All Flights Lead Home - done

I tried to hang this up in my house to photograph, but all of the places I chose were in shadow and it wasn't showing off the colors.  So I finally layed it on the kitchen tile. This project was a Row By Row kit I picked up in Iowa a few years ago.  The finished size is about 8" by 35" which is slightly shorter than the original kit, because I left out one of the rainbow fabrics. There was a blue print used between the blue and purple and I didn't like how it looked, so I didn't use it.

The metal star hanger was a happy surprise.  I had just finished the binding when my husband came in with the mail.  I had ordered a small "box" from Fat Quarter Shop that had a July 4th theme and it had arrived.  Inside was this metal hanger.  

There was also a cute red checked pincushion, some patriotic fabric and a pattern in the box.  I can play with those another day.  For today, I have a finish that is ready to be gifted.  

Design Wall Monday

I love it!!  Breezy is the first project we are doing for the Club #9 collection of Simple Whatnots, and it's very cute.  Plus it went together without to many problems in spite of the 1" sashing strips.  My goal is to get this quilted today, and maybe even put the binding on it. 

My other goal - while I'm in the mood to do some quilting - is to quilt the little wall hanging.  This one shouldn't take long at all to quilt.

Check out more Design Wall Monday posts:  https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/

Clutter, clutter, clutter

I must confess that I have TOO MUCH STUFF.  This crib in a guest bedroom had become the place to put quilts. Big quilts, little quilts, quilted bags, quilted pillows.  No one has stayed in this room since maybe last fall sometime, and it has gotten completely out of control.  Now, as I look at the photo I realize there are some framed pictures leaning against the wall on the left as well.  HMMM - too much stuff.

I started putting things on the bed too.  On the left are 5 Quilts of Valor (with pillowcases) that should have all been presented by now. But thanks to Covid they are still at my house, folded neatly and ready to go as soon as we can safely do that.  A small stack of puzzles sits next to the QOV.  And behind that is a stack of table runners that no longer fit in the dresser drawer where I usually keep them.  And a small stack of recently finished projects - bags, runners, wall hangings.  

I will also confess that there is a similar stack of puzzle boxes under the coffee table in the living room.  And another small stack of projects - in various stages of completion - sitting on the living room love seat.  Again, I have to say it . . . I have way too many quilts and other things around this house!!

I pulled one quilt out of the crib last week to give as a gift to the graduate (great-niece) and another one is going in the mail as a baby gift this week. But I need to keep giving some of these things away.

And the youngest grandchild is 5, so it's definitely time to get rid of that crib.  A nice antique of some kind would be perfect to store quilts. 

Breezy and binding

All of the various parts and pieces for Breezy are cut and are now laid out on my big design board.  I have a couple of these just the right size to hold a block, but this one is twice as big and works perfectly for these mini quilts. 

Breezy is a Simple Whatnots mini quilt by Kim Diehl.  I sure wish our group were meeting in person today, but we're not able to yet.  Maybe next month.  This one is so cute that I just couldn't wait to get started on it.  The cutting didn't take as long as many of these do.  There are 5 pinwheel blocks and one of those is sewn now - because I just had to. The rest will have to wait. 

The binding is also on the Oh My Stars quilt, and I'm about 1/4 of the way around it already with the hand stitching. I didn't spend as much time as expected sewing yesterday, but progress is progress.

I'm playing some golf later this morning before it gets too hot, and then going to a family graduation party for my niece's daughter this evening.  Lots of extended family will be there and some came from out of state.  It makes me a little nervous about being among so many people but we are going.

Speaking of being nervous around people. My husband told me yesterday that we've been invited to a big annual birthday bash for one of his friends.  This guy lives in western Iowa and does this big blowout every year, inviting friends, family, and clients.  It would involve staying in a hotel overnight, and mingling with tons of people we don't know.  My response was "are you nuts?".  How is this different than the groups of college kids on the beach together for spring break?  Oh yeah - we are all old enough to know better.  No way am I going to that birthday party!!

Change of plans

I should be in the car with my husband, on the way to a golf course. We had plans to meet one of his business partners this morning at a course in Sioux Falls.  However - he is on his way to golf, and I'm at home while a repair technician works on our air conditioning.  Actually I'm OK with that as I can't survive without air conditioning.  OK, maybe I wouldn't actually die, but I would be miserable.

I do plan to go downstairs shortly and work on a couple of things.  I still have the 3 little blocks left to make for Week 4 of Lori Holt's Sew Along. And I need to find something to put on the back of the house warming wall hanging I was working on earlier this week.  I'm going to do some simple vertical quilting in each of those 4 vertical rows with black thread.  And then I'll bind in black.  I've ordered a metal hanger for it, so maybe it will be ready to gift to my daughter in a couple of weeks.  

I bought a pretty dark gold fabric yesterday to bind Oh My Stars.  So that is on my radar for today to cut and sew onto the quilt so I can work on the hand stitching.  

And while I was in the shop I picked up my fabric for this next collection of Kim Diehl Simple Whatnots quilts - Club 9.  The pattern for the first mini quilt was in the bag too and I can't wait to work on it because it's so adorable. Breezy is the name and it's only 18" square.  I hear that our Simple Whatnots group leader is going to post a video online Saturday since we can't meet as a group.  This is another group that I miss greatly. 

I'm not sure that I've shown the kits I put together for 2 additional Quick Strippee quilts this week.  So I now have 3 quilt kits: flamingos, Scottie dogs, and sheep.  So cute!!  I also pulled out a couple of border prints (geraniums and Halloween) that I'm going to kit up for 60 degree table runners.  I'll have several quick project kits all ready for some delightful sewing this next few weeks. 

Have a great weekend!!

One week behind

The blocks for Week 3 of Lori Holt's Bee Patriotic Sew Along are now done. These are the 6" blocks and are very cute in the small size.  I was worried about having enough fabric because I was using a fat eighth bundle, but now that I have only 3 more blocks to make it's obvious that I have plenty. 

What I don't have plenty of is a good binding fabric for the Oh My Stars quilt that I showed yesterday.  I want a gold similar to the stars, and I don't have anything that would work.  What a shame - I'll have to go shopping.   

Snowflakes in June

Yesterday I was able to pick up another quilt that is quilted and ready to bind.  Bonnie at The Pin Cushion does wonderful quilting.  She has a great eye for thread color in particular in my opinion.  She used a dark gold color on this one and those snowflakes just POP on the cream borders in particular. I love it!!

This is my Oh My Stars quilt (Pat Sloan pattern) made in blues and cream, with dark gold stars.  I think I have binding already cut for this, but if not I'll have to shop for some soon because I'm excited to get this one bound.  Before quilting this quilt was OK (below) but those gold snowflakes and swirls make it so much prettier.  Thank you Bonnie!!!