Tiny Tuesday

Block 28 was fun! 

It's always fun to pull something out of the scraps and

turn it into something bright and happy.

These scraps were left from making rice bags.

Block 31 was a bit of a paper piecing challenge.

The center has been taken apart and redone.

3 times.

(3 times is my limit, if it doesn't work, well I tried.)

It really does look better than this, 

not perfect but better.

Perfection constantly eludes me.

I redid block 34.

I'm lots happier with this one.

I'm having fun with these Midget Blocks.

Lots of them are still available for free at

Sentimental Stitches under her free patterns tab.

I'm hoping to finish an applique block for next week.

Design Wall Monday and...

...Mystery Monday Link-Up

Quiltville's Mystery

Grand Illusion Part 5...

Easy Peasy

Super Quick

Super Fun

I love 4 patches.

I wonder what this will become.

I haven't even played with any layouts other than

the Part 5 4 patches to take a picture.

Oh do I need to buy a new camera.

One of these days!!

Linking up today at 

Patchwork Times 

and

Quiltville.

I love Monday in Blogland.

On The Needles

I'm still working on my No Purl Monkey Socks.

I am so slow....

but I am determined to finish these before the end of the year.

I think I have one more set of 11 rows before the toe decrease so

maybe by the end of the week.

Maybe!

I told Mae that these socks make my feet happy.

Her socks make her happy too.

So we had to take a picture of our socks.

Happy Feet is one of our favorite movies.

I think it's time to watch it again.

Tiny Tuesday

I went to my notebook and pulled out 4 pages which equals 8 block designs. When putting some things away I found a sandwich bag with these batik scraps inside the batik bin. Perfect fabrics for Merry Go Round-Block 33.

Block 34 has proven to be a giant pain in the keester! This is the 2nd block, block 1 was so wonky bad, it's is in the trash! This is supposed to measure 5" unfinished, this one measures 4 1/2".   It will go into either the garbage with the other one or the orphan bin.

I was so frustrated last night and decided to just pass this one over, but at 3:00 I woke up with a brainstorm. I have EQ7, create the stupid block there and resize it to the size I need. And paper piece the darn thing!  It took forever to go back to sleep.

I got up about 5 and played with EQ7.  Now I have papers printed for a block that will finish at 9" because I only drew out 1/4th of the block and sized it to print at 4 1/2".  LOL.........It's a bit early for my brain to be working this morning and it hasn't had even a sip of coffee yet. I changed the size to 2 1/4" and now I can be on my merry way to a new block.  It printed out 6 quarter units for me, just in case I have another bad day.....I need to remember to save this block, the way my luck has gone with it, I may need to print another page.  I will get this! I will!!

Here's hoping I have a better sewing day today.

Cascadia

Today Lori at Humble Quilts is hosting Cascadia Quilt Along Show Me Your Quilts.

Here is mine....finished!

Ignore the quilt past the red binding. 

My little quilt hangs right here beside me at my computer desk.

It covers up the calendar. 

That's a good thing.

Thanks Lori for another great Quilt Along!

Can't wait for the next one.

Design Wall Monday....

...and Mystery Monday Link Up

Grand Illusion Clue 4 is finished!

I love how my cute little clothespins fit in with the colors of the blocks.

(Except that red one. I guess it can be called deep pink.)

I'm now working on another Midget Block.

I'll show that on Tuesday.

I loved seeing all the clues together to show off all the colors.

I can't wait to see what happens next.

Monday morning I'll be linking up with Patchwork Times and Quiltville.

Merry Christmas

I hope yours will be merry and bright.

On The Needles

It's been a while since I've done an On The Needles post......October 10th!  I hadn't been doing much knitting until  one day I got a phone call from my daughter in love. She requested new dishclothes for her Christmas gift. OK, easy peasy!  I pulled out my laminated patterns and got busy.  I was keeping track of how many dishclothes I made this year and stopped counting in July at 11. These for sure put me into the 20s. I used up all the stash and gifted yarn and was able to buy more yarn for these. There is a bit leftover from each color but it will be used up into one dishcloth for me.  

My favorite patterns are DW Dishcloth and Grandmother's Favorite.  Both are free on Ravelry.

I did work on these socks a bit more.  They will soon become my evening project again. Maybe I can get them finished before the end of the year so I can say I finished 3 pair of socks this year.

Find out what other knitters are working on this week at Patchwork Times.  Aren't Judy L's mittens just the cutest!!! I want a pair for myself!

Tiny Tuesday Time Again

Today I finished up with clue 3 for the mystery and while putting some things away, I came across my notebook of Midget Blocks from Sentimental Stitches. I haven't touched these since January of last year! Almost 2 years ago. Talk about being a slacker!  It was fun working with these tiny pieces and now this is all I want to do. Not a good thing since I need to finish my Christmas shopping.  But I don't really want to, I'd rather sew.

Blocks 25 and 26 have joined the others in the notebook. I am missing block 23 so I'll either recreate it or do something else.  I looked at all the pages I have printed and I stopped at 136.  I see now there are 196 blocks. Oh My! Will I print them all? I don't know but I will look through them to see if there are some I want.  But I know myself and I will probably print them all.

I've procrastinated long enough. Now I must go do some shopping. Yeah! You know I'd rather sew. :)

Leaving A Little Hint

I spent some time Sunday evening working on Grand Illusion. I had just a few more short strips to sew together when I ran out of bobbin thread.  I pulled out my trusty little bobbin saver for a new bobbin only to find all my gray ones are now empty. Since I was sewing with black fabric on the bottom, I just finished up with a black bobbin.

Now I'm ready to quit for the night. I have to remember to wind bobbins before I start sewing again. I left myself a little reminder.  It was time for a new needle and some oil and the dust bunnies need to find their selves a new home. I think this whole process took 5 minutes and I am set to sew for a few more hours.

I love that short stubby screwdriver but I forgot it's too fat to fit the screws of the throat plate. The little pink makeup brush is the best for holding on to those dust bunnies.  Of course I don't remember when I changed the needle last but I knew it was time for a new one.

A clean machine is a happy machine and that means I can sew, sew, sew!
.

Design Wall Monday and ...

...Mystery Monday Link Up

This week, after finishing part 2 of Grand Illusion and a tis the season project, I spent my weekend working on part 3. I love checkerboard designs and can't wait to find out where this fits in to the grand plan.  I came across this piece and was thankful for the oh so subtle reminder.

Quilting is fun for me. I love each and every process about it. It makes me happy.  What else makes me happy is a fun pile of pieces waiting to be put under the pressure foot.  I stack mine up on my ruler to transport them from the cutting table to the machine.

Fresh off the ironing board are some of my blocks, counted and clipped into bunches of 10 of course.  I need 12 of these clipped stacks, I still have 8 clips to fill. Did you see Angela's tip about the clips?  You can read about it here.  I've been doing it that way for a long time.  Sure saves the brain.

It's Monday so that means I'm linking up to Patchwork Times Design Wall Monday and to Quiltville's Mystery Monday Link-Up

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Design Wall Monday and

Mystery Monday Link-Up

I need background noise while I sew. 

This weekend it was Netflix sweet and sappy movies.

I sit my little tablet and speakers right behind the machine.

After a while, these parts were finished for Grand Illusion.

Time to snip dog ears and get those wonky blocks in shape.

Most of mine turned out perfect but

there were a few that needed work.

I even had to use the ripper on some of them.

Now they are all pretty and ready for a partner.

Today I'm linking up at Patchwork Times and Quiltville.

Two of my most favorite people. 

The 2014 Bonnie UFO Challenge Finale

 TaaDah!

Two quilt tops finished!

Two quilt tops added to Mt. ToBeQuilted.

Bindings are made, labeled and stored away in the binding bin.

Plans for backings are drawn out.

It started here with a bag full of parts and a note to myself.

(Notes to myself are one of my best ideas ever!)

Actually it started in March 2008.

These quilts will be finished and gifted this summer.

It's always nice to have help from Miss Polly.

Not really!!

Thanks Jo for doing this challenge again this year!

I'm excited to have this one out of the bin!

Soon these will  be UFOs no more.

Check out Jo's beautiful quilt and 

see how others did with this challenge at Jo's Country Junction.

Design Wall Monday and...

...Quiltville's Monday Mystery Link Up Party

It finally arrived! Clue 1 for Quiltville's Grand Illusion.  On my design wall are 20 blocks.

I had grand plans to sew all day Friday and Saturday.  You all know what happens when you make plans!  I did get all the parts cut. I finally have all my half square triangles sewn and 30 blocks are sewn together. I have 40 more yellows to sew to HSTs and 68 of the blacks.  I know I'll have a good sewing week because the work week begins again tomorrow, my house is clean and laundry is almost caught up. :)

I did some unsewing and resewing of squares to get all units of Cascadia to match.  With this many pieces, correct seam allowances are very important. Now I need to find a backing and binding for this. I'll do some simple quilting and have a cute mini quilt.

Today I'm linking up with Patchwork Times and Quiltville.

Design Wall Monday

I've been working hard to get my 2nd Scrappy Sister's Choice blocks sewn into a top. I did that and now I'm stalling on choosing border fabrics. I'll do that today.

In the mean time..... I'm working on Cascadia. A mystery quilt along with Lori at Humble Quilts.  Scroll through her blog to find Parts 1, 2 and 3.  I have a plastic pencil box that was stuffed full of 1 1 /2" squares. I'd started making 4 patches with them then discovered Bonnie's Tumalo Trail design and switched the 4 patches to 9 patches.  Then Cascadia comes along so I used some of the 4 patches to get started.

It's fun doing Lori's little quilts. I have the perfect spot already picked out for this one. I'm excited for the next step.

I'm excited to see what's going on in Blogland today. Check out great design walls at Patchwork Times today.

Bonnie UFO Challenge Success!

My version of Bonnie's Sister's Choice #1 is a finished top. It's hard to tell but the border is brown with green leafy vines and itty bitty yellow and blue flowers. I'm going to find some blue for the binding. You can see it here if you want.  Another of my life's simple pleasures.....Miss Polly always posing for the camera.  We'll work on the lighting another day.

Sister's Choice #2 has one of the 6 rows sewn together with part of row 2 under the needle.  I didn't stack these blocks the right way to be able to web the top like I normally like to do. I don't know what I was thinking or even if I was. This is giving me lots of leader/ender action which is a good thing.  I am in get it done mode and I'm running out of time before the mystery kick off.

See how others are doing with their Bonnie UFO Challenge at Jo's Country Junction.

Design Wall Monday

Good progress was made this week on my version of Bonnie's Sister's Choice Quilt. (Free pattern found here.) A few days ago, I did some math and decided to make 12 more blocks and make 2 quilts instead of one. Crazy? Nah, I have a plan!!

Quilt #1 is getting the rest of it's borders today. Quilt #2 will be layed out and blocks stacked, ready to sew together.

Funny story........most of the blocks have the same outer neutral per block with lots of neutrals being used. A few are scrappy.  The last 12 blocks....the centers are sewn spinning in the opposite direction from all the others. I didn't even think about it until I was pressing them.  Does that bother me? No, it's a scrappy, fun quilt. One day someone will look at it and wonder what was she thinking.  The answer will be "She wasn't!  She was doing mindless sewing, having a wonderful time with her fabrics."

The border fabrics are nowhere in the quilt. Again, does this bother me.....NO.  I love this quilt and I'm so happy I chose it/them to work on before Grand Illusion starts. I need to hurry, I want both tops finished before the 29th.

See what others have on their design wall at Patchwork Times.

My plans for this week:

• Finish Quilt #1
• Finish Quilt #2
• Rearrange sewing table

Design Wall Monday and...

 ...November Retreat Roundup

 And what a retreat it was.

I got so much done while having so much fun.

I have nothing on my design wall but I have great completed projects.

First thing I did was make the block for Wishes Quilt Along.

Then I did the borders for Tell It To The Stars.

Next up I made my final block (the one I just knew I had already made!

and will probably find someday in a different project box!!) 

and made the connector blocks for Friends and Companions.

Then put them all together, added the setting triangles and borders.

I love a good retreat TahDah!!!

And how fitting that my Friends were with me when I finished this top.

I added a few more Pineapple Crazy blocks.

(Not these particular ones,

I'm too lazy to get the bin out and take a picture.)

And added quite a few new to me scraps from friends.

It was fun to see when they found their fabrics.

We do strip swaps.

Usually 2 1/2"  black/whites, neutrals and batiks

but this retreat we added a new category.

1 1/2" neutrals!

Look at that selection.

35 different fabrics.

I am the swapper so I get the up close and personal look at all the great fabrics.

I am trilled to have added 60 strips to my stash!!

I had to stop Friday morning on my way in to Royal Ridges to take pictures.

The fall colors with the sunshine streaming in was just gorgeous!

I looked out my window to see these beauties up on the hill.

I will miss retreat season but

I am ready to hunker down at home for the winter.

Of course it hasn't officially arrived yet but it sure feels like it has.

Check fabulous design walls at Patchwork Times.

Bonnie Challenge Update

I'm a day late with my Bonnie UFO Challenge Update. 

That's the way things have been going lately.

I only have 8 blocks left to sew back together.

Then I did some counting and some math.

Bad idea???

Maybe not.

If I make 12 more blocks, 

I can make 2 cuddle on the couch quilts.

Will I?

I don't know.

I'm still thinking about it.

I also have these 8 sewn blocks to press.

That's not all I've done this week,

I worked on another project instead.

Can't tell you what it is though.

You know,

tis the season.

How did others do with their Bonnie UFOs?

See here at Jo's Country Junction.

Design Wall Monday

This is not really a design wall but my living room curtain with Circle of Jewels pinned to it. I've been a bit obsessed with it this week. After I finish the half jewels, I'll fill the sides in with half flowers and then add borders. This post shows where I was last Monday. What a difference a week makes.  I'm sooooo close!!!

Right now it measures 54" x 56 1/2".  After I add the borders, this will make a be a nice cuddle on the couch or in the recliner quilt.

Last week's plan:

• Sew back for Pieced Hexies. No.
• Work on Scrappy Sister's Choice   Yes! I have just a few blocks left to sew together.
• Baste Pieced Hexies.  No. Like I said, I was obsessed with CoJ.

Plans for this week:

• Get ready for retreat!
• Go to retreat!
• Have fun at retreat!  
• Circle of Jewels-maybe I can get the black and white part finished and start the half flowers.

See what others are working on at Patchwork Times. 

Slow Stitching Sunday

Today I plan to work on Circle of Jewels. I need to make some half flower rosettes and some half jewels.  This means I am almost finished with the hand stitching part of this quilt. I love my zebra lap desk. It has a nice padded underside so stays almost level on my lap.  That is if a cute little dog or a couple of kittens stay out of the way.

Last Monday I took this photo. I have since finished the bottom row, See there on the right side, 2nd row?  I was unsure what to fill that with so I sent this picture off in an email off to Mickey DePre for her opinion. (After all, it is all her fault that I started this. All she did was post one little picture of her future project and I fell in love and went crazy! Crazy in a good way!!)  She said she planned to fill her sides in with half flowers so I will too.  Then I will machine applique it to a narrow border and add a wider black and white print border like I did with Mae's GFG. I will probably quilt it pretty much the same as her's too.

This isn't a big quilt, it's just the right size to cuddle on the couch with.

What are you stitching today? See great projects at Kathy's Quilt: Slow Sunday Stitching.

Bonnie Challenge Update

Jo has challenged us to work on a Bonnie UFO before the mystery begins. I've been working on my version of Bonnie's Scrappy Sister's Choice.  I've found new energy with this project. I had pinned the parts together for a bunch of blocks. Now each block is placed on the design board and so it's easy for me not to mess it up. LOL  Under the needle is a 9 patch unit for my leader/ender. These are destine for Tumalo Trail which is in Scraps and Shirttails II. Pretty fun working 2 Bonnie quilts at the same time.

Here is my pile of blocks. I cannot wait to lay them all out and get busy on more rows.

Check out how others are doing with their Bonnie Projects at Jo's Country Junction.

Design Wall Monday

Do you ever pull out a UFO and wonder what the heck was I thinking? That was me Sunday when I started working on this UFO.  I had partial blocks pinned together with their parts. Blocks that were unsewn and pinned together. No notes other that what I found on the blog right here in 2008. Good thing I only made 4 totally scrappy blocks before I found this.

I will be spending some serious sewing time before the Quiltville mystery starts with this UFO. I have hopes of having a completed quilt top.  Why am I working on this UFO?  I blame Jo for having a Bonnie UFO Challenge.  My post about that is here.  The fun has begun.

Plans from 2 weeks ago:

• Retreat starts Thursday.....Can't wait. How many Pineapple Crazy blocks can I get made in 4 days without going crazy!  12 Pineapple Blocks and 5 border blocks
• Finish Patches and Posies  DONE!!
• Mail 9 patches for swap  I decided to add more blocks, they are done and everything will be mailed today.
• Make back for Pieced Hexies.  Pieces are cut and ready to sew.

Plans for this week:

• Sew back for Pieced Hexies.
• Work on Scrappy Sister's Choice
• Baste Pieced Hexies.

See what others have on their design wall at Patchwork Times.

Slow Stitching Sunday

I can't believe it's been a month since I've posted about my Circle Of Jewels quilt. I work on it almost every evening and am making nice progress despite my helpers, Shirley and Polly.  They were doing very good on my lap last night--maybe because they were spayed Friday and still not quite themselves. For the most part, they settle right in to nap but then there are those other times when they have to be off my lap!! 

I am almost ready to add the last row of flowers, then the last row of jewels.  I had a bit of a panic moment when I thought I was out of one of my jewel fabrics. I did a strong search online for more but didn't find any anywhere. The other day I was digging in my knitting bag and there was a sandwich bag with a nice pile of jewels fabrics cut and ready to baste to papers.  Talk about a sigh of relief! I totally forgot about doing that......so now you know how long it's been since I've really spent time knitting more that just a row or 2.  All because I am obsessed with this quilt.

It's now time to figure out what to do for borders.  I think I have a plan but I need to sit down with graph paper and colored pencils to see if it will work.  Since it's going to be a rainy, dark and gloomy day, I see more lap time for the kittens.

See how others are spending their Slow Stitching Sunday at Kathy's Quilts.