February Mysteries, Quilt Alongs, and Little Gifts

Have you succumbed to any of the mysteries or quilt alongs this year?  I want to but I have so many block sets, unfinished blocks/tops and way too many tops just waiting to be quilted and bound.  

Millie’s Dresses QAL runs February 22 to July 24.  Fat Quarter Shop is  using Lori Holt’s pattern Millie’s Dresses. https://blog.fatquartershop.com/announcing-the-millies-dresses-quilt-along/ $ 

Free Hen Party Block of the Month from Jacquelynne Steves. It starts in March and runs through October. You must sign up for it to receive the information.  There is a paid option which gives you access to a VIP Workshop. https://jacquelynnesteves.com/hen-party-block-of-the-month/ $ optional

Quilt Along for a Mint Inspired Year sponsored by Fat Quarter Shop. This will be a casual QAL compared to what they usually do. Find out more about it: 

https://blog.fatquartershop.com/quilt-along-for-a-mint-inspired-year/

Fat Quarter Shop is also sponsoring the Stronger Together Quilt Along in honor of Ruby Bridges and to support UNCF.  It will run  Feb 1 to 29th.  Although this is a free QAL, they are asking people to make a donation to the United Negro College Fund.  

https://blog.fatquartershop.com/announcing-the-2024-stronger-together-quilt-along/ $

Here are directions for a cute little basket on You Tube from My DIY Style.  Just an added note — these directions are done completely with pictures, no words. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRsFSQlOd7M

Mardi Gras Glam Zip Pouch Sewing Pattern from Robert Kaufman fabrics.  https://www.robertkaufman.com/quilting/quilts_patterns/glam_zip_pouch/

Another purse idea: a Pyramid Purse Pattern. (Although I can’t see it as a purse but more as a cool pouch.) https://www.thesewingdirectory.co.uk/pyramid-purse-project/ 

How about some Quilt As You Go Placemats? Check out these directions from All People Quilt. https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/quilt-patterns/table-runners/quilt-you-go-place-mat-pattern

 

Monday Meanderings 1 -- 29 -- 2024

I'm not really much of a football fan but I do end up watching some of the teams from where we used to live. (Actually, it's generally Pat who watches and I look up every once and a while...) We were both disappointed that the Baltimore Ravens didn't win AFC championship.  Bummer!  I actually turned the game on in my studio but turned off the sound.  Maybe next year. 

At least I was working on one of my goals during the game. Here's what I got done. 

1/22/24

✅Work on secret project — a couple of more blocks finished

✅Start on Malted Mystery January clue — almost done, need to correct a triangle and sew small borders on 

✅Continue appliqué quilt — all 9 blocks now have triangles on.

Finish cutting out brick quilt — nothing done! 

✅Make more RSC Bow Tie blocks — 2 more done

This week I'll be repeating a lot of these items.

1/29/24

Work on secret project

Make more blocks for FCQ Equilter of the months

Finish January Malted Mystery Clue

Make a few more RSC Bow Tie blocks 

Finish cutting out brick quilt

Sharon and I FaceTimed today while we worked on the January Malted Mystery clue.  The clue was to put the center section together.  I ran into a couple of problems and didn't finish the whole clue.  Do you see my mistake? I've got a safety pin near the triangle I have to fix.  Then I need to sew on two narrow borders.  Hopefully I'll get it done this week. 

Here are my green bow tie blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I've already picked out a couple more greens for more bowties. As of February red will be the color.  I guess I'll look for some red fabrics too. 

Despite having several days with lots of non-sewing activities I've continued my 15 minutes of stitching every day. I should be able to continue my 15 minutes every day for several more weeks.  But, maybe not vacation days coming up in March. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Jan = 28/28 days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 28/28 days
• Success rate = 100%

We spent a lot of time at a car dealership this week.  My poor 10 year old car was unreliable.  We replaced the battery three times over the last year. But when Pat charged it to 100% and two days later it was at zero, we decided it was time to get me a new one. We did look at an electric vehicle but I didn't want something that "complicated." We already have a hybrid but I just couldn't see myself having to stop at a charging station when I drove to retreats or to friend's houses out of state. 

In the end we decided on a Subaru Forester. (My old car was an Outback.) Technology just keeps moving a head. My old car had quite a bit of technology but the new one has even more.  Luckily, the dealership hires someone to teach us about all of that technology.  Hopefully I can remember it. Next week I'll let you know anything that seems really out there to me. 

You know the drill: please go check out some of these Linky parties to see what quilters are up to this week. 

Oh Scrap

Stitching Stuff

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musing 

I'm ready to do some net surfing.

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 1 - 22 - 2024

I'm surprised we are already 2/3rds through January.  Are you?  I've been keeping busy either reading or playing in the studio.  I know I've worked on quilty things this week but I only have photos from a previously finished item.  First  I'll show my goals from this past week. 

1/15/24

✅Bind 30 Something & Strippy quilt - Strippy still needs to be bound. 

Load and quilt another quilt — didn’t happen! 

✅Work on Appliqué quilt — decided on setting and began sewing.

✅Make more Bow Tie blocks - one more finished! 

✅Start ripping out row of Ombre quilt — done.

✅Cut out a bricks quilt — lots of bricks cut out but not planned yet.

I did start a new project that will remain a secret for the time being.  I've included it in my goals for this coming week. 

1/22/24

Work on secret project

Start on Malted Mystery January clue

Continue appliqué quilt 

Finish cutting out and planning brick quilt

Make more green RSC Bow Tie blocks

Here's the second to the last quilt I've finished -- our grand, E, is being my quilt holder for these pictures taken last weekend.  I am a big fan of Happy Blocks as shared by MaryQuilts.com. She has several sizes -- I just pick one size and cut the framing pieces to fit the center. You can find her directions here.  Look on the side listing for more Happy Block sizes and ideas.  I generally use multiple fabrics for the centers and frames.  

Nothing like adding a cute pup to draw attention to my quilt. Meet Chewy. He lives with my son's family. But we get to visit him every once in a while. 

I bound this quilt with a magenta and black stripe fabric.  The backing is an older Hoffman fabrics floral.  Most of these blocks came from my FCQ Equilter group.  I was very happy to find a decent backing and binding in my stash -- especially since I've had both fabrics for quite a while. 

As I was looking for the directions on Mary's web site I had to take a look at a couple of other quilt instructions.  I don't really need additional ideas for quilts but I did see one or two that would use some of the things I have -- like half square triangles and hearts.  Nothing is going to happen on these for quite a while though. (If ever!) 

I had another successful week of 15 Minutes to Stitch.  I think the snow and cold made me stay inside a lot! I know this isn't going to continue but I'm enjoying it now. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Jan = 21/21days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 21/21 days
• Success rate = 100%

That's it for me today. I hope you spend some time surfing the internet to see what quilters are working on across the world. Try these Linky parties to do some blog hopping. 

Oh Scrap!

15 Minutes to Stitch

Design Wall Monday 

Monday Musing 

Are you looking for Mystery Quilts and Quilt Alongs?  Check this post for the January listing. (Yep, I was really late getting it done but there are several interesting events going on.) 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

 

January Mysteries, Quilt Alongs and Small Projects

Mysteries and Sew Alongs are being announced for 2024.

Join Moda Fabrics and Doug Leko of Antler Quilt Design for a quilt along starting on January 25, 2024. It will use Doug's new pattern book Chatsworth. Find out more here: https://my.modafabrics.com/inspiration-resources/chatsworth-quilt-along-coming-soon $

The Stay At Home Round Robin (SARHH) has started.  Gail started SAHRR during the pandemic to give everyone something to work on and engage with others. This link takes you to general info on SAHRR https://quiltinggail.com/2023/12/20/announcing-the-2024-sahrr/.  takes.  It's time to get your center block made and then share it at Gail's Linky party.  https://quiltinggail.com/2024/01/15/sahrr-24-centre-block/.

A Quilting Life is starting their year-long mystery quilt  https://www.aquiltinglife.com/a-quilting-life-2024-block-of-the-month/.  The blocks will be released on the first Monday each month.  This year the block sizes will be 8” and 16” with a setting for each size quilt. 

Mystery Quilt for Military starts Jan. 5 with fabric requirements. This is going to be a scrappy quilt.   If you join the Mystery Quilts 4 Military at https://groups.io/g/MysteryQuilts4Military/ you can get the clues and pre-clue info.  Fabric requirements came out 1/5/24.  First clue comes out 1/17/24 but check message 1929 for some hints about it. Alycia, who writes the mysteries, blogs at 

https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/. She does plan to upload the mystery files to her blog.

“What’s in Your Closet?” Sew along with Pat Sloan.  Jan 24, 2024 to May 15,2024. There will be one block shared each week. Supply List and Layout are already available. https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/2023/12/block-wed-getting-things-done-day-2-.html. Scroll down to find the link to sign up for Pat’s videos or/and her weekly announcement.

Check out My Quilting Beehive for the new Colchester Mill Marvelous Mystery Quilt. For more information and a link to the sign up page go to https://www.myquiltingbeehive.com/.  The mystery starts in February on the first Friday of the month through November. Cost is $25 and includes a Facebook group and videos from designer Michele Holt. I've seen several of Michelle's mysteries over the years and they are amazing.   https://www.myquiltingbeehive.com/ $

And some little gift ideas ---

Here’s a free download for creating a folded star hot pad/trivet. https://www.sharonhollanddesigns.com/freebies/folded-star-pdf

*Do you need a Tea Towel scarf?  What’s that you ask?  Go check it out. https://www.stacey-lee.com/2021/12/10/how-to-make-a-tea-towel-scarf/

*How about making a clear vinyl, pouch? https://www.stacey-lee.com/2022/05/13/vinyl-zipper-pouch-with-flat-bottom-tutorial/

*These two take you to a web page which gives supply list and some information but you’ll need to watch the videos to learn how to make the items.

Enjoy checking these mysteries, sew alongs and little gifts.  

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

 

Monday Meanderings 1 - 15 - 24

We finally were able to meet up with both of our kids and all the grandkids this weekend.  We celebrated with our daughter's family on Christmas Day.  We all ended up at our son's house on Saturday afternoon for present swapping, chatting, and simple food.  That means I can finally show some of the Christmas presents I made last year.  But first let's look at the goals' list from last week.  It was a good week. 

1/8/24

✅Finish 3 yard quilt top — done.

Make ✅backing for and ✅quilt small strippy quilt.

Start on UFO appliqué block — Started but realized I didn’t want to make more blocks. The plan is to use a setting from Circle of Nines book. 

Bind 30 Something quilt and strippy — neither got done!  

✅Iron one or ✅two backing fabrics  -- done and sewn together.

I was happy with what I got done.  I did get the last box of fabrics washed, dried, and folded. It will be going back to the guild Wednesday so it can be used in more quilts for our community projects. 

Here's what I'll be working on this week. 

1/15/24

Bind 30 Something and Strippy quilts

Load and quilt another quilt

Work on Appliqué quilt

Make more Bow Tie blocks, start blocks for FCQ Equilter 

Start ripping out row of Ombre quilt 

Cut out a bricks quilt 

Yes, I decided I'm taking one of the rows out of the Ombre quilt.  It shouldn't take that long to rip out the stitches.  But I'll have to move the setting triangles too. This quilt isn't on the top of my to do list but I will start ripping out the stitches during my weekly hand stitching group. The group is always entertaining and ripping stitches will get done fairly quickly. 

Speaking of the grand's ornaments I can now share all of them. First up is all four together. 

These were from a kit by Rachel's of Greenfield. I changed up some of the designs by adding buttons on the cuffs rather than embroidering snowflakes along with other things. I also swapped out some of the felt with other colors.  Here are each of the designs up close. 

My thought on the ornaments for 2024 is to do something machine embroidered.  Although, I may change my mind before I actually start on them later in the year.

The big homemade gift for this year went to our son, Kevin.  Years ago he gave me two big bags of t shirts.  No ideas were given on which t shirts were the most important. What he might like color wise, etc.  I let them sit in the quilt closet for years.  I made our son-in-law his quilt. Someone paid me to make another t shirt quilt. I waited a bit more and finally, this year, I decided it was time to do it. I don't particularly like making t shirt quilts although the recipients generally love them. He had totally forgotten about them. (Or maybe he lost hope that I would use them!) 

Here's his first look in the gift bag. 

And then he was taken with the first shirts he really noticed. Yea, he was really touched about the whole thing. But he really liked the two white shirts center front. They were from his wedding day 5K. Yep, we all did a 5K the morning of his wedding. One shirt says "Aimee and Kevin's wedding day 5K." Then there is a picture of his dog, Cassie and the words "Cassie Sponsored."  The one below that was from the back of the shirt and has a picture of Homer and the words "Homer Approved!" Homer was Aimee's dog. They both loved them included in the quilt.

Now for the full quilt picture. Hum, their daughter was peeking out and has her tongue out for some reason. (Almost every picture I took of her this weekend that tongue is hanging out! What??)  There were a lot of shirts for races (running and biking), some from rowing in college and one from the music school in college. Sorry this one isn't the best picture.  You can see the shirts better in the next one which was taken while I was working on it. 

The backing was the same as the border. The binding was the same blue grunge used in the quilt.  The quilting pattern is Rhapsody E2E with Puppy Paws from My Creative Stitches. Kevin and family are all great dog fans hence the Puppy Paws in the quilting design. 

I did really well with 15 Minutes to Stitch this week. Even the day we went for our family Christmas get together I was able to get 45 minutes of stitching in before we left!  Here are my  results. I'm really happy. But I know there will be some days I won't get any time but in the meantime I'm in the stitching zone! 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Jan = 14/14 days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 14/14 days
• Success rate = 100%

It's time to move on to the Linky Parties. Let's check out what's happening with quilters by using these links. 

Oh Scrap

Life in Pieces

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings 

It's time to get to bed! Morning comes early and there might be snow! If it isn't there first thing in the am there's a continued chance during the afternoon and evening.  I can't decide if I like that or not but I have plenty of things to do to keep busy! 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

A Finish or Two!

Between Christmas and now I've quilted 4 quilts.  Today I'm showing two of them. The third one hasn't been bound yet. Um, yes it has I just forgot to take pictures! So it will wait.  The fourth one hasn't been bound yet! 

First up Snoopy and Charlie Brown.  I found the Charlie and Snoopy squares in a box marked squares (!) a few months ago.  I don't remember how or where I got them but it was time to put them to use.   I found some red and blue 4 patches and the fabric that went with them to help make the quilt. I took the supplies to the October retreat and put it together there. Want to see some of the steps in getting this one to a quilt?  Check out these posts: 10/2 and 10/9.  Here it is just coming off the long arm.

The quilting pattern is Rhapsody Leaf by My Creative Stitches. The design also comes with puppy paws which you'll see later this month.  

Next up is Coffee Break.  I like to let a fun fabric do the hard work of making a great quilt.  And this crazy coffee fabric fit that bill. So I added some "loud" fabric and came up with this one. 

I used a computerized stipple called Classic Stipple by Apricot Moon.  The picture below shows a little closeup of the quilt and the bird house Pat made last summer. We haven't noticed any birds living in it yet.  Hopefully we'll have some this coming spring and summer. 

This quilt will also be donated through Virginia Star Quilt Guild but it will be going to our local senior center.  

When we took these pictures this afternoon I forgot the third quilt I've finished.  So one of these days I'll get a picture of it and share. And, another quilt is on the long arm.  I have 9 or 10 quilts lined up with backing so there will be a lot more finishes over the next few months.  But I keep making new tops so there will be more than those finished this year. 

Please visit these Linky parties to see what quilters from around the world are working on now. 

Midweek Makers

Needle and Thread Thursday 

Finished or Not Friday 

Beauties Pageant 

We are hoping to be able to celebrate Christmas with our son's family Saturday.  We'll see whether we can as both he and I have been exposed to Covid this week. I tested negative on Thursday and I'll test again Saturday morning.  Fun times, eh? 

I realized that I failed to post my Mysteries and Stitch Alongs.  I'll try to get that finished on Sunday.  There are quite a few good opportunities if you are looking for something new to make. 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie