Thanksgiving preparations

 Much of the food purchases for the Thanksgiving feast has been made.   A few more details are yet to be had.  But I am excited to prepare a dinner for my daughter and her beaux. My son and family are unable to come from Louisiana; he works at the VA hospital there even on Thanksgiving. 

 My daughter has always loved Thanksgiving more than other holidays: her favorites: food including the important mashed potatoes, family with the focus of the celebration gathered around the table together sharing what they are thankful for and football. While she has moved to Detroit, the Green Bay Packers remain her team. Yesterday she watched the game through her zoom to my computer while it is facing the tv screen. The Lions were playing simultaneously. Both teams ended up winning.

I truly enjoy being with her anytime. What a wonder to see how this pink screaming baby has grown into such a mature strong person. And I am privileged to be a part of her conversations about triumphs, losses, and struggles. 

So the house is being cleaned, and straightened and organized in preparation.  Not my favorite thing to do, but makes for a better me. I will give much credit to the spouse who has been exemplary in his help. The holidays are here. 

The only sewing I have been able to do is 2 of my Tilda blocks for the Everlasting pattern by Cory Yoder. This brings the total to 14 of the needed 20 blocks. Each block is 16 inches big, and I sew an additional line to each triangle to make bonus ones. (16 per block,  320 for the quilt)

My goal is to have the 20 blocks ready for retreat.

Otherwise, my handwork  time has been for cross stitching on Christmas projects. The first one is for the Jingle Ball in 2 weeks. EEK. My Hands On Design pattern uses pearl cotton and whisper both of which I have not used before.

 The second one, I started last year and put the Primrose Cottage pattern away after the holidays. 

I am not nearly as proficient a cross stitcher as a quilter and have had loads of fun unstitching my mistakes or miscounts or colors. Ugh!  But I trudge on. 

Hope you will enjoy the holiday wherever you are, near or far.

100 Blocks DONE!

 I have been slowly over the past several weeks working on my 1 inch strips to make a small log cabin block. ( 5 inch unfinished)

And today, they are all completed.  I would chain 3 or 4 at a time. This would allow changing colors if the random color on the stack did not match the block. I did not always agree on some of the light fabrics that were in the selection. Sometimes, I would use the back of the fabric instead, because it was lighter. 

A week ago I did a search of how I would set the 100 blocks into a top.  I ended up really liking Gretchen's Barn Raising setting from her 2019 tab of completed quilts. ( Gretchen Little Corner)

I just discovered my first post on them was from October 14 of this year even. I really stuck with it to remember how I squared up each log as I added it.  My mini ruler was a perfect assistant. 

Center as I laid they out. I needed for all dark squares for the center of the star. 

And all 100 blocks:

It will only be 45 inches square when finished. 

And here is what is left of the original precut box.

I could make a few extra... but I am DONE making the blocks. 

I now have them all paired up for webbing and putting it together on retreat next month. 

Here and gone!

 More trips have been happening: 

Last week, I first went to Detroit to see my daughter.  The weather was nice and the trip was so beautiful with the fall foliage. It was truly lovely to repeatedly see a copse of trees with a rainbow of crimson, gold, rust and greens of every shade.  Sometimes it seemed like they were leaning over the fences greeting me as if to say, " Hey!  Look at me, too!"

We spent time in Ann Arbor browsing different shops. I picked up a few Christmas presents.  The next day we toured Edsel and Eleanor Ford's residence in St. Claire Shores.  It is on the lake and has beautiful grounds.  The house was built for them and is just incredible. I thought 50 to 75 year old antiques were good.  No, they had a Ming vase 4000 years old as well as many, many others  several hundred years old.

Edsel was not born into a wealthy home as Henry Ford did not get into his automobile production in his 40s. That was something I did not know.  I have been to Greenfield Village and the museum before. So I was somewhat familiar with what Henry had done.

This was garage. Oh my the cars...

It was short but just great to spend time with my daughter. 

Then I left for my hometown, Shelby, Ohio for a birthday party of old friends in my childhood. My BFF and I were born a day apart and our mothers shared the hospital room. So I had so much fun seeing him again

I also spent time visiting my old Victorian house I grew up in. The tears flowed as I saw the property and even met the owner who showed me the kitchen renovation. Such stories were recalled and shared.  The ghost, Levi, whom my mother saw when we lived there,  is still present and pulling tricks. And not scary at all. Even the owner in between now and my era was familiar with him.

On the way, I stopped in Galion, Ohio for a cross stitch shop which is housed in the hardware store. husband and wife  as well as their daughter work together. Of course, I purchased  a few patterns and some canvas and floss.

On the trip back I got caught in 2 snow squalls...I gripped the steering wheel and refused to change lanes for fear of ending in the ditch like so many others.

I have been home for 2 days, sewing away on my mini log cabins.  I now have 76 of them completed. Hooray!

Tomorrow I leave for Indianapolis to see my sister and mother while my husband attends a percussion convention.   

Hand stitching for now. 

Another quilt top

 Several years ago, I started a rainbow scrap quilt with primary colors. And the project stalled with 5 colors completed. I don't even remember where the inspiration came from.  

So on my quest to reduce the number of unfinished projects, I pulled the box out and found 40 completed blocks.  I had black and white pieces fabrics with some already the right size. It is basically a potato chip block with cut dimensions of all pieces 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches and only 1 round of color. 

I made another round of dark blue blocks  4 with white centers and 4 with black centers bringing the total to 48 blocks. I laid them out and assembled them into a top. And VOILA, a quilt top  finished.  

This will be a donation quilt.

Additionally, I am now up to 57 mini log cabin blocks. I hate to stop them for fear I lose my strategy of chain piecing and precision work. Over half way to 100.  Good progress.

Pineapple progress and finish

 For the past 3 days I have sat at the machine slowly and carefully quilting my pineapple top. 

I first laid it out and used quilt basting spray to adhere all the layers making sure to get it flat and secure.  I was careful for this step as the last one ended up with puckering from the walking foot. 

I did not use it this time and planned to do straight lines per this suggestion.

I used my regular 1/4 inch foot and used a card as a guideline to keep my lines straight. It also helped to keep the fabric flat. 

The downfall with this was repeatedly turning the quilt to get the shapes as shown.

After much body contortions to twist and turn the layers 360 degrees under the needle, I saw a pattern that was much easier.

And so the quilting was finished by first going horizontal and then vertical. 

I was so pleased with myself to use my geometry and see patterns within patterns. 

I selected a bright colorful fabric for binding to pull all the colors together and am sewing the binding down by hand in front of the tv.

DONE!  HOORAY! 

Home is such a lovely place to be!

 I have enjoyed being home this week and have been productive on lists around the house and projects needing work. 

Thanks to the positive comments on my pineapple, I got it out and made a go at the math for adding my coping strips. And in the end, didn't need any adjusting at all. On went the half square triangles and the framing border. 39 by 43 inches

This week, I hope to do some straight line quilting to get her finished. Such lovely memories of the exchange with the quilt guild for the blocks. 

I also made 2 more project bags from my purchase. ( 2 more background and batting cut out) All the little ones are finished.  It was fun to plan some quilting designs and quickly sew them up.  Little projects are the best sometimes. ( unable to be seen in photos, sorry)

In the evenings with my hubby on the other end of the couch are spent in front of the tv. I have had my wool project assembled, but needing the hand stitching. This is a pattern and kit from Buttermilk Basin. Now all that is needed are the bits and bobs.  Instead of 3 little pillows, I intend to assemble it into a long pillow. Each about 6 by 8

Fall

 After a little rain, the trees began to change their colors. It is later than usual for the colors this year and because we have been so dry, it has not been so pretty. But my what some rainfall can do for us.   Fall is my favorite time of year.  Love the foods of pumpkin and squash and apples.  Love the crunching of the leaves on walks. And it has been warmer as well. All good signs of the season.

So what have I been working on: 

First off, I made 2 of the fabric bags for a Lori Holt kit I picked up in Houston at the quilt festival.  It was a last minute splurge.   The fabric is a printed canvas. I have layered and quilted the sides.  Lori Holt has a great video on Youtube that shows her steps which is well done. 

Quilting follows the lines of the fabric across on the top, diagonally on the bottom

Additionally, I have now made 24 of my log cabin blocks that are 4 1/2 inches big.  Only 76 left to do. 

                                        2 groups of 10 and 4 extras

And lastly I made a pile of half square triangles with black background for my pineapple quilt.  2 inch size. Now to attach them to the quilt and figuring out my coping strips. Hooray for progress.

Back to my regularly scheduled program

Well, maybe...  I am back home and and I am trying to get back into the swing of things. I am hoping to use my time more wisely and utilize some of the tips and tricks I learned at Houston. Barbara Black was a fantastic speaker.  WOW!  And so was Christen of I see Stars vlog on Youtube.  Both were incredibly organized and experienced and had wonderful ideas. 

First up some little blocks: 

 I purchased a box of precut 1 inch logs for a 4 1/2 inch log cabins from Pieceful Gatherings in Chicago some time ago. (They no longer will cut these.)  It has been on my unfinished list to do.   And I really do like small pieces.

So I have been taking an hour at a time here and there to chain piece a few at a time. I am measuring each new seam to make sure my seam allowance is accurate.

And here is what I have so far.   

It will make 100 blocks total, which is NOT very big. 

Additionally, I am finishing up a couple cross stitch projects for bowl fillers. 

They are small: 4 and 5 inches and need stuffing.

I am glad to be back blogging and "talking" to you all.

Houston Quilt Festival

What a bucket list experience! There was so much to see and buy. And no, I did not purchase a sewing machine or high end ironing station or cutterpillar. Nor did I really buy fabric. But notions and patterns, yes.

I will start off with a post about the incredible winners. AND they would stand in front of them and talk about their process and answer questions.

Ricky Timms and a section of his amazing grand champion. This was at his concert. The music was moving. I did not realize his first career was in piano performance and composing with a scholarship to college.

He even made a shirt with the raven printed on the fabric from spoonflower.

Herr he is with the whole quilt. Amazing: hand dyed, theme and incredible details. Even a poem around the edge in the binding stitched upside down and backwards. 

Sorry it is sideways.

Karen Kay Buckley with hers. The DETAILS just blow your mind front and back.

Again sorry

Carol Bryer Fallert Gentry with hers digital printing and incredible feathers.

I don't remember her name. She was short in stature  but mighty in talent: over 30,000 of the 7 mm hexies completed over 10 years. There was a friend nearby who translated some questions.

Tree skirt

 I  am enjoying the tree skirt. It all started by needing to use up some excess flannel from a previous quilt.  So starting with some off white and green Bonnie Sullivan prints were good for a Christmas tree skirt. I just needed the red holiday print for the back and for some piecing.  ( It ended up being much more expensive than I realized. )  Oh, the price of fabrics these days.

But I digress. I am using my favorite pattern with the variation.  I am getting very good at set in points and completed 23 of them for this project.  Funny how all that sewing as a kid pays off. 

*

The next couple weeks I will be off the grid as we have the wedding to attend in the Minneapolis area for a relative. And after that we will visit the awesome grandkids again. I can't believe how they grow in more ways than height and always love hearing about their friends and their school.

Immediately following that I get to go to Houston for the quilt show. And I can't wait.