Odds And Ends

Today I’m working on things that need to be tied up and ready for another day of quilting, stitching or whatever. 

I bought two different blue fabrics to use in the borders for this charity quilt.  Auditioning them along side the quilt and photoing them didn’t help me decide which one to use.  I like them both!  Maybe, I’ll use one for border the other for binding—decisions, decisions, decisions!

I’m sewing on these tiny blocks—at least I can use triangle 

Paper to get exact measurements.  Easy to do the stripes but, I sweat the tiny pieces!

You can download these sheets —nice to have ones that size up at 1.5”

I found these dye packages—I need a backing for two fall quilts—maybe, combining these together, the outcome will be a shade of fall—

This is the look in dye pot.  More red orange than I wanted but after rinsing it just might work. 

 

Sleep

 You’ve bathed, brushed your teeth, said your prayers, put on your nice clean sleeping clothes, ready to slip between freshly laundered sheets—the pillow is fluffed up so your head falls onto the pillow, ahhh, here it comes——sleep!  

An hour later—where is sleep?  Where has it gone?  so many thoughts run through your brain—what’s for dinner?  Make a shopping list—what household chores need to be done?  Where or where is the “sandman”?  

Another hour passes—still sleep is nowhere! I’ve penned the great American novel, wrote a symphony, organized the pantry, cleaned the kitchen, bathed the dog, but still sleep evades me!  

Let’s count sheep—that doesn’t help! Saying over and over “sleep” doesn’t work!  Thinking of a beautiful spot on earth doesn’t work! 

Don’t look! But, I do—the clock is ticking the minutes and hours away—soon it will be daybreak—my eyes are not heavy laden with sleep yet.  Okay, I’ll listen to my calm app—only I’d need to get out of bed to retrieve my phone—can’t do that as sleep will come any minute now!  Alas, NOT! 

I give up!  And the next thing I know, the sun is shining through the window and it’s 7 AM!  Sleep came and went and I didn’t even know it. I hate those sleepless nights! 

Celebration!!

 Over the past weekend, we journeyed South to visit my mother--there were several of the family there to show our happiness as we celebrated her 101st birthday!!

Mother seemed overwhelmed with surprise when 

She entered the room.  We had reserved a hotel meeting room

For the celebration.  My brother picked her up from her assisted living facility.  We hadn’t seen her in over a year and half.  

My brothers and myself with Mother

We had a charcuterie board for refreshments plus my brother ordered a huge cake that we shared with hotel staff and assisted living residents.  

After all the planning and anticipation, it was All too quickly finished and we went out separate ways. 

Progress

July block from Santa Fe Trail, hosted by Melva --

we are traveling along the Santa Fe Trail as we read the diary

"The Land of Enchantment--Memoirs of Marian Sloan Russell along

the Santa Fe Trail" 

It has been a fun adventure and the blocks each time have been

interesting and diverse--for some reason, the above block

beat me up pretty good!  My brain was foggy that morning and I

ripped and ripped more times than I want to count--evidentially,

I got it together and it's a pretty block!

Next time, I'll eat breakfast before I tackle a complex block.

Tally Ho!  I've finished the row along--well, it does need a border--got to think on

what I want for awhile--anyway--this was a challenge to finish--

"Serendipity" a charity quilt along by Moda Fabrics on

Fat Quarter Shop--I used fabrics from my stash--

A lot of my time I spent doing Tour de Fleece—I finished one roving bundle, worked on the one pictured above as well as plied several singles.  It was the most spinning I’ve done in some time.  Now, I’m sorry the race is over—maybe, I’ll spin during the Olympics.   I would like to finish this brown cotton bundle too! 

One Fabric

There was a challenge thrown out on Facebook group--Quilts R Us--I just ignored it!

I don't need another project at this time.  Then, of all people, a friend challenged me

to take up the challenge--how could I refuse a friend?

All you had to do was choose a number between #1 and #15.  Me thinking it had to do

with how many quilt tops you made within the challenge time--chose the number 3.

seemed right to me.

Then, then, then the leader of Quilts R Us told us what our number meant--

What?? Number 3 means to do a One Block Wonder??  I've never done a

one block wonder!  Never wanted to do a one block wonder! 

Can I change numbers?  NO!  was the answer!  I'm stuck with One

Block Wonder--

Okay--now to do research--I don't want to buy a book--I won't do another

One Block Wonder--YouTube videos are a huge help!

Now, to choose a fabric--from my stash--I don't want to buy a new fabric--

four(yes 4 yards) are required to make a quilt--

Searching through my stash for at least 3 yards--I AM NOT doing

a whole quilt!!!  I found this fabric--I have no other use for it at the

present time--maybe, this will work.

I cut my 6 sections of fabric required and line them up--it states it

must be perfectly lined up--one on top of the other--

I did my best-- cut the first 4" section--oh, then I

read instructions that you needed a special ruler--off to find that

ruler since of course, I didn't have that one in my numerous rulers.

Ruler arrived and I cut the pie wedges and then I played with the

wedges.

turning this way and that to see what I could get

out of these wedges.

Okay, now I'll sew the wedges together--

which wasn't hard to do--three together and then

the other three and seam them across the middle

I had enough of the pie wedges sewn to do a layout--

Not finished yet--and it was only going to be a table runner!!

Then I read the rules again--the minimum size is

LAP size--oh Joy! 

I guess it's a challenge--which takes me out of my comfort zone

well, I'm definitely outside that box and I'm squirming!--

 

check in later to see if I complete and how it will look--

I have a deadline of December 31!

 

July-August Reads

 

Here comes the dog days of heat!  Here is my stack of books I'd like to get 

through--

Now, I'm reading Michael Jecks "Rebellion's Message--setting 1550--

Main character is Jack Blackjack--cut purse--very interesting to read

about the 'low life" of this time period--we have read all of his Templar

books--fascinating! 

Off and on I read from Bernie Nelson's "Honky Tonk Angels"--

Bernie is our singer-songwriter friend, who has been on the Nashville

country music scene for many years.  He took his passion of music

to seek out God' handiwork in the creation of the biggest songs in

Country Music--great read!

Jeffrey Archer series--Clifton Chronicles-- I have book one, two and

three in the series--don't know why I got all three at one time--hoping I 

like following this family!  

C. J. Box--this is a set of two of his books--"Back of Beyond and Badlands"

featuring Cody Hoyt and Cassie Dewell--this is first and third books

of Highway series--I have already ready "The Highway", book #2--

The above books were found on Paperback Swap--except

for Bernie's book--it was a gift from him.

and of course, my major Number One read is

THE Bible--followed up by listening to THE BIBLE RECAP

podcast on Podbean!

These should keep me busy for a few weeks!

 

Summer Time And The Living is.............................

Adding more flowers to my growing garden using

patterns from Coriander Quilts group--Spring Brook Blossoms

BOM--love this !!

Pat Sloan always is happening!  This seems like a quick mystery sew along--

Lap Size too--another perfect one to create for a gift

How about a Christmas in July quilt?  The pattern can be found at Lisa Capen Quilts--she even will

have videos each day beginning July 20--you can download the pattern now and

enjoy a head start to a Christmas quilt

I found another sew along--and the recipe is all there for you to begin and

end--this one comes from 2018--Summer Fun Quilt!

I'm digging these summer tops--never have anything to decorate with during

the summer.  check this out at Crafty Quilter

What will you work on during these dog days of summer?

Since June 26, I've been prepping for Tour de Fleece as those 100+ bike

riders do their best to stay in their lane and not crash!

I'm spinning on my brown cotton "fleece"--getting many bobbins single

spun and plied!  Yay for me!  Once I begin, I don't want to stop, but

dinner calls and chores wait--this will end July 18 and then I'll pick

up those menus and shopping trips to grocery and maybe, do a 

little dusting and sweeping!  But, for now, I'm in my happy place!