Quiltville Mystery Tuesday Link Up

I'm just getting started on part 5 of On Ringo Lake.

All clues for this mystery are available for a limited time at Quiltville.

This clue was released Friday but I was deep in to Christmas happenings

and playing with some quilting.

I knew I'd have the rest of this week to get my parts sewn.

I pulled out the appropriate size neutral strips 

(most received from our strip swaps)

to use with my Go Cutter.

Then I cut into my blacks for the geese

and got to crankin' and cuttin'.

All the pieces are ready to sew. 

Machine was given a once over with the dust brush and the oil bottle.

A few bobbins were wound and a new needle inserted.

I've got Alias Grace on Netflix ready to push play.

Check out all the progress at today's 

Mystery Tuesday Link Up-Part 5 at Quiltville

and see the fun my friend Mary is having at her sew in. 

Hey Mary. 🙋 

Quiltville Mystery Link Up-Clue 2

Everyone that knows me knows that when mystery time rolls around,

you will find me working on my clue until it is done.

Clue 2 to On Ringo Lake (found at Quiltville) was finished Saturday.

Remember, I don't have a full time job or any children at home.

I have lots of time to sew.

Or should I say, I take lots of time to sew.

First thing I did was get out the appropriate Go dies.

With each die, I write on the package the fabric chunk size.

I cut my chunks and stack them in a layer of 6.

This took me about an hour.

Then it was crank, crank, crank.

During one episode of Switched At Birth,

I had all my parts cut.

Sew, sew, sew.

Binge watch my show.

OK, part 1 of sewing and pressing was enough for day 1.

Someone thought he needed dinner. 😉

(Honestly, I did do a few things other than sew, but not many.)

Day 2 brings me stacks of 10 1 winged geese.

I sew 10, grab a pair of tumblers to get this leader/ender to completion,

(since I'd love to mark this one off the 2017 UFO Challenge list)

sew 10 more.

And sew on and sew on until all my stacks of 10 are complete.

Then it's press and clip, press and clip.

All flying geese are complete with a few (23) extra.

Lots of progress was made toward completing my UFO.

I'm happy to have Clue 2 finished,

because it's going to be a busy week. 

Thanks Bonnie for another fun clue.

Check out everyone's progress at Quiltville's Mystery SUNDAY Link Up.

Design Wall Monday and Quiltville Mystery LInk Up

I kind of got carried away with my 9 patches for the On Ringo Lake mystery at Quiltville. 

Why make 50 when 75 are so easy to do. 

I love sewing the short strip sets.

And then cutting them with the Go Cutter.

I haven't finished my tumbler leader/ender yet.

Thinking I needed more blocks, 

I cut a bunch more.

Only to find a bin full of them all ready to go.

LOL, sometimes I amaze myself.

Oh well, they are seeds for another quilt.

Before starting the mystery, I decided to complete the baby quilt top.

I wish I would have gotten a good picture but again,

the rain and dark interfered with my plan. 

This week I'll get the back and batting ready for it

and maybe start quilting.

It all depends on how this nasty cold treats me. 

I'm  linking up today with Quiltville and Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Design Wall Monday

I spent some time this week working on my Splendid Sampler blocks. I have the 2 embroidery blocks to finish and the new block from Sunday and I'll be all caught up. Hopefully before the new block comes out on Thursday.

I got my first t-shirt finished. I still need to teak the pattern just a bit but I really like this one. It has a black back. Like I said before, that pile of knits is going to be use up. Mixing fabrics has never been a problem for me. LOL

I also worked my scrap problem...I was looking for a certain piece of fabric and while digging, I decided to make a pile of cut it up fabric. So there are new tumblers, strips and strings along with enough backing squares for another quilt as you go string quilt. With the Sampler blocks, several sets of 2 tumblers were sewn together waiting to be mixed in with the new fabrics.

It was a good week in the sewing room. See what others are working on at Patchwork Times. I was quite excited to see Judy L is sewing again.

Design Wall Monday

Since my grand plan for April is focused on new t-shirts for myself. 

 I was contemplating (procrastinating) on how to perfect the fit of my shirt 

and decided to squeeze in some piecing time.

After all, when I get into full blown t-shirt mode, 

there will be no sewing anything else.

You understand that focus thing, right?!?

I don't really have anything going at the moment so I pulled out my tumbler leaders/enders bin.

I gave my progress the once over and remembered someone said 

they were doing a border with their darks.

So I got out my seam ripper,

made myself a little add on room and got busy.

I needed more variety so I got out a stack of I want it gone fabric and started cutting.

In the process of cutting, I added lots more pieces to my string bin.

That's a good thing.

I also learned just how sharp those blades are in the dies.

That wasn't a good thing.

I got a bit more life out of this cutting mat 

and then I heard it snap.

It's now waiting for the garbage man to take it to it's new home.

Thank goodness I had another one to use.

I need to add a new one to my shopping list.

When I took my bins in to put them away,

I had to sit down and sew just for a little while.

I now have a nice long string of tumbler pairs to press. 

I love a good leader/ender project gone awry. 

Next up at the Go cutter is this pile of I want it gone fabrics.

What will they become???

I probably will cut tumblers from some of them

and I have an apple core die that needs to be used again

and of course, I will create more strings.

What's on your design wall? I'm headed to Patchwork Times 

this morning to see what others are working on.

April Scrap Busting Plan

I have a Grand Plan.
(Don't I always!!)

I really, really want to get my scraps and my stash under control.

For April, I plan to use up this stack of t-shirt knits.

In my past sewing life, I made clothes.

Lots of clothes for me and my kiddos.

Jeans, western shirts, t shirts, shorts, pjs, cute undies, cute dresses...

Right now I am in desperate need of new shirts.

I hate to go shopping for clothes so it's time to get this done.

And I want to free up that space the basket of fashion fabrics is taking up.

I love sewing with my serger so this gives me a lot of serger time.

(Can you believe my spell check didn't include the word serger?!? I does now!)

The bottom knit is already a shirt.

It is my "muslin" for fit.

It's not too bad,

I'll wear it around home or to sleep in.

I'm excited to use these up.

This morning I'm listening to the latest Quiltcam.

She read an email from someone that was cutting with her Go Cutter.

The light bulb in my head turned on bright.

I put Bonnie on pause and got out my own cutter and small tumbler die.

I need more variety in my tumbler boxes and while making string blocks, 

I found a nice bunch of fabrics in my string bin that were too big to turn into strings.

It's time to get working on my tumblers again.

They will not be my focus this month but will be ready when I'm ready to work on them.

This morning I will finalize my basic t-shirt pattern

and maybe cut out a couple more shirts.

It's fun to have a plan.

And now I must get to it!

Scrap Addict Wednesday

When our Granddaughter Taylor was little, her favorite movie to watch with Poppy was Monsters, Inc. They had a ritual, get ready, hide under the quilt, get ready, wait for it, SCREAM!!! 

Mike Wazowski, the one eyed green guy, said I've got my eye on you.  Since then, that has been our saying. And because I can't wink, everyone does the Gramma wink (cover one eye) and says I've got my eye on you! So when I found this string in the box, I had a giggle fest! Oh the things we remember at the funnest times!

I've been having a blast with my string blocks. It's so easy to make more than the 5 a day I had planned to to. Since I have no other projects ready to work on, I'm just making strings blocks right now. My goal for 155 blocks for the month is quite reachable.

Eight days into the month, (7 days making string blocks) I have 65 blocks sewn, trimmed and de-papered! Go me!!!

Since 3" blocks use up so little fabric, I also have 9" quilt as you go blocks stacking up. I finished #10 yesterday.  Less not my favorite fabrics and fewer batting scraps. It will take more than one string quilt to tame those batting scraps!

While working in the string bin, I am finding larger than strings. I have 3 chunks that will be turned into backing squares and several pieces to run through the Go cutter for tumblers. Today I am babysitting so it will be a good day to run the Go cutter with a 4 year old as my helper. She loves fabric so it will hold her attention for a few minutes.

I am still hoping to have my string bin empty by the end of the month. Am I a dreamer? Probably but that is my plan. It was fun to read Sarah's post this morning. I love being inspired by other quilters. I also love that I am not alone in my scrap addiction. It's still hard to toss out those itty bitty pieces but I don't see myself ever making another quilt with such tiny bits. I keep telling myself it's good to let go.

Design Wall Monday and...

...Mystery Monday Link Up

Allietare Mystery in part 4.

3 sets complete,

2 in progress,

25 more in the box.

These actually sew pretty fast.

I'm chaining 2 sets at a time.

So far I haven't confused myself.

There's lots of time for that.

I learned a long time ago to to use the Easy Angle ruler when

making companion angle pieces.

I can't throw away a perfect chance for a good half square triangle.

After the first easy angle cut is made,

I turn the ruler to trim off the dog ears. 

Trimming those little bits is not fun for me.

I also trim off the Companion pieces the same way,

using the easy angle ruler. 

Just line up the angle and the bottom using the blunt end of the ruler. 

The black pieces???

Those were cut with my Go! Cutter and are already trimmed. :)

Check out all the link ups today at

Patchwork Times 

and 

Quiltville.

Mondays in Blogland are the best.

Design Wall Monday and...

 ...Allietare Link Up.

It's that time of year again.

Quiltville Mystery Time!

The first clue was released Friday morning.

I woke up at 4 and just had to check.

It was there so I went back to bed.

No need to worry about that any more. :)

I knew it wouldn't take long to cut my pieces with my GO Cutter.

I was right.

Before long, I was ready to sew.

But first I had to put the last 2 rounds on these 10 Pineapple Crazy blocks.

They are trimmed and ready to de-paper before going in to the bin.

I either have 24 more to finish or 14.

You know I'm hoping for 14!

Then I got busy on these.

Soon I was pressing and counting into piles of 10.

I have 302 HSTs.

Is it Friday yet???

Next up for me this week are the 4 cornerstone blocks for Pineapple Crazy.

They are each made up using 4 of these.

One little block done, 15 to go.

So close, yet so far.

Today I'm linking up with Judy L at Patchwork Times

and with Bonnie at Quiltville.

Mondays in Blogland are so much fun!

Design Wall Monday

It's been a super busy week in the sewing room.  Two finishes have me pretty excited. I pulled out my oldest UFO, basted and quilted it. Too bad my evening phone picture doesn't show the true bright colors of this quilt. It is bright!!! I also finished Hanky Panky. I have such a fabulous plan for these quilts and can't wait to share it with you.

 Next up is a simple 9 patch baby quilt. I participated in an online group swap of bright and white 9 patches. This is quilt number 2 from that swap. (Here is the other one.) The yellow polka dots came from my deep stash-You know it's deep stash because the fabric is a true 45" wide. Perfect for this quilt. I can't wait to start the quilting on this. Backing is ready, binding is waiting to be sewn together.

I also pulled out my bin of novelties for some large tumblers. I don't have any little boy quilts and thought these would make for a fun project.   Sometimes you just need to start something new! I love my GO! Cutter for cutting these 6" blocks. 

Bonnie has me excited about this year's leader/ender project-info can be found in her free patterns tab. I already had a bin of 3" tumblers cut and just needed to cut neutrals to go with them. Fast, easy and fun using my GO! cutter. So a really cool setting was all I needed to jump on this band wagon! I love a fun anything goes, scrappy, happy quilt.

My biggest challenge this weeks seems to be my Millefiore block. The triangles have gone through several transformations before selecting the one I used. This is my testing of the top of the triangles. I started them out with orange on all 3 sides but that was just too much. So I took off all the orange and replaced it with the light blue. Then someone posted their block completed with the top of the triangle a dark color and that seemed perfect for me. So I found some dark blue and that is where i am now. I have 7 more round 3 hexies to sew on to complete this block. Maybe this week. But maybe not, I started knitting on my socks again.

See fabulous Design Wall Monday links at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday

I bet you thought I'm was going to tell you I did all 100 units like this one, but I'm not. I only did this one.  I made my Ultimate Scrap Quilt Like Julie's with just this block so making these was easy peasy. I had lots of practice and this little unit was deep into the chain piecing.

All little blocks are finished, only 30 have been pressed and trimmed of their dog ears. I'll get the rest finished sometime today.

I've been doing some scrap management instead of sewing. I have several bins of "scraps" and decided the real estate these bins were taking up was ridiculous and it's time to see what I have. On Monday I babysat the kiddos so I brought out a bin a, iron and ironing board and Go! to the kitchen table and started in. With willing help, we cut lots of 1 1/2" strips for my Scrappy Pineapple Quilt and there are 2" and 2 1/2" strips, a pile of shiny that will go into it's own bin, the bag on the left is for string and crumb blocks and the thin fabric in front of the bag will be foundation for the string blocks.  I have a pile of novelty 3" tumblers and 5" blocks for kid quilts, piano key border pieces left from the last string quilt and small block parts that will be fun to play with. There is also another 2 piles of pieces to big to cut up yet and a larger pile of pressed pieces that need to be cut. Scrap management is a never ending job but when I'm finished with this projects, I think it will be easier to keep up with.

I hope to have the remaining fabric from this bin cut today and all of it put away.  It's a fabric play day around here.  That is after I spend some time visiting around Blogland. I'm linking up with Patchwork Times and Quiltville.

**Note to self:  Must set the timer.

Taming the Scraps

Way back in January 2007, I bought a box of "tidy scraps"  I used lots and lots of those scraps but there will still lots and lots of them left, mostly batiks.  I crammed them all into a zippered bag and once in a while I would open that bag and use a few more.  Then it got "put away" not to be touched until the big sewing room clean out.

Inspiration comes from all over. The other day I was reading this blog post and knew that is what I was going to do with my batik scraps.  I had just bought myself a gift of the 1 1/2" strip die for my GO! cutter and knew I would use that to cut my strips.  I got that bag out and started pressing and sorting, pressing and sorting.  Batiks and not batiks. Pretty soon the bag was empty so I grabbed another scrap bag and continued pressing and sorting.  Will I ever get all my scraps sorted???  Maybe, but probably not.  It is fun to remember where these fabrics come from.  I have friends that save scraps for me and most of the time I remember who gave me what.

This morning my neighbor kids are here stacking firewood so I figured it was a good day to cut the batik pieces.  I can do this in the kitchen and check on the kids quite often.  I love my GO! cutter. In an hour, I had all my batik scraps cut.

There is a bit of waste here but if I used the ruler and rotary cutter, I would have had waste there too.  What am I going to do with the waste pieces???  I don't know.  My brain says to pitch them now, my heart says you could make a really cool art piece.  Sometimes I need to listen to my brain but today I think my heart is going to win.  I have a plan for an art piece.  Stay turned....

I do know that I am not going to start this project yet.  I think it will be a great retreat project.  I'll just keep pressing, sorting and cutting.  I love that I have 2 less bags of scraps in my room and some great pieces cut and ready to use.

Thank you I QUILT FOR FUN, you are now part of my village.

Design Wall Monday

Last night I looked at my blank design wall and decided that I should pull out my Color Palette Challenge project and do a little bit on it so I could have something to post about today.  I've been quilting and knitting this week, trying not to start a new project.  But I had this one all planned out and ready to start.  (Click the button on the left for more info.)  And once I started, I didn't want to stop.  Understand why I didn't want to start anything new and shiny???

When I printed off this month's palette, I knew I wanted to make a bag for my Kindle with strips out of a bag of strips I had bought at a quilters sale and appliques from GO! dies that I hadn't used yet.   I love the little wall hanging on the bird package so I am kind of going with that.  I wondered if my color choices are a bit too far from what Vicki had chosen.  Then I look again and again and I decided that this is what I have, this is what I am going to use.  Sometimes I just have to make the tough decisions in the quilting room.  LOL

To see other fabulous projects, visit Judy L.  I love Monday mornings is Blogland.


****Monday PM, the bag is finished and shown off here.

Retreat Prep

It's hard work for me to prepare projects for a retreat. It's even harder if you have 2 retreats within 2 weeks. Am I complaining? Goodness no! (I love Pete the Cat!) It's hard because I have so many things I want to do that it's a bit overwhelming. So I made a list. Now I am kitting projects.

I will start with a project that I have wanted to do for a long time. I read this post from Julie at Quilter Behind The Barn Door. It got my blood pumping.

As you can see, I've collected a few inspiration pictures for this block. So easy but creates such drama...for me anyhow.

Today I will cut this pile of fabrics.

Using these fabulous dies.

I will add bits and pieces to my bin.

As you can see, I had to make a few (23) test blocks.

I am inspired by Julie's attitude, it matches mine.

See why I say it is the ultimate scrap quilt? And for pete's sake. If you are one of those people who try to keep the same fabric from touching when you make scrap quilts, don't attempt this one. You will go berserk. Just slap those squares together any old way. And don't worry about an occasional point getting cut off in the seams. Believe me when I say No one will ever notice.

Next (or if I get bored) I will work on this Spiral Log Cabin. I found the tutorial at

Love Laugh Quilt.

It's over on the right hand side bar under Tutorials.

This should keep my out of trouble. If I run out of something to do, I'll grab another project when I come home to let the dogs out. It's good to be so close to home and retreating at the same time.