Design Wall Monday - October 13

On my design wall this week are some on-going projects . . . continuing my efforts this year of decreasing the number of UFO/WIP and PIGs hanging around.  

** Cactus in the Cabin blocks. 

One test block is completely done to make sure I understood the instructions correctly.  The first 2 green strips have been added to the other 19 center units, and the corners are on some of them. 

** Bad Kitty pillow cover for Halloween

I need to do some applique stitching on this pillow, and then find something to use for the backing.  It's about 18" square.  

** Add borders to 2025 Saturday Sampler

On Saturday morning I attended the reveal party for this year's Saturday Sampler.  There were 27 finished quilts and flimsies shown that morning.  Mine is OK but there were some absolutely stunning versions there!  And a lost of ladies added borders, which made me decide to do the same.  Sometime this week I'll show some of the photos I took of the other quilts that caught my eye.  

** Sew another set of blocks into rows

These are scrappy Potato Chip blocks (Mount Scrapmore pattern) and I only needed one more block, which I made this weekend.  This will be a donation quilt.  I have a small bin FULL of pieces cut for more blocks, and there is a skirt hanger in the closet with a few more blocks with the colors arranged differently.  Seed for another scrappy quilt, right?

As for hand stitching this week I have plenty of brown binding to work on - 2 placemats and granddaughter Sophia's lap quilt she made.  

This is more than enough to keep me busy this week.  

I'm linking up today with:

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/ 

https://songbirddesigns.blog    

 

Sewcialites 3 is coming in 2026

Do I NEED to get involved in another sew-along?  Of course not.  But I sure WANT to, and PLAN to get involved in a new sew-along in 2026.

https://blog.fatquartershop.com/join-us-for-the-free-sewcialites-3-quilt-along/

I've done the Sewcialites programs #1 and #2 in the past, so of course I'm excited about #3 that is beginning in February 2026.  It's pretty easy to keep up because it's only 1 block per week for 25 weeks, with a catch up week at the end of each month.  Each block has 3 sizes to choose from.  And it's free!!

For Sewcialites 1 (begun in 2020) I just chose a couple of the blocks that I liked the most, but didn't make every block in the series.  For example, I used the Wisdom block in 2021 for Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  And then in 2023 I made ALL of the Sewcialites 2 blocks and did them in all 3 sizes.  The green star quilt used the 9" blocks from Sewcialites 2.  The butterfly used the 6" blocks.  I actually made the 3" blocks in 2 colorways because I was having so much fun making them.  I used most of them in a couple of wall hangings.  There is still a little stack of those red/white 3" blocks to use somewhere.  And that yellow block is Wisdom, from the 1st year.

I have until February to decide what colors/fabrics I want to use for the new Sewcialites program.  Ideas are already floating through my head of course.   

RSC25 - Week #41

Most of the black sewing time from this week involved a non-scrappy project with a solid black background.  I've made some great progress. 

Cactus in the Cabin is a pattern from Bear Creek Quilting.  All of the pieces are organized around the kite shaped center for the next 20 blocks.  All of the cutting took a lot of time for these log cabin variations.  

However, when cutting those kite sections there was a LOT of waste cut off.  All of these odd little orange wedges were trimmed off the 5.5" squares, and they are much too big to just throw away.  And much too pretty to throw away.  So . . . I tested out the Easy Dresden ruler, and find that I could cut 3.5" Dresden blades from those scraps.  No idea what they will become, but they WILL have life beyond the waste basket. 
 

As for RSC projects, there were 4 more of the Vintage Spool blocks added this week.  These are only 6" finished and I have 17 of them made so far.  It's a good beginning for this set of RSC blocks for the future.  These are such cute blocks, especially the tilted ones. 

There is a small stack of placemat flimsies in my sewing room, all made from orphan blocks or strip sets from recent projects.  I got 4 of them sandwiched with batting and backing, and quilted.  One actually got binding this week.  This used up 6 more of the left over Windmill blocks from last week's RSC quilt flimsy.  Totally made from leftovers!!

I began to lay out another set of RSC blocks to see where I'm at with those.  But I'm just not sure how I want to arrange the Give It a Whirl blocks, although I did play with them a bit yesterday.  There are 30 blocks so I could make a kid sized quilt.  But maybe with more of them - or a more creative layout - a bigger quilt could happen.  Any ideas out there?

A blogging friend - you know who you are - reminded me about the Potato Chip blocks this week.  These were all made early in 2025 and have hung forgotten in the closet now for months.  If I make 1 more this could become a finished top.  And to be honest there are a few more hanging in closet with a different color arrangement.  And there's a small bin FULL of the potato chip 2.5 x 4.5 pieces.  

Maybe I can get a couple more RSC tops pieced before the crazy holiday rush begins.  

What other fun projects are happening in the RSC world?

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

Winter Bird stocking - Finished!! (or Not) Friday

Yay - I have a finish for this week!!

Tilda's World has a wealth of free patterns to download.  I love finding free patterns, and when I saw the Winter Bird pattern I just had to do something with it.  

She did the Christmas stockings in 3 different color variations.  There are also quilts and wall hangings that are made using this sweet little bird. I had trouble deciding which version I liked better - the white or the dark red.  You know which one I've been making.

I made the stocking in a dark red - from my stash.  Actually it's all from my stash, except for the light red binding, lining and yo-yos.  I'm pretty pleased with the stocking although it is a bit bigger than the rest of the stockings we hang every year.  But that's OK.  This stocking could become a Christmas door hanger, or even as a wall hanging.  

Originally I had a different red chosen for the binding.  And I was going to use red buttons for the berries next to the leave.  But then I was in Walmart last week, and walked through the fabric aisle just for fun.  There was a very cute red/white print in their "1 yard" cut section, and on a whim I tossed it into my cart with the light bulbs and shampoo.

Turned out it was a really good choice for the binding - and I also ended up using it for the lining of the stocking.  And then had a sudden light bulb moment to try it out with yo-yos instead of buttons.  It was meant to be, and actually looks a lot like what the Tilda pattern used for the sample photo.  

And I have an update on our grandson's broken ankle from Monday night's flag football injury.  On Thursday morning they put him in a cast for more stability and protection.  He'll be on crutches for 6-8 weeks.  But at least he is smiling again.  It was hard to see him in pain when it happened. 

I'm checking in with Alycia for Finished!! (or Not) Friday at:

https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/

Blockheads #19

Wholehearted by Jackie MacDonald is block #19 for Moda Blockheads.

This was a fast block to make.  I really only had a little over an hour to sew yesterday, but got this one made quickly.  And then had a little time to do some cutting for Cactus in the Cabin and for some RSC blocks.

The squares and rectangles were already cut, but I used that new ruler to get the kites and "wings" cut from those pieces.  There will be 20 of those used as the centers of the cactus blocks.  Two are made, 18 to go.  

This n That

 It's been quite a week.

On Saturday we joined a big gathering of family to celebrate my brother-in-law's 80th birthday.  His kids and grandkids flew in or drove in from various parts of the country - including Seattle, Atlanta, and Texas.  9 of the 11 grandkids were there, and both great-grands.  Dave's siblings and spouses were all there too, although his older brother is a county sheriff and got called out to an accident so he missed the hors d'oeuvres but made it back for supper. We had a really good time seeing so many people we love.

Monday evening was the final week of flag football for 2 of our grandsons.  It was championship night for the league.  Usually they play at the same place at 6:30 and 8:15 so we can catch both games by moving our lawn chairs.  But the 4th grade teams played at 7:30 this week at the stadium in Sioux Falls shared by 1 high school and 1 small college.  It was a beautiful chilly night with that full moon.  We could watch the first half of Jack's game, then head to Riverdale Park a few miles away to catch the last half of Jonah's game.

Jack's team beat the #1 team 14-13 to win their bracket championship.  That would be Jack in the back row doing bunny ears over his teammates.  These boys have had a fun season. I stole this photo off my SIL's Facebook page.

Jonah's game started late so we only missed a couple of minutes.  Early in the second half Jonah snagged an interception and turned to run.  The grass was wet and he slipped, immediately grabbing his ankle.  His dad (and coach) carried him off the field, and the league nurse came to check him out.  He has a hairline fracture.  This wasn't how he hoped to end the season.

Some very exciting mail showed up on Tuesday.  My alma mater finally agreed to licensing to produce Jackrabbit themed fabrics.  I received the 2 yards of this print that I had pre-ordered a few months ago.  I'm not sure what it will become, but I'm tickled to have it.

And I finished the 16 Log Cabin blocks for the Cactus in the Cabin quilt.  Next I'll begin working on the 20 cactus blocks.  

Sticking to my goals

 One day into the week and so far I've mostly stuck to the goals I set for myself for this week.  A productive morning was spent in my sewing room.  My happy place.

The binding is on my Challenge project for the guild quilt show.  I can check it off as a finish, but can't show it here until after the quilt show.

The Christmas stocking is one step closer to finished.  Binding and the hanging loop are attached, but it all requires some hand stitching before I can say it's finished.

The Log Cabin blocks are progressing.  One final green strip needs to be sewn onto the blocks, then pressing and squaring up.  

I will admit to being sidetracked for a little while - cleaning up the mess I made of my drawers holding batiks.  There are 4 drawers in this unit, and 2 of them were actually pulled completely out and stacked on top of a box while I was searching for a couple more greens and more orange for the cactus blocks for the next step in this quilt.  I'm happy to say the mess is cleaned up and the drawers are back in and actually close.  

So - the orange will be the cactus "bloom" in each of the next 20 blocks.  I was also sidetracked briefly because that specialty ruler I ordered was delivered and I just HAD to try it out.  I'm not usually a fan of rulers that do only 1 thing, but I'm thinking this might have been a good purchase for making that kite shape.  

The pattern has us cut a square, then fold it in half diagonally and press.  That fold lays along that line on the ruler, then we cut.  Open it up and press - and voila!!  The kite shape is perfect.  The other side of the ruler is marked for cutting the pieces that will attach to the sides of the kite.  And the ruler is even marked to square up that block.  Not bad!

Design Wall Monday - October 6

 This week I'm planning to focus on just 3 projects, and try NOT to be distracted by anything else until I get them finished.

#1 - finish binding my Challenge project for the quilt show!!  I can't show it yet because they stay anonymous until the winners are announced at the end of the show.  I'll share my project in a couple of weeks.

#2 - finish the Log Cabin blocks for the Bear Creek Quilting sew along.  Two of the blocks are completely done and squared up.  The other 14 just need the green strips added, and then they will be trimmed too.  This task might be finished today.  

#3 - finish my Christmas stocking.  I got both the front and the back quilted this weekend, and made the little bitty yo-yos for the flowers.  The bird eye is a little block bead.  Next step is to trim both sections into the "stocking" shape and then attaching the binding.  This stocking pattern from Tilda (free online) uses binding to finish the edges, which is different from other stockings I've made.  

The hanging loop and binding sections are all ready to go.  

Once I get these priority projects checked off, then I won't feel pressure as I play with other on-going - or maybe new - projects.  As always there are some squirrels hanging around tempting me to venture off the path.

I'm linking up today with:

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/ 

https://songbirddesigns.blog    

 

Quilt blocks and kitties

I meant to post this block on Friday last week, but totally forgot to even write a post that day.  Oops!!  So here goes . . . just to remind myself that I'm keeping up with this sew along.

 

Sweet Pea by Heather Briggs is block #18 for Moda Blockheads 6 program.  This is another 9" finished block and we only made 1 this week.  We're getting so close to the end with just a few more blocks to go.  I have not been playing with a layout yet, but have been watching closely as some people in the Facebook group have begun to assemble tops with the blocks made so far.  Because I plan to use these in 1 or maybe 2 Quilts of Valor there will be plenty of possibilities for layouts.  

We've had this little family of feral cats that have adopted our neighborhood since late last winter.  It began with a big grey striped male, and 5 younger cats (calico, tortoiseshell, and yellow) that we are pretty sure were all litter mates from last summer because they don't mind hanging out together.  The big male had been mauled by something as he was missing an ear.  He died this summer but not before he fathered a set of 5 kittens with one of the yellow/white females.

She moved those kittens several times in May, and a couple of them even fell into my deep sewing room window well while exploring.  Once rescued they scurried away quickly.  Eventually we stopped seeing the kittens at all.  We both assumed that none of those kittens had survived the summer.  But this week we've seen 2 of them for sure - this beautiful calico and a dark tortoiseshell one.  I also believe I've seen the light grey one too.  Now I'm wondering where she has had them stashed all summer.

Oh yes - a big sleek coal black male showed up about a month ago.  Those younger cats have been giving him a wide berth.  The colony keeps growing, and my husband is going to be sorry he started feeding them.  

RSC25 - Week #40

A busy fun day is ahead.  Most importantly, there is a surprise 80th birthday party for my brother-in-law this evening, and I'm really looking forward to a family gathering.  But this morning is our monthly quilt guild meeting.  Our bi-annual quilt show is coming up in just 2 weeks, so I'm sure this will be a busy meeting.

Another RSC quilt top has reached the flimsy stage.  This one uses most of the colorful Windmill blocks that I've been making for RSC for more than 2 years.  It has such a fun variety of colors and prints and could be used as an I-Spy quilt.  Windmill is not the first quilt I've made with this block pattern and won't be the last one either.  

The flimsy joins another one made last year - same size, same block, but with all scrappy white backgrounds and colorful blades.  Once finished both of these kid sized quilts will be donated.

A new project was begun about a week ago, following a sew along with Bear Creek Quilting.  The pattern is Cactus in the Cabin and I've chosen to do a solid black background with bright batiks in pink, orange, and green.  Technically this isn't a scrappy project, but I am doing my bright colors in "controlled scrappy".   The first set of blocks for this quilt is a Log Cabin.  I'm ready to put on the 3rd (final) round of strips on the 16 blocks.  There will be 2 black, and 2 green strips in this round.  The October block will be the "cactus" block, and there will be 20 of them.  These are all 12" finished blocks so the quilt will be quite large.  

Once a new color was announced for this month I went a little crazy right away, playing with blacks and browns from the scrap bin.  There are 3 (so far) Give It a Whirl blocks made from black/white prints.  There are already 4-5 blocks in each of the 2025 RSC colors.  The blocks finish at 8" so it will take more blocks to make a good sized quilt.  This block will be carried over to RSC 2026.

 

In between some other sewing this week there were 3 black string blocks happening.  These are 6" blocks sewn onto old phone book pages.  The stack of these is pretty small because I only began them last month with light blues and light greens.  So, like the previous blocks, I'll keep adding these in future months and into next year.  

A few more of the Vintage Spool blocks came to life this week too.  Last Saturday I posted about buying a new book -  Scrapbook of Quilts by Joanna Figueroa, and immediately beginning to play with these blocks from the book cover picture.  I made 13 of these 6" blocks last week, and 7 more of them this week.  This week's blocks all contain brown or black scraps.  

I think that is enough for this week don't you?  Yes, I got a bit carried away considering it's only 4 days into a new month.  But there are so many scraps to use up!!  And there are so many patterns out there to play with!!  

What other fun projects are happening in the RSC world?

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

Log Cabin blocks

I got up early yesterday in order to get a little sewing time in before heading out to a DAR meeting and other activities.  With coffee in hand, I headed down to work on the Log Cabin blocks that I had begun earlier in the week.

This particular sew along (Bear Creek Quilting) is using a beautiful pattern by Camilla Quilts, and it claims new techniques.  Honestly, the Log Cabin block has to be one of the easiest and quickest blocks ever.  But this "new" technique requires 2 specialty rulers.  Hmmmm . . . 

OK - I already had that Log Cabin Trim Tool Two ruler anyway, and I ordered the other one because it will supposedly make the Cactus block easier to do.  I can live with that as the centers of the Cactus blocks are pieced with a wedge.

So, the new technique also involves cutting the strips about 1/4" wider than needed and then trimming the block after each round has been added, using the markings on the ruler.  I suppose the idea here is to have very accurate blocks.  But when you cut 16 strips, and then trim 1/4" OFF that strip there is an awful lot of fabric waste in the end.  We're talking about the equivalent of a 4" strip of expensive fabric going into the trash.  Yikes!!  And that is just for the black background for these 16 blocks.  There are a lot of strips of the pink, orange, and green here that will have the same wasteful trimming.  Plus there are also 20 of the Cactus blocks, and I have NOT cut any of the strips for those yet.  

So, I have 2 of the 16 Log Cabin blocks all sewn, trimmed each step, and squares up.  That little stack of trimming is just the beginning.  Yes, they come out very accurate, but I'm not completely sold on using this "new" technique.  I'll follow the plan for this quilt because I really love the final look of this pattern, but will remain skeptical about using this method for simple Log Cabin blocks.  

Goals, goals, goals

My To Do list for September was short . . . and mostly completed.  Plus I had forward progress on several project not on the list.   

• Keep up with the Blockheads weekly blocks - CHECK
• Bind the Sunflower wall hanging - CHECK
• QOV Spools - get to flimsy stage - CHECK
• Blue Jays 3-yard quilt - get to flimsy stage - CHECK
• piece backing and take the Lone Star quilt to be quilted - CHECK
• Blue table runner (Tim Holt prints) - NOT STARTED YET
• quilt & bind pumpkin table runner - CHECK
• lots of Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks - CHECK

My To Do list for October is much longer.  There are some really quick things to do on the list however, so it looks much worse than it is. 

• Quilt Show projects - Deadline is looming!!!!
• Finish Challenge project for quilt show Oct 18-19
• Choose 4 quilts to display at quilt show
• Make one themed raffle basket for quilt show
• bind Sophia's lap quilt
• Keep up with the Blockheads weekly blocks
• Begin the new Saturday Sampler
• progress on Cactus in Cabin
• Rainbow Scrap Challenge
• Make lots of RSC blocks with dark neutrals
• finish assembling RSC Windmill quilt top
• Choose next set of RSC blocks to finish
• Donate a couple of quilt tops
• QOV Ribbon - assemble rows from blocks
• Bad Kitty pillow
• quilt and bind at least 5 placemats (tops are done)
• bind Jamie's Lone Star wall hanging - IF back from quilter
• bind Candy Lane quilt - IF back from quilter
• Finish bird Christmas stocking

Doing some cutting

 You all know I like to kit up blocks and whole projects, so when sewing time comes I'm all ready to go.  And I definitely like to have choices. 

Yesterday was a busy day with errands and some housework that I had been putting off.  My sewing room time was mostly spent doing some cutting for current projects.  The RSC colors for October are black and brown.  I've pulled together the parts for some black/white blocks - Give It a Whirl and 4-patch Fun.  There is also a light green Paint Chip block to finish up the September colors.

One of my errands included a bit of fabric shopping to add more variety to the batiks I'm using in the Cactus in the Cabin quilt.  Now I have the strips all cut for the 2nd and 3rd rounds on the Log Cabin blocks.  We'll see if I get any sewing time today.  I know there won't be any time tomorrow with a DAR meeting and an afternoon of cards with some girlfriends.  But the next tutorial for this sew along won't come out until October 16 so I have plenty of time.

If I do get some sewing time today I'm planning to quilt the challenge project for the quilt show coming up in less than 3 weeks. 

Design Wall Monday - Sept 29

Wow!  The last Monday of September is already here.  We had a really beautiful month of September around here with sunny warm days, and not windy for a change.  I'm hoping October is just as nice so the pretty leaves stick around longer.

Yesterday I posted about some of the projects I want to work on during October.  The main new project that I'm beginning is a sew along from Bear Creek Quilting.  It's called Cactus in the Cabin and has only 2 different types of blocks.    

The September tutorial is for traditional Log Cabin blocks.  There will be 16 of these made.  I spent some time cutting the strips needed for them.  I even got round #1 added to all 16 of the center squares, but realized that I need a bit more variety of my pink and orange batiks before getting much further.  I'll have to stop in at both local quilts shops this week to see what I can add to those pink and orange strips. 

I'll also be working on some WIPs this week including the Windmill quilt top that is nearly done.  There are only 4 rows left to add but I keep procrastinating.  It's now laying on the floor in my sewing room now so I have to step over it or around it every time I go in or out.  That should force me to finish it up, right?

Last week was a catch up week for Blockheads with no new block posted, but I've kept up so far anyway.  This week there will be a new block posted again so there will be a bit of red, white and blue coming out to play midway in the week.

And you know there will be some RSC blocks taking shape all week too. 

I'm linking up today with:

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/ 

https://songbirddesigns.blog    

Thinking ahead to October

 It's almost October and my mind has been on new project goals to work on. I did no sewing at all yesterday, but did do some cutting and organizing before spending the afternoon at a golf outing.  Our neighbors host a big 9-hole golf and barbeque party every fall for friends, family, and clients.  Afterward the golf we normally come back to their garage and yard (next door to us) for food and fun.  This year the party will be a local brewery.  

Dark neutrals - blacks and browns - are on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge calendar this next month.  My dark scrap bin is overflowing just like the other colors.  But I see some possible string blocks happening.  I really should sort this bin better to separate the blacks, grey, and browns.  

Pulling out the bin of 2.5" squares, some black and brown squares are now sorted out, along with light neutrals, and they are ready to become Paint Chip blocks.  I also cut the parts for a couple more of the new spool blocks I've been playing with.  

This Halloween piece was made last winter but has hung in the closet ever since.  Time to turn it into a pillow cover.  Bad Kitty is the name of the kit that came with laser cut kitty and moon. The background came out of my stash.  I forgot to measure this when I took the photo but I think it's about 14", so just the right size for a fun pillow.

Cactus in the Cabin is my next new big project, with a black background and bright batiks.  It's a sew along from Bear Creek Quilting Co.  The sample is done in red/green for Christmas, but I'm using pinks and oranges in place of the red.  The pattern is available to purchase from their website to download.  The first tutorial was actually posted on September 16 but I was still gathering fabrics, and wanted to finish a couple of other things first before starting something new.  I'm planning to get started on it today with at least some cutting.  The next 2 tutorials will be posted on October 16 and November 16.  The pattern has all the cutting and sewing instructions but the tutorials are providing some helpful steps and hints. 

On October 11 for Saturday Sampler we'll have the reveal of finished quilts (or tops) from the program that just ended, and then they'll introduce the new program.  It's always amazing to see how different everyone's quilts are when we "shop our stash" for them.  I'm very excited to see all the different color choices.  And it's always fun to start a new Saturday Sampler program too.