Monday Meanderings 9 - 16 - 2019

You would think I would remember what I was going to put in my blog each time I started to write one.  But that didn't work well for me last week.  I left out several pictures that I'm sharing today. 

First up a big thank you to Nancy who blogs at Wyoming Breezes.  I've read her blog for years.  Her posts aren't long, aren't always about quilting but they are always interesting.  She had a contest last month.  I came the closest to guessing how many 4 patches she'd sewn in a chain.  I was 14 under the final count of 226 units.  EEK that is a lot of sewing and cutting.  The prize arrived over a week ago.  I took pictures, prepped the picture to put into last week's blog and then proceeded to forget about the whole thing.  GOOD GRIEF.  So here's my prize package that was so much fun to receive. I own several postcard quilt patterns but not these two.  I suspect there will be a Voyager in my future. I also send notes and cards through the mail so the gorgeous note cards will be put to use soon.  Thanks Nancy for a fun prize package and a fun little contest. 

Here's what is on my design wall this week. First up is 10 hexagons made to enter a block lottery at retreat at the beginning of October. Each block earns you an entry in the lottery. Colleen, who organizes the whole retreat picks a number of blocks you can win and then draws a fairly large number of winners.  But wait! There's more.  Instead of just picking the number of blocks won, you are blindfolded as are all the other winners and you grab the number of blocks you've won.  It's wild but fun.  Last year was the first year I didn't win any blocks. (Not that I minded -- I always have to make quilts from the blocks so it was liberating.)  Colleen was interested in hexagons this year so here are the 10 I made following her directions.  Must have nature oriented center, a dark ring and then a light ring.  These things took forever to make.  Think 12 fairly short seams and after each seam they needed pressing and trimming.  I was happy to finally finish all of them. 

The other action in the studio centered around this set of blocks.  I started them in January or so. I trimmed them to the same size (13.75") and sewed the vertical sashing in place. I'm ready to sew the horizontal sashing. Note, the top horizontal sashing is just placed there to show what it will be like.  And, darn it! The rows are probably an inch wider than the width of fabric I'm using. Gnashing of teeth and growling. The colored fabrics were from a fat quarter stack my daughter gave me for Christmas.  I'm happy to put some of them to use here. Actually the background fabric, sashing and corner stones were all pulled from my stash. Hopefully, I'll be able to show you a finished top soon.  

I've decided I probably won't do weekly goals for a while.  But there are a few projects I'm trying to finish by the end of the month. I'm posting a list because I don't want to forget what I need to get done before the October retreat. 

Quilt two charity quilts for Faithful Circle Quilters

Cut and package 2 more quilt kits to take on retreat

Clean up the cutting table so I can use all of it again 

That shouldn't be all that hard to get done as there are two more weeks until retreat. 

I'm linking up with Oh Scrap!, Monday Making, Moving It Forward, and What I Made Monday. I'm planning on spending some time seeing what people have been working on.  Last week I didn't spend quality time with blogs.  I missed that.  So, I hope to do better this week. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

What's Done

I finished hand quilting my little Hexagon Flower quilt last week.  I'm happy to share this one as I started it in 2011!  Evidently I didn't work on it all that much over the ensuing months. 

I love the little wavy stencil I used on the border, but evidently so did Raggs as one end was chewed up after I left it some where he could get it. 

I am now working on an Orange Peel small quilt.  Both of these patterns came from Kathleen Tracy's books.  Several weeks ago I showed how I was making the peels.  It has been so easy to just grab the little bag of my supplies and applique away.  I've been doing them by colors so I can use the same thread if I cut too much at a time.  Most of these are from a box of fabrics all from one line that I won about a year ago.  I'm using a bunch of different backgrounds.  I may take far less than a year for this project. 

Do you do Quilts of Valor?  I try to but seem to not finish all that many in the long run.  But I love to make blocks and ship them off for someone else to finish them.  Alycia is doing another block drive. And this time the incentive prize is hand dyed fabrics from Vicki.  Yummy.  Go to Alycia's blog to get the details. The blocks are due by March 8th.  I need red, white and blue fabrics so I will be looking for some bright ones soon.  Of course, I'll hit up my stash first!  

Happy Quilting All! 

Design Wall Monday 5-16-11

I didn't get much sewing time this week.  So, I'll show you a new hand project I started. 

Yep, I've fallen for hexagons.  I've made two flowers.  And, I've got 2 or three flowers ready to sew together.  These are going to be sewn to small squares rather than making a quilt totally from hexagons.  


Each flower will be from a different fabric.  Most of the fabric is from two 1800s reproduction fabric lines that are from the Smithsonian. 

Here are some suggested back grounds.  What do you think?  The one I like best in person doesn't show particularly well on the camera.  It's right above this paragraph.  There are very fine vines on that background fabric.  The gold one looks pretty good on these pictures.  Decisions, decisions. I need to cut out the pieces so I can start sewing the finished flowers down. Then I can pop out the hexagon papers and reuse them.  No way am I hand cutting bunches more of those things! 






Now on to my weekly goals.  Was I productive this past week? 

Goals for 5/9/11

Get Ruthie back working. Almost there…

Finish quilting Jenny’s quilt. See above…

Quilt Happy Quilt. See above …

Gather goodies to send with needle case & mail them. Gathered but not mailed.

Put borders on Easter Quilt. Oops.

Make quilt for doll quilt swap. A little further along

Start on the 4^th of July banner UFO. Finished. YEA!

Pick fabrics for workshop at June retreat. Second oops.

I was trying to decide why I got so little done this past week.  Wed was our tea and craft group.  Thursday sun screen film was applied to the windows and one was right where the sewing machine usually sits.  Friday a group of us were out and about for almost the whole day.  Saturday Sophia, Jenny & Brian came and stayed until midmorning on Sunday.  I really could have sewn Sunday afternoon but it was such a gorgeous day that we took a walk, worked on the roses and read our books.  A lovely leisurely afternoon. So, a not very productive week -- quilting- wise.

Goals for 5/16/11

Get Ruthie back working.

Finish Quilting Jenny’s quilt.

Quilt Happy Quilt.

Mail needle case swap.

Put borders on Easter Quilt and get it ready to quilt.

Finish doll quilt and get it ready to quilt.

Make something for the retreat gift swap.

Pick another UFO to work on. 

This sounds an awful lot like last week.  Hopefully I'll have less oops and more finishes! 

Don't forget to visit Patchwork Times to see what is on design walls across the country. 

Happy quilting all.   

a final picture of Sophia and Pat looking at the magnolia tree in the back yard. Photo by Jenny and a much better camera than I have!