Monday Meanderings 3 - 31 - 2025

Welcome Spring!  We've had a high of 80º one day this weekend and it's predicted for Monday als0.  Wow -- many degrees above normal. Hopefully, we are done with freezing nights! Despite the gorgeous weather I did spend quite a bit of time in the studio.  Here's my goals list from last week.

3/24/25

✔️Make 2 RSC yellow blocks — started not finished. 

✅Quilt one of my quilts  -- done and bound! 

✅Mail blocks to FCQ Equilter -- done! 

Cut out a new quilt — nothing done! 

I have 2 yellow blocks cut out with this one started on the sewing. That will be on the next goals list and maybe the April color too. 

Here's the quilt I decided to quilt next. I had a blue backing that was also used for the binding. 

This is the first of 3 framed 9 patches I've made from the group of blocks I received from the FCQ Equilters. It did get quilted and bound this week.  I'll share the finish at a later time.  This was the biggest of the three quilts...but still only a lap quilt. 

What I find ridiculous is I didn't remember to put binding last week's quilt on my goals list this week. So, yep, I did that one too. 

Sharon and I consult with each other when we aren't decisive about a project.  I wasn't sure about which fabric to use for the binding. I really wanted to use the purple -- I have tons of it.  But it really didn't look very good.  I liked this navy blue which Sharon agreed with but then suggested I use the navy piece as a flange look. I decided to Susie's Magic Binding  It took a bit longer but it does look good on the quilt. I used directions I found on  Aunt Marti's web site. I prefer reading directions rather than watching directions but I notice there is a link to a video in the first paragraph if you'd rather watch how this is done. 

Here are this week's goals. 

3/31/25

Start on April UFO 

Cut out a new quilt

Quilt a top 

Order more backing fabrics

Start another knit hat 

So, start on a new quilt . . . I need some help!  Here's the group of fabrics I want to use.  I think I might throw in another fabric - white, beige, grey?  

But I'm looking for ideas of what to make. The pink, purple, and green is a yard, the green is about 1/2 yard.  The lighter pink is leftover backing. Maybe a half yard or a bit over.  Any suggestions? I think the pink, purple, and green needs to be bigger pieces. I imagine I could get a wheelchair quilt from the fabrics I have or perhaps a child's quilt. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. And, maybe I should look at the blocks on board I have for my Accu Quilt die cutter.  

Here's a quilt I finished several months ago. In fact, when I was trying to figure out how much fabric was in it I realized I had already given it to the guild's charity group.  Luckily I had taken some pictures of it before I gave it away. 

This is 54.5 x 70.5". The quilting design is Quick and Easy Stars Edge 2 Edge by My Creative stitches .  The pattern is a variation of Wayne's Quilt in Smash Your Precut Stash. the book had 12" blocks but I made mine 8" blocks.  

Here's the stats for my sewing time this week. 

W/ending 3/23/25. 89 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/Mar = 30/30
• 15 minute days/2024 = 89/89 days
• Success rate = 100%

Yep another week of sewing every day. 

I'm linking with the following Linky parties: 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musing

Here are some pictures from spring in our area.  This is our cherry tree in the front yard in full bloom.  You can read about the stages of cherry blossom blooms at this web site. It looks like there are some buds still on this branch. It looks like Peduncle Elongation to me.  The news reports go into all the stages so you learn a lot about cherry blossoms watching the nightly news. I wish our trees were a little more pink but they sure say spring to me. 

We've got one more day of warm weather (maybe 80º) but rain is coming in. Hopefully we won't lose all the petals from the rain and possible wind. Soon it will look like snow on the ground from all of the petals that are blown off the tree. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie  

Monday Meanderings 3 -- 24 -- 2025

Spring has come!  The cherry blossoms are getting ready to bloom in Washington, DC and our front yard.  It will be beautiful once the blooms come. Tonight I noticed there were some blooms and surprisingly some were already on the ground. Must have been the wind.  Although it has been a nice week weather-wise I spent a lot of time in my studio.  It's been a good week getting my goals done. Here's my list from last week. 

3/17/25

✅Quilt another of my quilts — quilting done, binding to come.

✅Start sewing March UFO blocks together — the half log cabin blocks are now a top! 

✅Bind baby quilt — done! 

Make a couple of placemats — didn’t get to this one. 

✅Finish sewing the lining in the needlepoint scissors case — finished this cute little case. 

Here's last week's quilt.  It hasn't been trimmed or bound -- that's for this coming week's goals.  This is Pat Sloan's pattern, Traffic Jam.  I changed it to use 2" squares since I had a bunch of them to use up. 

The quilting design is Saffron Blossom by Apricot Moon. One of the things I added to this quilt is a lot of little squares that have surprises in them: an elephant, a fish, a mouse. Any little animal I had in my collection of 2" squares I threw in. Whoever receives this quilt will find a lot of cuteness among the squares. 

On Sunday afternoon I finished my March UFO top. It is my half log cabin. Here's the quilted top. I haven't even trimmed it yet. It's on the goals list for this week. 

I've finally finished a cute needlepoint scissors case. This was a freebie project from a cruise many years ago.  The project came completely finished except the needlepoint design. I've been working on it for at least 5 years. I finished the needlepoint last year. I knew I would need to line it to protect my scissors from the stiff needlepoint canvas.  Here's what the out side looks like. 

The design is stitched with floss rather than tapestry wool.  I'm happy to have this one finished. I knew the needlepoint canvas would be rough on my scissors so I lined it with some velvet like fabric.  We took another cruise on the same line with stitching sessions on sea days so I got a new project. It's suppose to be a glasses case but I've dismantled it so I can use it on a tote bag I'll make for it when it's finished. And here's the inside of the scissors case. 

Now on to this week's goals.  It took me a while to come up with this list.  I decided not to make it too long this week. 

3/24/25

Make 2 RSC yellow blocks

Quilt and bind one of my quilts 

Mail blocks to FCQ Equilter 

Cut out a new quilt

If I make it through this list I have another top for the quilt guild.  Or perhaps I'll quilt another of my tops. I have 28 tops waiting to be quilted.  Did you notice the purple backing on my quilt up there? ⬆️ There's a big piece left over. I've used almost 5 yards of the original 15 but I'm going to have a lot of scraps and pieces leftover. 

Another great week stitching every day. Here are the stats:

W/ending 3/23/25. 82 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/Mar = 7/7
• 15 minute days/2024 = 82/82 days
• Success rate = 100%

Here are two more quilts from the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show. First up is On Eagles Wings by Beth Filko. Notice the use of string blocks.  

I took this picture for a friend who enjoys doing wool work.  I really liked it although I probably would never do anything like it. 

On Saturday we volunteered at the local food bank to pack student food boxes. They are given to school kids to augment their family's food. We signed up for 2 hours but we were done in about an hour and a half.  We and a group of students from Mary Washington Univ. packed enough boxes to fill 6 Gaylords. From what I found on line Gaylords can be 40 x 40 x 40" or bigger and generally are on a pallet so they can be transported by forklifts. After they were filled they are shrink wrapped to keep everything controlled. The staff was very happy we finished the packing early and had been cleaning up as we went along so there was no mess to clean up at the end. Pat already volunteers two times a month on weekdays.  We might continue to volunteer on a Saturday each month if we can. Evidently weekend time slots fill up fast. 

Hum, there are several Gaylords behind me. Me keeping boxes on the line.

I'm linking up with the following Linky parties: 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap! 

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings 

That's it for me today. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 3 - 17 - 2025

I'm not sure what I did all week but I certainly didn't get much done on my goals list!  I did get the new Cali-Co block done though! My friend Sharon and I are doing this Mystery Block of the Month together. Every month we Face Time when the new block comes out and make our blocks while we chat.  It's a great way to keep up while we make a new block. 

Here's mine from this month. 

And here are all three blocks together. 

I really like them so far.  But I'll have to pay more attention to the fabrics I pick so they don't get dark -- I'm looking for light, bright fabrics. Cali-Co is sponsored by Coriander Quilts. You can go to her website and search for the three blocks on the third Saturday of each month.  I'm not sure I am thrilled with the number of half square triangles but I have a die for them! 

Here's last week's goals list. 

3/10/25

Quilt another of my quilts — didn’t even pick one to quilt! 

✅Quilt guild top and trim — done, ready to return. 

✅Continue working on March UFO — laid out blocks, changed some of the logs. 

Bind baby quilt — I picked the fabric out! 

✅Finished last FCQ Equilter blocks — ready to get them ready to mail. 

Here's the guild veteran quilt that I quilted. I really like the design I used called Quick and Easy Stars from My Creative Stitches. I have many star patterns but I  like this one because it incorporate swirls along with the stars. And, it's quick and easy just like its name! 

Here's my plan for the March UFO which is my half log cabin block.  I'm using the circles version. 

Look for the blue circle around the two orange blocks. On the top row second block from the left has been changed.  As has row 6, block 5. I decided they both stuck out like sore thumbs. I may move some blocks that might conflict with other blocks around them. Plus I notice that some of the lights look pretty dark in the bottom right corner.  I'll play with this one during the week and hopefully start sewing it together. 

Here are the FCQ Equilter blocks I've made. They are ready to be sent to my friend. 

These look great. I'm looking forward to seeing how these mix with the other blocks she is receiving. 

Now, on to my goals for this week. Hopefully, I'll get more done.

 

3/17/25

Quilt another of my quilts 

Start sewing March UFO blocks together

Bind baby quilt

Make a couple of placemats

Finish sewing the lining in the needlepoint scissors case 

Three are repeats from last week.  I've got half of the lining of scissors case sewn in. I just need to sew the other half in. The quilt guild meeting is this week so I hope to make a couple of placemats to donate. 

I've done a pretty good job getting my 15 minutes of sewing in every day. Today I repaired a fleece hoody for my grandson.  He evidently wears it all the time. The fleece may be too hot with spring coming. Here are my current numbers. 

W/ending 3/16/25. 75 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/Mar = 7/7
• 15 minute days/2024 = 75/75 days
• Success rate = 100%

Yea!  I'm getting quite a bit of sewing/knitting done even though I'm not getting everything on my list done. 

Here are a couple more pictures from the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show.  One of the guilds I belong to did a challenge for their entries in the show.  Here's the sign explaining the challenge. I thought it was pretty interesting but I wasn't willing to commit to it. 

Here's my friend, Michele's quilt.  She started this in June at a retreat we were at. I'm sorry she didn't put the size on her author's statement.  I think the HSTs finished at 1". 

Here's an original design from the show. I love how vibrant the cat looks. And even though the edges are straight lines it doesn't look like they are. This cat has catatude! 

I'm linking with the following parties: 

   Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday 

Monday Musings

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 3 - 10 - 2025

Why has this week zipped by so fast? It didn't seem like I got a lot done especially since I was reading too. It never fails if one reserved book or audio book becomes available, 3 are available. I've got more to read and listen to this week. However, I did much better on my goals this week. Here's what it looks like now.

3/3/25

✅Bind the R,W,B quilt — All done! 

✅Quilt another top — Baby String Bean top quilted. 

✅Make blocks for FCQ EQuilter of the month — 4 done, 1 left. 

Cut a new kit out — didn’t happen. 

✅Work on the March UFO challenge — Started playing with layouts.

Pictures of the R, W, B quilt will be taken and shared later. (Ok, it'll probably be several weeks from now, knowing me.) But here is the Baby String Bean top during quilting. It still needs its binding. I have to figure out what color binding to use. I'm pretty sure all of the fabrics I used were just leftover strips except the block centers and there is hardly any left of it. (Good news, I'm using up fabric but...) 

I've been making Nightfall blocks (from a video on Missouri Star Quilt's video) for the FCQ Equilter. Here are the first two that I made. 

I chose not to make my original half square triangles by stitching on the outside edges of the square as the video instructions suggested.  The finished size HSTs needed were 6.5" unfinished. Guess what size HST Accuquilt die I have? Yep, I started with HSTs cut with my die. And then I finished the rest of the directions for the Nightfall block. You can check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhTooAVmjZE&t=11s. There are several other ways to arrange the units also. 

My last effort on my goals was to start working on the March UFO Challenge. The number 8 was drawn and for me that was to turn the half log cabin blocks into a quilt.  To that end I used a few of the blocks to try out various layouts. Here are two of them. 

Pinwheel half log cabins. 

Circle half log cabins.

There are a couple of other ways to set these blocks.  Playing with the few here I realize the lights don't always read as lights. I do know that I sewed them all differently than what the pattern called for which means at least one of the setting won't work.  It's not a problem for all settings so it will be fine. So far, I prefer the circle half log cabin layout.  I'll be laying out all the blocks over the next few weeks. Hopefully they will become a top before the end of the month. 

Here's what I plan to work on this coming week. 

3/10/25

Quilt another of my quilts

Quilt guild top and trim

Continue working on March UFO

Bind baby quilt

Finished last FCQ Equilter blocks and get them in the mail

I've continued my success with 15 minutes of stitching. 

W/ending 3/9/25. 68 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/Mar = 7/7
• 15 minute days/2024 = 68/68 days
• Success rate = 100%

And, honestly I've gotten quite a bit of knitting done.  I should have another hat finished by tomorrow.  And then I'll go back to working on the socks. Tuesday I hope to go to the workshop for From the Heart Stitchers. It's where we turn in our finished projects and we can pick up some supplies to continue to make things.  Generally my friend Fran goes to deliver and pick up items. This time I'm hoping to go with her.  My goal is to get some more white yarn and maybe something in lemon yellow.  (Ok, I don't really need the yellow but I thought it would be a nice color change!) 

Here are two more quilts from the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show.

I'm linking up with the following parties: 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings

 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie