Monday Meanderings 8 - 23 - 2021

I've taken two weeks off -- although I did get a post up yesterday about finishing my Positivity quilt.   I didn't have anything to post for the last two Fridays.  Last week my granddaughter was visiting Sunday through Wednesday evening.  We had so much fun together although I was exhausted each night.  I had her doing a little sewing on my Featherweight, we made some bead bracelets, we played dolls together, went swimming and looked at all the boxes marked "dolls" in my closet.  

I have way too many dolls!  The last box we went through had another box in it marked "Grandma Ruth's dolls."  That would be Ellie's great, great grandmother.  When we opened the box -- ugh -- there were heads rolling. There was a wig, probably made with human hair. There were some bald dolls.  I picked up one and the arms fell off.  Neither of us were very excited about that box!  I will have to figure out if it makes sense to repair any of the dolls. My grandmother loved dolls and made me lots of doll clothes for various dolls she gave me.  It was fun to visit them.  

Dolls from left to right: My Friend Jenny (my daughter Jenny's doll), Rose (Ellie's American Girl doll), and Kit (my AG doll that I won in the late 90s or early 2000s.) Ellie has a great imagination and made up stories about what the dolls were doing.  

Needless to say I got little quilting done last week.  But I did get a dress made for Ellie.  She picked the pattern and the fabric. (Hey, I was excited she picked fabric from my stash for her dress!) I have been very good not buying fabric this month although I would have for Ellie.💙 I should have a good amount of fabric used by the end of the month.

Here's how I did on my goals from 2 weeks ago.  (I may have completed some during the last 2 weeks.) 

8/16/21

Finish knit baby blanket - close but not quite done.

✅Make more Ombre Log Cabin blocks

✅Have fun with Ellie 

Finish quilt on long arm — ugh.  Long Arm problems still 1 more row to do.

8/23/21

Finish Blue basket 

Begin aqua table runner 

Work on Ombre blocks 

Finish knitting baby blanket 

Mail Verdant Serenity to Ca. 

Hopefully I'll finish a couple of projects on my list this week.  And, wow, there isn't much time left in August and I haven't even started this month's table runner. (I think I've picked out the block though!) Where has this month gone? 

I'm linking up with most of my regular linky parties: Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, and To Do Tuesday.  Spend some time surfing to see what everyone is working on.  

Do you know of some upcoming Quilt Alongs or Mystery Quilts?  I've been trying to pass along some web sites for QAL and Mysteries to my guild.  If you know of some starting in Sept or Oct please share the info.  Here are a few I know of: 

All the Trimmings  Mystery Quilt and Stitch Along at the the Fat Quarter Shop starts on September 7.  Link to beginning of All the Trimmings.

Starting later in September is the Snowman Sew Along by Jacquelynne Steves. 

Well bummer -- this one doesn't start until October but sign ups are already full.  It is a Murder Mystery Quilt -- sew the quilt to solve the crime.  I believe there is a cost for this one but it does sound fun.  If this sounds like something you might be interested in you can sign up for the 2022 one beginning on Halloween, 2021. 

As I said above -- if you know of others please share!  Thanks. 

Happy Quilting All.  Bonnie  

Monday Meanderings 12 - 24 - 2018

Wow!  It's almost over.  The month, the year, and Christmas.  We are planning a low key Christmas for just the two of us but will be enjoying lots of family at Kevin and Aimee's house tomorrow afternoon.  Should be fun. 

This week flew by, just as I suspected it would.  We started out with Ellie spending the night and then going to get a bear from Build-A-Bear.  It amazes me how easy it is to put together a bear there.  I especially think they did stuffing and tying off the opening really well. Ellie enjoyed getting a bear with lots of lights and sparkles. 

There was a wonderful Christmas display at the mall and I was able to snap a great pic of her with a reindeer.  She still likes to pose for the camera. 

On Saturday Aimee, Mimi and Grammy (me) took Ellie on an excellent adventure.  Her Christmas present from the grandmas was an American Girl doll.  So we braved the big mall in northern Virginia to go to the American Girl store.  Ellie was pretty surprised and the two grandmas got teary eyed.  But she eventually picked out a doll that is called something like looks like me.  Except Ellie wanted a blond doll with no freckles.  So that is what she got.  We had lunch with our dolls and people. Heck, I brought my Kit doll that I won (with lots of clothes and quilts) from a quilt guild in Maryland quite a few years ago.  Just like the last time lunch was ridiculously slow.  I had salmon and it was great -- much better than the pizza I had last time I went. 

Surprisingly parking and driving to and from wasn't as bad as I expected. (and I wasn't driving so of course it wasn't bad for me!)  Until Pat and I decided to go home. (The guys stayed at Kevin's house.)  The 40 minute drive was listed as over 3 hours if we took I 95.  Instead we took back country roads and got home about 2 hours later but it was a pleasant trip and we were always moving.  Luckily we got home just as it started to get dark. 

I didn't get much studio time this past week.  But I did drag out log cabin blocks -- a UFO.  I'd like to make twin size quilts for two beds.  But it will take a million blocks -- or so it seems to me.  Most of my time was taken up with getting presents finished and wrapped.  My best accomplishment was getting my Jamestown Landing quilt loaded on Ruthie. I didn't get any quilting done until today.  I'm using Melody designed by Sarah Ann Myers.  I really hope to have all the quilting done this week.  And, if luck is on my side, I'll get the binding started.  Cross my fingers -- maybe I'll get the binding on the quilt and have a great finish for the end of the year! 

Here's what got done last week: 

December 17, 2018

Finish up the Angel ornaments (again! Sigh.)√ 

Work on Counted Cross Stitch ornament √

Wrap Christmas presents√

Load Jamestown Landing√ and start quilting no quilting done by Sunday pm

Buy the last of the Christmas Presents√ 

Enjoy Ellie’s sleepover√

And here's what I hope to do this week: 

December 24, 2018

Finish Theo’s ornament 

Quilt my Jamestown Landing 

Watch a few grands if needed

Work on black and white log cabin (UFO)

Make binding for Jamestown Landing 

I'm calling it quits now.  I have a few stray gifts to wrap and a little more to be done to Theo's cross stitched ornament.  

I'm linking up with Monday Making and Oh Scrap. Several of my go-to Monday linky parties aren't partying this week.  When you have a quiet moment surf the internet to get yourself revved up again for lots of quilty excitement in 2019. 

Happy Quilting! Bonnie 

Monday Meandering 9 - 24 - 2018

Boy did that week past quickly.  The highlight of my week was the Wacky Family Portrait class with Lisa Ellis.  Lisa is a great teacher and was so helpful to all of us. I chose to do pictures of all 4 of my grands.  So, much of the time I was perfecting each tracing and duplicating it on a fusible.  I also got all 16 pictures (4 of each grand) fused on to fabric.  I was only able to get the one of Theo actually cut out and ready to fuse to the backing fabric. Nope, I'm not fusing it to the background fabric until I can lay out all 16 background fabrics [yep, all different...] and decide where I'm placing all the pictures.
'
First up is the photo and drawing of Theo and then Ellie. 

I left off Theo's hands because I was hoping the arms would go off the background.  See below for more info on that. 

One of the things Lisa suggests is to simplify the picture.  That's why I'm not including the long hair down Ellie's face.  I sure wouldn't want to cut out that piece! And the dolls won't be included.  I may have to fuss with her arms a bit but I'll see how it goes. 

And here is one of Theo's "wacky" pictures. I will be going back to the drawing and copying his little hands and adding them. Hum, I wonder if I need to add the shorts.... he looks really long waisted here!  I will probably cut off some of each sleeve to make it work.  Aimee, his mom, thought it was terrific. (I do too!) 

Here's one of Lisa's samples: 

How fun is this!  She also has a different, easy way to finish the piece.  I'm looking forward to finishing this wall hanging.  It's so much fun to do! Below is  the little one Karen put together of her brother and his wife.  Except the picture is their engagement picture from years ago!  

There were several more "pictures" that I would have liked to snap photos of but just didn't get to it.  

So besides that how did I do on my goals this week? Not bad.  Didn't get them all done but I did get many of them done.

September 17, 2018

Prep class for this week!√

Knit on Sock √

Start sweater for Theo√

Prep for mini demo on labels√

Make a pillowcase?nah, didn’t happen, again! 

September 24, 2018

Cut a quilt for retreat 

Finish up sock

Knit on Theo’s sweater 

Make a pillowcase (well, it could happen, maybe) 

That's it for me today. 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 10 - 23 - 2017

All of my sewing this past week has been focused on the birthday party we went to on Saturday. We were celebrating Theo's and Ellie's birthdays.  Theo had to wait since mid September and Ellie celebrated a few days early.  I doubt Theo minded!  

I took very few pictures for some reason.  But once Theo had eaten cake (read that as got cake all over him...) he was hanging out in a diaper.  Kevin grabbed his Halloween shirt and covered him up -- just to keep him a little warmer. He cleaned up pretty well, didn't he?   

On the other hand, Rapunzel didn't get all that dirty eating cake (or dinner for that matter.) She'd been playing outside all afternoon so her cute little off to the side braid was a mess by this time. 

She and her 2 friends along with her 2 cousins played upstairs for a bit.  It was amazing how much noise 5 girls could make!  But I was happy to see that she was able to dress her baby doll in this outfit.  Thank goodness for Velcro™!  These fairly simple doll clothes took me two days to make.  Of course, I didn't devote sustained time on them so maybe 8 hours all-together  

Ellie loves to play with my Ginny doll when she visits.  So far she can't dress the doll herself.  Heck, Velcro™ wasn't invented . . .  oops, actually it was invented in 1955.  Ok, so it wasn't widely distributed until much later.  My Grandma Ruth made me numerous doll dresses for all sorts of different dolls.  I particularly like my Ginny doll for the grands because she's small and child-like.  Did you have a Ginny doll growing up?  (Do you have any doll clothes patterns for her?) One of these days I'll share her with you and some of her clothes.  

As I was putting my purse away at Kevin's house I noticed a rubber duck.  I've shared several of ducks here and here. I had to take a picture and share.  Nancy, here'ssssss Elvis!

We had a good time at the birthdays celebration.  Good food and fun to see all of the grands at one time.  However, with the Halloween and birthday sewing done I can now start back on my quilting projects.  You'll notice I didn't get that stray kite block done yet.  I did get it cut out though!  So a tiny bit of progress was made. 

Most of my goals were achieved. 

October 16, 2017

Finish 2^nd skirt√

Embroider 2 more shirts√

Make 2 baby doll outfits√ I ran out of time so 1 was done

Make last kite block didn’t even try to do this

Finish binding the trip around the world quilt √ (I'll share it later.) 

Here's what I'm hoping to get done this week. 

October 23, 2017

Make last kite block and sew blocks into top

Make and mail FCQ Equilter pinwheel blocks

Pick a charity top and quilt it

Clean the front side of the cutting table

I'd be happy if I got all of these projects done even though the list seems pretty short to me.  On the other hand I have an ebook that needs to be returned in 2 days and I'm only about 40% finished.  I'm planning on doing some reading too! 

I'm linking up with my regular linky parties: Oh Scrap!, Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, and Moving It Forward.  Take some time to see what folks around the web are doing these days.  Enjoy. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Acquisitions and Visitors

Last week I drove out to Kelly Ann's Quilting shop in Warrenton, Va. with a quilting buddy.  We had been the week before for a Accuquilt Go presentation. I had purchased a die that had to be ordered, hence the second trip to Kelly Ann's.  I've now got a 6.5" square die to add to my collection.  (Did I mention I also bought the kite die recently?)  And, we picked up the row by row instructions. Kelly Ann's is a cute shop with lots of fun fabric, some wools, patterns and a lot of Accuquilt dies.  (If you've never been to an Accuquilt presentation -- go.  You'll learn tips and techniques to get more out of your dies.) 

As we were walking back to the car after lunch I noticed this great mural on the side of a building. I haven't been able to find out much about it except it does represent Civil War times and the building is called the Mural Building. I like how the artist extended the picture with the trees and the look out. 

Do you know about Massdrop? It's an e commerce site where customers help decide what to buy and employees arrange the deals.  I don't buy a lot from them but when I do I generally choose items I need (or want) that provide a decent discount. I'm a member of the quilting community (which has recently added knitting items.)  My most recent purchase were these Presencia threads. 

The price seemed good to me especially considering the suggested retail price on Presencia's website.  I'm happy to see my thread bin has been replenished. Over the next few months I'll probably augment this with some brighter colors.  It's always nice to have a collection of colored threads when you need just the perfect color. 

Yesterday we had some visitors.  We'd planned to go to the pool but almost immediately upon arriving it started pouring rain.  (We needed it so we're happy to have the rain.) 

Theo, 9 months, after his nap.

Ellie, 3 1/2 years, after her nap.

I was pleasantly surprised how well both slept here.  The adults were able to enjoy some quiet time together on the deck. 

I'm linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday. Make sure you take a little time to enjoy the various blogs and inspiration. 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

October OMG!

I NAILED IT! My OMG for October was to finish the last three blocks of Christmas Favorites. And, yes 2 were ready to machine blanket stitch around the pieces before the month even started.  I did take all three blocks to retreat -- the two I had ready to go were finished.  I finished the piecing on the last block and got it appliquéd down.  When these three were "done" I went back to the pattern to see what else had to be done.  Hum, I missed 3 holly leaves on 2 different blocks.  I have several pieces that will be 3-D and can't be attached until after the quilt is quilted.  And, oops! there's some embroidery to be done.   

Despite those few things that need to be finished I'm calling my October OMG done√√√√. Here's what the three blocks look like: 

Hum, the poinsettia looks weird -- but it has 5 3-D leaves that need to be put on after the quilting is done.  Lots of the blocks have buttons that will be added then too. The HoHoHo block and the Mistletoe blocks have hand embroidery that needs to be done before the blocks can be put together.  Plus I have 3 holly leaves I forgot that need to be added to two blocks.  

This brings me to my November OMG.  Yep, you got it... I want to finish the blocks as detailed above and sew them together.  If I really stay focused I may be able get the two borders added too.  But my main goal is to get the blocks done and sewn together. 

Today we celebrated Ellie's birthday by joining everybody at an indoor play area.  The girls were happy to be bouncing in several big bounce houses.  Some of the grown ups (me included) had a great time with some air guns that shot soft rubber balls.  Sophie and I had a major battle for a while.  The girls were lucky to ride some bumper cars.  (Only Sophie was really old enough.)  Natalie and Sophie really seemed to understand the directions on driving the bumper cars.  Ellie didn't quite "get" how to drive but she moved her car around and actually bumped into the other girls on occasion. It was fun for all of us.  Theo didn't necessarily agree because he slept through most of it. 

After the time at the play space Kevin and Aimee took us out to lunch at a local pizzeria.  The pizza was good and was followed by cake.  Yum!  Thanks Kevin and Aimee for the fun time.  And, they were happy to give me the leftover cake. (It's something I seldom have at home but I do like it!) Here's Ellie enjoying her cake.  She thought it was yummy too. 

I'm linking up with Red Letter Quilts' October link up post.  Take some time to see how folks are have done this month on succeeding on their goals.  I sure hope Heidi plans to continue this program next year.  It has been very helpful for me. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

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