Quick Post

 

I'm about ready to fall asleep at my desk chair. So before I break my nose falling asleep on the keyboard here's this week's scoop.

I didn't get a lot of sewing done until today. Here's where I'm at:

Daphne September block is done...don't look at that mismatched center, I'm not fixing it.

Block two of the Fat Quarter Shop Sampler is done.

Block 1a of the Project Linus mystery is done.

 Block 1b is about half done. I have to square up all the blocks and I'm too sleepy to do it right now.

 Christina's quilt is loaded on the frame. I started quilting it last night and went until I ran out of bobbin thread. I'll continue quilting it tomorrow. I think this is the first time I've ever loaded a quilt top to a rail, I normally float the top. I have been concerned with all the uneven seams, puckering and gathering in the quilt and that I would have problems quilting it. So far, so good. I think loading the top on the rail has helped a lot.

October's UFO Challenge Project is the 3-D string quilt.

Hmmm...I have more done than I remembered...however...since I still have one gift project to make, and have a couple of road trips planned this month, I'm going to skip over this project for the moment. If I have time, I'll focus on getting this pile quilted.

Now I think my bed is calling...good night.

Lots of Fun Sewing

 

I really enjoyed sewing this past week. It's been a while since I've been able to say that. I didn't work on any one thing but lots of little things and even a few finishes.

I finished up some of the mystery gifts. I'll show what they are after they have been gifted.

Do you remember Tulip paints from the 80's? Do they still make them? This was a very old Walmart kit I picked up at the guild garage sale. The witch was all pre-cut with fusible already attached. The pattern picture shows it on a sweatshirt, I made a little wall hanging.

 I'll applique around her and hand embroider faces on her and the cat. I think she turned out really cute.

The guild also issued a new challenge...something pumpkin themed - it didn't have to be a new project but what fun would that be. The block is a variation of Penny's Patchwork Pumpkin which is a free pattern from Quilt in a Day.

I tried to make one of Rose's dimensional leaves  but failed miserably. I gathered it up a bit to make it a little bit dimensional and really like how the whole thing turned out. I'm not planning on adding a border - just quilting and binding. I've got to get this finished by October 18. That is the real challenge.

I took the corner extras and made this little block.

The block will finish at 4 inches. I love love love the fussy cut little witch. I'll probably make a little mug rug with this. I'm still playing with ideas.

 I'm trying to encourage a friend to learn how to quilt. Unfortunately she's in California and I'm in Oregon. The Fat Quarter Shop has an excellent beginning quilting video series. I'm making the quilt with her. We are taking one block at a time and today was block one.

 I'm not the best teacher or maybe I should say roll model. I'm hiding my block with the next block's instruction because I cut the plaid so wonky that even though the block is square it doesn't look it. I'm not going to change it.

Next under the needle is my Daphne BOM. 
 

Ten blocks finished, six more to go.

And last but not least...the 2021 Project Linus mystery Oliver's in the Dog House. The first clue was released last Saturday.

The clue has two parts. I've picked my fabrics for both blocks (using the rest of the Lori Holt Prim bundle I bought last year) and hope to get it cut out and pieced tomorrow.

I hope the next week is as fun as this past week was.

Lucy is Finished

 

Just in time for the new Project Linus Mystery to start on Saturday, my Lucy's Love Notes top and my September UFO Challenge project is finished.

Quilting it will be interesting as the center doesn't lay very flat but I have a few ideas so it may get quilted sooner than later.

I've started a few secret sewing projects.

I can't say too much here because I know at least one of the recipients reads my blog.

One is an experiment and the other is a fun project. I'll share more when I can.

My guild garage sale was today. I took four bags of stuff from my sewing room and came home with half a bag.

Isn't this pretty! The print is huge. There are three pieces that total 2.5 yards. I think I see a BQ quilt in my future.

Here is the rest of my haul.

I have no idea what I will make with the red and black fabric (a little less than a yard) but I really liked it.

Almost Done

 

Lucy's Love Notes became a UFO because I didn't like the way the pattern said to create the closures for the envelopes. I knew there had to be a better, easier way. Process improvement, that was part of my job responsibilities when I was working. HA! I wanted to use pretty snaps on the envelopes - easy right. HA! Wrong. I have discovered I am major snap challenged. I've tried several methods and several brands and did a really good job of screwing up all my test versions. Thank goodness I didn't "test" on the real thing.

Lucy was very close to going back to the UFO pile.

So then I thought I could kinda sorta follow the pattern and use iron-on Velcro and iron-on heart patches. HA! The Velcro wasn't too bad, but the hearts barely stuck.

So guess what? I did it like the pattern only it was 10 times harder because I didn't stitch the Velcro and hearts as I was making the envelopes.

I am loving my new sewing machine. I used it's blanket stitch which is total different from my Bernina's blanket stitch.

 The Baby Lock blanket stitch double stitches everything. I wasn't sure about it at first but I ended up loving the texture it gave. And the tension while stitching was wonderful! Another plus is I can adjust the stitching speed of the machine. I set it to snail and very slowly stitched everything.

Here is the quilt (pre-hearts) laid out on the design floor.

I should be able to finish assembling the top tomorrow.

More estate sale treasures...

Major score on the 16.5 inch square Creative Grids ruler - only $2. Doing a happy dance.

And She Unsews

 

So I should have kept my mouth shut because prolific was more like pathetic.  I made the back for Christina's quilt - decided the tie-dyed looking fabric was too teal then took it all apart and ordered more of the nautical flannel fabric online.

I did get two sections of my blackwork project done.

I've also been having some sleeping issues. So instead of fighting the sheets I got up and evaluated my leader-ender project. I think I've mentioned it once before but haven't really given any details. The quilt I'm making was designed by Doodlebugs and Rosebuds Quilts. It is great for using up lots of 2.5 inch squares.

I did a count of all the 4 square strips, made the last 3 needed, ironed them all then cut out the sashing strips and the squares for the nine patches. It is really tempting to make this my main project but I've been really enjoying having it a leader-ender, so it will continue as such. I think I finally went to sleep about 5:30 a.m.

Check out Doodlebugs and Rosebuds Quilts blog as she has some beautiful quilts. 

So I do have a little bit of an excuse for not being prolific ... I belong to a card group, and cards was at my house last Thursday. Then my cousin and his wife came to visit and my mom asked if I would make dinner Sunday night. So lots of cleaning and cooking was done last week. Does that sound like a good excuse?

Okay and maybe I did a little shopping in Medford one day...here is my thrift store find:

I kinda sorta think I already have the Posh Kitty pattern. But maybe not as it has curves and you know how much I hate curves. Aren't the hand dyed fabric colors wonderful! I think it may have been a kit as the deep blue is just a little bit larger than the other fabrics and the far right fabric is a print that looks like dirt with tufts of grass - maybe a flower garden wall hanging?

And I did get the borders on the community service quilt last Monday night.

I really want to make this again with a black border and brighter colors.

Bella's boyfriend has been visiting often.

I've found out that she is a he, and his name is Henri. Bella likes younger guys as he turned one years old this week (he is soooo small compared to her). This guy is a love bug! I really really really want to steal him.

Bella is still keeping a close eye on the front of the house.

 

 

And She Sews!

 I have two friends who are prolific quilters / sewers. They are retired like me. They have wonderful sewing rooms and lots of fabric like me. So why am I not as prolific as they are? Probably because they actually sew! Me on the other hand, I reorganized every other month, spend way too much time on the computer creating spreadsheets, reading blogs and Facebook, and playing games. So I hereby proclaim a change - I am going to become a prolific quilter! (don't hold your breath)

I started Wednesday (maybe Thursday) with a friend's daughter's (Christina) quilt that she made over 10 years ago for her grandfather who has since pasted away. I offered to quilt it but before I did I had to make some repairs.

Christina had never made a quilt before this one and I don't think she had much guidance when she made it. I love the design and the fabrics she chose. Unfortunately most of her stitches look like basting stitches and there are lots of gathered areas. I fixed seam that were at risk of pulling apart but did not fix anything else.

I love the nautical flannel fabric I found for the back - except they didn't have enough of it - so I got the kinda tie-dyed looking flannel to make it big enough. I'm still debating whether to quilt or tie it. I'm leaning toward quilting it as it would re-enforce the seams.  I plan on making the back tomorrow and getting it loaded on the frame this week.

At my last guild meeting I had picked up a community service quilt kit.

Even if everything weren't already cut out this would have been an easy quilt.

I'll get the outer border sewn on after I finish writing this post. With all my 2.5 inch scrap strips I can see me making more quilts using this pattern.

I've continued to make progress on my blackwork project.

Although I'm still about 10 weeks behind.

I can't believe Wednesday is the 1st of September! My September UFO Challenge project is Lucy's Love Notes. Which is perfect because the 2021 Project Linus Mystery Quilt starts September 23rd.

All the blocks are made except Lucy the flamingo. This really shouldn't take that long to finish. (famous last words)

Okay, can she do it? Will she become a prolific quilter? Or will she re-organize something and make a new spreadsheet? Take more cute cat pictures?

Another Boring Week

 

My sewing machine is starting to get cobwebs around it.

I now have a stack of pinned quilts and table toppers so hopefully there will be some action soon.

While I haven't been sewing I have been going though all my sewing / quilting stuff and purging...yes, you heard that right, purging!

My guild is having a garage sale next month. The proceeds go to the guild. I have filled up three bags and started a fourth. There are books, patterns, odd notions, fabric, lots of scrap sets, make and takes from quilt rushes, a couple of small kits, etc.  I've tried to package them nicely so the guild can get as much $$ as possible. I am loving this. This is the first round. They have the garage sale once a year so we'll see what gets purged next year.

As I've been going through things I also found a few "oh, I totally forgot about that" UFO projects. Like this one... 

The embroidery is call chicken scratch. My original plan was to make the apron shown. I already know that's not going to happen, but I don't want to toss it - too pretty. Soooo....

The heart piece will probably become a pillow but I think I'll use the border piece to make this quilter's apron. I'll get some lightweight canvas or broadcloth to give it some body as the gingham is pretty light. Should be a fun project - if I ever sew again.

I think I have all my floss wound. To quote Annie O. "Winding floss is kinda fun,I think, for awhile, and then it’s not."