SPINNING SPOOLS FINISH, PLEATED BLOCKS & PRE-WASH CYCLE

 It is always nice to finally finish something and move on to something new.  I have a habit of having several projects all going at once.  Variety is the spice of life, at least in the sewing room for me.

I finished my Spinning Spools runner.  Lots of thread changing to match colors to these strips.  It is bright, cheery and fun for a summer table.  I still have another 12 block finished without the dot wedges.  Not sure what I will do with them yet.

As is pretty usual for me I started another project, pleated blocks.  Seemed like an easy thing to do.  However, both my sewing machines gave me fits with these.  I have a Bernina 750 and Bernina 480, both wonderful machines.  But, I found neither of them liked sewing straight seam lines with the needle moved all the way to the left in order to make the 1/2 inch seams.  Lots of breaking thread, shredding thread and skipping stitches.  I finally gave up and screwed on an extra plate as a guide and got the job done.  Not sure how I will quilt these things, but I do like the project so far now that I solved my thread issues.  
 

I could not help but laugh when I saw the cartoon on the internet of Pre-Rinse Cycle, here is my little Pre-Rinse Cycle, Zoey our 4 month old Yorkshire Terrier puppy, she helps get the dishes into the dishwasher every evening. 

DESIGN WALL MONDAY 

MID WEEK MAKERS

CONFESSIONS OF A FABRIC ADDICT

THROWING IN THE TOWEL ON SPOOLS & A PRAYING MANTIS BABY

This week I set most other projects aside to turn out a couple of charity quilt tops with some matching prepared bindings for my quilt guild's charity group.  Their October Give Away to 5 different agencies takes place then.  Last October 2020 we gave out 302 quilts.  Covid hit production pretty hard as we could not get together, but many of us did do quilt tops at home and we should have around 200 to give out.  

Here are my first two finished quilt tops.  I was gifted with yards and yards of fabric from Nancy and her husband Lloyd.  Lloyd's mother passed away and left them with boxes and boxes of fabric.  Most were of clothing quality, but there were plenty of quilting fabrics too.  

As you can see I still have plenty of fabric still left to do more tops.

This past week I threw in the towel and decided that 8 finished spool blocks was enough.  I am not going to make 20 of these things.  However, I didn't want to throw them out or give them away and they make a perfect runner.  I still have 12 blocks, minus the polkadot wedges on them that I can make a small quilt with by just adding borders. 

This winter we found a Praying Mantis egg case on our BBQ cover.  We carefully protected it all winter hoping it would eventually produce some babies.  Sure enough this past week while sitting out in the garden I felt this little guy crawling up my arm.  I carefully moved it over to one of the garden plants and snapped a picture.  It is just around one inch long.  Have no idea if it has some brothers and sisters hatched along with it, but hope so.  

DESIGN WALL MONDAY 

MID WEEK MAKERS

CONFESSIONS OF A FABRIC ADDICT 

CHARITY QUILTS, CONFETTI UPDATE & THE TORTOISE AND THE RUSSELL

 This past week my daughter called me to meet a friend with her.  Her friend Nancy had a number of boxes filled with fabric that she wanted to donate.  Her husband's mother had passed away and left boxes and boxes of fabric.  We meet on Thursday and spent some time going through box after box of all sorts of fabrics.  Most of them were clothing quality fabrics, but I did manage to get several quilt quality pieces.  She was happy to know they would become charity quilts.

Most of these are 3 and 4 yards pieces.  So lots of fabric to work with.

I couldn't wait to get in and start something.  I added some scrap strips of white fabric in between these simple 4 squares blocks.  Just 5 more rows to add and we have a quilt top done.  It did not make even a tiny dent in the the fabrics she gave me.  This is going to take a while to get this job done.  

I have managed to get three rows of Confetti blocks put together.  So I am half way through.  I love it!  

Our youngest daughter, yes the one with all the ducks, chickens, and peacocks, also has a Secota Tortoise.  Morty was just a baby when we snapped this picture, she now weighs easily 70 pounds.  Peanut her Jack Russell seems to be having a bit of an issue about whose dinner this is.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

MID WEEK MAKERS

CONFESSIONS OF A FABRIC ADDICT   

ROSE QUILT PROGRESS AND ART IDEAS

This past week I set aside my Confetti and Spinning Spools projects  to get more done on my Rose quilt.  

At last I have all the flowers on and one of the final borders.  Lots of leaves to appliqué yet.  I do plan to quilt this myself.  

I happened into JoAnn's last week.  Our oldest daughter Monique sent me a $50 gift certificate so thought to take a look to see what was available.  Their batiks were on sale at 25% off, so I took advantage of the opportunity to stock up on some blues.

Additionally I pulled some pinks and green along with a couple new pink additions from our local quilt shop.  I have an artsy piece in mind. 

I saw these ideas in an Art Quilting magazine, so has me thinking somewhere along this line.  Wish I was more creative, but I always need a picture idea or a pattern.     
  
 

Meet Lisa the dog and Pip the cat our oldest daughter's two pets.  These two are great friends.  Apparently Liza seems to think that Pip is a pillow. I can't tell if Pip is just tolerating this or likes it.  My daughter says that Pip is the boss, so if she isn't happy she would let Lisa know.

DESIGN WALL MONDAY

MID WEEK MAKERS 

CONFESSIONS OF A FABRIC ADDICT