diamond strings

I have the center of the diamond strings together. I think I have the the measurements for the ribbon border calculated with the help of my daughter.

we spent some time yesterday at the nursery looking for a Christmas Rose ( perennial)  and sweet potato slips.
Our first stop was Garden Gate in Peru. No luck for either one. Our second stop was at Adler seeds here in town and they had the sweet potatoes. I guess I will have to order the Christmas rose.
Our Grandson wanted to drive the cart. Hmm,,, some of that May race fever in Indiana lol

We met the other Grandma and my Granddaughters at the cemetery for Memorial Day to put flowers for their mommy. It's hard to believe it's been almost 8 years.

I am linking to:
WOW
Midweek Makers
Jo's Country Junction UFO
Bee Social

Silly Mama WIP

Wild and Goosey finish

I have a finish. And this is my One monthly goal for May and my UFO 2017. So far I have 5 for 5. I wasn't sure I would be able to completely finish this  in one month. But I did! After I pushed past the secondary block, I was just so excited with each step. The wind made pictures a challenge.  I think I am naming it Cross Geese but it is using the wild and goosey pattern from Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville

It finished 75 x 95. I used 48 goosey blocks  or 172 copies of the actual pattern. When I started, well first I said I would never make this one, I don't like paper piecing, but then I had a friend who was making it, and they were so cute...... So when I started, I knew I would never just sit and sew the geese straight through, I decided to aim for one a day. It became a habit to sit down to sew and grab one, and sew, and then move on to whatever project I was planning for the day.. I began to look foward to making them.

There was a crisis moment to the plan, when Bonnie's book addicted to scraps was available. I had started with these from Quiltmaker magazine with an idea of how I wanted to finish it. When the book came, I wondered if I would ever be happy if I didn't do it as awesome as Bonnie's. I decided I was dedicated to the one in my head. Bonnie's quilt would require a bazillion more goosey blocks.

I haven't unloaded my bits and pieces box that I kept by my sewing machine. It is had become such a part of my sewing life that I might actually miss it. There is this inspirational picture..........

I also learned that many small acts can make a big impact. I attached my scripture reading to the same process, If I could make this quilt one block a day, I could read a chapter in my scriptures every day which was more important anyway. And since the older I get, the more I am tired, I need to be satisfied with little bites of energy and time and make the most of it.

I am linking to:
Fiber Tuesday
Free Motion by the River
and one monthly goal
too cute tuesday

strings and birds

The formal outdoor picture of Happy Birds quilt- a pattern from Jen Kingwell.

I had a chance to string piece on Saturday. I am working on the pink blocks from Zuckerwate. This is a Bonnie Hunter pattern from her book string fling. They are only 5 inches so they are going rather quickly. Two Saturdays, and I might get them done.

The last set of string blocks I made, have been made into 1/2 square triangles and joined together in rows.

My daughter worked on her green strings with me ( via hangouts) and she is adding them to her hourglass quilt.

I am linking to:

Making Monday

Moving it Forward Monday 

main Crush Monday

design wall monday

stash report may 28 2017

It's time to come clean. sigh... Joann had a 75% off quilt bundle coupon which included fat quarters, jelly rolls, and charm packs. So I went overboard.  i bought mostly colors that read a color. I know I bought too much, but Ididn't realize just how many yards I would have to report. There was 70 yards. Oh my. but a jelly roll for 6.00 is pretty inspiring.and it's already cut.

Stash report

Fabric Used this Week:0 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 192 1/4 yards
Fabric Added this Week:73 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 169 1/4 yards

Net Fabric for 2017: 22.75 yards more used than added

at least I am still in the black

beautiful batiks 3 yards 

I have a date with some slow, wonderful hand binding. I really look forward to this part.

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

sharing Sunday

Quilt group

I have it as a top. I found the pieces yesterday in a box of odd fabric stuffs. I sewed it together at small quilt group. This will have to count as my GREEN quilting this week for Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2017. It will make a great donation quilt.

This was a stunning project from Linda O

And a wonderful boy quilt for a Grandson from Pat S

And Hazel is stitching redwork blocks

I am linking to
 SewCan She
rsc17 super saturday

Discovery

I needed to clean off the design wall and put it away for a visit from our Grandson. There is a bed behind it. The hourglass quilt just needed a few pieces to finish and would be so much better than dumping it in a box and forgetting what I was doing. However, when all the pieces were done, the hourglasses were wrong in the corner. Oh my, I checked and checked. I counted the little tiny squares on the graph over and over. I walked away three times. I rotated the quilt and replaced everything. The counts were right, the hourglasses were right. I gave up and put on my pjs. I went back. Now it was war. This time I started at the first corner, not the two I had been working to piece. And there it was - a mistake in the very first turquoise row, I had not thought to check the already done part. Since it was all pinned and pinned, I sat on the floor to unpick the seam and started rearranging. And finally, it was right.  Argh  and phooey.

It was too late to actually finish sewing.
Only purple left in the basket to add to the quilt.

All the 4 patch x blocks are trimmed

All these string blocks are trimmed and starched

backing and binding are ready for wild and goosey

One of my time outs included a bit of purging and organizing. I found this in a bag of scraps someone had given me.

It appears to be all there. I just had to check and see. I can't save everything. right? It isn't my style but oh well, it will make a good donation quilt after JUST a few seams. There was a bit of purging too. Not enough but some.
Everything may be on hold while we have our Grandson for a week. We may try to have fun:)

I am linking to:

TGIFF

Finished or Not Fridays   

Whoop Whoop

Crazy Mom QUilts

making a border

I decided on my border for wild and goosey, and it would include a collection of 2 x 3.5 inch rectangles that I have cut out of the last of a scrap. Many of these were cut during my Carolina chain cutting marathon here. Bonnie Hunter suggests this size as one part of her scrap user's system. These are great for bricks in a quilt, or as the base for flying geese. I have a small collection, but I haven't ever used them. They are the perfect size for what I want to do in the border.

I cut 2 inch strips from whites and chain sewed these rectangles and 2 inch squares to it.

I ironed them and trimmed them with a 2 inch ruler.

I sewed them together in a dot - dash pattern. One strip full was about 71 1/2 inches which was close to the size across the top and the bottom.

And I want a little white on either side, now I am excited.

I am linking to:
needle and thread thursdays
oh scrap
I may have a scrap problem

ufos

I am running out of design wall for the hour glass quilt and will need to revert to the design floor soon.

I have 2 turquoise sides on the quilt with a third nearly ready.

I am trimming the 4 patch x blocks a little at a time. I didn't trim until I was ready to assemble, and....they didn't fit. I missed the note in the instructions to measure the block, and then cut the sashings 2 inches smaller. I just followed the instructions for the blocks to be 8 3/4. Mine are 9 inches at the smallest. So I am fiddling with that. I may have to cut all new sashings.  sigh...

I have made a decision about the border for wild and goosey and I have a plan, I just need to get to it.

I am linking to:
WOW
Midweek Makers
Jo's Country Junction UFO
Bee Social

Silly Mama WIP

string piecing magic

I had time for a little bit of string piecing this weekend. I used my singer treadle I sure know how to make a mess.

I needed 32 whole blocks by my count.Then I will cut them diagonally for 64 1/2 square triangles. These are all trimmed and de- papered. I was aiming for 8 inch square but the phone book wasn't that big so these were trimmed to 7 1/2 inch square. I can't believe how quickly these blocks were finished while I was treadling away.

I am aiming for making this quilt that I only have a picture to show how to make. I had already made a set of blocks for this quilt, but I cut them diagonally twice so the strings didn't make it visually. I decided I would try again to see if it really made a difference in the look of the quilt.

I am linking to:
Fiber Tuesday

Free Motion by the River

Making Monday

Moving it Forward Monday 

main Crush Monday

design wall monday

stash report May21, 2017

Isn't this wonderful? It is old enough that it is only 36 inches wide. The background color is very popular now. I found it at a flea market.

Judy at Patchwork times has decided to retire from her weekly stash report link up. And I have come to really appreciate it as a way to keep track and journal what I am doing. I realize I can still do the report for myself, but I enjoyed checking in with others to see how they are doing. sigh...
So if you stop by here and have a stash report send me the link.
Stash report

Fabric Used this Week:13 1/2 yards
Fabric Used year to Date: 192 1/4 yards
Fabric Added this Week:3 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 96 1/4 yards

Net Fabric for 2017: 99 yards more used than added

Mostly I have a large pile of fabric I am donating to our guild quilt show.

 I  have 2 full bobbins spun of merino, so I will be ready to ply them together today

I am linking to:

Slow Sunday Stitching

sharing Sunday

green leaves

I made a few flying geese to see if that is what I want in the border, and I think I like the zig zag better - you? I could do both, but then we are missing the point.... those great wild and goosey blocks are the center stage not the borders.

I have grown a few green leaves for the cutting garden for the rainbow scrap challenge. I sure enjoy following the colors and adding a little bit at a time to a future quilt.

Oh the yellow iris is out to play with her friends the green leaves.

I have a new spring t shirt - I just love the saying

I am linking to
 SewCan She
rsc17 super saturday

wonky wishes top

Lots of great suggestions for bordering wild and goosey- thank you so much, but I am still just staring at it.

During my hangout with my daughter, I was able to complete the sewing for wonky wishes. Bonnie Hunter didn't use a border, so I won't. It is ready to be prepared for quilting. I can't believe it is done. There is supposed to be agonizing over borders, right? This wasn't even on the list for this month.

I found this buried in a scrap box. I think I will add it to my already long list for maybe someday. I obviously bought it at goodwill. But, it doesn't take up much room, so rather than get rid of it, I will add it to a project box. That way I can be surprised by it again someday. Cleaning out is difficult for me. I still believe I am going to do everything.

I have the top row and a side row on the hourglass leader/ ender in turquoise. Making the corner is a little puzzle. I can sew 2 colors and a neutral willy nilly but when I reach the corner, I have to think a little differently.

I am making room for coral bells

I am linking to:

TGIFF

Finished or Not Fridays   I am featured today!

Whoop Whoop

Crazy Mom QUilts

vintage blocks

I unearthed some vintage blocks in my semi cleaning. I take forever to finish cleaning, because I want to stop and work on what I find. The word "just" messes with my head. I will JUST sew a few seams. I will JUST cut  a few scraps. And then the birds will sing and the clouds will part and I will succeed.
These blocks were machine sewn, and rather badly. Every block was a different size. I wanted to use the fabric - they are so cool - but I really didn't want to unpick 24 blocks. Then I realized I could trim them  to the same size and cut them apart at the same time.  Wooho - I will JUST do that. and JUST sew them back together.

I decided 4 1/2 inches would fit just about all of them.

Such fun fabrics. I wish I new the time frame. It was before my sewing experience.

I am linking to:
needle and thread thursdays
oh scrap
I may have a scrap problem