This and That

Well I got my fabric unpacked and the quilt frame kinda sorta put back together...

Uneventful huh? I have to order new tracks for the sewing machine carriage. I'll do that this week. Hopefully the Grace Company still has replacement parts for this frame as they no longer sell it.

Do you plan out a room? I measured, grid out the room and furniture, then started moving things around on paper. MUCH easier on my back than physically moving everything all over. I decided the best place for the frame was smack in the middle of the room.

I spent a lot of time in my sewing room this week but didn't do much sewing. As I was unpacking fabric I pulled all the white/off-white/shirting fabrics and sorted them by size. I went through all the white/off-white scraps and cut them up into 10 inch squares, 5 inch strips or squares and 2.5 inch strips or squares.

Then, because they have been driving me nuts for the last few months, I did the same 10 inch squares, 5 inch strips or squares and 2.5 inch strips or squares with all the scraps from all the quilts I've made since I moved into the house.

THEN, I did the same thing with a bag of fabric a friend of my mom's gave me. Whew! All of them had odd chunks cut out. Most of them I'll never use, but I thought if they were nicely cut up someone at my guild might be interested in them.

I didn't get the whale quilt pinned. I cut the backing but found it was just a few inches too narrow. I cut strips to make it little bit larger but then realized it is a directional fabric...if I add the strip will it look strange? Maybe off center?

Or should I use one of the other fabrics in the picture?

I did start quilting the fall table runner.

Almost all of the in-the-ditch quilting is done. Now I have to figure out what else...meandering in the cream? leaves in the border?

The light I use on my cutting table is a halogen - it gives off a lot of heat. Bella loves it.

My darling kitty caught a lizard in the garage yesterday and promptly brought it in the house - still alive (barely). It took a bit to capture her then the lizard. I don't know if he lived or not but he is gone from where I dumped him in the yard.

This little jack rabbit has been living in my front yard the last few days - although I haven't seen him today. As long as he eats the weeds he can stay as long as he wants.
  

Squirrel Whales and Frogs

 
The new carpet has been installed! I'm such a happy camper. This isn't the best picture...it is soft and cushy. I want to spend the whole day barefoot. It is the last big project for the new house. Now I have no excuses not to unpack fabric, set up the quilt frame and hang pictures.

Lincoln's Sampler has binding, and been washed. The binding is a very dark brown with gold flecks that match the back. Love it. This picture really doesn't do the colors justice.

Friday southern Oregon began Phase 1 of reopening. On Friday morning I was checking to see if there was going to be a guild meeting today, Monday. I noticed there was a Project Linus meeting scheduled Friday afternoon - the group has less than 25 people. No guild meeting - too many people.  I've been thinking about looking into Project Linus and decided to attend the meeting Friday afternoon. We did practice social distancing. Those ladies were busy in quarantine. One had 17 tied quilts and another had over 35 crochet edge polar fleece blankets.

Turns out the group is no longer Project Linus. It is now sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club so it is going by the name of Quilts for Kidz. The coordinator had three tables full of stuff, all donated. One had fabric / yarn that anyone could take, as long as it was brought back in quilt/blanket form. The second had larger pieces of fabric that could be used for backs, as long as it was brought back in quilt form. The third was non-cotton fabric and other things that couldn't be used for quilts or were more craft type things. The coordinator wanted all of that stuff gone and she didn't want it back, she didn't even want to have to pack it up and take it home again. Anything left over was going to another donation center. Of course the third table called my name.

Two of the items on the table were these hand appliqued whale blocks. Based on the fabric it looks like they might have been made in the 1980's or 90's. The whales need eyes.

Where does the squirrel come in? I Googled whale quilts late Friday night hoping I could find the original pattern and layout. Nope. But I found a quilt top I liked that had whale fabric in it.  I liked the simple 4 block layout.

My squirrel moment? I finished this about 11:30 p.m. Saturday (the whales still need eyes). It should not have take long. For such an incredibly simple quilt I kept screwing it up. It only has 26 seams, yet I managed to have to frog (ribbit (rip-it)) 9 of them...some of them twice. I'll get it quilted this week - and add eyes. It is about 42 inches square.

There were a few other items on the table that I took. Including this finished quilt. Another quilt that only it's maker could truly love.

This twin sized quilt with an attached dust ruffle is hand pieced and hand quilted. It is also made of two double knit fabrics. I'm guessing it was probably made in the 1970s. I think the ruffle is percale, probably an old sheet. I don't know why but I had to bring it home. There were also the beginnings of two pillow shams in the bag with the quilt.

I don't think it had ever been used. I've already washed the quilt and cut off the ruffle. I plan to "bind" it using the ruffle fabric then donate it back. When I talked to the group coordinator she mentioned that if she received a quilt that she thought was not appropriate for a kid, she would donate the quilt to a local dialysis or oncology center. Someone put a lot of work into the quilt, hopefully it will find a good home.

I have more treasures that I brought home. I'll show them off as I get quilts made from them.
 

Done

 
Well, the quilting is done. It is easier to see from the back...

 I binge watched two seasons of The Rookie to get it done.

There were a bazillion starts and stops. So far I haven't found any puckers in the front or back. Now I need to go over the front and back to remove all the thread - I backstitched all the starts and stops so I don't need to bury the threads. I haven't made the binding yet. Still haven't decided what color / fabric to use.

I'm so excited!! The carpet installers will be here tomorrow morning!

Progress all around

 
Well I didn't finish squaring up all the General Jack HST but I did make a dent in them. You can kinda sorta see them and my Bloc-Loc ruler at the top of this picture:

I got caught up on my blackwork SAL - I was about six weeks behind.

Gudrun Erla of GE Designs had another quarantine sew along on Sunday. I really really really wanted to sew along also. But I didn't (pat on back). I did follow along on Facebook throughout the day but I was determine to start quilting Lincoln's Sampler. I got the large top band of all the fans quilted to stabilize the sandwich and got a row completely done before I ran out of bobbin thread.

I bought two spools of the top thread knowing it was going to take a lot but only one spool of the bobbin thread. Not one of my smarter moments. I picked up more thread today so should be able to continue quilting this week. The fans take a bit of time, and a bit of maneuvering of the quilt, but so far have been pretty easy to do. All using my walking foot.

I have to "pack the quilt up" when I'm not working on it because Bella loves to dig into quilts. Literally digs with her claws. Luckily I was able to distract her with another old quilt that she is allowed to dig into.

I've also got her a new cat tower a few weeks ago. She has clawed huge bald spots in the old one.

She is slowly starting to use the new one. The old one is so ratty looking but she still love to chase her tail through the hole so I don't what to get rid of it. I'll probably move the old one to my bedroom. Maybe then she won't claw at my mattress. I love my cat...I love my cat...remind me often that I love my cat.