to do: one monthly goal

 I didn't get a single one of my One monthly goals for October done. No, not one. I did finish 3 quilts, but, they were not on the list - 4 patch x , Aunt Mary's double chain, patriotic boxy stars.

That makes November goals easy to decide. But, I think I need to keep it simple. It is crunch time for long arm client Christmas quilts.  I need to make sure I can get them done. I will try to sneak this in for quilting after thanksgiving.

1. quilt big easy Christmas -   I don't have a start date for this one, it was a class at a quilt store that has been closed a long time. I was in love with the Christmas fabric. One of the owners had made a quilt with the fabric and offered the class. I have the back pieced and the binding made.

big easy Christmas

I have used my sewing time to sew, here and there, whatever is close by the machine. I have spent 2020 with a finishing mindset, and I am missing plain old patchwork piecing. However, that can turn into too many new quilts getting started....again.  One thing stays the same, I love scraps, and I  love that they find their way to me through the kindness of friends.

I am linking:

Monday Making

design wall monday 

oh scrap

boms away 

I am linking to:

to do tuesday

chameleon color linky _

oh scrap

One monthly goal

4 patch x finish

I began this 4 patch x in  January 2016. It's a bonnie Hunter pattern from her book more adventures with leaders and enders. I enjoyed the piecing, especially the 4 patches. There is something classic about random 4 patches made from scraps. I love yellow as a color, so, I had no trouble going with the same color scheme as Bonnie.

74 x 84

I used a vintage calico for the binding. Using something like that makes me smile. I know it was vintage, as it was only 36 inches wide. I used a left edge foot, and, attached the binding by machine. I had a 100% cotton sheet the right size for the back. I can't seem to quilt up the pile of waiting to be quilted. As soon as I quilt one, I recount, and, there is the same number. sigh.....

I'm linking to:

TGIFF

TGIFF different     here  and here

Whoop Whoop

creations

phd 20
peacock party
oh scrap
from bolt to beauty
UFO busting

oh scrap

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

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

trimming cross blocks

I think I have made all the alternate cross blocks for wild and goosey. I need to trim them down to an odd size.

While on a call with my daughter, I worked on the sashing pieces for 4 patch x found in Bonnie Hunter's book More Adventures with leaders and enders.

Then, after already making them all, I decided to try them out to see if I like them. Hmmm not so much yet. I sure hope they grow on me. I think they need to be lighter. sigh...

I have a couple of orders for Rug hooking frame cozies I needed to get done. They make rug hooking so much more comfortable.

We are still waiting for rain to subside. Schools closed early because of roads flooding. We have standing water in our woods. The grass likes all the rain. But I am developing web feet.

I am linking to:

TGIFF

Finished or Not Fridays

Whoop Whoop

Crazy Mom QUilts

pickled eggs

And time for pickled eggs...
My Mother used to say just a little more sugar than vinegar was the secret to great eggs.

For a dozen eggs, I use the juice of the beets and 1/2 cup sugar over the top, 1/2 cup vinegar, and 1/2 cup water. Heat it enough to dissolve the sugar and pour it in the jar.

The last several years, I have suspected that something is different in the eggs we buy, as they are extremely difficult  to peel. We tried baking soda, cream of tartar, a bamboo steamer, and baking them in the oven. We stopped having hard boiled eggs for awhile, until I tried the instant pot. They work like a dream. I use 5 minutes on high pressure. Here are the instructions. I love it, and we are back to hard boiled eggs again.

I have made more of these. I have 7 more to go.

And I finished a customer quilt.

In my little world, this is the second time I have quilted this pattern for two different customers - small world.

I am linking to:
needle and thread thursdays
oh scrap

small quilt group

My small quilt group met last night and there were just 3 of us. It was more laid back and mellow, and almost too quiet.
My first goal was to get all the Irish Chain blocks trimmed and pressed better. done

My second goal was to start piecing the blocks for Bonnie Hunter pattern 4 patch x. I have had the 4 patches done for some time. It was at a stage for a quick grab and go. Mindless piecing and every bit moves it closer to becoming a quilt.

The hard part for this quilt will be the squaring it up with lots of bias edges. And it is supposed to be 8 3/4 inches unfinished. They are close, very close but.......
Here is it what it should look like someday.

Besides the yummy pitch in food, There was a whole stack of quilt magazines  and scraps to sort through to distract us. So I didn't sew as much as I thought I would.


Linda O shared her new rag quilt finish with us. This is a big cuddly quilt. Everyone in her family is requesting it - she may have to draw names LOL

Shelly spent the evening cutting up shirts into 10 inch squares, 5 inch squares, 2 inch squares, and 2 1/2 inch strips. She had an impressive stack of plaids that made me want to dig into my shirt stockpile (hoard). I am not brave enough to cut without an actual plan. But she wanted to have them organized. My crazy mind says but what if I want a 3 1/2 inch square!? or something 18 inches long?! Still I am thinking about it.

And a few more blocks for Happy Birds, my actual goal for the month. Which for some reason is like pulling teeth.

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