Ernestine

When BARBARA announced this little stitch along last year I had to participate.  These gals just crack me up and I needed a new hand project for the new year.  You can click on the button on the side bar to read more about the Bag Ladies.

Our first lady could be any one we wanted, but I'll follow along with Barbara's monthly pick - then if I run into any problems, I can ask questions.  Ernestine seems to love scraps, patches, puppies, and a bottle to take along to make Sit-N-Sew more fun.

I have decided that rather than use these ladies in one quilt, to make each it's own mini.  Ernestine does represent my 'ENJOY' for the year.  And I was working with my greens and the purples were out for RSC17 - she was dressed in these colors, so perfect to use for her mini's borders.

Today is the linky party , so please go visit BARBARA and see how others worked up their ladies.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

   

Monday Making 1/30/17

I'll be joining BETH today with a bit of play.  My monthly goals are done and I don't want to start on February's list so I am cleaning out something that has been sitting on the table.

The rest of that camping fabric I used for some other blocks and scraps of browns left from the BEAR quilt and pulling the more beigy scraps from my tote - some stars will be born.

Take time to create today,

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon 

Slow Sunday Stitching 1/29/17

I will be joining Kathy and others with some slow stitching today.  I have a few pieces that need attention and I need to spend a day relaxing.

This is the first block for Barbara Brackman's "NY Diary" 2017 quilt.  There will be a lot of applique' in this project thru the year, but by using Slow Sunday Stitching, I can get this done.  And if something is a bit beyond me, it's my quilt - I can change it up.  I already did with this block - I cut the stem the wrong direction.  True, I could cut another - but my quilt - my stem will go the other way.

I have a binding to do on a mini which should go fast.  And the next hexie basket is ready - this is number 14 of 18.  I think I will be cutting out the piecing sections for this quilt in February.

Hope you get to enjoy a little slow time today,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

January is Nearly Gone!

Since this year is about 'enjoy' and I have limited my projects (hard with all the great stuff going on) - the near end of the first month has come faster than I thought.  The few things I did have on my 'month' list have been finished, but that gives me more time to play.  I gifted out a number of things this month, but there is still a huge supply here.

I was going to just work RSC17 with the piggy blocks, but since my 2" barrel is running into a second barrel - well, I'm playing.  Whether I use these blocks or I pass them on - they are using up those scraps rather than having them sit (and multiply).

I was going to put the bear section and the paw section together next month, but since I had extra time the Black Bear is walking along a little faster.  A couple of borders go on before I have to think about that border that had the little paw blocks.  I'm not doing those again, but haven't been inspired by something else yet.

Boring picture, but I did have another finish and this one had NO borders!  Since this is a test pattern I cannot show the full quilt.  I seem to be in the 'organic line' quilting phase, but it is quick and easy and gives movement.

Speaking of borders (again), I sorted thru my UFO-flimsy tub and the goal is to get that puppy emptied this year.  It seems that most of my projects in there are sitting because they need borders.  I at least attached notes, some sketches, some math and possible fabrics with each quilt - so it is just a matter of putting on the Big Girl Panties and getting them done.

This one will be ready to hand off to my long armer on Tuesday - we have missed her two weeks in a row because of snow/ice storms.  There is a big pile of quilts here (students, mom, and me) for her that will keep her busy for a while.

Linking up with Soscrappy, Oh Scrap, and Whoop, Whoop Friday .  No Feline Friday post as my furkids have been in hiding mode as several large trucks have been up here.  They hate large trucks, hate large trucks that are noisy, hate large, noisy trucks that go 'beep,beep,beep' when they back up.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

First Finish for 2017

Meadow's Mountains is officially my first finish for 2017.  A project that came about because I couldn't shut the green scrap drawer.

Organic lines in the middle and the piano key border and stitch in the ditch on the skinny borders.  AND did you count?  Yes, 5 borders.  I hate adding one, but here there are five - it does finish it up nicely though.  

A fun stripe binding tieing in the greens, reds, and yellows thru this quilt.  The back (actually an off white with a gold, brown, green pattern) was four pieces of cut-off from two other quilts' backing.  Even with the left over and cut-offs from this quilt, there is probably about a yard of that left which will get fed into the fabric food chain.

I have a baby quilt and a wallhanging sandwiched up for quilting, but I learned long ago not to back-to-back quilt as my neck and shoulders suffer.  So I am taking a day of play with plaids, checks, and stripes.  This is a small portion of what I have.

I need over 200 units for that geese project and almost 400 broken rail blocks for something new.  We are having snow, ice, rain, wind (again) so it is a good day to play - then back to business.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Long Week

Yes, it has been a long week and we are tired glad it is over.  Some of you were shocked at the 20 bobbins thing (and some of you weren't).  I'm retired and sew/quilt every day and almost all day - and sometimes thru the night.  Depending on what you are stitching, depends on how much thread you are using.  Blocks with lots of pieces and seams take more thread and I happen to use a little shorter stitch, so more thread.  And if you are quilting - well again, depending on the design depends on how much thread is used.  

A lot of you participate in the stash accounts - fabric used.  I keep track of how much thread I use for inventory and re-order.  I am a scrap quilter so almost impossible to really track that flow.  This test quilt (ready for quilting) for instant had blocks with 17 seams per block.  Yes, 30 blocks were made and put into a quilt top in a week - mixed with other things.

Like all the blocks for all the QALs.  These are for the Patchwork with Fat Quarter.  Geese were made, rails, 4-patches, 9-patches - easily over 100 blocks this week.

Even the Black Bear was played with.  There was always something under the needle, chaining and leader/ender one project after another.  Yes, you have to be organized and focused - the seam ripper did come out occassionally.

Usually I make more than needed blocks - orphans are handy in other projects.  BUT, I found I was two green bear paw blocks short so the green drawer came out again.  Moe must love this drawer and I can't believe he squished himself into it.

  
And I fought the Queen of the House for this quilt again!!

I won!!  The last border is on and the backing is pieced, batt is cut and I am ready to sandwich/quilt this one for the weekend.  Wonder how many bobbins I will use.

So while the furkids nap away another rainy day (or two), I have two quilts and a wallhanging to quilt.  Best wind those bobbins and get busy.

** linking up with Feline Friday and Whoop Whoop Friday **

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Ice, Inspiration, and Instigation

We are in the middle of an ice storm like so many others and their bad weather - what's a quilter do do?  SEW!!!  I am 20th bobbin since Monday and even used a spool of thread up - blocks, blocks and more blocks.

And I guilted myself about those borders, so with the help of my assistant (not), I put one one, then made blocks - put another on, then made blocks.  I have the last of the five to go, but it seems every time I lay this out, Miss Bella claims it and I get no where.  So more blocks, blocks, blocks today. 

Temecula Quilt Co is having a QAL with reproducing this antique flying geese quilt - so many geese a month.  I need to clear some of my reproduction fabrics that won't be used in Barbara Brackman's "Diary" QAL so this works for me.  Besides - I love to make flying geese.

  
And to instigate some more - this beauty is being offered by Wendy Shepard of Ivory Spring.  You could even take a section of this and make a mini if you don't feel up to another big quilt.

I did get out yesterday for a bit (in the pouring rain) to the local library - only like a minute or two from me.  They had a fun class on making an Accordion Album.  I'm sure due to the weather, I was the only one who showed up.  BUT what fun and I have found a project I can share with my grandkids.

I will get new buttons up for Temecula and Wendy soon, and back to my blocks.........

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon 

Monday Making 1/16/17

I will joining BETH with some block making.  Switching from scraps to some NEW fabric.  I love scraps, but there is something about new fabrics to freshen inspiration.  They , also, freshen up the scrap pile.

I pulled some of my Rhoda Ruth and Kona 30th Anniversary solid FQ bundles for a test quilt.  I was going to go scrappy for this test quilt, but I have wanted to play with these bundles - so new it is - actually they have been on the shelf a while.

I pulled my Katherine Ann by Patrick Loose to use for the Patch Work Sampler with Fat Quarter Shop.  They haven't listed the fabric requirements, but I think there is plenty of mix with this bundle and there is 4 yards of the Kona Snow - should be just fine.

Yes, I have several boxes of pay-it-forward to send out today and the large brown box arrived the other day and holds my staple Kona's which should last at least half way thru the year.

My tote filled with supplies for Cindy @ Quilt Doodle QAL.  A Dresdan Plate has been on my bucket list, so this works perfect with my left over 30's, feed sacks, and some new.  I'll be hand stitching this one so will take me a little more time.

Then there was this new and old mix for Pat Sloan's Solstice QAL.

I'm a little behind with this one and finished the cabin block and have the rail fence to make before the new block comes on on Wednesday.

I know, I am procrastinating on those borders, but block making just tickles me.  BUT I will get to those borders.

Wind those bobbins and go play,

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Slow Sunday Stitching 1/15/17

I will be joining KATHY today with some slow soothing stitching.  The weekend has become days of 'chores' that must be done.  So to have something that I can sit with for a bit to relax - then pop on to the next to-do on the list - that works.

I have just the black to finish up 'Ernestine' for the Bag Ladies.  You can click on the button on the side bar to read more about this project.  Some of the smaller embellishment areas will actually be done during or after the quilting process.  I plan to make each of these ladies into their own mini wallhanging.  I saved those cut off HSTs from my green scrap geese quilt which will work well for a border with this.

And that should finish up quick, so I have my hexies ready for the next round on those rosettes.

Grab some needle and thread and sit down, slow down, relax,

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon 

A Day Out

I know you all want to hear about the day's trip out.  This year's gift bag was a fabulous metalic turquoise and I filled it as you can see.  My goal was those extra wide backings so I can get some finishes.

Westering Women, the Black Bear, a string quilt made a couple of years ago with Let's Book It, and my Leap Year (circles) quilt.  I'm a washer when it come to these backings, so that is today's agenda.

My Mom went with us and got a little wobbly - fabulous staff took grand care of her by getting a chair, getting bolts, cutting and cashing her out.  While that went on, we managed a short browse (because it was elbow to elbow by then).  I picked up two jelly rolls 'Sylvie' and 'Rhapsody in Blue' ($18 no less) and a few $1 FQs.  Since we were early getting out of the shop and Mom was not up to anything else, we headed home - probably a good thing as it started to snow.

Home petting fabric while warming up with a hot herbal tea and then I crashed on the couch with my furkids who had a short miff because I dared to leave them alone for a bit - cats!

Washing fabrics and borders on that green quilt are my goal for the day.  Oh, and some housework mixed in - yeah, someone has to do it.

Wind some bobbins and get sewing,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Stringing in the Rain

It was a totally different day today.  We reached 50, but it poured by the buckets all day.  My goal over the last two days was to tame these strings.

Does it look tame enough now?  I just can't seem to control those greens though - they are in everything I pull it seems.

After seeing Angela's Rainbow Strings with the skinny black and color on one side and lights on the other - BAM!  I had just enough left over skinny strips from the BEAR quilt to make centers for 30 blocks and I went from there.

My phone book papers were 8" square and I would have over extended 
the paper to get an 8.5", but my skinny blacks would not work that .  But that is OK as a finished 7.5" block is fine and they worked up a lot of those strings.

I have next on my list to get to the borders on the Meadow's Mountains quilt, but......

I am going HERE instead.  They have their annual in-store $5 yard sale (entire shop) and $8 yard extra wides.  I am not on a fabric diet and I do have a list of things that I need for finishing all those quilts in that large tub.

Now how can this not entice you to do a little shopping?  And lunch out is in order , too.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

An Icy Day Makes For Scrap Play

Like so many areas, we are into the deep freeze with snow, wind, and ice.  A good mix for staying inside and enjoying some scrap play.

First up I want to tackle these cut offs one of our students gifted me.  Some very pretty orientals that I am using Bonnie Hunter's Hour Glass Block Challenge with.  These are just a beginning as Emily is making 40 star blocks and I should eventually receive 320 'points' - makes for a lot of hourglasses. I don't have an oriental stash, so this is gold to me.

Then I am taking on these strips to make some string blocks on old phone book papers.  I don't have to think too hard - just run them thru the machine while some music plays in the background.

Hope you get to sew today,

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon