No Deal

 I haven't had much time for sewing this week. Just a couple of little thing each night.

Project Linus Mystery clue #3. I'm behind three clues, two are really easy so hopefully I'll get caught up this week.

Some four-patch blocks for the guild community service quilts.

Nine-patch blocks for my leader-ender project. I've been making lots of progress on it.

I also bought a new car. I am a girl who loves loves loves a good deal...that didn't happen. There is a shortage of computer chips which has caused a shortage of cars, which is creating a high demand for new (and used) cars. Car sellers are happy campers. Car buyers are happy if they don't have to pay more than MSRP - how sad is that.

This is an internet picture but my new SUV should look very similar to it. Unfortunately it will not be delivered to the dealership until mid November.

I bought new fabric to console myself.

RIP

A week ago Tuesday I drove to California to visit friends and to attend the Pacific International Quilt Festival. I was supposed to return home last Sunday. Unfortunately Sunday when I went to start my car it made the most horrible noise ever...someone had stole the catalytic converter. In doing so they damaged the whole exhaust system. The cost to repair the car would have been over $6,000 (!!), most parts are on back order so even if the decision was to repair the car it would have been a month or more before it could be repaired. My car was a 2005 Honda Accord with over 180k miles in excellent condition but not worth $6k so the insurance company is totaling the car. 

Boo hoo 😢. This has been the best car ever and I had really hoped to drive it for another 100k miles. After waiting three days on the insurance company I was able to get a rental car today and drove home today. Luckily I have the truck to drive until I can find another car...although apparently there is also a shortage of cars!

I was staying with my friend Angela. She and her family were so incredibly nice to put up with me for an additional three days.  

While in California, Angela and I joined Stephanie and her sister at PIQF. The show was much smaller than previous years and not surprising, not very crowded. There were lots of pretty quilts but I only took pictures of two because I liked the quilting. I got to test drive a Handi Quilter Moxie long arm machine and fell in love. I bought some machine oil and a spool holder for my featherweight and that was it. It was nice to spend time with friends but the show was a little disappointing.

Angela and I both worked on our FQS Sampler quilts.

We both made microwave bowl holders.

Mine - using Angela's fabric - which I made for her. She made one for her sister but I forgot to take a picture of it.

Angela also made a cute mug rug for her sister - this is officially her first finished quilt. I think she did a great job.

Here is the reveal of my secret sewing. A pop-up thread catcher, sewing machine mat and a matching (not pictured) ironing pad for Angela. Don't you love the two featherweights 💖.

I also gave Christina her quilt which she loved.

So a fun, productive, stressful, and sad week.

Odds and Ends

 I have two (!!) finishes this week and progress on three projects.

Christina's quilt is finished. I worried about the bunching and gathering but it was not a problem at all. Squaring the quilt up after quilting was a different story, I didn't even try. I trimmed the quilt so the border was an even 2.25" all around then added the binding. 

I quilted it with my famous meander in light blue thread. I'm happy with how it turned out, I hope Christina is too.

Our current guild challenge was something pumpkin themed. I got my pumpkin quilted and bound.

I'm still tempted to add more quilting in the background fabric but can't think of anything interesting. It's due next Monday so we'll see if anything else is added.

I made progress on my Project Linus mystery blocks.

Clue 1B - Pinwheels is finished and Clue 2 - Chow Time is ready to sew.

I also have Clue 3 all cut out but it doesn't look like anything yet. Hopefully I'll be able to show the finished blocks next week.

I made the third block for the FQS Sampler.

This is going to be a VERY colorful quilt.

And I moved the Q-Snaps on my blackwork garden. One quadrant is done.

Sorry about the wrinkles but I can't iron it until it is finished and cleaned. I can't believe there are only 8 more weeks until this stitch-along ends. I'm still very behind.

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.