Sunday, March 17, 2024

Monday Meanderings 3 - 18 - 2024

We celebrated St. Patrick's Day in style. Did you?  See below for pictures of the high tea for the ladies upstairs and other food for the men in the basement rec room hosted by Rochelle and Darren. But first let's look at goals.

3/10/2024

✅Knit socks -- the first sock is done.     

✅Finish last border of Malted Mystery -- Malted Mystery is a finished top!

✅✅Load and quilt two of my quilts -- two done! 

Start cleaning off cutting area 2 -- a large group of fabric was put away and my sewing buddy could even tell the difference! 


Yep, it was definitely a good week for me. 


First sock with wool from Germany is finished. The label is Superba Bamboo Superwash. It 50% virgin wool, 25% polyamide, and 25% viscose.  I had to do a little research to find out polyamide refers to several different forms of fibers made from strings of polyamide monomers, in other words a fiber made with petroleum. Most of us know of it through nylon.  In yarn it provides elasticity and silkiness. (If you have yoga pants they probably have polyamide in them.) The vicose in this yarn is bamboo based. (Or that is my conjecture.) Viscose is made from the cellulose material of bamboo. This material is dissolved in a chemical solution to produce a pulpy viscous substance, which is then spun into fibres that can then be made into threads. (This info came from https://goodonyou.eco/category/made-from/. It  promotes choosing fashions that are sustainable.)  OKAY! Way more than you wanted to know but it is pretty interesting.  On to the picture!

I love the color and the softness.  The design of the sock is tolerated. Who really wants to reknit the whole foot of the sock? Not me. So I'll make a note on the pattern to not use it again. That is unless the second sock comes out looking better, I might have made some mistakes... I'll keep you posted. 


Here's my finished Malted Mystery top. 


The very dark borders is purple. It has a small design in it but you sure can't see it in these purples.  I really like my finish since that dark purple doesn't look as intense in person. It has been hung in the to-be-quilted closet. 



First top quilted this week: 16 patch with stars.  The 16 patches came from the FCQ Equilters years ago. (This may be the second top I made from them...) Quilting design is Fanfare. I "think" this is a navy or red So Fine. 



I'm calling this one Old Zigzag.  I do not remember when I made it. I know it is at least 8 years old because I didn't make it since we've lived here. The HSTs are 2" finished. (I think I might have been a bit crazy when I made this. Or I had a really big leader ender project going on.) Quilting design is Random Clams. This thread is a grey Omni. 


I should have taken a before and after picture of cutting area 2. The left side of the table top is clear to the cutting mat! I still need to do something with the stuff all over the rest of the mat.  I'll try working on it again this week. 


Here's what I've got planned for this week. 


3/18/2024

Finish another loom hat

Bind Spider Web quilt

Bind 16 patch r,w,b quilt

Bind Zigzag quilt

Work on needlepoint scissors case


So, back to high tea... Rochelle, our pianist for the Spotsylanians community chorus, invites the whole chorus to come to high tea at her house on St. Patrick's Day. She goes all out to feed and entertain us. I didn't get pictures before the tea began but here are a few pictures from the during the event. 


She has a collection of different tea pots, plates, cups and saucers.  She has a multitude of tiered serving dishes to put sandwiches, scones and cookies on. And all sorts of additional dishes for serving clotted cream, jam, an sugar and cream.  It was a beautiful with 3 separate tables available.  I have had high tea at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC and several times on cruise ships. Rochelle's was as wonderful.  The company was fun (especially since we don't have a lot of chatting time during rehearsals.) 


Lemon balls and fresh strawberries.

And, honestly, this group will sing anywhere. So here some of us are singing Irish songs. (I was taking the pictures so I'm not shown.) 


People were definitely wearing the green....

The men are invited to spend time in the basement recreation room and their spread included chicken wings and brownies.  Probably more food but I didn't notice as I only went down after the party had been over for at least an hour.  Usually there is cigar smoking for those who enjoy it but they are invited outdoors.  I don't know if there was whisky this year or not. 


I volunteered to help clean up and started in washing all the tea cups, silverware and some of the smaller glass containers for the Vanilla Bean Yogurt/Lemon Lime Curd/Blueberries. Maddie was drying and continued washing when it was time for us to leave. I'd say we all had a great time. I'm hoping she continues this tradition.  


It was another great stitching week. Everyday I spent at least 15 minutes in my studio, many days it was much longer.  My success rate is increasing.... will it creep up to, say, 99% this week? 



  • 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
  • 15 minute days/March = 17/17 days 
  • 15 minute days/2024 = 76/77days
  • Success rate = 98.7%

I'm ready to call it a night. so Please take a look at these Linky parties. 

Oh Scrap

Stitching Stuff

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musing



Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 



Saturday, March 16, 2024

And the Winner Is

After forgetting all about the drawings I needed to do I finally figured out I should get the random number generator busy.  There were 19 people who qualified for the two drawings on my March 6th posting for Preeti's new pattern, Rainbow Parade.  

The first drawing was for the hand dyed fat quarters. Congratulations to Julie who blogs at https://quiltsandcostumes.blogspot.com/


The second drawing was for a free digital copy of Preeti's Rainbow Parade pattern. Congratulations go to Sara who blogs at http://mysewingroomsara.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading my blog and helping get the word out about Rainbow Parade. Just a reminder, here's a pic of my version. 


Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 


Sunday, March 10, 2024

Monday Meanderings 3 - 11 - 2024

Did you see the new pattern I tested for Preeti?  Check my post about Rainbow Parade here. I also posted the March Mysteries and Quilt Alongs this weekend. Check that listing here. And, now on to my goals last week. 

3/4/2024

✅Knit on socks — Progress made, time to knit the toe.

✅Find fabric for appliqué blocks — 3 new fabrics have taken up residence in my stash. 

✅Mail package to FCQ Equilter from last round — finally sent the blocks  off. 

✅Border Green, blacks, and white top — done

Start customer quilt — started and finished. 

Oops -- the chartreuse green doesn't go as well as I thought it did. At least not in this photo.  It's better in person. I didn't have a lot of the green floral fabric so I decided to scatter it across the quilt -- mostly randomly.   I don't think my drawing had 2 flower squares on the bottom row. Oh well.

My friend (and customer) Karen made this very cute Texas Quilt and asked that I quilt it.  I really like what she did.  There are quite a few of these 10" appliqué block with hand embroidery for the details.  Stars are the other blocks.  I need to get a picture of the whole thing to share.  Those blue tape pieces are my marks for where the next row needs to be lined up.  (Note to self, check that all blue tape has been removed.) 


What I forgot to put on my list last week was to finish my Malted Mystery. My friend Sharon and I FaceTimed and sewed each month.  This month she finished hers while we were chatting but I still need to get the last small border on it. Here's what it looks like so far. 

I know the dark fabric looks like black but it really is a deep purple (with a bit of a print on it!) One day I'll get a good picture of this with the colors correct. 

This is what I plan to do this week.

3/10/2024

Knit on socks 

Finish last border of Malted Mystery

Load and quilt two of my quilts 

Start cleaning off cutting area 2


I am trying to get some of my tops cleared out of my to-be-quilted closet. Although I keep making new tops so I probably won't be making all that much progress. 


  • 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
  • 15 minute days/March 10/10 days 
  • 15 minute days/2024 = 69/70 days
  • Success rate = 98%

I was able to spend at least 15 minutes in the studio every day this week.   Generally I spent much more time. I'm happy I am able to keep up the 15 minutes a day plan. 



There's not much else going on on the quilting and stitching front. So please spend some time visiting these blog parties. 


Oh Scrap

Life in Pieces: Stitching Stuff

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musing 


That's it for me tonight.  I'm worn out.  A big thank you goes out to Nann for recommending The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. I found it engaging and funny.  Now to see what other books have been written in this series. 


Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

March Mysteries, Quilt Alongs, and Little Gifts

Here's what I've been able to find this month.  Take a look at the mysteries, sew alongs and little gifts. If I don't list your favorites please feel free to let me know in the comments.  I do a web search every month but not all new mysteries and quilt alongs show up.  I do keep track of gifts all month if I see something interesting while I'm surfing the internet.  

Every year the Fat Quarter Shop runs a fundraiser Quilt Along to benefit Make a Wish Central & South Texas. The fundraiser works by offering the Moonbeams patterns as FREE downloads during the event for a suggested donation of $10 each to Make a Wish.  Alternately you can make a larger, one-time donation of $50.  From March to September they will publish a new block pattern on the blog on the first Friday of each month.  https://blog.fatquartershop.com/announcing-the-moonbeams-charity-quilt-along/. $



Nicole Moore of So Much Moore in Store is sponsoring a quilt along using her Churn Chain pattern.  The quilt along will start March 7 and run until April 25. Pattern purchase required. https://www.sewmuchmoore.com/join-the-churn-chain-qal/ $


 Heart of the Home Quilt Along started Feb 29 and will continue to 4/24.  American Patchwork and Quilting published Sherri McConnell’s Heart of the Home quilt in the April issue of American Patchwork and Quilting. Read more about it: https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quiltalong/heart-of-the-home-quilt-along-2024 $


The Fat Quarter Shop is running a Quilty Fun Row Along using Lori Holt’s book, Quilty Fun. The row along will run from March 2024 to February 2025.  Find more about it here: https://blog.fatquartershop.com/announcing-the-quilty-fun-row-along/ $



Another Fat Quarter Shop quilt along will be running from March ’24 to February ’25. The Piece and Quilt Sampler Along will use the book Celebrate with Quilts. https://blog.fatquartershop.com/announcing-the-piece-and-quilt-sampler-quilt-along/ $



Pat Sloan is offering a free quilt pattern to use while participating in her block a day quilt along starting March 1. For more information and a link to her free pattern: https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/march-block-a-day-2024.html



Check out Moda’s Pouch Club.  There are currently 10 pouch patterns available.  https://modafabrics.com/tags/pouch-club


Tiny Tulip Pouch is the February pouch at Moda's Pouch Club. 


Here’s a cute DIY Easter Egg Holder for 2, 3, or 4 eggs or candy. The patterns are beginner friendly. https://sewingtimes.net/diy-easter-egg-holder-for-beginner/ 



Do you need a bucket hat this spring?  https://sewingtimes.net/how-to-sew-a-bucket-hat/


I know I won't be on time for the April Mysteries, Quilt Alongs, and Little Gifts.  But keep checking the link above to see when I finally get it posted! Yep, I am definitely time challenged! 


Happy Quilting All! 


Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Say Hello to Rainbow Parade!

Remember all that secret sewing I was doing a week or so ago?  It's time to unveil it.  And, boy-howdy! I'm excited about it. I had so much fun working on this quilt. It currently is hanging with pride in the entry way of our house. 


Isn't it gorgeous? (Ok I'm am totally biased but I love it.) The design is by Preeti Harris who blogs at Sew Preeti Quilts. She called me to see if I would test a pattern and share it with the world through my blog. Well why not. I've made several tops that she has designed so I knew it would be well written. (See Synergy I tested for her in April 2022 here.) 

When I first saw the pattern I realized it was a perfect pattern to use some fabric I had hand dyed years ago. It was, with one little issue... I didn't trust it not to bleed. And, I was right. So every fabric had a long, leisurely bath in my bathroom sink. Several times.  Eventually they all were dry and  ready to be ironed and find a place in the quilt. You might notice what Preeti designed was bigger and used more colors than mine. I worked with a very limited collection of fabrics and many were barely half yard pieces. So I improvised. And, this pattern definitely is easy to improvise.


I chose a light silver grey Kona solid. I wanted the colors to be the main focus. 

I had a hard time deciding which quilting pattern I would use on my Rainbow Parade.  Finally, it dawned on me that I didn't want the quilting to take precedence over the wonderful design and colors. I used a  stipple pattern that was included with my robotics.  It was perfect for letting the design and colors shine. 


A few more thoughts on this pattern -- it is easy to make. The blocks are 13" finished so you don't need lots to have a decent size quilt. Mine is about 44.5" x 57" and is set 3 x 4.  The pattern is set 4 x 5 and measures 57" x 70".  

Preeti did a great job with detailing what you need to make this rainbow quilt. She wrote it so each color is repeated in the next diagonal row. My lack of lots of fabric made it impossible for me to do it that way. But, it worked out just fine any way. Talk about versatile! 

I would like to make it again using a print fabric where the darker fabric is in my version. I make a lot of kid centric quilts and this pattern could highlight a cute novelty fabric really well. I could use one color for all of the light parts or use a rainbow of fabrics again. I could also see this as a patriotic fabric using the same concepts as for the novelty fabric. 

Have you started thinking about what fabric you want to use to make this pattern?  Rainbow Parade is in Preeti's Etsy shop now. And, even better, it will be 20% off until March 12. Check it out here: https://sewpreetiquilts.etsy.com/listing/1690533725/rainbow-parade-quilt-pattern-beginner

Would you like to win a digital copy of this pattern?  One lucky commenter will win. Make sure you add an email address if you don't have it attached to your name.  

More accurate colors 
 


Would you like some hand dyes to play with yourself?  I'm offering a give away of 4 fat quarters of fabric I hand dyed. I promise they will all have a spa day in my bathroom sink until the dye quits rinsing out. Limited to the US. One comment will get you a chance at both the hand dye and the Rainbow Parade pattern. Again, make sure your email is attached to your name.  

Here are the hand dyes I'll be sending out. Hum, it isn't smart to try to take pictures in the middle of the night and expect the colors to come out correctly.  The top one is a slightly blue green. The second one is actually what I'd call flamingo pink. The next one is a medium blue - not a grey blue. And the last is mauve.  (I might have purchased that piece as it isn't the same greige goods.)  Update -- the bigger picture is more accurate but I think the colors are a bit brighter. I left the night picture in just to show the contrast.   


The other thing that happened to my great surprise and happiness is I had a leftover backing that worked well with the rainbow concept. I actually had loaded this backing and was going to put another top on it when I realized it would work for Rainbow Parade. Kismet! 

Want to see more versions of Rainbow Parade? Preeti lined up an international group of quilters to help her out.  Check out these blogs to see more Rainbow Parade quilts. 





I'll be linking with the following Linky parties (when they come on line.)  


One last look at my Rainbow Parade. 


Hum...all through making this quilt I thought of the red/pink block as being the top.  And here I hung this one upside down! (Or not!) 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Sunday, March 3, 2024

Monday Meanderings 3 - 4 - 2024

What a busy week.  Did any of you get to either Quilt Con or Mid-Atlantic Quilt show over the past two weeks?  Pat and I made it to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt show Thursday morning.  We had about 2 hours to see some quilts, hit a few vendors, and then get on to Nags Head, NC.  

First, here is my friend Michele's quilt. She designed the quilt for Colchester Mills Fabric and Quilting a few years ago as a mystery quilt. Michele designs one yearly for Colchester.  This one was spectacular.  A new mystery started at the beginning of February. Check it out at Marvelous Mystery. My friend Sharon is her tester and she made air in Christmas fabrics.  I am pretty sure this one fits on a king size bed. 


I also got to see several friends from several different places I've lived.  Pat snapped a photo of Mary Beth and I.  We both lived in Maryland for years and were (heck, are still) members of Faithful Circle Quilters.  She moved to Florida so we don't see each other very often... it's been almost 2 years now. We were on such a tight time frame we really only had a few minutes to chat and get a hug. (That's me on the right.)


Despite our travels I was able to get all my goals done this week.  Or maybe it was because of our travels.  I almost always take my featherweight down to the beach house with me and work on some projects. This mess was me making string blocks on telephone book pages.  I was amazed how many I got done since every string I sewed had to be ironed and cut.  I also put together the green, blacks, and white to top stage that I'll show when the border is done. 


Here's what the goals list looks like from last week. Not bad! 

2/26/24

✅Bind Picket Fence Quilt - Done!

✅Bind secret project - Done! Come back Wednesday, 3/6/24 to see it. 

✅Make some more FCQ Equilter blocks - Some done, more needed. 

✅Attend the Mid Atlantic Quilt Show  -  Attended a short time. 

Sew the green, blacks, & white 3 yard quilt - Center together, borders next.


Here's a corner of the Picket Star top being quilted. Since it is done I need to take it on a photo shoot soon. I chose Random Clams quilting design.  The block was designed by Preeti who blogs at Sew Preeti Quilts.  Here are the directions for the block



Let's take a look at this week's list. 


3/3/4/2024

Knit on socks 

Find fabric for appliqué blocks

Mail package to FCQ Equilter from last round 

Border green, blacks, and white top

Quilt customer top 

Quilt one of my tops 


Hum, should be doable. All of a sudden I have 4 customer quilts waiting to be quilted.  I hope to get one done this week. I should get one of mine on and done this week too. The others aren't as time sensitive. 


We were working on our beach house in Nags Head.  The master bathroom is being updated but more importantly Pat needed to replace some windows. I was his trusty assistant. My job was to hold the window while Pat pulled a cord and attached it to the top of the window. (I have no clue what it was called but it wasn't a one person job!) After he got the cords installed on each window I was free to go back to quilting.  It meant I was running up and down stairs a bit too often but I did get a lot of piecing done.  Here's a window on the way out...  We had to take them to the transfer station rather than leave them in our regular trash. Nine were replaced and more need to be done soon.


It is a good thing we went down, as it turns out something is wrong with the heater. It was taking a long time to warm the house up 5 degrees when we arrived.  And then the thermostat went off twice.  Sunday morning we woke up early to a cold house. So we left around 7am to have breakfast at Stack Em High and to drive back to Virginia.  Pat will have to go down to replace more windows in a month or so. Hopefully he can get our son to go with him.  It was hard work for the "old folks." 

I knew it wouldn't last.  I was unable to sew the day we went to the quilt show and drove to the beach house.  So I missed the 29th.  But I was right back at it  including spending an hour or so on putting things away and finding some more strips for my strip quilting project this afternoon after getting home. I'm happy with the 98%.  
  • 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
  • 15 minute days/Feb = 28/29 days
  • 15 minute days/March 3/3 days 
  • 15 minute days/2024 = 62/63 days
  • Success rate = 98%
Here are the Linky parties I participate with.  Please take a look at some of the blogs listed. 

Hopefully this week I'll remember to link up to all the parties I list here.  I was pretty focused on quilting and being down at the beach house.  I hardly looked at the internet over the last week. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie