One Monthly Goal Success!

What a great month December has been for us!  My last post was 3 weeks ago -- Friday, December 8th.  The weather was gray and threatening snow.  Here are some highlights...

Spotsylvanians' dress rehearsal . . . a canceled Saturday night concert due to icing . . . a packed house for the Sunday matinee including our kids and grands . . . pizza at the house for the 10 of us after the show . . . finally, throwing everyone out of the house by 7:30 because we were going on vacation! (There was a big reason why my goal's list showed wrapping presents in late November!) 

First stop was a hotel near the airport so we wouldn't have to fight traffic in the morning.  A flight to Miami and another hotel.  Finally Tuesday we got on a ship and headed to the eastern Caribbean. 

 The view from our balcony arriving at Cozumel, Mexico. 

The tourists on a tour of Cozumel. (This is the only picture of both of us on the trip -- except a few selfies.)

Mexican dancing. 

I've got quite a few more pictures of our 10 day cruise but it's time to get back to quilting.  I'll share more pictures over the next several posts.  

I'm tickled to say I finished my OMG for December.  I was pretty careful picking the hand appliqué -- there wasn't a lot to do and it was portable!  Here's the apples and the pears all done. Hum, it looks a bit wonky to me.  I think the left pear may fall over before I get it in the quilt!  No picture of the bird but he's got his body and wing finished. Now to figure out the setting.  Then on to the borders that will have appliqué vines and flowers on them. 

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop.  I'm looking forward to getting back into checking blogs for inspiration and to keep up with my quilting friends.  

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie  

Quilting Show and Tell

I volunteered to quilt several quilts for Faithful Circle Quilters.  They are a big guild and are very involved with making quilts for charity so they almost always have quilts that I can quilt.  I did two right after Ruthie 2 was installed.  You can see the first one here.  This next one is a pineapple quilt which is rocking scraps! What a great quilt -- so fun and vibrant.  Wish I could give a shout out to the quilter... I'm not sure who did it. 

I went to my go-to pantograph by Apricot Moon, Ginger Snap.  It looks good every time I use it, no matter if it is small or large.  I used a light blue Omni thread.  I was given the batting with the quilt so no clue which batting was sent to me. 

And the closeup! 

Special thanks go to Nancy.  We met for breakfast last week because she was in the area.  She took the two quilts up to give to Stephanie who was organizing the trimming and binding.  

This weekend is our busiest of the year.  We will be rehearsing tonight and then singing concerts on both Saturday and Sunday.  The kids will be coming to the Sunday matinee and then there'll be pizza at the house for us afterwards.  I know I'll be exhausted when I hit the bed Sunday night.  

I'm looking forward to some reading, stitching and knitting time next week.  I don't feel like I've done much of that recently. 

Happy quilting all!  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings -- OMG December 12 - 4 - 2017

Even December seems to be streaming past me too fast!  I usually blog early Monday morning or late Sunday evening.  Not this week.  It's almost time for dinner on Monday and I'm just getting around to it.  Anyway, my blog this week is all about the December One Monthly Goal. 

I'm picking, what I hope will be, an easy goal for me to achieve.  I've got so much going on over the month that I'm hoping I'll have time to finish two small hand appliqué blocks.  (and one is about half done!) These are the two blocks -- front and back as I am doing needle turn appliqué on them.  The bird and the branch one is well started.  The pears and apples I've done a little bit of the big basting stitches around the two pears.  (sorry, no picture of the front...you aren't missing much.)

Front

Back, showing what the bird will actually look like.

Apples and pears, just two pears basted on.

We'll see how successful I am when January rolls around again. 

Here are my goal results for last week. 

November 27, 2017

Start Christmas cards√

Wrap presents√ started

Finish the baby doll outfit and shirt for AG doll.√

Make matching jewelry for Natalie and her doll√

Sing first full concert!√ 

And for this coming week!  Yikes lots of things taking me away from my quilting and piecing.

December 4, 2017

Embroider 2 more shirts for grands

Finish and mail cards

Sing 2 concerts

Wrap more presents

I'm linking up with my normal parties: Oh Scrap, Monday Makings, Main Crush Monday, Moving It Forward and One Monthly Goal December Link Up. Take a few minutes to see what folks are getting done this month. 

I'm off to get dinner and get ready for the last rehearsal before the weekend concerts. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie

One Monthly Goal -- November

Success! 

I finished two American Girl doll outfits which was my goal for the month. And,  I made rompers and a shirt for Ellie's babydoll.  YEA! Whoop, Whoop! Here's the link to the dress and jacket I made first.   I was reading over my blog post about setting the goal.  Maybe I should make the little doggy and a back pack that goes with the shorts outfit.  The question is whether I have time to or not. 

Check out those shoes ..dolly Crocs. 

Baby Doll rompers and shirt. Hum, I originally thought that the pale aqua was Kona cotton.  I eventually realized it isn't.  It is lighter weight and probably not the best choice.  Ow well.  It does actually go with the shirt pretty well though. 

After sewing all of these doll clothes,  I'm looking forward to getting back to piecing quilts and getting a few quilts on Ruthie 2.  She runs so smoothly.  And because she is 24" I don't have to scroll forward so often.  Maybe next week I can throw a baby quilt on and quilt it up.  

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts for the November finish link and Needle and Thread Thursday.  Take some time to see what folks are working on as we start December.

It's time to get back to the studio. (OK, no, I'm really not going back to the studio -- I'm going to check out some of the blogs from those linky parties above!) 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 11 - 27 - 2017

Did you enjoy your T - Day celebration?  We did.  Since we were by ourselves we "dialed" down on the dinner.  It was easy to make and easy to clean up and tasted great. We opened a bottle of my brother's wine -- lovely.  If you live in California you might be able to find some of his wine in wine stores. If you'd like some amazing wine, you can order it from Grayscale Wines. Let them know that Bonnie sent you and you might get the family and friends discount.  

With dinner being so easy it gave us plenty of time to enjoy our hobbies.  Pat was in his workshop making a jewelry box for one of our granddaughters.  I was in the studio working on doll clothes and other projects.  It was a lovely day all together.  



Over the weekend I loaded and quilted a customer's quilt.  It's so nice quilting with Ruthie 2.  She runs smoothly with no issues unless the operator forgets to push the right button.  One of her best features is a very nice basting stitch.  Of course, I forget to push the button to take it back to regular stitching.  Luckily I catch my mistake quickly and it's easy to rip out.  Unfortunately, the stitching design doesn't show well on the wallhanging.  This is an overall view.  


Check the next picture for a closeup of the design.  This is Holly 1 by Apricot Moon.  Perfect for this quilt -- it will hold the fabrics together without drawing the eye from the design.  

I did pretty well on my goals this week.  I'm not quite done with the doll clothes and accessories but I'll have them done this week.  I even have been able to use other projects as leader enders.  

November 20, 2017

Quilt one charity quilt√

Sew (& cut out) one baby doll outfit√ almost done sewing

Sew another 18” doll shirt oops!

Work on Rainbow Scrap Challenge√ (in rows now!)

And this week... 

November 27, 2017

Start Christmas cards

Begin wrapping presents

Finish the baby doll outfit; shirt for AG doll.

Make matching jewelry for Natalie and her doll

Sing first full concert!

Finish the cross stitch part of the ornaments

That's it for me today.  I'm linking with my regular parties: Oh Scrap!, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, and Moving It Forward. (I'll link up with Main Crush when it's available and I remember to check!) 

I'm out of here!  Lots of things to do and not so much time to finish it all!  Have a great day. 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 11 - 20 - 2017

Hardly any sewing has been happening around my house recently.  I had a 5 hour rehearsal on Saturday followed by a concert that took up most of Sunday afternoon.  You'll notice that some goals didn't get accomplished this week.  It's been a busy week! 

Ruthie 2 is doing really well.(See my last post if you want to see Ruthie 2!)   I did spend some quality time with her yesterday morning.  I was able to finish my first quilt on her.  It's for Project Linus quilt from Faithful Circle Quilters up in Maryland. Before Sharon came down I asked the guild to send some quilts that needed to be quilted.  I'll probably get one more done in the next few weeks and, I've got a customer quilt to do before December.  So, I should be able to get some more time on Ruthie 2 soon.  I'll keep you posted. 

Here's the quilt I took off Ruthie this weekend. The quilting design is African Samba quilted with So Fine thread but not sure the color or number other than beige.   It has so much texture. 

Here's the goals from last week. I got some done but not all.

November 13, 2017

Finish 2^nd doll outfit√

Cut out baby doll outfit

Work on another cross stitch ornament√

Continue to work on Rainbow Scrap Challenge nothing done

Play on Ruthie 2√√√

Attend Spotsylvanian’s rehearsal and first concert of the season√√

And here's what's planned for the rest of this week.

November 20, 2017

Quilt one charity quilt

Sew (and cut out) one baby doll outfit

Sew another 18” doll shirt

Work on Rainbow Scrap Challenge

I'm linking up with my regular parties: Oh Scrap!, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, and Moving It Forward. Take a few breaks this busy week to relax and get some inspiration. 

That's it for me tonight.  It was a long rehearsal tonight.  I'm heading for bed with a novel.  And hope everyone enjoys their Thanksgiving day this year.  Our kids have headed out of state this year so Pat and I are doing a really low key meal.  

Happy Sewing All!  Bonnie 

Let Me Introduce . . .

Ruthie 2! 

She was an early Christmas present according to my hubby.  Pat went wild and traded in my old long arm, Ruthie, and bought the newest NV by Nolting.  Here she is! Well, here she is before she was mounted on my frame. 

Mike, of Memory Lane Quilting, and his wife, Bonnie delivered and set her up today. 

Here are the two long arms -- the old Ruthie was taken off the frame. (Hum, she's hanging upside down on a holder in this picture.)  Ruthie 2 is waiting in the background. Rutihe 2 is 24" while Ruthie is 18". And what is cool, Ruthie isn't going to be sitting around in a warehouse.  Someone bought her right away.  She'll be stitching away, doing her best, for another quilter.   

 A few changes had to be done to the frame before the new one could be loaded on the frame. And then she was put on the frame.  Here Mike is teaching me what the buttons on the pad do.  That's the blue pad on the head of the machine. And, wow this machine has some cool buttons.  The black tablet on the right is the computer that drives the machine to stitch out patterns. 

Here's what it looks like from the front. It will take me a few quilts before I figure out what all the buttons do and to look at the right tablet to start the electronics instead of starting the machine to hand guide quilting. 

So once she was up and operational I had to figure out which quilt was going to be loaded and quilted first.  I didn't want a huge quilt to start out with.  I didn't have any backings ready for baby tops.  I didn't want to start with a customer's quilt. So I pulled a charity quilt out and got it loaded.  Here's the first row of quilting.  I'm going to be reevaluating the speed and stitches per inch settings. But I'm thrilled with how well she stitches.  And, she's smooth.    

I have a number of my own quilts to do, quite a few charity quilts as well as customer quilts. Unfortunately it is now getting to be concert season. A rehearsal and a concert are scheduled over the weekend. I have to wait until Monday before I can finish quilting this quilt.  And then Christmas is sneaking up on us.  I still have doll dresses and ornaments to make.  So my quilting time and piecing time will be limited. But I'm excited to be using Ruthie 2.  (Did anybody notice I said I would be playing on Ruthie 2 on my goal list on Thursday? Big hint about what was to come!) 

Today I'm linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday and Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?.  Take a break this weekend to see what others are working on in their sewing rooms and studios.

Happy Quilting Alll! Bonnie 

Monday Meandering 11 - 13 - 2017

Here are some successes from last week's goals:

I showed the pattern and my fabric here. Here is "Kit" modeling the dress almost done.  I have stitched the lapels back but there are some roses that still need to be put on the dress.  

I've cut out a top and a pair of shorts.  The shorts are done but the top still has a little work to go.  Next up will be another baby doll outfit.  Quilting and piecing have taken a backseat to these doll clothes. 

I won Kit with a trunk, clothes, accessories and quilts from Village Quilters in Catonsville, Md at least 10 years ago. When she came to live at my house I displayed her.  When Jenny was home from college she would often change Kit into one of the many outfits she had.  When the grands came along, Kit retired to her trunk because Jenny's doll and clothes were available.  Needless to say, she was very happy to get out in the world again wearing this fabulous outfit! 

The Country Piecemaker's pillowcase day was so much fun! Sharon came down and we traveled the hour and half to Powhatan, Va together.  The guild made 152 pillowcases Saturday.  All were cut out and in kits before the day began.  Some were already pinned in "burritos."  We had more people stay this year to do the sewing and all the turning, pinning, ironing and etc. that goes into making the pillowcases.  Rumor has it that only 110 were made last year.  

Sewers in the front, pinners in the back.  Standing folks were ferrying cases from one location to another.

Becky, Bonnie and Nancy sewing away. You can see cases ready to sew and ready to turn in front. 

Through the 8 years that Country Piecemakers have been making and giving pillowcases for sick kids we've contributed 2,685 cases.  Amazing!  The funds and/or fabric are all donated -- the guild does not provide any financial assistance. Hats of to Colleen, our intrepid pillowcase leader, and her special elf, Donna, who cut the fabric and put together all the kits.   I will continue to make pillowcases for this -- in fact I think I bought 5 yards of Easter fabric when I was up in Lancaster.  

I was more successful with my goals this week. Here's last weeks:

November 6, 2017

Make first doll outfit√

Retime Ruthie, the longarm√

Attend Pillowcase day in Powhatan√√

Finish one cross stitch ornament √

Catch up on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge √ mostly

November 13, 2017

Finish 2^nd doll outfit

Cut out baby doll outfit

Work on another cross stitch ornament

Continue to work on Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Play on Ruthie 2

Attend Spotsylvanian’s rehearsal and first concert of the season

A lot is going on this week so I may fall short on some of these goals.  

Check out my favorite linky parties:  Oh Scrap!, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, and Moving It Forward.  I'm going to spend a bit of time today cruising through the Internet to see what folks are working on. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 11 - 6 - 2017

Yikes!  How did the last week vanish so quickly?  I had a slew of appointments this past week.  Let's say having a filling and 2 crowns started just wasn't that much fun and it did cut into my stitching time and motivation.

I've pretty much finished the pinwheel blocks for Pam, the EQuilter of the month.  She asked us to pick a half yard of fabric and make pinwheels to go with it.  She will be making quilts for Project Linus with them.  3-D pinwheel blocks shouldn't really be hard. But I had a heck of a time with them.  Check out this blog post to see how to make them. 
   
Here are some of my good blocks.  I have to redo several blocks because the points weren't meeting in the center.  Oops. The next Equilter's blocks were shared today and I love them!  Should be lots of fun and easy.  (The colors are off in this picture especially that yellow -- it is much more vibrant.)

I recently found MadebyMarney.  Mary Hertel designs fun, whimsical paper pieced patterns.  I started by downloading a couple of free Halloween patterns. Then I saw the darling patterns in her new Christmas book, called Sew Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.  (You can see some of the patterns at the link above.) I probably won't have time to do any of them this year but maybe I should plan to do one a month during 2018.  (Note to self: remember this when I write some goals for 2018!)   

Here are a couple of the designs.  First the penguin.  And then the Snowman paper pattern.  Hum, I don't really like the color on the pattern so I guess I'll need to remember to print in greyscale.  I definitely want to make something from this book, sooner rather than later! 

 

My goals last week were pretty skimpy.  I knew I was going to that bunch of appointments so I didn't go wild.  But even with skimpy goals I didn't do very well on them.  Bummer.

October 30, 2017

Make and mail FCQ Equilter pinwheel blocks √ not mailed and I need to rip 3 blocks and resew the last seam. 

Start more doll clothes Eek! nothing done on this.

Finish quilting charity quilt Nope – nothing on this either Ruthy needs to be retimed.

Work on cross stitch ornaments√

But there is always a new week.  So here's what I'm hoping to do this week! 

November 6, 2017

Make first doll outfit

Retime Ruthie, the longarm and quilt the charity quilt

Attend Pillowcase day in Powhatan

Finish one cross stitch ornament

Catch up on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge

I'm looking forward to Sharon's visit this weekend.  We are going down to the Powhatan guild to participate in the Pillowcase Day.  Our November meeting is always a marathon of making pillowcases for Ryan's Case for Smiles.  Lots of hard work but also a lot of fun.  I've been doing this for years and always look forward to it.  I'll have to see if I can make a pillowcase or two before I go down.  Hum, I think I bought some fabric for a pillowcase while I was in Lancaster. 

I'm linking up with my regular favorites! Oh Scrap!, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, and Moving It Forward. Hope you can spend some time checking out what folks have been working on. 

I'm hoping to get a lot more of anything done this week -- doll clothes, RSC blocks, and maybe a few pillowcases.  We'll see how I do next Monday.  

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie