Sunday, 22 March 2020

Pandemic Haircut, Blue Strings Blocks, Baskets (Again)

I gave myself a haircut this morning...shorter than I've done in a while. I'm calling it my Pandemic hairdo. It looks like I could go on the run any minute...no curling irons necessary. If you would like to see it, tell me in the comments.  Speaking of which, I am always so happy to hear from you; it makes my day.

Hey, you never told me there was math involved with setting blocks on point! This has taken me a while to figure out the placement, one that I can manage that is. I've settled on sewing the blocks into four larger panels and doing a little hand quilting as I go kind of thing this week. For the backing I chose neutral floral prints so these are now sandwiches. I love seeing the baskets up close again.
Another old old project is the scrappy blues string blocks started about 5 years ago.  I used thrift store shirts and pillowcases in this one too.
  I also used the blocks to practice 15 minutes a day of free motion quilting, some of it turning out better than others. I have four larger panels joined together and another four prepped as sandwiched panels. I hope I keep this project moving forward this week. I like the blues.
Spring is occurring as I write this. We watched the first trains of Canada geese yesterday flying overhead and honking loudly as if to shout, we're back.  Cool but sunny outside and with the recent rains, the snow is leaving the land. The normalcy of watching a season change is comforting just now.
Hubby spied this little fellow first and called me to come see him.  Fresh from his underground nest, he was sitting for ages just looking around. Haven't seen any chipmunks since last October.
Murphy has no interest in posing, anxious to get going. It is doggy heaven on the trails with many new smells being revealed every day.
I hope you are keeping yourself away, tucked in and safe.  I know the stitchers all are.
Linking this post with some of those stitchers at Kathy's QuiltsLove Laugh QuiltPretty Piney and Quilting is More Fun Than Housework. Also linking with Viewing Nature With Eileen.

29 comments :

eileeninmd said...

Hello Jocelyn, I have been known to take the scissors to my hair, usually end up with an uneven trim. Your quilt blocks are lovely, Blue is my favorite color. The baskets are beautiful. Love your sweet Murphy. Great sighting of the Chipmunk, I've been seeing them run around our yard too. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care and stay safe. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead!

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

I love your baskets and log cabins. I will need to trim my hair too soon - I'm wondering how I will do the back any good :) if you want to share your hair cut would love to see. I am finding these shortages of food to be ridiculous - I am making bread today and thought even though I have some flour maybe I need to order more as the last time I went to store early last week there was no flour! I checked several places and all were out of stock!! I guess I should be glad for what I have

Julierose said...

I've been triming my own bangs for a while now--I let the rest of the mane grow out..so now I can pin it up, and braid it...my skill with scissors will be tested when i trim up Thom's hair (he's a very brave man!!) ;000
shortages already everywhere here in our State--we have always eaten leftovers
("Mikey likes it" haha) and now even more so...Hoping to get to an early open for seniors grocery tomorrow to get a few things--so far no meat, no dairy no eggs, no produce and few canned items...and of course no TP!![I am thinking back to my younger diaper washing days..oh no!!] Well, you do what you have to do, right? And our Administration is no help....aaargh!!

Hope you stay safe..hugs from afar Julierose

Out To Pasture said...

Jocelyn, in my seventy plus years, I could probably use the fingers of only one hand to count the number of times I've been to a hairdresser. I have a pair of professional scissors and in only about five minutes, the job is done. You've got some lovely projects on the go there. (As usual) I used to sew a lot of my own clothes but my next sewing project is going to be a face mask which I'll wear to go grocery shopping next week. I thought I heard a chipmunk calling this morning! Stay safe!

The Joyful Quilter said...

I'm in love with BOTH of those projects!! Too bad I already have so many others on the go...

Karrin Hurd said...

I'd love to see your hair. I had to cancel my appointment on Thursday and it was looking pretty scruffy then and I was looking forward to it. Lovely scrappy blue quilt, and I always love basket quilts!

Nancy J said...

I did cut my own hairs for years when the budget was so tight. And I have cut Hugh's hair with professional.home Wahl cutters that we bought in 1966 I think. They cost just over three pounds!!!We bought older daughter her tricycle the same day!!! All our family will be working from home, one grandie has university lectures cancelled this week, not sure ab out the future there. Maybe everything online.But as over 70, we have been advised to stay home. We are doing that. Love those blues, they all are great together, bright and beautiful.

Jill said...

Cute little chipmunk awakening from hibernation. Just this morning, I sai to myself, I’ll have to cut my hair or starting wearing a bun or pony tail. Nice scrappy baskets!

loulee said...

What a cute visitor.
Love your scrappy blues. Great idea for practicing free motion.

Libby in TN said...

Oh, I need a haircut in the worst way and don't have the courage to even call the salon! Like you, I'm working my way through some little projects and UFOs, some of them almost qualify as antiques!

Ruth Hiebert said...

Those early signs of spring are most welcome.

Linda @ kokaquilts said...

Love your blue log cabin blocks! When we come out the other side of this, we will walk out with crazy hair and worn-out manicures!

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Resident Chef often trims up the bottom back of my hair but I'm mustering my courage to let him have a go at the entire thing - he has a beard trimmer that has a longer setting so it can't be much different than what my hairdresser does. We're not going anywhere so who cares! I'm planning to start working on a new crazy quilt and had been thinking about setting the blocks on point but now you say it involves (horrors) math, I might just change my mind. Your blocks are looking great, but I have to say I really love the blue quilt - my absolute favourite colour and one of my favourite patterns too.

Brian's Home Blog said...

Your projects are very pretty and I do love the blues. Hey, a chipmunk, cool, we're enjoying some real warm weather here. Stay safe, healthy and virus-free.

Louise said...

Yes! I want to see your new 'do. I'm sorry now that I didn't get mine trimmed at the last minute, since our only hair skill is a buzz cut using the clippers. I've done that on myself, and it's OK, but not what I want this season. I love the blue string quilt! That's a great way to build FMQ muscles :)

K Reeves said...

I have been known to cut my own hair. I usually trim the front between visits to the salon, because I'm too cheap to go more than every 2 months. I have cut DH's hair for maybe 5 years now. Your two projects are great for this season we are in. I'm so looking forward to full throttle spring, a growing and green yard will do all of us immense good. 🙂

KarenW said...

I love that blue string quilt.

Kim said...

I don't know if I have written this as my comment disappeared....so here I go again. =)

Yikes....maths.....really?? I would have a few problems working out the maths but you have done superbly. Your blocks of sweet baskets look fabulous set on point. As for your scrappy blues string blocks quilt; it is a vision in pretty blues. You are brave for cutting your own hair. Just like maths, I would be hopeless at it. Enjoy your stitching.

Rebecca Grace said...

Your baskets and string blocks are both lovely. I especially love those bits of coral in it from the floral prints scattered throughout the blue. I remember the Spring snow melting from many years ago, when I was a little girl in Minnesota! There is nothing like it in the South; it's like not having Spring at all here. And New Jersey was like this, too -- I feel you only really experience the joy of Spring awakening after enduring a winter of snow blanketing the Earth for months on end, a truly dormant season of cold, patience, and faith that one day it will melt and sprouts of green -- and chipmunks! -- will return. Enjoy!

Kleine Vingers said...

I like the baskets and log cabin blocks.

Carol- Beads and Birds said...

I have always cut my own hair..even when my mother didn't WANT me too, lol. But since I was 13 I have had my own style but never short. My ears are too big and my face is too long for short. I'd love to see your cut. Spring is supposed to be here but it has snowed for two days. A Mallard couple are making our pond their home I think. I think I want to make a Log Cabin on point. We'll see.
Be well.
xx, Carol

Michele McLaughlin said...

I love the baskets but that blue quilt is also calling my name! Stay safe and healthy! We are doing lots of dog walks too these days! Cyber hugs!

MissPat said...

Your abundant egg delivery in the last post is the envy of many here in the US. We returned home from FL on Thurs and I had just enough time to restock the perishables in our fridge and find distilled water for my husband's CPAP machine. Already was well stocked with paper products from Costco fortunately. I did luck out and shop on the day eggs were being shelved.
Now we are under mandatory shelter in place orders from the governor. It's also snowing which I could do without at this point. Crocus in bloom and buds on the daffodils. I don't mind being stuck inside too much as I have plenty to keep me busy and it's still too cold for outdoor work. I do worry about how I will restock groceries, since I think we're in for a long confinement. Be well.
Pat

Lin said...

Goodness! I wouldnt dream of giving myself a haircut, wow. I love your blue string blocks and as someone who avoids FMQ like the plague I think your quilting looks fantastic. Lovely pictures from your garden. It has been very mild here and everything is growing like wildfire. Could be a frost this week so that might slow things down a bit. Stay safe and well. xx

Eva H. said...

Good day,Jocelyn
I haven't been to the hairdresser for many years.I wore longer hair. Now I go.I wanted to go there ... I couldn't make it anymore. Everything is closed,based on only when necessary-obligatory protective mask over our mouth and nose.
It's a time for handicrafts. I sewed masks since morning.Many people don´t have its.
Take care of yourself,your family and all your friends
Eva(CZ)

Snickelfritz said...

We have Canadian geese who stay around all year. They seem to like our climate and we have several little lakes and ponds around us where they live. A lot of people are using this time to finish projects and we are painting a bedroom I've been planning to paint for a long time and I'm working on six quilts that I want to have completed by Christmas. I'm seeing a lot of good coming out of all this. Be safe and sew!

Angie said...

Jocelyn - funny you should mention a haircut; my husband showed me a clip from FaceBook that was titled "When Parents Start Cutting Kids Hair Again" accompanied with a bunch of pictures of extremely poor haircuts! We need our humor right now, don't we? I have been watching mobs of birds arrive, especially Juncos. But no chipmunks have emerged (yet). Stay healthy!

Carol in Texas said...

Please do show us your haircut......I have trimmed mine here and there but never a whole haircut!
We woke at five this morning to be at our Walmart and get eggs! They let only seniors in from 6-7 and when we got there at ten till six, the line was all across the parking lot! But we DID get eggs! Life is amazing right now, even in our small central Texas town! Carol in Texas

Home Sewn By Us said...

Hi Jocelyn! Oh yes, I would love to see your haircut. I am quite shaggy myself. Sue's sister used to cut hair - maybe I could get her to give me a quick trim. I just LOVE your blue project. What rich tones and I can only imagine how they are in real life. That picture of Murphy is just stunning - he's a handsome dog. I'll bet the sunshine felt good to him, and all those smells to find. {{Hugs}} Stay healthy and safe. ~smile~ Roseanne