Must Be Organized!

How organized are you?  Sometimes I am and with this pattern—you really need to be organized—really organized!

Looks pretty doesn’t it?  I thought so—just didn’t give much thought on how to sew this thing up!

Actually, it takes some time and much organizing to keep things in order—step one—take fat quarters and cut them into 6” squares—make sure to label each set

Step two, cut each square across—be sure to label each group

Step three, pair each triangle with its mate and sew 1/4” 

Step four, square each set—I love this ruler!! Makes it easier to square, then press—keep in order please!!

It’s slow going—being organized!!

In order to keep each block in place, I marked the number of row and place in row on the seam

This way hopefully I’ll keep rows organized 

Row C and D assembled-working on A and B

If you want more info on how to construct this top, check out Musings of a Menopausal Melon—

 

Quilters Delight

 It was a good day!  The day our group of quilters gathered after a long period of time!  Such joy to see those faces again!!

We meet in Judy’s studio.  She always has some interesting work around the room.  Quilt on the left is one of Pat Sloan’s BOM—right one is embroidered with piecing. 

Annette has brought her flower garden pattern to show.  She has been working on these blocks for many months

Close up look—quite smashing!

Just brings out her hexagon top.  These are always a labor of hand stitching, sit, relax and make a few hexies

Judy has added a bias vine around her edges

And will add leaves which she has constructed 

With this fine backing

Called whisper lite

A bag of leaves sewn and turned

Annette also had couple other tops to show—this one with 1.5” squares

A baby to ready to quilt

And this beauty!  Such small pieces!

And how about this one?!!  She was quite busy during our lock down time

She said this one took no time at all!  After all those small blocks, this one was a dream to piece!

It was a joyous day of sharing happy news; techniques.  Comforting one who received a loss with hugs of love. 

Hopefully, our group will be able to continue on 

WIP

Time to take stock of what's in the sewing room and on the cutting table.  

Finally, finished!  this was a real challenge--small pieces galore! It was American Quilters Stitch along, designed by Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings.  Soon it will be quilted on the long arm, once I decide on backing.

20 blocks of pure patriotic colors--some of the little blue blocks I enjoyed making 

while others were a pain in the tush!

Still-yes, still! chugging out these winter blocks from 2020 Countdown to Christmas.

Every December Moda Bake Shop Bakers group on facebook enjoy a new

pattern each day--I began this challenge in January 2021--so still working on it.

I will cut out a block or two and when I have a chance to sit to sew, it's ready to go!

And this one is waiting in the wings--ready to sew hearts; 

Happy stitching y'all!

 

PUrge Out point two!

It was time to purge the guest room bedroom closet !  What will we find? 

Forgotten cross stitch photos, stitched by brown head daughter in late 1980's.  She didn't sign the piece--what a shame I didn't ask her to put her initials on the beautiful piece.

This piece is also done by the same daughter.  There are also couple of pieces by blond headed daughter--love all these handworks so I'll find a good wall to place them again.

I've a storage bin where I kept all my name tags from every event, every convention, every conference -some of the tags are just printed on paper then slipped into a plastic sleeve.  It's amazing how many events I attended throughout the years.  This name tag above was a good thought at the time when there were only 20 attending but then when we gained more attendees, we gave the person the instructions along with the supplies to make the name tag for themselves--guess how many followed through?  Not many. 

The idea was to print name, etc on sticky label to put on the bottom of this name tag--okay, that idea went to the wayside.  I still have proof that we tried!

Some of the organizations where I served on boards as an officer presented elaborate name tags and even two gave me small quilts--these will be saved for sure.

How may save their ribbons from exhibits or fashion shows!??  Well, I did!

Out they go--nobody cares about these ribbons; although, I do have the photos proving I was honored to win these ribbons.

Alot of the name tags will be saved just because they are fancy--some have elaborate hangers.

I can tell you that I spent better part of the afternoon fingering each name tag and remembering the event and the people who were involved.

Onto another closet for purge out!!

Color of year!

 Word of day Gloss means "to provide a brief explanation of a difficult or obscure word or expression" or, generally, "to explain or interpret."

And the Kona Color of 2022--not my favorite!  But I'll add some to each of the quilts I make during the Year==Along with my Favorite color---ORANGE!

Described by Pantone as the "happiest and warmest of all the blue hues," the 2022 Color of the Year is called "Very Peri," a "dynamic periwinkle blue hue with a vivifying violet-red undertone," according to a press release. It combines the faithfulness of blue with the energy and excitement of red

Well, I'll be!  another year of more purple shades!  Although, I really like this shade--hope you enjoy

playing with purples!!

Let’s Read!!

A tome is a large or scholarly book.

So far, in the past few months I've read several good books-- "A Man Called Ove"--soon to be a movie. Ove played by Tom Hanks--glad I read the book first before the movie.

"When the Crickets Cry" by Charles Martin--a tender happy sad book!

"The Joy and Light Bus Company" by Alexander McCall Smith--love his books and a fast read.

"The Extraoradinary Life of Sam Hill" by Robert Dugoni--I'll never again say "What the Sam Hill!" as an exclamation!

“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides—areal page turner

“Rock, Paper, Scissors” author Alice Fenney—

It’s time to read, especially during these cold February days and nights.  Here is my list of books that will keep me warm.  

“For All The Light We Cannot See”—so far, this great prose about a time in history we cannot forget. Soon to be a Netflix limited series.

“The Last Thing He Told Me”

Brown headed daughter recommended this book as she handed me this copy and said, “this is a real page turner!” Okay, then I must wait to begin this book when I want to just read—not at bedtime then! 

“Better Off Dead” 

It’s the annual Jack Reacher read!  Must send 2022off with another book from pen of the Child’s Brothers—and yes! There will be a series on Amazon Prime video called Reacher!--

I love my reading time--what are you reading?

Hexagons

Word of the day:  Palingnesis--rebirth, regeneration

Country Lane in Quilts is hosting a hexagon stitch along--what fun!

great handwork while watching TV, or listening to audio

I printed my hexagons  at half inch on card stock paper, cut those little suckers out.  I’ve never ever made hexagons!! A new experience!  It seems so easy—just cut small pieces of fabric, stitch around the very small hexagons and you have one petal of flower—continue....

Ok....that half inch isn’t working for me!  Way too small—

Printing 1” now—let’s see if that works for me!

Then we jumped to 1.5”! 

Actually settled on .75” and this is my first completed “flower”—this interesting handwork—I’m so proud of me for trying this. I’m learning various techniques on how to keep the hexie centered as I sew around. 

And now that one flower has grown to two

I found after much discussion in the group, that these little clips work well to hold the center in place.  There were some who use magnets but I had these clips and off we go to stitch

While straightening up the table in my sewing room, I found two bundles of micro chips that were freebies at Quilt Con year or so ago—just right for my flower petals! 

Now, that I know what I'm doing (sort of) I'm going to jump to 2" hexies--because I would like to make this top below: