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, September 25, 2023

 

I finished Kianti except for a label.  It's small but cute.  Looking at it I just realized I forgot to stitch the stem.  It uses floss in a chain stitch pattern so I knew this was something that needed to be done after quilting.  Oh well add to the need for a label will be the stem...all good =^.^=

This one is made with all kinds of fabric that goes together from Jennifer's stash.  It is to be a charity quilt that will be turned in at the next gathering of charity quilts at Sunshine Quilt Guild.

I have more binding projects ahead to include a Halloween, Valentines, and Patriotic projects.  Stay with me to see which one comes next.  Have a great last week of September.

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

Sunday Stash Report, July 30, 2023

 

Kianti finished during the week.  This is a little project finishing just 12 x 20.  It is from a pattern called Zebra Finch Flower Quilt Block by Suzanne's Art House. Once quilted it will get a green fabric to match the leaves for the binding. Chianti is a type of sunflower.  It is a 2023 UFO finish!

Kortland aka Apple Pie finished this week too.  This is also a smaller project finishing at 27 by 36.  It comes by way of the 2023 Liberty Box from Fat Quarter Shop.  Did you know there are 65 varieties of apples?  Cortland happens to be one of them.  I did change out the medium blue fabric that was provided.  I had other plans for the one that came as part of the "box".  It gets a back from my stash.  The fabric line less the medium blue is from Sweetwater by Moda called Stateside.  Planning on a red for the binding.

I was able to change my stash numbers a bit this week with the finish of two projects and a back for the charity project from last week.  I did a bit of cross stitching while watching TV last night.  Onto the next season of Lincoln Lawyer.  Take care my friends.

Used this week: 7 yards 
Used YTD: 117.5 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards 
Purchased YTD: 60.5 yards
Net used in 2023: 57 yards

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Kodkod
24" x 30"

I wanted to share two finished projects with you.  Kodkod is one that I put together from cat blocks gifted by Marilyn at the May Sunshine Quilt Guild Retreat.  She gifted us with three different blocks.  Knowing this wouldn't be enough I asked Jean and Pam if they were going to do anything with their gift.  So as it turns out they regifted them to me.  Thanks to all three of you for providing the blocks to make this cute project.  By the way, Kodkod, is truly a cat (and I didn't change it from "Cs" to "Ks"). The rare species of wild cat has the markings of a leopard and lives primarily in central and southern Chile.

Kween
16" x 32"

Kween finished as well.  This one is named after a large Sunflower and a figure called Plan Boss in the video game Plant vs Zombies.  I did take the liberty for a rename with a "Kw" instead of "Qu".  This is one of two sunflower projects that will be completed this year.  In the not too distant future you will see the coming together of Kianti.

Happy Wednesday=^.^=
 

Sunday Stash Report, June 18, 2023

Happy Father's Day Dad!  I'm so lucky to have my Dad in my life.  I gifted my Dad with a new Maryland State Flag that was up on the tri-flag pole the same day it arrived.  He was thrilled with it and especially that it was made in the USA.  The card arrived the next day and he got a chuckle out of the cat playing a heavy metal tune with a moving guitar.  Funny!

Krawley was gifted to Ripley on Wednesday.  I got a huge smile across my face with her smile and arms in action.  Happy baby!

I have kitted more projects.  This one is It Takes Two.  A Fat Quarter Shop project from their 2022 Cupid Box.  This one is a 2023 UFO.  Help me with a "K" name for this project.

Kianti is kitted and ready to stitch.  It is from the Zebra Finch Flower Quilt Block pattern by Suzanne's Art House.  I have made several of Suzanne's projects.  They are small and a quick sew.  I am always looking for something to use my stash.  This one is also a 2023 UFO.

Hanging Boo is the last to kit this past week.  Another from Suzanne's Art House; the pattern is called Fall Mug Rugs & More.  Rosie's has a wide assortment of Suzanne's Art House patterns.  Another 2023 UFO.  After this one from this pattern collection, the Owls and Pumpkins are planned.  I have a few ideas for this Halloween project's name.  What do you think about Kursed, Kornier, or Kryptic?

This past Tuesday was Sunshine Quilt Guild's last month of the membership year.  Ginna won the Opportunity quilt, lucky girl!  We have a new one ready for taking chances once the tickets are printed.  I'll share a photo soon.  There were several other winners at the potluck meeting that included closest guess of the FQ Tower height, 2 1/2" Strip Roll weight, Bimonthly Opportunity Quilt, and Block of the Month.  This was a gift for being a member.  The pen and FQ will come handy at some point in time.  Sunshine has sew ins during the summer months, but no regular meetings in July and August.  September starts up a new membership year.

Stomping Grounds finished yesterday.  I love how it turned out.  I'm thinking about calling this project Klamouring, Klumping (the baby's last name is Klump), or Kicking...what do you think?

Used this week: 8.25 yards 
Used YTD: 74.75 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards 
Purchased YTD: 43.5 yards
Net used in 2023: 31.25 yards

Sunday Stash Report, June 11, 2023

This is the month for birthday celebrations in my family.  Three of them just celebrated this past week.  Let's start with the youngest.  Austin my nephew, Mike my brother, and Rita my SIL all share June 11th as their start in the world.  Happy Birthday!

I continued on with my kit cutting.  I have quite a few now so today I started to sew some of them up.  This one wasn't started; It Takes Two is from a Cupid Box.  Coordinated by Fat Quarter Quilt Shop.  These are fun projects that come as a mystery gift box all with a particular theme.  Right now I'm waiting on my Liberty Box.

I have this one ready to go too.  Besides Halloween projects, sunflowers seem to be at the forefront of my sewing queue at the moment.  This one Zebra Finch Flower will be made as a single sunflower with the plaid for the back.  It will be a quick easy project.  My name for it will be Kianti that is a variety of sunflower.

This Halloween project the Hanging Boo wall hanging is all cut and ready too.  I'll be using the black on the left with the glowing eyes for the back.  This was a gift from either Sue or Bonnie several years back.  

I was also gifted from Mom her prize for winning the chicken blocks from her guild's BOM for May.  She actually won all the blocks, of which there were many, enough for two quilt projects.  She opted to let two others who participated to take the blocks and she took the fabric bundle. I helped out with the block she made so I get the fabric!

I mentioned that I started sewing on Sunday after all the events of the weekend.  There was a lot of stomping that continued throughout the day.  Come back tomorrow and see what stomped in!

No changes to my Stash count today, because I don't count gifts =^.^=

Used this week: 0 yards 
Used YTD: 66.5 yards 
Purchased this week: 0 yards 
Purchased YTD: 43.5 yards
Net used in 2023: 23 yards

Design Wall Monday, May 29, 2023

 I felt like doing something patriotic for this Memorial Day weekend.  Kountry was stitched up quick as could be.  This is a Fat Quarter Quilt Shop project from a year or two back.  It has a dark blue to use for the binding and possible the better part of the back.  It finishes at 27" square.  I started the cutting of it at the recent retreat.  Wishing all the families with military men who gave of themselves, served and returned, or are still engaged that provide the freedoms we have as Americans.

Another project that will occupy my hands during television night is prepared for stitching.  The scarecrow block of Autumn Love.  Pieces were prepared, turned, and pressed during my recent visit to my parents.  Except for the hat, right Mom?  I used several tools in my sewing tool box until I found the right one to turn the brim.  I'm chugging along with this project.

Since I must have a project under my sewing machine needle, it is time to start cutting kits.  This is the first of five I plan to work that is called Scary Faces.  It is one from a previous Mystery Limited Edition Spooky Box from Fat Quarter Shop, just like Kountry was from  Fat Quarter Shop Mystery Limited Edition Liberty Box.  I won't be using the background suggested rather one that I have in my stash.

These are blocks I won from the December 2022 BOM coordinated by Tonya Althof.  I'm hoping she may have some of the background left to make two more blocks.  Sadly the light blue one at the top had the seam allowance cut off, making it unusable unless I add a coping to the block, but then I'll be cutting off the tips of the blue squares.  I also need one more to give me the quantity desired for the project I want to make.

This is from Suzanne's Art House once again.  She designs the cutest small projects =^.^=  I have just the perfect green for the "BOO".  You know how much I love Halloween designs.  2023 UFO

I know of a little guy who loves owls.  Well he did at one time; not sure about owls now...  Another Halloween project from the same pattern designer Suzanne's Art House.  The two designs came in the same pattern collection.  2023 UFO

I have all the fabrics for this one that I have been trying to get to for a few years now.  I want to have the quilt for this Halloween and I will be working to that end.  I have had it out several times to cut, but this time it isn't going back to collect dust for another year.  Besides there will be so much fabric left over to use on other projects!  This will be called Kauldron.  2022 UFO

The last of the bunch pulled out to work on in the coming weeks will be the sunflower wall hanging that will be called Kianti.  If you changed it back to a "c" chianti is a type of sunflower.  There are a few variations in color, but this one looks like it will work for the colors in my home.  2023 UFO

As you can see I'll be busy with these.  The cutting takes the time!  Enjoy your Memorial Day.