Design Wall Monday, August 31, 2020

 

Glad you decided to look closer at my blog post!  

Of course you don't really want to see the back of what I am about to work on...so here are the fronts.

There is just way too many projects going on in my sewing room.  I am feeling overwhelmed =^.^=  I think I need to take down some of these projects an get back to focusing on just one.  I usually start with one and don't work on another until the current one is finished.  How many projects can you see that are in the middle of work?

Adding to the projects is Beware! It's Halloween September BOM.  This one is The Witches Residence.  I think this one will be the most challenging one in the project.  Besides receiving a BOM each month since March and storing them away absolutely nothing has happened with this project.  This will not become a UFO because it will be one of those long time projects for me.

So what's going on in your sewing room?

Sunday Stash Report, August 30, 2020

I wonder what will come this week in the final Clue of the project?  I'm like the rest of the participants...just guessing on the layout.  I like what I have so far...

These came from Kerry for Candy Cat blocks.  I have yet to pull the rest of the fabrics that will go with each of them.  These will be used as background for two separate blocks.  Teal may be a goldish cat to match the color of the fish.  The white might be??  Thank you Kerry!

#5 2019 UFO project A Quilt for Mrs Chalmers is moving right along.  I spent most of my sewing this week on it.  I had a bit of a set back, but recovered just find.  The white looking squares are a very light beige with numbers.  The fabric came from a previous gift from Kerry of five FQs with words or "type" theme.  None to this point has been sewn together except to the 4-patch units and 3 unit pieced border.  A black third border comes next and then a finishing fourth border.  All these fabrics are from my stash.  A 4-patch unit finishes at 2".  I made it several rows smaller than the pattern called out.

Finally readying for binding and sleeve on these three projects.  Kosmo is trying to get me to go to sleep!  He is on a clock and it is past time.  You might wonder why I spend the time on my sleeves.  I just can't let blocks become orphans!

Stash doesn't change this week, but A Quilt for Mrs. Chalmers will turn the numbers next time.  Any ideas quilting buddies for a "K" name for this project?  Mrs. Chalmers has her quilt displayed on the project cover over a tractor.  Specifically the one pictured above.  Maryland farmers wives...need your help!

Used this week:  0 yards

Used YTD:  101 yards

Purchased this week:  0 yards

Purchased YTD:  15 yards

Net used in 2020: 86 yards

Wednesday, August 26, 2020

 

I love ginger kitties, but not so much this one!  Yes, most ginger kitties are male, but I'm calling this one a female because it was a real #@!$%!  Urgh...  

First she caused me to redo Section B not once, but twice.  I stitched B3 with cat body fabric (orange print) instead of the background.  Then since I had to unstitch B4 to get to B3 (fix just mentioned) I trimmed off the tip of B4 where it attaches to Section A...  Beginning to sound like a BINGO Game =^.^=

Now that all the ear sections were correct, I stitched one of the eye units upside down.  Now we can't have that =^.^=  Truth be told I was not concentrating on my sewing as I should have been doing.  There was an excellent program on National Geographic Channel about wildlife in Alaska as it pertains to rescue, rehab, and release.  Lots of species in need and the footage as you would expect from National Geographic was phenomenal not to leave out mentioning the story.

Tonight I will be working on my #5 2019 UFO A Quilt for Mrs Chalmers.  I have a bunch of 4-patches to make.  Fortunately strip style!  This project should be fast moving.  I will also find time to select more five-fabric combinations continuing progress on Candy Cats.  What color Candy Cat should I take on next?

Design Wall Monday, August 24, 2020

 There are nine Candy Cats on my Design Wall today.  My goal is  to add in cats with different colors and darker backgrounds.  Of course I'll be using only stash for these cuties.  My first cat add is the one in the middle bottom row.  It was quite a challenge figuring out the way to cut the fabric to have the stripes in the ears going horizontal and in opposite directions.  Then after success, what I thought might happen, urgh, the stripes did not stand out from the background enough.  I sure wasn't going to give up on these ears!  Instead a very tiny pipping was added in the color of the cat to separate the two fabrics.  I believe it did the trick.  So from this cat I have notes for future striped ears and a solution should the contrast me too similar between the ears and the background =^.^=

How do you like my ears?

The background fabric is busy, but this project will be full of this sort of craziness!

Later today I will be back to making more of these fun Candy Cat blocks.  This is my usual travel to parents home and the start of a two week vacation.  The entire traveling idea doesn't suit me for now, so there will be wishes from coast to coast instead.  We are still working through the heat that has been the normal here in San Diego this past week.  

I hope you will have an excellent week.  

Sunday Stash Report, August 23, 2020

 

Today there is a change to my stash count.  Excited to have Starry, Starry Nines by Pam Buda done.  If you look close enough to this #7 2019 UFO you might see that it is Halloween themed fabric.  This project finishes at just 23 x 29.  The smallest unit is just 1/2 inch finished.  Cloves are considered an Autumn spice, so guess what this project will be named?  So let me show you what had me sewing through this hot week in San Diego that leads me to the finish of Kloves...

The second block of the project used the 9-patches that I was making on Wednesday.

Then came the setting triangles and corner stones.

That's when the project could come to life.

Moving on to Jelly Snowflake Mystery project a bit to finish up Block 3.  The clue just came to participants on Friday.  Sue has a webpage if you want to see what everyone else is doing with their projects.  My project is with 2 inch strips where everyone else is using 2 1/2.  I did this mostly because of the lesser amount of background yardage that was in my stash.  It also provides a smaller project and that is a big plus.  There is one more clue and then the finish.

Saturday came to figuring out what UFO project to work on next.  I decided on A Quilt for Mrs. Chalmers by Em and Me Designs.  Headed to my stash to see what was there that sparked an interest.  These are the fabrics I plan to start with.  Likely I will skinny down the 2 1/2 inch units to 2.  This will give me a projet smaller than the 46 x 56 it is designed for.  This is #5 2019 UFO.  With this project done only one remains to finish for 2019's UFO list.  I don't think #12 Fit to Frame will complete, but then it is only August =^.^=  I will be selecting a 2020 UFO project to work on...between everything else!  Check back tomorrow to see if fabrics have been selected for Star Strings by Pam Buda; #4 on the list.

I started last night and will continue today on a Candy Cat block.  It is fun to get back to a paper pieced project.  The neck and ears are waiting for me!  I have already selected fabrics for the next three cats.  This project was designed for 30 cats.  It might see less in hopes to keep this project smaller too.  

Oh I love surprises coming to my mailbox!  Especially when it comes for my hobby!  My sister sent this fabric treat with the note saying she thought of me while shopping in Hobby Lobby.  The neutrals will definitely work well.  Thank you =^.^=

Used this week:  3 yards

Used YTD:  101 yards

Purchased this week:  0 yards

Purchased YTD:  15 yards

Net used in 2020: 86 yards

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

These are the 11 unit 3s for the first block of Starry, Starry Nines by Pam Buda.  As I have mentioned earlier this is #7 2019 UFO.

I gathered the rest of the units of Block 1 and this is the finished block.

And here are all six that are needed for the project.

Block 2 has me back to making 9-patches.  This time 12 of them.  These now needing to be trimmed down a bit.  Just a sliver makes a world of difference in these tiny projects.

This is were I will end up with for this part of the project along with tonight's sewing!

Design Wall Monday, August 17, 2020

 

Starry, Starry Nines is coming along.  These are just 2" units unfinished.  They are in order of the instructions.  The first six are nine-patches, 12 with a rectangle on the right, and finally the lone one will have 11 more just like it as this project moves along.

This is another 2019 UFO#7.  This is a Pam Buda design.  I sure set lofty goals for 2019 UFOs.  These are just the next cut pieces for the 11 with the rectangle on the left.  Can you tell this is a Halloween themed project?

It was a windy, hot day yesterday in San Diego.  I spent the day sewing down binding while enjoying the wind on my back patio.  I did get nearly all around on one of the two blue and white charity projects.  I used a burgundy rather than a red, because there just wasn't enough in the stash =^.^=  I'll share photos when done; I know you will agree that it looks fine.  We are up for a hot week in San Diego!

Sunday Stash Report, August 16, 2020

Saturday I caught up on the Jelly Snowflake Mystery.  Sue V is coordinating this Fat Quarter Shop project.  Above is the first clue or Block One.

Here is second clue or Block Two.  I have seen DeLinda's and Vikki's sewn Block Ones and know that they have cut Block Two.  Kerry shared her fabrics and maybe she has her progress posted on her blog (or will soon).  Kerry has been working on her Jelly Roll Dresden which I say is coming along great.  I have my own Jelly Roll Dresden to finish yet.

Did I mention to you being gifted with Bonnie's Win of the Candy Cat Block from a Sunshine Quilt Guild Retreat a couple years back?  The above was the block I made.

These are the blocks that came my way.  There is no note saying who participated or who made which block...  If you are reading this and can help me please let me know.  I think top row far right was made by Sue.  Bottom row middle by Kerry and same row far right was by Bonnie.  I know Jo made one, but which one? Who made the other two?

This is the project suggestion.  36 Candy Cat blocks, 2 inch sashing and inner border plus the outer piano key 2 x 4 inch border.  I have the next four blocks' fabrics and foundation paper ready to go for this paper piece project.  Haven't done any paper piecing for awhile and looking forward to it.

Lastly, the background for Spooky Friends table runner arrived during the week.  I already have it cut out along with the pumpkin pieces.  The cat fabric has been selected, but this is where progress stops for now.  

So to finish this post there is an add of one yard and nothing to claim as used this week.  I sent four small projects off for quilting to Kerry this past Thursday and finished adding the binding and sleeve by machine on the three she sent me recently.  I have yet to sit and hand stitch.  That will come =^.^=

Used this week:  0 yards

Used YTD:  98 yards

Purchased this week:  1 yards

Purchased YTD:  15 yards

Net used in 2020: 83 yards

Design Wall Monday, August 10, 2020

A charity quilt finished with mostly orphan blocks.  I have an entire drawer full of orphans!  I hope to empty this drawer of orphans before too long.

This is the start of a mystery project that my friend Sue V started just this past week.  This is Block 1 of 5.  I pulled fabrics for it today to go along with the background that was enough yardage to get me stitching along.

Fabrics are coming together for the Spooky Friends table runner.  The middle one came from Fat Quarters.  It will be used as the background and the darker black the borders.  The orange will be for the pumpkins along with a solid black for the eyes/nose/mouth.  I still need to find the right kitty fabric, but I have lots in my stash in this color way.

For now I have been working on preparing backings for Kandi and the Sunshine Charity Aug20 to send off to Kerry for quilting.  Once these are done and in the mail there is binding to do on Klarchen (the cute nutcracker) and the two January 2017 Win projects.  Then I will get to the start of the mystery project=^.^=

Have a perfect week.

Sunday Stash Report, August 9, 2020

A completion this week in Kandi.  This project is a 2020 #6 UFO.  Frankly I didn't think it would finish so quick.  The pattern is called Sugar Sand Beach by Atkinson Designs.  All the fabrics were gifted to me (thanks Mom and her guild).  I brought this down to 1 1/2 inch strips from the jelly roll.  This is the layout for a lap size, but when brought down in size it finished at 36 inches by 42 inches.  My sister offered several ideas with Kandi as the first word for a name.  I decided it only needed one name!

These are the the fabrics for the binding and back.  My stash is not strong with yardage pieces so this one will be 8 1/2 inch squares sewn together.

This project will be a Sunshine Charity quilt for one of the kids at Becky's House.  There are two sets of orphan blocks that make most of this project.  My friend Bonnie gifted me the pink kitty fabric that worked well here.  The basic pattern is comprised of 2 inch finished 9-patches.

These fabrics will be used for back and binding.  More will be needed from my stash!  It is there just waiting for me to find it!

Saturday three projects arrived quilted from Kerry.  I will be getting the binding ready and look forward to some patio time and/or relaxing in my family room chair.

So the stash numbers change this week with the finish of two projects.  I'm one step closer to having all 2020 UFOs done =^.^=

Used this week:  11.5 yards

Used YTD:  98 yards

Purchased this week:  0 yards

Purchased YTD:  14 yards

Net used in 2020: 84 yards