Seasonal table runners & Halloween

 

I made over a dozen yards of binding today to use on some seasonal table runners. These are both done with the 60 degree technique.  Another 60 degree Thanksgiving runner is only half quilted so far, but there is enough brown binding for that one too when I get it quilted.

 

Working on the hand stitching will be a good activity tonight while handing out candy to the trick or treaters. We usually see 80-100 kids between about 5:00 pm (right about now) and 8:30.  There is a street about 2 blocks from us that get about 1500 kids every year - mostly due to the fact that street is decorated and lit up to look spectacular.

October status of the stash

My mailman delivered my October Sew Sampler box this week and I had to open it up immediately when I got home from Las Vegas to see what goodies came. The Fat Quarter Shop has a subscription for a sampler box each month which kept tempting me online. In late September I couldn't resist any longer and subscribed.

Interesting contents: a fat eighth pack of Handmade (Bonnie & Camille) fabric line, a block pattern, pins and needles, and some embroidery floss (with a pattern). How ironic that I've just started getting back into doing a bit of embroidery. Also there is a zippered mesh project bag and a very cute pattern from Cotton Way to make project bags.  The fabric and floss coordinate so they could be used together to make the little bags.

October wasn't a big month for purchases or finishes.  The finishes were small projects and fun but of course they don't take much out of the stash. There was a mini quilt, 2 mug rugs, a pillowcase, and a small bag.  But there was also a whole week of vacation away from home - with no shopping or sewing!

In this month:  6 yards
In this year:  133.75 yards

Out this month: 4 yards
Out this year:  135.5 yards

Mystery quilt colors

 

First of all, I want to thank the Facebook post that recommended using this smart phone app from Sherwin Williams. Very clever! 

 

Bonnie Hunter released her colors yesterday for the next mystery quilt (En Provence). I watched her mysteries online for a couple of years before making last year's mystery quilt (Allietare). Last year her colors were inspired by a trip to Italy.

 

This year's mystery is inspired by a visit to France and the colors really made me think spring.  She posted some gorgeous photos of lavender fields and you can really see where this color palette originates.

 

I haven't decided yet if I will make the mystery full sized or make a smaller version.  It might depend on what I find in my stash. I know already without looking that the yellow won't be found hiding in my sewing room. It just isn't a color I think to buy when enhancing the stash.  Same with the lavender. I probably have the green, the pink and the darker purple. But we'll see what I find. And since the first clue won't be posted until Black Friday in November I have plenty of time.

 

 

Binding waiting for me

After being gone a whole week, we arrived home last night about 10 PM. Today I have to work, so no sewing yet. But some binding is waiting for me . . . a kid quilt and 2 table runners.

Got the call while in Las Vegas that my quilting was done, so my husband picked these up for me this morning. I'm hoping that I get some quality sewing time this weekend. I want to shop my stash to see what I might have for the next Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt and I have 2 blocks to make for Farm Girl Vintage. And lots of binding.

Vacation stitching

This cross stitch piece is an OLD project. The pattern has a 1989 date on it. I put it away when I got my first bifocals because I found the pattern too difficult to read. 

Pulled it out again last week and enlarged the pattern so it is easier to read. Not sure why it took me nearly 30 years to think of such a simple solution. 

Taking a few days off

Yesterday we played golf at Angel Park in Las Vegas. Then had supper at Delmonicos with 3 other couples. Good way to start my vacation while the hubbie works. 

Playing with Dresden plates

 

Another example of bringing a UFO forward a step - the Dresden plate pieces were all cut from a charm pack, and then tucked into a zipper bag and put into a drawer. No idea why I did that.  I was organizing my rulers and stencils over the weekend, and couldn't find the Dresden ruler. Eventually I found it in a drawer, in the bag with the pieces.

 

So I've sewn them together and appliqued them onto a background square.  And there are enough pieces cut for another one.  I think with a little quilting this will make a good pillow.  Does this make the project a WIP now instead of a UFO?  Only if it doesn't end up back in the drawer I suppose.