WOLVES AND THE SHOPPING SPREE

I had a birthday this past week.  My oldest daughter always sends me a gift certificate for a quilt store.  I also have a generous allowance monthly to purchase fabric anytime I want, and rarely spend it.  I really do have a very large dedicated sewing room and way more fabric than I am likely to ever use.  However, I had a charity project I needed some fabric to complete and for some reason decided to just see if there was anything different to treat myself at the second shop.

The wolf fabric was a donated charity fabric given to me.  I fussy cut them in three 9-1/2" and eight 6-1/2" squares but I just didn't have anything in my stash that did them justice.  I purchased the green and brown fabrics.  It measures about 56" by 56".  I am really pleased with it, and may have a really hard time giving it up.  I have another pieces of the wolf fabric to make a second quilt and plan to do so.

At the second shop I ended up with this fabric, one yard cuts each, in a kit with a book.  I have no idea why I just could not pass it by.  It is not what would normally draw my interest.

 

The fabric with the book will likly look best if I use the pattern that is 3rd row down on the left, but the pattern just above it is the one I surely plan to make.  The fabric is way more than the pattern requires.  Hmmm, think I might keep the wolf quilts and give the group a quilt made from pattern and fabric out of this book to them instead.  Problem to find some little boys to give the wolf quilts to.  My grandsons are 21, 18 and 16, as well as all 6 feet tall plus a few inches plus each.  Quilts for them have to be in the 90 inch length.   Got to find some little boys.  

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LUCKY COWGIRL NUMBER TWO

This week I am determined to get the second Lucky Cowgirl quilt top done for my charity group.  A couple months ago I finish the first one and was asked to do a second.  Both of these quilts, once the group quilts them and finishes bindings, will go to local agencies as fund raising auction events.  My plan is to get this last one to them at the next meet up on the 18th of this month.  

The four horseshoe blocks are done.  There are two of each pattern.  The original quilt top I made had all four with the same fabrics.  The fabric provided this time required me to change up that plan.  I think I rather like this on better. 

The center block is my favorite.  I love the hat band and got a bit creative with the center star on it.

I have two of the four hats complete.

And I am ready to finish the last 2 hats now.  I have the accent stitching done.  Just need to pull the threads to the back and tie them off and fuse down the band.  Just the final appliqué stitching around the band and hat to go.   

The lattis around the nine blocks ready to join them and the border fabric.  The charity group will decided on a binding, there are several fabric choices for them to make.

The finished top will look pretty much like the pattern.


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MORNING FLIGHT AND ENCHANTED GARDEN

 This past week has me really going to town on my Morning Flight project.  Feels good in that area.  Personally feeling a bit down in not getting this boot off my fractured foot.  The six weeks were up, but while the X-ray showed good healing, the boot is on for another two weeks.  Bummer such is life!

Morning Flight is really coming along well.  Only three more blocks to finish.  All the backings are selected and ready to get the pieces on them.  

This is the pattern I selected to do with my William Morris fabric collection.  The pattern was designed to make in wool, so I have adjusted the directions for my fused pieces, and made some corrections with the placement and amounts of pieces in the blocks.  No butterflies or hearts either. 

Blocks 1, 2 and 3 are done.  Left side of the pattern going down.  I am also making the blocks a bit larger than the pattern calls for, 9 by 12 rather than the patterns 8 by 11.  I do not intend to put sashing between the blocks.  

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COWGIRLS, AM FLIGHT, AND WOLVES

 I have not been able to accomplish much of anything this past week.  I think I am just not very inspired for some reason.  I did teach a class of 5 beginning  quilters at our local quilt shop.  That was fun and things went really well and they did really well.  I think finding the 1/4" seam on all the different sewing machine models seems to be one of the hardest things and cutting fabric.  

A couple of months ago I made this quilt for my charity group that was needed for a fundraiser auction.  I finished Lucky Cowgirl pictured above in May.

A few weeks ago the charity group found more of the fabric and wanted a second one made, as the first one was such a big hit.  So I am back to making this pattern again.  Fabric choices are different than the first one and the first one was a challenge making those hats in the four corners so this one has been a breeze to do.

I have managed one more Morning Flight block.  Most the smallest blocks are done so have to get myself in gear to working on the large blocks now.  The project seems to be going on forever.

I hope to get started on this quilt top.  Lots of fussy cutting with this fabric.  I managed to cut out 3 of the large blocks and 9 of the smaller blocks, 3 each of the different scenes.  Making charity quilts for boys is always a challenge.  This fabric ended up being a real prize.  I have another fabric with just darker background and wolves that I hope to fussy cut and make another quilt top for the charity group.  

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MORNING FLIGHT PROGRESS AND PLACEMATS

 I have been able to make some progress this week for a change on my Morning Flight appliqué project.  They are the smaller blocks but they have the project moving along at least.  I have spent more time working on some Christmas placemats as well.  I decided I wanted a set for our everyday dining and that also got me interested in making a set for a family member's birthday.

These blocks are a small accomplishment, but these little guys are more complex to appliqué than the larger ones sometimes.  Cutting out the appliqués themselves is a bit of an issue not to mention those 1/4" vines with the folded over bottoms.  One does wonder about why I started this project sometimes, but I am determined to finish it.  

I finished a set of 4 of these placemats for my regular dining table for the holidays.  I use placemats for our daily dining with themes to match the seasons.  However I have not ever had them for Christmas.  I happened on this fabric and decided we needed a set and I am thinking probably another set as well needs to happen.  

Well as long as I am in the Christmas sewing mood I figured a set of 6 for a family member's birthday sounded like a good idea.  Her birthday is in January, so I will have to get these to her at the beginning of December as an early gift.  They are a family with 3 children and I thought this fabric made for a cute holiday table for them.  

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BINDING AND CHRISTMAS IN AUGUST?

 It is still a rather toasty heat wave here so staying indoors and sewing seems to be the best alternative.  Our oldest daughter is back out from Colorado for a two week visit.  Her husband's brother has had some medical issues so as she has a very extensive medical background she has arrived to help him deal with a variety of medial appointments.  As she is also a relatively new quilter with only about 18 months under her belt, we will be spending some time in the sewing room together.

She arrived with this finished project we worked on together when she was out in June.  Just binding to put on now.

And this quilt is finished and ready for binding too.  I was really impressed with this project.  All the different sizes of blocks that were put together was a real accomplishment for a new quilter.

Plus two new runner projects we put together for her.  In her office at her work she keeps a small Christmas tree that is decorated for all sorts of yearly holidays, Halloween, Easter, and a variety of others.  A cabinet also has a runner on it to match the holdiay theme along with some candy treats for visitors.  Some new fun Christmas runners seemed like a good addition.  

Lots of binding to accomplish this coming two weeks.  

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APPLIQUE AND THREAD

 I have had a really productive week with my 2 appliqué projects.  Our weather has been extremely hot this past week.  Most days the temperatures were hovering around 108 to 110 so staying in doors is the smart thing to do.  My sewing room has a ceiling fan and the AC is on.  Likely the bill will look like the national debt, but this is life here in the summer months.   

Morning Flight has progressed really well over this past week.  The large block on the bottom row is the replacement from the previous one that had the background with the wording upside down. I finally received replacement background fabric and remade it.  Plus was able to get the next two blocks of that row done as well.  

The first William Morris block was replaced by this one.  I originally planned on using invisible thread but was not happy with the results.  So ended up scrapping it and remaking it with some different fabrics as well and now I am doing the appliqués with colored thread matching the appliqué pieces.

I must admit that using colored thread requires an awful lot of thread.  I seem to be a regular visiter to both JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby for polyester colored thread.  Plus tons of bobbins.  I match both top and bobbin thread for each appliqué piece.  I prefer Gutermann's which JoAnn's carries except they do not stock their shelves very well and so Hobby Lobby's thread is a good substitute, and in a real pinch I occasionally use Coats & Clark.

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VESTS AND ENCHANTED GARDEN

 Two years ago I started a project with my granddaughter making some vests for her.  Yes, in July 2022 we finished the first one, and had three more cut out and ready to start putting them together.

Finally this week I determined that it was a project I had to get done.  Laid up with my foot in an air boot due to breaking a bone in the foot has me somewhat more off my feet.  But I can still sew and decided this was a good way to keep me busy.

I just need her to find some time to come over and select buttons and placement of the buttonholes. 

I have my first appliqué block with my William Morris fabric collection started.  I think the pattern I am using is a bit more whimsical than I originally planned, but I am happy with the results.

I am planning to appliqué with invisible thread and using 3/8" vines instead of 1/4" which are easier.

This is the patten sheet for the first 8 blocks of the 18 that will be in the quilt.  However I have increased the size of them a bit and will be playing around more with adding or subtracting some of the pieces on each block too.

I have all sorts of fabric to play with, a huge bin full.  It is looking like a fun project ahead.  

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APPLIQUE AND AIR BOOTS

My past week has been a rather eventful week and some of them not very good ones.  More on those later.  I have made some good progress on Morning Flight.

I have a good start on row 2.  At least I thought I had things going well.

The first two blocks on the left are perfect and the right side blocked looked really good too.

However on a closer look I realized that the fabric is upside down.  Oh dear, I spent some time trying to talk myself into saying that is OK.  Well that did not work well.  I have to remake it and I do not have enough fabric in the kit for a new background.  I spent some time and have found a fat quarter bundle of Eclectic Elements by Tim Holtz from an Etsy site.

The real bummer this week is my left foot.  I was sitting at the computer for a good length of time working on finalizing my guild's quilt show finances.  I had my left leg crossed and my foot was numb, when I jumped up to grab something across the room I stepped on the left side of my foot and rolled the foot to the side.  Well I jumped around for a few minutes, ouch ouch and all seemed to be OK.  For a few days it was sore and bruised, but as a few more days went on was really hurting me.  By Monday this past week I hauled myself into the doctor and then X-rays.  I had fractured the bone in a nice Z pattern from just above my left little toe all the way up the bone.  Fortunately walking around on it for 6 days did not displace it.  I am in this contraption for six weeks. It weighs a ton, and I cannot drive, husband is very nice about being taxi service for me.  There is only one plus in all this, I can still sew!

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NEW ADVENTURES AHEAD

 After getting both last week's charity quilt tops done I am back to Morning Flight and a new adventure with William Morris fabric I have hoarded for ages.  I also am working on a sample runner, as I am scheduled to teach beginning quilting again at our local quilt shop.

  

This is the very simple table runner I will be working with three ladies and one of them a young lady 15 years old that is very excited.  Simple and easy.  I used straight line quilting on it and machine finished binding. It is very doable for newbies.

Back to Morning Flight row two.

I have had a bin full of William Morris fabrics, I am a bit of a hoarder when it comes to that particular fabric line.  I have three nice books so decided on this particular pattern.  But there are so many wonderful pattern to choice from, even a couple children's quilts that seem to be calling my name as well.

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TWO PROJECTS DONE AND ON TO SOMETHING NEW AND FUN

I spent this entire past week finishing both the Marco Polo and the Butterfly quilt tops. They are bagged up and on Wednesday will be going to my charity group for quilting and binding.  A relief for sure.  Now I can get back to Morning Flight and see what other unfinished project lies hidden in my storage drawers.  I have several collage projects that would be so much fun to start.  

Marco Polo quilt top is done.  The lattice made things so easy to join the blocks.  I am pleased at last with the finish on it.  I did select a yellow print for the binding.  It goes to my charity group for quilting and binding on Wednesday.  

The Butterfly quit is also finished and has joined Marco Polo going to the charity group for finishing.  

I have a bin full of William Morris theme fabric and three pattern books.  I think they are calling me for attention.  Time to do something different.  

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MARCO POLO AND BUTTERFLIES

I should be working on my appliqué project this past week, but I have two pieced projects that have pieces laid all over the sewing room and there is no room to really do anything, but get them together and off my to do list.  

The three blocks above are made with this Marco Polo pattern.  I purchased the pattern and fabric as a kit a couple years ago.  Not sure why I did, and wonder what was going on in my mind when I did.  I will admit I can manage to get the blocks together easily and the center comes to gather very well and is flat.  However, this project is definitely not my cup of tea for sure.  I have 20 blocks done, and 25 is the goal and I will be putting a lattice between the blocks.  Sewing those blocks together without one would be a nightmare as far as I am concerned.  I have enough extra fabric from the kit to cut a small outside border and a binding.  I will have it quilted and depending how great it looks in the end it will get a home either for my charity group or give as a gift.  The pattern goes on the free table at the next guild meeting and I am DONE with it.

On a happier note I have 35 butterfly blocks done and the first two rows joined together at the top.

I have joined them with a 1" finished lattice.  Very pleased with them.  Purely a scrap project and it will go to my chairty group for quilting and binding.

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MORNING FLIGHT AND BUTTERFLIES

 I am back to normal life here at home.  I weathered my guild's quilt show last month and all the financial ups and downs of closing the reporting for the guild membership.  My daughter spent 9 days the first week of this month with us and we enjoyed a good deal of family and friends visits and lots of quilting time.  Now I am back to doing something on projects in my sewing room this past week.  

I am back to working on Morning Flight.  I am ready to start the final block on the top row.  After a bit of appliqué thread woes things are going smoothly.  

I have a ways to go on this project for sure.

I can only manage an hour or two of machine appliqué before I reach  
the point of going cross eyed.  I then have to find something simpler to work on for bit.  So I have started this butterfly scrap quilt.  These little guys are fun and go together really quickly.  I'll need 35 of them to have a quilt complete, and every one will be a different fabric for the wings, a bit of a scrap buster.  They will have borders around each one of them in the white dot fabric.

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A WEEK OF SEWING FUN

 I spent this past week with my daughter.  We were able to spend a lot of time with family, a high school graduation event and party with one of my grandsons, and visits with an old childhood friend she went to school with, and her husband's brother as well as doing a good deal of sewing on several projects that she brought with her. 

On a trip to my local quilt store she purchased the coffee theme fabric.  We put together three runners two will be Christmas gifts for friends of hers and they were so cute that she had to have one for herself as well.  A neighbor of mine gifted her with the Kansas Prairie fabric and that will also be one of her friend's gift for Christmas.  Plus my daughter that is new to quilting taught me how to finish binding on the machine.  I have always hand sewn the finishing of my bindings. Just never was able to finish them on the sewing machine that looked good.  Well, you can teach an old dog a new trick.  These binding finishes are just perfect.

This is also a project she brought with her to bind.  It is a birthday present for a friend that is a college librarian, and yes she also has a cat.  The quilting she had done even included a couple of book worms quilted on it.   

And yes one more project sewn together and ready to take home, add borders and off to her quilter. 

My daughter has returned home after a wonderful 8 day visit and it looks like these two think it is about time. They look a bit sad, like they are thinking it's about time Mommy came home.    

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