Monday Meanderings 3 - 30 -2020

Another week in isolation, I mean sheltering at home, for the most part.  Thursday I dropped off my face masks and some of my neighbor's at our local hospital.  They were happy to receive them even considering all the differences in the ones we made. Saturday we hit another grocery store to try to buy some things hubby couldn't find at our regular store the day before. 

I finished quilting the charity quilt for Virginia Star Quilters. I've even found a friend who is willing to bind it!  I may go ahead and make the binding for her.  It shouldn't take long and it will be easy. 

As for my goals this past week.  

1. Talking Turkey to top stage.  Well, it's farther along but not ready to be a top.  I have done all of the sashing so there are little 9 patches around the outside of the top.  Now to decide whether I'm doing anything more or saying "hey, red binding will finish it off nicely."  I'm getting tired of this one but I really need to move it to top stage.  I may give myself a week off and then start up on it again. 

Still need a final border of some sort.  

2. The charity quilt is done.  I'll be trimming it and making binding as mentioned above. 

3. Star Blocks -- nothing got done.  I'll leave it on the list for this coming week. 

3/30 Goals: 

1. Talking Turkey to top stage. (maybe...) 
2. Start trimming the Star Blocks
3. Work on Magic Mountain UFO from the mid 1990's.  I've pulled them out and ironed them.  Here's what I have. I need to replace the odd turquoise one since I can't fix it.  The turquoise with the white print I made last night to make sure I knew what I was doing.  I've pulled 3 more fabrics and will need to pick something else for that odd ball block.  Hopefully, I'll make all the blocks and put this together.  It's probably going to the county senior program.  (And, won't I feel great when I get a very old UFO finished and on its way!) 

I'm not making it an official goal but I am hoping to continue to make Happy Blocks out of a cute baby charm pack I've had a while.  I'm going to be adding a few more to make it four rows instead of three. And, the more I think about it I should make this set 4 x 4.  I'm going to need a lot more blocks. These blocks are pretty easy to sneak in as leader enders.  I've got to find borders to 8 more.  Hopefully this will get some more done this week but I really am going to focus on #2 and #3.  

Girl Happy Blocks.  Oops! Mr Shark won't be in this quilt. 

That's it for this week.  I'm linking up with Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, and Main Crush Monday (if it is up.)  Take some time to surf the web.  Since we are home much more now there seems to be enough time to enjoy what others are working on. 

Happy Quilting All.  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 3 - 23 - 2020

Have you been keeping up with all the info about making face masks for medical staff? I saved a couple of sites that gave directions.  And, I made one to see what it was like.  I downloaded the directions and pattern for the Fu Face Mask. This is a free pattern site for all sorts of patterns. The Fu Face Mask is designed to tie on and uses 2 pieces of fabric for the mask.  From the research I've done no home made masks made with woven cotton fabric will protect COMPLETELY from viruses.  However, it can be useful in some situations.  Apparently it is above 50% effective.  So, if the alternative choice is no mask, this is a reasonable alternative.  I have an email into my local hospital to see if they need any cloth masks and if so what type they would prefer.  


My bear is around 15" or so.  I made the large mask which is big even on me.  

I rewrote the instructions so I didn't have to print pages and pages of instructions. Please go to the above link if you would like instructions and the pattern. 

Until I know whether there is a need in my community I am not planning on making these.  I'll keep you posted.  

So in other news, Pat and I took a drive Saturday.  One of the enjoyable parts of the drive was to see the cherry blossom trees in full bloom near our house. Unfortunately the weather was lousy.

I have started working on my Talking Turkey wall quilt.  Years ago I took a class with Bonnie Hunter.  I decided I would only do a 9 block wallhanging.  When they were done I put them together.  I let the blocks age for several years until last week when I decided it was time to put the border on and get the top finished. 

Without sashing.

I was texting my in house retreat buddies about working on this quilt and that I needed to decide on the border.  Sharon posted a picture of her finished quilt. (same size as mine, basically.)  Um, they didn't look the same at all.

I pulled out the book and realized there is sashing between the blocks that really adds to the design. Can you say let 'er rip?

With sashing.

Here it is in the process of sashing. 

Don't those little 9 patches look great?  All the blocks are sewn  together.  But the rows are not sewn yet.  I still need to add one more row around the outside edge to finish off the 9 patches.  I like the look with the 9 patches.  That's tomorrow's plan.  Unfortunately, it may get too big to hang above our fireplace.  It would really look good up there so I'm going to try to make it work.  I'll keep you posted! 

Last week I mentioned I would be doing a UFO give away.  Sorry to admit, but I've changed my mind.  I am trying to stay home and not interact with anyone/anything that could put me at risk.  Well, duh, how would I get something sent if I can't weigh it and buy stamps.  So, when this pandemic calms down I'll reconsider offering a UFO give away.  

I had 3 items as goals last week.  Obviously I've made great progress on Talking Turkey.  So it will stay on the list.  Hopefully I'll get it done early in the week so I can then do the next few. 

1. Talking Turkey to top stage.

2. Pull out a charity quilt top from the Virginia Star Quilters and quilt it. I did actually pull this from the closet but that's all I did. It is staying on the list. 

3. Start trimming and sewing into a top the star blocks from my last FCQE Quilters turn. Again, not much progress so it's staying on the list. 

That's it for today.  I'm linking up with Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, and Main Crush Monday.  Take some time to see what folks have been working on. 

Stay safe and quilt on! 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Plans for Social Distancing or How to Clean a Closet

We are about to start week 2 of social distancing isolation, or semi isolation. Last Friday we hit the grocery store and then came home.  Except to walk in the neighborhood I haven't gone anywhere except to the grocery store on Wednesday.  Until we run out of milk or fruits and veggies there isn't any reason to go anywhere else. So, I'm staying home. 

Here's my plan for keeping entertained and productive during isolation. For years I have hung finished tops in my closet next to the studio.  My thought has been it's less bulk to store tops than quilts.  I've decided to quilt as many tops as I can find backs for to clear out the tops. I'm hoping to quilt one per week. I don't expect to quilt all of these tops but I'll probably get half done.  Some have backings saved with them, some have binding fabric saved. 

Of these 7 tops about 3 have backings. 

Four of these have backings ready to prep.  

That pink and print one on the far right is a donation quilt I volunteered to quilt for Virginia Star Quilters.  I'm sorry to say I've had it for over a year -- it is made with poly cotton and I just don't like it.  But I found a semi-OK fabric to back it so it may be the next one up. 

Here's the quilt I finished quilting last evening.  The fabric except the darker purple are all flannels I found in my stash.  I bought a purple mottled flannel for the backing when JoAnn's had flannel for less than $2 a yard this winter.  My friend Marlyn made the top.  She said she'd bind it.  (Not my favorite job!) It will go to Virginia Star Quilters and eventually to a senior.  (Is it just me or is it pretty ironic that seniors are making quilts for other seniors?) 

Pattern: Sweet Indigo; Thread: Omni light olive green.

And a close up.  The one issue I had is the flannel back shrank a bit. There was
only about 1.5" on each side to attache the clamps.  Not the easiest way to quilt.

My other plan for the next few weeks is to try to finish UFOs.  I show 60 UFO projects on my Excel spreadsheet.  Some have been languishing as shiny new projects grab my attention. Some have been slowly accumulating units until I have enough to put the top together. I'm hoping to finish a few of the older ones.   

But come back this weekend when I'll offer a couple of UFOs to anyone who wants them. (I'll mail them within the USA. But, it may be a while before I can get them in the mail.)  I'd like to find good homes for these projects. 

That's it for me today.  I'm linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?, and Beauties Pagent 73. 

Happy Quilting and Stay Safe! Bonnie  

Monday Meanderings 3 - 16 - 2020

What a difference a week can make.  Covid 19 is controlling our lives and all of a sudden we have LOTS of time we can quilt. Pat and I are taking the threat seriously as I have several of the indicators for being at high risk.  We went grocery shopping on Friday after we worked out.  It wasn't long before lots of events and places were canceled or closed.  Our 55+ community chose to close our clubhouse which sure ended a social life around here for the most part.  Our only regret is we use the workout room on a regular basis and that is no longer available.  Although we can use a commercial gym nearby it isn't worth the risk.  Can you say "Take a Walk?" 

So I've been quilting like crazy.  I've finished the dog quilt shown here. Here's a recap of the story behind these dogs.  My guild in Maryland (FCQ) gave out bags of fabric and challenged us to make a quilt for charity.  The quilts were to be shown at our show in April.  My buddy Sharon happened to get a bag with cat fabric and I got the dog fabric. Which actually is our personal preferences for pets.  Funny that we both finished them yesterday. Here's mine -- 

And here's a look at the back.  I used a wide back in a mottled brown that I bought at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt show in February. 

Well, rats.  You can't see the quilt design very well.  You can click on the pictures and they should enlarge for you.  I used a brown So Fine thread from Superior Threads and a panto called Puppy Paws from Urban Elementz. (Wow!  It just happens to be on sale until 3/17.) Since I seem to make dog quilts a lot it's been a great panto to have. 

The FCQ quilt show scheduled for April has been postponed.  The likely replacement time is sometime late in September or October. So there was no need to rush on that quilt and this one below. But I'm glad to have them done. 

This quilt is a charity quilt from FCQ.  I can't attend many events or meetings but I like to give back to the guild as much as I can.  I usually take several larger charity quilts each year and quilt them.  This quilt was made by Carol.  She says she is addicted to this pineapple style and thinks she's made at least 50!  I know I've quilted another one for sure.  How generous of her to donate these to our charity efforts. 

My last share is a surprise that came in the mail on Thursday.  Talk about a surprise.  Nann, who blogs at With Strings Attached, sent me a box packed with fabric. I'm a lucky friend.  OMG!  I've petted them and moved them and pulled a few for immediate use.  But here is what she sent minus the ballerinas that are going to become a happy quilt block immediately. 

Isn't that lime green floral and green stripe fun?  I'm trying to decide if that is a pillowcase in the making or a quilt.  See the spools?  That's one of a group of sewing related fabrics that are all cut at 6" of so. (Sorry didn't measure it.)  Of all the fabrics she sent I only have one that I "think" I had or hey, I may still have in my collection of plaids.  Thanks Nann! 

So all my goals I set last week were accomplished. The goals were all about the dog quilt.  So here's what I'll work on this week: 

1. Decide on a border for Talking Turkey wallhanging & get started making it. 

2. Pull out a charity quilt top from the Virginia Star Quilters and quilt it. 

3. Start trimming and sewing into a top the star blocks from my last FCQE Quilters turn. 

I'm not going to go wild here on goals -- no doubt I'll get more done but I'm giving myself permission to pick and choose what I want to work on.  I do have backing for several quilts I've had hanging in the closet.  No doubt I'll keep pulling one or two out to get finished.  (That might help me get back into the "used more" than "acquired" category for fabric my stash.) 

I need your help.  Somewhere (and I think it was on a blog) last week I saw an opportunity to make a donation to Project Linus and receive a new? quit pattern called Side by Side. From what I can tell it isn't on the national Project Linus web page.  Does anyone know where I saw it?  Help.  I thought it might be an easy project to do during this enforced studio time.  

Today has already gotten away with me.  Since we don't get up to work out we tend to goof off and spend time on the internet more than usual.  On the other hand it's important to keep up, right?  I'll be heading to the studio once I get this posted. 

I'm linking with my regular parties: Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, and Design Wall Monday.  I have more time to surf the net this week so I'll be checking out what's going on in quilter's studios all over the web.

Stay safe everyone! 

Happy Quilting.  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 3 - 9 2020

I have nothing new to show for my hard work this week.  Ok, so, one day was a road trip to three Richmond quilt shops, I showed all the finished units for the doggie quilt last week, and Friday through Sunday we were in OBX at our beach house and I didn't take any sewing with me. (But by the time we got home on Sunday I had finished 3 books.) 

Saturday we attended the annual OBX Community Quilt Show at the Roanoke Island Festival Park.  QUILT SHOW HOURS:  Mon–Fri 9AM to 4PM, Saturday 10AM to 4PM, Sunday CLOSED. The show runs until March 21st.  The challenge quilts were Beach Box to Bungalo -- houses.  I have a small quilt (unfinished on my design wall) that would have been great to finish and enter.  Needless to say there was no way I was going to be able to do that and finish my Let's Sing quilt.  So, no, I didn't finish and enter that quilt. 

It is not a huge quilt show but it has some really nice quilts.  The challenge quilts are wonderful and some are so very creative. There are several quilts made by young people. And, several beautiful old quilts.  I only took a few pictures: 

Bermuda Houses by Chris Cooper 

Dream Big Daffodil Wholecloth quilted by Marsha Sachs inspired by Hoffman's Dream Big preprinted panel.

Close up of Dream Big Daffodil Wholecloth. 

OBX Community Quilters Raffle Quilt. FYI - I hope to win this quilt!

I really should have taken more pictures as there were some great quilts there.  If you are going to the OBX in the next few weeks it is a nice quilt show and it's free!.  You can read more about what else is available to see and do at Roanoke Festival Island on Wikipedia.  Also near by is the Fort Raleigh National Historic Site which is where the original English settlers lived and disappeared from in the 16th century.  The disappearance of the original settlers remains an unsolved mystery to this day. 

Goal Tending: 

March 2, 2020
Finish doggie blocks√ and sew into top
Cut out and stitch table runner to donate to FCQ quilt show
Finish green fingerless mitts√
Go to Richmond to visit some quilt shops√
Make next FCQ Equilter blocks√

March 9, 2020

Sew doggie blocks into a top

Prep and load top on Ruthie 2

Quilt doggie top and prep binding

I'm not adding any more to my goal list as I must have this top done by next week.  Hopefully I'll have something new of mine to show you next week.  Specifically a finished doggie quilt! 

I'm linking up with Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday,  and Design Wall Monday.  And, even though I have a full plate with the quilt I need to finish, I hope to spend some time surfing blogs during the week! 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Design Wall Going to the Dogs

What can I say.  The dog blocks are taking over.  Next up, making the 3 block units.  I'll probably get that done next week. I have to have it done by the 3rd weekend of March. (Yep, about 2 weeks from now!) 

So, I am admitting now that I'm NOT succeeding on the goal to have this as a top this week.  I've been goofing off a lot this week.  Here's a peek at my haul from our trip to Richmond on Tuesday (one of my goof offs!). Here are new fabrics purchased Thursday at the quilt show and now from the road trip.   This isn't all, it's what I had upstairs when I took this picture.) 

The bottom four pieces are batik fat quarters.  There were some dark ones already put with the other fabrics.  They are going to be part of a sampler quilt. I'll share more about these once I get more than 4 blocks done. 

The bottom green, purple and dark blue are dimples that were on sale at Quilters Corner in Midlothian.  I bought these just because I liked them.  Although, the bottom green didn't look so olive as it does in the pic. The upper green is a solid that will go with a dinosaur fabric I bought last year. The lighter blue also goes with the dinosaur fabric.  I keep buying fabric that I can make charity quilts from.  This time I didn't have enough go with fabrics.  So now I don't have any excuses!  Stay tune -- one of these days you'll be seeing a dinosaur quilt with orange, green and blue go with fabrics! 

I'm linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop, and Finished or Not Friday.  I'll link up to the other two when the blogs are up and I have a minute or two.  I haven' posted a non-Monday blog in a long time. I'd like to post more blogs each week. How about if I strive for 1 extra a week? We'll see whether I can have any success with that.  Spend some time reading what's going on all over the quilter's part of the internet this weekend. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 3 - 3 - 2020

Another month has snuck in.  Even with the extra day last month it did seem to go fast.  I know last week zoomed by!  

Thursday I attended the Mid Atlantic Quilt show with a group of quilting buddies.  We drive down in the morning and come back in the evening.  We don't have a lot of time at the show as it's 2 hours each way if we don't run into traffic. I was tickled to finally get a picture of my music challenge quilt while it was hanging at the show. 

Here's my artist statement for "Let's Sing."

My 2020 Challenge piece was inspired by the song I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing by B. Backer, B. Davis, R. Cook and R. Greenaway. The song started out as a jingle for a television commercial for Coca Cola in 1971 but was quickly released with non-commercial lyrics. 

Choral, or group, singing offers a variety of physical and mental benefits to the singer such as stess reduction, improved mood and lowering blood pressure. This joyous song offers hope and love that encompasses all. 

I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) as sung by The New Seekers. 

I'd like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company

I'd like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace through out the land
(That's the song I hear)

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony

Source: Lyric Find 

So 

My thanks go to my friends Sharon, Beth and Marlyn for being my sounding boards during the making of this quilt.  

I was happy to see it hanging with all of the quilts from Country Piecemakers.  

I spent more time shopping at the quilt show than actually viewing the quilts.  My general impression was there were more challenge quilts than quilts actually entered in the show.  The prize winners were amazing. I've taken pics of several quilts that "spoke" to me.  I'll try to remember to share them over the next couple of posts. 

My purchases ranged from a roll of cotton/poly batting from Pellon, to a wide back, six fat quarters of batik fabric, some cork fabric and a pattern for a candle mat with some bunnies on it.  My guess is I'll use the bunnies on something other than a candle mat as that is a bit too fussy for me.  (On the other hand, it might just be another addition to my pattern collection.)

Since it is now March I thought I'd share my stashbusting, um, stash building with you. Here's the sad news if I look at it from the point of wanting to USE my stash. I've added several yards of patriotic fabric, several other one yard pieces, and two different pieces of wide back to the collection.  Half of one was used as the backing on my patriotic quilt going to TAPS.  I definitely need to control my urge to buy fabric for a few months and concentrate on finishing some pieces! 

2020	Fabric In Month	Fabric In Year	Fabric Out Month	Fabric Out Year	Total In or Out Year
Jan	13.25	18.250	8.625	8.625	-9.625

I've decided it's time I listed a few quilting and other goals each week to help me keep focused.  I find if I've listed my goals I can make sure I get them done or at least further along the path to finishes. 

March 2, 2020
Finish doggie blocks and sew into top
Cut out and stitch table runner to donate to FCQ quilt show
Finish green fingerless mitts
Go to Richmond to visit some quilt shops 
Make next FCQ Equilter blocks 

That list may be way more than I can get done this week but I'll give it a try. 

Although I've shared lots of photos from our trip, we did have an interesting event after we left Panama, but no photos.  Our last port was Costa Rica staying for one day.  Except the seas were running around 15 feet. (rocking and a rolling!)  So when we got to the dock in Costa Rica the ship was bobbing up and down like crazy.  Unlike many ports we had gone to this one was not protected at all.  Unfortunately, it just wasn't safe to disembark.  We were disappointed!  It meant we had 3 straight sea days as we headed back to Florida. Two days at sea was relaxing.  By the third day I was ready to go somewhere again! And the rough seas were with us for the next day or so.  I am not the best sailor in rough water! 

We were on Holland American line and I give them kudos for refunding our excursion fees within two hours (probably less but that's when we noticed it on our account) of leaving Costa Rica.  A bit later in the day our port taxes were returned.  

That's it for me today.  I'm linking up with Oh Scrap, Monday Making, and Design Wall Monday.  I'm hoping to spend some serious blog hopping time this week. (Along with getting all of my goals done!)  

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie