Little blocks and more little blocks

 As part of my New Year's goals I am working on Dear Jane blocks.  I even purchased a 2nd edition of the Brenda Papadakis book.  (Block drawings are the same; photos are a little blurry.)  

Here are this week's 5 inch blocks:  

Easy one

Tricky one which required some patience. First I made plastic templates. Then I  traced the template outline on the block pieces.  The combination worked. 

Secondly, I had not started any of my Little America blocks from Sentimental Stitches in Michigan which sends a weekly paper pieced  pattern.  I finally made 2 of the 3 inch blocks.

Showing also first botched attempt, cutting on the sewing line .Ugh!

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

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.  

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. 

Sewing and sewing

 I am so thrilled to have finished the top for my Blockheads. And finished is better than perfect.  I just couldn't more to it. 

But it has refreshed my joy of quilting and I am back working on several things.  ( As I just can't do one at a time.) 

First off, I am glad to also have also finished them embroidery of my Crabapple Hill Pumpkin. Now to put it in a pillow with a cool border. The pattern features a scalloped fabric border.  Thinking, thinking, I need to find the right fabric.

And I also hand pieced a Dear Jane block.  I need to practice my hand piecing skills. 

This is a 5 inch block.  

Last but not least I have done another Tilda block. 

Lastly, I am in a BOM online for an applique quilt from Fatcat Quilts.  I considered doing hand applique; however, the points are way to narrow for  facilitating that.  So I am doing fusible applique.

Here is my first block: 

A few blocks! And a trip!

We made another trip; this time to visit the grandkids again in Louisiana.  It was wonderful to be with them for spring/Easter break.  Really warm weather ( up to the 80s) and my son took off the week to be with us. We celebrated both my son's birthday as well as Easter making a ham dinner . Zero needlework done all week. 

All the Huber guys on our hike!

In the meantime, I have completed 2 of my Tilda blocks which are 16 inches. That gives me a total of 6. I still need a few more fat quarters to finish all the blocks. The fabrics are such a wonderful collection of colors and prints.

And after seeing all the Dear Jane blocks last weekend, I pulled mine to to assemble a few more. Lots of different techniques: applique and tiny machine piecing this time. 

Last but not least, I have finished a project mesh bag with counted cross done on it. 

2nd Place finish

 Hooray! My triangle quilt ( Ocean Waves) won a 2nd place finish at the Wisconsin State Fair!  YEAH!  And although I went to see the judging; I goofed AGAIN and went on the wrong day.  But I will get to see it at the fair in August! 

So I had better get working on next year's entries. 

Dear Jane block A 12

Paper pieced on newsprint

Back of Block

Finished block  ( 5 inches)

y

If you are interested, Susan Gatewood has a EQ version of it for free 

Link to her A blocks

                                                                                                                                                                        I also have added more blocks to my New York Beauty:  

Chandelier flimsy and more!

 Still working on UFOs. I am excited to finish my navy quarter square chandelier quilt. (I am not great at naming quilts.) I had it almost done at retreat which was posted.  But then I came home and found the missing parts of blocks which were about 15 blocks left on the cutting table. I used 9 of them  to add another row to the bottom and the missing corner . Some deconstructing ensued followed by adding more blocks. Hooray! So happy to get it done.  Twin size 65 by 91  No additional borders will be added. The setting triangles give it space. The larger blocks are 4 identical quarter squares and the smaller ones just a singular one. 

Next up : getting  the 2 flimsies to the quilter. She is such a special friend. And she already has 2 of my other quilts.  NO RUSH!   I like getting it off my plate. Plus I am slow at getting the few finished that I do. I am trying more machine quilting  and like the challenge, but it definitely takes longer. 

And I completed one more block for my Dear Jane quilt. 9 done and many many more to go.

For this block I utilized paper piecing. There is a free site. 

In the evenings I have been cross stitching.  I think I am getting better at counting, although I do take out stitches here and there. 

I love the warming weather as our birds, squirrels, kittens, and deer have returned to entertain us in the back yard.  It sure is nice to open windows and feel the breeze while listening to the croaking of the frogs or the rustling of the leaves. Hello summer!

I love the warming weather as our birds, squirrels, kittens, and deer have returned to entertain us in the back yard.  It sure is nice to open windows and feel the breeze while listening to the croaking of the frogs or the rustling of the leaves. Hello summer!