Monday Meanderings 9 - 22 - 2025

What a week. I seemed to be blah about quilting although I got a charity quilt done for the local guild.  One day I mostly read a book. (More about it at the end.) We've had some rain so most grass in the neighborhood is looking much better.  And I volunteered to make name tags for the Spotsylvanians...I'm still working on that and it needs to be done by tomorrow! But first let's see how I did on my goals this week. 

9/15/25 

✅Cut, prepare, and sew  binding on Ombre Log Cabin — well, the binding is made but not folded or sewn on. 

✅Sew binding on baby quilt — done! 

Continue cutting out Magnificent Mystery Quilt — oops, nothing done. 

Keep making 9 patch blocks and/or RSC blocks — actually I did get a two 9 patches done but nothing else. 

✅Quilt two quilts (not mine… sigh.) — one was done and returned.  

Not so many goals completed this week.  But here are a few pictures of what I did accomplished this week.

I decided to use the black to light grey ombre for the binding.  I was able to cut and sew the strips together.  Here it is over the backing fabric, a wide back pink ombre. I'll be folding, ironing and sewing it on this week.  I'll be sewing this on one side and then hand stitch it down. ARGH -- I hate hand sewing binding down.  But I'm planning to on this one so I can make sure all the points on the edges are showing, not cut off. Plus Sharon talked me into it. 

I did get one top quilted for Virginia Star Quilt Guild.  I thought it was a small one. Um, no. It was a big one.  Here it is after it was quilted. I believe the piecing of the scraps was done on adding machine tape. 

You should be able to click on the picture and enlarge it. The quilting design is Quick and Easy Swirls by My Creative Stitches. In all those little fabric pieces I found at least two that I had or have. 

Here's what I hope to finish this week.  

9/22/25

Prepare and sew  binding on Ombre Log Cabin

Continue cutting out Magnificent Mystery Quilt

Make two more potato chip blocks for RSC

Try making one section of paper pieced tall tree

Attend a grand’s soccer game

I thought I'd share the tall tree pattern picture so you know what I'm tackling this week.  I haven't decided if I can actually make this while on retreat. So, I'll cut out the pieces based on the sizes given and then see whether it is fairly easy to piece.  I'm not holding my breath that this will be super easy.  The pattern is called Tall Trim the Tree and is designed by Cindi Edgerton. Unfortunately she has retired. You might still be able to find her patterns but the supply is limited.  The various "ornaments" are from a different pattern which I don't have so I may not be making them.  Although, I'm sure I can make a few 3" or 4" blocks to add to the tree if I decide I want them.  I'm happy to note the top section has a very limited number of pieces... I should be able to put 5 pieces together, right? 

So here are a couple of things I did this week that were off list. 

Sharon and I FaceTimed and got block 9 done of the Cali & Co mystery quilt by Coriander Quilts. Sorry that the lighting isn't even on this picture. For some reason the left light isn't as good as the right light. (yep, 2 lamps shine on this block -- actually most of my indoor pictures have 2 lamps shining on them.)

Only three more blocks to make until the final reveal. Hum, I don't think there will be anything but putting the blocks together.  But I could be wrong. We'll see in December. 

And here are the 9 blocks all together.  I need to pay better attention to the colors I use on corner triangles over the next three months.  Seems like I have a lot of the same colors which might make it hard to place the blocks in the final layout. 

I think I've cut out all of the Economy blocks I'll need.  So over this week I made 3 of them to add to the 2 already done. Hopefully I've cut enough medium color blocks so the quilt won't look too dark overall. 

Somehow I was able to continue my stitching streak for 15 Minutes to Stitch.  Here are the details. 

W/ending 9/21/25. 264 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/September 21/21
• 15 minute days/2024 = 264/264 days
• Success rate = 100%

Have fun reading blogs this week.  Don't forget to visit these Linky Parties. 

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The book I spent all day reading and finishing was Elinore Lipman's newest. Every Tom, Dick and Harry was a hoot. Once I started reading I didn't want to put it down. It was a light, fun read. Here's my library's description: 

"Taking over her parents’ estate-sale business is not the life’s work that Emma Lewis bargained for. Yes, she grew up helping them empty people’s nests, but nothing prepared her for her biggest and stickiest “get”--the grand, beautiful house of ill repute masquerading as a decidedly beddable B and B. Should Emma turn down potential clients in need of decluttering just because they are shady, escort-y, and proud of it?

No. A girl must make a living.

Around some hairpin turns Lipman ingeniously reveals a straight shot to happiness."

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings -- 9/1/2025

I can't help but rave about our weather in the Mid-Atlantic region.  The humidity has been low. The temps have been in the low 70s to the high 70s.  But wait, there's more! We woke up to the high 50s a couple of times this week.  Amazing.  So much nicer than it has been recently.  And yet, I did spend a lot of time in the studio this week instead of outside.  

Here are last week's goals with a bunch of green check marks. Yea! 

8/25/2025

✅Bind Space quilt and ✅ Red, White and Blue quilt — both done! 

✅Quilt another small top — little quilt went fast! 

✅Cut a top for October retreat — Hens and chicks cut out!

✅Finish Cali-Co block — done.

✅Keep working on project bag — got another section done.

Here's the Red, White and Blue Sampler quilt done. (I took this on the floor in the studio, not outside so the lighting isn't as good as I wish it were.) I need to figure out why the borders are waving more than I expect them too.  Any one have suggestions? 

You can't really see the quilting design on it but it is Quick and Easy Stars by My Creative Stitches.  I like it because it does go quickly and it is easy! 

I quilted the little Happy Quilt from last week. It was less than 36" square so I only needed 1 1/4 yards for the backing and I found it in my stash. And it went really fast!  I'll share photos in the future.  

I finished cutting out the pieces for Hens and Chicks.  You can see the pattern and the 3.5 (unfinished) 9 patches on the May 5 post. (It's close to the bottom...) First are the 3.5" bright squares. And then all of the background fabric except the border and binding.  I'm looking forward to getting this to top stage.  I think I have some bright green fabric for the borders. May be there will be enough for the backing too. (dare I hope so?) 

I was happy it didn't take all that much time to tear out the stitches from the August Cali-Co block.  And I didn't have to start over -- for the most part the center blocks minus the 4 corners were ok.  Here's the finished block. 

And here are the first 8 blocks together.  I really like how this quilt is coming along.  (Hum, is this going to be another keeper for me? It could be...) I just slapped these up on the design wall.  I'll pay more attention to colors once they are all done and I want to finish the top.  

And now, what I hope to work on this week. 

9/1/25

Put borders on Soho 3yd quilt from July retreat

Quilt another top

Cut a top for October retreat

Clear off right side of design wall 

Begin cutting fabric for Magnificent Mystery Quilt from Meadow Mist Designs

My next retreat is only 6 weeks away. I hope to have 6 projects to take with me. If they are really easy I can easily make one a day. Two kits are done -- one left over from July.  I have a paper piecing project I want to start now and see if it would be easy enough to work on at retreat. Maybe not the whole thing but a couple of sections finished would be great. It would be good to have a couple more 3 yard quilts to work on too. 

Sunday we decided to go on an adventure -- well an adventure for us as we had never been to the Virginia Scottish Games.  We weren't going for the games as much as for the Scottish dogs.  There are 13 breeds that come from Scotland.  You can read more about which breeds come from there here. I'll wait if you want to check it out ... lalala ... right, you're back.  Did you read the list to the end? Yep? Well guess who is a Scottish breed?  Yes, our own little Sunny dog.  We thought she might like to meet some dogs that look like her.  And she did.  Westie Rescue -- Mid-Atlantic Region had several dogs looking for homes and a bunch of Westies who had been adopted through them were there for Sunny to meet and greet. Here's some photos of our morning and early afternoon. 

Sunny is the dog in the back.

Each day there is a parade that includes a bagpipe band, a showing of the clans and the walking of the Scottish dogs. Usually the dogs are at the back of the parade. Except this year they ended up being at the beginning of the parade.  No picture of Sunny in this group -- she was behind, closer to the end. (I believe the brown dog was with one of the spectators to the right.)

There was also a Wheaton Scotty dog and a Black Scotty. 

After the dogs, the bag pipers marched out. Below is a 30 second video I took of the bagpipers with some of the dogs walking at the end. The last two dogs are the Wheaton and Black Scotty.  Sunny is right in front of them. 

I can report I stitched every day this week.  Here are my current numbers. 

W/ending 8/31/25. 236 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/August = 31/31
• 15 minute days/2024 = 243/243 days
• Success rate = 100%

One more thing to report this week.  Some of you know I read a lot and try to read every day on my Kindle. I'm sadden to report I forgot to read one day this week.  (Silly me, I put an extra 15 minutes in knitting after I'd spent half the day sewing!) I was just beyond 500 days and, sigh, I was knocked back down to zero. Today I'm up to 5 days.  The positive note is I've read 371 weeks in a row. That is over 7 years in a row.  Not too bad, eh? 

As always I link up with several different parties. Please take some time to visit these sites and see what others are working on.  I apologize for not linking up the other two parties last week. I don't know why I forgot about it but I did.  Sigh. 

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I hope you make time for quilting or stitching every day.  I know with all that is going on in the USA now it helps me find peace and calmness.  

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 7 -- 21 -- 2025

No news on the weather here.  It's been the same for most of the week.  Maybe a little more humid than last week. UGH.  This week it is suppose to get to 95˚ (that's 35 C.)  Heaven only knows what the "feels like" temp will be. On the other hand I'll be up in some local mountains.  Nothing that high but hopefully slightly cooler. But I'm going to be in quilting heaven -- it's retreat time! 

Last week's goals- 

7/14/25

✅Make more FCQ Equilter's blocks — A couple more finished, a couple need to be finished.

✅Put some fabric away/ clean up a bit a lot — Great progress made! 

✅Make more string blocks and trim — did not trim yet but more were made.

Load and quilt one of my quilts — nope, not done.

Cut more Happy Blocks — a few more cut and a few more fabrics found.

First up 4 of the FCQ Equilter's blocks. I've got two more partially made. They'll be waiting til next week to be finished. 

I spent a whole day cleaning up my cutting table.  I got 2/3rds of it done and looking great. Here is the before picture. 

This is what my secondary cutting space looked like when I started cleaning.  I didn't take a pic of my main cutting area. It wasn't this bad because I use it for cutting all the time. But look at the difference! 

The front area is mostly cleaned up. The area with the yellow mat is my main cutting area looking ready to be used. Of course, after I used it it didn't look that good. Sigh. But I did put any fabric on it away -- the rulers can stay there. 

If you could see the whole front and the right side better you would see that side still needs a lot of work. I've found that I tend to leave fabric out, bits that are usable if cut into squares and HSTs but I never seemed to get to it.  I'm hoping I can have another day cleaning out the fabric bits and pieces next week when I'm back from retreat.  There are a few other areas that need work too. 

Since I didn't think to take any pictures of my string blocks let's move on to my goals for this coming week.  The biggest thing is the retreat I'm going on with 6 of my quilting buddies. So, sewing my several quilt kits together is my main plan. 

7/21/26

Attend retreat

Piece these tops in the order given as time allows:

  Soho

  Triple Rail baby quilt

  Irish Christmas (my fabrics are spring colors!) 

  Counterpoint 

  Pretty Please 

  Dinos and Friends (PCQ Charity Quilt for Kids)

Write article on Mysteries and Sew Alongs 

Keep working on cross stitch project bag 

Yep, I've got a lot of projects but it's ok if I don't get to all of them.  Soho is leftover, untouched, from the October 2024 retreat. If I don't get all of the projects started they will stay for the October 2025 retreat. Many of these are 3 yard quilts so they should be fairly easy. 

I did start the counted cross stitch on my new project bag.  I didn't get much done but here it is. I won't mention how many stitches I took out either.  It'll go with me and maybe I'll be able to get some more stitching done.  

I also did the July Cali-Co block. My friend Sharon and I call on FaceTime and chat as we make the block each month. So here is block 7. Hum, I need to trim this block especially on the right side.         ↘️

Here are all seven blocks together. 

I'm enjoying making these blocks.  I have no idea what the final quilt will look like -- but I'm looking forward to making all the rest. 

I have been sewing or knitting or cross stitching every day this week.  Not bad! I'm still at 100%. 

W/ending 7/20/25. 201 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/July = 20/20
• 15 minute days/2024 = 201/201 days
• Success rate = 100%

I leave Tuesday for the retreat. We rent a house in western Virginia that is set up for quilting and scrapbooking retreats. Unfortunately we do have to bring our own food. We cook dinner in pairs but bring our own breakfast and lunch supplies.  I'm all set with my quilting plans and food plans.  I just need to pack and drive off on Tuesday.  I'll be back Sunday early in the afternoon.  

Please check out these Linky Parties.  Lots of great things to see from bloggers around the world. 

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Happy Quilting All! Bonnie