Monday June 2, 2025

Welcome June.  Or maybe I'd rather have a few more days of May.  USA Today says summer forecast calls for "overwhelmingly above normal" heat starting in June.  We've been in the low 70s this weekend. By Wednesday it'll be 87 and continue for several days. That's seems too hot, too soon. Hum, I guess I'll just spend more time in my basement studio.  It's generally much cooler than the main floor.  So, how did I do on my goals this week?  Not bad, not bad at all.  See below. 

5/26/25

✅Bind 3 yd project & make label — done and given to recipient. 

Add borders to UFO project —  nothing done.

✅Quilt one of my projects — quilted top from 2022 or so.

✅Pick a project to cut out for future retreat sewing — picked out but didn’t verify there’s enough fabric nor cut it out. 

✅✅Sing two shows with neighborhood group — two great concerts with appreciative audiences from our neighborhood. 

The private project I was working on was a quilt for Rochelle who has been the Spotsylvanian's accompanist for many years. She and her hubby are retiring to Michigan. She is a terrific pianist, a giving person, and makes us laugh.  She will be greatly missed.  I was asked to make her a quilt to be given to her by the group just before our concerts the first week of May. First problem was finding music fabric but not instruments. Luckily I found some musical notes of various colors on a beige background by Quilting Treasures at Marshall Dry Goods. I was also lucky to find a red, light blue, and navy blue from MDG. Considering the time limit I decided on an easy 3 yard quilt. I chose Pretty Please that had been a free pattern recently. 

Here are the pictures I took as I made it. 

Blocks . . . 

And with the borders . . . 

I decided to use Susie's Magic Binding. Mainly because I cut too many of the lighter blue strips. I decided it really looks good with the light blue flange. 

I bought a new quilting design called Aria from Urban Elemenz.  Stars and musical notes -- bonus! You can see the design on the blue/red block but not so well on the print. 

Here are Darrel and Rochelle showing off the quilt. (Aren't those hydrangeas beautiful!) Darrel was one of our bases -- so we will miss both of them -- a lot. 

Last picture is of the backing fabric and the label.  I used a EQ Printables to make the label.  I may have gotten a bit wild on the font size. 

I was able to use the top of the fabric sheet to make some basic labels to put on quilts I've made this year and am actually keeping.  Hum, am I even keeping four of my quilts this year? Time will tell. 

Now on to this week.  All concerts are done, there are no rehearsals to go to. I should be able to spend time quilting, knitting, and reading. Awe -- a perfect week! 

6/2/25

Bind my quilted top 

Bind 2 placemats quilted after the above project

Cut out the new project for upcoming retreat

Make additional blocks for June UFO project

Add borders to May UFO project

Make some more string blocks

That seems like enough to keep me busy, especially if I try to do a little studio cleaning: put fabric away, do a little dusting, get rid of old catalogs.  Maybe some of that will happen or maybe not! 

Just a note about Marshal Dry Goods.  I give them kudos for helping me with a problem. The blue fabric I purchased from them for the backing ended up having a lighter streak on the fold line.  They were willing to refund my purchase when I told them about it.  I would have bought something else from them but I was lucky to find a dark blue with lighter dots from what was left at my local JoAnn Store.  I will be buying more backings from Marshals when I use up the last few backings I currently have.  

And, related to backing fabrics -- I'm making a decent dent in my collection of tops needing quilting.  At the beginning of the year I had none of my plastic hangers available to add more tops.  After quilting another top today there are six (6!) coat hangers waiting for new tops. I am not finishing tops at a high rate these days which is probably better. 

I've maintained my 100% 15 minutes of stitching. Amazing. 

W/ending 5/25/25. 152 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/May = 31/31
• 15 minute days/June = 1/30 
• 15 minute days/2024 = 152/152 days
• Success rate = 100%

As usual I'm linking up with these parties:

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap 

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Here's a bit more info on what is in the budget bill. These are a few of the items mentioned in USA Today earlier in the week. 

There's a provision in the bill that would restrict judges' ability to hold people accountable for violating court orders. To me this means weakening the judicial oversight that is part of our Constitution's balance of power.  This is definitely an important area of my concern. 

There would be a ban on federal regulations on Artificial Intelligence. It would prevent states from creating new regulations for AI and block states that have regulations from enforcing them.  (Side note: In my reading this week there was an article about AI refusing to stop its programing when instructed to.  EEK That just sounds awful to me. AI maybe a great leap forward but it must have regulations about its use and purpose.) 

New fees would be charged people who are trying to immigrate to the USA. Here are a few suggested fees:  $1,000 to request asylum, $550 payments every 6 months for work authorization, $500 to apply for temporary protected status. 

There is a lot more in the bill but those stick out to me. I keep waking up in the middle of the night worrying about what the United States will be like for my grandkids.  That is one reason I pay attention to multiple news sources regarding the happenings in Washington and across the country.  If you are worried about the ramifications of this budget bill write your congressional representatives.  Send them a post card. I've read where that is a much more visual way of communicating your opinion.  The cards end up on someone's desk. And if enough people do it, it can be overwhelming. 

Monday Meanderings 10 - 12 - 2020

 Yea for the start of another week!  I'm just about done with my OMG and I'm really ready to hang out and not be so focused on my quilting goals for a couple of days. 

It's hard to believe but my design wall is mostly empty.  Well, except for the "important" stuff I hang on the edges because I don't want to lose it. 

Today I thought I would share one of my Halloween quilts.  I have a series of quilts that get hung around my house for Halloween.  This one is called Trick or Treat.  It was started in October of 1999 as a row robin with a group of people who had met on Prodigy. It traveled back and forth across the United States and even visited Spain before it was returned to me.  We each made a row but did not attach the rows.  I did that when I finished it a few years after it came home. 

My row was the pumpkins. These were paper pieced from a free pattern from one of my local quilt stores. (How is it I can remember that detail from over 20 years ago and I can't tell you what I did yesterday?) (All pictures should enlarge if you click on them.)

The next row is "Wanted" with witches, ghosts and pumpkins. 

And, of course, we have to have some black cats and bats. Candy Cane Sue is looking for treats.  

Along with some of her friends. 

Some nice geometric blocks card "tricks" and rails finish it off.   

But wait! There's more! 

I started a label before I sent off my pumpkins and asked everyone to sign it and identify their row. 

Do you know any of these quilters?  I'd love to hear what they are doing these days.  

I've entered this quilt in guild Halloween quilts activities.  It was voted best halloween quilt in one of them.  It always gets a lot of oohs and ahs when I share it.  No doubt I've actually shared it on my blog before but this seemed a good time to share it again.  It's one of my favorite quilts.  

The other great thing about the quilt is that label.  I wanted folks to identify their row and for that to be a permanent part of the quilt.  Thus I made a big label.  I spent time to "fancy" it up.  I'm guessing I traced the tree, title, and bat.  Maybe all the rest were free hand drawing. (I'm not known for my drawing ability!) I've used this label as an example of what you can do to your labels to add some fun to your quilt.  

I'm linking with my favorite Monday Linky parties: Oh Scrap, Monday Making, and Design Wall Monday.  Please take some time to check them out and visit various blogs.  You never know when you'll see something that you just have to make. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

 

Quilters Meet and Greet

Welcome to my little corner of the Internet. I hope you are having a fun time checking all the different blogs that are participating in Quilters Meet and Greet. With October just around the corner, I've decided to share some Halloween quilts that I really like and hang up every Halloween.  First up is a round robin done by a group of gals who were all active on Prodigy in 1999.  We did this as a row robin.  Each of us sent a row that would give the general theme to the rest of the members.  Mine was Halloween. The top row of pumpkins was mine.  If I remember correctly the rows were not attached so folks just made a row to add wherever the owner wanted once everything was returned.

  It was a lot of fun to finish this quilt up.  I was so impressed with the Sunbonnet Sue row.  The little "candy corn" at the door also had a paper bag in her hand.  I always get so many nice comments when I share this quilt.  And, because I was really on top of it when I sent my row out, I also have a really cool label for it. 

I just love that tree.  I am guessing (cause heaven knows I don't remember) that I traced it from a book of art for quilter's labels.  Everyone signed and said what part they produced. With one gal from Spain it was an international group.  I can't remember if there was a Canadian or not.  Hey, if you remember this round robin or see your name please send me a note. 

My second Halloween quilt is a cute little wall hanging -- The Witch Is In.  I made it from a pattern but I've loaned it to a friend who has recently moved. Thus I didn't really know the name.  However, after an hour or so on the Internet here's one place I've been able to find the pattern. I had a lot of fun making this quick pattern.  It's the perfect size to hang in our great room.  (Hum, I probably need more longer, skinny quilts to hang there.) 

The next two are very small, projects doable in a day.  The first one is Grim Ripper.  (No, not reaper, ripper....) I was able to find the location of the free pattern if you want to make one for yourself. It is 10" x 13" and would fit beautifully on the iron stand shown in this post. I bought it from Connecting Threads. Now I just need to add some loops and remember to put it out come October. 

And my last little Halloween quilt is one that was either given to me in a swap or I bought at a silent auction.  It is a darling little pumpkin -- one that can stay out for all of the fall months. It is tiny -- 8" x 10"  It's made up entirely of 1" finished (1.5" unfinished) squares and half triangle squares.  The background is various black fabrics.  And the stem is one green square and one half green half black triangle.  Hope that gives you all the info you need in case you want to make your own scrap pumpkin. 

It's been fun sharing some of my Halloween quilts. (Heck, I think these are all of my Halloween quilts. But it might be time to make a new one....) 

Click on the picture above to find a list of the bloggers who are participating in the Meet and Greet.  Then take some time to visit a few of them.  

And, there is a grand prize that you might want to sign up for too. Click on the box below to sign up for the grand prize. (Both of these link will go active on Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 8:00 am Atlantic time.) 

I hope you spend some time visiting the links listed above.  

Thanks for visiting. 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Design Wall Monday 11-4-13

Late today as I was out of the house at 8:15 on my way to pick apples! Sadly, I have nothing new of mine to show today. But I can show you what is going back on Ruthie. 

Michelle won these blocks from our block lotto at the retreat.  She quickly sewed them into a baby quilt and passed them on to me to quilt and bind for her.  Hopefully I'll have that all done by this Saturday's meeting.  I won 6 of them also but I haven't decided whether I want to make more or do something with only 6.... decisions, decisions. 

Next up is a label Jenny has made for her Row Along quilt. (Hum, I don't think I've taken pictures of it since I've gotten it.  Notice she has me down for quilting it... and this pic is from June! I received the backing from her last week so it is in line to be loaded on Ruthie.  Luckily she doesn't want it back until we see her in early December. 

How about my goals... not the most productive week but I had several events happening so didn't have as much time to stitch. 

Week of Ocober 28, 2013

Bind June retreat quilt √

Load and quilt bright and white 4 patch on Ruthie √

Quilt Michelle’s Black and White didn’t happen

Make binding and bind Michelle’s Black and White or this either

Sew together pinwheel quilt √ started

Sew up 3 pillowcases√

Border shaded 9 patch wasn’t even looked at

Help out at photo session at church Sat.√

Make desserts for Election Day bake sale √

Week of November 4, 2013

Finish binding on bright and white

Quilt Michelle’s Black and White

Make binding and bind Michelle’s Black and White

Load and quilt Kate’s green 1600 quilt

Border shaded 9 patch

Use x block ruler to cut 9 patches and make last two rows of red, white and blue quilt

Plan Christmas placemats

Sew three more pillowcases 

Make labels for quilt group

That's it today.  Make sure to visit Judy's Patchwork Times for the links to design walls across the internet. 

Happy Quilting All! 

No Posts??

No posts for how many days?  And, I have no excuses or reasons.  I have been working away in the studio for several hours a day -- just nothing finished to show off yet.  I will have my Valentine's Day quilt finished today ... (sans label probably...) so photos will be taken and posted.  

Now you might ask why no label when you know I support the concept a quilt isn't done until it is labeled?  I tend to make my labels on the computer.  I use Printed Treasure sheets and a program that allows me to put pictures or designs on the labels.  As most know, those sheets aren't cheap.  So I tend to do 4 on each sheet.  Right now I only have 2 quilts ready for labels.  One is coming close but who knows what the 4th one will be.  I do go into the software and actually design the label so the information is recorded but the actual printing will take place when I have filled the page. 

Happy Quilting All.  Bonnie