CHARITY QUILT, BABY QUILT, & PICKLES

It has been a busy week trying to finish up some projects and get back this week to Month 9 of my Garden Party Down Under BOM.  Plus I have been working on getting the Curio quilt top completed as well in order to get it to the quilter and back no later than mid December, as it is a January birthday gift.

I got the 4 patch 9 patch blue and cream/tan charity quilt top finished and prepared a binding of blues for it completed.  While doing a much needed carpet shampoo in my sewing room I discovered a bin with all the block pieces cut and ready to go.  It was a good project to start and finish while the carpet dried.

I had to replace a baby quilt in my stash, as one of my daughters needed one for a baby shower she was attending.  Often I have had them long arm quilted, but decided to quilt this one myself.  A bit larger than I prefer to quilt things at 42 by 42 inches, but it was a breeze.  I certainly, in the future will do more of these small quilts myself.  

Last Sunday evening my two daughters, a daughter in law, and I attended a fun event at our local synagogue for Rosh Chodesh and canned pickles.  Just bring 6 mason jars and $10 and they provided everything else.  Such fun! 

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FIRE ENGINES, CLEAN IT UP & DUCKS

Our oldest grandson Elijah recently passed his National EMT training certification and has been working as a volunteer fireman with a local area while he waits for entry into the Fire Academe.  He jokingly asked me to make him a fire engine quilt.  Yah sure, but I did stumble across a picture of one on the internet and was able to duplicate it.  I thought it was a bit of a young child's quilt theme, but once the top was done I thought it came out really pretty good.  His 20th birthday is in November, so it is off to the quilter this week once the back I order arrives.

This is the final finished top of The Flower Pot quilt.  It is off to the quilters now. 

The sewing room got a good cleaning this past few days.  The carpet in there was a mess.  Overspray from Best Press and the path from the ironing board to my cutting table was pretty bad as well.  So I emptied the entire room and we busted out the rug shampooer and husband got to it.  I didn't expect much, but was pleasantly surprised to find it cleaned up almost like a new carpet.

As long as I was doing some major cleaning in there I managed a bit of overhaul in the closet with my wire basket storage system of moving the bins that I don't use much to one side of the closet and the fabric bins I do use to the other.  Gives one a whole new feeling in there.

Once I had everything out of the sewing room and carpet is drying for half a day and overnight I figured I could set up my travel sewing machine in the dining room and at least accomplish something.  I stumbled on a bin of cut squares and the patten so was able to sew a couple rows of a quilt destined for my guild's charity group.  So all and all the two days of wet carpet and cleaning worked out fairly well.

We had birthday celebrations out at my daughter's last weekend and snapped a couple pictures of the six little ducks she purchased two weeks ago.  They have grown a good deal and have graduated to their own little yard.  

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CURIO AND PEACOCKS

This week has been especially busy High School Freshman Football games began on Thursday for our youngest grandson.  We try never to miss a home game.  Plus I made some good progress on a quilt top that is to be given as a gift in January.  I thought I had plenty of time, but by the time late October comes my long arm quilter is bound to be stacked up and weeks behind. 

A few weeks ago I did get this section done, it probably consists of about 1/5 of the finished top, minus the two borders. 

However, in looking at the pattern and directions I realized I had better get busy.  And the first thing was to somehow manage where each fabric color and print went.  

Part of the issue was after dealing with all the 36 different fabrics in the kit I realized I had to number the fabrics.  The pattern has a key as to placement of each fabric and trying to figure out matching the name of the fabric and the number in the layout meant I needed to do some organization. 

This second left lower section was so much easier to manage which fabric went where.  Once I do the three blocks that are placed between this section and the first one I will be half done with the top.  Then on to the right side.

Peacocks seem to be showing up everywhere.  As many of you know I have a daughter that lives on several acres out in the country.  She has numerous chickens, ducks, and yes peacocks.  This little lady showed up one morning and has insisted on staying.  My daughter already has 4 males and 2 females, that live in a large avery.  They have been trying to get her into it with the others without much success as of yet.  They are feeding her and she roosts at night in the trees and hangs out all day around the avery so it doesn't appear she plans on leaving.       

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THE FLOWER POT QUILT

I have taken a good part of this week to complete my Flower Pot blocks.  This project has been hanging around for a good deal of time, as I started it in November of 2019.

This is the original pattern, but due to its size it is just too big for my purpose.The only four blocks I planned on doing are done at last.  Now the pattern has additional blocks for the top and bottom and a border as well.  I do not plan on adding them.  The quilt is designed for a wall in my dining room and it would be way too large to fit on it.

I often decide to make changes to patterns and this one was no different.  The pieced lattice should have been 2 inch finished squares.  They just didn't seem to make a statement so I increased them to 3 inches and left out the background piece between those two bottom pieced rows.

Now just to add 3 inch blocks down the sides of this second center block, sew the two together, and add the two long panels on each side.  Once quilted I will be binding it with the a bright orange print that was used in the top flower on the bottom block above.  

While all the photos of the project and sewing going on Zoey our Yorkshire Terrier found the entire process disturbed her afternoon nap, thus the rather bothered look. 

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AUGUST BOM AND A POSEY QUILT

August has just begun and I am back to working on the 8th month of my Block of the Month Garden Party Down Under.  I got my Alex Anderson neutral quilt finished and it is off to the quilter.  So I should be able to breathe easier.  

I expect to be able to get this Garden Party block done within the next week or so.  After this block I have one more similar to it in September and the last four are 6.5 by 12.5 inches vases with vines and leaves or flowers in October and November.  December is supposed to be a diamond border.  However, the size with the border will not fit on the wall in my dining room so I do not plan to add it.

I told myself I would not start anything new.  However, this particular  book caught my eye.  I happen to have some fabric I purchased some time ago from Melanie Taylor that was in the same colors as on the cover of this book.

And this quilt in it and her sew along that started last week just would not let me escape.

The fabric is absolutely yummy and the pattern is perfect for it.  

The borders are all low volume white and off-white, some do have a bit of color in them as well.  I am not buying any fabric, just using left overs from other projects.

Block number 1 done and only 24 to go.  They are a bit fussy as those magic corners are cut 1.5" square and there are 9 white and 4 brown in each block.  All the centers will be that one brown fabric.  I expect to be doing a great deal of sitting in my chair in the evenings drawing diagonal lines on 1.5" squares.

My daughter sent me this picture.  This is what has greeted her every morning for the last week.  The reason for this gathering is a demand for wet canned cat food not their usual kibble fare.  Sandie the orange cat had a tooth issue that required a visit to the vet for an extraction.  The vet said to feed her wet canned cat food for a few days until she healed.  Normally she does not allow cats on the counter, but to keep the other four unaware of Sandie getting special food for a few days she allowed her to eat up there.  On the second day this is what she woke up to.  And if anyone believes that she is going to get away without their demand for special canned wet food you are very mistaken.     

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LOTS GOING ON INCLUDING TOTAL CUTENESS

This past week I finally finished my granddaughter Suren's vest.  We have a second one ready for button holes, and the tie belt on the back.  Suren is back doing freshman orientation at the hight school where she teachers Advanced Placement and College Prep English.  So our sewing days are limited until the Christmas break.  Not sure that works as we get together and bake for a couple days during that time.  But, hopefully we can get together a couple hours over some weekends.

And yes, I know she looks like one of the students.  But this is her 5th year teaching.

I have been working on quilting my Wisteria Lane wall hanging.  Free motion quilting is not something I do, but I had no choice with this piece.  So with the encouragement of one of my quilting friends I just plowed forward and got busy.  Perfect stitching, well no, but if one steps back even 12 inches they look pretty good.  I have 4 of these blooms done and 10 more to go.  They are the most tedious compared to the leaves and vines.  They are getting easier though.

On a much easier to do project, the final panel of my Flower Pot quilt is started.  About a quarter way done with it.  The appliqués are all prepared, so now just laying down more vines and fusing on more blossoms and leaves.

A dose of total cuteness.  We stopped at our daughter's house on Friday for an introduction to her newest pet additions.  The five little yellow guys are Peking ducks and that little odd ball is a Mallard.    She saw them at the Hay and Feed store and just could not resist taking them home to add to all her chicken, duck, and peacock pets.  She only planned to buy 4, but with just two left she figured why not take all six home.  One of her chicken hens has adopted them as hers, so everyone is happy. 

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NEUTAL CHALLENGE FINISHES AND BORDERS TOO

I finished by Hot August Night guild challenge piece this week.  I am very pleased with myself.  Originally I thought to take it to my local long arm quilter, but decided to go for quilting it myself.  I was able to finish a very simple quilting of it in one afternoon.  The quilt piece was copied from my Alex Anderson neutral quilt project.  However, I doubled the size of the pattern directions.  The challenge was a neutral quilt with one pop of color, thus the bright yellow blossoms.   

 I have been working very hard to finish up the Alex Anderson neutral quilt over this past week.  I have the third border on at last.

I did modify the corners of the pattern.  I had a really tough time with the pattern layout of the vines and blossom placements and finally decided to stop the vines.  I am much happier with this adjustment of the layout over the pattern directions.  

This is the finished corners ending.  I plan to round off the corners on the quilt once I have it quilted.  I think that will make the corners softer and ease up the spacing as well.  

This is our little dog Zoey.  Early mornings the sun comes in from a small window over the fireplace and shines directly on the end of the sofa in our living room.  The perfect place to take her after breakfast sun bath and nap.    

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BACK TO THE HEAT AND THE SEWING ROOM

 It was nice to get away for a few days.  We spent 5 days at an RV park just relaxing and seeing a few local sites.  Of course one was The Quails Nest, a very nice local quilt shop.  Who could resist!

We arrived on Sunday, but first thing Monday decided to check The Quails Nest out.  I ended up picking out this layer cake.  

Just love the large prints.

Plus all the coordinating color prints.  There are 42 ten inch squares.  Now to find a fun pattern to use them in.  Any suggestions?

While shopping on Monday I saw a quilt hanging on the wall done with this pattern.  They were out of the pattern, but it was due to come in on Wednesday.  They called me and we went over again to pick it up. 

After spending some time looking at fabric for that pattern I finally decided to buy the fabric kit made up for it.  I have discovered that often buying the kits is more economical.  If one adds up all the fabric included you find that you could save about one dollar a yard and I have often still had left over fabric when done.  

So I am back home. We are back to the heat with temperatures yesterday at 101, and expect to be warmer today.  Nothing like being at home with the A/C running in my sewing room contemplating a couple new projects.

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SEW, SEW, SEW THEN HEAD FOR THE HILLS

This last week has been crazy.  We are taking a few days this week to  take off with our trailer and head for the hills to get away from the 100 degree heat.  I have been working madly on my 4 different projects and a guild Hot August Night Challenge has sucked me in so now I am trying to get that done as well.  Getting away for a few days might be just the ticket to get some down time from the sewing projects.  

I did manage to get my July BOM Garden Party Down Under blocks done.  So glad last month that I finished the 4 pieced blocks that were part of June, July, August, and September instructions.  So I only had the vase and blooms to accomplish this month. 

The Hot August Nights guild challenge was to make a neutral piece with just one Pop of Color in it.  I took the pattern from my Alex Anderson neutral quilt and double the size of the pieces.  I have the quilt top done at 36 by 36 inches. I have the first pop of color blossom on and have the second one prepared to fuse on.    Have to really get going on this as it has to be completely finished with quilting and binding by August 9th.  

Our oldest daughter's English Mastiff puppy.  Talked with her this week, Loki is now 100 pounds and obviously loves riding in the truck.

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FLOWER POT PROGRESS

I took a quick break from quilting the Wisteria Lane to work on my Flower Pot quilt this past week.  Plus I have July's BOM Garden Party Down Under block to work on to stay up to date.     

This past week I finished up the second center block.  Yes I have made some adjustment to the pattern design.  Those four corner blocks are supposed to be stars and the center piece should have had a star in it as well.  Plus the thread vines should have been bias vines.  Well, I got the center fused and appliquéd down and then realized I had forgot to tuck the vines under it first.  Mistake, NO, a design change.  

As you can see from the pattern below I made a few changes to this block as well.  

And the first long left side block all completed.  So this week I have been busy preparing the long right side block appliqués and bias vines.

I have decided that the long right side block will complete this quilt for me.  I do plan to do the 2 inch blocks border. around the four blocks.  It will complete at 62" wide by 44" long.  The pattern quilt is just too large for my wall in the dining room.  Additionally I will be out of background fabric, and also pretty low on Kaffe Fassett fabrics as well, and think that for me it is a perfect reason to finish it at that point.

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