Design Wall Monday, July 21, 2025

Here is the latest from Kerry.  Grandma Alice's Stitchery for Austin.  I just finished trimming it down.  It is just beautiful.  I know Grandma will be happy when she looks down upon her stitchery.

The binding and sleeve are being created to finish it up.  I am nearly finished with the binding on the Sunshine Community Charity Quilt.  Once it is done this one should be ready to stitch.

As for my Design Wall...no change here yet.  I'm preparing the Milk Can block now.  Perhaps Wednesday's post will have something to share with you.  Until next time take care and enjoy the sew =^.^=

Sunday Stash Report, July 20, 2025

Fall Flowers block is done.  Next it is on to the Milk Can block.  It will be fun making the two mice.

Now the left side of the quilt top is done.  The Milk Can block is placed directly across from the Scarecrow block.  Slowly but methodically this project will move along.  I'm quite anxious to see something in the middle aren't you?

This project had an oops that has been corrected now.  Love how it was quilted by Christy.  Look at the solid green backing and you will see what I mean.  The solid red seemed to be obvious for the binding.  I'll work on this a little later today; it is already stitched down.

Friday while at Rosie's, Jean gave me her leftover Millie's Dresses units.  I am hoping Lorna will do the same when she gets to working on her project.  I will be making a second charity Millie's Dresses quilt with these leftovers.  I also cut out Gleaming; received from the 2025 Liberty Box, Fat Quarter Shop.  I don't plan to stitch this one right away...not until Autumn Love is finished.

I received Grandma Alice's Stitchery for Austin on Saturday.  WOW it is a beauty!  I will be sharing photos pre-binding with you tomorrow after I trim it down.  Kerry pulled off yet another fabulous custom quilt work in this vintage quilt that will be a keepsake for Austin.

Nothing changes my Stash Report this week.  Progress is happening though on Autumn Love (a 2025 UFO) started way back in 2020 =^.^=

Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 225.5 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 78.25 yards
Net used in 2025: 147.25 yards

Wednesday Workings, July 16, 2025

 

I didn't get it quite done, but only six pieces to go!  This one is the Fall Flowers block.  The circle piece at the bottom sits in the middle and the green pieces at the bottom fit just under the orange blooms.  It will be a tight fit, but it will work.  The green pieces will be done after I get the last orange bloom down.

Next it will be on to the Milk Can block.  Don't you love the mice.  I am looking forward to making this block.

Happy Wednesday =^.^=

Design Wall Monday, July 14, 2025

 I am back to finishing up Autumn Love by Lori Holt.  This is the Oak Leaf block that was next in line to complete.  I decided to go back to the applique technique that suits me better.  It took all day to sew this one block, but it's done.  

Can you spot it and all the holes representing what I have yet to sew?  There are a few of them.

Here is the next one to tackle, the Fall Flowers block.  It will sit under the Scarecrow block.  Maybe I can have this done by Wednesday...  Happy Monday =^.^=

Sunday Stash Report, July 13, 2025

Kid's Kingdom is finished.  I love the way the fabrics surrounding the stitched blocks turned out.  I have a prepared striped binding waiting.  This project along with a few others will make their way to Arizona early this week.  Now that the stitching is complete I have been working on Autumn Love (more on this project tomorrow).

This is another charity project.  It uses a combination of Mom and my stash.  It really goes together quickly and uses up novelty fabrics really well.  Just 5" squares does it.  The lattice work is easy too with 1 1/2" strips.  This is the second to be made by the pattern.

Knickers is done now.  Love how this project turned out.  It started at the Sunshine Retreat in May.  The striped cat gave me a bit of a fit, but ended up great.  This is one of my 2025 UFOs.

So I'm happy to change my fabric stash in the used category.  I also didn't bring any fabric home =^.^=

Used this week: 22.75 yards
Used YTD: 225.5 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 78.25 yards
Net used in 2025: 147.25 yards

Wednesday Workings, July 9, 2025

 

Katniss is complete.  This is a 2025 UFO for me with five more to go on this year's list.  The red stripe is the binding which is all prepared and the white stripe is the back.  I am very happy with this project from Kim Diehl called Garnets and Lilies.  

I plan to pick up where I left off on Autumn Love.  I will be revisiting the project this week so I have some hand sewing to do in the evenings.  I am on the last side of binding on Knickers that might get me through tonight.  I should have a finished Knickers to share with you on Sunday.  Also will be able to claim used on Katniss and Children's Zoo since I am close to a complete on it.  So those numbers will change in a positive way.  I am thinking about Kid's Kingdom for Children's Zoo...any other ideas?

When I started trimming down the twelve blocks of Children's Zoo, I found a missed embroidery section in the penguin's eye.  I corrected that right away because missing now would be a big mistake.  Gives me pause to look twice on the blocks to make sure I completed all the embroidery.  So far this has been the only mishap.

This is the next step after squaring up the blocks.  All the blue markings on the blocks will vanish when washed so no iron hits these blocks until it is quilted and bound.  Otherwise the blue markings will set and that is not wanted for sure.

Here it is on my design wall coming together.  This is a bright quilt with the turquoise inner border and the multi color sprockets.  The sprockets fabric was a great find in Rosie's sale room.  It is 60" wide; pretty unusual size that works.  The zebra will go between the panda and the rhino.  Once the eye is embroidered on the penguin it will fit nicely next to the lion and the platypus.

That's it for today.  Going to be a hot one today in San Diego...hot for us San Diegans that is =^.^=

   

Design Wall Monday, July 7, 2025

Here is Katniss at the start of Sunday.  I had just two blocks to go before being able to move on to the next step in the process.  I am getting anxious.  Katniss is going to be specular.  I hope to get through the applique in the next day.  Honestly, I am ready to be using my Phaff  =^.^=  This applique doesn't go so fast!

Tomorrow marks ONE YEAR OF RETIREMENT!  Where has this past year gone?

Sunday Stash Report, July 6, 2025

Finished the binding while sitting outside on the patio with DH on the 4th.  We stayed home and had hamburgers cooked on the grill.  Listened to the not too far away fireworks that were all around us.  This quilt is part of the charity projects I sew up for Sunshine Quilt Guild.  The Guild supports efforts at Rady's Children's Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House.

On Thursday Jo, Kathy, and I volunteered our time at the San Diego County Fair acquiring signature blocks that will be used for charity projects we call Community Quilts.  The two on the wall in the back left are examples of completed quilts.  Jo was putting together with her blue sewing machine quilt tops made with the signed blocks we collected between the two days.  The green quilt is one I made that signatures were being gathered making it one step closer to complete.  That lovely quilt behind us is Sunshine Quilt Guild's 2025-2026 Opportunity Quilt.  I have tickets one/$1 or six/$5; let me know if you want to be included in the drawing for this queen sized quilt.

Pop  Medley has a back and binding prepared so it now gets counted in the Used category!  Also in the Used category are the fabric from stash to create parts and full requirements for four Community Quilts.  So a big used this week!

I have just two blocks to finish the applique on Katniss.  Will share more on Katniss tomorrow.  Oh my, this project is looking fabulous =^.^=  I have yet to cut into the fabric to finish Children's Zoo (sashing, etc.), my cross stitch project.  I need first to get Katniss off the design wall...it is too crowded right now.

Used this week: 22 yards 
Used YTD: 202.75 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 78.25 yards
Net used in 2025: 124.5 yards

Wednesday Workings, July 2, 2025

Moving right along with the applique on Katniss.  Three blocks done (top row) and six more to do.  Making great progress on the project.

Quilts arrived from Kerry yesterday, Knickers and the Lattice Baby Quilt for charity.  I have binding prepared with plans to stitch down on both of them today.  My first priority in hand stitching will be Katniss =^.^=

Another community signature charity quilt was finished.  My volunteering will be tomorrow.  The booth looks really good.  

These are the volunteers today.  Booth set up with two completed community signature charity quilts mounted to the left of the booth and one on the table to the right along with lots more signature blocks to be signed.  Our Opportunity Quilt for 2025-2026 is in the middle with chances available to win.  We will also be sitting down at a sewing machine showing how quilts come together.

Also brought in the mail is this very summery table runner by Fig Tree & Co. called Popsicles.  I have scraps aplenty to put this one together.

Enjoy this beautiful Wednesday =^.^=

Design Wall Monday, June 30, 2025

 

The applique is coming along on Katniss.  It is taking about three hours to stitch each block.  At this rate I have a week left before the next steps in having this part done.  The bias bar worked well for the "X".  I definitely recommend it for smaller pieces of bias tape.  The ease with centering the seam on the underside is really a treat; just what the tool is supposed to do.

Here is the rest of my applique pieces for the remaining seven blocks.  I use the Avery label method for my applique shapes.  Using a full Avery label sheet, trace or photo copy the shape onto the sheet.  Cut out the shape and press onto the right side of the fabric.  Cut the fabric ~1/8 around the Avery label.  Position on your project and applique it down.  Remove the Avery label.  The label can be used more than once.  It sticks amazingly well.

Also stitched are all the units for the outside border.  13 will be used for each side.  I will wait until the top is done before these are assembled.

Sunshine has a booth at the San Diego County Fair again this year.  We will have stoppers by sign our community charity project blocks.  I have made two quilts from signed blocks to display and this is the second to be made into a top for stoppers by to sign.  Painters tape was adhered to the back of the signature part of the block to keep the fabric stable.

This is the start of a third top for stopers by to sign.  Sunshine's booth will be open for showing the quilting craft on July 2 and July 3.  Come by and say hi...oh and sign a community charity project block!

Hope your July is awesome =^.^=

Sunday Stash Report, June 29, 2025

 

The zebra is the last block to stitch for Children's Zoo cross stitch project.  I have some fun fabric to use for getting this into a small quilt.  The animals are not true to their natural coloring; at least a few are not.  The turquoise will be the inner border or frame around each 9" block which there are 12.  The stripe will be the binding and the final piece will be for the sashing as well as the back.  I will be fitting this into the sewing queue.  I have already counted the fabric in, but not yet at that point to call it out.

Katniss is coming along fine.  I have all the smaller blocks stitched into the larger block.  The nine blocks are on my wall with the sashing that will come next once the applique is done.  The applique will be where the four smaller blocks point together.  On the right side you can see the strips that will be used for the inner border and the last pieced units for the outer border.  The same white stripe used in the sashing is planned for the binding.

Here are the pieces needing prepared for the applique.  I will be working on this today.

These are the units ready to go for the outer border.  All the red squares have their center lines drawn and ready for stitching.  There will be 13 border units for each side with a corner stone of a solid red.

Didn't purchase any fabric this week and nothing to claim as used either.  These two projects are coming together quite nicely.  Hopefully they will claim as used next week along with Pop Medley that I didn't put together a back for yet.  Now let me find time in my sewing room =^.^=

Used this week: 0 yards 
Used YTD: 180.75 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 78.25 yards
Net used in 2025: 102.5 yards

Wednesday Workings, June 25, 2025

 

Happy Wednesday!  These are the 36 blocks needed for Garnets and Lilies by Kim Diehl.  I will be calling my project Katniss. I am not at a stop, but the next part involves making bias stems.  The instructions call for a 3/8" bias bar, which I don't have right now.

I did order them with delivery expected Monday.  I will be moving on to the next steps in the meantime.  Each four blocks get sewn together and then there is the inner border pieces to stitch.  Lots of preping involved in the 36 leaves as well.  I will be busy until they arrive.  The bias bars make easy the stems of the applique portions.

Sorry for the quality of this photo.  The "X" in the center of the block is what I will be using the tool for.  There are many ways to accomplish this task, but the fabric is a bit heavy for me to consider other bias tape tools I already have in my tool box and simply making them by hand.

Panda was finished in my Children's Zoo cross stitch project.  Zebra is quite far along too.  I was surprised the zebra called for this color floss, but animals in this zoo aren't always in line with the real McCoy!  My Children's Zoo stitching is nearly done.  Next nighttime project will be Autumn Love's applique parts.

Today is a DH family dinner at King's Fish House in Carlsbad.  We all get together once a year around this time when his nephew comes to town.  We will be missing one of DH's brother and his better half this time around due to some surgery and grandchild sitting.  We are looking forward to being around family today.

Enjoy your Wednesday =^.^=

Design Wall Monday, June 23, 2025

 

Garnets and Lilies by Kim Diehl is on my wall today.  I am building the 36 stars currently.  There are three blocks using 12 reds.  The three gingham prints, the center of the stars, are scattered in each of the groupings.  

I have some marking to do on what remains to be sewn.  There will be some applique in this project using one of the ginghams and wait until you see the stripes =^.^=  This project is a 2025 UFO.  I think this one will be called Katniss.  

The top of the Pop Medley quilt is all sewn.  Need a back for this one that I will be seeking from my stash.

We had a fun time, probably too much fun...yesterday between Old Town and Little Italy.  Taking the trolley is so convenient.  Margaritas along with salsa, guacamole, black bean dip, and fresh chips were prominent in the three places we enjoyed.  Certainly can't do a day like this too much!

Sunday Stash Report, June 22, 2025

 

This project is called Pop Medley by Beverly Delaney (Quick Quilts #91).  I try to bring a simple project to Rosie's on the Fridays when the group meets and this was the one for this past Friday.  I took some time to use my Accuquilt cutter to cut the 3 1/2" halves of these blocks.  It calls for two blocks of each fabric in rainbow colors.  My friend Marla's sister had started with a few blocks and left me with some fabric, but my stash filled in most of it.  It took quite a bit of unsewing after the day at Rosie's URGH because I failed to notice that there is also in the design calling for the 1 1/2" strip to change not once or twice, but four times at it travels through the top.  In what was given me there were two different fabrics.  Like a dunce I hadn't studied the pattern and low and behold left the pattern at home.  So I went merrily on the chain piecing journey all day.  When I got home and checked the pattern...oh my gosh!  My seam ripper came into play nearly all day.  Two more strip fabrics were found in my stash to fill in the missing fabrics.  I suggest you read the instructions before you begin; certainly not the way I did it =^.^=  The borders were to be a dark brown fabric.  You can see I changed it out to something a bit brighter.  I will be sewing this all together in the coming week.

I have about half the blocks done on Garnets and Lilies.  It is best to work with one sewing machine on a project to keep the seam allowances the same.  There will be more to share with you tomorrow when I have it back up on my design wall.

DH's birthday is today.  We will be heading south towards downtown on the trolley later today.  Not sure where we will end up.  We like adventures with new experiences.  No telling what this lovely day has in store for us.

No change to my stash report, but that will change next week when Pop Medley is completed into a top.

Used this week: 0 yards 
Used YTD: 180.75 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 78.25 yards
Net used in 2025: 102.5 yards