Hooray for me!

 I have lots going on. Sometimes life gets super busy and hectic. I just need to go with the flow.

So first of all, I need prayers for my daughter in law.  She has undergone a surgery to implant a tube for in-home kidney dialysis. It has been on the radar since she delivered my 2nd grandson 6 years ago. He was born 2 months early so that she could have kidney medication which would have been detrimental to his in utero growth.   So when I visited two weeks ago, we consulted her nephrologist who said it was time; her kidney function numbers were too low and she had daily symptoms impacting her life negatively. 

Samantha and my oldest grandson

This also precedes a long wait for a kidney/pancreas transplant. It is so hard to be states away from them. I wish I could offer support and care, food and distractions for the boys and general love and hugs in person. 

But onto better things; the remodel for my kitchen has begun. Destruction with massive noise and such began Monday.  End game should be the 2nd week of August. It is exciting to finally be in the actual work stage as the journey with consultations and selections began before Christmas. 

              

Before                                                                                    After

It is an unusual kitchen : a step down  surrounded by cabinets on all 4 sides, and counters on 2 sides one upper and one lower.

Living out of boxes will be interesting. 

But the best news I have to offer is that I submitted a quilt to be judged at the Wisconsin State Fair. (My first entry and only other entry was way back in 2006.) So I was able to witness the judging in the 30ish categories yesterday.   And I was so excited to earn a 3rd place ribbon.  The first place was a quilter extraordinaire who won 3 first places yesterday and a member/friend in my guild. The only critique was my choice of background as being too thin and the seam allowances showed. I recognized that, but it was what I had yards of for completing it. So much for some online shopping. 

Judge Maribeth Schmit  showing the winners  ( and my quilt)

Other than that, a little bit of sewing before I could not be in my sewing room next to the kitchen.

Moda 4 blockheads

           

This totals 15 blocks so far: all 9 inch sized.

July 4th wall hanging:         a mess in a box.

Back to sewing.

 I always like January.  The Christmas sewing pressure is done and it's time to start and finish projects.    I am really motivated this year.  

So things I have started:  

This is my 5th year of doing the quilt along from Corrine et Cecile of France.  The challenge this year is a sampler quilt with half appliqued blocks and half pieced blocks.  My take on that will be 8 appliqued and embroidered gnomes with 8 different pieced trees latticed by a great Christmas print from Hustle and Bustle. 

           

I also decided to attack some projects just hanging around.  This summer I purchased at the guild's rummage sale some prepackaged blocks. These BOMS are from Quilts Plus, the first shop I ever went to in Indianapolis; it is still open. The fabrics are reproductions. 

 I love the colors of the first block and I love piecing smaller blocks. I feel it forces me to be precise in the piecing of the blocks. The hardest part was getting the right print for the right cutting directions ( there were 7 different ones). And I did make a mistake in cutting and had to substitute one of my own. 

I also want to complete a couple things for my daughter's birthday in a week.  I pieced and quilted a bright colorful table runner for her new table.  So cheerful and so easy: it is a border print. . After beginning to attach the binding, I realized I needed to miter the corners better for the 120 degree angles.  So I took them off and have a plan. 

It is tough to see in this picture, but I did free motion quilt the words and around all the cakes and candles. 

Lastly I can say I have officially finished the binding on my 30s hearts for Mom quilt.  In my conclusion for 2021, I had it listed. But that was all the piecing, borders, and quilting. All I had to do was attach the binding by machine and hand sew it. It took several evenings in front of the tv.     

                

Two finished tops

 I feel like I have accomplished a lot over the weekend.

I totally finished the graduation quilt top.  This photo does not show the beautiful borders on the sides.  

Totally brings all the colors together.  It feels so good to get this top DONE!  I will have to try outdoors for photos tomorrow. Not enough light.   This is hanging from our upstairs. 

And secondly, I was able to put the borders on this quilt. This has been sitting since May waiting for the additional borders. My original plan for to make it for my mother who was born in 1931. She is in a nursing home with Alzheimer's. I don't know if giving her a new quilt will confuse her.  At the time I made it, the local quilt show was celebrating 30 years with these fabrics for the theme. 

The 30s fabrics are so pretty. I used all kinds of colors not just the soft pastels but also included some bright orange, reds, and even a few browns. Each 6 inch block has 21 pieces and there are 50 of them.

Here is the post where I showed my graph paper layout: Original post: hearts abound 

I started this quilt in July of 2017.  I designed the block from a picture to the size I wanted. 

Then I played around with the setting. 

Yeah!  a UFO top completed!

The vertical borders are also very scrappy with varying widths of fabrics. I couldn't tell you how many pieces total.  But it is also DONE and ready to go to the long arm quilter as well.

Of all the parts of making a quilt, adding the borders is one I really, really dislike.  ( The other being piecing backs.) But with my new enlarged surface on my ironing board, it makes it so much easier. 

It also really helped to get larger areas pressed well.  What a treat to have something to improve my quilting and the tasks I really hate. 

RSC blocks and hearts together

I decided to make a 2nd block for the RSC challenge this year. 

These are 8 1/2  inch blocks all made from 2 1/2 inch by 4 1/2 inch strips of fabric. 

I like the alternating black and white centers.  And when they will be put together, there will be no matching seams.

I will need to go back and make all the other colorways for the past months. But I don't think I will do purple. 

Here is the inspiration piece I found on pinterest from etsy. 

This one is made with 2 by 3 1/2 inch strips and are 6 inch finished blocks. 

We have a doe back again this spring and I saw her with a fawn.  I think this is over 10 years that we have repeatedly had a pair in our back woods. This was so close and she just stayed and watched as she ate from my garden.

I did get all my rows together this week.  Now all it needs is borders.

And yes that is a drum in the corner: a tom to be specific from his drum set.  My husband is a percussionist and was adding a new drum head to it last night.  I did not want to move it. 

 

Hearts and cross stitch

 New cross stitch.

I came across Floss Tube from Fat Quarter Shop.  They print patterns and work closely with cross stitch several designers including Lori Holt.  This is one of their newest ones. And while I won't complete the whole thing, I intend on completing sections of it.

Here is the beginning of one section done on linen which is proving to be a little more tricky than aida cloth. 

On the quilting front, here is my rows lined up for putting them together. 

And here are a couple of other views of it.  Now just to get it together. 

And another UFO

 Five years ago I drafted the block out to make these 6 inch heart log cabins all out of 30s reproduction fabrics. Here is the link to the Blog post describing the process and showing the block on graph paper for this if you are interested. The log size is 1 1/4 inch.

Then I  year later, I dropped the original quilt design and got it to this stage. 

5 rows each of 10 pieced hearts. It was originally intended for my Mom who was born in 1931. 

Additionally, I had started string strips for inserting between the rows. 

And that is where it got stuck until last night.

As I am on a roll for finishing things, I decided it wouldn't be too much work to finish this. 

So I got out my with the assembled parts and roughly drew out the design to figure out the finished measurements. From there I ordered border fabric rather than piece or applique or whatever.  I found a long remnant of the white to outline the design after it is pieced. I already have had the backing stored. 

So today I spent many relaxing hours continuing to piece the strips. The goal just kept me going. 

Here is the work station with the assortment of strips from the stored bag.  I cut some additional colors  from my 30s stash. ( Debating whether to donate the remnants after this quilt is done.  I think I have had my fill of 30s quilts. )

Here was the status of the partially assembled rows and no, they were not trimmed

And here is the organization for the remaining rows to complete.   My goal was to have an assortment of fabrics in each row. I assembled in sections as I cut some fabrics. 

Toot sweet:    6 rows completed and trimmed 5 inches wide by 85 1/2 inches long. 

Today's mission accomplished.

Let's get this summer started!

It is almost half way through the year. And I have hardly even touched my UFO list.  UGH!

SO  I am really setting goals for this summer.

A short project is to assemble my 4 blocks for the row by row.  Easy, peasy... just 5 sashing strips and one row .

First up is to assemble my one grandson's quilt.  I have the fabric for sashing. Just do it.



Then there is the foxy baby quilt.  Shouldn't be too hard. Smaller projects.




And then I really need to get my 30s quilt done with the quasi log cabin hearts.
The vertical rows of hearts are done:  5 rows of 10 blocks each.  And I have many strips assembled to put in rows between them. Now for the finish.  I would love to take this to my mom in July to replace a quilt I made for her in the 80s. It was my first bed size quilt done in the blues and mauves of the time.

Finally something to show!

And this is not sewing.  But I am so excited.  I have my 30's quilt I am making strings for in between my blocks.

Believe it or not, I am running out of fabrics, 30s fabrics only. I have had a bag for many years and have completed at least 5 quilts of different sizes out of it.  So my good news is that I got the first selection as the left overs from my guild's raffle quilt from a few years ago. Bargain!  

The 2nd assortment came from a friend with whom we had shared 30's fabrics for a quilt earlier. I had a wonderful container full of inch and a quarter strips that were leftovers from a quilt of hers. I knew I would have repeats of many of the fabrics that are currently in my quilt.  

This is some of my Rainbow scrap challenge blocks. The blues  and the  purples are in 2 strips each: one of 6 blocks below. ( Which  I see I am going to have to take apart and redo as they don't line up. ) The 2nd strip of the 2 colors is 14 blocks long. ..not photographed.

Next is my Magnolia mystery from Meadow Mist Designs.  I have lots of the blue for borders and  backing.

Another mystery is the Square Dance by From my Carolina Home.  Using up more of my homespuns. I did buy Kona black on sale for the background.  I like how the black makes a great contrast.

Seriously, my issue was that I left my phone at school for a 3 day weekend. Ugh..!

Applique and strips

I spent every evening this weekend and all the football games yesterday appliqueing these beauties.  . I started the 2nd set of borders during Thanksgiving weekend. I had completed all the vines and leaves and berries on these and only had the flowers to do: 12 flowers each with a center.  I now only  have 4 left to complete .

 Woot Woot!

 Then I need to attach them and connect the vines to the corners from the other set.  I am hoping to get this to the quilters this week. It is looking fantastic.

This is the quilt laid out without the borders attached and only the 2 short sides are have applique around them. It is a wonderful Kim Diehl pattern which I started last January as a sew along.  

Here are closeups of some applique sections. 

For my lovely 30s strips I now have a pile of 30 assembled lengths. Much better!  Now I can't work on it until I get more 30s which a friend has agreed to contribute.

First finish of the year

I spent the evening last night under blankets, notice the plural.  My husband and I ate pizza and watched a movie.  No way was I going out in that cold again.  I had hoped to see my girls' basketball team play at home against a local team. ( They are state ranked again this year.)  

So I had sewn the binding on this table runner and it needed the hand sewing on the back.  It did take the duration of the movie. This was a panel that all I had to do was sew the 3 pieces together. Easy peasy. I did machine quilt it with a clear thread on the top. The back and binding are coordinating fabrics all from Patrick Lose which I purchased from Shabby Fabrics on sale. Love the bright vivid colors.

First Christmas present done for next year. Hooray!

Next up: Here are the 30s fabrics that I am cutting into strips one night last week. Underneath is my rotating cutting board. It has ball bearings that make it so easy to turn and a ledge to keep the cutting board on it. 

This is what I am going to do as a block of the month. Jo's Country Junction is having a BOM link up on Saturdays.  Here 

I am subdividing the different blocks into monthly projects and hope to get it done by midsummer to assemble and finish it then. I have wanted to have a Christmas quilt and have neglected doing it as I make projects for others, instead. 

I received the pattern booklet in the mail this week, but left it in my computer bag at work where I opened it. It is one of the latest Kansas Troubles's patterns. And of course, I have a bag of fabrics from her lines to pull from and hopefully not buy more fabric. I do think I will need a background, maybe.