Applique progress & stash accountability

I've made some progress on the applique of the Dresdens for Saturday Sampler. These 2 quarter Dresdens were finished first, and sewn together with the 9-patch blocks.  This unit is ready to add to one of the big sections.

The color here is very washed out, but this one is also ready to attach to a different big section of the quilt.  Next up are the larger Dresdens, and the big snowflakes.  I'm using a blanket stitch on the Dresdens, but will do a simple top stitch on the snowflakes.  The thread is a grey that seems to be blending in with all of the colors.

Since the beginning of January I've been keeping track of the fabric I buy versus the fabric I'm using.  At the halfway point in the year I'm pleased to be able to show that the yardage OUT are slightly better than the yardage IN.  It's not a big number, but it is good to have used more than I've purchased.  I bought a lot of wide backs the past few months, but I've also finished quite a few projects.  Let's hope I can keep going and make that OUT number even bigger in the last half of the year.

Design Wall Monday - June 29

So . . . here it is midway through summer already and we haven't taken any kind of "vacation" at all this year.  Is retirement really just a Big Stay-cation?  I fear that would be my husband's choice.  There is a big shop hop starting this month.  That might have to count as my vacation this year.

We did spend the weekend enjoying some grandkid activities.  Youngest grandson Jack had a baseball tournament on Saturday about 100 miles away.  It was chilly, overcast, and windy most of the day - with an hour or so of bright sunshine mid-afternoon.  So there is some sunburn to report.  LOL  But they won their tournament, and we enjoyed supper at a great restaurant a couple of blocks from their house afterward.  A fun day!  On Sunday we left about 7 AM to attend the swim meet and watch Olivia.  She's aged up this year at she's 13, but still doing great and shaving time off various events.  

The main project I want to work on this week is to begin stitching down the applique for Saturday Sampler, starting with the Dresdens and then the snowflakes.  The Dresdens also need their center circles, which I haven't even cut yet. 

Some other goals for the week (and month) include:

 ** some cleaning/organizing in sewing room
** RSC blocks - new color for July is aqua
** add last row of string blocks to String Star 
** QOV - continue block making
** bind at least 2 placemats
** Next UFO on list - choose something!!

The first RSC blocks I want to make are the Honey Bees.  I have my 2 aqua fabrics selected, so it won't take long to make them both.  It's month 7 but I skipped the pastels for these last month because there were already 2 bee blocks that were pastel shades (pink and blue).  I want the quilt to have primarily bright blocks. 

I have dozens of RWB blocks all kitted up and layed out on design boards, ready to use as Leaders/Enders.  When we got home yesterday from the swim meet I did some cutting in the aqua scraps for RSC blocks, so there will be plenty to sew up quickly this week.

I'm linking up today with:

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/ 

https://songbirddesigns.blog 

RSC26 - Week #26

Yikes!  We've reached the halfway point in 2026, already.

Just a little pastel sewing for RSC happened this week, including these 2 reversed Buckeye blocks.  

Another Crackers and Jam block was made, although it wasn't all pastel.  These blocks are 6.5" unfinished, a paper pieced pattern from Bonnie Hunter.  There is no real plan in my head for these yet, but they're awfully cute.

The main pastel project this week has nothing to do with scraps.  But I wanted to share it anyway.  This is our 2026 Saturday Sampler, Anthologie.  That bottom section in the pattern is where we add various applique to showcase the "theme" we've chosen.  I'm doing snowflakes, but haven't attached those snowflakes yet.  This month we're doing the Dresden plate blocks for the upper section.  As I was laying it out on the floor to place those Dresdens, I had one of those lightbulb moments.  The snowflakes and Dresdens will be mixed in those 2 sections to distribute my them pieces better.  There are also some half sized snowflakes that will go elsewhere.    

Let's go check out more Rainbow fun . . .

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

Finished (or not) Friday

The mini quilt came together very quickly.

It's only 12" square so even with paper piecing it's a fast little project.  I did replace the border fabric with something from my own stash that I liked better than what was in the kit.  That left over kit fabric will be just fine in some upcoming QOV blocks instead so it won't go to waste.

I did get that last 60 degree runner fixed and bound. It's actually a match to one I made last year, so obviously I had purchased a lot of that border print at some point.  I'm thinking both of these will be donated to an upcoming fundraiser.

This week I've been gradually sorting and clearing out another bin full of RWB patriotic scraps that needed to be used.  The first time through was to make a red pile, a blue pile, and a neutral/light print pile.  Then each pile was sorted into little scraps, strips, and large pieces.  

  I used some 2.5" strips that I found to cut into parts for 2 placemats.  And the blue pile has been decreased a lot by cutting the pieces for more Gleam, Ticker Tape, Rail Fence, and Buckeye Beauty blocks for Quilts of Valor.  Those pieces have been added to the appropriate design boards.  

For more finishes, please visit:  https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/

Dresden Plate blocks

My frantic sewing pace has definitely slowed down this week, with much less time spent in my sewing room.  I really didn't realize how many appointments I had scheduled all in a 2 week cluster.  And my new glasses might be ready for pick up today.  

Saturday Sampler this month has several Dresden Plate blocks.  Progress has been slow but moving forward.  The purple block was sewn last week, and the pink one is from this week.  It's much bigger than the purple one.

This teal/aqua Dresden will be the same size as the pink version.  None of the background squares for the bigger ones have been cut yet, and I'm still not sure exactly how I want to applique them onto the background. I'm going to finish the Dresdens and then I'll worry about backgrounds and applique stitches. 

There are some partial blocks left to make that are not even cut out yet. Maybe that will happen today.  

Garden Stars progress

One goal for this week was getting the 4th block made for Garden Stars.  Monday I got that 4th block made finally.  I'll need 12 total to alternate with the monthly star blocks, but if I make 1 or 2 each month along with the 1 star I should have no problem keeping up with this Carol Doak sew-along.this year.

The binding is finish on a couple of RWB placemats for donation.  The one on the right was made mostly with strips I discovered in a bag of scraps given to me.  The one on the right was made using that Mardi Gras block I've been making for RSC.  It didn't take more than an hour to make 6 of the blocks, and then turn them into the placemat, including the quilting. 

This doll quilt is finished too.  Since it just needed binding it was a quick finish. The NASA fabric was all that was left from what I bought for pillowcases.  It will join the little group of "critters in quilts" for donation.  

Monday I also worked on the Dresden Plates for Saturday Sampler, and the patriotic mini quilt kit that has been tempting me.  It does help when I can get a bunch of things cut and arranged onto the design boards so that I'm ready to just sit down and sew.

Ticker Tape blocks explained

I've had a request from an Anonymous commenter for more information on the Ticker Tape blocks. So here we go. Sorry, I can't share a link to a pattern because I did the math myself after seeing the blocks online.  But I can tell you my process.  I'm sure there is a pattern out there somewhere, but I've seen this block called several different names, so I'm not sure where to point you. 

The first way I made the block was simply using squares and half square triangles.  Mine are cut 2.5" and the block finishes in the quilt at 4" x 8" (4.5 x 8.5 unfinished).  

The easier and faster way to make these is cutting 2.5" x  6.5" strips (2 matching) of the color, and 6 squares (2.5") of the background.  Add a background square to each end of the color and sew diagonally - similar to a Flying Geese. 

Trim off those triangles, and I pressed toward the color so the seam allowance doesn't show in my scrappy white backgrounds.  But pressing direction doesn't make a lot of difference.  Lay the unit with long colored side pointing left, and add the remaining squares to top end.

 IMPORTANT NOTE:  Both halves of the block are sewn identically, then one half is turned to make this shape when sewn side by side.  If you zoom into the photo you can see my seams in the block. 

On a side note - make the blocks a bigger size very easily.  Use 3.5" squares of background and 3.5" by 9.5" strips of color.  That will make a 6" by 12" finished block.  

Design Wall Monday - June 22

It's Monday again, and my focus needs to shift a bit.  I still have things to finish from last week's list, but I plan to have some fun with a NEW project this week too.

This cute kit has been tempting me, and now I'm excited to dig into it.  This is another mini from Shabby Fabrics.  It's paper pieced but small so it should be fairly quick.

I've pulled fabrics for the remaining Dresden Plates needed for this month's Saturday Sampler blocks.  The background pieces still need to be chosen too.  We're reaching the exciting stage where some of the big sections can be sewn together into rows.   

And I'll finish up the 4th Garden Stars block, hopefully today.  I'll need 12, but will make the rest gradually.  On July 1 we should get the first of the monthly blocks these will alternate with in the quilt.  

There will be binding to do this week too: a Quilt of Valor, a placemat, a table runner, and a doll quilt.  A few Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks and the RWB Ticker Tape blocks will continue as Leaders/Enders.  

Last week I had an eye appointment and a doctor appointment.  This week I have a dentist appointment, and will be starting PT again for the Achilles tendonitis.  And my new glasses will probably be ready to pick up by the end of the week. 

I'm linking up today with:

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/ 

https://songbirddesigns.blog 

More RWB

Happy Father's Day to the dads out there.  My own dad has been gone for more than 35 years already.  This picture was taken in 1959 at my grandparents' farm in Kansas.  I noticed my dad is hanging onto the leash so our little dog must have been with us on that trip. 

Saturday seemed like a good day to focus on RWB - mainly because I have a ton of parts cut for various QOV blocks, and I already had a LOT of RWB scraps hanging out near my cutting table.  So basically I just played.  Above the Gleam block in the photo above is the result of a little bit of play.  I used my Tri-Recs rulers, cutting the diamond from a folded piece of the flag fabric.  Then 2 sets of wings were added - 2 blue and 2 white.  Doing the math to figure out how a block is made is a lot of fun.  For now that diamond unit is hanging on my bulleting board waiting for inspiration.  

A few more RWB Ticker Tape blocks were sewn, and a few more parts cut for more.  There are 17 blocks ready to add to quilt top section I've begun, and parts cut for approximately 20 more of them.  These have been great Leaders/Enders.

The parts are cut for a few more RWB Buckeye Beauty blocks.  Our QOV group has made one Buckeye quilt in the past, and we had a few extra blocks.  So it's a good time to use up more scraps and start another quilt top.

The other RWB sewing that happened on Saturday was cutting 4 more sets of binding.  I used the red and white stripe from the box of fabric Nann sent me.  I love a striped binding and this is going to work great.  Three of those strips will be a perfect binding for the NASA themed doll quilt that has been waiting in the wings.  And I cut enough blue binding to use on a placemat that was an experiment with RWB versions of the Mardi Gras blocks I've been making for Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

I still need to put the binding back onto that RWB 60-degree runner from last week, but that shouldn't take long either.  Lots more binding in my future.  

Today I plan to clear up the RWB scraps so that next week my focus can shift next week to a couple of other projects - one new and one WIP. 

RSC26 - Week #25

Because I cut lots of block "kits" ahead of time and stack them out on my design boards, I can whip up a whole lot of different blocks in just a couple of hours of sewing.  And I love having multiple block sets going on all at once.  I currently have 3 design boards with block kits - one has QOV Ticker Tape pieces in red, white, and blue, one has various scrappy RSC block pieces, and the other has some test block pieces for the Pizza Box challenge block - that must remain a secret here until August. 

I finished making all of the string blocks needed to finish up the top for the String Stars. I just needed a couple light blue ones, and a couple of neutral ones.  Now I can add that last 2 rows onto the others, and a new scrappy flimsy will be born.  

A couple of the Mardi Gras blocks came off the assembly line.  I have a whole stack of the black and white pieces cut already and only have to cut ONE 7.5" square of a color, cut it in half - and 5 minutes later there are 2 new blocks. They end up slightly oversize, so once I've trimmed to size they are all very exact.  I can picture these blocks in Christmas or Halloween fabrics - some day.  Or in patriotic prints for a Quilt of Valor.  I can also visualize these blocks coming together for placemats.  HMMM . . . 

A few more Ticker Tape blocks happened, also thinking about a lap quilt using these.  I looked back at previous month's RSC colors, and dug into the scraps for reds (not in the picture), blues, and greens.  Side note: I have so many blue scraps I think I could make all-blue quilts forever and ever.  LOL

This is one way these Ticker Tape blocks can be layed out.  I have a start on the patriotic ones I've been making as Leaders/Enders.  This direction it makes me think of confetti, but turned sideways they look kind of like waves. 

A minor squirrel distracted me this week too.  Bonnie Hunter released a new pattern this past month, and I bought the digital download right away.  It's called Crackers and Jam, and it's paper pieced with 2 alternating blocks.  I made just the one block so far, but couldn't resist.  This is only 6.5" square, which means each little quadrant finishes at 3".  So cute!  I've made several quilts using the big version of this block which is an old signature block pattern. But this tiny version just called to me.  And it uses really small scraps!!! 

Two of the most fun blocks I'm making this year for RSC are the Honey Bee blocks and the Catnip blocks (3 cats).  I've kept up with them each month so far, and have decided I'm not going to add pastel versions.  I plan to keep them in brighter more saturated shades. But this is a good month to play with all of these other blocks.  I'll never run out of scraps in this lifetime but I sure can have fun playing with them.  

Let's go check out more Rainbow fun . . .

https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/

Finished (or not) Friday

I'm really excited to report 3 finishes this week.  That's right - 3 things are totally finished!!  Two of these projects are not terribly big, but still, they are done.

Marching Stars was a sew-along this past winter designed and hosted by Alycia.  She is very involved with Quilts of Valor in her own state, but also generously shares her designs for QOV with her blog readers.  I just love this one!!  This is the second QOV that I've finished this month - made by me - from my stash.  Another one is currently in the hands of a long arm quilter.  Plus 4 "group" quilts just came back from another long armer, so we're finally getting caught up with what we'll need in coming weeks and months.  It's so important to have a quilt ready whenever we get a veteran nominated. 

This is Summer Getaway.  It's only 45" square so it should make a good lap quilt.  I plan to donate it locally.  One of our guild members is collecting lap quilts for a local agency housing disabled adults.  It was a kit from a long past Sew Sampler box (Fat Quarter Shop). Background and backing, borders and binding had to be added - some came from my stash and some was purchased to finish the project.   

Beach Bums fought hard to NOT be finished this week.  But I overcame.  This is applique, all done with fusible and no stitching around the edges of the pieces.  The whole thing is only 30 by 45, and a lot of those pieces are TINY.  So I just ironed them on - with the plan that dense quilting would take care of holding things down.  That would have been a good plan if some of those pieces would have stayed on long enough to actually be quilted.  Carol (the quilter) has the patience of a saint, as I dropped it off, then had to pick up back up for some fixing, then dropped it off again. This will hang somewhere in my house, but I haven't decided yet just where that will be. 

On a side note I finished 5 mug rugs too.

For more finishes, please visit:  https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/

Working through the list

I always have a list, for quilting and for household things to do.  List making is just a fact of life for me, and has been for decades.  My kids might remember my sticky notes with things crossed off as I got them done.  Or maybe they never noticed it.  LOL

My list for this week is on a sticky note on my desk, and there are a few things checked off.  On the top right, by the pen - that's another list, with a couple of meetings and appointments that I don't want to forget this week.

On Monday's post I had a list of quilt-y things I wanted to accomplish this week.  I can check off the pizza box challenge, because I have both the RWB and 30s versions of this month's block done.  And, I've chosen the block to share at our next Sew Vintage group meeting.  In fact I've made a couple of samples of the block and prepped the handout with the pattern.  Check!!

For Saturday Sampler this month we're doing several Dresden Plate blocks, in a couple of sizes.  I have the first one sewn, except for the center.  I just haven't decided what color to use for the center.  And I have not sewn it onto the background yet.  But it's a good start.

The bad stitching on the 60 degree runner has all been picked out.  Now I need to redo the quilting that was removed.  No more pleats in the backing is the goal.

One more Garden Star block has been made, with a fourth one started.  However there is very little Rainbow Scrap sewing to report.  Today there are some pastels on the design board and hopefully I'll get to those things before leaving for an eye appointment this afternoon. 

Not on my To Do list for this week was binding.  I'll have a couple of actual finishes to report tomorrow because I've been binding 2 projects in the evenings this week.  Plus I need to cut some binding for 3 more Quilts of Valor today.  These 2 quilts arrived back from our state coordinator on Tuesday.  She did the long arm quilting on them, plus on a couple others she dropped off over the weekend. 

Stash enhancement

With the stash I already have accumulated, I couldn't possibly live long enough to sew it all up. But of course that doesn't stop me from adding to the stash.  I have been trying for a couple of years to be more deliberate about fabric purchases - mostly buying things to finish projects, like backing, backgrounds/borders, or binding.  This year I'm also tracking my fabric purchases again to stay a little bit accountable.

However there is a big statewide shop hop coming up this summer - AND sometimes there is something just too pretty to pass up.  The pink plaid is a fat quarter that I won at Saturday Sampler last weekend.  But the gorgeous batik strip set was something I just couldn't resist.  The colors are so beautiful.  I'm thinking it will need to be used with a dark background no matter what pattern I choose. 

This was an impulse purchase - online.  Fat Quarter Shop does their Liberty Box each summer with the focus being on patriotic projects, suitable for Quilts of Valor.  I think I've bought 2 previous Liberty Boxes in the past.  I splurged on it again this year.  They are a surprise, so you don't know exactly what the project will look like until you open the box.  So, in this year's Liberty Box is a beautiful pattern and the 12 fat quarters needed to make it.  I already have enough white background for it, in the stash of course.  The box also contained beautiful book ends, and a "ruler stand".  All in all, it was a good purchase.

And yes, I've added these all to the stash tracking spreadsheet.  I'll try to share my stash report at the end of this month as we're halfway through the year.  

Shooting Stars

Oops!  I totally forgot to hit the Publish button for today's post.  

I had this image in my head of how different this Shooting Star block might look with the lights and darks reversed.

And the finished blocks met my expectations!  The block was designed by Stacy Hsu for the Blockheads 5 series.  It's a free pattern on the Blockheads site.  Missy picked this star to add to our pizza box challenge. 

My 30s version is cute too, although it might have been prettier with the background more colorful.  Who knows, maybe I'll make another one. 

Design Wall Monday - June 15

Wow - halfway through another month!!  I just have to make a list of things to work on this week, because I have so many things I want to work on including a bunch of new things.  So in order to focus my attention on Works In Progress, I really need that list.

** Saturday Sampler
** Sew Vintage pizza box challenge
**  fix the 60 degree runner
** Rainbow Scrap Challenge
** Garden Star 

We are doing Dresden Plate blocks for Saturday Sampler this time, and there are 3 different sizes to make.  So this week I hope to get the biggest one sewn, but get the backgrounds and blades colors selected for all of the plates. 

I have a couple of tasks for the pizza box challenge, and even though we aren't meeting again until August I want them done and ready to go.  Each month a different member is sharing a pattern for a 12" finished star block with the group.  This is the pattern that Missy shared with us, pulled from Blockheads 5 patterns.  I love it. We're doing a RWB version to donate to Quilts of Valor, but some of us are doing an extra block for ourselves in various different fabric options.  I'm doing my extra one in 30s prints.  For the RWB version I want to do 2 - one with dark stars and light background, and the other reversed.  August will be my turn to share a block pattern with the group, so I need to narrow down my choice and make my sample.

The pieces are cut for 2 more of the paper pieced Garden Star blocks. Even though we have all year to get these 12 alternate blocks done, I'm planning to add 2 more this month to the 2 already done. 

For the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this month we're doing pastels, plus any "catch up" we might need to do from previous month colors. I had good intentions last week to get the pastel Salt Water Taffy blocks layed out into rows, but that didn't happen.  Maybe this will be the week to get it them organized. 

I'm linking up today with:

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/ 

https://songbirddesigns.blog 

Deck progress

There has been steady progress on our new deck, thankfully.

One young man was the whole demolition crew, and by the end of Day 1 he had removed all of the vertical metal bars from the railing, and nearly all of the flooring.  All the parts and pieces had been put into the trailer in our driveway for the trash and any mess was cleaned up. 

At the end of Day 2 (Friday) he had everything torn out and the space all ready for the building crew to arrive on Monday morning.

By the end of Day 3 (Monday) the 2 guys doing the building had fill dirt added along the house where things had been sinking.  All of the bracing was attached to the house, and the wood was cut for the underneath framing.

Day 4 (Tuesday) saw all the floor stringers done and the beginning of the actual floor of the deck.  

Day 5 (Wednesday) ended with the flooring completely done and the steps partially done.  One of the black posts for the railing is laying near the step area in this photo.  

Thursday was Day 6, and began with a light drizzle of rain.  I wondered if the crew would show up to work on the deck, but they did.  And the rain stopped.  The steps you can't see, but they are done.  And the railings began to go up.  The one lying by the house will actually be the gate.  We put a gate on the old deck to corral the little kids and the dogs, but found it also kept deer and other big critters off the deck.  The raccoons just go over the gate unfortunately.  LOL

Day 7 (Friday) has it all done except for some of the skirting.  The black railings look nice with the warm brown of the floor.  And there are lights on the post caps. The hardware for that gate, and the skirting should all arrive by the end of this coming week so they'll install that when it comes in.  

Now to get everything moved back onto the deck - the grill, the table and chairs, and the flower pots.  Yesterday morning Dave scrubbed the table and chairs so they are ready to replace.  He hasn't decided if he's going to replace all the bird feeders that used to hang just outside the railings.