turn and start on new edge, repeat - all four edges. Chain sewed all these right thru. Then cut your squares on both diagonals. Remember, lots of bias, carefully press to darkest side.

Now to play - you can make pinwheels. (actually this is what I am going to use)

Or you can mix them up. I didn't think to show them in a triangle row. Just have FUN. Each HST will square up to 6.5", so joining 4 together will give you a 12.5" unfinished block - to help you with figuring size.





STILL STITCHING

I have a long way to go. The fabric was on the table for a bag project, I just used it to 'frame out' the cross stitch and to cut down on the glare. I have my SIL working on a small piece, but she wouldn't let me show it.





The March wind roars
Like a lion in the sky,
And makes us shiver
As he passes by.
When winds are soft,
And the days are warm and clear,
Just like a gentle lamb,
Then spring is here."
- Author Unknown


Sewingly Yours,
Sharon