Summer Scrappy Challenge

I need to clarify about my cruise—it is a quilting cruise that is set up like a retreat. That is why I am trying to cut enough projects to work on. There is a group of us going, and we are taking our own sewing machines and notions. The cruise sails to Cozumel, and I have been there about a dozen times, so I am not planning to leave the ship. I will just stay onboard and sew. It is not your typical quilting cruise where they furnish the machines and kits, and there are no instructors, just a group of quilters doing a retreat at sea. Needless to say, the cost is nowhere near what the typical quilting cruises cost.

There is a quilt shop in Yorktown, Texas—about 40 miles from me—called Seams Like Home, A Little Fabric Store, and they are having a summer scrappy challenge. 

You can get the pattern and “officially” join the challenge for $10. The prize is a Tutto machine tote, and you have until September 4th to finish. If anyone is interested, contact Sarah at Seams Like Home. Here’s a pic of her top:

I am planning on using a solid color jelly roll with the scraps which will tone it down a little…..but not too much. I love the scrappiness. I signed up yesterday, and I need to add this one to my to-do list as a I have been busy pulling my strips and sewing them together. 

To-Do-List Tuesday 5-30-23

This month is drawing to an end, and I can’t say I’ll be sad to see it go. I’m getting back in the groove somewhat and got a few things done, although I’m still not 100% motivated.

1) APQ blocks - time to quit piddling around and get this one finished. Nope, not finished. I did get all the alternated blocks made though.

2) Bind horse quilt. This one is a wrap and can be gifted.

3) Cut out another quilt for cruise. I got one cut out.

4) Work on the solar flare quilt I started. A little bit was done but not as much as I had hoped for.

5) Quilter’s choice—probably something with the charm packs I found. I have some ideas; just need to execute them.

For this week, I know what I want to do, but I think I may be short on time again, so if I don’t get to all of it, it will be okay.

1) Put borders on the two donation quilts.

2) Get the APQ blocks laid out.

3) Start the new APQ sew along—I don’t know what the first prompt will be, but I assume it will be cutting.

4) Cut out another kit for the cruise. I don’t want to run out of things to sew!

5) I’m still thinking about doing something with a couple of charm packs. I probably at least need to make a start on it.

That is enough to keep me as busy as I want to be. I am linking this post to Quilt Schmilt, and will be visiting that blog to see what everyone else is working on and what progress they are making. Have a great week wherever you are reading this! I will be at church today tying comfort quilts and eating leftovers! 

Memorial Day

 

I don’t have much planned for today….I am caught up for now on Quilts of Valor presentations. In fact, I haven’t been sent any requests this year. I am planning to meet up with friends later for lunch and a movie, so that will be fun.

I worked yesterday afternoon on the donation quilts I had cut out on Saturday. I made pretty good progress.

Well, I have to admit they weren’t really challenging, so it didn’t take but a few hours once the cutting was done. The USA print is directional, and I sewed two of the panels upside down and had to do some ripping and re-sewing. That was one small delay. I hope to get the borders put on these this week. I wish I would have bought a couple more yards of the focus fabric for pillowcases. I may go back to Walmart in a couple of days (payday) and see if I can get some. 

Moving Along

Another hectic day, but I managed to get some things done that I wanted to do. I went to the Farmer's Market and got there early enough to get some tomatoes.

I got various shades of ripeness so they will last the week (I hope), and I also bought some squash and cucumbers. I helped in the kitchen at church--it was a big meal, and we were there for several hours.

Once that was done, I could have used a nap, but I pushed myself to get some sewing and cutting done. I got another kit cut out for the cruise.

It really wasn't hard to cut, which made me wander why I had put it off for so long. I also got the binding finished on the horse quilt.

A customer pieced it, and then gifted it to me along with the fabric for the backing. Now that it is quilted and bound, it will be gifted to someone else. Full circle.

I started cutting out some of the fabrics I had laundered for the charity quilts in hopes that I might get some sewing time after church. This is one of them:

I think it will be adorable in a child's quilt. I am going to use that checkmate pattern I showed yesterday, so it shouldn't take long at all.

Lots of Activities

Things have been incredibly busy around here. Thursday was quilt guild, and it was my turn to provide a door prize and also to provide refreshments. I try and sign up for both in the same month, and then I’m done and don’t have anything hanging over my head for the rest of the year. I made sausage rolls, and I bought some donut holes and some trail mix. Beth made biscotti and also brought fresh fruit. I wish I would have thought to take a picture but I didn’t. We were supposed to have a workshop, but the presenter couldn’t get her computer to work, and she had forgotten to bring the blocks we were supposed to work on. They were preprinted blocks for coloring. She dropped mine off at my house yesterday afternoon, but I am not exactly motivated to work on them by myself, so we’ll see if they get done or not.

Today there is a funeral at church, and I am on the bereavement team, so last night I fixed pecan pie bars and raspberry oatmeal bars.

I actually fixed another larger pan of the pecan pie bars.

I thought I might have over-cooked the raspberry ones, so I made a powder sugar glaze and put it on the top. I usually do a cake or pie, but I was noticing that people like to take several small pieces of the desserts so I think the bars may be the way to go. 

I got a customer quilt loaded yesterday and started cutting out another kit for the cruise. I have had to work on grass cutting for the last few days so that takes a chunk of time. I wish I could just hire someone to do it, but the last person I had couldn’t do it to suit me, and my dogs have a total fit if someone is in the yard. <sigh>.

I have some yardage in the washer right now. I picked up some kid-friendly fabrics when I was in Walmart, and I decided I better pre wash it before it goes into a quilt.  I also got some at JoAnns Monday, but I haven’t washed it yet. I am anxious to get the quilts cut out. They will be going to Midcoast Family Services here in Victoria. I ordered a new pattern (I haven’t received it yet) that will show the focus fabrics.

I bought two yards of this dinosaur print.

I love how realistic it is—not too babyish or cartoonish. I also got some jungle animals and I don’t know what all else. Between Walmart and JoAnn’s, I spent around $250.00. I’m not sure how long I can continue doing that, but for now I will do what I can. I believe God will provide a way for me to serve. I did talk to the facility director last week, and she said the quilts and bags we are providing mean so much to the kids. They are generally arriving there from a domestic violence situation, so they come with nothing. It’s pretty sad. Anyway, enough of the sad stuff. Happy Saturday everyone.

Mission Accomplished

When I went to Corpus on Monday, I went by JoAnn fabrics to see if they had any fabric that would coordinate with the fat quarter bundle I'm using for the Solar Flare quilt. I found a bundle of red-orange-yellow colors and a single fat quarter of dark blue.

They both have the mottled look that will work with the original pack. I ended up pulling out the orange and the blue as they seem to coordinate the best.

I did end up putting two rows together yesterday with the hst's I already had sewn. That's about all I got done as I went home early. I wanted to spend some times with the dogs before I left for bingo last night.

I also found this magazine at JoAnn's:

This was my main reason for going there, and I was happy to find it. The cover quilt is the next APQ quilt along. 

I also bought 20 fat quarters that I need for the quilt. I looked through the magazine last night, and I also like this one:

The quilt along starts in June, so there's not much time to get the last one finished. Nothing like a deadline......

To-Do-List Tuesday 5-23-23

 

Well, darn. I’m usually better at staying on track with my weekly goals, but I didn’t get a lot done last week. In my defense, there were other things that needed to be done, but I was also unmotivated to sew or create. Here’s my list:

1) Borders on Planters quilt. Yes! This can be crossed off the list.

2) APQ blocks - need to do the alternate blocks and get it laid out. I worked on it, but I am not as far along as I had planned.

3) Cut out another quilt for cruise. No.

4) Bind horse quilt. No.

My lack of progress leaves a lot of options for this week’s list. All my incomplete projects can go to the top of the list.

1) APQ blocks - time to quit piddling around and get this one finished.

2) Bind horse quilt.

3) Cut out another quilt for cruise.

4) Work on the solar flare quilt I started.

5) Quilter’s choice—probably something with the charm packs I found.

I am linking this to Quilt Schmilt. Have a good week everyone….I’m hoping I can get my mojo back!

Weekend Update

I already blogged a bit about Saturday’s activities; the weather was better on Sunday—just a light shower while I was in church, and then it cleared up. I had some red, white, and blue silk flowers that I wanted to take to the cemetery before Memorial Day, so I made a trip to Port Lavaca after church. I don’t know why I don’t go more often….it’s a straight shot….about 30 miles, and 75 mph speed limit. 

I wanted some lunch and was trying to decide between Mexico Tipico and El Patio. Guess which one won? 

My childhood favorite. Haha. I still love the hot sauce.

It still tastes exactly the same. It’s hard not to fill up on chips and salsa before the meal comes. The lunch special was beef fajitas asada for $12.00. Pretty cheap, and it’s a lot.

I couldn’t eat it all, but I ate more than enough. 

I drove by the bay before I went to the cemetery, and then I headed back to Victoria.

Today I plan to drive to Corpus and stop at Joann fabrics and Macy’s. 

I found a box of precuts in the sewing room closet last night.

When I buy charm packs, I buy two or more. I learned from experience that you can’t do much with one, unless you make something small like a table runner or bag. I spent some time last night thinking about these and I think I have a plan for them. Stay tuned for that….I just need to find some time.

A Small Diversion

It was another nasty, dreary day. I lost electricity about 8am; I reported it online, and then I headed to the other side of town to my shop since the online map didn't show any outages there. Of course, I have to disengage the garage door from the opener in order to get the car out. I decided I needed something bright and cheery to work on.

Someone gave me two fat quarter packs last year.....there are five colors in each pack, and I picked out a pattern to use.

The pattern needs 11 fat quarters, so I added a similar one from my stash. The gray i'm using for the background is something Walmart had on sale some time back for $1.50/yard. I bought several yards, I don't remember exactly how many.

I'm having some issues with the fabric--some of the "fat quarters" are around 19" wide insstead of 22". That means I am not going to have enough fabric to cut all the hst's. I have no idea where they were purchased or even when they were purchased. They were in a little bundle tied with a ribbon.....I'm guessing JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby. I may make a trip to Corpus on Monday and see what I can find. I've been wanting to go to Macy's anyway.

I have been working on getting my UFO's completed and didn't really plan to start something new. I justified it by getting the border put on this one.

It can join its friends in the "to be quilted" stack. If I don't get it quilted this year, it will definitely be on next years UFO list. 

Free Pattern

Oh, I’ve been on a bargello kick lately…..more about that later. I found this pattern which is a type of bargello.

It’s similar to a Villa Rosa pattern called Wistful, but this one is a free pattern from Timeless Treasures. I’m going to try and link it here. I hope it works. I’m having a little trouble with the hyperlink. Anyway, if the link doesn’t work, just Google Timeless Treasures Frequency quilt, and it should come up.

What I'm Working On

I didn't work on anything on Tuesday--that's the day I took my stepdad to Lake Jackson for his neurologist appointment. It took all day, but I was rewarded:

The weather had cleared up by the time I took this picture, but oh, it poured rain in the afternoon. I could barely see to drive, and I didn't want to pull over as we didn't really have much time to spare. 

Yesterday I worked on this lovely table runner.

I can see that it is all made from 5" squares, and I would love to make one for myself--only not blue. Red would be nice. I took the chairs from my breakfast area to the upholsterer to be recovered. I had an entire bolt of home dec fabric I bought several years ago to recover them, it’s a green and gold and dark red plaid, and I never got around to doing it. I think it was a little over my head, but it took me a few years to admit it to myself. Anyway, it would be nice to have a new table runner to dress up the table.

I got the patterns for the APQ alternate blocks. They aren’t in the magazine, but we’re made available to the Facebook group members. I didn’t necessarily followed the listed colors, but I stuck with the same palette I’ve been using.

I still haven’t decided what to about the missing K blocks….I think I need to count and see what it I have so far, and decide how many more I might need. I’m about ready to be done with this one, so I need to try not to over burden myself with more and more blocks.

To-Do-List Tuesday 5-16-23

It's Tuesday again. Time to review the weekly stitching goals and see what got done, and what needs to be given a little extra attention. Here's the progress on last week's list:

1) Key fobs. I need to keep moving on this one. All done, plus a few more.

2) Cut out cruise quilt.  Also done.

3) APQ blocks. Let's see....I finished the J and L blocks. I seem to have skipped K.

4) Temperature quilt. I wasn't able to work on this one.

5) Clean off the dining room table. Yes, and I was happy I did--I found an uncashed dividend check in the pile of mail. Woo hoo!

6) Planters quilt. The main part of the quilt is together.

I don't think there is anything really pressing that needs to happen this week, but there are some things I'd like to see progress on.

1) Borders on Planters quilt.

2) APQ blocks - need to do the alternate blocks and get it laid out.

3) Cut out another quilt for cruise.

4) Bind horse quilt.

Today won't be productive--I am taking my stepdad to Lake Jackson for a doctor's appointment, and I am also busy with quilt guild stuff (setting up programs for next year). I know I don't have as long a list as usual, but things will likely be added as the week progresses. I am linking to Quilt Schmilt.

A New Week

 

It was a good weekend. I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked, but a few projects were finished, or a least progress was made. Saturday, I got three quilts trimmed. I only got pictures of two of them.

This one is made from some panel squares. I used a new quilt pattern called “Songbird”. 

The thread is Glide light turquoise. The other is the batik stars I showed a few days ago. 

I used the “Quicksilver” pattern and a dark cream Innovatech thread. I like the way it turned out. 

My friend Betty came by Saturday to drop off some charity tops, and we went to Ramsey’s for a “quick” lunch. We both ordered chicken fried steak which comes with baked potato and salad bar. After we each ate a plate of salad, neither of us could eat the rest of the meal. Oh well, I brought my leftovers home and will eat them tonight or tomorrow. Yesterday at Olive Garden I got the soup and salad. I never get tired of salad. You would think I would be skinny, but nope. Probably because I like everything else too. 

I had a nice Mother’s Day. After church, I met my mom and my daughter and her family for lunch. We had a little wait to get seated, but we all visited, so it was still fun. After I got home, I sewed for a few hours. I finally got the Planters quilt put together.

I actually ironed it but you sure wouldn’t know it from this picture. I will take it to the shop tomorrow and iron it again, and put the border on. Then it can go in the stash of tops to be quilted. I ended up with tucks in some of the rows when I sewed them together. I will most likely fix those too. I don’t think I can stand to leave them as is. 

The rest of the evening I spent with my feet up working on some cross stitching. That’s about all I felt like doing, but I will need to get it in gear today. I have some appointments, and I’m supposed to meet a friend to see a movie.