Monday Meanderings 10 - 14 - 2024

It's retreat week!  I've packed up a bunch of pre-cut projects, sewing machine, and all my other supplies.  Except my little rotary cutting mat.  It's gone MIA.  I'll look for it a couple more times before I leave Monday morning. (Yes, I write my Monday post on Sunday night.) 

I have a lot of check marks on last week's goals list.  Let's see them! 

10/7/24

✅Bind the Animal Snowball blocks quilt — Done and being donated.

✅Quilt customer’s quilt — cute little quilt done.

✅Make kit with leftover baby buggy fabric — ready to take to retreat.

✅Finish acorn block — have 2 sets -- 1 acorn and one maple leaf in each set.

Layout Stashbusting blocks to sew at retreat — didn’t need any more projects so skipped this one. 

✅Pack up retreat supplies — done! 

I didn't take many pictures this week but here are the few I have. 

My customer made this sweet little star quilt for a baby.  She chose a stipple that happened to be built into my computer system.  The thread was a light blue So Fine.  

So now it is on to my new goals. 

10/14/24 

Have a great time at retreat

Make at least 4 tops from kits

Quilt one of my quilts after retreat

That goal list looks pathetic but if I get 4 of the kits done it will be great.  I think I have 6 available to work on.  

I did do a little off-list sewing.  It's suppose to be getting colder so I decided I would try to make a dog coat for Sunny.  The pattern was from MirtilliGirl on Etsy.  I purchased the Basic Dog Coat. The hardest part was taping the pattern together and that was actually easy.  She recommends you cut out the pattern with "junk" fabric that you won't mind not using.  I have yards of a decorator fabric that is more like a cotton chintz.  I used it to try two different sizes and the smaller of the two was perfect.  I haven't finished it because I need to get the right size Velcro.  Here's what it looks like so far. 

The right side is a lilac with white pin dots.  The lining is a flannel. The side flaps will velcro under her belly.  The top flaps go around her neck. 

It really didn't take long to make.  I'll hit JoAnns after I get back so she has warmer clothes to wear outside.  I see a few more coats in her future too. 

15 Minutes to Sew was a success this week.  I've spent at least 15 minutes sewing every day.  Some days it was nearly all day.  

W/ending 10/13  — 287 days in to 2024. 

• 15 minute days/Oct = 7/7
• 15 minute days/2024 = 277/287 days
• Success rate = 96.5%

I'm keeping this short today.  The sewing studio needs to be searched again for the cutting mat. And, there are more things to bring upstairs.  

Please take a look at these Linky parties.  (Note to self: remember to link up the other two on Monday morning.) Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Design Wall Monday, and Monday Musing. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 9 - 16 - 2024

Wow!  We've forgotten how much work a dog can be.  Especially a needy dog like Sunny.  She needs to be fed 4 times a day. Every 3 days she needs a bath. We're still trying to figure out her cues for potty breaks. And, someone is walking her a couple of times a day.  Add in the trip to the vet and a trip north to watch Teddy's soccer game and introduce Sunny to the kids and grands -- she's keeping us busy. 

Soph and Sunny hanging out during the game. Sunny's working hard at growing her  hair and fur. Yep, Westies have two coats -- the bottom coat is fur and the top coat is stiffer hair. 

Here's what I tried to get accomplished this past week. And, yes, I did check a few things off but I didn't do all I thought I could get done. Sigh.

9/9/24

✅Finish one more of Joan’s blocks and mail them — finished; but not mailed.

✅Quilt customer top — done and returned.

Finish Sea Side Village — all threads tied, ready to put a facing on it. 

✅Make happy blocks and plan layout — picked all fabs for the blocks and began the layout. 

✅Cut another quilt kit— finished.  

✅Keep stitching on the ornaments — worked on one at Monday stitching.

Here's a bit of the customer's quilt I long armed this week. She chose Ginger Heart and a light blue thread.  I think I took this picture with just the first row done. She was quite happy with it. 

And here are the Happy Blocks I've been working on. I decided to make a bigger quilt and make it neutral so it can be given to a boy or a girl. 

I've been picking fabrics for additional blocks to set it 5 x 6 or 48" x 60" approximately. The blocks finish at 8". I'll get the new blocks all cut out before I leave for North Carolina Tuesday.  After making a lot of these quilts I'm finally learning that some colors look really dark and don't enhance the quilts.  I'm trying to pick lighter fabrics but not ones that look too light. (The elephant one seems too light while the top left island one seems too dark. I don't think I'm changing any of those already made!) For these I used a 4.5" center square and 2.5" strips to make 2 strips 4.5" and 2 strips 8.5". It is a really easy pattern. I'm ready to find a new super easy pattern one of these days! 

On Tuesday I'm off for a several days of quilting at Sharon's house. Here's what I hope to get done. And, yes, I'm pretty sure I have at least one or two more projects to bring but these are the ones I want to finish while I'm gone.  It's better to have too many projects than not enough. 

9/16/24

Keep stitching on the ornaments

Drive to Sharon’s for a quilting get together

Put double border on purple/floral top

Put facing on Sea Side Village 

Cut out and make happy blocks, lay out, and sew the top 

Finish the panel top

Remember that trip to watch the soccer game mentioned above?  We left the house at 9 and didn't get home until after 2. But we were exhausted (as was Sunny.) I don't think I did anything in the studio or any hand stitching that day.  So, I have another day where no sewing took place. I did finish a book or two this week. Here are my numbers. Considering my success rate is in the mid 90s percent-wise, I'm pretty happy with the results.  

W/ending 9/15  — 259 days in to 2024. 

• 15 minute days/week = 6/7 days
• 15 minute days/Sept = 14/15
• 15 minute days/2024 = 249/259 days
• Success rate = 96.1%

Have you been keeping up with Material Girlfriends' website? They have been offering a free 3 yard quilt pattern every month. This month's is called Bravo. I'm enamored with it and may have to find fabric to make it this month.  I've been making a point of buying more 1 yard fabric pieces so I can use some of these cool patterns.  If you like the idea of 3 yard quilts check out their offerings.  

I mentioned finishing a book this week. I actually finished 5 with a couple being audio books that I listen to while stitching.  Being an avid reader I pay attention when folks recommend a book or I think I might like a book from the blurb that shows up in the catalog once my library gets it.  This week I read Miss Morgan's Book Brigade by Janet Skeslien Charles who also wrote The Paris Library. It was excellent.  

Here's what Amazon says about it: 1918: As the Great War rages, Jessie Carson takes a leave of absence from the New York Public Library to work for the American Committee for Devastated France (CARDS). Founded by millionaire Anne Morgan, this group of international women help rebuild destroyed French communities just miles from the front. Upon arrival, Jessie strives to establish something that the French have never seen—children’s libraries. She turns ambulances into bookmobiles and trains the first French female librarians.  Then she disappears."

The story moves between what is happening in WWI France and 1987 New York  where a NYPL librarian and budding writer first reads about the organization and decides to find out more about Jessie. Her story is how she uncovers more information about the CARDS and writes a book about them. 

It was a riveting book based on many of the real women who were involved with CARDS.  My only problem with it is I've read too many world war historical novels recently.  I was really ready for something light and fluffy. I've promised myself I won't read anything but light and fluffy for the next few books. We'll see how that goes! 

I'll be linking with these parties: Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Design Wall Monday, and Monday Musings. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

 

Monday Meanderings 7 - 8 - 2024

It's been a hot week and I'm guessing it will be nearly as hot this week.  That means it's perfect weather to spend time in my quilting studio -- in the basement. I did spend a lot of time in my cool basement. And, a lot of stitching was accomplished.  Here are the details. 

7/1/24

✅Make small bag — finished the two fronts, on to the lining.

✅ Keep working on seaside top — more pieces have been sewn down, more threads tied off. 

✅Process more scraps—made a little dent mostly cut by hand rather than by my Accuquilt. 

✅Bind Spinner — done.

✅Cut out a kit for retreat — started on a half log cabin using 2” strips. 

   

I didn't take all that many pictures of what I was working on from my goal's list this week. 

I did work on a half log cabin by cutting the various pieces to the correct size.  Here's a sample block -- it always helps to try the block out before spending hours cutting out more pieces! 

This doesn't represent my plans as it is quite color co-ordinated. This photo is pretty dark compared to what it really looks like also.  See my piles of pieces below. I started by picking fabrics from my 2" strip drawer. I've also pulled some fabrics from miscellaneous boxes of scraps, fat quarters, and my scrap baskets. Happily, I've seen a real dent in the 2" strip drawer and other locations in the studio.  Here's part of what I've cut already. 

I am using Sharyn Squire Craig's book Design Challenge: Half Log Cabin Quilts as my source for sizing and sizes.  I took a class from her sometime in the mid 1990s.   I haven't decided if I want the top to be 6 x 8 (48 blocks), 45 x 60",  or 6 x 10 (60 blocks), 45 x 75". Blocks are 8" unfinished.  I figure I'll need 432 pieces or 540 pieces depending on the size.  That's a lot of pieces. 

What I didn't plan on was quilting a top for a customer.  Nancy needed it quickly so I decided to get it done ASAP.  It was a joy to quilt -- I enjoy quilting pretty quilts. Here's a section of it. 

She chose Easy Peasy Baptist Fan by Naomi Hynes.

Thread was Omni White. 

Next up is what I hope to accomplish this week. 

7/9/24

Keep working on seaside top

Finish small bag 

Cut another kit for retreat 

Organize and pack up retreat supplies 

Make backing for a quilt top

And now, my 15 minutes of stitching results:

W/ending 7/7 — 189 days in to 2024. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/July = 7/7days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 182/189 days
• Success rate = 96.2%

I'm linking up with my regular Monday Linky parties: Stitching Stuff, Oh Scrap, Design Wall Monday, and Monday Musings.  I forgot to link up with Design Wall Monday and Monday Musings on Monday morning like I normally do. Oops. Hope you can spend some time checking them out now. 

We've enjoyed watching hummingbirds come to our feeder.  I was able to get this picture with my cell phone. (Does anyone have a real camera any more?) 

Anyone know what type a hummer he is? (Or maybe she.) We get two hummers who have squabbles over the feeder.  I enjoy watching them and the birds at our other feeder.  

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie  

Monday Meanderings 3 - 11 - 2024

Did you see the new pattern I tested for Preeti?  Check my post about Rainbow Parade here. I also posted the March Mysteries and Quilt Alongs this weekend. Check that listing here. And, now on to my goals last week. 

3/4/2024

✅Knit on socks — Progress made, time to knit the toe.

✅Find fabric for appliqué blocks — 3 new fabrics have taken up residence in my stash. 

✅Mail package to FCQ Equilter from last round — finally sent the blocks  off. 

✅Border Green, blacks, and white top — done. 

✅Start customer quilt — started and finished. 

Oops -- the chartreuse green doesn't go as well as I thought it did. At least not in this photo.  It's better in person. I didn't have a lot of the green floral fabric so I decided to scatter it across the quilt -- mostly randomly.   I don't think my drawing had 2 flower squares on the bottom row. Oh well.

My friend (and customer) Karen made this very cute Texas Quilt and asked that I quilt it.  I really like what she did.  There are quite a few of these 10" appliqué block with hand embroidery for the details.  Stars are the other blocks.  I need to get a picture of the whole thing to share.  Those blue tape pieces are my marks for where the next row needs to be lined up.  (Note to self, check that all blue tape has been removed.) 

What I forgot to put on my list last week was to finish my Malted Mystery. My friend Sharon and I FaceTimed and sewed each month.  This month she finished hers while we were chatting but I still need to get the last small border on it. Here's what it looks like so far. 

I know the dark fabric looks like black but it really is a deep purple (with a bit of a print on it!) One day I'll get a good picture of this with the colors correct. 

This is what I plan to do this week.

3/10/2024

Knit on socks 

Finish last border of Malted Mystery

Load and quilt two of my quilts 

Start cleaning off cutting area 2

I am trying to get some of my tops cleared out of my to-be-quilted closet. Although I keep making new tops so I probably won't be making all that much progress. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/March 10/10 days 
• 15 minute days/2024 = 69/70 days
• Success rate = 98%

I was able to spend at least 15 minutes in the studio every day this week.   Generally I spent much more time. I'm happy I am able to keep up the 15 minutes a day plan. 

There's not much else going on on the quilting and stitching front. So please spend some time visiting these blog parties. 

Oh Scrap

Life in Pieces: Stitching Stuff

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musing 

That's it for me tonight.  I'm worn out.  A big thank you goes out to Nann for recommending The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman. I found it engaging and funny.  Now to see what other books have been written in this series. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meandering 12 - 18 - 2023

Have you checked out a book today with a two week check out period?  I haven't yet but I know what the due date will be: Jan 1, 2024.  Yes, we are 2 weeks from next year!  That doesn't mean I am completely ready for Christmas, a week away; but I think my plans will get me to the big day with little problems. Let's go straight to the goals lists.  First last week's list. 

12/11/23

✅Quilt and bind small quilt — no binding yet.

✅Sing with carol group - done. 

✅Quilt customer top - done and returned. 

Finish ornament(s?) — I stitched a little on the one left to finish.

✅Wash, dry and fold some fabric — several batches were done but I agreed to take two more boxes. And returned a box. 

✅Make more placemats — at least 2 were done.

Make more happy blocks — oops. Didn’t get anymore done.

Not a bad week. Mostly this week was spent quilting.  First up was finishing up one of my small quilts.  It's pretty wild.  

I don't remember where I got this fabric from. I think it must be from a group of fabrics I purchased used from a quilter.  I think I used a built in stipple to quilt it. As soon as it was off the frame I put on Nancy's quilt. 

She made one similar to this one using some of the same fabrics with the cute alphabet.  She chose Squiggle Wiggle for the quilting design.  It adds to the fun of the animals.  I forgot to take a pic of the full quilt.  If I'm lucky she'll bring it to the quilt guild meeting this week so I'll get a picture of the finished quilt. 

Next up are pics of some of the placemats I've made recently. These will be turned in at the meeting also. First up is one I made from a new pattern -- Easy Mitered Placemats by Karen Montgomery of The Quilt Company. It worked really well and is easy so more will be coming. (There is a specific ruler to make it really easy but I was able to figure it out using my Olfa ruler.) 

And I finally made the companion to the snowman mat shown here. Here's the penguin.  Darn he is cute.  Maybe I should make two for my youngest grands? 

And, now, here's what I hope to do this week. (Some I better do or they won't be ready for gifting next Monday!)

12/18/23

Sing at Mall and a private gig Friday

Make more placemats

Attend guild dinner 

Wrap presents 

Wash, dry and fold some more fabric

Quilt a small quilt 

Yep, a smaller group of Spotsylvanians are still singing this week.  Much of the music will come from our show but we'll also being doing some sing alongs at each gig. 

I'm still trying to get more of my own tops done. I went wild buying fabric in November so it's time to use it.  Most likely I can get a small one done but preparing for Christmas comes first. I've been so focused on getting things done in my studio I haven't been reading quite as much.  Yep, I'm still getting a half hour in every day though.  I've read 608 days in a row according to my Kindle. And, wait there's more! I've read every week for 282 weeks! Let's see what that is in years? It's 5.4 years. Yep, I am a dedicated reader! 

Here are the Linky parties links. Go check them out!  

Oh Scrap

Stitching Stuff at Life in Pieces

Design Wall Monday

Sew and Tell

I'll be surfing the Web a bit over the next few days.  But Christmas prep has to take priority. And, I've been thinking about what I'll be doing in 2024.  I know I'm going to try the 15 Minutes Stitching every day. I'm debating whether I'll continue the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. I enjoy making the blocks especially if I pick an easy one. I'll be thinking about what else I want to do during 2024.  What are you planning on doing? 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie