Monday Meandering 12 - 5 - 2022

Wait, December?  OMG it's only a few weeks to, gasp! 2023!  That means it's time to drop my gazing at new quilt ideas and focus on what I want to finish this year. And, as typical in this household, we have rehearsals and a concert and additional singing opportunities bombarding us up until Dec. 18th.  With that said, I'm jumping right to last week's Goals list. 

11/28/22

✅Bind Economy quilt  — done.

✅Finish Clue 5 of Melodic Mystery — done and also December’s Clue 6.

✅Keep working on ornaments — I’m down to just 1.5 ornaments to finish.

✅Work on Halloween Quilt if time permits — Whoop! Whoop! The blocks are put together but…. 

✅Pull out Dec. APQ UFO Challenge piece  — It’s on the design wall and ready for me to proceed. 

Let me admit right now I am totally surprised how much I got done this past week. I had a couple of days where I was booked for other activities and did no sewing at all.  So, yeah me! for what I got done. 

Here's a few photos of what was worked on. 

November clue for Melodic Mystery -- 72 flying geese blocks. 

I actually got the Halloween quilt put together.  I'm not sure I'm done with this because I'd like to make it longer.  Still mulling over that idea but plan to let it rest for the rest of this year. Any ideas on what to add to the top and bottom to make it longer?  I'm thinking something in black. Share any ideas you might have. And, I really don't have much of the grey inner border left. I'm thinking of using it for a binding. 

There's a long history with some of these blocks.  In the '80s and early 90s I was active on Prodigy, one of the first commercial ventures offering Internet connections including graphics. I belonged to a quilting chat group where I participated in several swaps.  Most of the small blocks in the outside border were blocks I got in the swap. The eyes, legs, and the single ghost also came from that swap.  Why I liked the idea of small blocks is unknown to me now. The blocks were 4" finished blocks that I added a border to bring to the 6" finished size of the other blocks. I don't know the exact year of this swap but it was probably the first year or two of the 1990s.  They have really aged quite well. I'm quite happy that all of these blocks were able to work together to make this top.  But, should I make it bigger?  I can't see this as a baby quilt.  Can you? 

Last up is to look at the December UFO from the APQ UFO Challenge.  It is a smaller (less blocks) version of a Bonnie Hunter design, Talking Turkey.  (You can find the pattern in her book String Fling.) After reviewing the pattern I've decided I'm going to "try" to make the border as she shows it.  We'll see if it will actually work. (I'm hoping I have some dies I can use for the flying geese --- or just make the 4 at a time version that uses my Deb Tucker Wing Clipper. 

Thank goodness this is a scrappy quilt so I can use whatever scraps I currently have to finish it up. 

Let's get on to the goal list for this week.  Again, several days I'm already committed to other activities.  The only thing I really need to do is continue working on the grand's ornaments.  I can't wait to show you them around Christmas time. 

12/5/22

Keep Working on Ornaments

Quilt Natalie’s quilt

Make border for Dec APQ UFO Challenge piece. 

Make some single blocks

Prep wide backs for 3 quilts 

At Thanksgiving my daughter brought 2 quilts down for me to quilt, one for each of her daughters.  I'm really hoping I can get both done by Dec. 18th when we'll see them again.  I guess I'll be postponing quilting my quilts until after these are done. I sure hope I can use at least 1 of those wide backs this month! Prepping them is just washing and ironing if needed. 

I'm at the end of this post with the exception to the parties I'll be linking with. 

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday 

To Do Tuesday

Usually I try to write and post this blog Sunday night. Didn't happen... so rather than get any later, I'm ending this here.  

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Friday Finish! 6 - 4 - 2021

I'm tickled to admit I've finished another quilt.  It's small but it's done! 

Pattern: Bonnie Hunter's Chunky Churn Dash set with plain squares. 

Quilting Pattern: Elkweed by Apricot Moon.

Thread: 504 Silver Screen So Fine. 

Size: 42.5" X 48.5".

Here's a close up showing a bit of the backing and the quilting pattern.  If you are familiar with Apricot Moon's Ginger designs this is very similar.  Yes, I picked that yellow green for the binding.  Basically, I didn't have any fabric that would have looked any better and there is some yellow green in the quilt. 

It was hard to get a good picture of this quilt.  A big rainstorm was coming within minutes and the wind was blowing. My trusty quilt holder did a great job. 

I've got one more quilt finished to share -- probably next week.  Then I have to get busy quilting some more of my tops. 

I'm linking up with my regular Friday parties.  Come take a look and see what folks have been working on. MidWeek Makers, Needle and Thread Thursday, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop, Beauties Pageant, and Finished or Not Friday.  Have fun surfing! 

Have you made a Positivity Block from SewPreetiQuilts.com? Click on the link to go directly to the directions.  Preeti has also shown a whole lot of quilt layouts for this block.  I need to get going and make some more.  It's a really easy but great block.  Give it a try! 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

  

Monday Meanderings 3 - 23 - 2020

Have you been keeping up with all the info about making face masks for medical staff? I saved a couple of sites that gave directions.  And, I made one to see what it was like.  I downloaded the directions and pattern for the Fu Face Mask. This is a free pattern site for all sorts of patterns. The Fu Face Mask is designed to tie on and uses 2 pieces of fabric for the mask.  From the research I've done no home made masks made with woven cotton fabric will protect COMPLETELY from viruses.  However, it can be useful in some situations.  Apparently it is above 50% effective.  So, if the alternative choice is no mask, this is a reasonable alternative.  I have an email into my local hospital to see if they need any cloth masks and if so what type they would prefer.  


My bear is around 15" or so.  I made the large mask which is big even on me.  

I rewrote the instructions so I didn't have to print pages and pages of instructions. Please go to the above link if you would like instructions and the pattern. 

Until I know whether there is a need in my community I am not planning on making these.  I'll keep you posted.  

So in other news, Pat and I took a drive Saturday.  One of the enjoyable parts of the drive was to see the cherry blossom trees in full bloom near our house. Unfortunately the weather was lousy.

I have started working on my Talking Turkey wall quilt.  Years ago I took a class with Bonnie Hunter.  I decided I would only do a 9 block wallhanging.  When they were done I put them together.  I let the blocks age for several years until last week when I decided it was time to put the border on and get the top finished. 

Without sashing.

I was texting my in house retreat buddies about working on this quilt and that I needed to decide on the border.  Sharon posted a picture of her finished quilt. (same size as mine, basically.)  Um, they didn't look the same at all.

I pulled out the book and realized there is sashing between the blocks that really adds to the design. Can you say let 'er rip?

With sashing.

Here it is in the process of sashing. 

Don't those little 9 patches look great?  All the blocks are sewn  together.  But the rows are not sewn yet.  I still need to add one more row around the outside edge to finish off the 9 patches.  I like the look with the 9 patches.  That's tomorrow's plan.  Unfortunately, it may get too big to hang above our fireplace.  It would really look good up there so I'm going to try to make it work.  I'll keep you posted! 

Last week I mentioned I would be doing a UFO give away.  Sorry to admit, but I've changed my mind.  I am trying to stay home and not interact with anyone/anything that could put me at risk.  Well, duh, how would I get something sent if I can't weigh it and buy stamps.  So, when this pandemic calms down I'll reconsider offering a UFO give away.  

I had 3 items as goals last week.  Obviously I've made great progress on Talking Turkey.  So it will stay on the list.  Hopefully I'll get it done early in the week so I can then do the next few. 

1. Talking Turkey to top stage.

2. Pull out a charity quilt top from the Virginia Star Quilters and quilt it. I did actually pull this from the closet but that's all I did. It is staying on the list. 

3. Start trimming and sewing into a top the star blocks from my last FCQE Quilters turn. Again, not much progress so it's staying on the list. 

That's it for today.  I'm linking up with Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, and Main Crush Monday.  Take some time to see what folks have been working on. 

Stay safe and quilt on! 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meandering 2 - 26 - 2018

What a week!  I try to post a blog at least twice a week but that sure didn't happen last week.  It was a wonderful week but I'm ready for a slower pace this week!

First up was Bonnie Hunter's Jamestown Landing class.  I had a lot of the units ready to go so I was ahead of the game.  I was making string blocks in the morning with everyone else.  I had less than half of them done so it made sense to me to work on them.  

My featherweight in the midsts of sewing.  For once my area stayed fairly organized and neat. Well kind of neat

In the afternoon while Bonnie was teaching how to make the half triangle squares I sewed some together and made the broken dishes unit.  Since I am a stickler about ironing I really only got one block together.  However I did continue to make the units.  

Here are some of the finished blocks.  Mine is the light turquoise in the middle.  It amazed me how it really went well with the other colors. 

I got a kick out of these quilty looking shoes.  Sorry it isn't a great photo but I thought they were fun. 

Wednesday evening I went to Bonnie's trunk show.  I know I've seen many of the quilts in books or online but there is just something about seeing them in person. I'll try to remember to share a picture or two in upcoming blogs. 

I was able to sew on these blocks several times this week but not enough to make all that much progress.  I laughed at the one block I made on Thursday.  It was wrong by one turn of one piece.  Sigh. I've put this away for a few days so I can get some other things finished. 

Friday Mary and I went to the Mid-Atlantic Quilt show down in Hampton, Virginia.  We go for the day and enjoy the quilts and the vendors.  I had quite a shopping list and was ready to spend some money if I could find what I wanted.  In the end I was disappointed.  One thing I like to do is get my long arm thread at the Superior booth.  Turns out this year they had really cut back on the colors of So Fine thread they carried.  I had 6 cones I was interested in and they only had 2 of them.  The discount applied to 3 so I didn't get any of them.  Now, I'll have to find another source, hopefully one whose price is lower than Superior's online list price with reasonable shipping costs. 

I did buy a roll of Pellon batting that I've already cut off a hunk to use.  I like Pellon's bats, especially the ones with some poly in with the cotton.  I was able to buy a roll of 80/20 cotton/poly.  Getting it to Mary's car wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be!  

Saturday was a fast trip to Maryland to see Natalie play basketball.  She can't shoot but boy does that girl have hustle!  She's in a kindergarten league. It was a lot of fun to  watch the girls try to play basketball. Amazingly some of them can actually shoot baskets.  Natalie, not yet.  But with her hustle she'll probably be able to eventually. 

Sunday we stayed home.  Phew, I needed a day of rest.  Except I didn't.  I loaded up the backing for the Plus quilt and started quilting it.  I finished 3 rows (or was it 4?) and finally quit as I was tired. Here's a sneak peek.

This quilt, finished, is my One Monthly Goal.  I am really trying to get it finished by the end of the month.  And I am hoping the Alphabet Challenge quilt is completely done too.  Hopefully I will succeed! 

Usually I post my weekly goals on Monday.  I think I'll move them to a different day of the week.  Hum, now which day makes the most sense?  I'm still thinking about that so for now, my goals aren't going to be posted.  Just know that I am still working on them, diligently! 

That's it for me now. With any luck I will remember to share my purchases from the last week. I'm looking forward to spending a bit of time cruising on the Internet this week since I didn't do much of that last week!  I'm linking up with my regular Monday linky parties: Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Moving It Forward, and Main Crush Monday. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 2 - 19 - 2018

Progress is being made on the Alphabet Challenge quilt.  I've got one more "word" to stitch on the top border and then it is on to the bottom border.  

Once the top and bottom borders are done I can bind it and call it done!  Hopefully by the end of this month.  

Big thanks go out to our granddaughter, Natalie, for buying us flowers yesterday.  We had a quick lunch with them and then off to watch her big sister's basketball game.  Then we zipped home (note -- you NEVER can zip home traveling on I 95.  It was a mess for part of the way.) Then we met my best friend from high school for dinner.  We've been in touch infrequently but whenever we get together we have a great time.  They live about an hour north west of us.  It was so much fun to catch up and remember previous times together.  

You might notice I'm not sharing much on the quilting front.  Yes, I've been working away but lots of what I've been working on are half square triangles and string blocks.  You've heard about them -- a lot. You've seen them -- a lot.  I'm closing in on the 840 (or was it 860?) I need to make.  I think I just need to make another 150 or so.  I still need 100 of the string blocks. Not my favorite but I am plugging away on it.  And, surprise!  Tomorrow is the class.  Hopefully I will take some pictures to share from it and the Bonnie Hunter lecture the next night.

And, then there is the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival on Friday.  I've got 2 and a half months of pent up shopping to do.  I've got a list. I'm motivated -- we'll see if I go wild or not.  What 2 and a half months you ask? I haven't bought any fabric since November -- right after Thanksgiving.  Yea, I've got pent up shopping motivation!  

My goals got mostly done this past week.  And my list is pretty selective this week since so much else is going on. 

February 12, 2018

Sew more triangles and string blocks for class√

Sew plus quilt together√

Send Valentine’s cards to the grands√

Keep sewing on the Alphabet Challenge√

Work on Taps quilt

February 19, 2018

Prep for and attend Bonnie Hunter’s Jamestown Landing class (Whoop! Whoop!)

Attend Bonnie’s lecture

Attend Mid-Atlantic Quilt Show

Finish hand sewing on Alphabet Challenge

Put borders on Taps Quilt

Make 2 pillowcases

I'm linking up with my regular parties today: Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Moving it Forward and Main Crush Monday. I'll be sneaking time this week to see what's up with quilters around the Internet.  I'm really hoping I don't find some wonderful quilt I just have to make. I've got enough going and UFOs for now! 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Half Triangle Squares Progress

Progress is being made!  

I've actually got 480 of the 840 half triangle square I need for Bonnie Hunter's Jamestown Landing class. I will probably make two pillow shams using  some of the same units. I'll probably need an extra 64 square units or more. (EEK!)  

The good news is the Accuquilt multiple triangle die is working great.  Cutting takes hardly any time (or so it seems.)  I'm sewing the units as leader enders and often sew 5 or 6 in a row.  

The goal is to have all of the necessary triangle square units done by the class on 2/20.  And, all of 168 of the white string quilt blocks done.  Even if I don't have them all done I will have a substantial amount of both of these units finished by then.  

I am using 2 plastic "scones boxes" for triangle squares storage.  My local Wegmans grocery sells some really good lemon scones in plastic boxes.  And as a bonus the boxes work great to store these units especially since you can see what's in them.  I'm using cherry tomato plastic boxes for the 4.5" string blocks.  Eventually, the boxes can be tossed in the recycling can.  I love when I can use things again before I recycle them. Do you use some non "quilt" things in your studio? 

Have you ever seen a sign like this?  I saw one at BJ's Restaurant and Brewhouse last week or so.  Pat and I really like their food.  Unfortunately, I hate beer so I don't enjoy the brews but, ahhhh, the food is good.  I think the sign is fairly new.  What a great way to assist our combat wounded veterans.  

I'm ready to get back to the sewing machine (you know those triangle units are calling my name.)  I'm linking up with the following linky parties: Needle and Thread Tursday, Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?, Finished or Not Friday, and Thank Goodness It's Finished Friday. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings January 22, 2018

I've finally recovered from my fun weekend with my sewing buddies.  We spent a lot of time hanging out in the studio and sewing.  This week, I spent a lot of time down there but I don't have a lot to show for it.  So instead I'm sharing bits and pieces of progress.  I've signed up to take Jamestown Landing with Bonnie Hunter in February.   I'm not sure why I signed up except she's a great gal to be around, I like her quilts and it will be good to get to know some of the gals in my new guild better.  (If you live near Fredericksburg and you want to attend check out Virginia Star Quilters.) 

But, do I really need another big quilt?  Well of course I do. We bought white bedroom furniture when we moved this last time. (Honestly, 40+ years with our original furniture -- we'd gotten enough value out of it!) I have several queenside quilts but nothing looks perfect with it.  So, Jamestown Landing got another reason to participate.  

Jamestown Landing is in String Fling by Bonnie Hunter.  I've looked at it many times but wasn't moved to make any big quilts.  But with this event I thought, why not. I already have the book.  I could make a dent in my fabrics (or so I think!)

But here is one of the BIG drawbacks. 

Yep, 840 half triangle squares.  Unless I decide to make it bigger....  Last time I took a class with Bonnie Hunter one of the gals had already started the quilt.  Hum, we wouldn't be getting a top done in a day with 840 of anything. So I decided to borrow from that gal's bag of tricks.  I've been making triangles for a month or so.  I even opted to buy the multiple Accuquilt die for the triangles.  I can cut 72 triangles at one time.   Here's where I am at with that. 

Yes!  I've already got 220 finished.  Here's how I keep track:  When I've made 10 units I then do a big basting stitch to keep them together.  Right now I'm storing these in a plastic box that scones came in.  At some point I'll probably have to find another box. I'm betting it will take several of them to keep the final amount together. 

I'm also making some string blocks.  I think this is a cherry tomato box.  It fits the strings perfectly.  I'm trying to keep my strings mostly whites with a few creamy colors thrown in.  I do like a crisp white and turquoise quilt.  I need to count and stitch these in groups of 10 too.  

I feel comfortable doing both of these blocks since I've taken a Bonnie class that used these two blocks.  I am looking forward to seeing her new rulers. 

My sewing time has been spent trying to get the quilts on my goals done (or at least more progress made.)  Check out how well I did on last week's goal.  The one thing I really didn't make enough progress on is the sweater.  It's almost done.  I bet if I just gave 3 hours of uninterrupted time to it I'd be wearing it.

I still need to sew the sleeve seams, knit the top band and bury all the loose yarn joins. I guess I'll make the commitment to actually spend the time this week.  I love the color of it and I like cardigans.  It's time to finish this one up! Do you knit sweaters? 

Here's my goal list from last week.  I really did move a lot of different projects ahead. 

January 15, 2018

Bind balloon quilt√

Sew together Alphabet Challenge quilt√ need borders

Put borders on 2017 Rainbow Challenge top #1√

Keep working on sweater (a UFO since the 1980s!)√

Keep working on half triangle squares√

And here's what's up for this week. 

January 22, 2018

Get borders on Alphabet Challenge

Make backing for Alphabet Challenge quilt

Finish up sweater

Make more half triangle squares and string blocks

Take small border off charity quilt

Cut out Taps quilt

That's it for me now.  Please take a look at the linky parties for Monday that I link up with: Oh Scrap, Monday Makings, Moving It Forward Monday, and Main Crush Monday. I'm off to do some surfing. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie