Monday Meanderings -- 4 - 21 - 25

It's been a week. Thanks for all the kind remarks at the passing of our nephew. We decided we would drive to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to be with the family during the memorial service.  We don't have a kennel to leave Sunny at so she went with us. We left upper 70 degree temps to hit snow swirling as we drove north in Michigan and feels like temps of 18 13 degrees one day. (Or it may have been several days but I only screen shot one day.) 

We drove over the Mackinac Bridge.  I was a bit nervous about traveling over the bridge with the wind blowing so hard.  But that's the only way we could get to the UP so across we went.  I was very happy to learn that the bridge wasn't closed because of the high winds. Slab vehicles had a 25 mph limit while cars could go 35mph.  It was a reasonable speed even though the wind was bad. I actually enjoyed seeing some of Lake Michigan. 

Mackinac Island is home to the famous Grand Hotel.  It's the big white building above. Many years ago we enjoyed visiting the island although we haven't been since. 

We arrived in town Tuesday afternoon.  It's a small town in which several nieces and nephews still live. Wednesday was the Celebration of Life. Our nephew lived in the town for 45 years or so. His friends, co-workers, and family filled the location of the event.  It was a lovely celebration of a wonderful life. Except he died way too young. 

Sunny wasn't happy having to be crated the whole day. (Might I say incarcerated?) We came back a couple of times to feed and walk her.  She was ready to play by the time we got back to the hotel at the end of the day and we were exhausted. 

Early Thursday morning we packed up and drove two days to get home. Needless to say Sunny wasn't happy being in the car all day for 2 days. We didn't expect horrendous traffic but we kept running into it. 

This was about 20 minutes from home. There are 6 lanes of traffic here with cars and trucks every where.  

We were happy to get home but were glad we were able to give some support to our family.  It's going to be a hard year for his mother, wife and two grown children. 

Needless to say I had a much smaller goals list this past week.  I succeeded to a small degree. 

4/14/25

✅Knit 2 hats — 1 hat almost done. 

✅✅Read 2 books — 2 Grace Burrows books finished. 

✅Quilt a top on Ruthie — top quilted. 

Make more Equilters 9 patches — 2 are cut and laid out but no sewing done.

Surprisingly I was able to keep up my 15 minutes of stitching every day. I was knitting every day. Including the day I forgot all about it until 10:30 pm and spent 20 minutes knitting in bed! I'll share the bright yellow hat when I get it finished. 

W/ending 4/20/25. 110 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/Apr = 20/20
• 15 minute days/2024 = 110/110 days
• Success rate = 100%

Late Sunday afternoon I was able to baste a small top that I want to quilt on my Bernina.  I had planned to pin baste but decided to use Sulky KK 2000 spray adhesive instead. I'm hoping to start the quilting this week. (Heck, I hope to start and finish the quilting this week.) 

Since KK 2000 is a temporary spray I may add some pins in case I can't get it finished this week.  Did I mention how old this is? I'm guessing it is 10+ years old. I considered hand quilting it but never wanted to start it. This year I added it to my monthly UFO challenge list and it came up this month. Hopefully I'll get it to binding stage this month. 

Here's my goal list for this week.

4/21/25

Make Cali-Co quilt along April Block

Quilt Orange Peel on domestic machine

Finish another hat

Make 2 more Equilters 9 patches

I'm linking up with the following parties: 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday 

Monday Musing

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Monday Meandering 4 - 14 - 2025

It's been a week.  It started out well enough but Friday fell apart for us. Pat's nephew died unexpectantly. We will be supporting family and helping where we can.  I don't imagine I'll get much sewing done but I might keep knitting away.  

I did a good job on my goal list this week. The one item I missed I won't have time to work on until the end of the month anyway. 

4/7/25

✅Finish quilting and bind quilt — Quilting done & binding is made but not applied.

Baste top for quilting on domestic machine (Apr UFO) — nothing done on this one.

✅Finish knitting on hat — hat finished except for a pom pom.

✅Make April Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks in red — done! 

✅Start on FCQ Equilter blocks for Apr/May — one block of many done.

 

It's my friend Sharon's turn as the Equilter this time.  She chose a simple 9 patch with white in the center.  It is so easy I suspect I'll be making her dozens of them.  I also decided I should make some for me as a leader ender.  If I have to cut the fabrics I might as well cut for two blocks.  She said we can make any color blocks as long as they read the same color. My ducks are pushing the red color.  Hopefully some of the 2.5" squares I have already cut will work for these blocks. 

And now my wimpy list for this week's goals. 

4/14/25

Knit 2 hats

Read 2 books

Quilt a top on Ruthie 

Make more Equilters 9 patches

Hopefully I'll be able to get most of these done this week. Time will tell. 

I have another perfect week of 15 minutes to stitch.  I'm not sure how long I'll be able to keep up with this but I am trying to stitch every day. 

W/ending 4/13/25. 103 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/Apr = 13/13
• 15 minute days/2024 = 103/103 days
• Success rate = 100%

I received another order of fabrics from Marshall Dry Goods.  I have been trying to quilt the large number of tops I have in my closet.  Although I have 1 more of purple backing to use I'm ready to use some other colors.  So instead of buying a bolt I bought three different fabrics. I was buying the less expensive fabrics ($3.99 and $4.99 a yard.) They are all nice weights. And, I did go a little wild with the colors but they will go well with the tops. 

I've already got the orange fabric ready to use on a quilt; I just need the time. I over ordered so I have an extra yard of orange to use as I want. I'm looking forward to have some leftover pieces from all three of these fabrics. 

I'm linking up with the following parties: 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musing 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 4 - 7 - 2025

This week seems to have flown by.  I wasn't as focused on my stitching as usual.  But I did continue my stitching streak. Let's start with my goals...

3/31/25

Start on April UFO — pulled it out but haven’t started. 

✅Cut out a new quilt — finished.

✅Quilt a top — half done.

✅Order more backing fabrics — done should arrive this week.

✅Start another knit hat — half done.

Here's photo evidence of several of my goals!

Nine Patch from Even More Quilts for Baby by Ursula Reines. I'm adding 2 rows to make it rectangular. I have the doggy squares and the two colors for the 9 patches cut out. Inner and outer border will be cut when the inside is done. (Hum, I may have taken this photo before I actually cut the fabrics.) 

This quilt was started on Jan 1, 2023 as Merry Mayhem's New Year's Day Mystery.  I picked a bunch of different floral fat quarters for the bricks. I don't remember exactly when I finished it but I remember I didn't like it all that well. It has sat long enough and is a great quilt to use some of the bolt of purple fabric. I've decided I rather like it now. I thought about using a quick, easy edge to edge pattern to finish it but these cute butterflies grabbed my attention. I'm very happy with how it looks. This is "Diana" edge to edge by My Creative Stitches.  There is a good possibility I'll keep this one. 

The group that I donate hats to has a large amount of supplies you can use to make items for them. My friend was going by the location and I asked her to get me some yarn for more hats.  She found this terrific ombre, self striping yarn. It's been so much fun to see how it stripes.  I'm guessing I'll have some left over so I see at least one more hat with white stripes and this pink ombre.  I forgot that I normally knit these hats flat and then sew up the back seam.  OOPS -- I knit it in the round. Luckily I have some double pointed needles to finish this off. (Did you know your Apple Watch will give you "steps" credit for knitting? Yep, it does.)

Now for this coming week's goals. Hopefully I'll make it through all of them and more... 

4/7/25

Finish quilting and bind quilt 

Baste top for quilting on domestic machine (Apr UFO) 

Finish knitting on hat

Make April Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks in red 

Start on FCQ Equilter blocks for Apr/May

I am still at 100% on 15 Minutes to Stitch. (I actually set a timer for 15 minutes and knitted to make sure I got my 15 minutes done a couple of times!) 

W/ending 4/6/25. 96 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/Mar = 1/1
• 15 minute days/Apr = 6/6
• 15 minute days/2024 = 96/96 days
• Success rate = 100%

And something new for 2025.  I decided to keep my fabric statistics monthly but report on them quarterly.  You might guess that I didn't actually figure out my fabric usage each month... I did pretty well writing down what I bought or acquired each month, but I had to go back to other written records to see which quilts I finished each month and then figure out how much fabric I used.  Was I surprised at the results! 

2025	Fabric In Month	Fabric In Year	Fabric Out  Month	Fabric Out Year	Total In or Out Year
Jan	3.750	3.75	9.875	9.875	6.125
Feb	15.000	18.75	6.50	16.375	-2.375
Mar	0.750	19.50	28.50	44.875	25.376

I'm a thrilled I finished enough quilts to absorb that 15 yard bolt of fabric. I have one more top to quilt with the purple fabric. I'll only have 4 yard-piece left. I might see if I can find some fabrics to go with it and use it to make a top. (Don't hold your breath on that happening any time soon!) 

Between warm weather and a bit of rain the cherry tree I showed last week has lost most of its blooms and is looking green from the new leaves. I enjoy seeing all the different colors of green leaves turn in the spring. I'm not much of a gardener but I have plans to plant some cosmos seeds a friend gave me.  Maybe I can get it done this week.  

I'm linking up with these parties: 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings   

On a personal note: I have been horrified with this administration's decision to destroy our government. There is a big difference between chaotically and arbitrarily closing down departments and offices and looking at each department/office and what is done there and whether they have enough people to continue to provide citizens information and support. Having lived in Maryland and now living in Virginia I know fellow citizens may have lost their jobs or are afraid they will be next to go. I personally have 3 family members who work for the federal government. Needless to say I worry on a regular basis for them. Luckily they all appear to be in required jobs, for now.  

There have been a large number of lawsuits filed against this administration. Apparently the administration no longer believes in the rule of law.  I don't want to see my nation turn its back on our allies, our neighbors, our institutions that make America such a wonderful and unique country.  If you feel the same it is time for us to reach out to our Senators and Representatives and let them know it is time to stand up for our country. It's time to speak out against what has been done and what is yet to come. I don't want to live with a king, a dictator -- I want to live in a democracy.

Happy Quilting -- yet I'm not as happy quilting as I used to be. I'm worried. Bonnie

April Mysteries and Sew Alongs (and few March ones too!)

 I forgot to send out March Mysteries and Sew Alongs so I'm starting with March and then going on to April. 

Late but you can still play along with the Riley Blake Sew Along.  16 of Riley Blake’s designers have made blocks which are being released about 3 times a month.  This started on Jan. 14 and will end May 27. You can read more about it here https://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/2025-rbd-block-challenge. From there follow the link for the patterns. 

2025 Marvelous Mystery Quilt is designed by my friend Michele Holt of My Quilting Beehive and sponsored by Colchester Mill Fabrics and Quilting.  The fee is $25 for the 9 month program and patterns.  The first clue will be coming out on March 7 and will continue on the first Friday of each month until Nov. 7.  Our own Sharon Rhoton is Michele’s pattern tester. https://colchestermillfabricsandquilting.com/products/2025-marvelous-mystery-quilt-registration  $

I missed this cute free pattern from the Fat Quarter Shop in time for Valentine’s day but there is always next year! “Little Loves” is available at:  

https://www.fatquartershop.com/little-loves-quilt-pattern-free-pdf-pattern-fqs-exclusive. It’s 22.5” x 30.5”. 

April Mysteries and Sew Alongs 

Fourth and Main Designs is offering a 12 part sampler. Clues will come out every Monday starting May 5th, 2025 through September 1st, 2025. There are skip weeks throughout — refer to the welcome document for when those are and to see the quilt. It is 76” x 88”. https://4thandmaindesigns.com/summer-quilt-along-2025 

Nancy Zeeman Productions is offering a free Block of the Month.. It’s a big quilt at 74” x 86″ Both Feb and Mar blocks have been shared and you need 5 of each of them. This is a free BOM but there is some serious selling going on. From what I can see your basic supplies should work just fine. Use this page to get to all the posts about this BOM: https://nancyzieman.com/blog/category/2025-block-of-the-month/

Sew With Me is a beginner friendly sampler quilt. Although it started at the beginning of the year, there is only one block to make each month. Blocks are released on the 2nd Thursday of the month.  Here’s the link to the launch page. (In other words you can go back each month and all the previous links and the newest one will be available.) There is also a cross stitch sampler available at the same site. Check it out here: https://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2025/01/2025-sew-with-me-series-introduction-details.html

Here’s a choose-your-own-size quilt along at Sew Becca’s Quilt Along. There is a You Tube video that goes with each block which will be available the 2nd Saturday each month. Go to this page for the basic information about the quilt along. https://sewbecca.com/pieces-of-becca/announcing-2025-quiltalong . Each instruction sheet has a cutting chart for a 3”, 6”, 9”, and 12” blocks.  Here’s the link to the March pattern with a link to the pdf for the current pattern and links to the previous patterns: https://sewbecca.com/pieces-of-becca/2025qal-block3. What a great way to get so many sizes of basic blocks. 

Monday Meanderings 3 - 31 - 2025

Welcome Spring!  We've had a high of 80º one day this weekend and it's predicted for Monday als0.  Wow -- many degrees above normal. Hopefully, we are done with freezing nights! Despite the gorgeous weather I did spend quite a bit of time in the studio.  Here's my goals list from last week.

3/24/25

✔️Make 2 RSC yellow blocks — started not finished. 

✅Quilt one of my quilts  -- done and bound! 

✅Mail blocks to FCQ Equilter -- done! 

Cut out a new quilt — nothing done! 

I have 2 yellow blocks cut out with this one started on the sewing. That will be on the next goals list and maybe the April color too. 

Here's the quilt I decided to quilt next. I had a blue backing that was also used for the binding. 

This is the first of 3 framed 9 patches I've made from the group of blocks I received from the FCQ Equilters. It did get quilted and bound this week.  I'll share the finish at a later time.  This was the biggest of the three quilts...but still only a lap quilt. 

What I find ridiculous is I didn't remember to put binding last week's quilt on my goals list this week. So, yep, I did that one too. 

Sharon and I consult with each other when we aren't decisive about a project.  I wasn't sure about which fabric to use for the binding. I really wanted to use the purple -- I have tons of it.  But it really didn't look very good.  I liked this navy blue which Sharon agreed with but then suggested I use the navy piece as a flange look. I decided to Susie's Magic Binding  It took a bit longer but it does look good on the quilt. I used directions I found on  Aunt Marti's web site. I prefer reading directions rather than watching directions but I notice there is a link to a video in the first paragraph if you'd rather watch how this is done. 

Here are this week's goals. 

3/31/25

Start on April UFO 

Cut out a new quilt

Quilt a top 

Order more backing fabrics

Start another knit hat 

So, start on a new quilt . . . I need some help!  Here's the group of fabrics I want to use.  I think I might throw in another fabric - white, beige, grey?  

But I'm looking for ideas of what to make. The pink, purple, and green is a yard, the green is about 1/2 yard.  The lighter pink is leftover backing. Maybe a half yard or a bit over.  Any suggestions? I think the pink, purple, and green needs to be bigger pieces. I imagine I could get a wheelchair quilt from the fabrics I have or perhaps a child's quilt. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. And, maybe I should look at the blocks on board I have for my Accu Quilt die cutter.  

Here's a quilt I finished several months ago. In fact, when I was trying to figure out how much fabric was in it I realized I had already given it to the guild's charity group.  Luckily I had taken some pictures of it before I gave it away. 

This is 54.5 x 70.5". The quilting design is Quick and Easy Stars Edge 2 Edge by My Creative stitches .  The pattern is a variation of Wayne's Quilt in Smash Your Precut Stash. the book had 12" blocks but I made mine 8" blocks.  

Here's the stats for my sewing time this week. 

W/ending 3/23/25. 89 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/Mar = 30/30
• 15 minute days/2024 = 89/89 days
• Success rate = 100%

Yep another week of sewing every day. 

I'm linking with the following Linky parties: 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musing

Here are some pictures from spring in our area.  This is our cherry tree in the front yard in full bloom.  You can read about the stages of cherry blossom blooms at this web site. It looks like there are some buds still on this branch. It looks like Peduncle Elongation to me.  The news reports go into all the stages so you learn a lot about cherry blossoms watching the nightly news. I wish our trees were a little more pink but they sure say spring to me. 

We've got one more day of warm weather (maybe 80º) but rain is coming in. Hopefully we won't lose all the petals from the rain and possible wind. Soon it will look like snow on the ground from all of the petals that are blown off the tree. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie