Oops -- There Goes One of My Goals!

Did you notice something missing from the picture above? 

Yep, the long arm sewing machine is off the frame and the electronics for the computerized sewing is separated from the machine. 

So, my goal of finishing the Christmas Trip Around the World quilt won't be done this month. Sigh!  A new piece (like the one on the right up above) is on its way to us.  Thank goodness Pat can handle this.  (Hey, we've taken the machine and frame apart quite a few times since we got it.) Next week it will come in and we'll get it set up and going.  Then my TAW will get quilted! 

To take my mind off of this, I'm heading out to retreat tomorrow! I've packed 2 baby quilts, and a bunch of little projects.  I'm hoping I'll get those 2 baby quilts to tops and the small projects totally finished.  Then I've added a couple of quilt blocks I want to get made. There are several demos offered which will also be made.  

I'm linking up with Mid Week Makers and Needle and Thread Thursday.  Check out what folks are working on across the Internet. 

I'll be leaving around 9 am on Thursday heading out to the retreat in Harrisonburg, Va.  I hope everyone has a great weekend quilting.  I know I'll be having lots of fun. 

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 9 - 25 - 2017

Another finish! This baby quilt will go to the NICU at St. Francis Hospital in the Richmond area.  I'll give it to Janet at Country Piecemaker's retreat that starts Thursday.  Yea!  I love retreats.  

I used a new panto called Lava, designed by Hermione Agee. Thread was a light blue Omni by Superior Thread.  I like how it turned out. 

All of these pictures should enlarge if you click on them. 

This past week I was working away on my goals list with some good results. 

Sept 18, 2017

Make lotto blocks for retreat √

Mail pillowcases√

Wash, iron and put away new fabrics •almost done

Bind Streak of Lightening Quilt √

Load Christmas Trip Around the World quilt√ loaded and started quilting!

And here's what I'm working on this week. 

Sept 25, 2017

Finish quilting Trip Around the World

Make and add binding to TAW

Piece 2 baby quilts

Finish snowman mini quilt

Finish reindeer ornament

Have a GREAT time at retreat!

One last thought:  How many projects do you take on quilting retreats?  I'm trying to decide whether to add one or not.  This is a 3 1/2 day retreat.  I usually try to work steadily on my projects without too much goofing off and/or breaks.  One of the baby quilts is really easy the other is a little more involved.  But, honestly, they are small quilts.  I guess I'll prep one more UFO and take it with me just in case. (One retreat I forgot both the directions and a needed piece of fabric.)  Ruthie is having a computer issue so I'm not sure I'll be able to finish quilting the TAW.  If it's done I'll be taking it to bind.  

I'm linking up to the regular suspects parties: Monday Making, Moving It Forward, Oh Scrap and Main Crush Monday (when available.) Take a look to see what folks are working on.  And, wow! The inspiration will have you adding quilt ideas to your to do list right and left! 

That's it from me today.  I'm off to do a little internet surfing. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie

Monday Meandering 9 - 18 - 2017

FABRIC SHOPPING!  (in Lancaster, PA too.)

From left to right: backing for TAW, sashing for a set of blocks from FCQ EQuilters,
and  a bright choice for a pillowcase and a baby quilt. 

Oranges for the stash, bunny print for future pillowcases,
blue for binding the streak of lightening quilt,
 and deep green to bind the TAW.

Once we hit Reading, Pa where we were attending a Barbershop Harmony competition, we also did a little outlet shopping.  Let's just say I've been having really good luck on when I've chosen to go shopping.  I hit a Talbot's outlet and was looking for summer clothes.  Can I just brag that I got 3 pairs of crop pants, 2 knit tops and a lovely knit jacket for less than the full price of one pair of pants. YES!  I'm going to do a little altering on some of the clothes but I'm quite pleased with my haul this time.  As a little side note, I use to shop Talbots frequently when I worked full time.  Since I retired -- not at all.  But this outlet shopping post-season really was a great deal.  

Friday afternoon and all day Saturday Pat and I attended the Mid-Atlantic District competition in Reading, Pa.  Friday featured quartets and Saturday (starting around 8:30 am!) the choruses.   The Virginians did really well and were pleased with their 8th place finish.(Out of 22.)   Just a side note, the winners from the district competitions go on to International.  And, there are some wild card spots.  Rumor has it there is a good likelihood 4 choruses will go to Internationals from MAD. (I know sounds weird but Mid-Atlantic District=MAD.) I haven't been to a competition for years so I was happily surprised to see a large number of younger men singing in both quartets and choruses. 

After two days of barbershop harmony I was ready to stay in the hotel and read while Pat watched our USC Trojans finally beat Univ. of Texas instead of attending the last MAD event.  The next morning we headed home stopping to pick up Kona at Jenny's house. I hit the couch to read but was soon sleeping!  

I'll let my goal list from last week speak for itself. (I think I just heard it say UGH!) 

Sept 11, 2017

Make lotto blocks for retreat oops – didn’t happen

Prep a project for retreat √ at least it’s started

Finish placemats√

Mail pillowcases Eeks, nope

Do some serious fabric shopping! √

Enjoy Barbershop singing competition√

This week should be much better! I've got a week and a half before my retreat so I need to get my projects all cut out and ready to go. 

Sept 18, 2017

Make lotto blocks for retreat

Mail pillowcases

Wash, iron and put away new fabrics

Bind Streak of Lightening Quilt

Load Christmas Trip Around the World quilt

I'm linking up with my regular Monday group: Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, Oh Scrap and Moving It Forward (when it is posted.) 

That's it from me.  I'm looking forward to some quality time in the studio this week.  

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie

Monday Meanderings 9 - 11 - 17

I spent way too much sewing time making pillowcases for hurricane relief this past week.  Now I just need to get them to the post office. Hopefully this week they will go off to Sarah's church.  Read about her efforts here. Here are 6 of the 8 I made.  

Not all of my fabric was kiddy fabric.  I doubt that will be a problem for folks who have almost nothing.  

Next up was a little diversion from quilting. When we moved to another new location for us we decided it made sense to live in an active adult community.  Our thoughts were we would be with folks in similar situations and there were all sorts of activities for the residents.  We have not regretted that decision.  We've enjoyed lots of activities with our neighbors and we actually know our close neighbors.  I decided to try a new event last week by going to the craft club.  Many of the items they did over the last few months I wasn't really interested in.  But I really wanted to make a picture frame with shells on it.  Here's my end result. I have to say the gals who run this group had beautiful shells.  I can't wait to find the perfect picture to put into the frame. 

I really got going on a project I told a friend I would finish for her.  Of course, it sat around my house for at least a year. I don't often sign on to make or finish projects for people because I like my own projects.  On the other hand I usually don't need to buy fabric to work on an old project like this.  Sometimes I charge folks, sometimes not.  Amanda started these placemats almost 25 years ago. She was a non-quilter but decided she could make them by hand. So she got two placemat tops finished and had cut all the other pieces to finish the other two.  BTW, did I mention she drew templates and cut every piece by scissor?  

I finished these two for her and made two more from her pieces.  I was really impressed that all of the flying geese I made from her pieces turned out pretty darn good. I actually checked the pattern and realized she was suppose to have one more flying goose on each side of the leaf.  I didn't even think about it when I finished hers.  She'll be happy to get them this week.  I'll be happy to have one less thing hanging over my head!  Do you finish other people's UFOs to help them along? Do you charge for it?  Let us know.  

My goal list from last week is mostly not done.  Sigh.  I did read a few too many books though, does that count?  

September 4, 2017

Quilt Streak of Lightening nope, didn’t happen

Make last 2 fabric boxes√

Cut out new quilt for retreat nope

Make pillowcases√

Finish placemats almost done

Now for this week. This looks long but 3 of the items are definite.  The other 3 are in the category "I sure hope I get these things done!"

Sept 11, 2017

Make lotto blocks for retreat

Prep a project for retreat

Finish placemats

Mail pillowcases

Do some serious fabric shopping!

Enjoy Barbershop singing competition

I'm linking up with my regular linky parties: Monday Making, Main Crush Monday, Moving It Forward and Oh Scrap.  Take a few minutes sometime this week to check these links out.  There is always lots of eye candy and great inspiration.  

Happy Quilting All!  Bonnie 

September's One Monthly Goal

My fall retreat is 3 weeks away.  I need to start focusing on getting my projects together.  As usual, I like to have my projects precut and ready to sew.  Here's what I'm picking for my September goal. Yep, I'll be retreating at the end of September so I should be able to get this to to top stage with no problem. 

My plan is to cut out all of the blocks, borders, and maybe even the binding before I go. I cut one block and made it up. Wait, I forgot to mention this is Quiltmaker magazine from last year.  Last year every issue had a pattern specifically designed to use AccuQuilt dies.  I really liked this pattern so earlier this year I bought the die.  Here are most of the pieces for one 8" finished block.  (It's missing the other navy blue background pieces for each unit.) 

And here's the finished block ready to be made into a quilt. Oops -- I didn't do a very good job matching the bottom center.  Hum, it wouldn't be hard to fix that.  Next time I sew maybe I'll get those sections to match up better. 

So here are some of my fabric choices.  I am thinking of making this a donation quilt for some organization.  I have purposely left out pinks so that if I donate to the neonatal unit dads will like it for their boys.  Yes, that sounds a bit sexist but according to my friend who is a neonatal nurse and hands these quilts out Dads don't want anything to do with pink quilts if it's for a boy.  And, statistically there are more boys in NeoNatal units than girls.  So I try to make more quilts for boys. It's hard to see some of the cute novelty fabric -- golf tees and balls, baseballs, monkeys wearing pirate hats, cherries, stars, cats and hens to name a few. 

Lots going on in the picture.  I'm trying to coordinate the colors as the magazine picture shows. The two colors in the blocks are very similar.... hum, honestly, that did not happen in my sample block at all.  And, it isn't looking all that close in the row of fabric under the block.  Ignore the far left fabric -- it is the navy blue background. I still need to pick the rest of the go with fabrics for the quilt.  And then I have some serious cutting to do.  

This isn't going to be enough for 3 full days of sewing.  I'll pick a few other things to do.  Maybe I'll work on a UFO too or maybe an easy kid's quilt.  I'll keep you posted. 

I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts one monthly goal setting post, To-Do Tuesday,  Mid Week Makers, and Wednesday Wait Loss.  (The ones that aren't up will be linked up after they post! You know the drill. I have to remember to link up but hopefully I will look everything over Wednesday sometime!) 

That's it from me today.  I finished 8 pillowcases that are going in the mail after they are washed, dried, and ironed. I'm ready to cut some RSC orange and get those stars cut out.  Always something to keep me busy. 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie 

Monday Meanderings 9 - 4 - 2017 & Stashbusting Report

It's all downhill to the end of the year now.  The time will be flying by if previous years are any indication.  

First up is an opportunity to help the people of Houston and surrounding areas.  Sarah who blogs at Confessions of a Fabricholic has put out an appeal for pillowcases for kids and quilts.  You can read all about it at her blog on Saturday.  She gives a link for directions for the pillowcases and the address to send them to once you've got them made.  Guess what I spent most of my weekend on? Yep, pillowcases.  2 cases already finished. (I did another one today but picture is from Saturday.) 

And fabric to make 3 more is ready to be cut.  I should have 8 pillowcases ready to go to Sarah's church in Tennessee by Wednesday.  I may make some more after the initial batch.  But, truth be told,  I didn't often buy 1 yard pieces of fabric.  Of course, I've changed from buying a half yard to a yard a year or two ago.  I get irritated when I need 3/4 yard and I have to really scrounge to find that much fabric. What's your go-to amount of fabric when you buy on "speculation?"  Mine is 1 yard pieces.  

Since the month ended last week it is time to share my fabric usage figures.  Not a bad month even though I did buy 3 hunks of fabric from Sew It's For Sale yahoo group.  

2017	Fabric In Month	Fabric In Year	Fabric Out Month	Fabric Out Year	Total In or Out Year
Aug	4.125	67.000	6.125	76.375	9.375

I'm happy I'm controlling my fabric purchases.  This month may be a disaster as I'm heading through Lancaster county in a couple of weeks.  I'm starting a list of fabric I actually need rather than I want although I've noticed my orange fabrics are getting used up so I hope to add at least a yard of orange.  

I did pretty well on my goals but I spent time at the grand's house and then came home ready to sit and read so I didn't do as much as I should have.  

August 28, 2017

Spend a couple of days with the grands√

Keep hand quilting Civil War Quilt√ (this is being put on the back burner while I work on ornaments for the grands.)

Bind geese & floral wallhanging√

Make some fabric boxes√√

Find backing for Streak of Lightening√ & quilt it

And coming up this week: 

September 4, 2017

Quilt Streak of Lightening

Make last 2 fabric boxes

Cut out new quilt for retreat

Make pillowcases

Finish placemats 

That's it for me today.  I'm linking up with my favorite Monday linky parties: Monday Making, (technical difficulties and family time!)  Moving It Forward, Main Crush Monday and Oh Scrap. (I'll post the rest as they become available and I remember to check them!) 

Happy Quilting All! Bonnie