June OMG - Completed

I'm done with everything for my June One Monthly Goal You can see the first two finishes here. 

This is pinwheel #3. You can see the pieced backing here. I bound it in the same  polka dots as the backing and binding on #4. 

And, #4.  I had run out of any possible fabric to use on the back of this one.  It's 44 x 56" or so.  With a 60% off coupon from JoAnn Fabrics in my hand, I went to see what I could find.  I haven't been shopping all that much at JoAnns recently because I'm trying to use up fabric rather than purchase new fabric.(Well, that and that giant addition of fabric I made in May!)   Let me tell you I was shocked to see the prices on the "calico" wall.  You know what I mean -- the wall that has 3 or so long shelves with less impressive fabric?  Not so many old fashioned calicos were there.  More up-to-date looking fabric but it was all priced at either $7.99 a yard or $9.99 a yard.  YIKES.  In the end my 3 yards of fabrics cost me just under $13.  I liked the cute polka dot on the mottled blue and it = looked good with the top.  

I used a new quilting design that I love!  It is called Malachite.  I had seen it on someone else's blog so went to look at it on Urban Elements' page.  I bought it although it is bigger than I normally use.  I was very happy with how this turned out.  In fact, up close you can't really see the rows. 

I really wanted to get all four of these finished this month but the last week or so I've been goofing off more than sewing.  Today I made an all out effort to bind both quilts.  And, yep, I used up nearly all of the cute polka dots getting these two finished.  It was late in the day so the bottom photo isn't as bright as it should be.

All four pinwheel quilts hanging on the long arm. One thing I need to let you know.  Most of these blocks were already done.  I think I made 2 for the child quilt.  The saddest part is I haven't used all up all of the blocks.  I'll wait a while and do another couple to try to clear these out of my UFO list. 

Today I'll be sharing with Elm Street Quilt and Needle and Thread Thursday. 

Here's some of the day lilies that have begun blooming in the yard.  When we had the landscaping done last winter I really wanted to have different colors of lilies instead of the standard orange.  We've got a lovely mix of colors.  It will be wonderful to see them in a couple of years when they fill out more. 

This red one would probably make a great natural dye. My fingers came away red when I plucked off a dying flower.  And it didn't wash out.

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Monday Meandering 6 - 26 - 2017

I decided to try a different outdoor location for my photo shoot this afternoon. Hum, I'm not sure this works as well as I thought it would.  The quilt, on top of a sheet, is sitting on the grass in the backyard.  I took the photo standing on the deck above it.  Yep, keystoning going on here, but overall a brighter picture than the ones I take in the studio. 

And here's the back of the quilt: I happened to have a length of blue with white stars that I added a big of light grey to.  I found an old piece of gold Marbles that wasn't particularly wide but was quite long.  I'm thinking it might have been used for a border at some time.  I was happy to be able to use it for the binding. 

And quilt #2 -- navy blue and beige pinwheels. 

And, the back this one which was one length of fabric. A friend gave me the fabric a while ago when she found out I make QOV quilts.  This one will go to a nursing home since it is so small -- about 36" square.  I was tickled to find some red and black check for the binding. 

For those who read of my dilemma last week, I still haven't found the flower wall hanging -- neither the back or flowers, leaves and stems that are already to be sewn on!  Argh.  I may start panicking one day soon.  I've looked in all the places I thought I might have put it! Do I want to mention I also can't find my fine line chalk pencil too? EEKS! 

Here's the goals from last week.  Not bad. 

June19, 2017

Hand quilt on Civil War Quilt√

Quilt another pinwheel quilt (#3)√

Bind pinwheel quilt #2√ (and maybe #3) No, not yet

Start appliqueing flower wall hanging UGH Can’t find

Make some fabric boxes√

And for this coming week --

June 26, 2017

Bind pinwheel quilt (#3)

Keep hand quilting on Civil War Quilt

Make some fabric boxes

Lay out UFO Grid Lock and start sewing into a top

Make backing for pinwheel quilt #4 and quilt it

I'm linking up with my favorite Monday linky parties: Monday Making, Main Crush Monday and Moving It Forward.  Take some time to visit a few of the posts.  I am always so inspired after looking at several posts.  On the other hand I also seem to have a longer list of what I'd like to do some day.  

Happy Quilting All, Bonnie 

Where is it?

Do you lose quilt projects?  Do you panic or assume it will show up?  I've misplaced this project: 

It will be a flowered wall hanging -- if I can find where I stashed it after retreat.  (FYI it still looks like this!)  This is the background.  Somewhere I have all the flowers and stems cut out along with a bunch of green blocks for the border.  It came home from retreat but who knows where I put it.

I don't panic I just assume I'll find it at some point.  I have a history of finding things -- not when I want to but when they want me to... or so I feel. Until I can find this project nothing is getting done on it even though it is on my Goal list this week. SIGH. 

So on to other accomplishments.  My third pinwheel quilt has been quilted.  And this quilting design may become my new favorite. I like light quilting on my quilts.  And this has the right feel to me.  It was fast, easy and provides interesting texture.  It is called Modernish #3 from Urban Elements.  I used a light blue Omni thread on the front and back and a left over piece of Warm and Natural batting.  

This is an older project that, fool that I am, is being hand quilted.  I ran an 11 month BOM for my guild around the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.  All the blocks were actually used during the time period.  I used reproduction fabrics.  And I provided a little history of the block if I could find some.  Here's my introduction and the first block.   If you are interested in checking out all of the blocks, open each month in 2012 and look for 1800's Block of the Month.  I believe there were no blocks posted in July or December. 

I was looking for a hand project to work on a couple of weeks ago and pulled this out. The center is done so I've been working on the blocks.  If I remember correctly, I've finished 2 and I'm in the midst of block 3.  I've set myself a challenge to see if I can have it finished in time to enter it in the 2018 Faithful Circle Quilters show. That sounds like it might be ages from now but the entries are due in February? Or something like that. And, for some reason they want the quilts finished.  What finished, completely?  

Have you been checking out the linky parties?  Here's where I'm linking today (or in one case, tomorrow.)  Midweek Makers, Wednesday Wait Loss, Works in Progress Wednesdays, and Needle and Thread Thursday. (When available.) 

I'm off to put some binding on the pinwheel quilt(s). 

Happy Quilting All,  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 6 - 19 - 2017

It has been a full week but not all sewing.  First I got another pinwheel top quilted.  It's waiting for binding now.  I also found fabric to make another backing for the 3rd pinwheel quilt. The top fabric is an old Debbie Mumm fabric.  I had to piece it to make it wide enough. I was able to match the Uncle Sam but the sun flower and the watermelon above it didn't line up well.  I'll load it soon and get the quilting done.  

I also made one of the foldable boxes.  Still need 6 or so more but at least I got one more done.  I've got them cut out and waiting so I can't really clean off part of my cutting table until all of them are made.  (Yet, I don't need them for a few months.) 

Then I decided to try making some giant flying geese using the 4-at-a-time method.  Whoa!  Super easy and fast to make these blocks.  Finding a piece of fabric big enough without cutting into my yardage took the most time.  It took me a while to find a fat quarter that I hadn't cut into! I've been using the white off and on for a year or two.  Not much left of it now.




I spent Friday attending an educational presentation by a representative of AccuQuilt.  I've been using mine for several years but I learned quite a few useful things.  And, of course there were quilts for inspiration. Here are a couple of quilts I really liked. 

I recently bought this kite die so I took a picture of this example.  (I also have a Quiltmaker magazine showing directions for making a similar quilt.) 

I wish I could remember how this block was made! I liked the look of this and some day I'll make myself a similar one. I have no idea which dies were used on the table runner. I bet I have a ruler that I could use to make it. (Hum, maybe two different rulers.) Hum, I wonder what type of batting was used as many of the quilts were very wrinkled. On the other hand, they'd been folded and in a car for several weeks! 

Pat and I celebrated our 44th anniversary by going to the local dinner theater.  "Some Enchanted Evening" was a musical review of Rodgers and Hammerstein's light operas. We had a great time.  The food was pretty good and the cast was wonderful.  No doubt we'll plan to go again sometime.   

I was very pleased to actually get everything done on my goals list last week. 

June 12, 2017

Add the borders to table topper√

Quilt another pinwheel quilt√

Make backing for 2 pinwheel quilts √ √

Put binding on pinwheel quilt √

Make some fabric boxes √ 

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

June19, 2017

Hand quilt on Civil War Quilt

Quilt another pinwheel quilt (#3)

Bind pinwheel quilt #2 (and maybe #3)

Start appliqueing flower wall hanging

Make some fabric boxes

I'm linking up with my normal Monday linky parties: Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, and Moving It Forward. (I'll link as the blogs are posted -- or as soon as I remember afterwards!) Take a look at some of these linky parties -- there are always lots of pictures to encourage and inspire you. 

That's if for me today. 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 6 - 12 - 2017

Here's the first of the pinwheel quilts quilted: 

I used a beige So Fine thread from Superior threads and one of my favorite edge to edge designs: Ginger Snap by April Moon.   I didn't have a lot of excess backing fabric so I wanted a design that was fairly flat across the top.  This one filled that requirement plus it isn't all that dense unless I choose to make it so.  Once I got it going it didn't take all that long to finish. I hope to bind it this week. 

Nancy this one's for you: 

This is a free little library at Sophie's bus stop.  (Embarrassing to admit but I didn't even notice it when we waited for the bus in the morning!)  I looked over some of the books but didn't take one.  I wonder if Sophie and Natalie ever look at the books.  Sophie's a big reader; Natalie doesn't find it as interesting. 

This week was really busy with a lot of time spent on the road.  So, I didn't succeed with all of my goals.  I was happy to make some more progress on the pinwheel quilt though. Here's how I did last week: 

June 5, 2017

Add the borders to table topper hum, maybe this week

Enjoy spending time with grands√

Clean up front of cutting table nope, didn’t happen!

Find backing for one pinwheel quilt√

Make blocks for one more pinwheel top√

And here are my goals for this week:

June 12, 2017

Add the borders to table topper

Quilt another pinwheel quilt

Make backing for 2 pinwheel quilts

Put binding on pinwheel quilt

Make some fabric boxes

I'm linking up with the regular linky parties:  Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, and Moving It Forward.  (I'll add the other two links on Monday.  What, am I ahead of the game here?  Yep -- I'm done with my post Sunday night. Amazing!) 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

May Stash Busting Report

GULP -- no stash busting going on here in May.  Double Gulp! 

I had no idea how wild I went, plus, I won a bunch of fat quarters at retreat. So with no further delay here are the sad facts of fabric acquisition in May. Ok, they really aren't that sad... I love my new fabrics. 

2017	Fabric In Month	Fabric In Year	Fabric Out Month	Fabric Out Year	Total In or Out Year
May	22.125	49.875	9.00	45.25	-4.625

That is a very red number in the total IN category. And looking on the bright side I could have shown a lot more total year in.  Heck I bought or received over 20 yards of fabric in May.  Of course, several pieces were bought for specific purposes and will be used.  (not necessarily quickly but eventually.) 

Here are a few of the fabrics I bought. First 2 pics are fat quarters.

I bought two of the black and whites because I still am working (actually not working) on a twisted log cabin quilt.  I'm thinking of making two twin size quilts to go in our guest bedroom. Hum, maybe that should be a OMG goal soon.  It would be nice to have coordinating quilts in there.  Time will tell.

And some more fat quarters received at retreat.  

Below (or wherever it shows up on the blog...) are three of the fabrics I bought.  I always wash my fabrics before use.  These are the only ones that have been ironed and folded.  If I ever get them done I'll try to remember to share them with you. Colors are brighter than it shows here -- especially the green. 

That's it for today.  I'm linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday and Mid Week Makers.  Take some time to enjoy some eye candy posted on these linky parties. 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie