RSC blocks and more

I was able to squeeze some sewing time in tonight. I did not have to go help my son and grandboys as mom was home from work tonight.  I made turkey tetrazzini with leftover turkey. And we have enough for a 2nd meal.

I sewed the basic part of the package for these Christmas mug rugs/ potholders.

And now I have my brown Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks completed.  There are 8 brown blocks bringing my grand total to 98 blocks and I have extra 3 inch half square triangles for a border. It will look great together.  But I probably won't have time for this until after the holidays.

Little by little...Bit by bit.

Blockheads

Update:  I have been able to get 2 more blockhead blocks done.  So I am caught up to having all blocks but 1 done.  I did well piecing the mini triangles into 1 flying goose was fine, but getting the 2 sides ...not so much.  I hope all I have to do is cut the triangle larger and trim when assembled.

Here is block 37  

And block 38.  This one needs a good pressing.  Betsy Chutchian had a good directions, but my quarter square triangles were just too little aka my seam allowance too big.   I then recut them and started again.  That scant 1/4 inch will get ya every time.  

I am still working on my Christmas package mug rugs and have 4 more cut out. 

Plus I have 5 blocks for my RSC into quadrants.  Should be easy to assemble the last pieces.  

Time for recharging

Love this 5 day weekend.

First of all here are my two munchkins.  We had so much fun for Thanksgiving and got some great pictures.  ( Family group still on daughter's camera.)

              

But after all the fun and food, I have had some time to SEW ... Heaven!  

Here are photos of my coloration of the Magnolia Mystery by Meadow Mist Designs. 

Here are assembled blocks. Just 2 more colors and the odd ones. I postponed it as I thought I needed to trim my half square triangles.  But they were already done.  Bonus!

And here is the Crem de la crem, the sugar on top, the project we have been slowing completing:

I laid out the last of the 2 borders last night while watching Ice Age 4. (Yes, my hubby and I like animated movies that make us laugh.)   But I carefully pulled papers out of prepared applique, made the last 3 stems and placed all the leaves and such.  It is just pinned at the moment and will need some Roxanne's Glue Baste It...... The close up of one end is first

Followed by the "long shot".

Happy Thanksgiving!

I feel so thankful for having all the family over to celebrate. The preparation, the people, the food, the decoration, and the togetherness. "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good and his love endures forever." Psalm 107:1.
It doesn't get much better than this.




Things I am thankful for: ( Idea taken from Jo's Country Junction)

1) My faith: although I am in serious need of some meditation and focus.

2) My health, aside from my 3 daily pills, I am able to do most anything I want. I love my swimming in the mornings this fall. And I struggle with my thyroid and lately my weight.  It is down 5 pounds, which is better.

3) My husband: he lets me be me and is truly my better half. And he does some of those chores I dislike. He has even become better at cleaning up for company and doing dishes.  What a sweetie ! I often find us thinking on the same thing at the same time.  37 years and counting.

4) My kids: as they have become adults, I enjoy watching them and supporting them.

5) My daughter in law and daughter's boyfriend: both have added so much to my kid's lives to make them well rounded.

6) My grandboys: such little blessings that bring out the teacher extraordinaire along with lots of love. These two munchkins have added so much to my life, I feel lucky to live close by and be a part of their lives.

7)  Teaching: I love being with the kids at school and coaching them with their studies as well as life's challenges.  Whether college choices or peer issues, it does a body good to listen and learn.

8) My mother and mother in law. both are fairly well considering their ages: 85 and 100. The next few years will be a challenge as my mom is developing Dementia and she is so far away.

9) The seasons of Wisconsin.  I may not like the cold, but I do enjoy my backyard and all the trees and animals have to offer. Nature is truly a wondrous thing.

10) My mind: I am lucky to enjoy the challenges that reading and math and the world brings. I am less emotional than my younger years, and able to think things through

Lastly: QUILTING . I have such fun as I have grown in my skills over the years. ( And so has my stash.  And now I have blogging to make it more social. It is something that feeds my soul and my mind and my hands.

borders

I am so excited after 2 months of stitching I have finally finished the hand applique for my Kim Diehl log cabin quilt. I binge watched TV last night and Saturday we watched West Side Story. I love, love love, Bernstein's music. When watching TV movies, I will go online to find out about actors and the background behind the story. I enjoy getting the history.

                        

Here is the center of the quilt:


Now to get the 2 last borders assembled.  I have all the leaves and flowers and most of the vines.  I have fabric cut for the last of it.  Funny I didn't read directions carefully enough and didn't make as much as I should when prepping in the spring.     And then all that is left is to do the applique.  I am sure it will take a while. On the other hand, I do have the holiday weekend.

Busy week

School was crazy as the staff and students prepared for our football team playing at the state championship for Division 3. There were 8 buses of students, the band, the dance team, cheerleaders, and multitudes of cars traveling to Madison, WI to play at Camp Randall home of the Wisconsin Badgers. The excitement was crazy and Friday was a no classes day as the game was at 10:00 A.M.

But we lost after such a great season. The best part was being in the cafeteria as the crowd clapped the whole team to the locker rooms; it went on and on as the players descended from the bus across and across the room They were disappointed, of course, and their heads hung low. But we were proud; they still were amazing to have gotten that far.


The picture is from the regional championship.

On another note, my daughter in law has had a tough week with her diabetes and went in the hospital last night to bring her blood sugar levels down. I feel for her and my son and the boys.

As far as quilting in my world:

I have started Christmas and have made the tops to some mug rugs/ pot holders.  Cute pattern found on Pinterest, of course.  They went together easily and the scraps were in my Christmas box.  It will be perfect to send to my mom especially as mailing to Canada is costly, but fabric isn't. But they will also be great small gifts for others as well.



Then I found the Covered in Love block drive.  Many hands make light work. I love being able to do small things with my fabric and be creative, but not having to devote time to a large project. Plus I feel it is one way I can make a difference by sharing my talents.


Lastly, I finally have some RSC blocks to show:  brown.  Each time I make this block, I try to be so careful meeting the center of the pinwheel. Ahh.  sometimes it is just not to be.  But the more I make them the more I love the blocks and how they look together.

November a month for birthdays!

Now that October has past, we are into the chilly month of November.  And I mean CHILLY! It has plunged to the temperature in the teens today.  Just in the past couple days, the leaves are gone.  The winter coats are out and the tools for snow removal are prepared in advance.




But November in my family is 3 November birthdays. On the first was my daughter in law's birthday.  The photos I had  taken as a surprise when my hb and I babysat for several days were a great hit for her and are already in frames around the house.

Next came mine this week. I was serenaded by 200 7th graders in lunch at school this week.  I bet you can't top that! They were so cute. My family came for dinner Sunday and brought in Italian food. Easy to heat up, and I didn't have to do any work. The piece de resistance was a chocolate cake with a raspberry filling and a white chocolate buttercream frosting adorned with fresh raspberries.  Ahh. so good!

But the birthday that can't even come close to those is my mother in law's which is actually on November 21. But we are celebrating this weekend.  She is turning 100!  An amazing lady who is sharp as a tack, follows the Wisconsin Badgers , her alma mater, and all Milwaukee/ Green Bay sports.  All kids, grandkids, and great grandkids, a sister, and nieces and nephews, are all arriving for a celebration tomorrow.

I finished this hanging for her.  And hope it will be seen on her door.



 Here is a close up of the stippling.



And here is the trick for adding a dowel rod to hang it.  I added a tab in the middle for the added length.

Good news: everybody liked it.!

And lastly I finished my Stash Bee block.  I am usually finished with the block the first couple days of the month. But it is still early in November.

A finish!

Here are several photos of the lap quilt I have finished for a veteran at a retirement center. 

2 basic blocks: friendship stars which are all scrappy, and the split rail fence done in red, white and blue.  Each block iw 6 inches with a total size of 36 inches. 

The back is an awesome star print. 

The quilting is just a large stipple.

But it is done!  

Secondly, I have a banner for my mother in law who turns 100 years old this month.  We are gaving a family get together at her assisted living place.  She is amazing and sharp as a tack still following her alma mater, University of Wisconsin Badgers as well as many other sports and teams. She loves to read, still.  But arthritis has taken a toll on her physically. 

So here it is, yet to be quilted and bound. But nice and bright and hopefully to hang on her door.

Lastly the optional block for Blockheads week 34 by Lisa Bongean. It went together well.  I really like using the Best Press. prior to cutting it out.  It makes it come together precisely as long as the seam allowance is good.  This time I am using a new pumpkin color with a dark purple print of Kansas Troubles. ( hard to tell)