Monday Meanderings 11 - 25 - 2024

 Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving has come barreling in this year, or so it seems to me. And we all know what comes next! This week I didn't seem to get as much done as I usually do. I think it's probably going to be the same for the next couple of weeks.  We'll be singing a couple of concerts and a few open air gigs too.  I'm hoping I can continue to keep sewing and especially quilting through the end of the year.  Let's look at what I did get done this week. 

11/18/2024

Quilt a top on Ruthie — I got the backing loaded… 

✅Attend 3rd (last) machine mastery class — done but there is a lot more to learn!

✅Finish another ornament — 3rd done, 1 to go.

✅Pick a block set and make into a top — several rows are done. 

Finish Fall Applique top — not touched! (but I did iron the fabric after it's wash.)

✅Pick another UFO from this year’s list and work on it — that block set above? Turns out the block set was also on the UFO list. Two goals with one project. 

The blocks I was working with are called the Ultimate Scrap Buster. You can find the tutorial for it here. I asked the FCQ Equilters to make this block for me at least 2 turns ago -- so 2 and a half years or so. I got the top two rows sewn but I didn't take a picture of it but here's them laid out ready to sew together. (I am pretty sure I rearranged them a bit after I took the picture. Note to self...compare these to the real blocks so I sew them together correctly.) 

We E Quilters generally make way more blocks than needed for just one quilt. So I have two groups of blocks left to make more quilts. Here's another group. I'll probably have to make another block to use them. 

And I also got a set of blocks that the corners didn't match up with all the other corners.  My plan is to make a smaller quilt but I'll have to make more blocks for this top eventually. 

 

Here are the goals for this week. 

11/25/2024

Work on last ornament

Finish top made with ultimate scrap busting block

Quilt a top on Ruthie

Make a couple of blocks

Mail tree blocks to Washington state

Make apple pie and a squash casserole for T-day dinner

Supposedly I have fewer goals this week. I should be able to get through them all. This week I kept procrastinating loading the backing on Ruthie all week. Sunday afternoon I realized I had already sewn the backing together and it was ready to be loaded. So I did, finally. I'll add the batting and top this week and get it done. 

I spent an afternoon updating my quilts on the to-be-quilted list.  I hadn't updated it since August. Yikes! A lot of tops have been finished.  But I've made a slew of tops this summer and fall. (Hum, I may have succeeded too well at the two retreats I went to this year!) 

I'm also trying to figure out a block to have the E Quilters make me starting December 1.  I've been saving block ideas on my computer for years. One looked promising to me. I have been playing with it trying to make it look like a picture I have.  Here's my first attempt. Sharon suggested it would look better if the red color were used for the four alike triangles. I think the center square is too big and the rectangles aren't big enough. I'll be trying it again and see if I can get it right. Next try will have more spring like colors. I'm tired of the fall colors. I have about a week to figure this out. 

I had another successful week stitching every day.  A couple of days I had to set my timer and stitch right before bed. But I fit stitching in every day!

W/ending 11/24 — 329 days in to 2024. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7
• 15 minute days/Nov = 24/24
• 15 minute days/2024 = 320/329 days
• Success rate = 97.%

We'll be going to our son's house for turkey day. He and his wife like to host her family and our family for big celebrations. (Although we only number 17 at the max so it isn't all that big!) We have a lot of fun and plenty of good food to eat.  We're  bringing Sunny to have a play date with Chewy and for everyone to see her again. (Plus we don't like leaving her by herself all day.)  Luckily I only volunteered for two dishes. They shouldn't take long. You can see why I need to cut back on my goals this week. 

I'm ready to call it a night (yep, I write this Sunday evening.) I'm linking up with Oh Scrap!, Stitching Stuff, Design Wall Monday, and Monday Musings.  Take some time to look through these Linky Parties to see what others are doing these days. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

T-Day & Black Friday All Over

We had a lovely Thanksgiving with your neighbors at Jennie & Del's house.  I didn't get photos of the food before the feast but I did get a picture of the desserts.  Yum!

 From left to right Chocolate Gingerbread cake, pumpkin pie and apple pie.  Look below to see how beautiful that apple pie was. All those little leaves.  I mean, honestly it was too beautiful to eat.  NOT! And the ones I had tasted fabulously.

 We even went outside to play this crazy game.  Let's just say I didn't win.  You can't tell from here but the bean bags were in Virginia Tech colors.  Someone is a big Tech fan.

We briefly talked about doing some Black Friday shopping but really, going out at midnight to try to buy stuff?  Not me.  Pat and I were ready for bed by about 10.  Well stuffed and tired. 

I spent Friday in the studio working on the FCQ Equilter's donation quilt.  I am making blocks to go around the applique piece.  I was tickled to use my V Block Trimmer by Deb Tucker when making a block. I really like Debbie's rulers.  I get really accurate blocks using them. Here's the section I was making. 

 I used the ruler to cut the correct pieces.  Then I trimmed it down to the correct size.

 And, with very little effort I had my pieces sewn and trimmed.  I like that the pointy parts are trimmed while cutting the pieces.

Here is the block that I made.

Which way do you like best?

Does it even matter?

Check back tomorrow to see some of the blocks I've already finished.


Did you support the buy local Saturday?  I did!  I grabbed Diana and went off to our local quilt store.  Jennie met us there because she wanted to buy some fabric for a winter quilt.  I bought some blue fabric to use for a baby quilt and two pieces of red.  Yes, I know I'm adding to my stash but I've blown my acquisitions out of the water so why not buy what you nee  um, want to get?  They were also having a great sale buy two of anything and get the third free.  So I bought 2 half yard pieces and got the third one free.  And, I never have many reds around cause I use them so much.

I've been bad about blogging.  So I'm hopeful I can get about 3 blogs a week written for the rest of the year.  I always do Design Wall Mondays but I need to add a couple of more postings.  Sounds like a great new year's resolution. But let's see how well I do for December.

Happy Quilting All.  

Finishes -- YEAH!

I've finished a few things I've been working on for a while...  but none of them are quilting.  Maybe after the weekend I can show some quilted finishes.  First up a pair of socks.  I think Pat gave me the yarn this past Christmas.  I used a different sock pattern and the plan was to make them a bit shorter than I normally do.  Um, er, didn't happen for some reason.  They are a wool blend so will have to wait a bit before I can wear them much.

Next up two little ornaments I cross stitched on a small count plastic canvas.  I have a Halloween tree that for years has had about 6 weird ornaments.  (well maybe now there are only 6 cause Mr. Raggs has gotten some of them in the past...) I've wanted to make counted cross stitch ones but thought I couldn't see well enough to do any counted cross stitch.  Well, guess what, I'm wrong.  I think the ghost is about 3" tall and the candy corn is probably 2".  All that needs to be done is put floss hangers on them.  I'll do that next year when I hang them on the tree.

So, if I can see well enough to work on 10 count plastic, why not work on 11 count waste canvas?  (numbers are approximate . . .  I really don't remember what size the canvas is.)  I had a sweat shirt from years ago all ready to work on -- don't remember when I set it up or what I was going to put on it.  Hey, it would work for Santa -- but oops, not the enough waste canvas.  Put new canvas on and have started this little Santa.  If I were good I'd get it done before Christmas... but don't hold your breath.

How did you like the blue fabric behind all the projects?  It is the same piece of fabric!  Yes, it's a Moda that goes from sky blue morning to dark blue night.  Isn't that cool?  It is in the last bag of fabrics I got at the auction.  I still haven't measured the last bag but I will -- maybe this weekend. 

I had my neighbor ladies over for our monthly tea this week.  The house got cleaned and the fall decorations were put out on the table.  If it hadn't been for them coming over I would have skipped the table decorations.  But they looked great. I just floated the loose leaves down on the table after I had everyone's place mat down.  Looked just like fallen leaves.... 

 This was on the small buffet we have.  It is the wreath I made several weeks ago on top of a table runner.  Unfortunately the table runner is way too wide to use on the table.  And you can't see the cute applique in the center.  Hum, this may one of the only applique projects I've ever finished.  I think I have about 3 more going -- or not going as I seldom work on them.  Sigh.

So my techie friends out in blogland... how come sometimes I can write next to the pictures and sometimes I can write only on the bottom line.  This always drives me crazy.  Does it make a difference it I uploaded more than one picture at a time?  Hum, I'll do a little experiment... all the above were loaded three at a time.

OK, maybe not... except I had to move this so maybe that caused the issue.  We've been having crazy weather recently.  It got in the 80's off and on for a week and then plunged to the 40's.  The poor cherry tree doesn't know whether to bloom or not.  It was a horribly windy, overcast and rainy day when it decided it was time to bloom Thursday.  It was 28º this morning. Ok, so it isn't spring!

I'm heading up to the studio to try to finish a couple more things on my weekly goals.  I've been making great progress on it so far.  Happy Quilting All! 

FINISHED! DONE! OVER WITH!

Sorry to be shouting but I am thrilled to show the finished Million Pieces Quilt, also known as Scrappy Bricks or Mystery #6.  (You can participate in Mysteries for Relay also -- click on the button to the right to find out more about it.) It is ready for Jen, Brian and Sophia who are coming down tomorrow for the Thanksgiving holidays.  

I've been working on two different sewing machines recently.  This looks pretty funny -- but I was using two machines for a little while.  Well, not at the same time but going back and forth.  Unfortunately I can't have two people sewing like I like to have in this room.  But, I can work on one, push it over and then work on the other. (Being careful not to push it off the edge of the counter!) 

Tonight I should be finishing the turkey quilt. I have about 25% of the binding done and will finish it while I watch another Harry Potter dvd in preparation for going to see the newest one on Friday.  I don't think I'll get through all of them before Friday afternoon but I might.  


I wish all my blogging friends in the US a wonderful Thanksgiving this week.  We're looking forward to Aimee and Kevin and J, B & Sophia visiting.  And, we get to babysit Sophia for a few hours tomorrow.  


Tomorrow -- baking pumpkin pie, apple pie and making cranberry sauce.  And, then hopefully making some more bow tie blocks.  


Happy Quilting All 

Great Weekend!

Friday with Kevin and Aimee in Maryland

Two Dogs On A Couch

Posing Most Kindly For Me

And Soon Off They Go

Raggs on the left and Homer on the right. Attempted Haiku by Bonnie.

People posed fine but Homer, on the left, didn't want to pose with Cassie on the right. Aimee and Kevin did well.

Aimee did some really early shopping. Pat and I came over for breakfast that Kevin made after Aimee came home. (Sorry, I just couldn't get up early enough to do early morning shopping.) We were lucky to be able to stay at Jen and Brian's townhouse while they were in Ohio.

The boys did some "This Old House" work on the bathroom. They were going to put a new flooring down. But decided to remove the floor and then realized the toilet bolts (you know those little bolts under the funny cap that is a pain to clean around) were completely corroded. So off came the toilet (it's in the bathtub in the picture to the right.) Then the flooring was done, next the toilet was replaced. And, how uncomfortable is that -- no toilet for several hours! It all turned out well though.

Aimee was productive -- she cut out two Take Five quilts. I kept her company and read a book. We brought Chinese in after the bathroom was restored.

Pat and I came home Saturday as Pat had a concert on Sunday. I put in a couple of hours in the studio on Saturday afternoon. It felt good to be back quilting. I decided to make Carolina Christmas mystery quilt at Quiltville.com. I've got more photos to share but will wait 'til the next post.

Happy Quilting All!

Happy Thanksgiving 2009

My big contribution to today's Thanksgiving Dinner is an apple pie. I made it Wednesday afternoon. It was cooling on the stove top when we were making dinner last night. We had thrown a couple of potatoes in the oven to cook at the same time. But, I didn't think the 'tators were cooked through. So, we popped them in the microwave oven for 9 seconds. Pat was shocked when he saw potatoes exploding in there. And, they kept exploding when he opened the door. Check out that lovely pie picture again. Do you notice some little white pieces? Um, ur, a little potato with the apple pie there. I was laughing my head off trying to talk to Jenny on the phone. Another grand cooking adventure in the household!

Hope your travel is safe and day is joyful.

Happy Quilting and Thanksgiving All!

The Day Before - - Big Eats

I am blessed with not being responsible for cooking. It was going to be just Pat and I home for Thanksgiving when, surprise, surprise -- Kevin invited us over to his place for dinner. Cool. We'll be driving down to Maryland tomorrow and coming home Saturday. We'll be staying at Jenny's townhouse cause she's in Ohio with Brian's family. We're official cat-sitters and bringers-in-of-the-garbage-can people. Sweet!

I finally finished the binding on the quilt from Stash_Quilters on Yahoo groups. It went in the mail today winging its way to someone at Everett Naval Station. How appropriate for me as my Dad was in the Navy for 30+ years. I believe this was a quilts of valor quilt but I didn't get the address so I'm not sure.

I had promised pictures of a quilt I finished a week or so ago but never took the photos. So here is Bricks and Stepping Stones from Quiltville. This will take you directly to the directions for the quilt. I need

to decide whether I'll be starting another quilt from here as a leader and ender. I'm inclined to say no as I have several quilts in various stages that I should use as enders... (I really don't do a leader usually. ) I started with some basic, rather dull fabric. Then as I was doing things with brighter fabrics so I added them. The overall quilt looks bright but you don't have to wear sunglasses with it. I used the same blue fabric in the four patches although the whites were anywhere from beige to bright white. The border was a different blue fabric that was about the same color. Everything on this quilt was from my stash. You can barely see it in this photo but the corners of the borders are 4 patches because I didn't have enough fabric for the borders. And two of the 2" squares are pieced. I think I had a 3 1/2" by 1" piece of that blue fabric left when done.

And check out the backing. I don't usually buy big pieces fabrics for my stash so there wasn't nothing there for a backing. So I decided to use some left over blocks and add 10.5" squares to make up the backing. I thought 10.5" squares would be easy re: math. Evidently I was wrong about that. Oh well.

I have to get my stuff ready to go south tomorrow morning. I am working on my A Tisket, A Tasket baskets from Bunny Hill Designs. I have 4 blocks nearly all completed. Although I think I need to do some embroidery on them. I have 2 in progress. And that leaves 5 not really started! Hopefully, I'll take one or two blocks ready to stitch on while I'm gone. Of course, we might do something completely different. Who knows?

Happy Quilting All!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The dinner has been eaten, the dishes done.  I loved the look of these cranberries before I made the sauce.  I need some fabric that looks like that!  And, I wish my hands weren't covered in pumpkin pie filling yesterday ... I would have snapped a picture of that pumpkin as it was a beautiful color too!  

We had a 16 pound turkey  -- didn't sound all that large but a little bit hung off  the roasting pan.  YUK -- the oils from the turkey were burning in the oven and every time we opened the door smoke poured out.  We had to have some windows open to keep the air clear.  But, wow, it was a very good turkey and made plenty of gravy. The carcass is now being made into stock so we can make soup some time this week.  And, these berries were great too!  

 

Jenny and Brian arrived and Jen hit the puzzle.  It took a couple of hours but we finished it off.  Weird puzzle -- we could actually put pieces in wrong and it looked right.  Finally when we were down to 6 pieces we realized we had to move some pieces so we could finish.  I've never seen that in a puzzle before.  This was only 750 pieces.  Next up is a cute black and white springer spaniel that looks like our dog, Christy.  Maybe we'll put that up tomorrow.  

Here's a monopoly game we started after dinner.  Notice the hole where someone should be playing.  And, I was.  But, I spent the first 10 turns in jail.  We didn't have the rules so our rules were we could get out of jail with doubles or after the third time we'd get out.  Every time I got out of jail I either landed on go to jail or pulled a go to jail card.  Once I finally got out of jail and made it past the go to jail space I thought I was home free and could finally pass go and collect my $200.  Well, no.  I landed on a property and had to pay rent.  And then I landed on pay luxury tax and I was bankrupt.  I never once got to pass go!  What a riot.  We were laughing so hard.  Everyone else was buying property and I was just sitting there.  An hour or two later they are still playing but two more people have gone bankrupt. (Probably happily!) 

Tomorrow is a sewing day for me.  I'm not interested in shopping.  I did cut some sashing out today.  If the girls go shopping which they are talking about doing I am going to start a new mystery quilt over at Mysteries for Relay.  Click on the button to go to the main page.  You might be able to join tomorrow and sew with us.  

It's been a great day despite the smoke from the turkey cooking.  Happy Quilting, Bonnie