Has it really been so long?

I can't believe how long it has been since I last posted.  The purpose of the blog was to record my quilting efforts and I have been quilting.  You just can't tell from my posts.

How do I begin to catch up?  I guess I should just start with what I am currently doing.  Which for the last eight weeks has been healing.  On May 28th my husband and I ran to the store to pick up something for the next day.  We where hurrying because the store was closing early because of the pandemic.  The announced the store closing so we were on the way to checkout.  I rounded a corner and was looking ahead of me to see where people were and stepped on a cherry that I had not noticed.  My husband says I looked like I was attempting to inline skate as my left foot went ahead of me rolling on the cherry.  I went down hard.  I mean really hard.  I ended up breaking my upper arm in two placed.  I was hauled to the hospital in an ambulance because I was in so much pain.  The end and ball at the top of the humerus had been broken off.  No way it would heal without surgery.  Did I mention I am right handed and this was my right arm?  

I ended up having surgery on June 10th.  Yes two weeks later.  Before surgery the swelling had to go down and I had to be tested for Covid-19 before the hospital would admit me.  I ended up with my arm strapped to my body for six weeks.  It is amazing what you can't do when you can't use your arm.  I know that if this had been permanent I would have had to learn how to cope but I am glad it did not come to that. Last week my sling was removed and I was given exercises to start rebuilding my strength.  I am now working toward regaining use of my arm.

But without the use of my arm I was unable to do any sewing and I am unsure how long it will be before I have the strength to use my rotary cutter.  I had  have so many things I should be working on.

My goal this week is to see if I can pick up the project I was working on the day I was hurt and make some progress.  Looks like I will need to work on UFO's for the near future until my arm is stronger.

Just so I have a pretty picture here are the blocks for block one of the Figtree Summertime BOM I had completed just prior to getting hurt.

Happy New Year! Goals for 2019

It is hard to believe how fast the year has flown by.  I can remember my mother talking about how quickly the years fly by now I know what she meant.

2018 has been a year of transition for me.  First thing I did last January was retire from my job.  That brought about a lot of changes in my life and routines.  I can honestly say that I do not miss the commute that I had.  I did enjoy the work and the people.  But the commute was horrible.

I figured I would have a ton of spare time but somehow I have filled it.  I had signed up for an exercise class but I hurt myself in class and took months to recover.  Then we started babysitting an infant.  She has kept my husband busy with me helping out.  I have sewn more that ever this year, but not as much as I thought I would.  Partly because I am still attempting to organize our house since the move and continue to purge.  I really need to purge some fabric.  I also need to find quick and easy quilts to make that I can donate to charity to use up fabric.  Currently, I am feeling bit overwhelmed by the quantity of fabric I have.  In the old house, it was scattered through out the house and I never really knew how much I owned.  Now it is all visible and can be an assault on the senses.

So that leads into my goals for 2019.

First off I will have to find my UFO's.  I have several.

So far my UFO list includes the following:
1. Quilt Mini Bobbin Quilt
2. Figgy Christmas Quilt - three block done, two cut out.
3. 4 Patch Lattice Quilt - all cut out.
4. Paintbox Quilt - all cut out
5. On Ringo Lake - complete thru step 2
6. Sea Etchings - mostly cut out.
7. Bee-autiful Embroidered Quilt - two blocks embroidered (This is hand embroidered so it will be a stretch to complete.)
8. Star Machine Embroidered Quilt - all but 8 blocks embroidered.  Some rows sewn together.
9. Made in America - three blocks embroidered
10. Flock Blocks - 4 block completed, 1 needs applique.  several more to make
11. Stitch down binding on Reflections quilt - binding attached.  also need to repair a spot.
12. Stitch binding down on 6 other quilts. - one started.
13. Round the World Christmas Quilt - Needs Borders cut and added
14. Christmas Baubles Mini Quilt - Needs Quilted
15. Leader and Ender Quilt -
16. How to built a Snowman x 4 - One done.
17. Modern Vintage x 2 -



OK those are the ones I can think of right off the top of my head.  As you can see I have more than 12.  However, I did do more than 12 last year and some of these are close to finished.  I will commit to 12 but try for more.

Last year I was able to complete all of my UFO's from my list by the end of October.  I had pulled in a few more so I actually finished more that 12 during the year.  I actually have 15 that were  quilted and bound and in most cases gifted.  I completed 26 tops this year.  Some of mine and some that I did for my daughter.   I want to up that number for 2019.

The most recent ones I completed were started in September to be given as Christmas presents for three of my grandsons.

In September, I started a quilt called Around the Corner using Michael Miller fabric called Happy Tones with an Essentials Charcoal by Wilmington Fabrics.  The fabric was chosen by my grandson from my stash.  The quilt is backed with Minky.  I only had to buy the backing for this quilt.

In October, after I finished that quilt I started one called Fruit Slices.  It was a kit from Craftsy that I had gotten on sale the previous year.  It uses the Craftsy Boundless Fabric.  This grandson wanted Neon colors this was a close as I had. It is also backed with Minky.  Again I only had to buy backing.

In November, I started a Churn Dash quilt for my oldest grandson.  I used a lot of the Science Fair fabric in black and gray this is the only quilt I had bought any fabric for to complete the top.  He had told me his favorite color was black.  The kid is very into Science and Math and wants to be an Aerospace Engineer.   Again this quilt is backed in Minky that I bought.

Since these kids are all getting tall I made sure to make the quilts long enough for them.  The reason I went with them getting the quilts this year was because of their height.  All  the previous quilts I had made them were getting to short.  Because of the size and Minky my quilt holder was having trouble holding these up for as long as it took me to get the pictures.

All in all I was happy that I did not have to buy all the fabric for each of the quilts but for the most part used stash.

This top is now on the long arm and should be quilted this week.  This was a really old UFO.  I was noticing that some of the fabric in this top is from the 70's.  However, not my oldest.  I think the fabric is some of my oldest but this is only about 8 years old as a project.

In December, I also completed a couple of mini quilt tops.  Unfortunately, not in time for Christmas since I was madly binding Christmas gifts.  These are a Moda pattern called Christmas Baubles from I think about 2015.  I used Jingle by Kate Spain. 

I am trying to remember if I sewed anything else.  I do have the center of an around the world done that I need to cut borders and attach.  That was about it.

Good Grief it is November!

Where on earth did September and October go?

I know that the first few weeks of September were lost to painting the house and taking kids to soccer practice but where did the rest of the time go?

I did complete my September UFO I just never posted it anywhere but on Instagram.

I completed my Bingo quilt.  It uses Figtree & Co Chestnut Street fabric.  I wanted a fall quilt.  I started this on a year ago but completed it this fall.

I then started and came close to getting my first Christmas present quilt completed.  I did get it done in October.  This one the bright fabric was selected by my grandson and I decided to put it with the Wilmington Essential charcoal.  I am not crazy about the boarder but is was what I had.  I am backing this with Minky.  It is being quilted now.

I  then started my second Christmas present quilt.  I am to the laying out stage.  Number two grandson wanted a neon quilt.  Sorry kid that is not going to happen but I can make it bright.

However, last week I realized that we were almost to the end of the month and figured that I better get my October UFO completed.  So I hopped on it and got all the block sewn together yesterday.  I almost walked away from the last boarder because I needed to go work at our Church's Fall Family Fun/ Pumpkin Slam party.  I was working the espresso bar so I was not in the carnival area.  I just got to caffeinate all the parents.  I decided that I just needed to get that last boarder on and the party could start without me.  All of these squares were left over from a project that my daughter made several years ago.  She had gone really overboard on cutting squares and adding sashing to the bottom of the blocks.  I needed to do some but not all.  I only cut a few more blocks, maybe 10.  All I had to do this week was lay it out and sew the sashing between the block and join the rows.  I am sure this sat in a box for at least 8 years waiting to be done.  Since my daughter gave away the first quilt she made she has claimed this one.  Now I just need to come up with a back.  Sorry for the bad picture, I was in a hurry to take it before I left the house.

This month I need to finish quilt number two for Christmas and start and hopefully finish quilt number three.  I am giving a quilt to three of the oldest grandsons.  They have not had a new quilt in several years and they are all getting very tall.

I will also look for a new UFO.   I have already completed all of the UFO's that were on my list from last December.  I did some early and added a few alternates in those spots.  That is also the case for the last two months those have already been done.   The Christmas quilt was the last one from my original list.  Believe me when I say I am sure I can pull out a few others to work on.

August Progress

My UFO for the month of August was a rag quilt that I had started many years ago.  The main fabric is from the Bonnie and Camilla line called Bliss just to give you an idea of when I bought the fabric.  Rag quilts were very popular at that time and I thought it would be fun to make one.  Little did I know that I would not really enjoy the process.  But I dutifully cut all my fabric and batting pieces from left over batting.  I sewed a few of the bigger blocks and put it away for a really long time.  And I got so close to having the darned thing completely done this month.  I got it all sewn even after I ran out of the right color thread and had to go buy more.  I then began to cut the seams.  And cut and cut.  I discovered that after about an hour of cutting I could no longer feel my little finger so I would have to stop.  I have gone back and cut more several times now and have it 2/3 of the way cut.  As soon as I get it all cut I will need to locate a laundry mat to go wash it in.  I don't think I want to wash and dry it in my machines.  I am expecting a lot of lint.

My second goal for August was to get the Stars and Strips quilts quilted and bound.  Both are quilted and one is bound.  My daughter is on a road trip this weekend and is binding the other one on her trip.
I still need to get a picture of this.  

The last goal I had was to also work on the Bee-utiful embroidery block.  I got the next block completed.  This one was actually suppose to be done in July but after I re-injured my shoulder in did not happen.  I have a picture but it is not downloading onto the laptop for some reason.
Well that was frustrating.  I had downloaded several and then for some unknown reason the blue tooth turned off.   Technology it was suppose to make out live easier.

This is one I almost forgot about.  My grandson asked be to put together some blocks for the mother of a friend that started Chemo.  All the kids on the Water Polo team had signed blocks.  I added sashing from my stash and got it quilted.  I got the blocks last Friday and delivered it in time for the game on Tuesday.  She was thrilled with the thoughtfulness of the kids to try and encourage her and stay strong in her battle with cancer.

I am feeling pretty good about what I got done.  I am actually hopeful that once the grandkids are back in school that I will be able to pick up my sewing some more.  I have some Christmas presents that I need to start on.  Since I have already completed the number for the month of September, I either have to select a new item of complete a Christmas present.  That is the way that I am leaning at the moment.

Not all UFO's are quilt related

July was a super busy month. 

My first UFO of the month was not even quilt related.  Last year I talked my daughter into buying glass tile to add to her kitchen back splash.  It was time for that to happen.  I enlisted the help of my friends to help me.  They had all the tools.  We started on the second of July.  My friends husband had a wet saw and cut all the tile while my friend and I put it up.  It took a good portion of the day to get it cut and on the wall.

The next day we added grout.  It did turn out beautiful.  I am glad we did it but I hurt for days.  I arm was killing me for the next several days.

When I started to feel better I added a boarder to a quilt I did not get finished in June.

This is the 4 patch lattice quilt from Missouri Star quilting.  The tutorial is a few years old as is the fabric, which is Be Creative from Moda.

Then it was time to start working on my UFO for July.  That was the Be My Neighbor quilt.  I had a little over half of the block done.  I started this last year with a quilt store but I was unable to attend all the sessions because of house commitments or needing to take grandkids to soccer.  I did not follow the assembly instructions that I found for this on the internet.  The quilt would have been long and narrow so I added some sashing between the house blocks to make it a little wider.  I also added a colored outside boarder.  I had to get a little help from my daughter on that.  I re-injured my shoulder last week and she needed to cut the fabric for me.  The fabric for this is all from Moda.  It includes Sundrop, Sommerset and Chestnut Street.  It is being held up by two of my grandsons standing on chairs. 

All in all it was a fairly productive month.  Last month as my son was helping my husband with a project I had two of his sons make pillow cases.  The boys are wanting to learn to sew.

And since it is summer here are a couple of pictures from my yard.  The first is a star gazer lily that we planted late last year.  The second is a plant we actually moved from the old house.  It is a upright fuchia that originally came from my inlaw's house many years ago.   When the bed at the old house were being dug up for some foundation work that had to be done me moved the plant to the new house otherwise it would had died before the work was done.  It did not do well last year since it was moved at a bad time.  This year it is doing great.

This went on this month also.  My husband hated these trees.  They were extremely messy.  He was alway racking up needles.  This month they were removed.  I miss the shade but not the work.  Who knew evergreens shed so much?

June has come and gone

I am sure that others feel this way -but where did June go?

I did complete three quilt flimsys.

The UFO for June had been completed earlier in the year so I added a new one.

Stars and Strips has been on my list for a while to complete.  I did not one but two.  One follows the pattern using all the same reds in each block and the other I mixed the reds up to make it look scrappy.  I can't decide which one I like best.  The one with the all matching reds went together more quickly as it took less thinking.

 I also completed another top that I had actually started in March before I got sidetracked with other quilts.  This one is X's and O's.  I used the Missouri Star Quilt company pattern.  It is worked in The Good Life by Bonnie and Camilla.

Gotta Run-

Bee-utiful Quilt Start

I have been meaning to post all month.  I have actually worked on several items but at this point nothing is done. 

I did start something new this month.  I began to embroider some blocks for a quilt I have wanted to make for some time.  It is from the Moda Bake Shop.... I believe it was posted during the summer of 2016 about the time we decided to move from our old house.  That project was put on the back burner as I purged and packed for the next several months.

After the move it was work, commute, fix up the old house and unpack in the new one.  Not a lot of sewing got done.

The block I embroiders was the first of the Bee-utiful quilt along. The quilt was designed by Pamela Morgan. (Bee-utiful Quilt Along) If I remember correctly Moda release two patterns a week all that summer. I loved it so I bought the fabric to use with the quilt at the time it came out.  I have held onto it all these time.  I bought the Bee Creative collection by Deb Strain.  Now I have finally completed stitching the first block and have traced the second one.

Too bad I waited until dark to take a picture.

I do have some other quilts in the works I am hoping to have them all done by the end of the month.

Earlier this month we had some guest move in.  

Hard to see but we had some black cap chickadees build a nest and hatch three babies.  By the time I realized they had hatch they were already pretty large.  I was really worried that my hanging fushia would die for lack of water but I was able to watch for the mom to fly away and water around the next without getting the babies wet.   We did not get to see them leave the nest but that happened rather quickly.   From hatch time to fledge is about 16 days.