Missions Everywhere!

The weather this week has been fabulous ...

... allows us locals to forget all about the 12 straight days of rain we recently had!  Love how life works out that way!  Mother Nature on a mission to shorten our memories!

With weather like this ... it is easy to understand why most of my dillydallying is outdoors!  The mission is to get out and enjoy it!  Oh ... feel like I must confess ... very little housekeeping takes place when the weather is this nice.  There, that feels better.  Thanks for listening! ;-)

A friend gifted me with a couple vintage items ... lucky me!  This is a pillow sham, The applique' was done with a machine zigzag stitch.

There was no fusible available back then ... fabrics are also polyester ... a lot of skill and effort was necessary to accomplish this.  I admire that ... would love to replicate this block ... a gingham themed mission!

She also gave me this tattered and well loved double wedding ring quilt!  It made me weak in the knees when I pulled it out of the bag!

The top and bottom edges are very worn and tattered ... many of the fabrics in the rings have completely worn away ...

... the hand quilting continues to hold the entire quilt together!  Even with the obvious wear ... it is not fragile.  My friend suggested that I cut it up and make it into other items ... but I think I will enjoy it as is and use it lightly ... its mission isn't over quite yet.  Am so grateful and honored that she gave me these treasures ... I love them and they inspire me!

Have moved on to my second set of napkins ... such a great thing to have ready when I have only a few minutes to sew here and there!  Bits of time here and there add up and allow us to complete whatever mission we choose.

Flicka is not showing her face ... this is her "secret agent" look!  ;-)  Yep, we're working on a 007 project!  Actually, she thinks that when she turns her back on me, I can't see her and won't notice that she is sitting on our project!  Such a goofball!  Her mission is to add humor and silliness to every waking moment!

We're channeling Christmas carols while on this covert mission!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Weather & Wool

 I took this picture on the 9th as Kysa and I began our morning stroll!  A huge weather system was moving in so we went a bit early.  We barely made it ... we had 20 paces left of our 2.5 mile walk and the storm hit.  By the time I got Kysa in the back of the car and myself in the driver's seat ... I was soaked.

 This is the view from our front deck when I returned home from that walk... we had been warned that it was a large storm system ... 10 days later ... we're still in it!  No ... I am not exaggerating ... it has been raining nonstop for 10 days!  You see ... at times like this ...

... dillydallying is really a survival technique!

To cope manage, I have been working on multiple things ... yep, that is normal for me!  For this post, I'll share a small patchwork and wool applique' candle mat I started on Saturday.  It is a kit I bought in August while in Fargo at Rae-Bon Sewing Center.  I had never been to the shop ... a very inspiring place!  I purchased the pattern and kit.  It is designed by Buttermilk Basin and is the November installment of their BOM titled By Thy Hands.

On Saturday I pulled it out ... like all responsible quilters, Flicka and I carefully read the instructions.  With a kit, supplies are limited, so I cut it out with my Supervisor watching very closely! ;-)

Pieces were cut ... let the patchwork begin!

Days later ... the storm continues!

While "listening to the rhythm of the falling rain" I worked on the wool applique' portion of this project.

One day I left my spot to answer the phone ... Miss Flicka turned the project around so that she could plant herself on the wool and take a cat nap!  Yep ... she slept on pins and needle!  What a silly fur ball!

When the handwork was done ... it was time to machine quilt!

Final step ... the binding by machine.

DONE!!  And ready to be used in November!  No matter the size of the project ... a finish always feels wonderful!  I envision Flicka and I doing backflips ... now that would be a site!

We have continued our travels through Middle Earth and now are in the final book.  Currently we are with Aragorn as he convinces the "Army of the Dead" to fight along his side.  A nice way to escape the nasty weather outside!

Yesterday, Kysa and I couldn't stand it any longer ... we ventured out to see the flooding that had been reported.

Scroll back up to the first picture in this post ... this was the same view yesterday.  Portions of the road have been washed out from run off.

This picture was taken before the storm ...

... as you can see, the water level is high.

Part of the dillydally lifestyle is accepting the things we can't control ... and focus on the things we can.  Here in DillyDallydom, we are safe, dry, well fed ... and happy!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

Vintage Inspiration!

A few weeks ago, a non-knitting friend gave me this sweater.  She knows how I love everything Nordic ... especially knitted items!  I am so fortunate!

This sweater belonged to her mother-in-law!  OMGosh Good Golly ... it took my breathe away ... it is stunning!  I love it in every way ... the charted pattern ... the colors ... the sweater style ... it is amazing!  I am so grateful that my friend thought of me when she received it ... what a blessing!

It was purchased in Norway, while her mother-in-law was traveling there ... we think sometime in the 60's.  I have done google searches based on the information found on the tags and had little to no luck.  It is machine knit ... and as you can see from the inside here ... it is double knit!

O ... how I wish it fit me ... it is meant to be worn on the ski slopes ... definitely designed for outer wear!  Love the boat neck and drop shoulder style!

I may not be able wear this sweater ... but I can knit items inspired by it!

I'll begin by making mittens ... created this chart in the middle of the night not too long ago!  Crazy ... but when those dillydally designing storms hit ... I have no choice ... I must yield to them!  A quick trip to The Net Loft for yarn and I'm off!  The chart requires knitting with three colors at a time ... that is something I usually avoid as it slows down the process ... but this design is worth it!

Flicka loves the sweater as well ... this is her favorite way to wear it!

Do what you love.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally

DillyDallydom Escapes to Middle Earth

When those coastal storms rage outdoors ...

... Flicka and I escape to Middle Earth.  We've finished The Hobbit, The Fellowship of the Ring and are currently two thirds of the way through The Two Towers!

Google Image

Currently we are with Frodo, Sam and Gollum on their way to Mordor!  I love listening to audiobooks while dillydallying!  So does Flicka!

I pulled out a half done pillow ... it is a block that I pieced years ago while testing a pattern ... loved the results!  The machine quilting was already done ... I decided to make it into a pillow!  I created an envelope backing ...

... bound the edges ...

... and stuffed it with a pillow form!

Done and on the couch!

Blueberry fabric to honor a friend's birthday ...

... just had to be made into a table runner!

Finished and given for her to enjoy in her home!

Flicka helped pick out some patterns for 007 work.  Everything must meet with her approval!  ;-)

I've become obsessed with making these napkins ...

... I completed eight and cut out another eight!

For my guild's open sew event Saturday, I grabbed a kit that I had purchased last summer in Washington state.  The kit was twenty 10" squares of fabric and this postcard pattern!

How fun!  Wild fabrics ... cut ... and auditioned on the floor!

Before I knew it ... it was pieced!

Flicka loved it ...

... she went wild over it ...

... yep, it is a party quilt!

We entertain ourselves well ... making progress on projects and listening to great literature ... a wonderful way to escape.

Flicka and I listen to Gandalf ... we choose to dillydally with the time that has been given us! ;-)

Do what you love.  Escape.  Do dillydally!

Mrs. DillyDally