And the Games begin!

 I love watching the Olympics...and have for decades. I can even remember Peggy Fleming spinning away decades ago.  I loved the ice skating then, and still do.  I had dreams of skating away myself.  I could maybe go backwards on the ponds in the park. Not very athletic am I.

But while watching all the amazing athletes and different winter sports or learning about Italian history and culture, it is great to do hand sewing or cross stitching in front of the television. I do have a binding to finish for my latest wall quilt.  I can't wait to show you. 

In the meantime, I have my last blocks for Baltimore Bliss completed.  As they are only fused on, I have lots of stitching ahead before I assemble them and then get it quilted. But it is great to get the 12 blocks completed.

Additionally, I have finished a few more Dear Jane blocks. I have been able to keep up with the group on facebook and even add a few more of the geometric simpler blocks. The online group has been focusing on the center blocks.  And that is good as I have done most of the top 2 rows and am now working on the bottom one. I have no intention of completing the intricate triangles in the border,. So I will need to create my own setting.  ( a long ways off)

I have also completed a Valentine cross stitch for a bowl filler. 

And 2 Stash Bee blocks for February: 12 inch blocks

Quilting day with friends

I have caught up with my Dear Jane blocks from the Facebook page. Man the sawtooth star in the 5 point star was a bugger: even with paper piecing. But it is out of the way and done.  Here are the blocks from the quilt along:

This one needs some tweeking in the center( They are 5 inches.)

So I have 22 blocks completed so far. 

And I have made progress on my Baltimore Bliss from Fat Cat designs. It was easy to take for a day's work. No heavy machine to carry. Very nice to share conversation and a meal with friends and get some dedicated "sewing time" in.  Mostly tracing and cutting of the appliques. 

Another is cut out and ready to assemble and a fourth is in the process. 

Which leaves me with the cross stitch progress to share. I am liking the Lugana fabric to stitch in. This is Primrose Cottage Winter Quaker pattern

Project boards and more

 I have been trying to organize a little.  ( And then I get quilting and the fabric piles up.) But I found some foam core board I had previously cut.  I found a video on how to use glue stick and your sewing machine. This is the link I used: it was a very information video I found on Youtube: Project boards: no hot glue   

It worked very well: I used flannel on the front,  forgetting I had a peel off sticking surface on the back.  No matter.  Just glad to have them and want to make more. Used up some jelly roll strips, too.   

What was nice about this was that you measured the edges on both the front and back so that when it was finally sewn on the machine it came out perfect. And instead of using hot glue, you used glue stick or I actually used Elmer's School Glue.  

My finished size was 10 inches.  I think I will make more. 

And on another front, I did finish my row around the center block for the Stay at Home Round Robin using a LOT of quarter square triangles. 

To Indy and back home

 It was a quick trip to see my MOM and stay with my sister and brother in law. I was fortunate to have some good experiences with Mom as she is slowly slowing down. But she is ever the trooper and glad to have visitors.

  Her care nurses are absolutely great. We are so lucky! And the unit supervisor was pleased with the new baby quilt.

I really had fun with some free motion flowers in the hearts to mimic the fabric. I hemmed the binding on the trip down knowing the drive is about 5 hours. 

So all I have been able to work on after that cute baby quilt was finished has been cross stitching. But that is fun, too. 

Stay warm wherever you are! It makes for good stitching weather.

Baby quilt interlude

 I was doing so well, sewing some during the day and cross stitching at night.  Then I remembered that I needed to make the baby quilt. This is for the head of my Mom's memory care wing at her nursing home.  I had purchased the fabric in December.  And I started the blocks, Yeah.

After speaking with Mom on the phone, I realized I need to go see her.  I don't know how much longer this tough 94 year old can last. And that day she was slow to converse, but knew who I was. 

So fast forward the piecing:  

Here is the layout. It shouldn't take too long; it needs to be done before I leave on Thursday. 

I have been fiddling around with my Dear Jane blocks and finished 2 more. They are kind of fun as they are small. I did join a Dear Jane group on Facebook. This week's looks extra tricky a sawtooth star inside a 5 point star in a 5 inch square.  Wish me luck. ( Paper piecing will help.)

And I have finished the one cross stitch piece with the mittens. Now to frame it.

Here is a nice visitor in my back yard; 6 point buck! He liked the my husband's birdseed.

Hope you all are keeping up with your goals.  

Sewing and Cross stitching

 I already have detoured from my quilting goals.  I saw this really easy pattern on Sentimental Stitches, which they sold out.   So I pulled out my bin of Kansas Troubles and started cutting out 2 1/2 inch squares.  Next to cut the background strips of 1 1/2 inches The pattern is kind of an Irish Chain. I plan to have this be my leader and ender project as a side project. 

I cut up all the jelly rolls and charm squares. and found 3 mini charms. So that gives me another pile to the container. My background is leftover from a wide back of another quilt.  I have probably a yard and a half left. I will see how far it takes me. 

And I am so pleased to be making some good progress on a couple of counted cross pieces.  One I can frame for winter; the second I will save for next year. 

I hate how my phone turns it sideways. This is an old one found online.  I couldn't find the green and had to buy a new one. 

Just Santa's  hat and face to go!

Starting those planned goals!

 It is hard to start the year wanting to dive into some projects when you are nowhere near your sewing machine. NOT that I am complaining about being with my grandkids or anything.   That of course, is some much needed hug time, reading time, and fun interactions.  They grow every time I see them and it was only 3 months ago.  It just surprises me especially the younger one. Such a special time to create memories. I always have presents for them to DO something creative or assembling something as well as books. There was slime making using shaving cream which always smells and feels nice. 

I miss them already.

We had a nice stay with them and enjoyed some great time with the whole family.  My son is a really good cook and both he and his wife made my favorite dishes: their lasagna, some grilled items, and their version of a Philadelphia cheese steak.  It is so nice to be catered to instead of doing all the meals.

Louisiana was warmer than Wisconsin and without snow, but it was damp and a little cool. Next year, I need to remember to pack more sweatshirts. 

No snafus with the airlines this time, which was much nicer taking off and arriving on time as planned. ( Last time we were delayed on our first flight, missed out connection, and stuck in Houston for 13 hours before actually departing for home.) 

But now that I am home, I have returned to the sewing machine: 

New Stash Bee: 

very easy blocks.

Dear Jane block.  I started an online group of facebook which will release a square per week. Here is the first one with them which is the center block. 

And I dug out an old block to start a NEW project: the SAHRR. Thanks Nann for the reminder to try it again. 

My block is an applique one that I made using Lori Holt templates and pattern. I tried her method using interfacing. I really enjoy the hand appliqueing, but did not like this method as much as using templates and turning under seam allowance  and utilize start to press it or using Karen Kay Buckley's circle templates and basting and gathering them around it. Perfect every time. 

Hope you all are enjoying the new year and have enthusiasm for all your quilty projects, too. 

New Year's goals

New Year:   new and old goals 

My pile of unfinished projects is diminishing.   But of course, there are more hiding in the shadows. 

 A    Projects to finish:

1) Baltimore Bliss: 2 blocks yet to receive for directions, plus piecing together.

2) Blockheads 4:  Fig tree colors with light lime green. The applique border is needed to make.

3) Jen Kingwell's    Midnight at the Oasis. Churn dash and orange peel blocks made.?????

My colors are very different using Kim Diehl fabrics

4) Stash Bee quilt:  red and white for Jensen, my grandson.    I have 10 blocks.  September is when I will be getting more blocks. 

5) Snake River quilt:  oldy by Judy Martin in fall colors published in 2007. So I would think it is from about then as that is well before my blog. This is what it looks like, but mine is only the center blocks and they are not sewn together. And the blocks are not square and need revamping. My coloration is fall fabrics with the outline in browns.

B  Projects to continue:

Dear Jane quilt: 20 blocks completed of 113.  No deadline, just progress

       

Projects to start: 

1)Baby quilt in pinks  and fabric from My sister and Me, by Moda.  Always a bright spring colored combination ( The baby is due in February.)

2) Little blocks America, a red, white, and blue patriotic block from Sentimental Stitcher, a quilt store in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Pattern to be released each week for 50 weeks.

3)  Autumn Love; kit by Lori Holt...I have had the quilt for a few years. The original sew along was 2018. The organization along looks daunting. Only a few blocks are pieced. I have the templates as well, but am thinking about using them without the interfacing method. Hmmm.

So this is my plan.  But I am sure I will add more WIPS to finish,  a possible wedding quilt, and a few more starts.  ( There are 4 tops needing to be quilted, plus the one at the quilter.)

But quilting is my love and it is all good that I continue to put needle and thread to fabric. 

How far I have come!

I am starting my New Year's goal early: 

 I have been a quilter for decades.  I purchased my first book at Quilts Plus in Indianapolis in 1978. I purchased my Bernina in 1985 that I still LOVE. I made baby quilts and wall hangings when I had the time. I did take classes and join a guild.  Oh, and the rotary cutter was invented.

Fast forward a few years:

Once upon a time I tackled 2 difficult quilts: an ocean waves is still in a bag from 1990, but that is for another foray into WIPs. The second is a variation of a log cabin by Judy Martin from sometime after 2007 when the book was first published. So I started it about then. Yes, the one on the cover. OK, I was a little ambitious.  By the way, the book is still available for 28 dollars. 

                                         

I chose rich fall fabrics with an accent of brown. And I made the blocks and started the border. 

       

Looks amazing, right?

So here is the issue:   2 sample blocks of the 56 of them

                            

And what backs: threads everywhere, oh, my!

And here lies the issue. I was not exactly a precise quilter. Oh no! straight seams, sort of.

In other words, my blocks are not square and are at least 1/4 inch too small.  Some are worse off than others. I guess I slowly improved. 

Now, I will say the pattern  in the book was wonderful. Super directions, nice illustrations, and cutlery trays to organize the many sized strips.   IF ONLY I COULD FIND IT NOW!

Back to my educational progress in the area of quilting.  I am a much better quilter. ( most of the time) 

And I am determined to redo these blocks and finish this quilt in the New Year as one of my goals.   Over 365 days to finish,  !!!!!!!!

SO, I am resewing seams, frogging sections, replacing pieces, and generally having a great time. Realizing that from my years of sewing, practice, friends, and piles of projects, I have become a much better quilter.  That scant quarter inch seam really does make a difference!

Each block is taking a minimum of an hour or more,  to correct for a much better, squarer block. I did undo one complete block and carefully lay it out and reassemble.  But although the block was well done, it was not worth all that work.  It was just one block, after all.  

If you happen to have the book, I would surely love a copy of the pages of Snake River for completing it.   But I might, maybe, be able to figure it out?   Compensation given, of course. 

So after 3 days of working on it off and on, I have 10 blocks done. 

So send positive vibes.  Before I get overworked. Please!