Bag Ladies of the Fat Quarter Club - March Link-Up

BARBARA of the 3 Cat Ranch is our hostess of this fun Stitch Along.  She pulls one of the patterns for the month, but we can chose any lady we like.  I follow along just in case I have a question or problem arise with the current pattern.  These stitcheries just tickle me!

The patterns come with suggested colors and stitches, but I do change them out to suit how I feel about the design.   They are already printed and colored on muslin, but I have taken my Prisma pencils and 'changed' the color or tint occassionally.

I am making my ladies into their own mini.  This is how I saw Millicent.  The purple polka dot dress spoke to me as well as her love of variety.  She read color, fun, and creative.  

I look forward to next month's lady,

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Feline Friday 3/31/17

Moe has been my 'helper' the last few days.  I don't know what I would do without him.  Although laying on the mini design board that has my stacks of prepped pieces just wasn't a help.

I always swith up to another project (heavens - there's enough of them).  So of course he had to come over and help with this, too.

He is determined to fit himself into this shoe box tote - yes, he is a big cat as the sewing machine behind you gives you his scale.

He tried this way for a while.  I had the rotary cutter going and he knows to stay away from that.

Then he tried this way.  I cut, prepped, scooted to the other machine to chain things thru - enough movement from one table to the other that he didn't follow back and forth.

He finally gave up and decided to hold down these piles of cut down scrap waiting to be put into the barrel system.

But I did manage to get the sewing done.  I now have 200 geese done for the Temecula Quilt Co quilt.

And 160 of these are done - I have a long way to go with this project.  BUT, I need to go to the local thrift shop to see if they have any flannel shirts as I need to add more variety.

The next installment of the Diary Quilt with Barbara Brackman.  We only need 5, but I had the pieces laying there and made up another.  I have a choice and the left over can be used in the label.

We are having snow/sleet/rain (depends on which time you look out the window) today and supposedly tomorrow, too.  I know you are thinking lots of sewing time, but I have the Spring Cleaning urge so I am going to use that energy while I have it.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

It's Scrap Day

Today is (like most days) is scrap day with SARAH'S inspiration to use them, manage them, and store them.  I am more about using them.

While pulling my various project totes to line up for April organization, my abundant amount of scrap solids came crashing off the shelf.  Well, some of it as there is more on the shelf.

Some left over Kona White JR strips - I buy a lot of those babies when on sale.  Some colorful match stick rails for a charity quilt - remember the button is on the sidebar for Hands2Help.

 

This went together so quickly - just the top and bottom scrappy border to put on.  Now I hate borders, but these will get done and I have the perfect back for it.  A quick sandwich up this afternoon and it will get quilted this weekend.

I have lots of block play today.  Solstice, geese, puss-in-the-corner, and the new Diary block.  All of these are being made with scraps.  I've been saving the Moda 'BlockHead' patterns and will start them in April.

A rainy day, a good day to play,

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Monday Making 3/27/17

I will be joining BETH today with some fun play time.  I just fell in love with her tiny H blocks, so........

a grand way to use up those scraps from the barrels.  My 1.5" squares are just crammed in that barrel and I am using up some of my 3.5" squares out of the other barrel.  Yeah I have strips I could use, but I need to tame these barrels.

Find time to play,

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon 

Whoop Whoop Friday 3/24/17

Well, I caught up all my blocks for the various QALs and then went looking for something I could move along to the next stage.  I found a lonely looking plastic shoe box tote with no clue - surprise!  My Temecula Quilt Co 'Circa 2016' was hiding in there.  Luckily all the parts, yardage  , and my notes for final assembly were in there.

I have no problem setting things on point, but I remembered several people struggled to get things to 'work out' with assembly.   I am working mine in a different way than they had shown - so it will all go together without a lot of curse words.  I think I delayed on this piece, because it is like adding row upon row of "borders" - that dreaded word.  But I am going to get this thing done at least to it's last border - only because I don't have a fabric for that last border.  So it is important to get to that flimsy stage and then I can make a trip to the LQS that carries my beloved 'Marcus' fabrics to pick out that final border.

It is to be a wintry mix of snow, sleet, rain, and wind for the next few days - BUT, we are moving toward a warming trend.  Several days of good stitching weather and then out and about  - cabin fever!

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

It's Block Day

Wednesday is Block Making Day!  I am following a number of QALs that have their blocks released on Wednesday and I love that I can put the old machine thru her paces; as well as work a variety of techniques.

The hexie flower baskets are all done and it is time to put them into their on-point setting corners.  I have each matched up with some fun fabrics - a mix of American Jane and Feed Sacks.

The Geese will fly for Temecula Quilt Co, some more plaid patches, the newest Solstice block and then I had my arm twisted.  Blockheads with Moda's Cutting Table - I mentioned I needed to work more in taming those CW tubs.

The new baggy for storing selvedges is getting stuffed pretty quickly.  Some are from yardage, but most ore from FQs that I am trying to use up.  And I am excited to see that thread cone getting down to 'skinny'!!  Remember, I keep a thread inventory instead of a stash use report.  Being a scrap user, thread tells me how much fabric has been used up.

It's a cold, blustery day - a good day to stitch away,
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Monday Making 3/20/17

With a weekend reserved for catching up on handwork projects, I need to hit the sewing machine.  I will be joining BETH today with some creative making.

I want to complete step three of 'TWO STEP' (button on sidebar).  I have half of the background/scrap HSTs to go and then the few two color scrap HSTs.  I am trying to use up my very over-flowing tub of CW prints.  This photo doesn't show the huge pile on top or the other tub.

Since that won't take long to do, I have my next mini from Bleeker Street ready for quilting.  This should go quickly, too.  Binding is ready and some embellishments to add after quilting.

I have some light housework to do and a quick errand in town, but I am going to enjoy my day of Making.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon

Help for Hexie-Aholics

I think SARAH has me looking for Hexies to play with.  Did you notice my one tree in the next Bleeker Street piece?  Our guild had the pleasure of Sarah's class and trunk show and think she has turned a few of us to the dark side.

Here is my pile of large rosettes so far.  I really need to find something that ties these all together as I am getting down to a few layer cakes and I want to be sure I have what I need for a finish.  I really would like to start putting this one into something more 'solid' so could use some suggestions.

And because it is was also Feline Friday the same day as 'Hexie', I thought I would put Moe into the spotlight (not sure where Bella is).  He was helping me prep some fabric for my Monday Making project.  Actually he wouldn't let me touch anything I laid here (and the scratches tell the tale).  So I would sneak something and cut on the other table.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon 

Head Above the Snow

Yes, I think we have our head above all that snow.  This storm is more typical of our NorEast winter weather, we just have gotten 'soft' as there have been too many mild ones.  So what does one do when snowed in?

Actually I had this little piece done before the storm, but I wanted to wait for WENDY to put up her post of all the photos people sent to her.  This is part of the Bleeker Street QAL - a free pattern.  I have plenty of large quilts in progress, so I am using parts of this to make a few wallhangings instead - and using up my scraps.

  
She has part 2 posted and I am working up an idea for another mini with the pattern.   I am enjoying this QAL by just adding some fun to it.

I think this is my 'storm' project.  I quilted this when we had the horrible lightening/thunder storm and did the binding and label during a snow storm.  This is a free pattern on Connecting Threads (page 3) that I had saved and used as one of my Let's Book It projects long ago.

The next Solstice block got made with that 'ghost trees' scrap in the center.  I have just a 4" square of it left and that will get worked in another block - used up.  A binding ready for another H2H charity quilt (the one Moe was laying on, on the ironing board).  Twenty more geese blocks for the Temecul Quilt Co QAL.  And 10 more plaid patches - yes, those are really tiny plaid prints in cocoa and it is used up.

The next set of blocks prepped (actually made) for the Patchwork Sampler QAL.  These work up really quickly - as long as I do them while the furkids are napping.

And I got further along with Millicent.  I hope to get her finished this weekend so I can start putting her into a mini.  I have some scraps and orphan blocks pulled with a plan.  She's got a bit O'green - 

Enjoy your St. Patty's Day
Sewingly Yours,
Sharon

Stella

 My favorite view just off my back porch and to give you a start to Storm Stella.  We were almost snow free when this rolled in around 2am.

Yes, a bit tilted as the snow was blown half way up the door and I got it open enough to stick my arm out for a shot.  The furkids couldn't understand why Momma wasn't opening the door all the way for them or what was this wall of white doing there.

Toward my brother's house and getting ready to go out for the second round of shoveling.

There is a walkway from my porch to half way to this barn and then the walk runs to the big grey barn to my Mom's porch.  I felt like I was shoveling 3 miles of walk!

  
My brother out in this awful stuff plowing constantly.  And the snow coming down harder.  Where did the walk go?  My Mom's porch buried, again.

And it got worse - finally it was declared NO TRAFFIC and county plows were pulled off the roads (several of them went off roads) because it got impossible to see.  That's when we said 'enough' - we will start again in the morning.

Trying to get out the backdoor and porch so I can start shoveling.  We got 30" of snow, then high winds that just made mountains.  Its was brutal out there.

We start all over again.  Bits of work here, then there, eventually it was all cleared.  Snow was blown pretty well off the roofs - not that I was about to clear them.  But we cleared out dryer vent and other special areas - our county Emergency Website had a list of items to check - they were getting a lot of CO2 calls.  There were two local dairy barns that collapsed from the weight of the snow and a church was lost to fire (heavy snow on the lines).  Now we wait to see how much we get with the weekend storm.

The furkids - Bella spent most of the storm in the guest bedroom - under the bed - (she is afraid of the winds) and Moe just took comfort where ever.  How he got on my ironing board (again) without knocking it over?

I hope to get out for a bit in the morning (and no not to shovel snow, but probably will have to) for a few errands.  I will share my sewing time pieces tomorrow.

Sewingly Yours,
Sharon 

Monday Making 3/13/17

I will be joining BETH today with some busy 'making' time.  I have a couple of small charity quilts that need quilting.

First up is the Sophia quilt and my own princess seems to like this one as I just cannot get her to stay off.  Maybe I'll prep the other and use my SIL's machine (her;s is at my house) to get that quilted.  Although she probably will switch places - I can jump from one machine to the other as the kitty naps on which ever.

We are expecting a real blizzard in this area (like so many others), so if I go silent - we lost power.  Then it will be hand work.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon 

Slow Stitching & H2H

I have had a rush on to finish up two wallhangings and one very large quilt, which I will share later this week.  Today I want to join KATHY for some slow-down time.

I would really like to finish 'dressing' the next bag lady - 'Millicent' - as well as get those bags done.  Maybe even the kitty in the pocket.  That will leave just a few items for next weekend - or maybe one of those frightful windy nights again.

I get so excited for this project each year.  This is H2H's 7th year and I have participated every year.  Today SARAH has the three charities listed or you can follow her guidelines (very relaxed) as well as a form to sign up.  Signing up is not required (but it helps Sarah know roughly how many are participating), but there are several dates and steps along the way - with give aways.  Charity work is very dear to me as a quilter, please consider joining H2H this year.  Thank you Sarah for all the hard work you put into this venture each year.

Sewingly Yours,

Sharon