July Activities

     So far July has been busy. The most exciting part was having my GDs for a week of Grandma Camp 2021. We did baking, tie dyed t-shirts, and doll furniture construction with a little sewing. There was one morning for roller skate practice on new skates and acrylic painting.

    When I came home, I spent time catching up in the garden and making some progress on quilting projects. The July Old School BOM is made. Here are 6 of the blocks. Several members of my church sewing group who are participating decided to make a substitute for the May EPP block which is not shown.

    Wednesday was sew day for church group. I actually spent most of the day organizing donated fabric. I brought home our multi-size churn dash group project and finished piecing the top center. We plan to add a border. This quilt was inspired by an old magazine article.  I love the scrappiness and different size units. 

    I finally have some UFO progress to share. About 6 years ago I pieced a stack of string blocks. Then a couple of years later I planned to use them to make a Bonnie Hunter design called “Wild Child”. Last month I changed my plan and decided to make a more simple design with 24 of the blocks. Here are 11 pieced.

    Last fall when I saw Kat and Cat quilts CIL block drive for Fiddlesticks blocks (aka Bright Birches), I decided to make some. Recently for leader/ender I have been piecing narrow strips of scraps. Today I pieced a few blocks. 

    My vegetable garden is doing so well I have shared tomatoes with friends and neighbors and also put a couple of packages in the freezer. My prize tomato so far is this Brandywine heirloom tomato that weighed a little over a pound.

Stash fabric used or added the past week. Used: 3 yds Added: 2 yds ( I bought fabric for the doll furniture cushions.

                 So far this year - Used: 62.75 yds Added: 7.5 yds

Stay healthy and enjoy some time sewing and quilting. 

Summer Takes Priority

      Working on my goals has taken a backseat for now. Over the past week I have spent so much time on yard, flower beds and vegetable garden trying to get them in shape for the hottest part of summer. It has been worthwhile because they are looking great. I need to pick blueberries every few days.

     We have been eating turnips, cherry tomatoes, yellow squash and zucchini so far. There are many very large green Brandywine tomatoes that are developing so I'm looking forward to wonderful tomato sandwiches.

     When it gets too hot and I am exhausted, I don't usually have the energy to quilt. I did make 4 placemats as a housewarming gift for a niece. I shopped my stash, sewed strips, turned pillowcase style and did simple in the ditch quilting. I am tempted to stop here and say finished; however, I think they will look and last better with more quilting.

*Update*  I did go back and add more quilting.  I FMQ a different motif in each strip.

Stash fabric used or added the past week. Used: 4 yds Added: 0 yds

So far this year - Used: 52 yds Added: 5.5 yds

      This morning I will meet Joan to organize recently purchased fabric for backs and some gifted fabric for church quilt group. Our regular sew day will be Wednesday.  I also want to work on the eagle tablerunner.

Stay healthy and enjoy some time sewing or quilting.

Small Finishes

      We have had several days of rain so it's not the best time to work in the yard; however, it's a good time to get some sewing done. I finished the quilting and binding on a set of 4 patriotic placemats. I simply stitched in the ditch. I hope to make a matching table runner. 

    Then I pulled out an old class sample from about 12 years ago that has patriotic strings and finished it for a small table mat. The quilting is mostly FM. It is not my best quilting, but it is good enough for its purpose. Best of all it is finished and useful.

    No rain during the day yesterday so got out in the yard a bit. I had started a package of coleus seeds and the babies needed potting. I have already given away or planted 30. Yesterday I potted 65. I did try to choose the most interesting leaf color patterns first. 

 There are still more.

I'm linking up for Whoop, Whoop Friday and Finished (or Not) Friday.  

Stay healthy and enjoy some time sewing or quilting.

Progress and Goals

   The week sure flew by. Partly because I spent half of it visiting family. After I got home it was back to my normal routine. It was nice to have a day of rain to work on quilting since I could not work in the yard.

    My bearded iris are healthy and have been blooming beautifully so I have more young plants to share with friends. This is “Crimson Snow”.

I am not sure it bloomed last year. Monday morning a friend is coming to get more for Master Gardeners to care for.

How I did last week -

1. Start quilting on May wedding gift. Done. Only one border needs to be quilted and then binding.

2. Make progress on a UFO. Done. At least a little was accomplished as a leader/ender project between other piecing.

3. Piece charity/comfort top. Done. Friday I shared the pieced top which used a bright jungle print as the focus fabric and it is waiting to be sandwiched for quilting. Wednesday when church quilt group meets, hopefully I will find a backing in our stash.

4. Record stash fabric used or added. Used: 0.25 Only some stash scraps were cut up for a test and sample block. Added: 0 for me; however, I purchased 7.5 yards for church quilt ministry backings.

Goals for the week of April 26^th -

1. Finish May wedding quilt.

2. Finish quilt for H2H 2021.

3. Record stash fabric used or added.

4. Clean and organize a drawer.

Stay safe and healthy while you enjoy some time sewing or quilting.

Week of Gardening

     It is a good thing I didn't set very many goals for quilting as this week has been spent mostly gardening. The weather has been beautiful and so are my bearded iris. Here are a couple of my prettiest of at least 6 colors blooming.

How I did-

1. Sandwich quilt for Hands2Help2021. Done. “Spring Greens” is ready to be quilted.
2. Make progress on a UFO. Not really. I pulled out my “Seeing Stars” panels but that is as far as I got.

3. Record stash fabric used or added. Used: 5 yds for backing; Added: 0

     I am really enjoying Pat Sloan's “Home Is” mystery and pieced a large section of the middle panel.  All piecing is up-to-date.

     In addition to working in my yard, I am also working in my older son's yard. The maple tree in the front yard has huge bulging roots. To try and hide them I filled in some dirt, transplanted a ground-cover (I don't know the name) and also set some hosta. Hope they will do well here and I will increase the bed.

      Most of this week will be spent in the yard and with granddaughters so I don't expect to get much sewing done.

Goals for the week of April 19^th -

1. Start quilting on May wedding gift.

2. Make progress on a UFO.

3. Piece charity/comfort top.

4. Record stash fabric used or added.

Stay safe and healthy while you enjoy some time sewing or quilting.