Monday Meanderings -- June 29, 2026

I hope all of you are safe and healthy after all this bad weather that has been spreading across the US over the last few weeks. Local weather people keep saying we (the greater DC area) were going to get heavy rain.  We all need it. But, as usual the clouds seemed to split over our area and go north and south. We did get some heavy rain this week but it was no where near enough. I'm sharing our 9 day forecast via Apple's weather app on my iPhone. It'll change every day, or so it seems every week.  I'm just hoping the days with 100 as the high actually changes to lower temps before the days arrive. I'm not holding my breath on that happening though.  And this doesn't show the humidity going sky high also.  It's going to be humid too. My basement studio sounds really good this week. **The weather has changed overnight! We'll have 2days of 100+ temps, and rain only on Monday. I expect it will continue to change everyday. Sigh. At least 7/4 is "suppose" to be dry instead of rain! 

Here's what I accomplished this week. 

6/22/26 

✅Start quilting Fall Blocks (June ufo challenge project)— first part done. 

✅✅Finish two more Veronica blocks✔️✔️ and 4 additional ones cut out. 

✅Keep checking project boxes or zippered pouches to free them up for other projects — one emptied. 

✅Work on Snowman #2 — worked a couple of hours on this one. 

✅Knit a beanie — finished one and started another. 

✅Start table runner for retreat — cut out, some sewing done. 

The only pictures I got of worked-on projects were of the table runner I am making for retreat. We rent a house in northwest Virginia and I will be leaving it at the house for future renters. The pattern is Heart Strings designed by Tricia Lynn Maloney for Villa Rosa Designs.  It is a very versatile pattern. It is 16" x 60".  The table I'm making it for is 15" x 60" and it's been easy to make the change so it will fit.  There are 5 blocks like this in the runner.  It took me longer to cut out the fabrics than the time spent sewing.

Here's an upclose picture of the fabrics I chose.  All of these came from my stash. The blue with white will be the backing and binding.  I hope to finish it Tuesday. I'll be quilting it with stars of some sort. 

And this week I'll be working on these goals: 

6/29/26

Finish sewing table runner together

Quilt another section of June UFO project 

Work on Snowman #2 

Start clearing out “stuff” to prep for new carpet in bedrooms 

Sew more Veronica blocks

Make more string blocks 

Enjoy 4th Of July party in neighborhood

The only non-quilting item on the list is clearing things out of closets and dresser tops.  We have been doing some updating of our house. Before the new carpet comes in the master bedroom and bathroom will be painted.  Here's a pic of one of the new counter tops in the bathroom. We got rid of the previous counter tops -- builder's grade that was turning yellow.  We have two sinks/cabinets in our bathroom. So two new sinks and quartz countertops have been installed. Plus we also replaced the granite (that was pitted and rough) in the kitchen with a similar looking quartz.  

It is going to be interesting getting everything moved out of the guest room closet -- it's packed floor to ceiling.  Hopefully some of the stuff will be given away.  But I do need to start working on it now! 

I've changed my mind about making more new kits to worked on at retreat.  Currently I have 2 kits ready to go.  But I'll need a lot more projects. I've gone through some of my project bags and found several that I could work on at retreat. Here's a pic of the string blocks I've been working on. These blocks are finished and ready to sew together.  I have another group that are sewn but not trimmed. And I need to get 7 more made, preferably before retreat.  I've pulled several other project that are partially done to finish up at retreat. 

Another week with 100% of 15 minute stitching! Whoopee! 

Week ending 6/28/26:  179 days of 2026.

  179 stitching days out of 179 days. 100%

And, here is the last quilt Sharon quilted on Ruthie when she was here.  

The blocks were made by quilters from Faithful Circle Quilters who signed up for this swap. They all had a yardage of the same fabric that had to be used in each block. Sharon chose the setting with the stars and added the border. Here are a few close ups. 

 

I believe Sharon said these were done during covid.  I'm sorry I don't remember which block was hers.  Sharon chose Bright Lights edge to edge by My Creative Stitches. She chose a dark green So Fine thread from Superior threads. She reports that she's got the binding on it. I think she said it's all sewn down by hand. 

Remember to visit these Linky parties to see what quilters are working on all over the world. 

Stitching Time 

Oh Scrap

Quilting Patchwork Applique 

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings

Because I've enjoyed seeing pictures of flowers that several bloggers share I decided to include a coupe of our flowers. First, I will admit we aren't big gardeners.  But lilies are pretty easy to grow.  So I'm sharing a couple pics of ours.  I have learned I can cut them and bring them in the house. But, they don't usually last long, except Cala Lilies. We don't have any in the yard but I hope to add some this year. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Quilts for Kids

Last year I made one quilt from a Quilts for Kids kit.  See it here.  I haven't been reading a lot about these on the various blogs I visit so I decided to see if they are still offering kits.  Yep, they sure are and you can order yours from Quilts for Kids. From the home page go to How To Help, Request a Quilt Kit. I requested 2 and they came in a week or so.  I am getting so bored with my own fabrics so it is a real treat for me to make one of these kits.  I enjoy sewing with new fabric.  One of the things Quilts for Kids ask is for you to consider sending a quilt from your fabrics also.  So when I was upstairs taking my pictures I also grabbed 3 fabrics that I think I can make into a quilt to send back.  I'll have to see what I can use for borders and backing though.  





These are cute and will be so fun to make up.  And, then I'll make my cat fabric into another quilt.  I will probably wait to start on them next week.  (Stay focused, stay focused... remember the goals.)  


I spent a bit of time working with Ruthie today.  Argh.  I didn't have enough backing fabric provided so that I could leave my Red Snappers holding the bottom of the baby quilt. I wasn't sure what to do until I remembered reading that some times folks sew an extra piece of fabric on the bottom of the back.  I grabbed a 1/4 yard piece of yellow and sewed it on the purple.  Not to worry folks, the yellow will be taken off; it's just adding length temporarily.  I took the quilt off the frame, sewed the yellow onto the purple with my domestic sewing machine and snap the quilt back on Ruthie.  If I spent a 30 minutes doing it I would be surprised.  So I now have 3 blocks left to do.  I'll finish it up probably Thursday cause I'm going out with some friends tomorrow. 


We're looking forward to friends coming in Thursday so much of the day will be spent cleaning house.  And, the bathroom remodel is done. Well, not exactly.  The contractor is done. We had the wrong faucets so we've sent the others back and await the new ones.  The glass door for the shower is on order as is the mirror and the new lights.  This has not been the smoothest remodel.  Dust is every where from the new walls even though I've dusted and vacuumed.  The bathroom was cleaned by the contractor's people but I'll have to clean it at least once or twice to get more of the dust gone.  And, I really need to polish up the wood cabinets.  We were going to get new ones but decided the old would do fine with a new top and a good polishing.  I'll share pictures when it is really done.  


Now off to read Cream Puff Murder by Joanne Fluke.  I get a kick out of these mysteries.  (How can such a small town have all these murders?)  Plus Joanne always has recipes.  I've made some of them and have gotten rave reviews of them.  I'll have to check the list of her books to see if I've read all of them. 


Happy Quilting All! 

Finished Quilts 1 -- 2010

Here it is -- my first attempt to use Photoshop on my blog.  Or maybe the second.  These are the quilts and projects I finished in January through April, 2010.  Not all that many unfortunately. However I was traveling a lot in April 2010 so not much got finished then.    Although I have owned Photoshop for quite a while I haven't really used it all that much.  So, in trying to use this nifty mask, I found that I had to stretch the pictures to fit.  (Note to self, see if there are any directions for using the masks.... might help!) 

Now back to current happenings.  The rail fence baby quilt is a top.  Yippeee.  And, that is about it.  Well, I have been working on a scrap quilt but not much progress to brag about.  60 of the 100 16 patches are done. 16 of the 48 pinwheels are done.  Yawn! This has been a leader ender for a long time. 

I spent yesterday looking at cabinetry, faucets and towel bars.  We are redoing our bathroom and need to get some of this stuff on order.  We had planned to rip out the sink cabinet and replace it.  However the space is an odd size. The cabinet is in pretty good shape.  We are evaluating cleaning and polishing what is there rather than replacing.  And, we need some additional storage in the bathroom and were thinking of putting in another cabinet.  Our thinking is changing.  Maybe we should just buy a piece of furniture to serve the same purpose.  So, I was thinking of an antique dry sink.  Or, something else.  I guess I'll have to go searching the internet and funky shops.  (Hum, would Pat go for funky? -- possibly subdued funky...) 

Plans today or this week if I don't get going soon: 

       • sew a bunch of pinwheels together

       • finish the 2 feet left on the quilt on Ruthie

       • print directions for the quilt I'm making with snow fabrics 

       • make more 16 patches 

       • start cutting snow quilt

More than enough for a day or two.... 

Happy Quilting All!