Busy June!

Yes, it has been a busy June!  And it's just going to get busier before we hit July!

Jessica Dayon is hosting TWO quilt alongs this summer--this one will begin

June 25!  It's Christmas village quilt along--I did her earlier village quilt-which is still

on her website--great fun to create cute houses for a village.

This is the other one she is hosting--each week a different block--hopefully, by Christmas it 

will be ready to quilt---if only I had begun!

I've had this kit since February 2020--bought it at QuiltCon in Austin--

this thing has been staring me in the face for months and yesterday

I decided to tackle it!  It wasn’t hard to cut out--you can find digital

pattern here

My fabrics were different--lots of orange tones and purple (yuck!) but

it works!

Laid it out on floor to assemble and sew the rows together!

Border?? That's the question--it's just the right size for laps now.

Added border to Pat Sloan "Home" top--I'm thinking I'll add another

border--just looks like of blah now! 

Decided to call it quits on this orphan quilt--borders?

No--I'm finished!  just need to quilt and bind!

How busy has your June been?

 

Zucchini Time!!

 Do you relish zucchini time in the summer?  Or do you dread the bounty of your crop?  Do not fear--zucchini time is almost here! and there are so many recipes to try with those big fat green vegetables!

We love chocolate zucchini cake--kids could never tell it have that green veggie mixed in the batter! Of  course, the always famous zucchini bread!  my mouth is watering! 

 How about Z-apple pie?  One of my favorites when you don't have apples but plenty of Zs on hand.  

there are baked Parmesan cheese spears--

-we like Z fritters--easy recipe to prepare.  Now, comes the sweet Z muffins and

 have you tried that recipe with Greek Feta cheese, tomatoes, garlic --since we don't do much pasta--we use Zoodles--delish!   

I topped with cheese--

super yummy!  I even use my z-noodles in chicken soup--replacing the

pasta!

They’re Back!

 What’s back you ask!  Radio shows!!  Before TV there were radio shows—everyone had a little table radio.  I was no exception—every night I would climb into my bed to listen to those serial shows—inner sanctum,

only the shadow knows, Lone Ranger, 

The adventures of Ozzie and Harriett--plus musical shows like Louisiana Hayride and Grand Ole Opry!  What fun to listen and use your imagination as to the scene taking place on the radio!

Here's a complete list of those 'old' radio shows--did you listen to any of them?

Well, guess what--radio shows are back--and they are called Podcasts! But, instead of that old table radio we have various listening devices--and you can find a podcast for any feature of your interest!  Even my brother has a podcast!  If you are feeling down, just pick up your headset and plug into any podcast that suits your fancy!  You might even find one of those old-time radio shows/programs!

Interesting Historical Features

 The Year was 1841--The Rajah vessel was loaded with 180 women convicts heading to Hobert, Australia from England.  These women were given ten yards of fabric, four 'balls' of white sewing thread, a ball each of black, red and blue thread, black wool, 24 hanks of colored thread, a thimble, 100 needles, pins, scissors and two pounds of patchwork.  Although there were a few seamstresses on  board , most of the women were not schooled in stitchery.  By the time, the boat reached its destination, the women had created one of the most profound pieces of art!  It was titled Rajah Quilt and now is featured in  National Gallery of  Australia

The Quilt was sent back to Britain as a gift to Elizabeth Fry.  It is unknown whether she ever received the quilt.  The whereabouts of the quilt from then until it was rediscovered in 1987--handed over the the National Gallery of Australia as most treasured items— is unknown. 

Between 1788 and 1868 about 162,000 convicts were transported from Britain and Ireland to various penal colonies in Australia.  The British Government began transporting convicts overseas to American Colonies in early 18th century.  The majority convicts were transported for petty crimes.

A book of the Rajah Quilt was published in 2016; also, a pattern to reproduce the quilt was published in 2014. 

Leader—ender

When I'm working on different blocks and want to take a break

between sections, I will use a #leader or ender-- or header/footer!

By the time you have finished one major top you have a second one began or

finished.  I'm working on two different leader/enders--one with 2.5" squares and

the other with 'strings'

The one with strings uses paper backing-- and that is recycled

as well!  I cut used paper to 8.5" square-- and sew

After I have a pile of squares on paper, I'll sit and tear--let

me tell you, it isn't always easy to pull paper off the back of

fabric.  It does help to shorten your stitch length, but I don't

want to keep changing my length between sewing.

Some people stitch on used dryer sheets— 

Maybe, you will try his method to use up all those small 

pieces and strings that accumulate in your bin.

 

Look Ma! I Finished Something!!

Another Pat Sloan finish.  This one is called Home—each Wednesday another step is published on her website

https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/

 I decided on red white and blue to make this finished top a quilt of valor 

Finally!! The rows are together!  Just needs a border--

I want to think on that for awhile!

So happy to be finished with this 'aged' row quilt--I didn't know that was

aged until I found it in my stash bin!  wonder how many other things I've 

started and put away somewhere safe!?

I’m On A Row!

 It seems all I'm doing these days is making rows!  Why did I commit to so many row quilts!??

This one is Fat Quarter for their 2021 charity quilt.  The next row is flying geese--think

I can knock those off quickly!

This is from one that I began ages ago--began it with two rows, got 

bored with making rows and put it away--

the other day I was sorting through boxes and came across the

rows, pulled it out and told myself--"finish it!"

Another row--do you call them blocks?  Yes, you can call these blocks!

As you make eight of these 'blocks' to make a row!!

This is for Tuning My Heart--Joy in the Journey

Another row Serenity charity quilt from Fat Quarter Shop

Mark Your Calendar!

 It’s going to be a sewing summer!  And it begins May 24 with Summer in garden—

• The quilt-along begins 5/24 with a blog tour from our hosts and ends with a wrap up on 9/13. Look for posts every MONDAY. 
• We will have three "settings" - 2 for quilts plus 3 different smaller projects for our friends who want to join in but but can't commit to making an entire quilt. The settings and small projects will be posted May 31, June 7, and June 14.
• There are 12 main blocks, 6 bonus blocks, and 1 label block. You will make a variety of sizes and a different number of blocks depending on your project or setting.
• Join our FACEBOOK GROUP for chatting, sharing, and links to the posts each Monday when they publish. Keep checking--as there has been a delay!

American’s quilter sew along—primitive gathering is Finally going!  There was a problem with fabric shipments.  

This American Quilter’s Stitch Along is a fundraiser for Hogs for Heroes…Please read all about them HERE.   All of our patterns and tutorials for American Quilters SAL will be FREE to you on my blog here or on my YouTube Channel.  But we are hoping you can find it in your heart to donate something to this awesome cause….

Fort Worth Fabric Studio

has another sew along--as a mystery!  You can order the kit, either red

or green.  I'm sewing from my stash.  I've enjoyed their previous mysteries!

This begins June 14

Meadow Mist Designs has created another fantastic mystery to sew up in July

Happy stitching!

Organization??

 What earthly idea got into my brain when I decided to move my bookcase of fabrics from one room to the other.  I have a cutting table in one room, along with bins of fabrics--mostly small sections or fat quarters--the larger lengths have been wrapped around card board folders.  When I was cutting for one block, I was going back and forth from room to room to pick out fabric—sometimes I’d forget what I went in the other room for!  I did pass through a door and you know what they say about forgetting!  For some reason, I thought why not bring it all in one location--so, I unloaded all the fabric from the bookcase in the weaving studio and moved it to the cutting room. 

Luckily, my hubby is willing to assist with the heavy lifting--helping me

clear out all the fabric boards, carry the bookcase to the other room, and 

leave--saying his job was done!

I had boards of fabric on the floor, in bins, in bathroom sink, anywhere I could

find to place them and then real chore happen--I decided to place them in semi color

range.  That took longer than I thought it would--

what to do you do with the stripes?  The prints? The plaids?

And the novelty fabrics?  Where do they belong? Separate section by themselves?

Well, it took some time--my brain was happy all the fabric was in one location but

it sure did mess up my cutting routine!

There we have the finished product!  Hope it remains as neat as this when I began pulling fabrics out for the next project--just wish my bins of scraps were as neat. 

Cuppa!

 We like to watch British TV shows and have Britbox and Acorn subscriptions so we can watch wherever we are in the world--not that we have been doing any traveling lately--that's another reason we enjoy these shows and movies--it's like the old commercial from Calgon 

These shows takes us away to foreign lands without leaving our viewing area!  

We've noticed in most of the shows if someone is upset or something terrible has happen--one of the characters immediately says "I'll put the kettle on" or "how about a cuppa?"  Cuppa could mean tea or coffee--

Now, in our household, if one of us has a problem, the other will say--"Want a Cuppa?"  of course, we don't run to the kitchen--just something we say to each other to make us feel better!

Here are some reasons to have a cuppa:

• Feeling sad? Cup of tea will sort that!
• Friends round? Get the kettle on!!
• Feeling cold? ohh a nice cuppa will warm you up!
• Got a bit of a headache? That will be the caffeine withdrawal…its been at least an hour since your last cup of tea….!

So, where did "Cuppa" originate?    first citation from Ngaio Marsh’s A Man Lay Dead (1934): “Taking a strong cuppa at six-thirty in their shirt sleeves.” 

If you are feeling down, then just say 

and all will be right with the world!

Distraction!!

 I’ve been looking for a certain pair of earrings for weeks—they remain aloof to me!  I’ve looked high & low—in nooks & crannies—everywhere I can think to look.  Then I remembered a tv mystery show where the main detective couldn’t put the clues together to solve the murder—so he had everyone do something totally different-- like clean!  Well, needles to say I wasn’t going to clean to be distracted!!

Okay- I’ll sew or knit or weave. My brain kept thinking of where I hadn’t looked!  Maybe, just maybe, if I walk away and try not to think about those pesky hidden earrings, they would come out of hiding! 

So, what should I do?  I could read one of my many books waiting to be cracked open--like these two: 

Stories about quilts always takes you away to different times, places and events.

I could listen to Craftlit on my app--reading Jane Austin's first written but last released novel:  "Northanger Abbey"--so many historic books to listen to!

Of course, I always have The Bible Recap at the ready as I read along with Tara Lee. 

Sometimes, I'll cut out the pattern pieces for several blocks at one time as I listen--

SO, I was distracted for a little while and just like that detective, while he was cleaning, thought of the solution to the murder--I thought of one more place to look for those misplaced earrings--AND

Holy Moly --there they were!

Why is it always the one place you never think of looking you'll find the missing object???

58

 Today marks our anniversary—58 years!

Sometimes it feels like ages—sometimes it seems like yesterday!  We’ve been thru many a sorrow, millions of happy times—ups and downs—

It’s for sure when we remember those old days, we have lot to talk about—“remember when!”  And one of us would say—“no, not really!” “Let me refresh your mind!”

Oh, the joys and disappointments—

We’re growing old together! Wouldn’t have it any other way! 

Christmas Comes Early!

 Holly Jolly Time of the year is now IF you decide to participate in this weekly sew along with Jessica Dayon

This event began May 14 with the first block in the series.  I'm liking this cheerful Christmas quilt--and if you work each block for each week--you'll have a quilt top finished by December! 

Notice I didn't say what year--because I'm guessing, I won't finish this anytime in 2021!  But,

it's fun to plan and collect the Free block patterns!

Holly Jolly Block of the Week

Information Post & Fabric Requirements

Week 1- May 14- Snickerdoodle

Week 2- May 21- Peanut Butter Blossom

Week 3- May 28- Gingerbread

Week 4- June 4- Chocolate Chip

Week 5- June 11- Jam Thumbprint

Week 6- June 18- Peppermint Bark

Week 7- June 25- Pink & Red Spritz

Week 8- July 2- Macaroon

Week 9- July 9- Shortbread

Week 10- July 16- Snowballs

Week 11- July 23- Biscotti

Week 12- July 30- Meringue

Week 13- August 6- Toffee

Week 14- August 13- Molasses

Week 15- August 20- Butter

Week 16- August 27- Black & Green Spritz

Week 17- September 3- Rugelach

Week 18- September 10-Gingerbread

Week 19- September 17- Black & White

Week 20- September 24- Pineapple Squares

Week 21- October 1- Chocolate Cherry

Week 22- October 8- Fudge

Week 23- October 15- Cinnamon Sugar

Week 24- October 22- Blondie

Week 25- October 29- Brownie

Week 26- November 5- Assembly

Here is what you need to make the Holly Jolly Block of the Month-

Holly Jolly Block of the Month: Materials Needed

9 red fat quarters

6 pink fat quarters

8 green fat quarters (a mix of light and dark greens)

6 black fat quarters

5 yards white background

1 yard red print for border

2/3 yard binding fabric

5 1/8 yards backing fabric (43/44" width)

Mercy Quilts = Quilts of Love

 Does your heart direct you to help someone who is in Hospice?  Here is another way to give of your heart and hands.  Check out Needle and Foot and Sew Preeti Quilts for further information.

Merciful Positivity Quilt Along!!!

What is a Mercyful Quilt?
The Palliative Care Unit in the Mercy Hospital gives quilts to their terminally ill patients to bring some measure of comfort to the person and their family as they go through the difficult process of dying. The family then keeps the quilt in the memory of the person who passed away. The need for such quilts is never ending. With a raging pandemic and limited family visits, these quilts have become even more meaningful for a sense of home and peace.

• Suggested size - 60" by 80"

• Suggested Colors - Gender Neutral colors (avoid/limit pink)

• Quilting - Avoid dense quilting

• Fabrics - 100% Cotton (avoid/limit juvenile fabrics) 

What is the purpose of the QAL?
To make Merciful Quilts because the need is ongoing. If you have wanted to make a Mercyful Quilt but life got in the way, here is an opportunity to participate and stitch some love, along with others. 

What does it cost?
There is no cost to participate. The simple block pattern and layout options are provided free of charge. 

How much fabric do I need? 
For a simple Plus Quilt, you will need 16 strips (2.5" by WOF) of focus fabric and about 4 yards of background fabric (I used low volume scraps). 

What is the QAL schedule?
The QAL will begin on Sunday, May 30, 2021 (Memorial Day Weekend) and will end on Sunday, September 5, 2021 (Labor Day Weekend). 

Questions?
Ask away and I will respond in the comments.

In the next couple of weeks, I will be working on the block instructions, layout options and other logistics for the QAL. Bernie and I are also organizing some prizes for the QAL. 

Santa Fe Trail

Have you ever driven the Santa Fe Trail?  Here is some info about this trail used by many a pioneer and us modern day folks today.

The Santa Fe Trail was a 19th-century route through central North America that connected Franklin, Missouri with Santa Fe, New Mexico.^[1][2][3][4] Pioneered in 1821 by William Becknell, who departed from the Boonslick region along the Missouri River, the trail served as a vital commercial highway until 1880, when the railroad arrived in Santa Fe. Santa Fe was near the end of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, which carried trade from Mexico City. 

The route skirted the northern edge and crossed the north-western corner of Comancheria, the territory of the Comanche. Realizing the value, they demanded compensation for granting passage to the trail. American traders envisioned them as another market. Comanche raiding farther south in Mexico isolated New Mexico, making it more dependent on the American trade. They raided to gain a steady supply of horses to sell. By the 1840s, trail traffic through the Arkansas Valley was so numerous that bison herds were cut off from important seasonal grazing land. This habitat disruption, on top of overhunting, contributed to the collapse of the species. Comanche power declined in the region when they lost their most important game.^[5]

The American army used the trail route in 1846 to invade New Mexico during the Mexican–American War.^[6]

After the U.S. acquisition of the Southwest that ended the war, the trail was integral to the U.S. opening the region to economic development and settlement. It played a vital role in the westward expansion of the US into these new lands. The road route is commemorated today by the National Park Service as the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. A highway route that roughly follows the trail's path, through the entire length of Kansas, the southeast corner of Colorado and northern New Mexico, has been designated as the Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway.

Melva Loves Scraps blog is hosting a quilt along featuring stories from pioneer women along the route.  This QAL began April 1, but there is time to catch up--much like I did--  

 

There We Were!

 Yes, there we were--in all our glory! It was all smiles from the minute you opened the door to walk in to the warmth that filled the room!  Yes, we were there!  Friends who hadn't seen each other for over a year and half!  Like so many in this world, we had been isolating--now, we are back as a group--friends forever!  It was time to play catch up--how do you do that when there is so much to learn from each other since the last time we gathered? 

So much laughter, many opinions to hand out, advice to be given, happy notes of family events and special occasions--yes, there we were!  And it was just like we hadn't been apart those 18 months!

We shared a delicious lunch to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!  There was a spread of fajita beef and chicken with all the trimmings; seven layer dip and queso with chips, magical no calorie 'fluff' for dessert--which I need the recipe for!  I took my Mexican salad with chicken--here is a basic recipe.  Wish I'd taken a photo--it was really pretty before it became mixed up with dressing.

I used this dressing--was afraid it would be too 'soapy' tasting, but was quite nice.  I  topped the salad with crushed corn chips and queso fresco cheese--we had leftovers for our dinner--yay!

It was a delicious lunch!  The conversation and company were the BEST!

I filled my fiber bag (my Florida friend made for me) with projects to be stitched--thinking my hands would keep busy while my mouth and ears were occupied--but, alas.................

the only thing I got stitched was this very small top!

oh well, all is right with the world when you are with good friends

who care and love you for who you are!

Happy Day!!

Its' always a happy day when you update with your monthly block

sew alongs!

This April's block for Hands All Around:  Alcott-- I should be thinking of 

joiner blocks when I have time

Another row completed for the charity quilt from

Fat Quarter Shop--Serendipity QAL

Another block in Pat Sloan's "Home" quilt along.

I'm working in red, white and blue--she has several quilt alongs--I don't know how she keeps up with each month!

This spring time quilt is definitely needed in my stash!

And now that I'm caught up--I'm behind again!

Happy Sewing to you!

 

Mistake or Design Element?

Do you declare that mistake you made is really a design 

Element?  No!! Never!  Of course, it was not a mistake but

A liberty taken in the pattern!  

I’ve been working on this pattern for two months now—

I stopped adding beads ( cause I was running out of beads)

Isn’t that another design element?  

The pattern has these lovely X’s—and the way the pattern reads—calling a “mistake” a design element is often in 

My vocabulary!

Knit on!  Mistake or design element?  It’s my work of art!!

 

Spin, Spun, Span

It was time to pull out the spinning wheel and get to work.

This is just one hank of my carded brown cotton that has aged well!

I grew brown cotton for years; harvested the bolls, hand ginned the seeds,

and since I'm lazy--I sent the bags off to be carded and placed into these hanks.

Mostly, purists of brown cotton will hand card their cotton into 

punis--rolags.

If you want to see a wonderful exhibit of Acadian textiles.

It just takes some patience and a few hours of treadling to produce a bobbin

filled with this rich lovely fiber!

Three bobbins full = time to ply!

I love spinning my home grown brown cotton!

 

Loss

 Recently, we lost a friend through a tragic accident.  He was mid age but still in the prime of his life.  Why? Everyone was asking.  The grief and sorrow weigh down our souls--we think of him with every note of music played or every thought of how could this be; every photo we see.  There have been memorials for him and another one to be held end of the month.  I know it's a time to rejoice and celebrate his life but I can't help wondering--did I tell him how much I appreciated him when he was walking near me?  Did I say--"hello, how are you today?" enough.  Notice his presence in our small world--can we never say enough about close friends and family to remind them that each day they are a miracle to us!  

Now, we are all wanting to remember his life--but, that is not enough--he won't know how much we loved him or cared for him or his music--his smile was breath-taking and his statue was awe inspiring--he has left this worldly body.  We can't tell him how we felt about him!  oh, we'll hug each other tight and say--"oh, remember when this happen, or that day he played that song"--we'll smile and say, "we'll miss him"

I should have told him more often what he meant to me.......................................

I should have hugged him tighter when we met...................................

I should have declared he was my friend every single day........................................

I should have remembered that earthly life is fleeting and to seize each precious moment.  

Why Pink???

I just reached into my yarn stash and pulled out pink yarn--thinking--what??

I have no idea!  I'm not a PINK person!  Knit I did in the pink yarn I had in

my stash--then, of course, what happens when I run out of those pink yarns

on hand?  I looked for some white yarn--oh, I could dye it PINK!

Well,  I found a white yarn--all I had on hand was red food coloring--so in the

pot it went and this is the pink yarn I have now--oh, okay it will work--after all

I'm just knitting the pattern to be knitting.  This shawl will go to a Pink person

indeed.  The pattern is weekly knit along from Knitlet.  it's mindless knitting

for me unlike the more tedious Japanese knit alongs I have on my list.

I'll get around to those one of these days.

My next problem--what to do when I run out of that pink dyed yarn--

I'll need to do some fast thinking when I reach into my stash bin.