Wednesday Workings, August 12, 2026

 

Joe's Ties quilt is complete.  It took me awhile, but all the colar buttons are in place and the label is secure.  I'll be mailing this one to it's new owner to hold for her son until Christmas.

Mom's table runner 2 is done.  There is one more to go that Kerry will likely have back to me soon.  These have been fun to make.  Possibly more are coming as I do my best to use up her stash.

I spent most of Tuesday on the computer and when evening came buttons...buttons...buttons.  By the end of the evening only half way through the tiny 24 colar buttons.  The rest were done after aqua fit.  I'll soon be in my Sewing Room putting the Block As together of Katydid (Spider & The Fly).

Happy Wednesday =^.^=

Wednesday Workings, August 5, 2026

I was able to get the fabric needed for Kommitted.  No thanks to Kassy (one of my kitties), I was able to finish the binding.  I'm happy to use both my mom's and my stash with Kommitted.  I am finally starting to see a small dent in my neutrals!

I trimmed down Mom's Table Runner 2 and the Tie quilt ready to add the binding.  One binding is ready to go and the other needs to be prepared.  

In the meantime I have been working on Spider & The Fly.  Cutting units and sewing the many hour glass units.  This is a fun block unit that I enjoy making.  I have block units sewn for two blocks right now.  I will sew together when I have more so that the fabric mixes are the most pleasing.  

I skipped Aqua Fit today to give my toe more time to heal from my stumble on Friday night.  I found out running into a chair leg in the middle of the night can break a toe.  I was at the doctor's office yesterday and brought up my very bruised toe.  She sent me to get xrays.  Turns out that my middle toe is fractured.  Not much can be done except to keep weight off and tape.  I haven't taped, but as I said time to keep activity level and leg propped up for a few days.  

Enjoy your Wednesday

Sunday Stash Report, July 5, 2026

 

Let me start the day with fabrics purchased.  It was a day at Rosie's to get the last fabrics for a few projects.  This first background fabric was needed to complete a table runner from my mom's stash gathered last August.

Next up is the darker pink at the bottom of this photo for Kittens.  The two pieces on top were also considered along with countless grays.  I did settle on the darker pink and the binding prepared along with half way around on the hand stitching.  This is as cute as the Ducks from all that I have cross stitched to date.

I am trying to add to a lone Winnie the Pooh redwork block that my grandmother made.  I found these embroidery transfers, but they are a bit to small.  A suggestion was to stitch them out and than go from there on a design for the project.  Well I really didn't want to go that way so back to ETSY to find embroidery transfers thta were larger.  With a little help from the ETSY Seller, I found larger "Hoop" sized PDFs that she sells.  She led me to understand how to go about using the PDFs.  Needless to say I have the PDFs and now waiting on Amazon to bring me the transfer paper that will work with my printer.  The purchase of fabric here is two whites that closely work well with the original fabric.  Wish me luck with this new for me endeavor.

These last three fabrics had the Rosie's group helping me audition.  The two blues in the first photo one out.  I decided adding, although I like it, the red made the project look too patriotic for my liking.  The blue diagonal print was quite literally found by chance.

Here is the table runner complete.  I have another focus fabric to work with for a second of this design.  I will be working it into my queue =^.^=

Here is the Joe's Ties quilt top complete.  Right now the plan is to use the outside border fabric as the binding too.  I am real excited to have this done in plenty of time before it is needed for Christmas.

Seven fabrics at a yard a piece get added and two projects are ready for quilting!

Used this week: 8 yards
Used YTD: 173.5 yards 
Purchased this week: 7 yards
Purchased YTD: 43.5 yards
Net used in 2026: 130 yards

Wednesday Workings, July 1, 2026

 

Kittens arrived from Kerry.  I ditched the fabric I thought would be nice for the binding and also the jumbo ric-rac that was to be part of the binding too.  I just didn't like either for this all too cute design.

I have in the past used the same fabric that the cross stitch is framed with as the binding, but I'm not sure I like it either.  This project is packed up until I can do some auditioning at Rosie's.  A grey to match the plaid is on my mind.  I will know something for certain soon.

Joe's tie quilt is assembled and also waiting for some auditioning at Rosie's for the borders surrounding the bow ties.  I would like to have something that brightens the project, but keeping it masculine of course.  Black is the obvious choice I suppose.  I think a dark shade of blue might work well.  This fabric will need to work with an outer border.  Lots to match up LOL.

In the meantime I pulled out one of the table runner patterns my mom liked.  Using her fabric all the way on this one.

I have the middle nine patch cut now.  The next one to cut will be the corners.  I plan to use the same focus fabric with the purple.  The flying geese will be a variety of the fabrics on the bottom with the yellow as a background for them.

Hope your day...the first of July...is going well.  I'm all set up with timing to watch USA FIFA World Cup Match later tonight.  Have a wonderful July 4th.  Keep your pets in the house during the fireworks =^.^=

Design Wall Monday, June 29, 2026

This was my Design Wall on Sunday evening.  I have since attached the collar and tie for applique to the blank fabric at the bottom right.  The same tie fabric used has two matching bow ties to fill in the gaps on the bottom left; one turns the corner.  I am debating on what color fabric to use for the first and third borders.  The pattern calls for a dark nearly black fabric.  Joe's ties aren't as vibrant at the pattern so I am thinking something brighter might be better.  Maybe a blue.  I will be auditioning once the 12th block is finished.  Perhaps I will be asking for your opinion on Working Wednesdays post.

I met up with Lorna today for a visit with approximately 70 red/white/blue quilts to the Ronald McDonald House.  These quilts were lovingly made be members of Sunshine Quilt Guild during the 2025-2026 membership year.  The hope was to have each bed with a patriotic quilt for the United States Semiquincentennial or 250th Anniversary of America.  Not sure the quilts will hold out until the 4th of July since one was already leaving the facility before we even left.

If you want to see a cute movie check out Sheep Detectives.  It is a bit silly, but all good fun for any age in your home.  

Wednesday Workings, June 24, 2026

 

I have figured out what techniques work best for me for this project.  The first row of three rows of shirts is done.  This may not be how they will end up arranged in the project.  That will come when all the shirt/tie blocks are finished.  Originally I was thinking I'd need three of each tie fabric to get to the requirement for the pieced border.  I caught my mistake just now and only two are needed.  Five are needed on all four sides (seen at the top).  The corner units are just a bit different so that they turn the corners.

This is the next block and bow ties to stitch.  I do like this wild tie as it brings with it a brightness that hasn't been so far.

Shirt six is a solid tie that I have updated with the shirt fabric.  I doubt this shirt would have been in Joe's wardrobe LOL.

Design Wall Monday, June 22, 2026

Here is the first of 12 shirts that I will put together as a rememberance quilt.  The ties are those of Joe's and the quilt will go to his son as a Christmas gift.  The bow tie is a sample of what will be used for the border.

The photo of the finished quilt that I will be following for the project.  I did remaster the bow tie pattern removing Y seams.  My sample isn't perfect, but I plan to master the imperfections in matching seams.

I am now on the second shirt.  The tie needs to have a 1/4" turn and then applique into place, with the knot to do the same and land where the collar comes together.  Buttons will be put on the collar tips once the quilt is quilted.  Through trial and error I have landed on a double faced fusible to help me tame the ravel of the tie fabric.

Here are more units and the templates needed to make bow ties.  As I mentioned template Y (one the far left) will not be part of the remastered bow tie.  OMG what an ugly template LOL.

The background for all the bow ties will be this grunge fabric.

These are the remaining ten tie/shirt combinations.  I will be working on this project for awhile =^.^=

Design Wall Monday, April 13, 2026

 

The Post Office is crazy in my location on Mondays.  I did use the kiosk today so it turned out not too bad for me.  I have stayed in line before and it can take upwards of 30 minutes until it's your turn with the clerk.  Okay...I'm done ranting =^.^=  This cute charity quilt is in the mail to mom.  I love the combination of fabrics, very much the rainbow.  I'm visualizing pink thread with fish as the quilting design.  I'll  be back later this year to do the binding unless mom's quilting fairy is well enough to take on the job.

This is the pattern I will be using for a commission project.  A family friend has asked me to use her late husband's ties.  It will be a fun and memorable gift to unwrap at Christmas.  There are 14 ties and the plan is to use 13 of them.  One is a bow tie that I'll use in the first border.  First I'll have to get rid of the bow tie's hardware...  A sampling of what's to come.

Another commission in the making is a baby quilt for the friend's niece.  The niece wants something girly in pastels with flowers and butterflies.  I found the Flutter pattern online and got the okay to proceed.  The butterflies will be in a flower print.  I am planning a neutral background.

These two projects are waiting a turn under the needle, but first I have been continuing to cut out Santa's Hat Shop.  There is much cutting.  28 blocks will have Santa's hats, five are plain blocks, and three are the letters of "JOY".  Right now I have 22 background blocks cut for Santa's hats along with the five plain blocks.  I still have a couple of fabrics coming from ETSY suppliers.  I will double up on some of hte backgrounds, but not many.

Still playing around with the wool project, Love Is All You Need.  It is also a UFO from earlier years.  I will be sharing this one with you later when I get further along.

We are having a drizzling day today.  The air smells awesome.  Enjoy your day.