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. 

Stitching Stuff

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings 

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 8 -- 18 -- 2025

This past week was quiet for me -- especially after all the fun and action while my friend was visiting. I took afternoon naps... not necessarily on purpose. I would be reading after lunch on the sun porch and all of a sudden I would wake up an hour later with my Kindle in my lap and feeling way too warm.  I figured I must have needed the extra sleep.  I did finish some books and  I've halfway finished another ebook.  Although I did pretty well on my goals I didn't spend as much time being productive in the studio. 

8/11/25

✅Keep working on project bag — one sheep done. 

✅Read a book or two — finished 2 audio books and 1 ebook.

✅Wash and iron new fabric and put it away — only a few pieces to finish.

✅Quilt one of my tops — a RWB sampler quilt is loaded. 

✅Make blocks for various projects — 3 blocks made, more still needed to be done.

This red, white and blue sampler top was from Sherri McConnell's block of the month in 2022.  Earlier this year I put the blocks together with sashing and borders.  I have to say I really like this top.  I've decided to keep it rather than give it to my local quilt guild to give away.  We have a quilt hanger in our entry way which can take this size quilt so that is the plan for it.  I probably won't get back to quilting it until Tuesday.

Here's my Rainbow Scrap Challenge block in aquamarine.  Unlike my normal method, this month I decided to focus on turquoise fabrics that lean more to the green side.  I haven't made the opposite color way with more light blocks yet.  Hopefully I will get it done this week. 

I also realized this week that I missed some of the monthly colors for RSC this year. I need to make blocks for orange and purple. I'll be trying to get caught up on those colors over the next several weeks. 

Here's the last Happy Block I made using the popsicle fabric I used at the retreat. 

I've got another Happy Block quilt almost ready to sew together.  Here's the current layout. 

The blocks need to be moved around a bit still. Because these blocks have all sorts of colored frames I like to look at the grayscale version.  Hum, just what I thought. There are three blocks that read dark in column three.  I think I've substituted some thing else for the 4 row, 2nd column block also very dark. I'll be playing around with these using this photo as my guide.  Hopefully I'll be able to finish the top and find a backing for it soon.  

Here's my plan for the upcoming week. 

8/18/25

Keep working on project bag

Quilt RWB Sampler 

Make some more blocks: RSC, nine patches with the white center,  

Sew current Happy Blocks into a top

Put borders on a 3 yard top and possibly quilt it.

Finish binding two quilts. 

I've maintained my 15 minutes of stitching this week.  I knit hats for an organization that needs around 300 in the fall so I always have a hat on my needles and can knit a couple of rows to make up my stitching time each evening if I haven't already done some quilty "stuff." 

W/ending 8/17/25. 222 days of 2025

• 15 minute days/August = 17/17
• 15 minute days/2024 = 222/222 days
• Success rate = 100%

I keep finding mistakes in my postings.  I'm pretty sure next year I'll change up this report to make the math more accurate or easy.  Did I ever mention that I went to 11 different schools from kindergarten through high school? Once my folks took me out of public school to put me into private school. Sometimes I went to a different school in the same school district. And, a couple of times we moved mid school year or at the beginning of a school year.  What I finally figured out rather late in life is I did not have a good grounding in arithmetic.  I'm lousy at math in general. I say all of the above to explain why I keep finding mistakes in my stitching reports! I do know that 222 days is as of Sunday, 8/17. So this report looks accurate. 

That pile of new fabric I shared last week has been ironed and put away with the exception of the top fabric. This week I washed 5 or 6 yards from a bolt of fabric I purchased from Marshall Dry Goods. It's a mottled beige and I plan to use it as the borders and backing of one of the 3 yard quilts I started at retreat. If I get the borders done I'll share pictures then. 

As usual I am linking up with four Linky parties.  Please take a some time to visit and check out some of the blogs that are listed on the parties. I keep getting way too many ideas but I like to see what everyone is working on! 

Stitching Stuff 

Oh Scrap

Design Wall Monday

Monday Musings

And before I call it a night I want to mention the administration's assault on Washington, DC.  DC is not a state although they would like to be. Because they are a federal district the administration can send troops into the city to patrol. From local news reports these troops have been working in the areas that are more visible -- near where federal buildings and parks are located.  One of the things that has been said is that DC is a crime ridden area.  That there are awful people in the city.  Just to put the record straight DC's crime rate is down. "Total violent crime for 2024 in the District of Columbia is down 35% from 2023 and is the lowest it has been in over 30 years, according to data collected by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and announced by United States Attorney Matthew M. Graves." You can read more about it here. 

One of the scary things about federal troops "policing" the District is they have no training in that area.  I keep waiting for some one to be killed or seriously hurt because of the wrong people "policing" the area.  

I, for one, do not think DC is in an emergency and it does not need federal assistance.  I am hoping that the troops are only there for the 30 days allowed for  this "emergency".  America is NOT a police state.  

That's it for me.  

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 3 - 8 - 2021

What do you think?  I've been working on a sampler quilt using some blocks from The Anniversary Sampler Quilt book by Donna Lynn Thomas.  A group with the Country Piecemakers guild decided to make a quilt together in 2019.  I joined the effort late.  I purchased the ebook and pulled up the directions on my iPad.  It worked pretty well for me actually.  

The quilt I was planning would have the 6" finished blocks with a 1.5" sashing around each block. I had a piece of fabric I bought over 20 years ago picked for the sashing and pulled and purchased batiks to go with it.  Fast forward to 2020 when I had quite a few blocks finished and sashed. Take a look...

Um, no I don't like it at all.  Too distracting. Too busy. Just too much. So I removed the sashing pieces and continued to make blocks.  Then a friend brought me a quilt to do that had a lovely light blue batik backing.  Hum, would a light blue work better with these blocks? 

My thought is it would be better but it isn't perfect. Too pale I think.  What do you think? Any suggestions I should look at?  So, one of these days I'll take a road trip to a quilt store and see if I can find the perfect fabric for the sashing. I will audition a bunch of different fabrics -- batiks and tone on tones and possible prints.  I'm sure the right one will be obvious.  

My plan now is to make one more block that will work in the right bottom corner.  I've put green blocks with more weight in the other corners so I'll try to find one equal to them. I'm thinking of not using the block on the bottom row, second from the left.  It just looks way too different from the rest. I also need to do the math to see if these blocks and sashing will come to the size I want.  We hang a quilt over the fireplace, that we never use, every month or so.  So I'm trying to get a few more quilts made for more variety.  

I will still use the floral fabric for the backing though. A back story about the fabric.  I was either picking up or dropping off a child at a church camp or a music camp in western North Carolina when we lived in Atlanta.  On the way I found a children's dress manufacturer having a fabric sale. I ended up stopping and buying a few pieces of fabric. It was relatively inexpensive and cotton. It seemed like a perfect buy. I was able to use the other piece(s) without too much difficulty. (Yep, I don't remember how many pieces I actually bought but I do know this is the last of the pieces.) I think I have 5 yards of this floral print. So, I'll have plenty for the backing of the batik quilt and possible enough for another quilt back. Time will tell. 

If you remember my goal list from last week you know I was going to work on the anniversary quilt. Here's last week's goals...

2/28/20221

Make a couple masks ☑️ 1 for each of us done

More Anniversary blocks  ☑️ 

Quilt a charity quilt for FCQ☑️ one done, 2 to go 

Make 3 or 4 more blocks for FCQ Equilters ☑️. Ready to sign and send them to Oregon 

Pull out the Chunky Churn Dash blocks to see if I need more blocks & make some as needed☑️ Several blocks made, deciding layout and fabric needs now

Now what I'll be working on this week. 

3/8/2021

Begin March table runner 

Quilt customer’s quilt 

Start a flannel quilt using some pink and purple flannel mostly from stash

Finish planning the Chunky Churn Dash blocks

I don't know if I'll stick just with these 4 goals but they're enough for now.  The flannel quilt is a new project I've added to use up several pieces of flannel I have hanging around.  I purchased 3/8th of a yard at JoAnns -- they are trying to get rid of flannels so the price was great! Did you notice that odd amount I bought?  I'm cutting 6.5" squares and sewing them into the quilt.... hopefully I won't have much left after I make this quilt!

We're a week into March and I haven't announced my fabric usage for February.  Let's just say I am continuing the trend of using more fabric than I am buying! YEA!

2021	Fabric In Month	Fabric In Year	Fabric Out Month	Fabric Out Year	Total In or Out Year
Feb	1.00	9.00	6.75	12.25	5.75

** Side note -- I copy and paste this chart from Word.  Every other time I've done this I've been able to resize it.  But not this month. So, sorry that it's so large. Who knows whether it will be this size or smaller next month! 

On that note, I'm going to list the linky parties I'm joining and then post my blog! Oh Scrap, Monday Making, Design Wall Monday, and To Do Tuesday. I hope you'll spend some time checking out the blogs listed on these linky parties. (I must be ahead of the game as only Oh Scrap is available Sunday evening. You know I'll link up later with the rest.) 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Design Wall Monday 12-30-2014

Since Christmas is now over I can share pictures of a big quilt I did for Jenny.  The blocks in this quilt were made by the members of our Queen Bee group.  When it was Jenny's turn we chose our blocks and she sent out fabrics.  I made a couple but can't remember which ones.  She put it together and asked me to quilt it for her.  It is a big quilt and we decided it would look best with custom quilting. (Am I crazy?)  I had it for quite a while waiting for Ruthie to be computerized.  Then I felt I had to have some experience under my belt.  With plenty of time, or so I thought, I loaded it on Ruthie.  I had to buy a few things, like a sashing pattern and a couple of individual block patterns just for variety.  I used what I had for the most part.  What I decided after I was totally done was I should have bought some additional patterns for specific blocks.  Over all, I was pleased as was Jenny.  It went to her mother-in-law for Christmas, hence the secrecy!

I never got a full view picture of the quilt.  It was bright and cheerful.  Most of the quilting was amazing.  I had some issues at the end trying to keep the sashing pattern actually on the sashing.  Could have been me or the piecing, I just don't know enough about this quilting with computerized system to say.  Here are some of the photos I did take.

Ruthie is a petite girl at just 18" so I had to turn the quilt to do the last row and the bottom sashing and borders.  I guess I need to really think about what size quilts I put on her.  Luckily it is very fast to load a quilt using the red snappers. I'm hoping that Jenny got a picture of the whole quilt when she gave it to Tonya. 

And, now, a cute snowman we saw driving up the rural way to Kevin's house on Christmas day. These are bales of hay that have been wrapped in white plastic.  This farmer often has bales decorated so passer bys can enjoy them.  

Here are my goals from last week.  I'm surprised I got as many of them done as I did. I seem to be way behind this year. Ellie got her ornament but I've got Sophie's a third of the way done and Natalie's isn't even started. Note to self: start 2015 ornaments much earlier.

Week of December 22, 2014

Wrap presents√

Hair cut√

Finish Ornament for one and continue on the others√

Embroider other stuff (hum, I wonder what I was thinking on this one…??)

Slap a quilt on Ruthie and let her do her thing√

Finish snowball blocks for FCQEquilter

Make aprons for the grands (so didn’t happen…)

Make 2 different types of cookies (2 batches of one style got done…) √

I'm not posting goals this week.  I am going to re-evaluate how I do goals for 2015.  I may continue as is but I'm thinking of making them more long term and only posting once a month.  Any ideas on that?  

Have a safe New Years.  I'll be back probably on New Year's day to post my stash busting statistics.  I'm not terribly excited about actually having busted more fabric than acquired.  I'll admit all on my next post. 

As always I'm connecting with Patchwork Times. 

Happy Quilting All!