Projects, projects, projects

 I have my paper pieced sections made for the Circle of Friends.

I'll remove the paper foundations while watching TV.  So maybe by tomorrow I'll have a completed block for this BOM project.

Well - it's not just my quilting projects going on around here.  There are some home improvement things going on too, although I wasn't expecting everything to begin at once.  I'm trying to just stay out of the way as much as possible.

Monday morning the installers came to put up the permanent outdoor lights.  We only did the front of the house, but it looks pretty.  Our next door neighbors have them on all 4 sides of their house.  We can choose from a gazillion color and movement options.  The best thing - no more crawling up ladders to hang our Christmas lights.  

Yesterday morning I left to vote and buy groceries.  I was gone about an hour, and returned to this in my yard - massive tree trimming.  We had a couple of big trees dying in the backyard, and my husband had arranged for them to be cut down, along with trimming some of the others.  When we moved here in 2006 the previous owner bragged about the 60 trees on this 1.4 acre lot.  So, now there are only 58.

And the most important project?  But one that won't be finished in one day.  Also my husband's project.  He and a friend are building storage shelves in the 3rd garage stall to make room for the big fancy golf simulator they bought together.  I'm staying out of the way of all of these projects, even when they asked me what color the shelving should be.  I don't care what color it is.  But I am starting to think Dave having more time on his hands (since he is semi-retired) could become really expensive if he keeps getting ideas like this.

String star runner is finished

 I just can not tell you how glad I am that the constant barrage of political ads will come to an end today.  My opinions are very strong but this isn't the place for that, so I'll spare you. LOL

The second String Star table runner is all done, and yes I added the leaves.  Thank you to all who gave me input on this.  The first version of this has laser cut maple leaves appliqued onto it.  And all six star points were made with the string sets.  This one used up most of the rest of the string sets, and those are alternated with a solid autumn print.

The oak leaf shape was something I googled, and then tweaked the size until it was what I wanted.  Then I traced them onto fusible web and ironed the cut out shape to the runner.  Just a touch of simple quilting will keep them anchored.  

My next task for this week is sewing this month's paper pieced block for Circle of Friends.  All of the fabrics are cut and the foundation papers are organized.  Hopefully I'll have this done today, but we'll see how ambitious I am when I get home from voting.

Design Wall Monday - Nov. 4

My design wall this week has tasks that will move some projects forward toward a finish.  How much I can accomplish this week is a mystery due to lots of "stuff" going on.  But I'm satisfied with any forward progress.

I've decided that I'll do the oak leaves on the table runner.  So far I've cut out the orange and brown.  There are 2 gold ones still needing to be cut out, then I can fuse them on and do a bit of quilting to hold them down securely.

The alternate block for Shooting Star is a fast/easy block.  I needed 5 more to match up star blocks, so the parts are all cut for them.  Sewing them by the end of the week is my goal.

The parts are all cut for more Twinkler blocks too.  I've been making these all fall - 2 or 3 each week, and the goal is 30 of them.  

Besides binding a couple of baby quilts, I'm also working on some hand quilting.  This little quilt was a guild UFO exchange.  It has 9 of these hand pieced stars.  I have 3 remaining to be quilted and then I can tackle the border quilting.  

The 5th paper pieced block for Circle of Friends has been posted, so one more goal is to figure out my color placement and cut the pieces needed.  

I'll be linking up with Design Wall Monday today and Monday Musings.

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/

https://songbirddesigns.blog

RSC24 - Week #44

Did I really just write WEEK #44?  How is that possible? 

One finish for the week was the second version of the String hexagon table topper.  The first one was made from a kit, but there was more than enough fabric left to make another.  Notice that 3 of the star points on the second one were done with the string sections, and the other 3 star points used a piece of the backing from the kit.  I did use my own cream fabric for those background wedges however, and I chose a lighter cream. 

 

I quilted some leaf shapes into each star point/diamond.  Now I'm not sure if I want to add some applique leaves like on the first one, or leave it as is.  What do you think?  I cut out a couple of orange leaves just as a test.

Early in the week I finished assembling the top for Summer Getaway, which was another kit - except for the white background.  White-on-white is a light neutral that I use a lot so I pulled that from the stash.  This is about 50" square. 

Going back to the closet I've revisited the RSC block sets once again.  Shooting Star is getting very close to having enough blocks, so I think I will focus on getting this one to the flimsy stage by the end of November.  In particular, more of the alternate blocks are needed to pair up with the star blocks.  I've pulled some fabrics to make at least 5 to finish out the right side of this layout.  Then I'll probably make one more row for the bottom, so the quilt will end up rectangular rather than square.

I'm linking up with the RSC posts today . . .

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

Quilts of Valor

Our Quilts of Valor group has several quilt award events coming up around the Veteran's Day week, so we've been busy getting things ready. 

There are 5 quilts all washed, labeled and ready, along with the certificates.  Two will be awarded on Nov. 6th to female veterans at a local DAR meeting.   Three will be awarded at the local Veteran's Day luncheon on the 11th.  That event has become an annual tradition now and the Legion, VFW, and DAV work with us to nominate worthy vets.   That big container underneath - holds all of the tops waiting to be quilted, along with some backings, and some block sets - all for future quilts.

There are 3 more that will be awarded at a Veteran's Day luncheon in a nearby small town on Sunday the 10th.  Those still need labels, and I'm just waiting on the paperwork for correct spelling of names.  I need to remember to take that box with me when I go there, as it belongs to one of their Legion members.  

We received this quilt from a Wisconsin group and it just needed binding, washing, labeling.  I was terrified to wash this one because it has so much white - and even the backing was red.  But I used synthropol and 4 color catchers when I washed it and it is pristine!!  Thankfully!

The member who put the binding on this quilt also washed it.  And she had said the same thing - terrified to wash it with all that white.  We chose a light grey backing for this one just because the front was so light.  It's really a fun and very different quilt.  The top was donated to us from a Minnesota QOV group - along with 9 more.  I did some measuring and sketched out some instructions to make this one myself as I really like the scattered flying geese.  

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Lately I've been working on choosing some of the smaller kits that have been languishing in my sewing room, and was feeling a bit smug.  Some small finishes made me feel so good!  And then the mail arrived this week with 3 more kits that I had ordered recently. I probably can't live long enough to sew everything currently in my sewing room, so I shouldn't be buying more.  LOL

The Bad Kitty kit was actually just the laser cut moon and the evil Kitty silhouette to applique.  It will make an awesome pillow for NEXT Halloween.  The instructions are for a 16" finished project.  This was something I saw on Pinterest while waiting somewhere recently - and just couldn't resist following that link.  Check out www.QuiltLoft.com.  Of course I immediately dug into the stash for a background, and chose this batik with a bit of purple, green, gold, and black.  It's all ironed on and I can decide how I want it quilted. 

There was also a kit purchased locally this week - also for NEXT Halloween.  This spider web wall hanging kit was just too adorable.  When I saw it last week I resisted, but I stopped at The Pin Cushion this week to pick up a book they had ordered - and this kit just called my name.  It's going to be the perfect size for my front door, and can replace the witches hat door hanger I made over a dozen years ago.   My will power is obviously completely gone!!  LOL

And the other kits in the mail - small projects for Christmas.  We'll see what happens with those, as I had some gifts in mind when I ordered. 

Summer Getaway flimsy & more

One more flimsy is now hanging in closet awaiting its turn to be quilted.

This is Summer Getaway, and is about 50" square, which is a good "couch cuddle" size.  The orange outer border is a new purchase as nothing in my stash looked right.  The rest of the blues and oranges were part of the Denim & Daisy jolly bar (5" x 10") in a recent Sew Sampler box.  The white-on-white background is something my stash always has.  

I'm also working on finishing the second version of this table runner.  The kit had more than enough fabric to make 2 of them - except for the laser cut leaves.   The top is sewn together and sandwiched so that I can work on quilting it over the next few days.

And there is a another binding going onto a baby quilt.  I need to stay busy!