Gardening and Sewing

      Most of my mornings have been spent in the garden until it gets too hot. Then I rest, cool off and sew. Last week was spent about the same way most days. This photo shows my haul of green beans in one picking. Some were enjoyed for dinner Sunday.

     I made good progress on the bow and pinwheel quilt top. I have 18 bow blocks sewn after I remade 4 with darker fabric. As I look at them on my design wall, it looks like I still need to remake one more. I was hoping I could get by with one light green but have decided no.

I plan to get busy this week on piecing the small pinwheel alternate blocks for the quilt.

     I received another donation of fabric from a friend who has given up quilting. Therefore some of my sewing time was spent sorting and deciding to whom to donate which fabric. That motivated me to pull 2 charm packs plus a mini charm pack from my stash and create a comfort quilt kit. That also meant planning in EQ and printing a layout of blocks.

    Sandwiched quilts are still waiting for quilting and they may wait another week as I would really like to finish up other projects and the vegetable garden will not wait.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week-   Used: 3.5 yds    Added: 1 yd

So far this year-Used: 56.485 yds Added: 21.125 yds

      Net decrease 35.36 yds

For Memorial Day today let us remember those who gave their lives for our freedom.  I take a moment to remember and honor them.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“The only mistake is the one from which you don't learn.” - Henry Ford

More Bow Blocks

     This morning I was on the road coming home from visiting family. With a few mornings in the garden, no quilting happened. Most of the sewing I did last week was making bow blocks. Here are 4 more.  They still need a good pressing and the frame.

     This is not a difficult block, but it is complicated and requires special attention to the direction for the angles. It helps to lay out all the parts on a design board.  

I have only cut 2 pieces before I realized the angle was the wrong direction. I now have 16 of 18 made. After 2 more I will tackle the pinwheel blocks.

      There was no change in my stash report for the week. 

Hope to get some quilting done this week on the ones that were sandwiched recently.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“The only mistake is the one from which you don't learn.” - Henry Ford

Bow Block Progress

      Last week at church quilt group my focus was on getting backings and sandwiching tops that were waiting. With help I got 3 sandwiched and brought home 2 to quilt; however, I haven't started yet.

     I spent a few days out of town with family. I did make time to piece 6 more bow blocks for 8 (2 of each color). I'm a little worried about a couple of fabrics that don't have a lot of contrast, but I am trying to keep to more pastels. I plan to continue and will decide later if I need to remake a couple.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week- Used: 3 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year-Used: 52.985 yds Added: 20.125 yds

Net decrease 32.86 yds

      I have several non-quilting things on my to-do list for this week so hope I find time for some quilting.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“The only mistake is the one from which you don't learn.” - Henry Ford

Small Finishes

     My mission to reduce my fabric stash has taken a hit but maybe not too badly.  Last week I was gifted a couple of boxes of Christmas fabric from the family of Joyce Crider, a quilter, who passed. I am still going through the fabric to decide what I might keep and what can be shared for charity/comfort projects. Then I will update my Stash Report on what I keep. In one box was an unfinished small project which was partially hand quilted. I added some machine quilting and binding to finish it so it can be enjoyed. 

 I finished quilting the string bricks comfort quilt for church quilt group. 

 I also finished piecing the 4 Patch On-Point top

as well as added borders to 2 charity tops. 

     I made a start on a quilt for my granddaughters' cousin. The aunt saw a picture on Pinterest that she loved and asked if I could make one like it. I was able to find a great selection of fabric in my stash and started cutting. 

Just this morning I made a slight change to my the design. This is my EQ plan-2

and the first bow block.

It was really helpful to lay out all the pieces on a design board to keep up with how it would go together. As I piece more, it should get easier.  There is a lot more piecing to be done.

Stash Report for 2024

this past week- Used: 6.875 yds Added: 1 yd

So far this year-Used: 49.985 yds Added: 20.125 yds

      Net decrease 29.86 yds

     I accomplished more on quilting projects than I thought since I  spent a lot time working in the yard and garden fighting weeds and planting. I set out 2 more tomato plants and plan to give away the last of the seedlings. It was a rainy day Sunday and more is expected today so I will be inside sewing and quilting.

I'm linking up with Alycia's Finished (or Not) Friday.  Check out what others are doing.

Have a great week and enjoy some time for quilting.

“The only mistake is the one from which you don't learn.” - Henry Ford