Design Wall Monday, November 20, 2023

Not much yet to share on Katerskill (Blue & White Delight by American Patchwork & Quilting).  This is a re-create of a Vintage Indigo project.  I used one of the three suggested indigo blue fabrics.  All the units are cut and ready to assemble.  This should go quick...the quilting design will probably take longer :)
 

This shows the layout...easy peasy!

Kauldron is completely done.  A long time overdue.  This is a 2022 UFO that I am very happy to have finished for next Halloween.

This Sunshine BOM for November is coordinated by Pam.  It is called Turkey Track.  Pam gave each of us a FQ that participants were to match up with either a light or a dark.  I chose a dark (brown) to go with the gold (from Pam).  This may be a BOM I want to win!

I'll close with Kassy and Kosmo in their favorite places before the laundry gets sorted for washing.  Kassy comes running when the laundry basket comes out!

Enjoy your week =^.^=

Design Wall Monday, November 13, 2023

 

This doesn't look like much, but it is about to!  This is Month 9 of the project Lucky Stars.  It will become nine blocks of three different designs.  The project is the next Sunshine Opportunity Quilt for the membership year 2024 - 2025 (I hope I have this right =^.^=)  Of course I will be sharing when there is something more to see from my efforts.

Kauldron came back to me from Kerry.  I just love the quilting design called Tangled for this project.  Looks like wind whipping across the quilt.  I have the sleeve and binding in place.  This will be the next to hand sew.

I am working towards having the Lucky Stars Month 9 finished for Tuesday's November Sunshine Quilt Guild meeting.  Guess you know then what I will be doing tonight!

Enjoy your week.

Sunday Stash Report, October 22, 2023

Kauldron is finished and ready for the beautiful quilting Kerry will do for it.  I will have this one in my home next year for Halloween =^.^=

Don't you just love the backing fabric?  This is the last project I have that used this fabric line.  I think in total I have made four different quilts with it.  Each and every one of them different.

I have the binding all set too.

This very cute pattern by Fat Quarter Shop is all cut and ready to sew.  Isn't much too it, but it is that much closer to its turn under the needle.

In the meantime occupying the needle is Bonnie Hunter's design Star of Hope.  I hope to have all 25 6 1/2" star blocks done by next Sunday.  She will be releasing the second block of this two block design on Monday.

I looked all through my rulers to find the 60 degree angle to make the shapes for the foundation pieced units.  There are three different shapes to make the star block.

I have plenty enough blues to make for a very nice variety.

The first two are done with more hopeful completions the rest of today.  Check me out tomorrow to see how many more this weekend holds for me.

So with the completion of Kauldron I have something to change in my stash count this week!

Used this week: 15 yards 
Used YTD: 140.5 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards 
Purchased YTD: 83 yards
Net used in 2023: 57.5 yards

 

Design Wall Monday, October 16, 2023

On my Design Wall is Kauldron.  A very close to completing 2022 UFO =^.^=  All that is left now is the outside borders.

The 3" strips are sewn together.  The trusty tape measure, ruler, and rotary cutter ready for the next step.  Wait till you see the fun back waiting for the top to be done...next post you will see it!

I hope to cut out Boo!  I have found that it is such a pleasure to have projects cut and waiting to be sewn.  Kerry taught me this and am I happy she did.  So anyone plan to do the Bonnie Hunter Star of Hope Sew-Along?  The Intro and Part 1 are available now.  Part 2 will be available in about two weeks.  I plan to make it.  Paper foundations have been printed...fabrics pulled...sewing time not quite!  And by the way her Winter Mystery Intro comes out on 10/31 with Part 1 posted on 11/24.  A very busy time for Bonnie.

Enjoy your week ahead.

Sunday Stash Report, October 15, 2023

I have Kauldron to the row assembly.  There are 1 1/2" sashing strips to be added between the rows.

With Kosmo's assistance I am getting the strips together.  The project is wider than the usual WOF so the seams of the strips will be a bit staggered which I believe is a good thing.  They would be more visual if they were stacked up.  There will be three rows of sashing.

Nothing to claim this week, but perhaps next week as this project looks pretty close to done.  Just a bunch of long seams to go.  It gets outer borders of the same background fabric.  Getting anxious now!

Used this week: 0 yards 
Used YTD: 140.5 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards 
Purchased YTD: 83 yards
Net used in 2023: 57.5 yards

Design Wall Monday, October 9, 2023

Up on my design wall is Kauldron.  I am working on the cutting the background that will pull this project all together.  This is a 2022 UFO that will finish pretty soon.  It will be nice to get this one done and ready for Halloween 2024.  I had hoped it would be for this year, but realistically I do not see that happening.

I put the stem on Kianti.  I used three strands of embroidery floss in a chain stitch pattern as called out in the pattern.  I am not so sure it is thick enough for the size of the flower and leaves.  Might have to try this again with six strands.

This is the kit that came in the 2023 Spooky Box from Fat Quarter Quilt Shop.  I do like this one...it is already in work.  It will be ready for Halloween 2024 too.

I learned from Kerry a way to store embroidery floss that I though ingenious.  In the back you can see how I had been storing my collection of floss.  I had floss from Lilly, American Thread Company, Coats and Clark, and DMC.  This collection came mostly from my grandma and a bit from my mom.  My grandma was quite the cross stitcher in her day.  Anyway, today you can purchase plastic bags with a hole in the bottom corner and loop them through a key chain.  I sorted everything by color into several key chains.  When a project is started it is easy to identify if you have the design color and put all the project's floss on a separate key chain.  This allows for a portable way to keep the floss you are using right at your finger tips and store partially used threads in an organized manner.  There is also a white label to use a marker and pen in the color code if you wish.  My sorting is all done now and ready for the next cross stitch design that interests me.  I sure ended up with a lot of brown American Thread Company #1047.  I wonder what grandma had in mind...

Tomorrow is October Sunshine Quilt Guild monthly meeting.  I will be coordinating the October BOM and a scribe for the question to the members, "What was your best quilt-related gift?"  There are also challenges to sign up for since I missed the September meeting.  It will be a busy night for me for certain =^.^=

Take care friends and have a wonderful week.
 

Design Wall Monday, October 2, 2023

I have not had my machine running this week except for making the Sunshine 2023 September BOM coordinated by Kathy.  

Most evenings I have been hand sewing.  

I do have Kauldron to put up on my Design Wall when I can get to it.  Mine will look just like this as I purchased a kit with exact fabrics.  I only have the background pieces to cut.

Hope you have a great week.  Mine will be a little special because Thursday is my Birthday!

Sunday Stash Report, October 1, 2023

 

The last two blocks of Kauldron are finished.  Next comes cutting out all the background pieces and transferring the project to my Design Wall.  We have company coming over for chili dinner and the late football game so not certain I will have time to move this any further.

I did do some stash damage with Hobby Lobby's 40% discounted week.  This was probably the best find.  It is a white on white star at 108".  I got all of what they had left on the bolt or 3.25 yards at $4 a yard.  This will take me a long way on projects down the road.  This was the only fabric that does not have a reason to be purchased except that it was a TERRIFIC buy.

You know about Popstar needing a back.  This one is perfect.  I will be sewing the back to fit the project and off it will go to Maryland.

Next is the sashing and back for the finished cross-stitch project.  I selected a complimentary color, but really it could been any number of colors as there is everything in the project.  I liked the light teal.  The back may also become a second sashing...the decision has yet to be made; there is enough fabric should I decide to go this route.

How perfect could this fabric be as the sashing for the next story book panel project.  A you can see it will be all about angels.  The blue with the white dot couldn't be any better.  I may put a tiny inner border around the blocks in yellow...again a decision pending once on the Design Wall.

Lastly, three fabrics that will make good "books" for the project I have been gathering cute fabrics for.  There is enough of the two top fabrics for the sleeve of a pillow case and the bottom will have two big end parts of the pillow case.  Time to search my stash for fabrics that will match them.  Get them assembled into kits and mail to Maryland.

So 16 1/2 yards added and soon to be counted as used with most of it going to Maryland.  Back to the second half of the Chargers game for me with DH.  I have a very cute Halloween project to hand stitch...must keep the fingers busy.  Enjoy the first day of October!

Used this week: 0 yards 
Used YTD: 130.25 yards 
Purchased this week: 16.5 yards 
Purchased YTD: 80 yards
Net used in 2023: 50.25 yards

Sunday Stash Report, September 24, 2023

 

These came on Friday from Kerry.  There are five small quilts starting with Kianti, Kaper, Kortland, Karess, and finally the project I created with Jennifer's stash.  I will be working to get the binding on them and finish up with the binding, sleeve, and label.  Of course I will share a frontal photo of each once complete.  This won't keep me busy too long since the largest is just 33" x 33". 

Popstar is all finished by me.  The next steps will be taken by Mom's quilting sisters in Maryland.  I have to get a back for it yet that will happen sometime this week.  The binding is all set for the full project to be a charity quilt for a veteran in Mom's area.

These are the fabrics I will be using for the samples of the Sunshine BOM to be presented in October.  We will use the Popstar block design on this time with Halloween themed fabrics.  There will be the option for a green star with an orange background OR an orange star with a green background.  The shadow will always be a black on black OR gray on black (no white on black).  You will only need a 5" WOF of each of the fabrics you choose making only one block.

I also received the Sunshine BOM presented in September that Kathy is coordinating.  I will be working on this one later today after seeing what the Chargers have in store for us on game day.

During the week the Cat on the Broomstick and the Bubbling Cauldron blocks were finished.  Only two block designs remain.  Check out tomorrow's post to see what they are and probably what they look like finished.  I am anxious to have this one to Kerry so it is back in time to display this year in my home.

I am finally over COVID; testing negative on Tuesday.  I worked remote on Wednesday and then at the office on Thursday.  I had taken a break from exercise since I was isolating.  It felt good to be out and about walking in my new Hoka shoes when I started back on Wednesday evening.  DH felt better too from his surgery on Tuesday so both of us in our Hokas headed down to Harbor Island where we like to walk from the Lighthouse to Island Prime and back.  It was a beautiful, cool windy day.  We saw the HMS Surprise cruise into the harbor from an earlier open sea jaunt.  After our walk we changed gear and had a nice lunch at the Lighthouse.

I'll take credit for stash usage with Popstar this week.  It was fun to make.  Hope your week ahead is full of things you enjoy doing.  See the Sun Bonnet Sue cross stitch project, cross stitching portion, all done along with progress on Kauldron tomorrow.  Take care my friends.

Used this week: 6 yards 
Used YTD: 130.25 yards 
Purchased this week: 3 yards 
Purchased YTD: 63.5 yards
Net used in 2023: 66.75 yards

Design Wall Monday, September 18, 2023

 

Who would have guessed something like this could work?  I think it does quite nicely =^.^=

Still working on this last pumpkin.  Lots of HSTs to trim away.  It will be done soon because I am anxious to work on the cat on the broomstick next.

How's your Monday going?

Sunday Stash Report, September 17, 2023

 

I am still on my road to recovery.  I sure hadn't anticipated this darn virus lasting so long.  Yesterday was another positive reading urgh.  Suppose going to the office tomorrow is not in the cards.  However, the good side of staying home is that there is lots of time for sewing!  When I'm not working of course =^.^=  I do feel well enough to work.

This block is another one of the several pumpkin designs in A Witches Night Out.  Of course my project is called Kauldron.  Below is another block design completed.

I decided to use the middle star of this design for the corner stones of Popstar.  There will be more on this tomorrow; showcasing my creativity with just an itty bit of red background fabric to work with.

This is the next block design and the last pumpkin before the cat on the broomstick design.  It is moving right along. Finally, I am seeing something close to a finish for this 2022 UFO.

This is what has been occupying most of my time.  Mom started the project several years ago.  Her arthritis in her hand pretty much keeps her from any kind of hand stitching now days.  Mom finished the top left block and I took over.  The photo above are the first of the six.

This photo above are the next six and the last of the twelve.  The one on the top middle is the last one to stitch.  I am working on the diaper cross stitch that is using green floss.  Many thanks to Kerry for offering the floss she had on hand from her cross stitch days.  Likely I will be sharing the last sun bonnet sue and the puppy facing right tomorrow.

Once again no change to stash.  I am digging around my stash to come up with three borders for Popstar since I am not going anywhere right now besides home.  Take care friends!

Used this week: 0 yards 
Used YTD: 124.25 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards 
Purchased YTD: 60.5 yards
Net used in 2023: 63.75 yards

Design Wall Monday, September 11, 2023

 

Today a day to Honor and Remember the events of this day in 2001 that forever changed so much in America.  I am quarantined still and will be for a few more days.  I hope to get to work on campus by Thursday.  DH took the COVID test and thankfully he can start the events he had planned tomorrow.  He meets up with a long time friend that he hasn't seen in nearly 30 years.

I finished up the Popstar project to the block and setting part.  I found a suitable red/white/blue plaid to use with the solid red background and a coordinating 4 1/2" strip that says AMERICA for the top border.  I will probably finish this up with a coordinating 4 1/2" blue border on the sides and bottom.  It should finish at a fairly good size.  I plan to send this to my Mom for a veteran project that her guild supports.

I have also had time to make two more pumpkin designs for the Witches Night Out project.  This entire project is cut out which makes stitching each design that much faster.  There is another sitting on my sewing table waiting.

Another day closer to full recovery.  Still staying low =^.^=

Design Wall Monday, August 21, 2023

 

Completed the Chevron Pumpkin Block of several different pumpkin blocks for my new project Kauldron.  Four blocks will be needed for this project.  It is nice to be working with small pieces.

Flying Geese Pumpkin Block is the second in the pattern book.  It also requires four blocks for the project.  This project is called Witch's Night Out by Sarah Price and Jocelyn Ueng of It's Sew Emma.  I purchased the pattern at 2020 RD2CA and the kit from Bella Rose Quilts.  It's one of my UFOs from my 2022 list.  I'm anxious to have this project done this year and not have to carry it forward another year.

This is a picture of the finished project.  I'm excited to get to sewing up the cat on the broom =^.^=

Counting down the days now of my visit East.  It was only a few months ago that I was there, but it seems like way too long.  I have a very large binding project ahead of me!  Take care my friends...all is good after Hurricane Hillary swept through our area and I am not close to the earthquake that hit Ventura County in the Los Angeles area.  My what Mother Natures has scooped up for California!