Time flies when you are having fun!

 It has been a busy month.  And I have accomplished some good things. Although I have not blogged in a very long time.  

There have been 2 trips for the month, 3 quilt store visits, and so much more.   I am beginning to get much more busy with activities; a book group, facilitating at a grief support group for kids, and tutoring. 

So in no particular order, here are the projects that have been worked on: 

A block of the month for guild

Bindings and bindings.  One is my Christmas quilt that came back from the long armers. That was a large bed quilt. 

The quilt retreat was a small group of 8 and I enjoyed getting away. It was a wonderful house in middle Wisconsin. I didn't feel like I accomplished much.  But in hind sight, I have a project stashed away to finish that took quilt a bit of time.

These are projects that others completed:  another Quiltagous Esher Christmas tree: Quilt kits listed here.It is much brighter in person as these are Kaffe Fasset fabrics and oh, so pretty.

A kit that was found in our guild's bargain bin sale this summer

A beautiful sunset out our sewing window.   We had rain and sun and such a relaxing pretty view.

And I gained a little weight from the good food that we each made. 

A quilt designed by one of the girls to donate to 4 H.

I worked on my round RSC log cabin blocks for September. 

I had started this last Christmas and then put it away.  But the top was assembled on retreat.  It is a lovely group of flannels by Bonnie Sullivan.  I followed the center of the wall quilt, but changed the pieced borders.

I have since quilted and bound it.  The quilting was just free motion outlines of the shapes except the snowflakes.  Here is the back of it with a different flannel.

And lastly I have done about half of the wool applique to this Primitive Gatherings wall hanging. 

September morn

 The month made me think of Neil Diamond's song  as I write this contemplating my title.

The first of September and the first day of schools in Wisconsin...It is the second year not to be  teaching. I have mixed feelings still. So much of who I am is about working with kids. And I made many connections to many many students over the years.  I still worry about a few of mine as they are finishing up their high school years. I am even in connection with some graduates and celebrate their recent acceptances to grad school or house purchases, etc. 

I always wanted to be a teacher and I cared so much for the students to be the best they could be.  Not everyone is cut out for college or even needs it to be successful. And some students really struggle in finding themselves amid family issues and mental health issues and trying to fit in. But I wanted them to learn about deadlines and accomplishments and following directions.  I don't think education is all about content so much. I mean who really uses algebra 2 in life!  I think it is more about skills applicable to life: working with all kinds of people whether peers or teachers/bosses, acquiescing to environments for the benefit of all, and so much more. And it is learning to use resources: books, online and PEOPLE!

I will tutor this year.  But I am not at all ready to enter schools amid Covid. I would love to assist classrooms or substitute, but I worry so about the spread of the virus. It is a hot bed of frustration for oh, so many. 

Here's to a good year for all!  

On a quilting note, I have made a second color combination of the Lucy pattern by GE designs. The pattern is striking in its design and has so many potential layouts and colorways to make. I made this for our committee to make the raffle quilt for the quilt show as a sample. The members are truly inspiring quilters to me. 

The colors are teal/aqua and a gray swirl which looks more tan in the picture next to my carpet. 

Although I am no professional quilter or prize winner, I consider myself to be a good quilter with over 35 years of experience.  This pattern tripped my switches.  The bias edges did not seem a problem when sewing them, but were a problem when trimming them. 

These are the cut offs and some of those strips are indeed a half inch. 

Here are a couple blocks before trimming.  Love the effect of the cut and recut blocks. Concept awesome. Bias edges lots of long ones. 

 But even with trimming  and pressing I did not like the final product

It looks so pretty when laid out. 

It looks better on camera.  I just don't like how the corners and lines did not match. 

Oh, well.   It is done.  I think I will finish it into a baby quilt.  ( My original intention anyway. )