Blog frustrations

I don't understand why people feel they have the right to interfere with simple pleasures of others. 

My blog is really just my quilting journal, for my enjoyment and as a means to interact with other quilters.  But lately I've had more and more "scam" comments, plus I've noticed that new followers are definitely NOT quilt enthusiasts.  I probably can't do anything about the followers - YET - but I've taken steps to cut down on the scam comment posts.

Almost every night for the past week I get 6-8 comments posted on OLD blog posts - usually going back years - like they are trying to hide them.  Which is probably exactly why they put them on old posts. The comments vary in language, with English, French, German and other languages I don't recognize.  Always advertising something like Gucci bags or Rolex watches or some kind of designer shoes.  The content of each comment is identical (copy/paste), and I'm guessing if a person followed the link it would even go to some kind of porn or malware or something nefarious.  GRRRR!  

Over the past few months I had this happen occasionally, and found them because I get an email with the comment. So I would go to that post and delete the comment.  But this past week it's multiple ones EVERY SINGLE night!  So I've changed the settings on my blog so that comments on posts older than 7 days will wait for moderation. Then I can delete them as a group.  I'm hoping that will slow down these weird comments.  And the "name" of the person/entity making the comment is obviously a play on my email domain name.  So frustrating!!!  

Now if Blogger would just find a way for us to block specific followers, I would be even happier.  OK - my rant is over for today. 

Gold stars - progress

The dark gold stars give this quilt an antique look.  Such a good decision to change these from the boring navy blue - and not to have chosen red.  The first 5 rows out of the 10 total are done. One of the things I really like about this pattern is how the stars drift out into the border.  Check out Pat Sloan's blog for this free pattern called Oh My Stars. 

While watching TV last night I began the binding process on the Happy Blocks quilt.  I should have gotten more than one side stitched down, but Survivor was a great distraction.  I'm definitely a Survivor fan and can't believe this is the 40th season - 20 years of fun.  It's a gloomy day and we expect rain so I'm sure I'll be binding again after work today. 

Oh My Stars - color tweak

Some color tweaking has been taking place . . .

On yesterday's post I was questioning my choice of navy blue for the stars in this quilt because they faded into the background, and I asked for ideas. Well, Nancy at Wyoming Breezes suggested gold.  I think that was a brilliant idea!! Thank you Nancy!  I didn't even have to dig very deep to find this dark gold print.  After comparing it to some lighter golds in my stash, this was the winner.  The dark tone seems to fit best with the dusty tones of the blue, an there is a touch of gold in some of the cream squares.  

I picked out the stitches on the blue star corners and simply replaced them with gold triangles.  It was easier than I expected.  I cut the 3" gold squares, and then trimmed them diagonally 1/4" past the corners to make the triangle match the original.  A little care was necessary to make sure I didn't stretch anything on the bias.  

I am so glad I asked the question about the color, and am also glad that I received a couple of great ideas.  Any of the suggestions (red or gold or burgundy) would have been a big improvement from my original navy blue.  Now the stars will pop like they should.  Thank you ladies!!!  Can't wait to find the time to finish putting the 8 rows together.  I may have to do a patriotic version of this quilt so I can make red stars.  LOL

Pick a PIG - Oh My Stars

I've picked a PIG to work on next - and it's one that I had kitted up myself a year ago at least.  Oh My Stars is a free Pat Sloan pattern.  The pattern uses 2 charm packs plus some yardage, and is a quick easy project.  I have a good start on this Project in a Grocery sack, but now am having some second thoughts on color. 

I had bought the 2 charm packs of Snowman Gatherings III, most likely on a past guild bus trip shop hop.  They are all creams and dusty blues. They layed in a drawer with other charm packs for quite a while - until I saw the Oh My Stars pattern online.  I found a navy blue solid in my stash, and must have bought the cream yardage later.  All of that plus the pattern were in a bag together ready to go.  

Not a lot of time was needed to sew the star points onto some of the charm squares. And last evening I spread everything out on the floor to play with the arrangement.  That is when I started to ask myself why I chose navy blue to make the stars because they just sort of fade into the blocks in places.  So . . . I may do some experimenting.  How about red stars?  What other color would look good with the blue and cream but still keep that winter theme going?  

Design Wall Monday - a finish

I never set foot in my sewing room all weekend, but I did get this quilt bound.  Another UFO is done!  And I'm ready to bind another one.  This quilt was a past Saturday Sampler project which was a mystery quilt.  I made 2 of them - a Halloween one and this one. The colors are actually very vibrant, but as usual my photo looks a bit washed out. 

What is on YOUR design wall this morning?  Mine is actually empty at the moment.  I have been trying to decide what I want to work on next.  There are lots of projects to choose from obviously, but I've come up with some May goals.

• RSC blocks in dark green (twinkle star, gingham, Ohio Star, Diamond Tile, string)
• bind the Happy Blocks quilt
• continue to hand quilt on Raspberry Cocoa (Kim Diehl mini quilt)
• Pick a PIG - choose something from the many kits and other projects waiting for attention
• clean and organize one sewing room area

I'm linking up with:

https://smallquiltsanddollquilts.blogspot.com/

More work for the long arm quilter

I've dropped off 2 more small projects (that have been hanging in my sewing room closet) for quilting.  One is really small and the other is a child size quilt.  The child sized quilt will go to one of my niece's who just had a baby girl.  

The unicorn fabric is the outer border of the quilt and the pink/purple floral is the backing.  That backing fabric has been hanging around in my stash for a few years.  And now it finally will have a use.  The blocks were leftovers from Bonnie Hunter's En Provence mystery quilt from several years ago.  The pink sections were tri-recs units, and the purple are HST and 4-patch sections.  Together they make a couple of lovely block designs.  The light pink unicorn border was ordered a couple of years ago as one option for my granddaughter's quilt, but I ended up using a different unicorn print.  Shopping my stash is allowing me to finish this and give it away as a gift. 

I used most of the rest of the pink and purple blocks in my granddaughter's quilt (below) in March 2018.  I loved the pink and purple pieces, but didn't like the yellows and greens I chose to go with it for En Provence.  So I separated all of those units to use elsewhere.  And now quilt #2 is going to happen.  I still have the pretty yellow and green blocks made with the other leftovers to use in something, some day.  

Sew Together Bag #15

The final finish of April was this butterfly themed Sew Together bag.  And yes, it's really #15.  I had to go back through my blog to count them and realized I had miscounted.  That makes 2 finished since this whole stay-at-home quarantine thing began.  The grey floral bag was finished in March.  

And this cocktail one was made back in November.  I have enough fabric left to make another one like this.  Because it was a directional (border print) fabric I had to piece the outside.  

And here are the first 12 bags that I made.  Most have been given away or sold.  I kept the black one with the hexies and the Love 2 Sew license plate bag for myself.  Right now they hold cross stitch and hand stitching supplies.