Veterans Day 11 - 11 - 2019

Let us always remember the sacrifices our military members and their families - active, reserve and retired - made (and make)  to keep our country free.  I add the families because my dad was in the Navy for 30 years and my mom, brother, and I moved a lot thus making new friends and seeing new parts of the United States.  But, I think of my brother who went to 4 high schools.  While at that time I was just in elementary school and two different middle schools.  I moved my senior year of high school and to this day don't really think of the school as "my" high school.  Dad went to the University of Southern California in the Navy ROTC just before World War II broke out.  He didn't finish college but went active duty instead.  He retired as a Captain having commanded a fleet of destroyers, an oiler, several different destroyers and serving on admirals' staffs.  He saw duty in World War II, Korean war, and Viet Nam war.  "We" also saw a lot of duty at the Pentagon.  He led an interesting life, to say the least. Both of my grandfathers served in World War I and my brother served during the Viet Nam war but was stationed stateside.  That's quite a legacy of service to my way of thinking.    

On to quilting. I wish I could say I've made all those churn dash blocks into a quilt top but, no didn't work on those at all.  In fact, I put them away knowing I wasn't going to get to them at all for a while.  So instead, I'll show you what I did get done. 

I cut this out to take to retreat in October.  Diamond Chain is one of Missouri Star's patterns.  You can see Jenny demonstrate how to make the block here.  I had all the dies needed to cut this out with my Accuquilt Go. Bonus!  I've been taking this project when I go to my community's quilt group.  

We were at the beach house this weekend attending some property owner meetings so I grabbed these, my Featherweight, and set up a sewing nook overlooking the back yard.  I finished all of the units (at least I think I did) and got these blocks made.  I'll be at community sewing again on Thursday so hopefully I'll finish all the blocks then.  I thought they were going to look duller when I made my sample block but I guess I threw in a lot of fun colors so that livens it up a lot.  

With Christmas sneaking up on me I'll probably have to spend more time finishing (heck, starting and finishing) presents.  I've got a list to remind me what to do.  I've actually made some progress on two projects.  There is hope! 

I've noticed a lot of the Monday linky parties I've been linking with have stop posting. So today I'll be linking up with Oh Scrap, Monday Making, and What I Made Monday. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

July Stashbusting

Or not.  I didn't do a report for June.  I know I didn't buy any new fabrics.  I probably used up a little in the quilt I finished but not as much as I would have wanted to but I was a bit busy!  So let's move right on to July.  I wasn't so good during July as I bought some fat quarters and charms at really low prices.  And, then I bought the backing and background for a quilt that is being kept under wraps for a while.  So here's the sad results.  (Well, sad unless I really want to be adding to my stash rather than USING it!)

2016	Fabric In Month	Fabric in Year	Fabric Out Month	Fabric (In) Out Year	Total (In) or Out Month
July	20	62.875	1.375	30.375	18.625

Not great result when I am trying to USE fabric up rather than bring more into the house.  I was very restrained last Friday when my friends and I went to the local quilt store.  They bought fabs to use in the class we are taking in September.  I decided I would revisit what I have in my stash.  We're taking a class on Stack N Whack.  Yep, we are behind the times but several of us haven't ever done one so the Guild is sponsoring it.  I keep changing my mind about what fabric to use.  Part of me would really like to do a 9 block halloween based quilt.  But that means having to buy fabric.  So, again, I need to look at what I have so I don't add even more fabrics!  I've still got 6 weeks or so. Who knows what I'll decide. 

Did you get the new catalog from Missouri Star Quilt Co?  Or do you get the daily specials?  I jumped on the special for 3 spools of their new 50 weight cotton thread.  Normal price for the "Trusty Trio" is $7.25.  The special was $0.99.  Even paying the $5.00 postage it was a pretty good deal and I threw in a pattern I had been looking at too.  Haven't tried it yet but will do so soon and report back. 

I'm linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday. 

Happy Quilting All! 

Design Wall Monday 5 - 11 - 2015

A very busy week has passed.  I'm hoping I can start having some more "boring" weeks soon.  Hum, probably not happening for a while.  But you can be assured I will be having fun!

Aimee was out of town so I stayed with Kevin for a couple of days to help get Ellie to daycare and a little meal help.  They just moved into a new home the week end before I went up.  It's a bit closer if the traffic on 95 cooperates.   I was impressed with how much they had gotten unpacked in 4 days. They are both still figuring out commute times.  Kevin's should be shorter while Aimee's should be the same.  

The full day I spent with Kevin I spent sewing off and on.  I finished the blocks for the table runner. And once home I got them together and added the triangles and border.  The runner has been balled up and stuffed in various containers over the last few days so looks very wrinkled.  I hope to get it quilted in the next week.  The block is Quatrefoil and the directions are here -- a video  by Missouri Star Quilt Company on You Tube.  I need to figure out a better way of doing the triangles on the ends.  

Sharon and I got to my house about the same time Thursday afternoon after we met at Crazy Cousins in Fredericksburg.  We had another sewing weekend with a class on Saturday. As usual Sharon got lots done and I got my fabrics cut for Saturday, got the borders on the table runner and got organized for the guild meeting.  

At the class we learned to use The V Block Trimmer by Deb Tucker from Studio 180 Design.  I'de used it before as I bought it at one of the shows. But, WOW! This works like a charm to make accurate blocks. You cut the center V using one of the lines.  Then with fabric strips right sides together you cut the two side pieces at the same time.  Sewing it together is incredibly easy because there isn't any guessing where to line the pieces up.  AMAZING.  The final trim up makes sure that the 1/4" seam is always there.  No cut off points.  I'm betting I'll get this to top stage fairly soon because I like it so much.  The pattern is Galaxy designed by Deb also. 

As usual, Sharon got more done than I did. Here's hers. Love that secondary pattern that looks like a circle with no curved piecing! 

And mine. (Our blocks are the same size but mine appears larger probably due to the cropping of the photo.) 

I spent part of last evening cutting more pieces and marking the half square triangles.  I have time for sewing today -- looking forward to finishing some more of these blocks.  Surprisingly they sew up quite fast.  And, can I just add here?  I LOVE my colors.  Wait until you see the border I picked for it. Can I just mention I did not choose anything that looked like the cover picture on the pattern! 

Here's the goal list for last week.  What you don't see is "make the table runner" shown above.  It took time away from Love Shack. 

Week of May 4, 2015

Finish customer’s baby quilt on Ruthie√

Cut out Galaxy quilt and attend class√

Spend time helping Kevin√

Get Love Shack to top worked on but not a top yet... 

Have fun with Sharon visiting this weekend√

And, for this coming week -- 

Week of May 11, 2015

Trim antique quilt

Make and apply binding to antique quilt

Work on Galaxy blocks

Work on Love Shack

Have fun at the beach

I'll be linking up with Patchwork Times and Love Laugh Quilt. Enjoy browsing the web for lots of quilty ideas. 

Happy Quilting All!