Monday Meanderings -- 9 - 21 - 2026

It's amazing how much sewing I did this week.  Most of it was done Saturday and Sunday.  The funny thing is I only had 4 goals for the week.  Needless to say, all of them got done and then some!

First up -- last week's goals. 

9/14/26

✅Quilt Popsicle quilt — quilting done, binding made.

✅Cut another quilt kit for retreat — done, but already sewing it together. 

✅Sew July UFO together. Add something to top and bottom to make it rectangular — top sewn together but no additional top and bottom. 

✅Cut out Marigold Mystery blocks for Sept — blocks are finished.

Here's a look, um, er not...  Yep, I finished the Popsicle quilt but I didn't taken any pictures.  In fact I left it on the frame until late Sunday night.  I'll try to remember to take pictures this week after it is bound. 

I did cut another quilt for retreat, or at least supposedly for retreat... but I went ahead and started making it.  Here are several blocks from Honey Bouquet, a Villa Rosa Design. Notice the bright multicolored print?  I have 2 fat quarters of it and decided one would be great for Honey Bouquet. What I didn't have is enough fat quarters to make HB at the stated size.  So I grabbed pieces of fabrics that went with the colors in the print. I'm not sure what size I'll actually make this. I may leave off a column and then add a border to make it the size requested by the guild for donations. 

Cutting takes a bit of time when you don't have the number of untouched fat quarters needed per the instructions.  I may be able to work on it this week.  If so I'll try to get pictures of it as a top. 

The July UFO is together but not the top and bottom additions.  I have lost interest in it and put it away.  I can take it out again later -- once I am more interested in actually finishing it. 

The two block sets for Marigold Mystery were cut out and I went ahead and finished them too.  In fact I made an extra one of the Ohio Star block.  What? I'm not sure how that happened but I will keep both for now and decide which one will work the best in the quilt. It'll be interesting to see how these blocks will be used.  These weren't hard just time consuming. 

And now this week's goals.  I shouldn't have so many things on it as I will be volunteering at the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo in Fredericksburg one day and working our guild booth at the State Fair one evening.  Hopefully I will remember to take photos at the two events. 

9/21/26

Bind Popsicle Quilt 

Quilt 1 or 2 small quilts and bind 

Finish bright Honey Bouquet top

Layout RSC blocks from 2025, sew together

Attend Orginal Sewing & Quilting Expo and State Fair 

I did get started sewing my current leader ender together.  Here's what's on the design wall now. The missing row is red and it was at the sewing machine when I quit for the night. I figured I could sew the blocks into rows even if this isn't how I want them to be put together. I haven't a clue what order I want the colors to be in. I'll probably need more rows also.  I have another stack of block so I should be fine.  I will be moving some of the blocks around a bit to spread out the darker ones. BTW, the last row is black and gray.  

I sewed every day this week again. Here's my current stats. 

Week ending 9/20/26: 263 days of 2026.

 262 stitching days out of 263 days 99.6%

I pulled a book off my shelf and boy was I surprised by the insides.  I've had it for many, many years but evidently I didn't look at it all that much.  

It was published early 2000's.  The authors are Judy Turner and Margaret Rolfe. The reason I was amazed by it is it basically gives a slew of block colorings for Potato Chip blocks. Most of the actual patterns use a smaller rectangle but the ratio appears to be the same.  It does a good job discussing light/dark colors, textile patterns, and the like. But I was surprised that the main block they used was what we now call the Potato Chip block. I did a quick Internet search and there are books available through various used book sites -- if you are interested in one check several sources as there are a variety of prices too.  I guess I'll be considering one of the block layouts to make a quilt -- preferably a baby size quilt! I might even use one of the smaller brick sizes. Although I do have quite a few pieces of the standard Potato Chip brick cut.  

I'm linking with the following parties.  Stitching Time, Oh Scrap, Quilting Patchwork Applique, Design Wall Monday, Monday Musings.

The state of Virginia began early voting on the 9/18. It will run until 10/31.  They are trying to make it easy for all registered voters to vote whether during early voting or Election Day.  If your state allows early voting check out their website to get the locations, days and times.  Kudos for Virginia offering some late nights, two Saturdays and two Sundays.  I have a feeling the actual Election Day may be very crowded this year.  If your state only uses mailed ballots make sure to mail it early or drop it off at your county election office or kiosk.  And then, get back to quilting. 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 9 - 14 - 2026

Just like several of us thought, the comfortable lower temps didn't last.  I just walked Sunny and the humidity was awful.  The heat was ok for evening.  Needless to say I spent most of time in my basement studio working on Ms. Frog.  As much as I like her I am ready to do work on some other projects.  Here's last week's goals. 

9/7/26

✅Keep sewing on Idiom — Quilt Done except hand sewing the binding and adding 4 beads. 

✅Finish quilting customer top — done. Forgot to ask owner if it is ok to share. 

√ Sew July UFO together — blocks are sewn together ready to stitch to center. 

✅Cut one kit for October retreat — finished. Ready to sew at retreat.  

Here's a few process pictures of Ms. Frog. The color is wrong on the first two pics. The background fabric is a slate grey. The clouds have a grey background and some navy netting.  

Here are the changes on the pictures.  Picture 1: clouds added, eyes. Picture 2: nose and mouth, frog body zigzagged down, calf muscle highlighted, whirlpool.  Picture 3: another circle added to whirlpool, additional rain added to the bottom right and left, two plants added, silver raindrops added from two umbrella points.  Picture 4: plant veins highlighted. 

Next week I'll added a picture of the finished quilt.  I'll just say there are a few beads being added! 

I loaded one of my quilts but didn't get time to quilt it.  Maybe I'll have it done next week! 

Here is part of a kit I cut out this week. (Okay, Sunday afternoon!) 

The ABC fabric is definitely retro. Or maybe just old.  I am using a smaller version of Honey Bouquet -- mine will end up 36 x 36".  I've added a couple of soft yellows and greens. 

The good news is I've found another pattern and fabric I want to cut out for the next project for retreat..  Hopefully I'll share it next week. 

Here's what I hope to do this coming week. 

9/14/26

Quilt Popsicle quilt 

Cut another quilt kit for retreat

Sew July UFO together. Add something to top and bottom to make it rectangular

Cut out Marigold Mystery blocks for Sept

Look at Sept UFO

I've continued stitching every day -- definitely longer than 15 minutes. 

Week ending 9/13/26: 256 days of 2026.

 255 stitching days out of 256 days 99.6%

I'm linking up with Stitching Time, Oh Scrap, Quilting Patchwork Applique,  Design Wall Monday, and Monday Musings.

Have you checked your voter registration this year?  You might want to make sure you are still registered.  I Googled Virginia State Voter Registration and was taken to Virginia Voter Information. From there I could check my voter registration with a little additional information .  It also was neat to see all the elections I've voted in since I moved to Virginia. That's 16 years of voting! If you can't find yourself please check it out.  You may need to re-register. If you haven't registered or you've moved, state deadlines are anywhere from30 days before the election to the shortest: the day of. Different states have different requirements.  Remember to vote this November. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

September 2026 Mysteries and Sew Alongs

I'm late posting this one!  But these are still available although some with fees to pick up the first designs. 

Suzy’s Artsy-Craftsy Sitcom has a plethora of sew alongs/mysteries going on now.  First up is A Little Bird Told Me that started August 7.  Suzy has 2 ways to get her sew along/mystery patterns: Remember to pick up the new free pattern once a month. Or for a modest fee become a Little Bird Prime Member. You won’t miss a single pattern as you will get a monthly email reminder and have your own page with all of the blocks released to date. And, there is also a table runner pattern. Also check out Bedtime Critters, Bearadise and Pennsylvania Dutch Heritage sew alongs or mysteries. Check out all of these at https://suzyssitcom.com/ $ or free if each month is picked up in time. 

How about an eerie quilt? Visit The Forgotten Rooms quilt along which started Aug 10 and runs until Oct 31. Check out the house at https://www.ajourneysewreal.com/forgottenroomsqal . $42. 

America Patchwork & Quilting started Harvest Sampler Quilt Along on August 1. You can purchase the current magazine locally, purchase a PDF download or buy a digital issue of the magazine. Find more info at All People Quilt, https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/harvest-sampler-quilt-along-fall-2026-12012847#toc-material-requirements .

Monday Meanderings 9 - 7 - 2026

We have relief!  Our temps hit 82º! And tonight it's supposed to drop to 62º. It's a miracle. Of course it was awful earlier this week. Temps were in the 90s and humidity was even worse.  Luckily I stayed inside most days except taking Sunny for walks. I spent most of the days in basement studio.  Unfortunately, when I wasn't working on Frog Choker, I was reading. 

I didn't do all that well on my goals this week -- not at all! That's ok. It's amazing how much time it took to stitch a bunch of rain plus tie off all the threads! 

8/31/26

✅Start sewing background of idiom quilt — background almost done. Need to tie off threads.

Cut one kit for Oct retreat — nothing done. 

Lay out potato chip blocks — nope. Need to clear off design wall 

✅Finish binding on sea life — done! 

Get one of my tops loaded and quilted — Not done because of customer quilt. 

Most of my quilting time was taken up by sewing silver thread in straight lines making it look like heavy rain.  What do you think? Remind you of rain? My idiom is Frog Choker which means so much rain that even the frogs are choking on it. 

Ms. Frog and her umbrella have only been laid on the background. She won't be put on permanently until I finish all the rain and tying off the threads.  Update -- All the rain threads have been stitched. I still have quite a few threads to tie off and bury.  But that should get done on Monday at some point. The dark grey at the top will be made to look like clouds -- hopefully.  Then I can iron on the appliqués and stitch Ms. Frog down.  I'm going to make some sort of swirl of water around the frog's hand between her legs. (Or so I hope!)  After that I'll only have binding, label and hanging sleeve to do.  I sure hope I can get it all done by 9/16! 

Here's a close up. Since this pic was taken I got all the close "rain" stitching done on this side of the frog.  Hopefully I'll be able to use a wooden skewer to hold up her umbrella.  Next week she should be almost finished before I write my blog. 

Here's next week's goals. (But you all know I'll be spending a lot of time on Frog Choker.) 

9/7/26

Keep sewing on Idiom Quilt

Finish quilting customer top

Sew July UFO together 

Cut one kit for October retreat

Fifteen Minutes of Sewing -- I sewed every day for at least 15 minutes this week. 

Week ending 8/30/26: 249 days of 2026.

 248 stitching days out of 249 days 99.6%

I'm looking forward to getting Frog Choker done so I can get back to sewing other projects and getting projects ready for my next retreat. Hopefully I'll have more things to share! 

I'm linking up with Stitching Time, Oh Scrap, Quilting Patchwork Applique,  Design Wall Monday, and Monday Musings. 

A couple of weeks ago I finished this UFO.  I started the appliqués in a class at a Maryland quilt store near where I lived.  They were finished but I put them away for a long while.  Nearly 20 years passed before I decided it was time to finish it.  Once I decided what to do it didn't take all that long to finish it. I stitched in the ditch around some of the areas and stitched parallel lines in the orange sections. I hand stitched around each motif.  It took a long time to finish it but I really like it. 

We are now 8 weeks away from the midterm elections. If you generally vote by mail consider trying early voting this year.  Who knows what will happen with voting by mail this year.  So plan ahead and don't forget to vote! 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meandering -- 8 - 31 - 2026

I sure did the first thing on my goal list this past week.  Sharon and I had a great time together.  She got a lot done and pushed me to finish the August clue for Marigold Mystery.  I'm glad she did -- I was going to wait to do some at home.  But, the next clue comes out this week and sometime we'll get together over FaceTime and sew up the clue while we chat.  It's a great way for us to stay in touch.  

Here's the whole list of what got done. 

8/24

✅Enjoy in house retreat at Sharon’s — we had a great time. 

✅Make Marigold Mystery blocks — all of the first clue blocks are done. 

Start sewing idiom challenge top — no sewing done but several things were done that moved the project ahead. 

✅Finish sewing string quilt together — done. 

Bind sea creatures quilt — still need to hand sew binding down. And ✅fall appliqué quilt -- done and hanging.

Here are a few of my Marigold blocks.  You can see some of the fabrics I'm using here. Since I am using a big hunk of orange I'm trying to make blocks that will go with the orange but not be too dark. If you wonder where the purple is coming from, look at the bottom center of the picture of all the fabrics.  There is definitely some purple in it.  The first clue included 5 sawtooth stars and 4 Dutchman puzzles. I had two of the stars done from when Sharon and I had FaceTimed together.  That means I made 7 blocks at her house. 

I did get the string blocks sewn into a quilt but I didn't remember to take a picture until after it clouded up so I couldn't get a decent picture.  Additionally I finished sewing the binding on the fall applique and it is already hanging in the great room.  But it was too dark to get a decent picture.  After I write my blog I'll try to get started on the sea life quilt. 

I also spent some time today adding to my Idiom Challenge piece.  I've chosen colors for the items. I've done a bit more drawing of elements.  I hope to actually do some sewing this week.  It's due on 9/16.  It will be hanging at the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo in Fredericksburg Sept 24 through 26, 2026. (I'm also going to be working as a class assistant on the 24th.) 

Here's what I hope to get done this week. 

8/31/26

Start sewing on idiom quilt

Cut one kit for Oct retreat

Lay out potato chip blocks and possibly sew together

Finish binding on sea life

Get one of my tops loaded and quilted 

That seems like a lot considering I really need to get going on the idiom challenge quilt. Hopefully I'll get some different things moved forward too. 

Despite two days of travel I was able to continue stitching for 15 minutes a day. Saturday evening after driving for 5 or so hours home I wasn't sure I really wanted to do any stitching.  But after relaxing for a while I set a timer for 20 minutes and proceeded to knit on a wash cloth.  Not quite mindless knitting but pretty easy. Most days Sharon and I spent 6 to 7 hours in her studio sewing, chatting, and having fun. 

Week ending 8/30/26: 242 days of 2026.

 241 stitching days out of 242 days 99.6% 

One thing we did do is visit a couple of stores for fabric.  Did I need to buy any? Not exactly.  Did I buy some? YEP.  Here's most of my new fabric with a wide back I bought several weeks ago. Darn -- this isn't a great picture. The orange and blue are 3 yard pieces for backings. The weird looking brown is actually a 1/2 yard piece of brown dimples. (I figure it will go with Marigold mystery fabrics.) The fabric underneath them is actually a light blue-green design on a wide backing. You might be able to see them better if you enlarge the picture. I'm hoping to use some of these backings this week. 

And my best purchase was this, dare I say, hideous green with green spots/circles on it.  It yelled frog to me! (oops! I general use my blog URL on my pictures. Evidently I used the notation I use on the pictures name instead for some unknown reason.)  Isn't that going to make a great frog? I'm looking forward to making Ms. Frog. 

I meant to take a picture of one of the New Bern bears but didn't think about it until we were shopping.  This bear was out side of the Academy sports shop.  Driving to the next fabric store I must have seen 8 to 10 other bears, but this was easiest to snap a picture. 

One thing I "found" when I was putting away these fat quarters was an old Halloween stitchery I finished several years ago.  It's time to make it a small wall quilt/picture.  Here's the stitchery with 3 suggested borders. The one on the right seems wrong for the black and white stitchery.  Below is a closeup of the two blacks I'm auditioning.  I think the border would be about 2" cut or about 1.5" with the binding. I still need to trim the stitchery too.  My thought is to get this finished and possibly use it this October.  What looks like a shadow behind the piece is actually the excess fabric of the suggested borders.  See the close up below showing the two on the left. 

The one on the top is a herringbone design that was used as the border and binding of the autumn applique quilt. 

The one underneath has black with various shades of grey with it.  I'm leaning toward the black and grey one... gives a bit more interest to the piece.  Of course, I'll need to check that there is enough of it to also do the binding. If time permits I might work on it this week. 

Please check out these blogs.  It's fun to see what other quilters are working on. Heck, maybe you'll see some great inspirations. 

Stitching Time 

Oh Scrap

Quilting Patchwork Applique 

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings

We had a slight respite from the super hot and humid days last weekend.  And much of this week.  But if the weather forecast is accurate, we're in for really hot and humid week. Five days in the 90's and one day hitting 100°. And that's without taking the humidity into consideration.  So where will I be the most comfortable? You're right if you said my basement studio.  It is so much cooler down there AND I have my own ac/heater too if I get too hot.  So I should get a lot done this coming week.  

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie