Goals and a Few Finishes

We had a great Christmas but not the celebration we thought we were having.  Christmas Eve day our son called to tell us his wife had come down with Covid. He wasn't feeling all that great and also worried about the kids.  But the gist of the conversation was they couldn't host Christmas for us or his in-laws.  We all enjoy the opportunity to catch up with everyone while having room for the 17 of us to fit in the house or play in the yard.  Bummer.  Our daughter and her husband came up with a meal at their house really fast.  (Hum, what does it say about me when I'm concerned about the meal?) We were trying to figure out if a 6 lb. turkey breast would feed 7. They came up with a meal before we could figure that out! 

I thought I'd share some of the presents I made and ones I received after I do the normal goals post.  As you can see below I did pretty well on the goals. 

12/18/23

✅Sing at Mall and a private gig — done until mid January

Quilt a small quilt — the back is loaded ... but no sewing done

✅Wrap presents — finished with a day to spare!

✅Attend guild dinner  — Had a wonderful time — so much fun

✅Make more placemats — turned in 6! 

✅Wash, dry and fold some more fabric — 3 of 4 boxes done and returned, 1 to go

The gals who plan our quilt guild holiday party go all out. It was a beautiful scene and we had a lot of fun. 

So far this week I have been taking things easy. I did think about skipping goals but decided to go ahead and make a list.  I may not get them done but that's ok.

12/26/23

Quilt a small quilt or two 

Clean up several horizontal surfaces in studio 

Pick something fun and easy and make a quilt top

Finish Dec. Clue for Malted Mystery

Relax, read, and have fun 

Since some of the Christmas presents I made have been given away I'm including photos of two of my grands in their presents.  Remember the goals to embroider two sweatshirts?  Several months ago Urban Threads had a sale on some designs just right for sweatshirts.  I sent emails to both grands and asked them to pick the design they would like.  Sophie, the oldest, picked out several and asked me to surprise them.  Argh! How to make that decision as they were very different. I finally chose the first one listed. And, luckily they really liked it -- thought it was cool.  (I liked it because it had only 4 thread colors and only 4 thread changes. Yipee!) 

Natalie chose one after some prodding from her mom.  And, evidently totally forgot about it. (She mentioned that to me Christmas Day which was nice that it was a surprise.) Unfortunately I bought the wrong size sweatshirt and didn't realize it until after I'd embroidered it.  That went to my good friend's granddaughter who was tickled to get it.  This design used 8 colors and 11 color changes.  What was neat about both of them is I didn't have to buy any threads -- I used what I have. 

It's been quite a while since I last did any embroidery.  There was a learning curve to remember (or look up) how to do things but I think there might be some more embroidering in my future. 

Hubby got me two great Christmas presents.  One was a new sweatshirt. I relate to this pile of books.  Needless to say it hit the wash and I started wearing it right away.  

My other present hubby made for me after I sent him the idea.  Have you been using wooden blocks to help make your blocks/seams lie flatter?  I had the opportunity to use some at two of the retreats this year and decided I liked the bigger size rather than smaller ones.  I heard a lot of cutting, sanding and such from his workshop but didn't know what he was working on although I was hoping. I was really happy to see this 10" block. If you don't know about using wood blocks they started out in tailoring as clampers.  Someone decided it might work well to make quilt seams lie flat and they were right.  I always use steam with my iron as it doesn't seem to do well without it. Now I steam my units and/or my finished block and pop this wood block on it. It seems to pull out the heat and moisture leaving a very flat seam. 

I used this while working on some Happy Blocks and some of the blocks for Malted Mystery.  I was very happy with the results.  I chose a 10" block because I have the 9" (fin) Accuquilt Cube so I tend to make a lot of 9.5" unfinished blocks. 

Part of what's left of this week I need to decide on which UFOs I'll put on the APQ 2024 challenge. I might also list the quilts and other items I've finished this year.  I have decided I'm going back to keeping fabric usage and purchases again.  I've done it for many years and for some reason decided I didn't want to this year.  I wish I had so I'm going back to keeping that info. I'm not sure what new projects I'll start but might I admit to having a dresser drawer full of fabric and some patterns I pulled to use together.  I need to stop pulling and start using that fabric.  I keep planning quilts but haven't work on new ones since before October.  I also plan to participate in the 15 minutes of sewing every day at Life in Pieces. Although I do tend to sew every day, I am going to include time spent cutting fabrics, or cleaning up the cutting table and the like.  It all goes into the mix and counts toward sewing time. 

That's enough for today.  Here's some different blogs that I'll be linking with.  

Midweek Makers

Wednesday Wait Loss

Im hoping to spend some time surfing the Internet.  I really don't need more ideas, but it is fun to see what is going on with quilters around the world. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 5 - 23 - 2022

Great Weekend!  Pat and I went up to Maryland to attend and work at Faithful Circle Quilter's biennial quilt show.  It was suppose to happen in 2020, but you know what happened. Yep, canceled.  But a huge show was held this year.  I don't remember how many quilts there were but I registered mine close to the end and my highest number was 641.  I know mine weren't the last to come in -- I'm guessing more than 650 quilts were hung.  We spent part of Friday and all day Saturday enjoying and working at the show.  

Sunday we went to our daughter's house and had a fast lunch with the whole family. Afterwards, we all went to a local baseball field to watch the oldest grand play.  She made a hit in the first inning.  Yea! What you might not know is the whole weekend was swelteringly hot so we pretty much left immediately. The drive home wasn't too bad.  I just wished the gps didn't tell us it should only take 1 hr and 38 minutes when it almost always takes 2 and a half! We were hot and tired so no blogging was done until Monday. 

Up first is my goals list. Eh, not all that fabulous although there are a lot of check marks.  But further reading shows I barely got things done this week. 

5/16/22

✖️Sash blocks on May UFO no

✅Make Beth’s FCQ Equilter blocks I got some made but want to do more 

✅Make some blocks for SAHRR 1 done

✅Get 3 packages in the mail just 1 

✅Enjoy quilt show this weekend

I went off the rails, found a squirrel, got distracted.  Whatever you want to call it.  But I decided to make a couple of items to sell at the $10 and under table at the quilt show.  First I made a couple of luggage tags.

These designs are from Designs by JuJu. And, surprise, they are 40% off the rest of this month. Find them here.

And then, I decided I would make one of the key fob designs I have, also from Designs by JuJu.  

I embroidered two but the first one I didn't follow directions.  I forgot to run the entire design before I added the back.  Just look up quilt key fob on the Designs by JuJu and you'll find a nice selection of standard blocks. Surprise! They are on sale too. I may need to make some more of these -- they'd make nice retreat gifts.  

Here's what's on the list for this week. 

5/23/2022

Make more blocks for Beth and Fran for FCQ Equilterss

Make some blocks for SAHRR

Sash blocks for May UFO

Work on pyramid class project

Nothing new just trying to finish off a few projects. First priority is the May UFO.  While at the show I was able to nearly finish the last block -- I think I have half a hexagon to sew to the backing. You can see it laid out here. I'll get it done and then hopefully move on to sewing on the sashing.  My original plan is to not add borders but I'll reevaluate after I get the sashing done.  The best part of getting this one done is I actually have a backing fabric for it.  (Which is what I based my fabric selections on and I've had for 25 years or so!) 

I took lots of pictures at the quilt show so I'll be sharing them over the next few weeks. 

It's time to get this posted so you know the drill.  Spend some time checking out these great Linky parties. 

Oh Scrap

Monday Making 

Design Wall Monday 

To Do Tuesday 

Mid-Week Makers 

Wednesday Wait Loss

I doubt I'll get a lot done today -- maybe finish sewing the last hexagon down.  

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 11 - 29 - 2021

We had a great time on Thanksgiving.  It was wonderful to be inside, chatting and eating with the family.  The grands had a blast playing with each other. Now it's full steam ahead for Christmas.  I've already purchased (or made) quite a few Christmas presents so I feel ahead of the game. 

I still plan to make quilting progress even if Christmas prep take up some time.  Let's look at last week's goals.  

11/22/2021

✅Make doll dress -- finished and given to Ellie

✅Trim and bind Dino quilt -- done! 

Quilt small quilt of mine -- started, but I didn't like the design or thread I chose so I'm starting over on it.

✅Keep making string blocks -- another 6 or so are done 

✅Embroider last t shirt for the grands -- done and given away. 

Finish clearing off right side of design wall -- didn't touch it! 

I'm repeating some items and adding a couple new ones for this week's goals.  

11/29/2021

Quilt and Bind small quilt of mine

Clear off design wall 

Finish blocks for Ombre log cabin 

Start new quilt 

Keep making string blocks 

Here are the last two Christmas shirts for the grands. 

This design is part of the Elegant Christmas 1 set from Designs by Juju.  There is a great sale on until Wed, 12/1 if you are looking for some new machine embroidery designs. 

This design is called Naughty and They Gnome It by Urban Threads. Another good sale is going on -- 60% off site wide until Tuesday, 11/30. This looks like a dense design but it really isn't.  

In case you are wondering, no, I don't get anything from sharing these sites.  I just like the designs I chose and wanted you to know where to find them in case you want to use them too! 

We didn't celebrate two of our grand's birthdays when they happened. So we brought our gifts over Thanksgiving day.  Here's the dress and purse I made for Ellie's AG doll.  I used the same fabric as the dress I made for Ellie this summer.

I'm pretty sure her favorite present was the doll table and chairs Pat made for her.  (hum, she's wearing her Christmas t shirt too.) 

Hopefully next week I'll have some more quilty things to share.  I've finished a quilt or two that I haven't shown yet since I've been skipping my normal weekend post. 

I'm linking up with my favorite early week linky parties. 

Oh Scrap

Monday Making

Design Wall Monday 

To Do Tuesday 

Are you a fan of the Outlander books?  A new one (Go Tell the Bees I Have Gone)  came out last Tuesday.  Surprise, surprise -- I reserved the audio book and I got it first.  Down side?  Um, it's 49hr and 27 minutes on Overdrive. (And 49:51 as an MP3.) There are 155 chapters, and I'm at 9.  EEEK! I had it on most of the day once I was in the studio.  It's grabbed my interest from the beginning.  Now to make sure I get it finished before it is due. The back up plan is I have the book on reserve too.

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 11 - 22 - 2021

Do you remember what happened on this date in 1963?  I was in junior high school that day and I remember it pretty vividly.  Our president was assassinated.  It's hard to realize that was almost 60 years ago. 

Not so vivid in my memory is what I should have been working on this past week.  Although, surprisingly I did get to check off most of the items. Here's last week's goals. 

11/15/2021

✅Quilt Jenny's quilt

✅Border friendship stars

✅Sew ombré blocks together — hum stated wrong, I’m still making the blocks and I did get 2 done

Clear off the right side of design wall — started but no where near finished

Figure out turquoise blocks — this one is on the far back burner 

✅Keep making string blocks — Can you say leader ender? 

Here's the friendship stars quilt.  The stars were made each month as part of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

Because this is hanging over the ironing station you can't see the top row of light stars. This quilt makes me smile.  In the back of my head I'm trying to decide what I will do for the 2022 RSC.  The only thing I'm thinking so far is I want a larger block -- say 9" finished so I can use my Accuquilt Go Cube to cut the blocks. Time will tell. 

Now this week's goals. 

11/22/2021

Make doll dress

Trim and bind Dino quilt

Quilt small quilt of mine

Keep making string blocks

Embroider last t shirt for the grands* 

Finish clearing off right side of design wall 

*I embroider Christmas motifs on T shirts most years (along with Halloween and sometimes Valentine's Day.)  Notice it says last shirt. Yep, I've already finished 3 of the 4 shirts.  See Theo's and Ellie's below. 

This is Merry Rexmas from Urban Threads.  I think Theo is going to like that dinosaur. Are you an embroiderer?  Do you mix thread types in your stitch-outs?  I've got several different brands of thread and a mix of poly and rayon threads.  I generally go with the closest color. 

Hum, this didn't get done until early evening so this picture is not as bright as I wish it was.  This one is Feline Festive -- Christmas Present also from Urban Threads. I'll try to remember to share the last two later.  

I've been remiss in announcing my Stash Busting (or Enhancing) for October.  Weird that I haven't as I actually figured them in early November.  Nothing to shout about because I brought in more fabric than I used. But the out for the year number is pretty darn good still.

2021	Fabric In Month	Fabric In Year	Fabric Out  Month	Fabric Out Year	Total In or Out Year
Oct	18.00	105.250	11.25	123.625	18.375

 
I'm calling it done for this post.  I'm linking up with my normal parties. (Have you noticed I haven't gone back to link up To Do Tuesday for weeks??? I'll keep posting in hopes that one of these days I actually do it.

Oh Scrap!

Monday Making

Design Wall Monday

To Do Tuesday

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

 

Monday Meanderings 8 - 9 - 2021

Do you lose track of what day of the week it is?  I kept having to remind myself that today was Sunday, not Monday.  But this is the post I always list my past week's goals and the coming week's goals.  

8/2/2021

✅Embroider dolphin on swim suit cover up -- See Ellie happy with her new beach cover up. Oops! I forgot to take a close up the porpoise. 

✅Quilt and Bind Positivity quilt  - no binding yet

✅Knit on baby blanket

✅Work on blue basket again  

Load and quilt a charity quilt— no time this week. 

✅ Keep making ombre log cabin blocks

I was happy with all that I got done this week. Now what I'm planning to do this week. (Or at least try to do!) 

8/9/21

Bind Positivity quilt 

Make more red, pink, yellow and green Friendship Star RSC blocks and make 5 of turquoise 

Quilt blue basket fabric

Keep making ombre log cabin blocks

Knit on baby blanket (It'll be done soon, I hope!) 

I've cut out all the friendship stars I need for my RSC. (13)  I'm making extras of the previous colors and turquoise for this month. I also have several other blocks I need to make.  So I'll probably incorporate making those in with the Friendship Stars . 

Here's the one I'm making for Sharon for the FCQ Equilters.  They are 14" blocks so she doesn't want us to make lots of them.  Here's  Chicken Scratch! You can make one too by clicking on its name.  It is a free pattern from Moda. I'm probably making 2 more and then sending them off to her. 

Another short post.  I hope to be able to share my finished Positivity quilt on Friday.  Come back to see it! 

I'm linking with the following blogs: Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, and To Do Tuesday.  Hopefully I'll remember to link up the  Monday and Tuesday blogs.

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie  

Blue Table Runner

I have worked most of this week on my blue table runner for the Table Scraps Challenge.  Those participating are making table runners, placemats, or even mug rugs using the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color of the month.  I've added my own challenge to several of my projects.  This month I decided I would use one of the Accuquilt Appliqué dies I own.  (I own 5 or so but have really only used 1 of them.)  I started out this week getting the embroidery done on three squares of Kona white fabric.  I chose to use Go! Sea Life Medley die.  I also have the free embroidery files for this die. So I set up the embroidery module and got to work.  

I actually embroidered the crab first. Um, I guess it wasn't such a brilliant idea to use the variegated thread.  And, apparently it weighs differently than my usual embroidery thread as there was a lot of white bobbin thread showing on the top.  It took about an hour to do so I wasn't that interested in redoing it. The other two designs I used a thread that went with the fabric used and were done in way less than an hour. 

I added rectangles to the designs to make a square in a square block. I used RK Quilting Calc app on my iPad.  It's an older program but it works just fine.  I needed the dimensions to cut the inner squares and the outer triangles so that I would have 9" finished blocks.  It worked like a charm.  And, I could email the end results to my phone so I would have the measurements when I started to cut the fabric. 

Next up was deciding on some sort of border.  I was looking at my Go 9" Cube and realized there was a nice rectangle in it: 2.75" by 4.5."  That would do great.  I grabbed a bunch of different blues (excluding any that looked greyed.)  I didn't check to see if the die would work with the blocks but I figured they should since they were part of the 9" cube.  I was surprised that I couldn't cut a different fabric for each rectangle but apparently I have a LOT of greyed blues.  No matter two or three of each color worked just fine. 

Yep, it is difficult to get a picture of a long skinny runner. I definitely liked how it was coming together.  After the border was sewn together and on it was time to make the sandwich. Since I was going to quilt this on my domestic machine I used a red Frixion to mark the center of the design before I embroidered it.  Except, I also used a spray adhesive to hold the pieces of the sandwich together. Oops!  The cold adhesive caused the Friction ink to reappear.  A shot with the hot iron took care of it. 

On to quilting the runner. I stitched in the ditch around the white squares and also around the dark blue squares.  I carefully stitched around each appliqué.  Then I whipped out my blue tape and marked some straight line quilting on the borders and the rectangles between the designs.  I carefully marked a 1/4" from the outside edge so the quilting lines didn't get lost in the binding.  Several times I counted the rectangles to see if I had the right number so my design would come out evenly.  I was quilting diagonally from block to block going up and down.  Think of it as points \/\/\/\/ but stretched out for the length of the rectangle. Luckily it did come out just right. 

I had carefully planned out how much I would need to get done each day this week so I could post this blog on Friday evening.  This morning I was still finishing the quilting.  I sewed the binding on while FaceTiming with my friend Sharon.  I only got half of the binding hand sewn before my hands gave out.  Sorry, yes, there are some Wonder Clips on this "finished" picture.  I'll get the rest done tomorrow.  

You might have noticed that I've placed all of the fish going in one direction. Although this could actually be used as a table runner, I'm going to use it as a wall hanging either in our home or in our beach house in Nags Head.  Look at the cute holder I have to put it on. 

I still have more work to do on this table runner, wall hanging. I'll be sewing a hanging sleeve on it so I can easily put it on this hanger.  I'm also thinking of putting some buttons or beads for eyes for the crab, fish, and sea horse. 

It's time to link up with several great linky parties.  Join the fun and do a little Internet surfing this weekend. I'm linking to Midweek Makers, Needle and Thread Thursday, Can I Get a Whoop, Whoop?, Finished or Not Friday, Beauties Pageant, Scrap Happy Saturday, and Table Scraps Runner/Topper Challenge Linky Party. Phew, that is a long list this week.  I know I'm going to love seeing what folks are working on. (Don't we all need new ideas?) 

That's it for me today.  I hope to see you on Monday for Monday Meanderings. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meandering 12 - 28 - 2020

We survived our outdoor family Christmas gathering today.  It was held at our son's house.  The freeway was wonderful on the way up.  It only took us 50 minutes to get there. (I always assume an hour or more.) We all arrived around 10:30 in the morning in the hopes that the freeway wouldn't be jammed with travelers on the way home.  Good thought but didn't hold true for the home trip.  We took surface streets. It took us less than 2 hours to get home including picking up a lunch/dinner order on the way home.   

The kids and dogs were having a good time running around.  The kids all seemed to be in fewer clothes than the adults were wearing.  The newest dog, Walter, was really wild trying to keep people throwing the ball for him.  Cassie, one of the old ladies of the group, was happy to chase after a few balls until Walter started chasing her ball too.  Kona was pretty peppy for a dog with a tumor on her hip bone.  At 14 we hope she has a few more months of a decent quality of life. It was good to see her again since she's gone back to live at our daughter's house.  

Did I forget to mention the high was to be 43 but it was in the low 30s when we arrived?  The six adults conversed about what we'd done to stay warm: wool socks, flannel lined pants, hats, and gloves. I don't think it reached the 40s before we left. But it felt warmer in the sun.  After an hour of playing and chatting we all headed to the front deck to begin the present opening. 

It's hard to tell but all the grands are in this picture.  Theo is mostly behind his mom (in the red and purple hat) on the left.  The other adults were hanging out on the other side of the deck. 

The last Christmas present I finished is this fleece hoodie Ellie is wearing above and below. Here's a close up of the snowman design I machine embroidered on it. I bought the hoodie on line from Target but didn't notice there was a seam line coming down from shoulder to bottom ribbing making it difficult to place the little snowman. I wasn't thrilled with the results.  But I was tickled that Ellie immediately put it on.  She might have been getting cold by then. (The color is more accurate on the pic of Ellie wearing it.) Her dress was a wonder of sequins.  If she was in the sun and you were in the wrong place you were getting a glittering reflection right in your eyes!   (Random thought:  why didn't I add wrapping presents and doing the embroidery on my goals list?) 

I have to say I was tickled with the presents I got. I love that my kids ask me what I want for Christmas.  Heaven knows I don't NEED more fabric but I really like what I got. 

On the left are fat quarters personally curated by Jenny.  I love them!  There is a wide variety of colors, prints and all fit the concept of looking like solids from a distance.  I have a plan formulating in my mind.  But it will take a while for it to come to fruition.  The fat quarters on the right are a group I noticed at the Fat Quarter shop and passed on to Kevin when he asked for more suggestions. I have a great idea for these too.  Sneak back to the last post where I showed two blocks I made from new Accuquilt dies.  See that Ohio Star in red, white, and blue? I'm going to make some more blocks from these fabrics.  I am tickled pink with everything I got for Christmas this year.  

And now let's see whether I succeeded with my goals for the week.

12/21/2020

T Shirt Quilt - add the coping strips to last column, get vertical sashing strips on - ✔️

Make blocks for FCQ Equilter -✔️ in progress

Try to finish hand quilting done on very old Christmas quilt -✔️Progress made but not done. There's more to be done then I thought. 

Make more blocks for 2019 BOM quilt - um, nope

Quilt and bind one of my quilts - nothing done Not quite true. I tried to find a backing for any of the quilts needing to be quilted. But nothing was jumping off the shelf ready to go without piecing it. 

And for this week: 

12/28/2020

Continue hand quilting on Christmas Quil

Start working on borders of T shirt quilt 

Sew the red and black blocks together 

Quilt one of my quilts 

I was happy with all the progress I did make but forgot about all the time to prep the presents and today's outing. I fell asleep for several hours once we got home after 2 pm.  I don't think I woke up until 4:30 or so.  Slept. Like. A. Log! So no studio time today.

I'm linking up with my favorite Monday parties: Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, and To Do Tuesday. I'll be back to link up the last two one as it  is available.  Join the fun by checking out these links. 

I'm wishing everyone a week of fun times in their studio or in whatever they plan to do.  And, may be 2021 will lift the burden of Covid from our shoulders.  Stay safe and enjoy what we have. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie