Monday Meanderings

Here it is Monday again and I've really done very little in the studio.  My biggest success is finishing the Big Sebago Tote by Aunties Two. I love the colors.  I'm a bit overwhelmed by the size.  And, darn it, it was not an easy tote to make. I wasn't thrilled with the directions.  I think the biggest issue on the directions was the color pictures used two fabrics that looked too much a like and I suspect a different but similar fabric was used in some of the photos.  This pattern was put together rather strangely and because of that it was difficult to work with the pieces.  I changed the handles.  The directions suggest sewing the handle casings together.  I plan to make a snap on or velcro on handle cover for it to make it easier to load the tote.  Nope, I won't be making one of these again.  Who needs 2 giant tote bags?

For the most part I did well on my goals but truth be told I petered out on my stitching early in the week.   Here's how I did this past week.

February 27, 2017

Work on tote bag√

Work on afghan repair √

Make border for 16 patch nope, didn’t happen

Bind orphan blocks quilt √

Quilt r,w,b boxed squares top oops! started loading it…

Figure out project for March OMG√

And here's this coming week: 

March 6, 2017

Quilt and bind boxed squares

Continue repair of afghan

Work on Tangram blocks

Make some red RSC blocks

Begin sashing the A Ticket, A Tasket blocks**

Enjoy In House Retreat

** Sashing and bordering my UFO A Ticket, A Tasket is my OMG for March.  I've got the fabric picked out.  I shouldn't even need to buy any new fabrics for this quilt.  (Well, until I look at backing it!) I'm hoping this goal is done by the end of the weekend.  

Wednesday evening my buddies Sharon, Marybeth and Nancy are showing up for our fourth annual In House retreat.  We sew up a storm and have a great time talking and enjoying ourselves.  We'll all be worn out when we finish but it's well worth it.  I am definitely looking forward to them coming down.  And, this year we really are only an hour and a half or so away from each other so the drive will be easy for them. 

I'm linking up with the regular parties: Monday Making, Main Crush Monday and OMG Goal link up. Enjoy checking out what's happening on the internet.  

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

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Design Wall Monday 1-12-2015

What's on my design wall?  Nothing new so I didn't take a picture of the fuzzy, thread covered wall with spare blocks hanging around.  There was something on the wall though.  I pulled out a set of pinwheel blocks that are listed on my UFO list and laid out a 4 x 5 set of the 12.5" blocks.  I plan to take them with me to the beach to get them sewn together.  I even picked out a border to go with.  Hopefully I'll get them cut before we leave.  

What I did do is make a new tote bag.  This was the program for the guild on Saturday.  I'm looking at making some more totes so I thought I'd give this one a try.  I threw the fashion fabric on the long arm and had it stitch out an overlapping wave.  Even with the homework done, I didn't get it finished at the guild.  I decided to make my handles shorter and realized, after seeing the samples, I wouldn't like the end result.  So, I did all I could until I needed the handles.  Because I am trying to finish up UFOs, not start them, Sunday afternoon I pulled out the fabric and made a second handle, cut them to size and finished the tote.  YEA ME! 

This was a really easy bag to make.  Some patterns have you use charm squares to make the fabric.  Yuck -- that would have taken forever.  I'm thrilled to have it done, to use a bit of my stash and not have a new UFO!  It was a win-win situation. 

Part of the week I was working on a quilt for Kay.  This was such a pretty quilt to do.  I tend to only quilt a half a day at a time so this one took longer than I expected but it was fun to work on.  Unfortunately the quilting design did not show up well.  Note to self:  think a LOT about doing any quilt in black.  It was hard for me to see the thread on this one.  I was able to stop and start my machine so I didn't run through the embroidered flowers.  This can be marked off my weekly goals! 

I used the Ginger Flower design with black thread from Essential Pro by Connecting Threads. 

I had great luck with my toned down goals.  

Week of January 5, 2015

Finish quilting 2 charity quilts√

Start quilting Kay’s quilt√ finished

Decide on block for the FCQEquilters and send to members√

Finish listing my UFOs and prioritize them√ some are prioritized

And this week's goals. 

Week of January 12, 2015

Sew pinwheel blocks together for TAPS quilt

Cut and sew sashing for Wild Dog blocks

Finish small cross stitch, start next one

Finish second turquoise sock

Do you know about TAPS? Project Linus headquarters has asked for quilts from all U.S. chapters for the TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) camp held each Memorial Day weekend in Washington DC.  The grief counseling camp is attended by families affected by the death of a loved one while serving in the US Military.  Some Project Linus chapters set aside red/white/blue quilts collected throughout the year for TAPS.   The goal is to have enough quilts to provide every child with a quilt at the camp.  Recently my guild in Maryland requested quilts for this project. Here are the guidelines sent by Project Linus of Howard County. 

•Quilts must be NO SMALLER than 45″ x 50″ and can be up to 50″ x 60″ for a larger or older child.

•Quilts must be patriotic in theme with red, white and blue coloring
•Quilts must not look like an exact replica of the American Flag (a flag is often placed over a casket and will remind the child of that painful moment).

 I was happy to find this opportunity because I'll be in Maryland just when the quilts need to be turned in and I have several UFOs that are red, white and blue blocks. You'll see quilts that fit those guidelines on my goals lists for the next few months.  It would be great to use all of the pinwheel blocks I have.  Even if I only get one quilt done it is a start and for such a worthy cause.  

Have you checked out the 15 Minute Studio Spiff Up page?  Click on the button or the page listed above.  I've just started which is why I know what I have in terms of UFOs.  We'll see how successful I am doing this week's assignment.  I'm trying to keep one week ahead of what every one else is doing.  Here it is the second week and I may be failing falling behind. I still have a day or two to get back in line!  

Check in with Design Wall Monday at Patchwork Times.  

Now, I'm off to get some things done and hopefully, more time in the studio.  

Happy Quilting All! 

Friday Night Sew-In Results

I was in Maryland for the Friday Night Sew-In. And, I forgot all about it. But, never fear I did get some sewing done on Friday so I'm counting that instead of Friday night! As my reader's know, my kids sabotaged my fabric usage during the month of December, and, as it turns out, the whole year. Kevin gave me a nice tote bag kit from Connecting Threads. I was determined to get it made right away so I could use up the 2 3/4 yards of fabric in it. Well, truth be told I got a good start on it but I was making dinner that night and Saturday so I had to split my time between that and sewing. So, I've got the two handles done and the body of the tote with the pockets. Next I need to quilt it and make up the lining and bottom. (I think...) Monday I hope to finish it. I'm planning on using it to hold current knitting projects or to carry stuff to quilt groups. Hum, decisions, decisions.

One of the reasons we were in Maryland was to celebrate Kevin's birthday. (a week late but at least in the same month!) I got creative with his birthday cake. He couldn't decide whether he wanted chocolate or vanilla. So I decided to do a chocolate marble cake. No problem, buy the marble cake mix and get on with it. Except the grocery store didn't have marble cake mix. No problem, I can fake it. Which I did but turned out just a little drier than it should have been. And, then to get really creative, I made chocolate and vanilla frosting. I was going to make squares or circles (think quilt here) but decided it would be much easier to just do half and half.
And, Saturday afternoon Aimee

and I went off to Capital Quilts. I was looking for a fabric to go with the light print and the green. These are going to be used Friday for another Mystery for Relay mystery quilt. I am so excited. I've had the light for, um, er, 10 - 13 years or so. I really like it but haven't had any great ideas for it. I was thrilled when it was more than enough to make the next mystery quilt. And, I found the green in the stash too. But nothing else went with it so I was really looking forward to shopping for new fabric. Yeah. Capital Quilts had several pieces that went nicely but I decided on this one. Look for pictures of this later this week.

We're back home after a long drive home in the rain. I was cold nearly the whole trip for some reason. But now I am toasty warm sitting by the fire! I'm going to read a novel for a while and then maybe knit some. Tomorrow -- clear the decks, I'm sewing again!

Happy Quilting All!