My current wanderings ....

Currently, the world is awash with a fast traveling coronavirus causing a worldwide pandemic. 

Sadly, it has reached my home town ....  

I've been safely self-quarantining and am hopeful others will do the same soon even thought it is not mandated by any government official... yet. 

Will social distancing and self-quarantining help to successfully flatten the curve experts are concerned with?

I have no idea. 

Time will tell.

While this is a Hawaiian block made of my own design, it is giving me pause .... 

should I try to make a another that resembles covid19? 

I'm just not sure .... what do you think?

Meanwhile my current wanderings have been around my neighborhood and also across the keyboard of my laptop. I am learning new digital skills - how to make and share YouTube videos (perhaps I'll create my own station too?); how to set up and post information into my Toddler classroom on Google Classroom; how to create a private group on WhatsApp for my current toddler class and how to establish an account for ZOOM cloud meetings. In fact, I have three meeting meetings (or is it four?) scheduled for tomorrow?

Busy busy me.

Soon a new normal may set in --  I am hopeful that it will be a new normal that allows solid blocks of time to sew, to create, to daydream and possibly even to nap now and again.

Stay safe everyone!

Keep socially distant ..... 

let's hope this corona virus, covid19, passes by quickly and leaves us for good. 

See you there - in the future when we can hug and be together in gatherings of many sizes.

I hope to have numerous  completed projects to show you then too,

 ... once we are on the other side of this pandemic.

Super Simple Sampler in Blue

My final finish for 2019 is this Super Simple Sampler in Blue quilt.

 

I pieced it in early 2017 when this pattern Simple Sampler by Thangles was brand new.  I can indeed verify that this is a super simple pattern to stitch together, especially since it uses the Thangles method. The pattern and Thangles to make it are available for purchase by clicking here. As you can see by their sample, that I reversed the colors: using white in the blocks and a blue batik for the background. I love it!

While the piecing was fast and easy, it took another year (or year and a half!) to deliver it to a quilter. First I had to decide on a backing fabric, opting to stitch one made of a patchwork back of blues from my fabric collection (P. S. I am a quilter who loves to quilt-by-check any of the large bed size quilt tops that I stitch up).

In summer of 2018, I had this quilt quilted by one of the local long armers whom I frequent. Jenn Saxena did a wonderful job at quilting this top using a doodle flowers pattern.  .... then at long last in December of 2019, I stitched on the binding. Now it is complete!

Oh, wait, I may still need to add a label to it!  Guess it will be officially finished in 2020?

Testing patterns

I love paper piecing and I had no idea that I did .... that is until I volunteered to be a pattern-tester not knowing that the patterns were all paper-pieced ones!

Here are two from recent pattern testing gigs ....

This Geometric USA pattern is due to be released later this month by Quiet Play (aka Kristy Lea in Australia).  Check her many patterns on Craftsy (www.craftsy.com/profile/quiet-play-s-pattern-store ) & Payhip -- or browse thru her awesome posts on Instagram  ....

I finished the USA on July 4th, so added (digitally only right now) the "Happy 4th of July" across the top.  I'm pondering doing a paper pieced red-white&blue USA to put there but haven't decided.


I also tested this amazing lighthouse pattern, also by Quiet Play.

The model sailing ship was hand crafted by my dear Papa Herb (may he rest in peace).  I stitched up the sails for him and the ship is named for his sister Edna (also of blessed memory).  Papa Herb is/was my father-in-law and I still miss the quiet times we shared -- we were the two craftsy people in the family at the time.

The Geometric Lighthouse was released this spring and a bonus pattern to the "Release the Kraken" block of the month that Quiet Play and Gnome Angel are hosting.  These two creative Australians have teamed up as "Quarter Inch of Quirk" for this block of the month (I'm guessing it is the first of more that will come).  Check out hashtag: "release the kraken b-o-m" on IG for more of their joint block-of-the-month quilt (there are mermaids, sea creatures, and much more!).  By the way, the website for Gnome Angel (aka Angie) is www.gnomeangel.com and the website for their joint venture is www.quarterinchofquirk.com/




An important reminder (or lesson, or tip) is to ALWAYS be sure to double check your "printer settings" before printing your paper piece patterns. 

Most every pattern will have a test square that (once printed) will measure to be an accurate 1" square.  Print your patterns at 100% and then be sure to measure your test square.  When you do this, your finished paper-pieced block will end up the size as stated on the pattern (ask me how I know?  and no need to ask how many times I forgot to measure my tester square before piecing the entire block...)

Look carefully above -- my 1" square is SMALLER than the 1" ruler markings -- this is not a good sign.  If they do not match, go back and carefully examine your printer settings ..... 

New list of finishing goals ....

Here is my current top ten (plus 2) list of projects that I aim to finish by the end of September....  All have indeed been started and yet are lingering too long in this unfinished limbo state.

1) bind my first Red-n-White quilt (& label)

2) bind my Oopsie Daisy quilt (& label)

3) finish my cross stitch ABC Words of Wisdom

4) buttons and buttonholes on peach plaid shirt

5) stitch up rayon peach top

6) quilt "Dream" quilttop (or will it be a pillow? or pillow case?)

7) quilt "Geometric USA" then finish into mini quilt or pillow

8) finish assembling 2015 Row-by-Row (water theme)

9) finish piecing, quilting, binding & label the latest Thangles pattern

10) dress and garnish my first spirit doll (maybe more than one)

 11) bonus:  quilt and finish my original Instagram logo mini-quilt (and finish an identical twin for a future swap ...) pattern by Lori Holt (IG: beelori1; her website: www.beeinmybonnetco.blogspot.com/)

12) might as well go for an even dozen:  finish any old UFO that I re-discover in the next two months .... (hee hee hee - there are many that I've forgotten about!)


This is my official list for the Finish-Along group effort -- teams of fellow finishers are wonderful spirit-boosters!  Check out this link or this one for more information and join (if you act fast .....).

Thank you to all the Finish-Along hostesses and prize donors and participants for inspiring me to get things DONE!

I am happy to report that I am linky number 87 for the 3rd quarter of 2017 Finish-along fun.

Three .... sort of ...

I have been plugging away on my UFOs to try to finish some from my posted list of 10 for the Finish Along group and for my local groups that are also hosting UFO challenges ... as of today, April 1, I've only finished three so far ....

First up:  I finished my Owl pillow repair and it is now living proudly on my couch ... though I have notice another pillow seems to have a damaged (puppy-chewed?) corner now .... finish one UFO only to discover a new one?  Is that fair???

 poor pillow in need of loving repair ....

to begin, must first remove the mangled face ... 

one happy owl-pillow repair is complete! 

For more about this pillow's beginnings click here or to learn details of its repair, click here.

Second, I've finished one of the Silk Tie pillows, and have prepped most of the ties to slice, dice and stitch up into new pillows.

 I love this classic design (one of my own creations!)

Now I must stitch up several more -- but using square and triangular pieces.
Click here for more about this pillow.

Third, and my favorite of all, I've made four more blocks for the original 12-block Drunkard's Wife QAL and have stitche the 16 blocks into a top!  I hope to piece the back and get my favorite long-armer quilting on it soon-ish.

This is pile shows the first six blocks that I pieced.

Ten more blocks were completed, plus embroidery "Oopsie Daisy" was embroidered to the top block.

 A peek at my title block -- "Oopsie Daisy"

and some of the other blocks

and a full view of Oopsie Daisy

This quilt is PINK! and it is for me, me, ME .... (I think).

Here are some links to some of the blocks (how-to's) that are in this funky quilt:  Click here to learn how to use Thangles to make two of the blocks.  Click here, here and here to see more of these blocks.

This very pink quilt that I am making just for me is the #346 linkie of all the finishes that have been posted for this first quarter of the Finish-Along 2016.  Click here for a link to get you to all the linkies that have been shared.

Three completed UFOs ... out of ten on my official list of UFOs 

for the first quarter of the 2016 Finish Along.  Click here to see my complete list of UFOs.

Now to ponder which to finish next .... and how many other UFOs I should list on the next quarter!

These are such lofty and important decisions.

Hopefully it will get me blogging more regularly too ... could happen...

My lil owlie pillow

I spent the evening repairing this little pillow.

Lil Owlie - after the attack

As you can see,  my lil owlie has suffered a vicious mauling by our puppy when he (the puppy) was still new to the family (he's a little older and wiser now).  I've tucked the damaged pillow away for over a year or maybe closer to two years.  I loved it too much to toss it and yet hadn't decided how to repair it (especially the lower right corner - can you see that the corner is missing?).

I made this pillow using an owl from my toddler class bulletin board (in 2011-12, my co-teacher and I decorated our classroom with these owls).  I made two owl pillows, trading one in Another Little Quilt Swap (in the 7th swap) and keeping the other one (the one shown above) for my home. I especially love the background of this as my friend Liz B painted, over-dyed lightly, and enhanced it.  Click  here for more information on this pillow.


Meanwhile, on Instagram, The Cloth Pocket is hosting a WIP contest tonight.  I immediately grabbed this damaged owl and determined to fix it ....

Lil Owlie in need of new eyes and a beak

First step:  Carefully remove the damaged, half-eaten eyes and beak.
Next:  Stitch two black yo-yos, attach to white circles and stitch in place on the owlie's face.
Next:  Make the new beak and stitch it in place too.
Last of all:  Mend the dog-chewed-and-eaten corner ....

Lil Owlie ready to party again!

Ta-dah!
I've finished!

This marks my second finish in the 2016 Finish Along for the first quarter.  Do you like my creative patch to mend the lower right corner?  This little sleeping owl is appliqued in place and matches the fabric on the pillow back.  Click here for my original list of UFOs to finish for this quarter.

My lil owlie pillow is #345 of the official Q1 finishes for this first quarter.  Click here to see it and other amazing finishes.


Thank you to @TheClothPocket and also to the many hostesses of @FinishAlong  #2016FAL; #finishalong2016  #theclothpocketwipcontest #wipcontest

My official list of UFOs

Here it is.

(drum roll please) 

My Official List of UFOs

(with photographs to support the current state of each project).

My goal is to work on finishing UFOs all year long, while I will also be starting new projects (because I just cannot help it!).

1)  The first project that I hope to finish in 2016 is my version of the Drunkard Wife's QAL.

I have six blocks completed (minus the embroidery on the top one) and must finish six more.  I'm thinking I may even add a few additional blocks of my own variation before finishing this quilt.  This is a fun quilt-along project that my friend Felice Regina came up with.  Feel free to make one of your own -- all the directions for each block can be found here.  Be sure to wander through her website Sew Scatterbrained or follow her on InstaGram where she goes by iamlunasol.  She is also a designer for Windham Fabrics, with her first line debuting at the Spring Market this year.


2) These blocks made of Marcia Derse fabrics need to be finished into a quilt as my second UFO. 

The blocks are from mystery quilt-workshop by Jamie Meuller offered by my Houston Modern Quilt Guild at our October 2015 meeting.  I love the simplicity of the blocks which use Marcia Derse fabrics and Kona Cotton solids.  I am especially excited that I finally cut into my prized Marcia Derse collection!  I haven't finished this quilt yet as I am thinking of making more blocks to end up with a larger quilt, but have not decided what size I wish the finished quilt to be ... yet.


3)  I don't know if a needed repair will count as a finish .... but I'm listing it here anyway as I really really want to use my owl pillow again!

My pillow was mauled by a sweet puppy who is now older and wiser and hopefully will not chew up the repaired pillow.  I made the first owl pillow for an international swap and liked it so much that I made a second one for myself. Click here to see the two pillows.  The whites of the owl's eyes and the beak were made of wool felt - perhaps that's what was appealing to my puppy?  I must decide if I will replace the damaged pieces with new wool felt, or if I will use cotton fabric instead.  What do you recommend?  I need to patch the lower chewed corner somehow too ... wonder if I can find scraps of the original fabric that I used for the background (which is from a hand-painted and over-dyed printed sheet by my friend Liz B).


4) My next UFO that I wish to finish into a quilt is this small piece, a Hamsa with a Texas appliqued in it's center.

 Click here to see how I began the first of my Hamsa series and click here to see the finished trio that were gifted to friends who all married in 2015.  I also made two with Texas on them, like the one above, which were gifted to friends who were heading out of state to begin their college studies in Massachusetts.    When I was making the college gifts, I appliqued a few extra ones -- and I've thought of who I wish to gift this one too, which is why it is now on my "must finish" list of UFOs.


5)  Next, I wish to complete one or more pillows made from silk ties and dress shirts.

I was asked to make these by a friend of a friend and for some reason the little two-letter word (no) did not come out of my mouth!  Instead, I agreed to make the pillows for her, and I have had the ties and shirts since last May ..... time to get these done!


6)   The next collection of blocks waiting to be in a completed piece are these Polaroids.

I have made several Polaroids for myself, and even more to swap and trade with others (both members of the Houston Modern Quilt Guild and through a "Lovely Little Polaroid Swap" held this past Fall on InstaGram).  I am thinking they will be made into zippered pouches and possibly a tote bag or two to carry projects to and from classes.  Or perhaps I will keep the tote to keep my scrapbooking projects inside (the non-digital scrapbook, that is).


7) I have so many projects to finish!  This one should probably be listed as number 2 because I am already envisioning how I wish it to be completed.

These are mostly 12" blocks, though some are larger and the leaves on top are smaller.  I was inspired to make a red-n-white quilt after seeing the wonderful exhibit of red-n-white quilts called the Ruby Jubilee in the 2014 International Quilt Festival, their 40th year.  Click here to see my post with photos from the exhibit.  The blocks in the photo above include many that I made and six that I received in a trade which my local Houston Modern Quilt Guild had with the London Modern Quilt Guild (yes, London, England!)  For every block I made to trade with the London quilters, I made a duplicate one for myself.  I kept making additional blocks (such as the leaves which were a pattern-test that I did for Quiet Play, click here to order your paper-pieced leaf pattern) so that the quilt would be larger .... but recently I've redrafted (mentally) how I will piece this quilt and end up with a quilt the size I desire without needing too many more 12" blocks.


8)  This is the first red-n-white quilt that I began ... with hopes that I would have it quilted and finished in time to enter into the 2014 Ruby Jubilee exhibit.

I made several of these blocks for a swap with my traditional bee, the Block Builders Bee in February of 2014 (click here).  I did make many and traded them and even pieced them into a top at a quilt retreat I attended with my Modern guild last June BUT I have since decided that I want to add a few more rows so that the quilt can fit my bed.  However, I have not pieced the extra blocks (about 16 or 20 I believe -- these are small 8" blocks) .... it will be a race to see which of these two red-n-white quilt UFOs that I will finish first.


9)   This would be an easy one to finish (at least I think it is ...)

These batik split four-patches were made and swapped with my traditional bee, the Block Builders Bee (also mentioned above).  The blocks were pieced into this top at the June Modern Quilt Retreat that I attended (sound familiar?  just like the blocks and top in #8 above).  I need to get this top quilted, labeled and bound for the completion -- I think I can do this one by the deadline!  (I hope!)


10)  This will be my last one to list for this quarter (in part because the deadline to link is approaching fast (within the hour!))

These batik blocks are from the most recent block trade with my Block Builders Bee.  The trade was held last month, December 2015.  I hope to get them pieced and quilted .... but may need to make more blocks first.  I wonder if I am finally making a little dent in my batik collection?  I am dedicated to Sewing My Stash this year!  I have fabric for at least a gazillion quilts, and even more fabric for garments too.  Perhaps in the next quarter I will list clothes that I wish to finish.

I also have mini-quilts to make for swaps on IG, but I won't count them here ... they're not really begun other than the thoughts and plans that are still brewing in my head.

There.

Ten UFOs to try to finish by the end of March, 2016.

The Finish-Along group has gone global and is open to everyone everywhere.  To win the prizes they have, you must follow the guidelines (found here and other places too) and post your linkys to join and to show your finishes as stated in the rules. BUT if you missed the sign-up deadline for this first quarter, sign up for the next quarter (links open the first week of April). OR just keep plugging away and finish your projects and share on IG or FB or on your blog or with your friends and family.  The idea is to focus on finishing projects -- good-bye UFOs and hello quilts!

Maple Leaf left-overs

Left over blocks -- and such cute ones too ....

What shall I do with these ... I Must Make Something, of course!

but what ... a table runner?  a totebag?  a quilt?  several coasters/mug rugs?  what do you suggest?

My March finish

I've been busy this month and have finished my UFO of an ancient JoAnn's Block of the Month program.  Remember these blocks?

I cut 8 1/2" squares of some similar era (as in old, probably JoAnn's remnants) Christmas prints and pieced together this diagonal row-by-row top.

It is destined to be a charity quilt, as soon as I turn it into my traditional guild, the Quilt Guild of Greater Houston (QGGH), to be quilted (or tied) and bound.

I also finished not one, nor two but four blocks for this special hush-hush quilt for a friend in my modern guild, the Houston Modern Quilt Guild (HMQG).  Hopefully we have enough blocks collected now to finish this quilt for one of our members -- hush-hush.

This is called the Japanese x and + block and it was fast and easy to sew.  It finishes to a 12.5" size (or 13" unfinished).  Megan of CityStitches has posted excellent directions in case you wish to make your own Japanese x and + block on her blog here:

http://citystitches.blogspot.com/2012/03/japanese-x-and-tutorial.html

I did more stitching and pieced another charity top for my traditional quilt guild, QGGH.  So next month I will be turning in two quilt tops to our Comforters Corner (charity quilts we make and give away) in April.

Of these three projects, I like the Japanese x and + polka dot blocks the best.


This completes my month's "A Lovely Year of Quilt Finishes" challenge.  Join our monthly challenge group, or click here to see the others who have completed their March goals and posted links.  I am linky #29 (gotta love a prime number!).  On the Goals for March page where the Goal Setting Party is happening, I am linky #58 (my goal linky is twice my finish linky - more math fun).
 

UFO to work on....

Trying to clean out old projects, give away old fabrics, basically make new space in my sewing area (it's too messy at the moment to call it a sewing studio!), I came across these blocks.  They are from a Block of the Month from JoAnn Fabric and Craft stores several years ago.  I did not purchase the blocks when they were first being released (one per month), rather I grabbed them from the clearance section.  I've done this before -- I buy multiple sets of the months I like and then create my own new setting for the quilt.

 

These blocks were already all pieced.  The quilt has a Christmas-y feel, but you may not get that from just these four blocks.  These blocks are my project to finish this month for A Lovely Year of Finishes.  I plan to come up with a new setting, and find other fabric in my stash to use to finish this into a lap size quilt which I will then donate to my local traditional quilt guild's charity quilt collection.  Click here to see who else has joined this month's challenge by setting their goals of finishing one project and sharing the progress (or lack there of) with the Lovely Year of Finishes gang.  Look carefully to find me; I am linky #58.

Also this month, I must piece a few new blocks from new fabrics for a "Hush, Hush, surprise quilt" for a quilting friend -- and that is all I can say about that at this time.  But I will share the fabrics that I aim to use.  

Here's a hint for the "hush hush" theme -- do these colors and polka dots make you think of Mickey and Minnie Mouse?  These blocks are my NewFO for March.  Sadly, Cat Patches is no longer running her NewFO challenge - it ended in January 2015.  Sigh.  It is still fun to start new projects though and I love that she gave us the permission to start something new, guilt-free.

Reflecting over my 2014 ALYoF work

This is my year in review of the lovely finishes I achieved, thanks to the motivational challenge set by Shanna of Fiber of All Sorts and Melissa of Sew Bittersweet Designs with their "A Lovely Year of Finishes" monthly challenge.

My first month to join was February 2014.  I am linky # 148.

My goal was to make blocks to swap with my Block Builders Bee in March, and I did get my blocks made in time to swap and now have a lovely selection of scrappy red-n-white blocks sitting - wait a minute!  I've met a goal but also have a new UFO added to my pile of growing projects. I am certain these blocks may reappear in a future ALYoF goal.  Meanwhile, I did not finish these blocks before the end of February, so I did not have a finishing post ... sigh.  My first goal was not completed by the deadline.  I must admit, this set me back and months passed before I set a new goal in ALYoF.

July came and so did my renewed effort to set goals of finishing projects, or at least finishing steps in projects.  This month my goal linky was # 105.

My blog post about this quilt is here.  "Fields of Blue" is a quilt made for my son Isaac.  He selected the pattern and the fabrics that I used (I may have slipped in a few blue variations to enhance the variety...).  My goal was to finish this quilt.  My friend Pam Biswas quilted it (the photo shows her work in progress), but I am slow to add bindings.  Since the goal is to finish things, what can top the actual finishing of a quilt? 

I met this goal, and am linky #64  in the finishes post for July 2015 (no photo appears in the linky as I was stumbling with how to do linkys still).  Above is Isaac holding up "Fields of Blue" for the photo that I had planned to use.  Eli, his brother, has decided he would like a quilt like this too!  I need to get that started one of these days ... Click here for my blog post about finishing this goal.

It is exciting to finish your goal!  I immediately selected a new goal for the month of August where I am goal linky # 32.  This month's goal was focused on finishing two redwork embroidery projects.  I have been working on both of these for some time, rather sporadically too.

I had taken to bringing them to my Teacher Inservice meetings (I teach two-year-olds how to enjoy attending at preschool), but still had not completed either one.

As you can see, both now have the embroidery completed and I am linky #72  in the finishes linky party for August 2014 (I have the honor of being the very last linky that month!).  Click here to see my blog post about finishing or here for my original goal blog post.

For September, my goal is to finish a sweet baby quilt for a dear friend's first grandson.  I am goal linky # 52, or click here for my original blog post.

I had found this fabulous fabric at one of my favorite local quilt shops, Quilt 'n Sew in Katy, Texas, and wanted to make a quilt from the 'cloth book preprinted pages'.  Sweet Baby James clearly loves his new quilt (as do his English Professor parents!)  Best of all, I finished it and James is enjoying it while he is still a little baby!  There are other baby quilts actually lingering in my UFO pile (believe it or not, that is very true -- maybe I will finish one in time for the intended receiver's Bar Mitzvah ... I still have a few more years ...)

I am linky #65 in the September Finishes Linky Party, or click here for my nice blog post (which is one of my favorites).

I am on such a grand roll now.  I am loving meeting my goals and better, finishing projects!  Onto October where my goal linky is # 25.  This month I took a different direction with a goal of upcycling a pair of denim shorts, turning them into a tote bag.  Click here for more details on my blog post.

Andy, our dog, was wanting to play, as he is wanting as I write this -- so here is a short puppy break.

Andy approves of the finished tote, which is linky #28 in the October Finishes Linky Party and you can also click here for more details on my blog, where you can see photos of the funky cat-print lining and interior pockets (sshhh, don't tell Andy).

November's goal was to finish my piece for the Michael Miller challenge featuring eight pastel solids in their Spring Cotton Couture line.

I am linky # 38 in the goals linky party or click here for my blog post about this goal.

I was thrilled to finish this month's goal and I love the quilt and the quilting by Pam Biswas.  The pattern is Pot Pie by Thangles and is quite fun to sew together.

For November, I am linky #52 in the finishes party, and more information and photos is available on my blog post here.  I am sad to report that my "Mmm Pot Pie" quilt was rejected from the Quilt Con show in Austin, Texas this February.  I look forward to seeing the quilts that were selected from the over 1,000 quilts entered in this show, especially the ones in the Michael Miller challenge exhibit.  I now have a new challenge -- to get a quilt made and entered into a juried quilt show!  I have no idea how many rejections I may receive before reaching that goal, but I am ready for this challenge.

Meanwhile, my last goal of the year was to bind more quilts. This month I am goal linky # 58, or click here for my blog post.

I haven't figured out how to take a good photo showing that the quilt needs binding.  If you have suggestions, please share.

These bargello quilts are made by a brand new quilter.  Can you believe they are her first and second quilts ever?  The magnificent quilting is by my friend Pam Biswas too.  My claim to fame: I added the binding, that's all.

 
 I am linky #41 in the December Finishes Linky Party and you can also click here for my blog post.

That's all!  These are my seven goals that I set with my six finishes.  I have thoroughly enjoyed being part of the "A Lovely Year of Finishes (ALYoF)" this year and plan to participate again in 2015.  My first goal - to add bindings to another quilt!

Thank you to Melissa (of http://blog.sewbittersweetdesigns.com/) and Shanna (of http://www.fiberofallsorts.blogspot.com/) for hosting this monthly year long challenge!  Did I mention that there are door prizes each month for the some of the lucky ones who achieved their goals?  I was lucky to win!  This post will qualify me for a chance to win one of the grand prizes for finishing a minimum of six goals (I barely got my 6 finishes completed!) and I am linky #32 in the final year-end linky party.  Join the fun for 2015.

Another great side benefit of "A Lovely Year of Finishes" is that I am blogging regularly again.  There are so many positives that I benefit from by challenging myself to set a goal each month and to reach it.....granted I do seem to start new projects just a quickly as I finish old ones ..... but that's a story for another blog post.