Monday Meanderings 8 - 21 - 2023

We've had a few weather hints that mean fall isn't far off.  First one I noted -- overnight temps went into the 60s.  Then, day time temps stayed in the 80s instead of moving on to the 90s.  A few days had low humidity.  This doesn't mean we will actually slide into fall yet.  There will continue to be hot days but they will be interspersed with less hot days.  I, for one, am happy to see the hot temps cool down a bit. We even walked out side this evening (around 8:30) but it is still almost 80 degrees. No wonder I feel overheated! 

Let's take a look at last week's goals see how I did. I didn't get everything done but I did get a LOT done. 

8/14/24

✅Quilt Happy Blocks Top — done and bound and sent off to PA to begin its journey to Romania

✅Load and quilt Va Star charity quilt — done 

✅Finish 30 Something top — done 

Work on misc blocks: FCQ Equilter blocks, retreat blocks, red and yellow RSC blocks — worked a little on RSC blocks but lots to finish

This quilt was made with blocks from the FCQ Equilter group I am part of and many I made specifically for it.  The pattern is Happy Quilt from Mary Quilts.  I've used Mary's Happy Quilt instructions for so many quilts.  If you want a fast, easy quilt this is the one to use. You can see variations of it here, here, and here. (I need to see if I've ever posted the finished quilts at this last link.  I may still have the quilts or I may have already moved them along.  I'll check.) 

And, yes, these will be going with a therapist who is working with Ukrainian children in Romania.  When I read Nann's blog (who blogs at With Strings Attached) about her making a quilt or two for Ukrainian children I was all in too.  You can read a little bit about the lady who is helping these children and the quilts on Nancy's blog, Nancy Near Philadelphia. It's too late to help out but she might let folks know if the therapist is going again. (Check the Aug. 14 blog for a little more info.) Mine went in the mail on Friday. 

My next adventure was quilting a twin size quilt for Virginia Star Quilters. I frequently volunteer to quilt charity quilts.  This one was loaded on Friday, but not completed until Sunday evening.  (I was distracted by another activity!) But now it is done. Here's what it looked like loaded on Ruthie. 

For some reason, the color looks a little dark to me.  I was asked to use a big, loose flower.  I decided I didn't like the few flower designs I owned so I bought a new one from Urban Elementz. It's called Sunshine and was designed by Melonie Caldwell. I really like it except it took over 15 minutes to stitch the row.  Eek.  It took longer than I had hoped but I really love the design.  

And my last big success is finishing the Thirty Something top. Yea! This is a UFO from ages ago. (Think late 1990s.) (Hum, I used a lot of bright yellows.) This is a real scrap quilt. I don't know when I'll quilt it but it can come off the design wall now.

And here's what I'll be working on this week. 

8/21/23

Work on misc blocks: FCQ Equilter blocks, retreat blocks, red and yellow RSC blocks 

Take out Tee shirt quilt and plan it out

Buy background to finish cutting Malted Mystery 

Clean up the front of the cutting table

I threw in the clean up because I've been trying to clear out a bunch of fabric left overs. I did quite a bit of cutting and tossing small scraps this week. "I" can see the difference but I doubt anyone else can.  I've been using my dies and AccuQuilt Go to do the hard work.  I have soooo many HSTs that will make 2" finished units. And 2" finished squares.  And 3" fin. squares. And... you get the picture.  I think I'll have to find a pattern to use some of those half square triangles. (But, not yet I've got things I really need to work on.) 

My big distraction this week was a cutting session for Malted Mystery. It's not too late to join in the fun. Check it out at Meadow Mist Designs blog. Sharon and I are working on this mystery together.  She gave me until this week to figure out my fabric. Today we Face Timed and chatted as we cut our fabrics. I chose most of the fabric from my stash until I started cutting things out.  I got the first 3 fabrics cut but I made quite a bit of miscuts along the way.  Some of my fabric were leftovers from wide backs, of fat quarters with a few pieces cut out.  You get the idea. It wasn't yardage. I'm going to buy a background because I seriously doubt I have enough of my chosen fabric to cut all the background pieces. And it's doubtful I can still get it. 

I love these colors together. The purple has little fish in orange, green and a bit of turquoise. I never noticed the name of the fabric on the selvedge until this afternoon. Alligator Lunch. Someone has a real sense of humor.  I am hoping to find a grey fabric to go with these. 

It's time to pull out the tee shirt quilt and see if I can make some progress on it.  I'll keep you posted if I have success or not.  

Here's a picture of my favorite quilt holder.  Unfortunately he was looking directly into the sun. 

Did anyone start getting emails from BlogLovin'? I thought they had quit offering digests of blogs you want to follow. I like it so much better than the one most people went to so I'll eventually take a look at getting some of my favorite blogs that way.  

That's it for now.  Please take some time to visit these Linky parties and see what quilters are doing this week. (I apologize for not remembering to link up to some of the blogs last week. I was so into finishing a quilt that I forgot all about it.) 

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings

Sew and Tell 

To Do Tuesday 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie