Design Wall Monday, March 30, 2026

Soon this project will be on my Design Wall.  As the name implies it starts with a nine-patch tossed around; cutting through the centers and rearranging.  The smaller design was introduced to me at Quilt in a Day at the first Accuquilt meeting that I attended last year.  I have fabrics and ric rac ordered through ETSY supliers to compliment my stash.  

I can get the blocks ready for the sashing, but will need to wait on the corner stone fabric and ric rac before moving any further.  These items should arrive as early as next week.

In the meantime I am readying the binding for three projects arriving tomorrow from Kerry.  I am also printing labels because the sweet four labels per sheet is met!

There is going to be progress on several UFO projects in the next few days.  Come Working Wednesday post you should be WOWED.  Check back and see what's going on.

Sunday Stash Report, March 29, 2026

 

I am so very thrilled to have Kottages completed through the top.  This UFO project from 2022 had me involved in many aspects.  It was easy pulling fabrics from my stash together for the houses.  The building of the 100 2 1/2" unfinished houses took lots of time.  These tiny paper pieced houses each have 14 pieces; yes just to build one!  All have a blue sky, yellow windows, and a black door.  

Next was making the picket fence.  I used an ivory grunge fabric to make it look a bit weathered.  Each picket/rail is 1/4" wide with the pickets 1 3/4" long and pointed at the top.  There are 172 pickets OMG!  The making of the fence was a new technique for me as well.  I started to drag my heels in moving forward on this portion of the project.  

It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it might be, but certainly if I were to do it again there would be a different process invoked rather than this one.  The new technique involved the use of a Teflon applique sheet to sandwich fence fabric, double-sided fusible web, and bleached muslin.  This step allowed for easier handling of the pieces along with providing a fusible web to apply to the blue border.  Even invisible/clear thread was part of the recipe.  The designer, Tina Curran, also had the maker use partial seaming to add the borders.  This project certainly stretched the maker's (and their sewing machine's) abilities.  Thank you Tina for designing 100 Houses a pattern from 2014 that I started ten years later in 2024.  A 12 year project finally done.  It will be on its way to Kerry in the coming week =^.^=  Kottages finishes at 24" x 24".

Now onto another UFO.  This one from the 2026 UFO list that is Tossed Nine-Patch by Quilt in a Day.  More on this project on my Design Wall Monday post tomorrow.

My stash count changes a bit with the finish of Kottages, along with a purchase for the cross stitch pattern, Kittens, that isn't too far away from a finish.  Also a purchase for Moonflower by Bonnie Hunter that is nearing a start.

Used this week: 3.25 yards
Used YTD: 97.25 yards 
Purchased this week: 2 yards
Purchased YTD: 14.75 yards
Net used in 2026: 82.25 yards

Wednesday Workings, March 25, 2026

Happy to have another UFO completed.  Kontroversy looks great with it's light pinks and blues highlighted with the dark purples.  Honestly, I wasn't quite sure it would fit my taste, but I love it.  As usual this is a big project that Bonnie Hunter tends to design.  It is Lupine & Laughter the 2025 Winter Mystery.  Thank you Pam for helping me with the pinks =^.^= 

I am looking forward to sharing it in person with Sunshine Quilt Guild at the April monthly meeting.  I will be presenting a Trunk Show of all the Winter Mysteries from the very first of her designs to the latest.  It should be quite the show with twenty some quilts to share.

Happy Wednesday.

Design Wall Monday, March 23, 2026

Nothing on the design wall today.  I have some labels to stitch down to finished projects.  I like to make the best out of a fabric sheet, which means four labels, before printing.  Once I have gone around the last sides of Kontroversy I will be stitching down these labels.  I already have two labels ready to go to fabric sheet and Kerry has a few projects yet to quilt in my queue.  Should have another sheet of labels ready for printing real soon.

Then my time will be on Kottages!

Sunday Stash Report, March 22, 2026

Kasa Kassena is finished.  There has been a lot of delay in getting the monthly installments by Fat Quarter Shop.  Not certain what the delay is about, but we have been given ample fabrics in each installment to be in a position to finish the project except for the binding fabric.  I got ancie so ordered a yard and finished it.  There are two installments yet to be sent out that will be used for something else.

Tuscan Trellis pattern was delivered along with Kontroversy.  I am a little more than a quarter around Kontroversy.  Likely I'll have this 2026 UFO done in the next couple of days.  I love it!  A very light pink thread was used for the quilting.  We found a Lupine design to further Bonnie Hunter's Winter Mystery theme.  Honestly I didn't think I'd like the light pinks and light blues as it reminded me so much of a project for a youngester.  As it turns out this isn't the case.  The purple plays in nicely too.  The Tuscan Trellis pattern comes from a class at Road to California by Jemima Flendt.  I didn't take this class, but wanted the pattern.  Someday I will get to making it.

As for stash, my sister took me to a quilt shop and I picked up a few fabrics.  The top right will be a charcoal for Moondance.  Mom had very little to choose from in her stash as did I.  I may have to look around for two or three more.  The ric rac and the three grays were purchased with thoughts towards the Kitten cross stitch project.  The lighter gray is from a line called Kitty Litter.  The plaid is what appeals to me most.  Will be auditioning just what works shortly.  I only have a few more blocks to stitch.

So for now there is a bump up in the purchased and nothing to change the used.

Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 94 yards 
Purchased this week: 4.25 yards
Purchased YTD: 12.75 yards
Net used in 2026: 81.25 yards

Wednesday Workings, March 18, 2026

 

Yesterday for St. Patrick's Day, after arriving home around 4pm, I started our customary meal.  Afterwards I settled back in to my most comfortable chair and took a nap!  There was a bit of putting things away, well sorted back into their rooms but not put away necessarily.  Over the next few hours I will have most everything as it should be.  The sewing room will come last.  It is quite a reck right now =^.^=

Today I have a massage and facial.  Tomorrow the dentist for a cleaning.  Back to the routine of life.  Except for doing my taxes.  I am so anxious to get to the picket fence border around Kottages that time didn't permit at Mom's.  This is a UFO that I want done!

Design Wall Monday, March 16, 2026

What a whirlwind of mother nature experienced on this Florida, Maryland, and Virginia trip.  We have had just about every weather condition possible.  I can only think of a few that didn't take place.  Today it has been rain...lots of it.  The weather has my flight tomorrow potentially being delayed or even cancelled.  Keeping track of the schedule for certain.

Karen and I did dodge the rain mostly in a trip to a fabric shop, brunch, post office, and grocery store.  The rain came down hard when we were inside these places; having the grace to stop long enough to get into the car and to the next destination.  We didn't chance the evening as most of the storm was to hit after 3pm.

Well it didn't hit the area as was predicted.  There were no issues with travel and I made it home to extreme hot weather.  It's great to be home =^.^=

Sunday Stash Report, March 15, 2026

Today I leave Maryland and my parents for Virginia and my sister's family.  Karen and I cleaned a bit before heading out for the nearly two hour drive to Reston.  We meet up with Karen's husband and then their son for a fun Mexican/Indian fusion dinner.  Hit the road around 4pm to a not so bad drive.

No changes in my stash today =^.^=

Wednesday Workings, March 11, 2026

Today is another day at my parents sorting through fabrics.  There are more donations to be made.  I'll be here until Sunday.

Happy Hump Day =^.^=

Design Wall Monday, March 9, 2026

I am pulling projects from Mom's stash to make up gifty type quilts.  This is a pattern we ran across that makes a table runner.  I found a bunch of fabrics that will work up nicely.  The purple at the top will work well for a back and the lime green for the inner border.  I pulled fabrics in with the floral novelty fabric as a guide.

This was the next one to lessen the pink stash.  The novelty fabric with the bears was cut into 5.5 inch blocks.  Using up the fabric further are 2.5 inch and 1.5 inch units.  This will be a cute charity quilt for a little girl.

The fish fabric at the bottom was cut just like the pink one only this time it's a sea critter theme.  I'll be using the stripe and the multi color dot a lot with this charity quilt project.

There has also been some sorting of fabric not to be used in quilt making.  There were two containers full some dating back to the 70s with tags from House of Fine Fabrics.  My Mom used to work there and always got great deals on end of the bolt.  These and a few quilting cottons will make there way to the Amish that are in the area.  That's it for now from Maryland.

Sunday Stash Report, March 8, 2026

 

I have been sorting through Mom's stash for fabrics to make a few patterns that I have interest in making.  These are Bonnie Hunter patterns.  First up is September Sky.  I have a real good variety of purples.  The strips are 1.5 inches.  If I need more fabrics my stash will certainly be able to fill in.  I have all the neutrals when the time comes.  The multi color stripe will make for a few blocks for the back.

Spider & The Fly comes next.  This one uses the same size units as does September Sky.  I may end up pulling some of the blacks for September Sky if it is made first.  Mom didn't have much in the shade of orange I wanted so my stash will fill in nicely.  The large piece on the right will be used as the outside border.

Cherry Crunch takes lots of reds.  I nearly emptied Mom's stash of the reds.  Again my neutrals will fill in for this project.  It is a strip design project and will make quite the mess once it gets going.

I hope to reduce Mom's stash even more in August when I return.  I will be on the look out for new projects that will use what she has.  Dents in her brown, blue, and green bins need managing.

All of these patterns have not yet hit a UFO list.  They are all an attempt to use up Mom's stash.  These fabrics will not change my purchased as well they were not a purchase =^.^=  No changes this week.

Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 94 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 8.5 yards
Net used in 2026: 85.5 yards

Wednesday Workings, March 4, 2026

 

I am not sure if I shared this kitten finished.  Of course there has to be one kitten playing with a ball of thread :)

This kitten is finished as well.  She is fun chasing a butterfly.

This is the kitten that occupied my time on the flight to Tampa.  She will probably occupy my time from Tampa to Reston too.  I wonder what color the mouse will be...

I just couldn't wait as long as it is going to take Fat Quarter Shop to send the last 3/4 yard of fabric needed to complete the binding on Kasa Kassena...so I purchased it separately!  I'll be adding the yardage on Sunday Stash Report.

Happy Wednesday =^.^=

Design Wall Monday, March 2, 2026

 

I have strips cut for Moonflower (2026 UFO).  I will be taking these with me to see how mom's stash can add to it.  I could really use some of the charcoal gray.

I have been auditioning blue fabrics to use under and above the picket fence that is the next part to add to my 100 houses unit of Kottages (2022 UFO).  Condos came to mind when the 100 houses were sewn together...perhaps I need a name change to Kondos?  Anyway the left has the first two blue fabric auditions.  The neutral will be the picket fence.

The audition is clear on this photo.  At the bottom is one blue fabric and the neutral.

The last two auditions on the right.  I am liking these two the best.  I do not have much of the top blue; of course I like this one the best of the five.  I may use the bottom blue under the fence and the top blue above the fence.  I have plans that I will carry out with mom as I navigate through Tina Curran's pattern.

Nothing more to show for now.  My posts will not be regular for a couple of weeks.  Travel starts tomorrow.  Packing today and fly to Tampa for a visit with brother and sister in law.

Happy Monday =^.^=

Sunday Stash Report, March 1, 2026

Kwartz Kat is finished.  Another 2025 UFO finish.  You might recognize that most of the projects have been UFO finishes of late.  This table runner will be enjoyed during the spooky season that is racing towards us.  Already the third month of 2026 my goodness.

Kultivation is also done.  I just finished the binding and sleeve.  I am thrilled with this 2025 UFO finish.  It sort of has me thinking Native American, but I am sure Kim Diehl did not have that in mind when she designed the fabrics and pattern.

Kottages is into a square, 10 houses by 10 houses.  Yep that makes the 100 houses this pattern is designed around.  Let me say this far it has been quite labor intensive.  Building the individual houses was not too difficult, but the seams coming together into this unit was definitely a challenge.  There has been lots of pressing which is not my favorite part of sewing...my finger usually works just fine =^.^=  Next is the picket fence.  I am off to my blue stash for the right blue background under the fence.

No changes in stash either way this week.

Used this week: 0 yards
Used YTD: 94 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards
Purchased YTD: 8.5 yards
Net used in 2026: 85.5 yards

Wednesday Workings, February 25, 2026

 

Sorry about the photo, but Fancy Feathers top is done (2026 UFO).  The back is prepared along with the binding.  I'll be using that tiny blue used in the top that is stitched between the background and black/white stripe.  When it comes back from Kerry I'll be adding buttons; two on each bird.  One button for the eye (black/white) and the second button (turquoise glittery) for the head feathers placed on top of the orange fabric circle.  Happy this one is ready for quilting.

I am thrilled these two are back from Kerry and ready for binding.  Kultivation and Kwartz Kat (2025 UFOs).  I will be preparing the binding soon.  I might just take Kultivation with me, depending on room in the suitcase, to stitch down the binding.  Kultivation has a small print brown binding and Kwartz Kat will have the same black on black as in the cat binding.

Kottages (2022 UFO) is stitched up to the ten rows.  I hope to get the rows together soon too.  If Kultivation can't fit in the suitcase this project might be going to Maryland for the next step "the picket fence".

For Moonflower (2026 UFO) I already have all the neutral 2.5" strips that I think will be needed cut.  The grays...one is the charcoal (bottom) and the other a lighter shade of gray.  I also have to determine if I want a medium yellow or a gold.  The medium seems to really show up and I may just like it better.  I'd like to have strips ready for my trip so that I can rob mom's stash and have the right match in both the grays and yellow or gold.

Just to round out my projects =^.^=...  I have cut out Looking Glass.  This is the last kit I have from the gift received a little over a year ago from Marla.  This project seems destined for a Rosie's day of sewing.

Well is that enough on my plate?  Have a wonderful Wednesday.

Design Wall Monday, February 23, 2026

Let me start with progress on Kottages.  Pictured above are rows 9 and 10 being stitched.  

I have rows 3 through 10 stitched.  I started at the bottom only because it was easier to take them off the Design Wall; where they've been located for months :)

Rows 1 and 2 are ready to stitch, but time sewing grows near.  Until tomorrow =^.^=

I decided on how to make my Fancy Feathers table runner wider.  I like how this turned out.  Next on to the embelishing.

If you zoom in you can see the stitching down the birds head/chest and the feathered head.  This will be repeated on the other identical side of the table runner.  Leftover "trial and error" pieces will be incorporated in the back.  There will be a button for the eye and also one on the orange portion of the feathered head.  This project is coming along nicely.  The turquoise tiny, tiny piping will be used for the binding.

Both Kottages and the as yet unnamed Fancy Feathers projects are UFOs.  It is good to feel that I am getting closer to completion!