Busy Week

Lot's going on.

The quilt I made from the hankies and umbrella ladies was quilted by someone else.  I got it back last week and made the binding following the Susie’s Magic Binding method.  First time and very easy to do.  I also made a pillow case that matches the back.  I will add the label and return it to it's owner.

I finished the Mint Chocolate top I had shown previously and the Salsa top.

I led a sew along of a quilt called Positivity by Jan Ochterbeck from her book Cut and Shuffle quilts.  Was a fun and quick process.

So as to not let any grass grow under my feet, I started on Bonnie Hunters Bear Branch quilt.  I’m sewing along with two other ladies.  I thought I was behind but found out they had not started cutting yet.  Will be fun to see if I motivate them to start!

I will be heading to Paducah next week so won’t be sewing much then but hope to accomplish a lot before I go!  I’ll be meeting Sharon after having known her online since at least 2009.  I’m very excited!

What are you working on?  

Linking either Patty at Elm Street Quilts linkup.

How Do You Work?

I am making a quilt from a Walmart project sheet.  I bought a “kit” from an estate sale.  The person bought all the called for fabric.  Unlike the other kit I made, I used all the “calledfor” fabric.  That means my quilt will look just like the picture.

I made a few changes.  First I decided to make fewer blocks to make it close to 60x80”.  Then, I changed up the instructions so that I could cut using the easy and companion angle rulers and strips.  Of course this changed the number of strips I needed to cut so I estimated the number of strips I would need and figured out the new piece count.  Using this information, I cut all the strips I thought I would need just to make the blocks.  I try to cut all the strips I’ll need even if making a scrappy quilt.

I started sewing the geese first.  While sewing them I realized I had only cut enough pieces for 80 geese, not the actual 160 that I needed.  Normally I would cut the rest and keep going.  I was so disheartened I made a single block.  Then I made two blocks, sewing and trimming the geese as I went.

In the process of cutting and sewing for a block at a time I cut the rest of the strips I needed.  Then I cut the rest of the pieces I needed.  I was 2 strips short and cut those eventually.

When I reached 10 blocks I got serious and finished making all the geese, trimming all the geese and began chain sewing.

In no time I had all 20 blocks sewn.  I had also figured the number of strips for the sashing and cut those during this process.  I have now pieced the horizontal sashes and will attach the vertical sashes to all the blocks.  I hope to have a completed top before the weekend is out.

How do you work?  Cut all the pieces, sew all the sub units, sew the blocks, and so on?  Do you cut a little sew a little?  Do you do as your spirit moves you in the moment?

Would ovevto hear from you. 

Bad Blogger and OMG

I made this from an estate kit that I bought.  The lady used to go to Walmart every week and buy all the called for fabric when the sheet came out.  I substituted gold in for one of the choices.

This picture made me laugh because you can see the quilt holder (me) holding up the top.  I really love that smashing!

I moved on to this quilt which is from the same estate with the same story.  Walmart project sheet.  My goal is to finish all 20 blocks and complete the top.

It’s official name is Mint Chocolate.  I’ll see what other name I might come up with.

I’m running a little sew along with my group of church ladies.  I’ll show completed tops when we finish.  Here’s a teaser of my blocks.

I’ll have that top done too in the next few weeks.

Linking up with Patty at Elm Street quilts OMG.

I’m Still Here

Still sewing on the weekends with my friends.  Working crazy hours at work.  Getting ready for a vacation trip with my daughter.  Settling insurance on our truck fire.  Trying to find a replacement truck.  Overwhelmed with all the things I want to sew.  Busy but alive and well!

Here’s a Dr. Pepper milkshake kiss from Moo to you.

Hope all is well in your world.

Swooze

Design Wall Monday

Judy at Small quilts is looking for more reading so I decided to share my completed quilt top from the weekend.

Remember this was my inspiration.

Here is my completed top.  The recipient said they like blues and turning towards green.  I think I ticked all the boxes.

In other news.  Just as I returned to the house Saturday I got a call from Ray.  I assumed he was in the house and had my hands full so I didn’t pick up.  I finished unloading the car and he called again so I stepped into the garage.  He wasn’t there so I called him back but before it rang through he called again.  I answered and he shoutinto the phone “Get here now.  I’m at the corner of Bruton and635.  The truck is on fire!.  My heart kept into my throat.  I ran out the door, holding my breath, and the phone rang again.  This time it was my friend I had just spent the day with.  She told me Ray had called her.  I quickly told her, breathlessly, what was going on.  She would not let me off the phone and kept telling me to breathe.  I had to go less than 1.5 miles to get there.  It took the whole drive for me to get my breathing under control.

When I got there the firemen were there.  The fire was out.  I pulled up and Ray walked over.  I scanned the scene looking for our dog bandit.  A nice customer took him and put him in her vehicle.  Ray transferred him to my truck.  You could tell he was stressed.

I took pictures.  Ray salvaged what he could while I talked to the insurance company.  They dispatched a tow truck for us.  We knew we were probably in for a wait but the driver called and said 30 minutes.  We took Bandit home and unloaded Ray’s things and returned to the scene.  I called the tow driver at the 30 minute mark and he was almost there.  What a relief.  From the call to insurance to his arrival 1 hour and 12 minutes.  Now for the dance with the insurance company.  We only owned this vehicle three months and had invested lots of time and money in it to get it right.  Thank goodness for full coverage!

No idea the cause but will report back.

Blessed for no loss of life!

Linking up with Small Quilts Design Wall Monday.

Weekend Progress

I worked on my pinwheels Saturday.  I’ve got all the rows sewn together and half the top.  A few more hours of sewing and I’ll be ready for borders.  There will be a lime green inner border with the blue print as the outer border.  This came together quickly and I’m loving it!

While I was at the church with the girls I joined in on Zoom with Chookyblue and the rest of the world crew.  You should join us, just watch Chooky’s blog.  It’s lots of fun!

Linking up with Small Quilts for Design Wall Monday.

Monday Progress

This was my inspiration.  I knew I didn’t want to do the squares between the pinwheels but more pinwheels.

I lay out the parts knowing I couldn’t assemble the blocks in a traditional way since there’s a bit of interlocking.  I was very pleased with my vision but could not help but think that was a lot of background. I sat down and continued sewing HSTs together and glanced at the design wall.  

A lightbulb came on and I jumped up and started rearranging.  I planned to put all the blue and green pinwheels in the center and the black and teal all around the outside.  I started texting pictures to a few friends and my friend I was sewing with commented the lime green pinwheels were a little smooshed together and not very distinct.

A little more shuffling and I placed a black and teal pinwheel in the center.  It definitely delineated the pinwheels better in person and photographically.  I’ll have to sew a few more of the black pinwheels. 

Once I figured this out I did some more cutting so that I had all the pieces I needed for the center of the quilt cut.  If I sew at home I can be ready for borders Saturday.  Wow!  That thought is motivating.

Sew Day!

I have the day off today.  Martin Luther King day here today.  So I’m off to the church to sew with one of the girls.  I was just there Saturday and actually sewed at home yesterday for the first time this year.

Making great progress.  I have to make 144 HSTs.  I’m short 24 so that will be the first order of the day.  I’ll also cut the additional background I need and get the assembly under weigh.

I purchased the colored fabric from a friend that sells choice fabrics.  Apparently the print line was so popular it sold out.  Luckily she bought a box of assorted FQs before it was all gone!  I think I’ll need a few more for the borders.

Happy day to all!

Umbrella Ladies

I finished the top and am ready to hand the top off to the client.  She will have it quilted and I will add the binding.  I plan to use Susie’s Magic binding using the peach floral and the blue for the flange.

I finished it on January first.  One of the ladies that was sewing with me tested positive for COVID.  We have not gathered together since but will resume tomorrow.  

I have not sewn a stitch since that day.  I have been planning for my next project though.  I’ll be cutting it out tomorrow.  Have to choose the background.  I’m leaning toward the white with the gray triangles.

I’ll cut out triangles from the colors and lay them on each background to audition.  They both have great movement.  Stand by for that decision!

I’m linking up with Alycia at Finished or not Friday.  My step on the ladies is finished.

Goodbye 2021

I took my last vacation day yesterday.  I made more progress on the Butterflies and Umbrella Ladies.  I have the medallion center almost complete and will be building out the rest tomorrow, I hope.  

I have to sew the seam at the top then I’ll be adding about a 5” wide strip on each side of the medallion.  At the top and bottom I’ll add an additional segment that will bring the piece to about 80” in length.  

I originally thought about adding just the floral peach at the top and bottom with no piecing.  Then I thought that was too blah so thought about adding a slice of the solid behind the butterflies in the middle of the floral.  Better but still….yawn.  I continued to play with ideas on the design wall in my mind.  I moved on to a strip of the floral between the solid…noooope.

Yesterday when visiting with my friends while sewing I arrived at the idea of the blue bordered by the peach floral bordered by the solid.  This is what I currently plan to insert in between the sea of peach floral.  I’ll be taking some measurements on the bed to see where to place the strip.

Almost done!!

Happy New Year to all.  I hope to be sewing away the day tomorrow to set the precedent for the year.

Design As You Go or Cobbling

With the main elements of my quilt complete I started designing the elements.  I decided on a window frame look and then placed the umbrella girls and small hankies.  I lay out a few strips to see where to go next.

Today I assembled more of the units.  I decided to frame the hankies to bring their size to match the umbrella ladies.  

I then joined all the side centers.  Before I left I auditioned the size of strip the will join the sides to the center.  My friend suggested a narrow border similar to what was used in the frame.  I felt it needed to be much larger and we agreed a 2” finished width would do the job.

I imagine giving the pieces a floating feel and I think the wider strip will achieve that.  There will be about a 5” slab border of the floral print.  I’d like to add 15” or so to the top and bottom.  I don’t want it to look like I just slapped it on after giving up!  No plans for heavy piecing.  We will see.  Stay tuned!