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.

Saturday Sewing

I hadn't touched my sewing machine all week. The last day I sewed was Sunday before leaving retreat. I had great plans but something always came up. This morning Ernie left for hunting. I puttered around on the computer while having coffee and then when in to finish this quilt. I gave myself until 9:00 to sew then I had to do some housework.

Just before 9, Ernie came home with his deer.  There goes my morning! Not in a bad way, just something unplanned.

Everything was done, lunch was fixed and he decided to take a little nap.  I went in and quilted more. Then the phone rang. Plans were being made for more hunting.  Yeah! That means more quilting.

After he left, I kept at it and before long, this quilt was finished!  Binding on and stitched down by machine. Done!!!

I practiced echo quilting. Each flower block got a little better than the last.  I love the look of the back. This is my favorite flannel backing. I buy it at JoAnns. I've used in on lots of quilts and  I have never had a problem with it. My go to backing when I don't know what else to use.

Number 4 marked off the UFO Parade list and the super long UFO list. Looking back on the blog I see the top is finished July 2010. I know I got the book for this is July 2006 and remember working on these during down times at work.  

Next!

My Bonnie UFO for Jo's Challenge

Jo at Jo's Country Junction is hosting a Bonnie UFO Challenge. That's all the inspiration I need to pull out this UFO. I have my version of Bonnie's Scrappy Sisters Choice quilt.  When I started this quilt, I had a stack of center blocks already made. I used those instead of 9 patches.  Then I started putting it together. Then I changed my mind, wrote a note and put everything away. That means I haven't touched it in a very long time. 

Included in the bag of blocks and partial rows is a note to myself.  It says where I blogged about this top. It also includes what I planned to do with them.  I thought I needed to add sashing.  Several blocks need to be completed (There are several partial blocks with the parts pinned to them.) and that I wanted to take apart the blocks that are sewn into rows.

What's really going to happen in I am going to complete these blocks. I am not going to take the rows apart and I am going to finish this top. Will it be quilted before the new mystery starts? No. I've got other things happening but it will be nice to have this ready to quilt. I have border, backing and binding fabric so when it gets put away, it will be ready to baste and quilt.

I'm linking up at Jo's Country Junction.

Design Wall Monday

This past weekend was spent retreating with local friends. I was lucky and got to share a table with DD2-Crystal. She hasn't retreated with us for quite a while and we were all very thankful that Mike could take some time off from work so she could get in a few days of power sewing.

I only took my Pineapple Crazy to work on. I had 12 bobbins for my featherweight ready to go, my bags of scraps and papers. I thought I could get through those 12 bobbins, I really over estimated myself! I used 5 bobbins all weekend. I made a small dent in my scrap bags by completing 12 pineapple blocks and 5 border blocks.

I am now officially over one third finished with my blocks....82 pineapples and 20 border blocks. Not bad for 2 years time when I consider this to be my long term project.  I'm wondering how long long term is.  But after seeing Bonnie Hunter's quilt in person, I am very motivated to work on mine and get it finished.

Of course we had to play with some of the blocks to see what it could look like.  One of the gals stood up on a chair to get a look-see so I handed her my phone to get a picture. I hadn't seen it from this angle and it looks amazing!  Now I am really motivated. This is what 30 blocks looks like.   Pineapple Crazy is found in Bonnie Hunter's book-String Fling .

Go to Patchwork Times to see what other quilters are sharing today.

**I just remembered I didn't make a list for this week. I didn't finish my list from last week so I'm going to finish that and then we'll see what trouble I can get in to.

Design Wall Monday

Do you make deals with yourself? I do. All the time. I finished the Pinwheel quilt the other day and said I was going to get the Pieced Hexi quilt basted and quilt it next. But...the backing still needs to be made and Patches and Posies is on the UFO Parade list and it's smaller and everything is right here, ready to pin baste and PH is big and PP is older and screaming at me!   PH will be next.

So here we are. I'm practicing my echo quilting. OH BOY! I need practice!! I figure I won't get any better until I do it. I'm doing it. I'm echo quilting. Block 3 looks lots better than block 1.

Last week I planned to:

• Finish the pinwheel quilt  DONE 
• Work on Friends and Companions.  Nope
• Work on Wishes.  I looked at it, assessed how much background I have and need to do some thinking about different borders. This is a stash quilt and I still have quite a bit of the bright print so I'm thinking piano keys...maybe.

This week:

• Retreat starts Thursday.....Can't wait. How many Pineapple Crazy blocks can I get made in 4 days without going crazy!
• Finish Patches and Posies
• Mail 9 patches for swap
• Make back for Pieced Hexies.

See fabulous design walls at Patchwork Times.

On The Needles

Good progress has been made on the No Purl Monkey Socks.

I am such a slow knitter and if there is a pattern,

I'm even slower.

It's all good,

this isn't a race or a matter of life and death.

Good thing!

I made a whoopsie in the heel.

I'll live with it.

I am terrified of unknitting short rows.

Again, it's not a matter of life and death.

Check out some fabulous On The Needles projects today at Patchwork Times.

Finishes Feel Fantastic!

Time to Celebrate!

Pinwheels Finished!

(Ooohhh, I forgot to use the lint brush before posting a picture.
It's all de-linted now, ready for gifting.)

Fun pinwheel backing found at Thousands Of Bolts.

Scrappy Twin Sisters Finished!

Fun scrappy flannel backing.

Before this makes it to a UFO list,

borders have been added so it is next up to be quilted. 

Time to get out the tables for basting!

That's 3 UFOs off the UFO Parade List-Part 1.

Design Wall Monday

.

Quilting has begun on number 3 on the UFO Parade from August.  Thursday morning I cut batting for the next 3 quilts I want to get quilted.  2 were on the list and one needs to be finished before it makes a list. UFO 2 has the backing made but I forgot to cut that batting. Binding for #s 2 and 3 are sewn and pressed waiting in the binding basket.

.

This is Scrappy Twin Sister and she is finished.  She has aged from September 2010. I think that's plenty long enough. I found this block design in Quiltmaker magazine as one of Bonnie Hunter's Addicted to Scraps Column.  It was so fun to discover all the fun fabrics I put in this quilt.  The back is scrappy flannel squares.  I'll take pictures this week.  Of course I had to have a seam ripper moment. Thank goodness it wasn't more that this little circle.  Aren't those pink poodles a hoot!

 Just for fun, Shirley and Polly have discovered the empty dishwasher. I had to spin the spray arm above them. They are so funny!  No kitties were harmed in the loading of the dishwasher.

Last week's list:

• Finish Tell It To The Stars   Done-waiting for the November clue
• Pin baste a quilt  Not only pin basted but quilted and finished!
• Next block for Wishes, work of border and sashing  Block in finished but didn't start on sashing or border
• Next step for Friends and Companions  Block is finished.

This week I plan to:

• Finish the pinwheel quilt
• Work on Friends and Companions.
• Work on Wishes.

I can't wait to have Monday morning coffee with friends of DWM at Patchwork Times.

On The Needles

I'm working on the No Purl Monkey Socks again. It is Socktoberfest Season after all. I want to knit a couple pair of socks this month. Or at least finish these. I have so much fun sock yarn to play with and I miss knitting. 2 more color sections were added last night before I was interrupted by someone needing loves . I will leave my knitting bag next to my chair and try to knit at least a color section each evening.

Miss Shirley Kitty is learning to lay on Momma's lap/legs without playing with the yarn. She is doing really good. What you can't see is the little dog that is napping on my right hip.

See what others have on their needles at Patchwork Times today.  I might be adding a new pattern to my collection.

Tell It To The Stars

(Please forgive my horrible photos.

Poor lighting and cell phones combine to make this happen.

And me, I broke my camera.)

I have Tell It To The Stars sewn together.

Quilt Inspector, Shirley approves.

Next up are the borders.

Knowing Judy L, she is going to have an amazing pieced border to add to this.

I will sit back and wait for November's mystery clue.

It feels good to be ahead of the game.

There is no place in my house to lay out the quilt top and get a full picture.

It's raining outside. Boo.

I love the colors I chose for this.

It will be a wonderful fall quilt when it's finished.

Check out other Tell It To The Stars participants that are linking up with Patchwork Times. 

National Sewing Month Recap

My goal for National Sewing Month was to sew every day. 

I did it! 

I am celebrating.

Seriously, I cannot believe how much I accomplished.

Most days I was able to sit in front of the sewing machine.

Some days were spent with a little time, threaded needle and Circle of Jewels in my lap.

What did I work on?

In the collage you can see red/white/blue blocks for retreat lotto drawing, under that is the Quilt Retreat bag, next to that is Shirley checking out Tell It To The Stars, Batik Boxes (UFO blocks) top was put together, Wishes BOM was caught up, 2 minis, more Pineapple Crazy blocks made. Retreat fun happened. Smith Mountain Morning top was completed, Batik Hexies quilted. Circle of Jewels added to and a butterfly bag  (the black and white bag was made by Cheryl).  

Each day sewing time was found.

I'd love to keep that up for October.

For no other reason than

.

Sewing Soothes My Soul.

Design Wall Monday...

...National Sewing Month-Days 27-29

I haven't sat in front of the sewing machine since I finished this top on Friday.  But I have been sewing up a storm on Circle of Jewels.  This photo is from September 15th. 2 weeks ago and I have finished row 3 and I'm halfway into row 4-the halfway row. I'm kind of excited!!  I'm hoping for a nice day this week so I can lay it out on the grass and get a good picture.

Each day of September I have sewed and National Sewing Month is soon over-I'm going to miss this challenge to myself but Soctober starts and knitting socks will be my obsession. It's a good thing I have some in progress. That will give my brain a head start. LOL

Last week my plans were:

• Recover from retreat and babysitting. :0)  Sort of!
• Get all retreat stuff put away.  Again, sort of.
• Tell It To The Stars  No
• Friends and Companions block for the week.  Yes -- I tried to take a picture but I think my camera is toasted.

This week I hope to:

• Finish Tell It To The Stars
• Pin baste a quilt
• Next block for Wishes, work of border and sashing
• Next step for Friends and Companions

That's enough.  See what everyone has on their design walls at Patchwork Times.

National Sewing Month-Days 24-26

 Daily sewing continues as I celebrate (my word for the year) National Sewing Month. It's hard to believe we are this far into September already. Wednesday was my last day with the grands so after they went to bed and I patiently waited for Crystal and Mike to get home, I stitched more parts onto Circle of Jewels.  Thursday I pretty much was a slug so spent quite a bit of time in the recliner with my hexies and jewel parts. I think I have all the parts ready and now it's time to get serious about the top. Serious is my new term for obsession.

Today I wanted to sit at my machine for a while. I had a stack of 12 18" batik blocks that I wanted to get sewn up. I hung them on the design wall yesterday and today I sat down and sewed them up. In just a few minutes, I had a quilt top. Why did I wait so long to do this!!!  This photo is from my original post-July 20, 2009.   I bet I have a whole new crop of ugliness to make another top.  Not that they are all ugly--a few of them, yes!!--but beauty is in the eye......

The top is 54 x 72.  I think I am going to just quilt it up as is. It will make a nice cuddle quilt for a teen.  Although...I do have some black batik left from this quilt that will make a great border.  I wonder if there is enough for a 6" border and then some fun, scrappy binding.......Would you look at that! A new plan as I write. 

The batik strips came from strip swaps.  I don't even know how many swaps I have participated in over the years. Lots!  Each swap always has a couple of strips that make me go HUH??? but I take them and keep them and used quite a few of them here. I added a few of my favorites strips too.  Now my collection is 5 years larger. It's time to pull our a strips book or 2 and find something fun to make with them. 

Here is a fun picture from retreat. I love sitting back and watching the interaction of my friends. We are such a fun group!

National Sewing Month-Days 19-23...

...And Retreat Report,

Design Wall Monday

And Staying With Grands

 The other day I said I sewed something that I couldn't show. It was this tote bag. I used a preview pack from Benartex and had a blast making it for our Greedy Gift Exchange at retreat. That is always so much fun and it made me feel good that so many wanted my bag. Jody took this home with her--does this make us even now?  

We spent Friday working on these bags. We used Gecko Delight (pattern here) and each of us made one to fit our personalities.  Mine is on the left and my table mate, Cheryl's is on the right. Cheryl cut out oodles of these butterflies and offered them to anyone that wanted them. Thanks Cheryl-it was so fun to sit with you.  I dug into my 1 1/2" batik chunks to create an even more scrappy band. I only had my featherweight with me and she did an awesome job. I hadn't used the walking foot with her before and she did beautiful. I will be making another bag and using my big machine and the decorative stitches that makes this bag so fun. 

Parade of bags. Aren't they great!  After the bags were finished, out came the Pineapple Crazy project. I finished 1 more border block and 4 pineapple blocks.  Each time someone gave me new scraps, I put them into the block immediately so old and new friends will be in my quilt.  

I spent Saturday morning swapping out strips.  This is one of my favorite things to do. I get to touch all the pretties and we each end up with such a fabulous assortment of new fabrics. We also did black and white strips but I forgot to take a picture.

Sunday morning I came home from retreat to unload the car of non-essentials, then repacked it to spend the next 4 nights with the grands while their parents went on a little vacation.  The only sewing since Sunday morning has been on my Circle of Jewels. I can still say I'm sewing everyday, Maybe later today I can get out my machine.  

As usual retreat was a blast. I have such great friends and being able to spend time with them doing what we all love to do, well does it get any better than that!

Last week's list of plans:

• Keep working on Tell It To The Stars  Over halfway
• Finish cutting Wishes and Friends and Companions blocks  All blocks are finished-Yippee!!
• Lay out next row for Circle of Jewels.  Done!
• Finish packing for retreat  Done!
• Attend retreat  Done and FUN!

Plans for this week:

• Recover from retreat and babysitting. :0)
• Get all retreat stuff put away.
• Tell It To The Stars
• Friends and Companions block for the week.

That's probably all I can get to.  Have a great week.

National Sewing Month-Day 18...

...And Retreat Report-Day 1

As usual, retreat is a blast! It is so much fun to spend this time with old friends and make new friends and finally meet online friends (Hey Mel!!!) I spent a good share of the day doing the TahDah. Each time a block was finished a TahDah was said. Yes, we are easily entertained.

I started the year out with good intentions. I made 2 blocks for the Wishes Quilt Along, put it away and when that happened, I was lost. Once in a while I would print the blocks to catch up but it just didn't happen. The other day I came across the bin and decided enough was enough. I finished printing the block instructions I needed and started cutting. My plan was to work on these 7 blocks at retreat and not stop until I had them all finished.  I am now caught up and can't wait to make the remaining blocks.  Another project to mark off the list.

All the while 9 patch leader/ender blocks were being made. I must have my leader/enders!

Next I pulled out my Pineapple Crazy.  One border block was made and half a pineapple block before I couldn't sew another stitch so called it a night. I came home and had a quick conversation with Ernie-who was asleep--sorry babe-and spent some time with the dogs and kittens before I went off into dreamland.

When I forget things, I send myself an email. 3 messages have been read and things gathered for another day a sewing, laughing and having fun. Today is more Pineapple Crazy and a group bag making project. This is going to be fun!!!

National Sewing Month-Days 15-17

3 more days of sewing and not much progress to show. Tell It To The Stars has another row attached and another row sitting and waiting it's turn to be sewn.  Last week's block for Friends & Companions Sew Along is finished.

This bin full of 1 1/2" batik scrap strips was dug into. A bunch of us are making our own bag at retreat, I needed some strips and couldn't resist joining a bunch of these to turn into a fun focal point for my bag.

There is another project in there but I can't show anything yet. Stay turned...

Time for me to pack the car and head out the 3 1/2 miles to the retreat center.  I know, I'm a bit spoiled by the distance I travel to my fun weekend. The fact that I can go, come home for a while to care for the animals and return until I come home to my own bed is priceless.

I shall return but in the mean time, I will be sewing away......National Sewing Month continues with daily machine time for me.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to sew I go.........

Design Wall Monday...

...National Sewing Month-Day 14

My quest to sew every day is still going strong but on days like the last couple, if I hadn't went in early to sew for a bit, nothing would have happened. This photo is where I left off Saturday,  Sunday I sewed sashings to the blocks for row 3 of Tell It To The Stars and part of the sashing and cornerstone row are together. I'm going in early this morning again to hopefully get the row completed.

Last night I cut blocks for the Wishes BOM that I am so far behind on. I have 2 more to cut along with this weeks Friends and Companions block and these will get sewn up this week. It's so easy to sew them up when they are cut and ready to go!

Each evening I work on Circle of Jewels. It's kind of hard to do with those two little stinkers though. Laying out the next row will involve closing the door so the helpers cannot help. I still need to figure out the sides. I have lots of time for that. I would never to jump into a project like this with it all planned out first. That just isn't my style.

The list for last week:

• Work on Smith Mountain Morning   DONE!!! And I love it!
• Work on Tell It To The Stars    Working on it.
• Lay out next row for Circle of Jewels  Done and the row is mostly sewn on.
• Baste UFO Parade project #2  Looked at it and thought about it but didn't touch it.

My list for this week:

• Keep working on Tell It To The Stars
• Finish cutting Wishes and Friends and Companions blocks
• Lay out next row for Circle of Jewels.
• Finish packing for retreat
• Attend retreat

That's right, it's retreat week!!! I cannot wait. I have my list of projects and supplies readdy. I just need to load them in the car and mark them off my list.  

I'm headed over to Patchwork Times to see what others have on their design walls.

PS: Happy 42nd Anniversary Dear Husband. We showed them, didn't we?!?!

National Sewing Month-Days 12 & 13

I have wanted to make Smith Mountain Morning since I first saw it on Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville blog I don't even know how long ago. The top was finished Friday and I am thrilled with it.  I had hoped to take the class from her when she was in Portland in June but couldn't get in. So we cut our fabrics while our other friend was in class. I'm quite happy that both Cathedral Stars-the class I took and Smith Mountain Morning are ready for quilting.

This afternoon I started putting together this year's mystery from Patchwork Times, Tell It To The Stars. All the blocks are laid out in their rows waiting for sewing machine time.

This morning was spent watching 3 different soccer games-so much fun but a little too warm. Then we went out to lunch and ran a few errands before coming home. Hubby napped, I sewed. I am so lucky to have an air conditioned sewing room.

This evening I am going to cut blocks for the Wishes Quilt Along. I am way behind on that one and hope to catch up during retreat next week.