Blockheads #23 & more

Yesterday's calendar included the monthly DAR meeting, with a Quilt of Valor award as our program.  We meet each month in the local Carnegie Resource Center, which of course is a historic Carnegie library building.

The building is really beautiful, and is now the home of a lot of original Oscar Howe art.  And it's the home of the local historical and genealogical organizations.  It's open to the public in the afternoons for research or to enjoy the ever-changing displays of local history.  When you walk in the front door and look up - there is a huge dome covered in original paintings done in the 1940s by Howe as part of a WPA project. Framed Howe paintings hang on the walls below the dome all around the balcony.  

Our QOV group has been asked to do a quilt award each year at the chapter DAR November meeting, as an annual event.  In return they give us a donation. This gentleman is a Korean War veteran.  As always it was an honor to be involved.  

This week's Blockheads block is another 18" one, and I'm guessing that next week's will also be 18".  I've resolved to NOT start playing with layouts until I have all the blocks done.  And next week should be the final block release.    

This is Criss Cross Applesauce by Laura Muir.  It was a good opportunity to use a bigger print in those large corners.  

Yesterday afternoon I managed to get the back put onto the Bah Humbug pillow.  Hopefully I'll have a finish to show soon.  And I cut binding for 2 of the projects just picked up from quilters.  My plan today is to get the binding attached to at least one of those projects.  

Midweek stuff

Two evenings in a row with college basketball has taken it's toll on my ambition levels this week.  Luckily I had picked up 4 smaller projects from 2 different long arm quilters over the weekend, so there are some easy things to get done.   And hey - binding can be done in the car while it's still daylight.  

The Candy Lane quilt is all trimmed and ready to bind. The quilting on it is really beautiful - with snowflakes and swirls.  The picture is the back and it made me think of those frost designs that sometimes form on windows. 

I'm working on the binding for the Lone Star quilt for my son-in-law.  It's wall hanging size, so shouldn't take long to do.  A finish will be shared later in the week. 
 

Bah Humbug is one step closer to being finished.  It's sandwiched and quilted - sort of.  I ended up just stitching tight up against the applique with black thread.  And I zig zagged around all 4 edges because that grey linen was fraying every time I touched it.  Next step is to make the envelope back and bind it.  Maybe I can get that done in the next day or so. 

I keep thinking ahead to what new projects I want to start this winter.  I just can't help myself.  The Bonnie Hunter mystery will begin later this month.  I don't always make the whole quilt, but do usually play with the blocks at least.  But I really like her colors this year, so maybe it will happen.   January will bring a brand new Saturday Sampler locally, and I have my fabrics all gathered for it.  There will be a new Sewcialites sew along (online) starting after the holidays too.  I am definitely thinking about playing along, but maybe just with the tiny blocks (3") this time.  A couple of new block patterns for Rainbow Scrap Challenge are hanging on my bulletin board.  At guild on Saturday I picked up a pattern book from the giveaway table.  And the mail brought 2 new things last week - a book with patterns to use with panels, and a pattern for a possible future scrappy quilt.  My head is spinning and the new project (Shiny Object Syndrome) list is much longer than my life expectancy!  

From the bay window in the kitchen we have a great view of our tree filled backyard, and this time of year the big maple tree right off the deck is really spectacular.  I told Dave yesterday morning that it brings me joy to look out and see that tree.  One other thing that makes me smile is the little grey kitty sleeping on that chair to the right. This is one of the kittens from last spring.  He won't let us get close, but he does sleep on the deck a lot lately.  We haven't seen his litter mate for several days now and I think he's feeling lonely.  

Another lovely tree is the birch outside my office window.  Notice my hubby hanging up the bird feeder he had just refilled.  Right before he went out to fill the feeder there was a blue jay out there.  We hadn't seen a single blue jay all summer, but now in the last week we keep seeing them.  Two were even on the deck a couple days ago, boldly stealing kibble from the cat food dish.  My morning routine involves bird watching from my desk with a cup of coffee in hand, and blog reading on my laptop. 

Process and progress

I've said many times that my inspiration often comes from the quilting blogs I follow, and from other social media.  Other great sources of inspiration are the quilt guild I belong to, the monthly Sew Vintage group I enjoy, and from the wonderful people in the quilt shops I frequent.  Creative inspiration is all around me on a daily basis.  

This last week or so I've been feeling "reflective" about my creative process, and then - like my mind was being read - bloggers have been talking about process online as well.  My own creative process involves making lists, checking things off and then wandering away from that list every time a new "squirrel" crosses my path.  Since I'm a computer nerd my lists are on a spreadsheet that is open on my laptop all the time.  I have a different tab for various lists - and yes, the worksheets are color coded and are set up to count things automatically.  Paper copies of some of the ongoing worksheets allow me to write myself notes.  Nerd alert!!!!  

Pat Sloan's newsletter on Sunday touched on list making.  She said "lists soothe my soul", and that it provided "structure".  YES - I'm right there with her.  I have multiple lists going at any one time - for quilting, for upcoming events, for grocery shopping.  I've always been a list maker for work, and for home. And I set Reminders on my phone to remind me about items on those lists.  LOL  Providing structure, and then the satisfaction of checking off the things that are finished, all soothe my soul too.  Above picture -  is a paper copy of this year's UFO Challenge sheet on the clipboard on my desk.  This began years ago with the APQ UFO Challenge, but has continued even after they quit drawing a number each month.  I have 3 items listed for each month, including a "Pick a PIG" which is my way of rewarding myself with a new project (squirrel) each month.  And under that top sheet on the clipboard - the PHD (Projects Half Done) list for the local quilt shop.  And BTW I've finished all 12 items on that PHD list this year again.  That's 3 years in a row!!

Leanne at Devoted Quilter has a weekly WIPS-B-Gone email newsletter, and yesterday it was about SOS/FOMO.  SOS - Shiny Object Syndrome.   SOS, squirrels - it all applies to my process as well.  My desk currently has a little pile of sticky notes and printed pages for projects that I want to make.  The basket next to my chair in the family room has a couple of new pattern books I've recently purchased.  The bulletin board in my sewing room has more sticky notes and printed pages.  Every single day I feel like I see another SHINY OBJECT that I want to follow.  

So, my process is a mix of focus and organization - and going off on a bird walk at any moment.  And I'm really OK with that.  My adult daughters however are terrified that I'll die and leave a mountain of unfinished projects laying around.  Most likely they have good reason to be afraid of that scenario.  LOL   

Design Wall Monday - November goals

A new month deserves a new list . . . so I've gathered my list of projects for November. There is a LOT on this one as usual, but much of it involves finishing something already started anyway.  And there is the potential for a lot of binding in November.

One of the projects I want to move to at least the flimsy stage is this one.  It's a UFO churn dash wall hanging, with applique added from leftover bits and pieces from a recent project.  I've been pinning the parts on, but still need more leaves cut from a variety of greens.  And there will be brown oval centers on the flowers.  Definitely a "design as I sew" kind of project. 

Here is what I'll be playing with in November . . . 

• Keep up with the Blockheads weekly blocks - 2 blocks remaining
• Finish stitching on embellished jean jacket
• Borders on Cactus In the Cabin quilt
• Rainbow Scrap Challenge
• Make more Dresden blocks
• Make a couple more "test" blocks for 2026
• QOV projects
• Ribbon - assemble rows from blocks
• Shadowed Star - finish blocks
• bind Jamie's Lone Star wall hanging
• bind Candy Lane quilt 
• bind Eye of God wall hanging
• bind Churn Dash kid donation quilt
• WIP and PIG progress (including kits)
• Finish pinwheel Christmas stocking
• Finish Bah Humbug pillow
• Quilt & bind Wedge placemats (4)
• Quilt & bind pink/black/white placemat
• Christmas ornament 60 degree runner
• Churn Dash & Orange Blossom wall hanging
• NEW PROJECT - begin Christmas 3-yard quilt

I'm linking up today with:

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/ 

https://songbirddesigns.blog      

Corn Palace murals

Every fall the murals are changed out on the front and south side of the Corn Palace here in Mitchell.  The 14 or so colors of specialty corn are grown by a local farmer specifically for this purpose, and the past few years the murals themselves are designed by art students at the college.  Decades ago the famous SD artist Oscar Howe designed the murals each year.  His original drawings are exhibited inside near that front balcony.  The theme for this next year will be the 250th birthday of the USA.  2025 was Wonders of the World, which is still showing over the entrance.  

There are 2 big murals on the front facing the street.  I couldn't resist stopping Friday morning to get a photo of the first one that is finished. 

We The People - this mural is beautiful.  Each mural is framed almost like quilt sashing, using grains and grasses.  Thus the reason many local folks call this the World's Biggest Bird Feeder. 

On the other side of the entrance is the Liberty Bell and the flag.  You can see the guys on the scaffold filling in the flag stripes.  Around this corner are 6 smaller murals extending the length of the building.  One has the outlines done already and will depict Rosie the Riveter. 

Picture a huge paint by number, and that is exactly how these murals are done.  The design is traced onto huge sheets with each section numbered and marked for the color needed.  The corn cobs are cut in half lengthwise.  The outline is done with black corn half cobs cut to needed lengths.  Then they fill it in with the colored corn.

RSC25 - Week #44

EDIT:  We ran out of candy last night after having 85 Trick or Treaters at our door - all by 7:15 on a rainy cold night.  Yikes!  I'll need to plan for more next year I guess.

One more RSC quilt top is currently in the hands of a quilter, so there will be some binding to do in a week or so.  

This is one of 3 quilts I've made with the 12" and 6" churn dash blocks.  Each of the blocks contains a novelty print paired with a solid color.  Such fun blocks to make.  They began with making these blocks for a guild baby quilt project, and I just got carried away and couldn't stop making them.  It will make a good donation quilt.   

Since my machine was already threaded with black for another project, this was the perfect RSC set of blocks to pull out to work on yesterday.  These Dresden Plate blocks will have black blanket stitching around the edges of the blades and that corner.  I got 9 of them stitched down before running out of bobbin thread.  Once I have a couple more bobbins wound I'll get back to the blanket stitching. 

I made quite a few of these Dresden Plate Fan blocks the first few months for RSC, but then they were mostly neglected - probably because I had too many block sets going at the same time.  Also, the blocks were not hanging in the closet like the other current blocks, but were in the project box with the grey background and the black for the corners. A few loose random blades were in the box too.  But no green, orange, or purple Dresden blades had been cut, so those colors need some attention.  

Maybe I can finish the blocks by the end of 2025.  According to the notes I left in the project box with the blocks, my plan was to make 3 blocks in 8 different colors and lay them out on point.  I guess we'll see what happens, right? 

                            What other fun projects are happening in the RSC world?

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

Wrapping up another month

This week's Moda Blockheads block is Lucky Charm by Stacy Iest Hsu.  It's block 22 so I think there are only 2 more remaining.  Maybe 3.  

Lucky Charm is a 9" block and I really love how this one looks.  There is a 4.5" bonus block because of course I couldn't just throw away the trimmings.  The little one could become the center of a mug rug.    

Nearly every day this week had things going on, including evenings.  Tonight we'll actually stay home and hand out candy to lots of Trick or Treaters.  We average about 80-85 each year, usually all between 5:30 and 7:30, so we hardly have time to sit down. 

The list of goals for October looked pretty overwhelming at first glance, but there were some very small or quick projects on the list.  Plus some items just required progress, not necessarily a finish.  There was no pressure as any forward progress is good, right?  And there isn't much red on the list so I'm very satisfied. 

• Quilt Show projects - Deadline was Oct 18!!!!
• Finish Challenge project for quilt show Oct 18-19 - DONE
• Choose 4 quilts to display at quilt show - DONE
• Make one themed raffle basket for quilt show - DONE
• bind Sophia's lap quilt - DONE
• Keep up with the Blockheads weekly blocks - DONE
• Begin the new Saturday Sampler - YES
• progress on Cactus in Cabin - ALMOST, but still needs borders
• Rainbow Scrap Challenge
• Make lots of RSC blocks with dark neutrals - YES
• finish assembling RSC Windmill quilt top - DONE
• Choose next set of RSC blocks to finish - MAYBE
• Donate a couple of quilt tops- Donated 1 top with backing
• QOV Ribbon - assemble rows from blocks - NO
• Bad Kitty pillow - DONE
• quilt and bind at least 5 placemats (tops are done) - only 4 are done
• bind Jamie's Lone Star wall hanging - IF back from quilter - NO
• bind Candy Lane quilt - IF back from quilter - NO
• Finish bird Christmas stocking - DONE