Monday Meanderings 3 - 10 - 2025

Why has this week zipped by so fast? It didn't seem like I got a lot done especially since I was reading too. It never fails if one reserved book or audio book becomes available, 3 are available. I've got more to read and listen to this week. However, I did much better on my goals this week. Here's what it looks like now.

3/3/25

✅Bind the R,W,B quilt — All done! 

✅Quilt another top — Baby String Bean top quilted. 

✅Make blocks for FCQ EQuilter of the month — 4 done, 1 left. 

Cut a new kit out — didn’t happen. 

✅Work on the March UFO challenge — Started playing with layouts.

Pictures of the R, W, B quilt will be taken and shared later. (Ok, it'll probably be several weeks from now, knowing me.) But here is the Baby String Bean top during quilting. It still needs its binding. I have to figure out what color binding to use. I'm pretty sure all of the fabrics I used were just leftover strips except the block centers and there is hardly any left of it. (Good news, I'm using up fabric but...) 

I've been making Nightfall blocks (from a video on Missouri Star Quilt's video) for the FCQ Equilter. Here are the first two that I made. 

I chose not to make my original half square triangles by stitching on the outside edges of the square as the video instructions suggested.  The finished size HSTs needed were 6.5" unfinished. Guess what size HST Accuquilt die I have? Yep, I started with HSTs cut with my die. And then I finished the rest of the directions for the Nightfall block. You can check out the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhTooAVmjZE&t=11s. There are several other ways to arrange the units also. 

My last effort on my goals was to start working on the March UFO Challenge. The number 8 was drawn and for me that was to turn the half log cabin blocks into a quilt.  To that end I used a few of the blocks to try out various layouts. Here are two of them. 

Pinwheel half log cabins. 

Circle half log cabins.

There are a couple of other ways to set these blocks.  Playing with the few here I realize the lights don't always read as lights. I do know that I sewed them all differently than what the pattern called for which means at least one of the setting won't work.  It's not a problem for all settings so it will be fine. So far, I prefer the circle half log cabin layout.  I'll be laying out all the blocks over the next few weeks. Hopefully they will become a top before the end of the month. 

Here's what I plan to work on this coming week. 

3/10/25

Quilt another of my quilts

Quilt guild top and trim

Continue working on March UFO

Bind baby quilt

Finished last FCQ Equilter blocks and get them in the mail

I've continued my success with 15 minutes of stitching. 

W/ending 3/9/25. 68 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/Mar = 7/7
• 15 minute days/2024 = 68/68 days
• Success rate = 100%

And, honestly I've gotten quite a bit of knitting done.  I should have another hat finished by tomorrow.  And then I'll go back to working on the socks. Tuesday I hope to go to the workshop for From the Heart Stitchers. It's where we turn in our finished projects and we can pick up some supplies to continue to make things.  Generally my friend Fran goes to deliver and pick up items. This time I'm hoping to go with her.  My goal is to get some more white yarn and maybe something in lemon yellow.  (Ok, I don't really need the yellow but I thought it would be a nice color change!) 

Here are two more quilts from the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show.

I'm linking up with the following parties: 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings

 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 3 - 3 - 2025

Last week I attended the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show.  I didn't have a lot of time because Pat, Sunny, and I were going to the beach house after the show.  (We did the same thing last year but no Sunny yet.)They spent time walking around the parking lot and sitting in the car.  I spent about an hour and a half at the show and saw a surprising number of the quilts and did just a little shopping. Okay, also one big shopping. I've been buying rolls of Pellon 80/20 batting from I Sew Desire Quilts.  This year was my third purchase. I now have a roll 90" by 30 yards.  It's 50% bigger than my former rolls. My first roll took two years to use up. The second roll is almost finished after a year.  Hopefully this bigger, third roll will last a year to two years. Except I am trying to turn more tops into quilts so ... who knows how long it will last. 

Afterwards we drove to Nags Head, NC to do a little work on our rental house. Some locks were changed, some baseboards were washed, some screens replaced and some spots painted.  A little shopping took place.  And Sunny went on a walk on the beach with us.  It was a beautiful day although not really warm. 

The above explains why I didn't do very well on my goals this week. Sigh. Here's what I was suppose to work on. (Remember I only had 3 1/2 days at home!) 

2/24/25

✅Finish knitting current sock and start its partner — Done. 2nd one barely started

Bind the R,W,B quilt

✅Go to MidAtlantic Quilt Show — Enjoyed the time I had! 

Make blocks for FCQ EQuilter of the month 

Here's the sock and the beginning of its mate. 

See my original sock I finished last March. ⬇️ Yep, it looked ridiculous.  I ripped it out and started over. Hopefully it won't take too long to finish the 2nd sock.  It's been so cold here this winter I've been wearing my hand knitted wool socks a lot. 

Here's what I hope to get done this week. I probably should think up a few more items but I haven't a clue at this point so I may add some off list project(s).

3/3/25

Bind the R,W,B quilt

Quilt another top 

Make blocks for FCQ EQuilter of the month

Cut a new kit out

Work on the March UFO challenge 

With JoAnn going out of business I've decided to try another source for backing fabrics. I recently purchased a bolt (15 yards) of fabric from Marshall Dry Goods. I chose a basic purple because I have several tops that this will work for backing and possibly the binding. I originally planned just to buy several lengths of fabric for some different colored tops. I was having a hard time making up my mind and thought I'd try a bolt. Bolt prices are less than by the yard fabs but no free shipping option for buying a lot.  As it turns out by the bolt plus shipping is cheaper than the fabric purchased by the yard. 

I plan to cut a couple of backing lengths from the bolt and then prewash it.  I'm pretty sure that one of the tops that the purple will work with will be my next top loaded on Ruthie. Check in next week! 

I took some picts of some of the quilts hanging at Mid-Atlantic.  I'll share a couple of them this week and if I remember, more will be shared over the next few weeks. First up is Lady Bug.  I specifically shot this quilt for my daughter-in-love. She loves bugs and was thrilled when I shared it with her.  Enlarge the picture to read all the interesting facts. Unfortunately, I was so excited to get the picture I forgot to photograph the maker's statement. Enjoy Lady Bugs and all the facts shared. Aimee said she nailed all the facts. 

Next is Midnight Compass by Laurie Mutalipassi.  Here's her card telling about her quilt. 

And her wonderful quilt. 

Look for more quilts in the upcoming weeks. 

I was able to keep up my 15 minutes of stitching every day.  I am lucky to be able to knit in the car so driving home I was able to start an easy hat. Here are the stats.

W/ending 3/2/25. 61 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/Feb = 28/28
• 15 minute days/Mar = 2/2
• 15 minute days/2024 = 61/61 days
• Success rate = 100%

I'm linking with these parties. Come join the fun by checking them out. 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings 

Happy quilting All! Bonnie 

 

February 2025 - Mysteries and Sew Alongs

I have been totally delinquent posting the February Mysteries and Quilt Alongs.   Check these out to see if you want to join in. 

Pat Sloan started Grandma’s Kitchen on January 2 but it isn’t too late to join in. Find more information at https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/2025grandmas-kitchen-projectpage.html. This is a 25 week quilt along. Every Wednesday Pat releases a block pattern. 

Shelley Cavanna is offering Meadow Sweet Mystery. It started 1/17/25 with weekly emailed instructions.  Directions will also be posted on her website and announced in a You Tube video.  Details to sign up: https://www.corasquilts.com/quilt-alongs/meadowsweet 

Material Girlfriends is offering a free quilting pattern every month on the 15 of each month. It will be free until the end of the month. (January’s will be available free all year.) Check out Material Girlfriends page: https://materialgirlfriends.com/2025-sew-along/ for all the info including what type of pattern will be available each month.  Here's the direct link to the February quilt. https://materialgirlfriends.com/im-in-a-mood/

Instead of Sew Along or Mystery — How about a quilter’s challenge.  Find out about this at 2025 Nancy’s Notions New Year Sewing Challenge.  Here’s the link to the three challenges you can choose from: https://nancysnotions.com/a-new-years-sewing-challenge/ Thanks to Karen Kaiser for sharing this link with me. 

Are you looking for some fun heart sewing ideas? Check out this web site for a lot of hearty sewing ideas. https://sewcanshe.com/30-adorable-valentine-sewing-patterns-melt-their-hearts/ For some reason this is not linking to the URL. Please copy and paste it to your browser. 

Hope you find some fun projects to do! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 2 - 24 - 2024

 

Here's last week's snowy walk -- Sunny and Pat.  It was such a fine snow that even after all day there wasn't much.  For the most part it was easy to sweep away.  On the other hand it was really cold for most of the week.  But this week there's a warm up coming.  I'm hoping it actually does warm up -- it might be in the 60s this week.  Hope springs eternal! 

Now on to the goals from last week.  Not my best week but I did make progress on several projects. And, one off list project. 

2/17/25

Make blocks for FCQ EQuilter of the month — Not started. 

✅Quilt rwb top — Done! 

✅Bind flannel quilt — Finished! 

✅Sew border on ’22 McConnell mystery top — still need the top and bottom borders

Quilt another top? — Nothing done. 

Unfortunately I didn't take a lot of pictures this week.  But here is the '22 BOM mystery quilt by Sherri McConnell. I worked on this at the end of the weekend and ran out of time to add the top and bottom borders.  

After a lot of thinking on what to use as a border and how big it would be I decided to use the same fabric and size as the sashing.  I'll get the top and bottom borders on this week and then it will be stashed in the to-be-quilted closet. 

Moving right along - here's this week's goals list. I decided to trim it back since I haven't been able to get all of the goals done recently. 

2/24/25

Finish knitting current sock and start its partner

Bind the R,W,B quilt

Go to Mid Atlantic Quilt Show

Make blocks for FCQ EQuilter of the month 

Here's what else I worked on this week even though they weren't on my goals list. 

First I finished the last 2 potato chip blocks and sewed them together. Except, I didn't think to get a picture of it. It's in the same closet! 

I'm still knitting hats with left over yarns to give to charities. The blue-green was just a little ball of leftover yarn.  When the hat was done I had a ball about the size of a walnut.  My friend made the cute pompom on top. She started with the leftover blue-green and added the white.  We thought it was funny the way the blue green was only on the bottom of the pompom.  Someone will enjoy the hat especially when it is so cold outside. 

My next off list activity was cleaning off the shelf on my long arm.  While Ruthie was stitching away on the R,W,B quilt I spent time cleaning up this mess. 

I folded and put away fabrics. I cut up some scraps and put them with same sizes -- things like 2", 2.5" squares and 2.5" strips -- you get the idea. Then there were a bunch of orphan blocks.  Surprisingly, those got stashed in the box called -- Orphan Blocks! Some papers were tossed and a few were added to a bulletin board.  When all was done it looked like this: 

Now, if I could just be as diligent with the front of the cutting table.  I keep trying but I haven't made a long lasting dent.  Maybe during the next big quilt Ruthie works on I can get the front end of the cutting table cleared off.  Don't hold your breath! 

I've maintained my 15 minutes to stitch all week. Here's the details:

W/ending 2/24/25. 55 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/Feb = 23/23
• 15 minute days/2024 = 55/55 days
• Success rate = 100%

I'm linking up with the following parties. Please take a look at them to find links to bloggers across the world. 

15 Minutes to Stitch

Oh Scrap!

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musing 

I'm looking forward to going to the Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival.  Hopefully I can take some pictures to share. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 2 - 17 - 2025

It seems like last week I was talking about a snow storm coming our way.  We got 4" of wet snow.  Guess what? There's another one coming in this week.  Late last week the European Model suggested we could get 16 - 20" of snow. EEK!  Luckily, the forecasters are now predicting the storm will move further south and are suggesting 2" or less.  I'll let you know what we actually get.  We've already had more snow this year than in the last decade. On the other hand I have been staying in and playing in the studio.  But you won't believe that when you see my goals list. 

2/10/25

Bind baby Quilt — chose binding, still need to cut and sew it on. 

Quilt another top — loaded but not stitched.

Finish '22 McConnell mystery top — still needs the border. 

✅Make 2 napkins and a placemat — all 3 done. 

✅Make more Potato Chip blocks — only need two more to make top.  

Find a backing or two for some tops I have ready to quilt — didn’t  look. 

Here are a couple of pictures of the napkins I made.  After our youngest graduated high school we took a family trip to Switzerland and Austria.  It was a great trip and I was able to buy a nice hunk of fabric in Austria. Because this HS graduate is now much older (um, he's 42!) you have a good idea how old the fabric is. But here's the first finished napkin and the backing fabric. (No, I didn't quilt these napkins.) 

        

I also used another orphan block to make a placemat. No, these items do not go together. We're keeping the napkins to use every day. The placemat will be given to the charity committee at my local quilt guild. 

Hum, I thought the binding (which I pulled around from the backing) looked better in person. This was put on my white flannel design wall for the pic. The flannel looks pink to me... weird coloring might explain my questioning the binding. 

Here's a pic of the red, white, and blue quilt that has been loaded on Ruthie, the long arm. I was going to do a few rows after I loaded it but something wasn't working correctly so I just turned everything off for the night. It should start up just fine the next time I start it. 

I didn't take any pictures of the finished potato chip blocks.  So, let's get to the goals list for this week. 

2/17/25

Make blocks for FCQ EQuilter of the month

Quilt rwb top

Bind flannel quilt

Sew border on ’22 McConnell mystery top

Quilt another top? 

I also had a FaceTime sewing session with my friend Sharon so that we could make the next block for the Cali-Co BOM Mystery.  Sorry no picture to share. I've been really happy with my fabric choices so far. Although I will admit to using a whole lot of premade HSTs.  I'm looking forward to the next block.

For a couple of weeks I've been trying to figure out what color backing fabrics I need for a couple more tops.  I finally decided to update my Tops to Be Quilted list. Here's what the first page looks like. I laughed at myself when I read my title: Updated 2/9/245. Say what? I need to go on the computer and fix that. 

FYI, this is only page one. I have 10 more listed on the back side. So, do the math, I have 27 quilts waiting to be quilted.  No wonder I am trying to quilt at least one every week these days. Some of these are fairly small and I plan to quilt them on my domestic machine. I've put several on my UFO challenge list and I need to make sure I have backings for all of the ones on that list. 

And, in non-quilting activities I made a cherry pie for Valentine's Day.  I use a recipe from an old Betty Crocker Cook Book.  But when I tried to buy canned cherries in water I was unable to find them at two of our local stores. I finally bought a bag of frozen pitted cherries. Here is a picture before it was baked.  It's been really tasty. Darn, we only have one piece left. 

I got distracted Sunday night when I usually write my blog so it didn't get done. On  Monday I don't have much time until late afternoon. Long way to say I'm really late posting this blog.  Don't forget to take a look at some of these Linky parties so you can see what quilters are doing across the globe. 

Oh Scrap

Stitching Stuff

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings 

Hope you are staying warm and doing a lot of stitching this week. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie