tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31558493096809344292024-02-21T07:13:49.923-08:00Wooly QuilterDanahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.comBlogger337125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-91888977073102507172024-02-21T07:13:00.000-08:002024-02-21T07:13:13.504-08:00Starting New Projects Hard to believe we are more than half way through February already! I’m late with my January update and February list. I did spend the better part of the retreat I attended at the end of January working on Indigo Way, and did get all of the cutting finished but am far from having my top completed. I also managed to get the motifs finished on my Hidden Garden rug so all that is left now are the border and background. I did not, however, make much progress on my Twilight Stars blocks. I think I only managed to do two last month, and so far have only done two this month.<div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_8cfe_fbb3_317f_3822" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1RrtBBqeV9x1LZSpCBYdSoz7p-vpbIBdy" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><img alt="" id="id_6713_4d68_e07e_ccb" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1fqajc9aug1jjM3jwf54wb6Wi6Zol93B7" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />Our January TAS program featured Diana Boston, daughter-in-law of Lucy Boston. Her presentation was amazing! Lucy Boston was incredible talented at fussy (or as Diana refers to it, ‘precision’) cutting. Her quilts are truly amazing! I was inspired to dig out my Patchwork of the Crosses project and finish a couple of blocks. Here’s one of them. I find the fussy cutting challenging - I need to work on getting better at figuring out those angles.</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_1a3c_5695_f060_87af" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1wTJd7LMV6c6PIlXG0MAYWmzyD6jztkfg" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />Although I should be focusing on finishing up some of the many, many projects I have already started, I’ve been having a lot of fun starting new projects this year. At the end of last month I jumped into the Tiny Nine Patch (TNP) challenge led by Taryn of Repro Quilt Lover. I am working from little scraps and am really loving the little blocks so far, even if I am not keeping up. I have 31 so far (19 short of being on track). These blocks are 2" unfinished and are super cute.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_611_435f_181e_987b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1SIItWox-PG2RyJJoVXWOsUGDxQvb8Xgs" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><img alt="" id="id_900d_4e68_e507_d4e2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1J9v1hzVnaRKQhe4nboiwQiRvfNzEDUZ5" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><img alt="" id="id_b623_f424_855_ed5c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/12yrtKQxLaqJh6yRW4yInt3bv_K-Eu9va" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I made a quick run over to Mexico, MO on Super Bowl Saturday to check out Homestead Hearth's open house. The store looks great and pretty much everything was 25% off so of course I had to bring home loads of fabric I didn't need. I can't pass up a good deal! And then, of course, I had to stop at Dagwood's for lunch. Their food is delicious! <br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_b0d5_9627_5cfc_5121" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1D4Sg4PvR4uUu-FV1Q9m8b9en8jL-36Jw" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I also got started on the new 2024 Wool Box project from Primitive Gatherings. Here are the first two blocks. Lisa indicated that there may be more embellishments added to the blocks later on. These don't take long to do so I might actually be able to keep up with two every other month.<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_cc47_8aeb_5c7b_f80e" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/d/1_ClXlqq0teqxLU9rDAxpJFNrRI_dR-wS" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 601px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />My focus projects for February are:</div><div><br /></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>TNP - goal is 40 blocks</li><li>Temperature quilt - finishing the tree applique</li><li>Twilight Stars February blocks</li></ol><div>I also want to work on my Hidden Garden rug this month. My goal is to have it completed before I return to Eureka Springs in May. It seems so far off but I know it will be here before I know it!</div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-21656545276788647392024-01-23T08:48:00.000-08:002024-01-23T08:48:39.560-08:00Eureka Springs Retreat & January ProjectsIt's a bit late in the month for a January goals post but it's been a busy month! I have been filling my calendar (and my new quilting planner 😊) with retreats, workshops, and new stitch-alongs I can't resist in preparation for having more free time beginning at some point in 2024. I am hoping I will have plenty of finishes this year, especially some of the quilt tops that "just" need to be quilted and bound - I have a long list of those!<div><br /></div><div>Before jumping into my list, I want to share a couple of quick photos from a recent rug hooking trip to Eureka Springs. I have been attending this retreat for quite a few years now and it is always one of my favorites - a great way to recharge after the chaos of the holidays. I am really looking forward to next year when I might even be able to stay a little longer! It's a big group - I think the final number was around 107 after a few cancellations due to illnesses and crazy weather. We had crazy cold temperatures (below zero a couple of days) and about 5" of snow, which essentially shuts everything down in the mountains of Arkansas. Here's a view from the doorway of the conference center looking up toward the building where my room was - it was a cold and slippery walk!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51giq3cRu1WaTAzmnWcaCkmL7b6Hbq8iAHbctBlrgYlpBAXWH9si_bSHUBNX0G_sw65nVq7RwPnyWKlllG0E0t9UJRUHQQijrqtkaPn0sbzLOzGot8HqP2pqXEUrSjRmHSy2NVXkJGZ5HzDTKGpu3C6l_2FwF5j6c9s0vFeqUR0_3VtTKvf_gFrrolzg/s640/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51giq3cRu1WaTAzmnWcaCkmL7b6Hbq8iAHbctBlrgYlpBAXWH9si_bSHUBNX0G_sw65nVq7RwPnyWKlllG0E0t9UJRUHQQijrqtkaPn0sbzLOzGot8HqP2pqXEUrSjRmHSy2NVXkJGZ5HzDTKGpu3C6l_2FwF5j6c9s0vFeqUR0_3VtTKvf_gFrrolzg/s320/3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>I'd like to say that we were all warm and cozy inside the convention center but that wasn't exactly the case - it was chilly inside too - but it was wonderful in spite of the cold. Here's the view of the hooking room from my chair - I was all the way at the back.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFns5T90MsZiL3_uCFSPGa3cuOsG_QM9moikSTszo9I4uxqg-aLonw9civ8_udEsqmJR5PAGWeb4I4UvTjjxc2GVDaU-Vzsx-bZ02P05pUWV6mSvGy7e0wnCkI1pH_sM83RUkLw2MEqjroYYv2oOo1qOnEYykkojnLhX2bDXBORy5XU1CUq4HmrtzjMdo/s1511/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1511" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFns5T90MsZiL3_uCFSPGa3cuOsG_QM9moikSTszo9I4uxqg-aLonw9civ8_udEsqmJR5PAGWeb4I4UvTjjxc2GVDaU-Vzsx-bZ02P05pUWV6mSvGy7e0wnCkI1pH_sM83RUkLw2MEqjroYYv2oOo1qOnEYykkojnLhX2bDXBORy5XU1CUq4HmrtzjMdo/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>And here's a glimpse of the rug I was working on:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3yTQLTrsJwYkbRVUDA5mpGEszIhE1chZMuV8GZx8gv-pDdf0zHDtdB-bPqtW4r_X60ebILXN5vCGUw6s150dSXm-7vrY3BuPiV3ISCs13EETfxNpYT589RLj2ujwFsTjB7JJneCxbqOTB3bRKyYpbzxoDZtzm5P0DJDbtQLsq5lgZXHN_kj_RsRYYN0/s2016/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3yTQLTrsJwYkbRVUDA5mpGEszIhE1chZMuV8GZx8gv-pDdf0zHDtdB-bPqtW4r_X60ebILXN5vCGUw6s150dSXm-7vrY3BuPiV3ISCs13EETfxNpYT589RLj2ujwFsTjB7JJneCxbqOTB3bRKyYpbzxoDZtzm5P0DJDbtQLsq5lgZXHN_kj_RsRYYN0/s320/1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div>This is my Hidden Garden rug that I started in October at Sally Kallin's in Minnesota. I had hoped to completely finish all the motifs while at the retreat but didn't quite get to them all. I did finish them last night and am now started on the border. I don't usually like to leave all the background for last but because the border uses leftovers from the motifs I needed to finish those first, so now it will take a bit of self-discipline to make myself keep going to get it finished.</div><div><br /></div><div>That brings me to my three focus quilting projects for January - I have decided to start with just choosing three per month rather than creating a long list of WIPs, UFOs, and new starts knowing that would quickly get out of hand. So here are the three quilting projects I want to focus on with what is left of this month:</div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Indigo Way Mystery </li><li>Reproduction Fabrics Tiny Nine Patches</li><li>Twilight Stars (catching up for at least this month)</li></ol><div>On the rug hooking front, I will continue working on Hidden Garden. I will post progress on all at the beginning of February.</div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-32046431964567381272023-12-31T19:31:00.001-08:002023-12-31T19:32:46.696-08:00Goodbye 2023!My plan to get back into the habit of posting regularly seems to have gone the way of most New Year’s resolutions and fizzled by the end of the first quarter. It’s a shame, really, as it is always nice to be able to look back at my travels and the history of my projects (many of which are in progress for a very long time!). It would take far too long to catch up on everything that has transpired since March so I will just have to settle for capturing a few travel highlights and a couple of recent finishes.<div><br></div><div>I visited Primitive Gatherings twice again this year, once in August for an open retreat with a friend and again for the Naughty or Nice Retreat in December. I made a quilt for their 2023 Red, White and Green quilt show and enjoyed seeing my quilt displayed hanging from the ceiling in The Gathering.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_47e2_4c08_a808_be39" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYQnPexc9-2exNY1MdfS1QeYWnAQ7Q0SIVn9jUi00l3MmXIs7nC9ndjeRuPrMuVwGcrfJ4N5ZLCTNgKJO8GHJEm3Pi5GtA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br></div><div>I managed to finish the pieced retreat project while there, although it proved to be a bit more challenging than it should have been. The retreat group had fun trying to come up with a name for it (it started out as “Big Ornament”), and after ruling out a few entertaining but inappropriate options (e.g., “Well Hung”), we landed on “Ho Ho HOliday”.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_a4b6_84fc_f929_1caa" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYRqx9L08LGrUcvKZO8dhDjNziCa6un3vDOxKqw4-OFG3mTGLOb8co2sR59AJv-7IZFeaK4JsFMnRL2rNNs4ASlqCLYI8g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>I also got a start on the Wrapped in Ribbons pattern from the December American Patchwork & Quilting magazine. It isn’t really my kind of project but I got caught up in the excitement and ordered a kit so I figured I would try to knock it out. I was able to finish piecing the top yesterday.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_57dd_e5f9_cb50_174f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYQOOw6GnMAsgFD63mRq0Y4u0PyXnUCOctuhUhclyrjEUX1W9u9v5l5av4qgZT9415dISq3DOkbjtZUNU0qQTy4BNJH_5g" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"> <br>Among my many fun travels this year was a trip to Pine Island, Minnesota for a workshop with Sally Kallin. I started yet another large rig, her Hidden Garden. I am loving this rug and will be taking it with me to Eureka. Below is a picture of Sally’s - mine isn’t nearly that far along. </div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_5a6a_3ab8_6138_5815" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYRWsGmLNabz7vCFj4HwgxYgX37z1ORXiwHUdRe_fGz82Y_e7dNay2NtOwP-xYRAze4TJdxNutegvinKsmg92uHd7Mp8Fg" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>I did manage to completely finish one rug this year, my Antique Basket. I finished hooking another oldie but goodie but it isn’t bound yet so I will save that one for when it is completely done. This may be my favorite rug I have ever made.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_78de_b581_9a99_6f4c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/drive-viewer/AEYmBYSmNuV-KpVywuDWVJQc4zcE4Et-uRvZzcmyjMp-0-bR5-35luNKSmO1Y4vvePUSkIqudYoO_A1Ts4MXd8YgOFxTc5XFiQ" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>As the new year begins I’m already fighting the urge to get sucked into more new stitch-alongs. There are just so many options these days! I do plan to restart my temperature quilt - I decided to put it on hold this year and wait instead to use it to celebrate my retirement year. I’m currently working on the 2023 Bonnie Hunter mystery and am making reasonable progress on the Primitive Gatherings Twilight Stars stitch-along. Let’s see how much willpower and common sense I can muster - I’m going to need it!</div><div><br></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-33308437536876196772023-03-16T07:18:00.000-07:002023-03-16T07:18:00.968-07:00Pieceful Retreating <div>After several weeks of long days and weekends working, I made a last-minute decision to attend the Pieceful Gatherings' Spring Retreat in Crystal Lake, Illinois. Around 60 quilters gathered at the Crystal Lake Holiday Inn for a weekend of stitching that included a workshop with Lynn Wilder of Sew'n Wild Oats. The retreat room was very spacious and the lighting was surprisingly good for a hotel ballroom. </div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" height="300" id="id_b57_88a6_8b92_298d" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/b-AagwpQHUwvPSfiiaZaYfMdCSmpHUbL4eDTRUxPCrm6Xc0UrCO0TnEiDRa3FWhUbGM=w400-h300" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" width="400" /><br />We worked on Lynn's new "Calico Cottages" pattern which includes tiny paper-pieced cabins at the center of log cabin blocks. The cabin centers are 3" finished. <br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_ea4d_f15a_9f71_42c2" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/rfTq6G00Pbi351NXnmxG-amqiJHvHJGw_SFB8e_WoopwucptfO2owsdz9Y-7_yu5yfE" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I didn't work on the class pattern exclusively, but did manage to get two blocks finished while there.<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_13ad_ef92_cc41_2ad7" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/pZJt-s2S6EBkvnIMwkugADSHfMfHVdK-_qtU5fJ9EE-lqAd1Q2lpINQuRwMWLrxj8mE" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />The highlight of the weekend was show & tell - the quilts that were shared were amazing! This is an antique, dated back to the early 19th century, shared by Pieceful Gatherings' shop owner Carrie:</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_a948_bc57_5593_762" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/GzEYNqX4-AoNg261r5KIr6P-wMG3y-QXLEXwizkzeAYtOLDdNcQTeRbYIrjyJKhzPhs" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />This pattern was designed by Lynn and was featured in a class taught at Pieceful Gatherings. This version was made by the person that taught the workshop:</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_d4af_ebe7_aedd_a859" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IIVLVoh_KFK4cqecabg4-L_No1Dm58bmmH9jw2YezSUmzsvJg567JIErRSNwotDchOs" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I have always wanted to do a Lucy Boston quilt and have bought numerous tools (paper pieces, stamps, etc.) over the years. Pieceful Gatherings has been running a Lucy Boston club for a number of years and one of the participants recently finished her version:</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_fabd_c8d0_e623_a906" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/j3zsYA1P4atWIVINWedysFbDmEhSALOU-vU-fVkk5PB2xmferLGahGs8-JFPpt_XGJQ" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />And yes, I am now a club member and have started my first block! I am finding fussy cutting a bit challenging - it's hard to position the paper pieces in exactly the same place every time.<br /><br />I also worked on my Blue Baskets at the retreat. I need to finish up the rails and hand stitch several basket handles but overall have been keeping up with this one fairly well.<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_adde_7794_4561_18ad" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/IFUkU5YZ-Hr6yHyW3eDZLNv83jfshOUda5rH2uEmIfZTi_5LNDqI51AcvdWM8VB3jco" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I am continuing to stitch my tree for my temperature quilt, really hoping to have it finished by the end of the month. I'm also madly working to starch fabrics to get a start on Edyta Sitar's Stars Upon Stars quilt when the sew-along begins next week. I have wanted to do this one for a while and collected BOM kits for it several years ago, so I figure I may as well jump in on it now. </div><div><br /></div><div>So that's three new UFOs added to my list this month. 🤣<br /><br /></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-55510665932391187822023-03-01T05:31:00.004-08:002023-03-01T05:31:38.750-08:00February Update & March OMG <div>Well, it looks like I missed the monthly OMG link-up once again! I started this post last night but ran out of steam. I made some progress on both projects, but with a crazy month at work (February is annual report time, which means working days, nights and weekends) I didn't have much time for stitching or hooking.</div><div><br /></div><div>I did get a start on my tree for my temperature quilt. This thing is large - about 60" tall and wide. </div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_9141_433f_1683_c51d" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/cGYGi2mnDCLyW8REDGf783d65B-HISfPiqAhG0sd9gJts274SDdeWff_LJC9rPhA5Fk" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I had to lay it out on the floor to trace and then baste in place. It took almost a day to do and was very hard on my knees! I am cutting it out as I stitch. I didn't capture a picture but have about one and a half branches and the trunk stitched. It is a bit of a struggle to manage all the fabric when doing needle-turn so it is slow, but I am hoping to finish the tree and start catching up on my leaves in March.<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_292c_fac3_dc1_a143" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/6ORFjyRDNY6jTcs55nBvnK2w2yfhFxFwYw9pUXC8wipOQLimMLV2PNIZ994kTnj6beM" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />Again, work got in the way of meeting my goal on my basket rug, but I did make pretty decent progress. I am going to stick with this project for March also, and this time am confident I can finish. I am hooking it in a 6-cut, even the background, so it does take some time to fill in, but it is pretty easy-going now that all the motifs are finished. <br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_38b2_ed5e_5dec_98d4" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_UOn9xPQ8tWUeYCyqo3W8d-jCXBM2jVFNUNqv8TiTUnnFUqDjuxxTV83DGQafz8uU6A" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 616px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I did manage to find a little time to start up one of the new projects on my "want to do" list - Blue Baskets from Piecing the Past Quilts. I have my first two baskets finished and am nearly done with the second two. I am off to a retreat this weekend and am hoping I can catch up on this weekly stitch-along.<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_27cb_463b_ab45_c19a" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/4S9MRpwVrbl9b1PiVoDCkiGF8DLJnXGArsHzxwfvF-f1I_WMc7EnK_7mGzUFm5NTHPM" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />On a whim - and mostly to celebrate (and get away from) the tough month at work - I decided to grab one of the spots that opened up at Pieceful Gatherings' Spring Retreat in Crystal Lake, IL. I have never been to the shop so am looking forward to visiting, and I have followed the retreat instructor, Lynn Wilder, for many years so am excited to meet her in person and work on one of her latest designs. I am looking forward to a weekend of stitching!</div><div><br /></div><div>I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts <a href="https://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2023/02/Mar23OMGG.html">One Monthly Goal</a> again this month - let's see if I can remember to post my updates before the end of the month this time!<br /></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-78570558705470681882023-02-04T17:53:00.001-08:002023-02-04T17:55:53.687-08:00January Travels & February OMGI had a fantastic time in Eureka Springs in January! Good food, great company, and lots of fun.<div><br /><div><img alt="" id="id_6a01_1fb8_1a04_a957" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/uqI59qA_2JIVTTdE9UbjVyTUVPE7Y6DXoyEz-eEN1K8M7TqLlhzjkYYVOEsV6VhbhsQ" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><div><br /></div><div>I made significant progress on my rug - it is still far from finished, but much, much closer. My rug hooking OMG for Feb will be to finish this one off (hooking, that is - I’m not making any promises on binding)!<div><br /><div><img alt="" id="id_143d_1691_c063_5709" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5nR3BZVru0mio1RoOum5hgZLukKu9gqdijlAXEwXPxzZFtd2qtjP9zLP05HOCULVRQE" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 432px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I didn’t quite make my goal of 50 orange peels. I managed to do 39, bringing my total for the one year, one per day challenge to 346. Not too bad! I played around with piecing some of them together last weekend. I only made four blocks but I can already tell I’m going to love it once it is finally together.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_f481_a1bc_c18a_13eb" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/hsIF1h0N2tTljtqUVgmiJzjy7uSneMhVu9Eiz9QOD22n41bTLvuRjuJOU043L5Xci2I" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />There are so many new projects I want to start! A temperature quilt, the TQS block of the month, the latest Laundry Basket Quilts stitch-along, and more. My OMG for February is my temperature quilt. I am making a tree with split leaves representing the high and low. I need to piece the background and tree fabric and get the tree basted to the background and catch up on leaves (I’ve only made about 10 so far). </div><div><br /></div><div>I’m linking up with Elm Street Quilts <a href="https://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2023/02/Feb23OMG.html" id="id_b501_95b_501f_c914">One Monthly Goal</a> once again this month - and will try to get my wrap-up posted before the link closes this time!</div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-31103939776270973242023-01-06T14:55:00.003-08:002023-01-24T04:37:17.523-08:00Trying to Focus: January 2023 OMG<p>For whatever reason, the start of a new year always tempts me to start new projects. Temptation comes at me from all angles - new quilt-alongs from my favorite designers, challenges initiated in my quilting groups, my annual January rug camp, and even magazines. I usually go for months - years even - without seeing a single project in a magazine that tempts me, but while trying to catch up on reading over the holidays I found three projects I am dying to start, two of which are hand-pieced. I am trying hard to resist temptation but know I will cave eventually. So my goal for January is to make significant progress on a couple of aging projects even if I do start something new.</p><p>On the quilting side, I plan to focus on my orange peels. I participated in a Facebook challenge to stitch one per day from Feb 2022- Jan 2023. Most months I did pretty well, with the exception of December when I spent all my free time stitching binding. I am on track so far for January. Unfortunately the project I am working on requires 900 orange peels, so even with the 150 or so I had before I started the one-a-day I am only half way finished. So my goal for January is to step up the pace - aiming for 50 this month - and to start piecing the ones that I have finished into blocks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFO_SH-zwzaRsh829zfouZRF3lAXDRD3Vv2RZ6zne7FDusNiFrO3RZIedGmSSXzu164CkFll2Wo8rHHYiT5XRWneaEbuGx33CBpl_5dz5H25zmc3M5l1aH4FlRY-0yZGZWDgkpUHRNvr48WQ1l3XZfKwSshBXqpEjMqDSQdP9uYE6QtlSTWy06oeS/s640/Peels.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFO_SH-zwzaRsh829zfouZRF3lAXDRD3Vv2RZ6zne7FDusNiFrO3RZIedGmSSXzu164CkFll2Wo8rHHYiT5XRWneaEbuGx33CBpl_5dz5H25zmc3M5l1aH4FlRY-0yZGZWDgkpUHRNvr48WQ1l3XZfKwSshBXqpEjMqDSQdP9uYE6QtlSTWy06oeS/s320/Peels.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>On the rug hooking side, I started my Antique Floral Basket rug back in May 2019. I absolutely love this rug but it is large, I am hooking it with a small cut, and it is a bit tedious figuring out what to put where. My goal for this month is to make significant progress on it while at Eureka Springs. I would love to finish hooking it, but after taking it off the frame to take a picture I realize that I have a lot farther to go than I thought!</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckIDpGzFSkhEb9Sm0Nj5sbe3-KqNaLEcWMRQXhLpWxS7CrSiEyTHJiae8AVCaYhhp1ZvIENCz4HJuW9YLI1ry4mabR0Ii3ouDgxJArf2gFjioM1_VOmFNZpxCaZAl7QlGM2HIqSfcvOGpNpIhEaA9zdEfVEoaAz0-YqDrli3llQvmykLxaFMbRAqX/s640/Basket.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckIDpGzFSkhEb9Sm0Nj5sbe3-KqNaLEcWMRQXhLpWxS7CrSiEyTHJiae8AVCaYhhp1ZvIENCz4HJuW9YLI1ry4mabR0Ii3ouDgxJArf2gFjioM1_VOmFNZpxCaZAl7QlGM2HIqSfcvOGpNpIhEaA9zdEfVEoaAz0-YqDrli3llQvmykLxaFMbRAqX/w478-h269/Basket.jpg" width="478" /></a></div><br />I'm linking up with Elm Street Quilts' <a href="https://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2023/01/OMGJan23Goal.html">One Monthly Goal</a> again this year to try to keep myself on track. I just hope that I don't fall in love with any other new projects while checking out what everyone else is working on! <p></p>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-68309920689825255272023-01-01T13:59:00.002-08:002023-01-01T13:59:52.554-08:002022 'Done & Dusted'Wow - I only managed to do two posts last year! I took so many photos with the intention of posting but just never got around to it. I did manage to make a fair amount of progress on a number of projects last year, and even finished a couple. Here's what I've been up to since my last post... <div><br /></div><div>In September, the weekend following Baltimore on the Prairie, I headed back across Missouri to attend the ATHA Biennial in Kansas City, KS. It was a quick trip, but I did attend a workshop with Keith Kemmer on coverlet rugs. It was a fantastic class and the project was so much fun to hook I had to keep going on it when I got home. I haven’t bound it yet but love how it turned out.<br /><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_b1a7_c4c3_88c7_5424" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/GLwEn-6Sitc_EnI6wX081twu8fytgqPhrwwSyoF2TX2-e3HyqOl1cpM4HIdO--UVTi8" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />Early in the year I had committed to participate in the Primitive Gatherings Red & White Quilt Show. Of course I didn’t get around to starting my project until way too close to the deadline, so I had to come up with something that could be accomplished relatively quickly. I finished stitching the binding on this one the last possible day I could mail it to meet the deadline. I named this one "Nine Squared" (so imaginative, I know!).<br /><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_ba32_23e3_60db_5bad" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Pd-xNZXaiz_0iS9ui-tzatnnqVmNca8ztsgMkNClPTYDdVMXOIxnp0TbuvSveHG6tok" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I was thrilled to be able to head up to Primitive Gatherings for the second annual "Naughty or Nice" retreat in December and was able to see the show in person. My quilt was hanging from the ceiling of The Gathering. It was so much fun to sew while immersed in all the beautiful red and white quilts! This was the view from my table (with my quilt in the distance).<br /><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_9518_6450_f591_8392" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/TjHg5wTuflqq580BgiGheqxDC_WJz1W74-nPxzz1QtjZL8g6CY8H_zPASuckN2lD9to" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I had been trying to come up with an idea for a quilt for my granddaughter for quite a while. Unlike her older brother, she never shows much interest in anything in particular - she basically just plays with whatever he is playing with. When I saw this quilt kit at Itch'n to be Stitch'n I knew it was perfect for her, and decided it would make a great Christmas gift accompanied by a stuffed fox and a fox storybook. Of course, I made this decision the first weekend of December, so I had to sew like a maniac to get it pieced, quilted and bound. She really seemed to like it.<br /><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_2685_4ee5_ed5e_5749" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/t9S9LTPiaaFXmZztOriGmv_6-R-UxuIw2WuCeRfM9rkdQjHbdObMYVT5qBRNZXEWxuk" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />And then I completely lost my mind and decided that I should finish this project from the Naughty or Nice retreat for my grandson. I finished stitching the binding Christmas Eve morning. I found an adorable stuffed snowman and a couple of snowman story books to go with it. He is obsessed with snowmen and has asked for a snowman birthday party for the second year in a row, so it was perfect for him.<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_75bb_41c9_4ea5_cd4" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/6wq9t1Fu_W7NgFzSjTjIvJjdmjnRkNg55t_vDuHD38P2pBEp9COjs93x1xuidsoYDp8" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I did spend a little time at retreat working on my Letters to Santa quilt. These words are really fun to make! Here's where I got to this year. I can't work on Christmas projects after the holidays so this one will be packed away and pulled out again around November.<br /><br /></div><img alt="" id="id_1110_447f_8f77_a879" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/xnwjMbhFDJh86uJ1yf3WlSgw3VxRstARBYTQ7IT0OeSNokAHwjhd39rPEmRFPMn9QJ0" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />Last, but not least, is the quilting project I want to focus on finishing first in 2023. This is Stars All Around, the 2022 summer pieced project from Primitive Gatherings. The assembly is very simple but complicated at the same time - it's like assembling a puzzle and you have to be very careful to keep all the pieces in the right places. Below is the center. I am working on the outer blocks now.<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_bb20_8a2e_7f5d_2ee" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/g4URRIQ5L0LPSckDdfBRjmddYnMPEvd3eeDmNNNTaqgoBKaytG74H_IXhMYf1Z8u7v8" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I don't have a picture of the rug I am focused on finishing first this year. It's the Antique Basket pattern I started at Janice's several years ago. It's a large rug and I am hooking it in a six cut so progress is slow, but I am hoping I can make a serious dent in it when I head to Eureka Springs later this month.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have at least three (maybe four) new projects I want to start this month. I should be spending my time cleaning and organizing my sewing room as I had originally planned to do this week, but starting a new project sounds a lot more fun. I'm heading there now and will see if temptation or self-discipline wins. Happy New Year!</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-80017333670592881012022-08-16T10:36:00.002-07:002022-08-16T11:11:43.284-07:00Catching Up (Again)!I’m not sure where the time goes - seems like this year has flown by! I keep snapping photos of projects with the intention of posting but then weeks go by and a post never seems to materialize. I have lots of catching up to do!<div><br /></div><div>Earlier this year (Easter Sunday, to be exact) I finished The Village quilt. It was gifted to a wonderful friend that hosted my daughter for four months while she completed her last optometry rotation in Kansas City. It was such a fun quilt to make - I think I might have to make another one for me one of these days.<br /><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_62fe_117c_fe6b_647a" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/SGp-eUYjYuJODa6YwWPUvIzPoVlz4zQwBc1nGZLze7tcUlYf6AgwvmSL0GY8OK6XFz0" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I finally finished my 2021 Quiltville Mystery top at a retreat in July. I decided to go with an alternative setting I borrowed from a post I saw on Facebook since I wasn't a huge fan of Bonnie's final layout. My color choices turned out to be a bit odd when all together, but I’m okay with it. I think I will let this obe be my last - I don’t intend to get sucked into the mystery fervor this year. I just have too many other things I’d rather work on!</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_e452_eaee_21b9_890c" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Nwdd2av2_kR60qQgt24Yf-BlXS73-va4mP3Bt7Oq_Jqe-RI7AeLqvhjxaWPMKPmt1GU" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I will save my latest adventures in rug hooking for another post to avoid this one getting insanely long. My most recent quilt-related trip was to Primitive Gatherings, a.k.a. Quilter’s Heaven. I managed to get quite a bit accomplished while there. I worked on my Oh Say Can You Sew, completing steps two and three, and then worked a bit on my Stars All Around summer block project.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_fcbc_4ffb_bd30_789b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Vvk2UDlEAHE0NQCJkUG14wl3t1-qINXw1O8_z11KMEM0c-vMGbs5ldMYbE8q8xYl0-o" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I also got started on Moda’s Letters to Santa stitch-along. These words are so fun to make but eat up considerably more fabric than I expected. I had to do a little web-surfing and order more so “Christmas” can match “Merry”. The fabric arrived over the weekend and is starched and ready to go if I get any sewing time this weekend.</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_15c3_4993_9d6b_a344" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/72AcCv6ToSGCFryFBO1a1xdXrqm0utSYBYZewpeorWizJ5_P6z_9ob0xzLKCt3T2hG4" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /></div><div>That’s enough for this time around. I am determined to not let another six months lapse before my next post!</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-33502237059688417042022-01-01T18:59:00.003-08:002022-01-01T18:59:32.757-08:00December 2021 Wrap-up<p>Where did 2021 go? I can’t believe it’s already 2022. It’s crazy how a pandemic can cause time to both drag and speed by simultaneously. The past year was crazy busy between work, resuming many in-person events, and having the opportunity (too many opportunities) to participate in workshops and programs via Zoom. I definitely need to exercise more self control when it comes to signing up for online activities this year!</p><p style="text-align: left;">I have a lot of catching up to do - I actually made a lot of progress on various projects last year - but to keep this post from getting too far out of hand I will limit my update to December activities. I started the month with back-to-back retreats which gave me time to put together a St. Louis Blues t-shirt quilt for my future son-in-law and to finish assembling the Christmas tree lap quilt I started at the end of 2020.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJGrH_R4CYMXv8IX0Ad7aa8SsXBjDeSl40lLdT6830wPBm27eSTZcBd4m2NOhWcGmZmKjunBmKYfpYRVAuxEgNDKZSZDb2mfWKsIrGXce3e3r46nft9jPVxlqKLjr9-BrIr1v9bSjon9VS1Pp7uHr3WGS4iudjpMerdvi7drY_9XFQBcrCrHVZcbR9=s3141" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3141" data-original-width="2953" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJGrH_R4CYMXv8IX0Ad7aa8SsXBjDeSl40lLdT6830wPBm27eSTZcBd4m2NOhWcGmZmKjunBmKYfpYRVAuxEgNDKZSZDb2mfWKsIrGXce3e3r46nft9jPVxlqKLjr9-BrIr1v9bSjon9VS1Pp7uHr3WGS4iudjpMerdvi7drY_9XFQBcrCrHVZcbR9=w376-h400" width="376" /><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgJGrH_R4CYMXv8IX0Ad7aa8SsXBjDeSl40lLdT6830wPBm27eSTZcBd4m2NOhWcGmZmKjunBmKYfpYRVAuxEgNDKZSZDb2mfWKsIrGXce3e3r46nft9jPVxlqKLjr9-BrIr1v9bSjon9VS1Pp7uHr3WGS4iudjpMerdvi7drY_9XFQBcrCrHVZcbR9=s3141" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finished stitching the binding on this one around 10 PM on the 23rd, just in time to get it wrapped and under the tree for our celebration on Christmas Eve. I’m happy to report that he seemed to really like it!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilHZK_g-wSFezd6RlDekzImm3hQjS8Gn4UFmW4X90sZ17806z2HSHWnly48zDt4er-GKm5YJqKYoaexvFrX3XhuiirGBFroaiCdlLT2e0l4EQoVMIYNt6PYmIGFOnED_W11YeSakqXv95vHmhGcrGTNe9X1PQoGP6KfQcwjz7eiPp4IssOGgjSNmTI=s2988" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2894" data-original-width="2988" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilHZK_g-wSFezd6RlDekzImm3hQjS8Gn4UFmW4X90sZ17806z2HSHWnly48zDt4er-GKm5YJqKYoaexvFrX3XhuiirGBFroaiCdlLT2e0l4EQoVMIYNt6PYmIGFOnED_W11YeSakqXv95vHmhGcrGTNe9X1PQoGP6KfQcwjz7eiPp4IssOGgjSNmTI=w400-h388" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I still need to quilt this one, but with the holidays over it may sit until next year. I have a tough time working on Christmas projects outside of December.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My second December retreat was Primitive Gatherings’ Naughty & Nice event. It was my second trip to The Gathering - the first was an impromptu decision to go for the first week they were officially open in August after hearing (to my amazement) that they had lots of openings. I couldn’t resist going back when I heard that Lisa was planning to have the place decorated with red & white quilts. It was a wonderful event! The Gathering (which is an awesome retreat facility) was gorgeous!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRJHGUUKRwPpH1rwVvwPMMVFj6Y_V9fOKd6EtugQxQnJuW35lvuiLJGnotHHu1ITdTb3I5FTjEvINqSUS7dd9mfqNs003qyOayGGkNTvkqRDYHzWBmEDn-qlD1vyRPu2zHRD-pTxudla-O8CtNczjOvvglFNG6D2y2umFOZ1Tda2A9ovShDn1lckix=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgRJHGUUKRwPpH1rwVvwPMMVFj6Y_V9fOKd6EtugQxQnJuW35lvuiLJGnotHHu1ITdTb3I5FTjEvINqSUS7dd9mfqNs003qyOayGGkNTvkqRDYHzWBmEDn-qlD1vyRPu2zHRD-pTxudla-O8CtNczjOvvglFNG6D2y2umFOZ1Tda2A9ovShDn1lckix=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5_VdhYJHXFwdrCvHb4x69r8Lxdxf54Hbux1QLEIw5TiymbJ69Mp8YEkfWDdK-T5gqOOI_haJudJkHJb9_u_E21SV726Ou7zZYVZjdlasQdpo-btNZCy9qgePQoi2eS1IN1vMAxOpAD5NiOauKGolEK8pBEkjyOqSIKfurJjDBtSkvOt9st_Hxl0l8=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5_VdhYJHXFwdrCvHb4x69r8Lxdxf54Hbux1QLEIw5TiymbJ69Mp8YEkfWDdK-T5gqOOI_haJudJkHJb9_u_E21SV726Ou7zZYVZjdlasQdpo-btNZCy9qgePQoi2eS1IN1vMAxOpAD5NiOauKGolEK8pBEkjyOqSIKfurJjDBtSkvOt9st_Hxl0l8=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA4ElQVV6bTri1rsPdBTZsBFHboWUmojdtOUcJu88xOlOVndW0osymY0zWI5xJByWztMpVQISDBmtMugyisOWjb1nudQY4SEOfzUo-b58kGjU_GzsuNOT5pERJ8NSQnYzcizkBUBT_8Z6UuHJvMEldxMx4yVJllHG3MgZx8tFNbKjw9GouH6k2IOsP=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA4ElQVV6bTri1rsPdBTZsBFHboWUmojdtOUcJu88xOlOVndW0osymY0zWI5xJByWztMpVQISDBmtMugyisOWjb1nudQY4SEOfzUo-b58kGjU_GzsuNOT5pERJ8NSQnYzcizkBUBT_8Z6UuHJvMEldxMx4yVJllHG3MgZx8tFNbKjw9GouH6k2IOsP=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkdHES9RSZ0Wn6eAYIH5410hQZsAw2OxLFWw3yST94zu0IqkJUa9J-40cgEIc3RP8ZmB_e1w1PH5c197EdNmooLDLlPdK1OFuE45HY4VpuCcXEebGQ2T8kxcNh98tF6Xyu9vSHGQJcY5n1sciRSok1IINATKBBDo2rkG7CrknYVwxKNzIepbWrFDFQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkdHES9RSZ0Wn6eAYIH5410hQZsAw2OxLFWw3yST94zu0IqkJUa9J-40cgEIc3RP8ZmB_e1w1PH5c197EdNmooLDLlPdK1OFuE45HY4VpuCcXEebGQ2T8kxcNh98tF6Xyu9vSHGQJcY5n1sciRSok1IINATKBBDo2rkG7CrknYVwxKNzIepbWrFDFQ=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY9vjlCdPOBx_TExpX-usyO6eBrz0QHpEW-HBJWx9oYhwnXVJJGOfbTZlg7iyz7nGCIREBrUWAERzevCmYADlb2ygBRvnKSEPUc2bdDHrmAPd4L9mQhVlWtbjRBb7OSVM4YHRB62C4C31uI57U8_mTyeqVLD4aXjHswNFICX8Oz0ACTbdoBvwPqY_Z=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjY9vjlCdPOBx_TExpX-usyO6eBrz0QHpEW-HBJWx9oYhwnXVJJGOfbTZlg7iyz7nGCIREBrUWAERzevCmYADlb2ygBRvnKSEPUc2bdDHrmAPd4L9mQhVlWtbjRBb7OSVM4YHRB62C4C31uI57U8_mTyeqVLD4aXjHswNFICX8Oz0ACTbdoBvwPqY_Z=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgouubnU0W9Cp3kYQdcODjLzltuOd2qIvak-9YsHBWvyvvZ4IW6NO4BTYXWCqIpFVUoQxxRnACuuQXoGvgcIT9bISahXIn47AJHSyXnyEttEEuhS4fu1tf1iAxnVbqjA7C0A4dKWCx29gf2Ak40pdXIHg3iCBB8q858NmarX1r9V1HTXFsF9pHkMMlI=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgouubnU0W9Cp3kYQdcODjLzltuOd2qIvak-9YsHBWvyvvZ4IW6NO4BTYXWCqIpFVUoQxxRnACuuQXoGvgcIT9bISahXIn47AJHSyXnyEttEEuhS4fu1tf1iAxnVbqjA7C0A4dKWCx29gf2Ak40pdXIHg3iCBB8q858NmarX1r9V1HTXFsF9pHkMMlI=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTDLIcD-peUcknQc0JpUZrh8RYFLvtegc_3hROnnUdrEZUgleMB0Bb8L81GOdnV9Vv-PYYuX7ETIIWiDyZxumnJch1Ng7Y2OAYswbQbDyRLko14bN8Uxbp1mqjZamgUPwoY_62y_OUgRsTzQef89sdSTgYQeJNQEb9papS69b6B6bVAunfn7FJ_ET2=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTDLIcD-peUcknQc0JpUZrh8RYFLvtegc_3hROnnUdrEZUgleMB0Bb8L81GOdnV9Vv-PYYuX7ETIIWiDyZxumnJch1Ng7Y2OAYswbQbDyRLko14bN8Uxbp1mqjZamgUPwoY_62y_OUgRsTzQef89sdSTgYQeJNQEb9papS69b6B6bVAunfn7FJ_ET2=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We worked on several fun projects, including a gingham quilt that I loved so much I bought it in three colors. I finished a queen-sized version of the black & white while there and quilted it over the Christmas break. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuTMcoPuBkqi45gU9X81ftO-WVLochyvMTZCwoBi5MIMrcSrgykoirn_AuDzk88aYDE8HZHjv0PR5M4ZhB80yqLfNAl_j9C2ogT9mYtcs8WLzOmfnRWuVMM8cPTY8RgcIkDo4LCxkLIMa1QHRmt2RhZOAXhViL0RZQ4XDjpLVySf-r5ihhP1S6wDa9=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjuTMcoPuBkqi45gU9X81ftO-WVLochyvMTZCwoBi5MIMrcSrgykoirn_AuDzk88aYDE8HZHjv0PR5M4ZhB80yqLfNAl_j9C2ogT9mYtcs8WLzOmfnRWuVMM8cPTY8RgcIkDo4LCxkLIMa1QHRmt2RhZOAXhViL0RZQ4XDjpLVySf-r5ihhP1S6wDa9=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We also took a tour of a small craft cheese factory, a fantastic antique/home dec shop, and of Lisa’s house. It was a great week and I can’t wait to return!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I’m working on my goals for 2022 and may try to join the PhD in 2022. I made great progress on my 2021 list, but have quite the backlog of tops that need quilted and quilts that need bound. All will be on my list for this year!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-12525175446224892382021-06-28T07:15:00.002-07:002021-09-24T08:14:43.654-07:00 Making Some Progress, Learning New Things<div>I keep taking pictures with the intention of posting but then never seem to get around to actually doing it... My schedule has been crazy busy since life has started retuning to normal. Between Zoom commitments and traveling I barely have time to sew! </div><div><br /></div><div>I inadvertently learned new things about my Statler when quilting Take It Easy. I had been wanting to try the orange peel pattern and the first row stitched out beautifully and super fast (mostly thanks to the simple piecing). I thought I was going to have the quilt finished in no time and might even load another one that weekend. I was SO wrong! I started the second row and the design was way off - the points were misaligned by 1/4" or more. I caught it quickly, ripped out the stitching, and tried relocating the design to force the pattern to align. Obviously that wasn't the answer! I ripped again, tried and failed again, ripped stitches a third time, and then turned to Facebook for help. Turns out you have to redraw boundaries and adjust the pattern for each row to align geometrics. I watched a quick video tutorial and was able to successfully complete the quilting. It was a frustrating process but I am happy to have learned something new! </div><div><br /></div><img alt="" id="id_30f5_2fc9_a480_4ec6" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/aU6zVEAj6mSKE1qaKOP-5lHK5Xu_rRzTH2XW1o9umbT623CHa4fYr8j3F7F06FrpX8Y" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I've been plugging along on my Square Deal blocks. I think I have three sets left after the current one is finished. I would really like to get this top completed during my next retreat.<div><br /><img alt="" id="id_7fea_417_5341_cf4b" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/B4D-YJq3HoUwC7wNUgY9ZVzkqnuOlwRHNTIy23ghuQZqUvB6nxgXk53SKzaYHjs56JU" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 392px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I have attended a couple of virtual events recently. One, the Penn Dry Goods Market, I will talk about in a separate post as it was the inspiration for a new rug I started last week. The other was the Vermont Virtual Quilt Festival. I took three classes, one of which was the Flowering Snowball workshop taught by Irene Blanck. It was a great workshop although my hotel sewing setup wasn't ideal for piecing curves. <br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_c7bc_561c_7e59_8f1f" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/yF53sYxcKw6uz_ONqRaeGPUeWVFqE0BQR5F-4GbZLuuzAUDw-mulPnEy4k1TdCyfu3c" style="display: block; height: auto; margin: 4px auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I finished three blocks during class. I was working with a little mini-iron so these are still in need of a good pressing. They were so fun to make! I want to get back to this project once I finish up Square Deal. Fingers crossed I am really productive on my next retreat!</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-66351110799357682042021-04-13T09:58:00.006-07:002021-04-13T09:59:49.515-07:00 Building Villages and Collecting New (Old) Quilts <div>When the pandemic lockdowns first started, Moda and Miss Rosie's Quilt Company shared <a href="https://www.fatquartershop.com/downloadable/download/sample/sample_id/1203/">The Village</a> pattern as a free download. I've always loved house quilts, and have been tempted more than once to try the one with 365 tiny hand-pieced houses, so this one definitely caught my attention. The houses are so quick and easy to make! Of course, I started off strong and made about 20 of them and then was distracted by other projects and set them aside. My friend Pat recently finished her version of the quilt, though, and it turned out so stinking adorable that I decided I needed to get back to mine. I have "built" quite a few houses over the past month and my total is now around 100, so only about 32 left to go before I can assemble the top. My goal for this month is to finish all of the houses and then to work on setting the blocks in May.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_85be_8c04_faf5_c745" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/2DMqWJQFZWGQNUMMngsyRc6wDMO7pcbPVH1dTcxZkuEALo-gp1_udcDnZW89ZdopFRM" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I also managed to make a start on my TAS challenge. My first block is from this quilt that I acquired fairly recently:</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpFvUIvZsKR2j7f6m01BOLu9S_PdA6v0_AUjspR9NvNhKHk1WWEMeULWHXrsDjJ9snG2MVQJi36NQyYMUbur-MvXPv8aonSt0yjzCeMRhSWtpyoij1mz3McqU61EMIVRGJWy9_4LriDs/s1385/s-l1600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1385" data-original-width="1178" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpFvUIvZsKR2j7f6m01BOLu9S_PdA6v0_AUjspR9NvNhKHk1WWEMeULWHXrsDjJ9snG2MVQJi36NQyYMUbur-MvXPv8aonSt0yjzCeMRhSWtpyoij1mz3McqU61EMIVRGJWy9_4LriDs/w340-h400/s-l1600.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Here's a close-up of one block. As I started to trace the shapes to create the pattern I noticed that no two blocks were the same - the placement of the pieces varies a bit from block to block, and the number of berries came down to whatever fit the space. You would never notice to look at the quilt overall. The quilting is absolutely phenomenal!</div><br /><img alt="" id="id_422c_b7a1_8e61_b8f1" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/pEQqHXqpEARxUxqariSkVhgffKnQ05JchylyaanB4NMjJ1qnw3922z8VR7eLMFbv6ag" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I'm not sure if this first block will be the center of my project or one of the surrounding blocks - it all depends on what other blocks I end up doing. My "cheddar" looks far more yellow and not at all close to the original in this photo, but they are in reality a bit closer in color. I struggled to find a yellow or orange that was similar in color. The block is around 20" square.<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_cc5a_21f5_ecc2_8eb9" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/5cpo1FhJBpFpcci7bvJCg7aSnrhvgk1F8Axq8ECsch42OcqjfLYQvFm5_XlPzRJ_p9A" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /></div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not sure what block I will work on next - that will be a project for next weekend. It may be one of my corner cross sprays assuming my latest purchase arrives on Friday as projected. I had to find a quilt to add to my collection to satisfy the challenge requirements as I didn't really have any with cross sprays. Here's the one that is making its way here - it gives me a few options for those corners!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oxNgkLHPpsVmI_Ve1QOYfZ2eeCDo8RC9osmnwfueBi2p3NTQQp-rss32qaTaqwDuNZH05E-pCAX6XRzsjeQcNzhoLEYWPERdHS1BTRRg4HnriEkj7tb8v-vFmt7J35ZV5_K0uTZEazk/s804/s-l1600+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="804" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oxNgkLHPpsVmI_Ve1QOYfZ2eeCDo8RC9osmnwfueBi2p3NTQQp-rss32qaTaqwDuNZH05E-pCAX6XRzsjeQcNzhoLEYWPERdHS1BTRRg4HnriEkj7tb8v-vFmt7J35ZV5_K0uTZEazk/w400-h388/s-l1600+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br />I also managed to make a little progress on my Huguenot blocks. I am still a block behind, but hope to make some headway on that this week. Here are the last two blocks I finished:</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_b620_f934_6eb7_a703" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/qQGEOG3I1F_hQj__6m8i06R74cVG4OCRKXbAJ7zOXkn_-eDURveqyKPED0yAmV7cfIA" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_2aa2_8503_7370_9b3b" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/KehtQMcimTwkYSdomrqpZaq5F_WDCn9AizFaKWfLJA6enGDXn55kEqjyAOkI9ThUrXQ" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />They are really the same fabrics - poor photography is to blame for the differences. This week I will be participating in an applique workshop with Veronique Diligent of Australia. I am really looking forward to meeting her and learning her techniques. One more project to add to my list!<br /><br /></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-37044191505800199562021-03-05T07:13:00.002-08:002021-03-05T07:18:02.395-08:00Starting New Projects<p>While I have been doing fairly well at avoiding starting new projects this year, in spite of accumulating them (patterns and fabric) at a fairly rapid rate, I can no longer resist temptation. A couple of new challenges/stitch-alongs have recently started and I am excited to play along, so my goal this month is to develop plans and get started on both. </p><p>The first is a challenge for my local TAS chapter. I was originally planning to look for an orphaned workshop project to use as my center/theme block and spent an afternoon digging through a drawer of workshop projects. I had narrowed it down to a couple of options, but upon further consideration decided to go a different direction and instead design this project from quilts in my collection. Here's the suggested layout:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPZC7A3pjORNZ0rzLp_3n7q9gHMHy3Tai5sQMUF-yASGQISceYX6yYtPX3P42UlmFHBxajgvczwWFQCKAIMeDX99IE1gdR7Y90_-iHAFLNdoDStCFBUrO6cJyQMPl5hRmZ5-o4fVFxak/s614/Challenge+Layout.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="614" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPZC7A3pjORNZ0rzLp_3n7q9gHMHy3Tai5sQMUF-yASGQISceYX6yYtPX3P42UlmFHBxajgvczwWFQCKAIMeDX99IE1gdR7Y90_-iHAFLNdoDStCFBUrO6cJyQMPl5hRmZ5-o4fVFxak/w400-h320/Challenge+Layout.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>My goal for this weekend is to figure out my center block. I have acquired a couple of new quilts in the past week that definitely have to be included. One of them arrived yesterday and it is absolutely gorgeous!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFVdiBRK7YHXHhIwW-uJgsWz5oyqL1pAd4GArWueJieCt8S1B4T_K6vWJjkpv_g9lqzkDQQrV3bkxGtTj94ewjsrNWps22w2XcwqE-RlVL_KnE-ALYooo9BWEAjbz_T1GdPWARENoInE/s539/Tulips.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="508" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFVdiBRK7YHXHhIwW-uJgsWz5oyqL1pAd4GArWueJieCt8S1B4T_K6vWJjkpv_g9lqzkDQQrV3bkxGtTj94ewjsrNWps22w2XcwqE-RlVL_KnE-ALYooo9BWEAjbz_T1GdPWARENoInE/s320/Tulips.jpg" /></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>The other group project/stitch-along I am planning to get involved in is based on the alphabet. The guidelines are fairly open, and I think many will likely be stitching actual letters, but I am leaning toward a floral theme. The goal is one letter per month - I can keep up with that, right? So my goal for this month is to design my "A" block - I'm thinking an amaryllis, anemone, aster or azalea. </div><div><br /></div><div>I missed my opportunity to link up with Elm Street Quilts OMG this month, so my one monthly goal for March will be to remember to post in time to link up in April! </div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-85354915915880305012021-03-01T06:06:00.003-08:002021-03-01T06:06:24.288-08:00 OMG Fail & Zooming Away the Weekends <div>I was determined not to miss the February OMG link-up even though I didn't have much progress to report, but the end of the month managed to sneak up on me! I didn't remember it was the end of the month until I was getting into bed last night and thinking about work...too late to get a post together. I will have to double my efforts to remember this month! </div><div><br /></div><div>I did not make nearly as much progress as I had hoped on my Grassy Creek Mystery this month. I did manage to finish the hourglass units and get the remainder of the flying geese un-sewn, trimmed and re-sewn, and I have pieced all but three of the center stars. The next step is to assemble the center, and then I will have to face the dreaded string units. </div><div><br /></div><div>Part of the reason I didn't get much finished is that I have a bad habit of signing up for Zoom sessions, and an even worse habit of volunteering to lead them. It's all good - I love that there are so many new opportunities to participate in events I never would have been able to attend in person - but I can't resist trying to do them all! At one point I even found myself attending two meetings simultaneously!</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_1052_9e7_f720_d55e" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Re8uIZiahSm0O5NGf-XIZs2s9zajgodUGyu-h8R6XZg8VJXhojI2wlJ79vTuww83T-s" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />My Zoom time this past weekend included participation in the second round of virtual AQSG Study Centers. I attended five sessions and all were fantastic! <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I did make some progress on my Huguenot Friendship quilt. This block wasn't too bad:</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_80dd_2cb8_533c_53ab" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/6ufVA4-7uEvHx-Nh_L5otMqWSCto8mOaFRrRmg99zpK_yk3jnxB9qC1Pv6lCKMYPAlE" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />But then I started working on the Pokeberry block and needed to determine the best way to make a bunch of itty bitty 1/4" berries. I decided that the rubber band method would be easiest, but then had to make my own mylar templates because I didn't have any that small. I used a sheet of Karen Kay Buckley's template plastic and a hole punch to make the templates.</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_1af8_baaa_7040_17e4" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/FoyA-5iCYZeUPnZBdPwxqeDHF2LEVZjbpqwgIoXYUrnuRN4C8mggwWNgTf3WCwzF9V4" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I tried to waste as little fabric as possible when wrapping the templates. The trick was cutting off the extra when they dried, trying to remove enough fabric to try to keep the berry relatively flat while leaving enough to have a seam allowance.</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_d652_e299_a3f1_8e67" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/t8SND8cMc0TRgoPcKtedWv9K5bkBWlbG8Vke7U4PCGu1kqpahdaNHtBlTEeikJ8jCR8" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />The berries aren't perfect, but the block is finished. It certainly isn't the most attractive of designs - a little wonky. <br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_adbd_cc19_ab92_7d41" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/qP9cqCrNOhnsevUzbfcJvzkax9-nWLQWQ98JpPVtYkG5yR0b-YPNMCOj14eotiyfHfE" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I think I need a change of pace for my March OMG project. I will continue to work on my mystery quilt but I feel the need to choose something more exciting this time around. I will have to give it a bit of thought - I am thinking perhaps it might be time to start something new? I will be back in a couple days with a plan....</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-60840127341015146622021-02-04T13:56:00.004-08:002021-02-04T14:10:24.955-08:00January Progress + February OMG <div>I actually had a start and finish in January - that doesn't happen often in my world! I finished my grandson's dinosaur quilt a full 48 hours before we celebrated his birthday. I'm especially happy that it was 100% pulled from my stash, even the backing. He was so excited when he opened it! </div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_e6b5_5da_5afc_e05f" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/1jKw1rPU1raoWYA6ckw2FEKUpCjMlv1vF42gC8OF8mJd0r2xNeIOjKwlFjal7gY" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I took a fun workshop with Candy Grisham through my local quilt guild. I needed to focus on making dinosaurs so I mostly listened and didn't sew much, but I did get a couple of Dresden plates started. It was a fantastic class that covered techniques for making a bunch of different styles of plates. I definitely plan to make more.<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_e961_8f85_349f_3f04" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/oROe1OutLWTFaxcI9daGTYasywpUU0ECSzVMO3_KbtCqcE5GNjH_hed9dKUV294" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />As far as my OMG project is concerned, I have to admit that when I first saw the mystery quilt reveal in early January I was not a fan. I was too far along to just quit and throw it all away, but still had too much to do to be inspired to keep working on it. I dragged my feet a bit (making dinosaurs) but then was relieved to see a Facebook post with an alternative setting using the same components that I liked much better! It inspired me to continue working on the quilt and I am happy to say that I now have 15 of the 25 blocks complete. I will be constructing the center as it is shown below, using the gray string blocks and other pieces in the borders. I think it will turn out okay.<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_bebd_9cb7_6f64_b9e0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/LV-w_8RAqg05CpWO6O5_uwBbR8XjFMKZxxpvjvFUBZ_97iFfLnfLzkf05gZrMvs" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I am linking up with Elm Street Quilts <a href="https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.elmstreetquilts.com_2021_02_one-2Dmonthly-2Dgoal-2Dfebruary-2Dlink-2Dup.html-3Fm-3D1&d=DwMCaQ&c=UE1eNsedaKncO0Yl_u8bfw&r=lkJg7E2cthEldunSeKtYTbW5M0yncm2q6nT_l7XFLYc&m=mlxrWiJNBo0FEIR561PRhl41bljVrj3ACIABgeuyyGE&s=TJgjWQc-Eoha3DoG_J2AcxaaUfxLS54hmNucPJSeY2M&e=" target="_blank">One Monthly Goal</a> to share my January progress (even though I missed the deadline LOL) and to set my February goal, which is to continue working on my Grassy Creek Mystery quilt. I am hoping that I can get the rest of the top constructed this month and move this one off of my list!<br /><br /></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-78559111518929898312021-01-06T13:29:00.001-08:002021-01-06T13:29:27.260-08:00PHD in 2021 <div>My friend Sue inspired me to participate in Quilting Gail's <a href="https://quiltinggail.com/2020/12/23/phd-in-2021/">PHD in 2021</a> in an effort to move at least a few of my hundreds of UFOs across the finish line. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://quiltinggail.com/2020/12/23/phd-in-2021/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="658" data-original-width="1106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNfry_3h2-JIXwEPvRuZooIFaFHeCBQMInfzHzeGZQWW4h5_YISI_1LuB9FVmjD4Q6QUREdrtGd9Oyedt9I014ypyNeTW6vs-yfgxI_0mK6tDRjwQFl86vXF0zuqn45SGspapcnr16m50/s320/phd-in-2021.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Luckily the rules for this challenge are pretty flexible as I am struggling to decide which 12 projects to choose and I may change my mind as the year progresses. I seriously have some form of quilter's ADD! Anyway, here's my first pass, in no particular order:</div><div><br /></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><ol><li>Grassy Creek Mystery</li><li>Frolic! </li><li>Christmas Trees </li><li>Vintage Rose</li><li>Village</li><li>Huguenot Friendship Quilt</li><li>Clamshells</li><li>Starlite Skies (PG 2017 BOW)</li><li>Take it Easy</li><li>Triangle Gatherings</li><li>Dresden Star</li><li>Square Deal</li></ol></ol></ol></div><div>A few of these only require quilting and binding so it should be reasonable to at least get those finished. Others will require considerably more effort...</div><div><br /></div><div>The toughest part of the challenge for me is committing to finish new starts. I have already started two new projects just since the first of the year. In addition to joining in on Sentimental Stitches' Little Blocks 365 project, I decided my dinosaur-loving grandson needs a quilt for his second birthday. I received the pattern on Saturday and finished stitching two blocks over the weekend. His birthday is Jan 27th so even though I am only making a smaller version, finishing will definitely be a challenge.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_d6f7_273e_b810_15d6" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wdC-_f-WmMfhIoNAdJbTK1JLfNMAiITa2SCoEn3A0a5lnNeBlWEEYo-B5W2GA5I" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I have two T-Rex blocks cut and ready to sew. These little guys are so stinking cute! <br /></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-65004629095554844732021-01-02T08:28:00.003-08:002021-01-02T08:28:55.704-08:00January 2021 OMG <div>While I have never been a fan of resolutions, I am starting 2021 with a goal of getting back into the habit of blogging - both posting my own and reading others. The pandemic-inspired virtual explosion of 2020 has provided fantastic opportunities but has also been a bit of a distraction, at least for me. I have spent way too much time reading Facebook posts and watching videos. I definitely need to work on surfing less and stitching more in the new year!</div><div><br /></div><div>One project I would love to start this year is a red & green applique quilt. I haven't decided on a pattern yet, but would like to reproduce one from my collection. I pulled out a few of my favorites to decorate for the holidays. I love them all, but am leaning toward either the one on the top rung or the third one down. </div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_4b56_f1ba_49c0_4c61" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/qQW8mL9hM2KBX5DIDAE0e0bY6Jdl0S8ztZn0R4Ka7wDBlFH9tfA1N0owty1p6-8" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I have been making slow but steady progress on the Grassy Creek Mystery quilt. As my week of vacation comes to a close I am not even close to being caught up and I am really starting to second-guess my decision to use Bonnie's colors, but I won't give up. I plan to focus on Grassy Creek as my One Monthly Goal for January, linking up with <a href="https://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2021/01/one-monthly-goal-january-link-up.html">Elm Street Quilts</a>. I have now finished clue #3 (shown partly finished here) and am working on clue #4 which should be done this morning.</div><div> <br /><img alt="" id="id_b29f_5207_2461_fc62" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/f0PB4_JtUXkz5N6pZpkWf-go_wuk5PiF3yUSWG5-4WWCnxfyXK5oufv46cB17vg" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I did finish clue #5 before heading back to catch up on previous clues. I still need to go back to clue #2 but will work on #6 (released yesterday) first. <br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_f818_4329_a996_bde" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/yqjmgfAwragZ_aCybl2acXTwxyytOkOTE5w5nS3hlcXNfWjdxaz4skbE0vHrUXk" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I also had a bit of catching up to do on my Huguenot Friendship blocks. Once all of the shopping, wrapping, and baking were finished I was able to spend my evenings hand stitching and finished two more of blocks. </div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_5fe1_9b6b_e85b_1ec0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_7pOe4fAkRTamXezsVW9YSHYJaQxgmBkraNhfYuep-JRMQv3ImcUD47sDzFS6jo" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />This block gave me fits. The inside curves on the flower were really tight. My first attempt at doing it by needle-turn failed miserably. I had stumbled across my Appliquick tools while rearranging my sewing furniture the other day and decided to give them a try for this. I can't say that I am a fan of having that interfacing material in the block - it feels pretty stiff, especially since there is a lot of fabric underneath it too - but I do think it turned out better than I could have done using any other method. There just wasn't enough seam allowance to prepare the edges with starch. </div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_a8e7_f121_f325_15b3" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/a_2JRLYxJKkk3qszhzde7IyrZA2TKhCqouscguEIBYxKefhYUw04kn68nGAR8hI" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I have so many new projects planned for 2021 - I have no self control when it comes to quilting! I plan to start on the first one, Little Blocks 365, later today if I can decide on fabrics. The blocks are paper pieced (ugh!) and tiny - only 3" finished. I need to choose fabrics that work in tiny pieces and, most importantly, will not get boring. Not an easy task! More to come on that - hopefully I will have progress to report by next week. <br /><br /></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-52237668312353600262020-12-14T11:50:00.003-08:002020-12-14T11:51:37.684-08:00 Grassy Creek Week #1 <div>I got off to a strong start on this year's mystery thanks to an easy first clue. I had it finished before Thanksgiving weekend was over, even with working on a few other projects.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_53d4_b1b3_7a3e_9474" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/X_MK0XdoztO6vlioz-GIxA9lF0Qn0dBw8JCVbg-0IYrc6UjdLkm4MF7opERcpzc" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I was late to the party on this one - I think Pat Sloan ran a quilt along with this pattern in October - but I absolutely love it! I actually fired up the new AccuQuilt cutter I purchased over the summer and cut all my 2.5" strips and squares. So far I have four blocks completed. They are large - like 18.5" - so I think nine will make a nice throw to use as a Christmas decoration (maybe next Christmas?). <br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_7a7a_6a08_6c53_7eec" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/41KakmBtE8HaZY3dhbT1jP42jr2M78m6azBA1inHpEuD2pQWTWXqd4TxODepPu8" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I was also inspired by a new quilting friend I met through TAS to start on the Huguenot Friendship quilt. We are up to our fourth block. Here are my first two:<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_2a90_a0b2_39fe_ca45" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/4GyN6SMfNl_YusLIdjBDexDwci7HH949Rmj-EHiwsdNbMGDWwYl8DzwvRtFryAk" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_6094_7528_4193_6fa6" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/dBKeKK_LfqZgV2KW94k15SGHKvBcFSi4-hiEVhxIjxUCqbv-qlk9lu-sR312zik" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I haven't done quite as well with the second and third clues on the mystery - Christmas projects to finish and other "to dos" have limited my time at the sewing machine. I'm a bit unsure how I feel about some of the color combinations thus far, but I will have faith that it all will actually work together in the end. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm looking forward to my time off at the end of the year to catch up on the mystery and to hopefully finish organizing my sewing space - can't believe it's been almost two years since I moved to the basement and it still isn't finished! <br /><br /></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-88960308929520545712020-11-04T19:15:00.001-08:002020-11-10T19:02:02.028-08:00It’s November!<div>Hard to believe that it’s November already and mystery season is almost here! I recently finished stitching the binding on the 2018 mystery and had hoped to get Frolic! quilted before Thanksgiving but it’s looking like that isn’t going to happen. I need to spend some serious time on the long arm - I’ve built up quite a backlog of tops!</div><div><br></div><div>I managed to get away from work for an extended weekend retreat a couple of weeks ago. It was wonderful! I decided to work on simple piecing projects so I’d feel like I accomplished something. First up was a T-shirt quilt for my daughter for Christmas. I planned it on the fly and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I am a little worried it won’t be as soft as I had hoped. The stabilizer I used for most of the shirts makes them feel a bit stiff. It was one I bought over five years ago when I first planned to make this quilt. I ran out of it as I was putting the top together and ended up purchasing something different that’s a little softer, but I had most of the shirts prepped by then. I hope the quilt doesn’t end up stiff as a board when it’s quilted.</div><div><br></div><img id="id_84c0_2081_101d_18d" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/DJnDS6WYx6kI73zHBIhyQ4Jc96hLnVfAoBzIE_g5qVvjDy6ND7aCKxw7zpr--PI" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>I spent a little time working on houses, adding a dozen to my neighborhood. My friend Pat was finishing up the houses for hers and had them all up on the display wall. They were so fun to look at! I can’t wait to see her finished quilt!<br><br><img id="id_c21d_6cd7_4677_e6f2" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/8ndavidoWpi_v67wmUX_p1OdgHhdDiyNr0p9DC4xsIWdM-_ngPf17i5oWd7UVeM" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 307px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>Then I started “Take it Easy” from Primitive Gatherings’ Redwork Gatherings fabric. It went together very quickly from jelly rolls. I managed to finish the top before heading home Monday.<div><br><img id="id_c75f_1e06_a2ec_6ae4" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/BNgZ304WxSkZm0OaMxd2foQXB0EcJV1GGpmq1ATQdg5ESHZtaXt-HM6w4m_oOuA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>It’s always exciting when Bonnie reveals the colors for the annual Quiltville Mystery. I had planned to switch up the colors this year but changed my mind when I saw her choices. The prominence of the grays intrigues me. I hardly had any gray in my stash so I had to pick up a few pieces (which somehow ended up being 10+ yards, but I wanted variety!) </div><div><br><img id="id_1c62_b80_46d2_81d6" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/0ypX5zhnp_pV219BcIB6MJc3vEYhVOQEVa-D0H4_k4H-KRUCJitlgfiPbU2RGg0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 307px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>I am going with lighter, brighter oranges and yellows. My reds and greens are a fairly good match for the paint chips. I am resisting the urge to replace the warm colors with blues and purples - I need to leap out of that box! I’m looking forward to getting started.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_d07b_1e5d_8704_9231" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/MK7b3vp3ZaWftSZZeURO0f_K_OdsGkU5ljhBRN9oTtD_xLkorue31lI419Tumr4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>The toughest part will be finding time to post updates. It took me over a week to get this posted. I hate it when work gets in the way of my fun!</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-7024934021520073692020-08-24T08:25:00.003-07:002020-08-24T08:25:40.555-07:00Summer Hooking & Stitching <div>I have been terrible about posting in the past few months! I blame internet overload... While the one benefit of the pandemic has been an explosion in virtual quilting (and even rug hooking) events, my desire to participate in too many of them has monopolized my non-work computer time. By the time I finish catching up on all the posts and FB Live sessions I am ready to get away from the screen!</div><div><br /></div><div>I did manage to get away to a couple of real-life events over the past few weeks. In July I headed to Kansas City for our annual workshop with Jayne Hester, which ended up being the "No Jayne Camp" due to COVID. It was very nice - a small group with Janice teaching instead. I decided to start yet another rug - my third start of the year. It's a sampler, an older pattern of Janice's, and I am in love with the colors. I am removing the people from mine...I'm not a fan of having people (especially faces) in my projects.</div><div><br /></div><div><img alt="" id="id_4235_2b87_348d_7895" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/q0NnXqrbYvzEYqXbctIBehGqMIJCwTfgraNU24Y941RJPEaubfBCB1vAqCaFSoI" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I had a chance to escape to a retreat center with a small group of friends for a long weekend and managed to get quite a bit of sewing done. It was so wonderful to get away! It has been so sad clearing all of my vacation trips from the calendar, so I especially enjoyed the chance to sew in person with friends. I got the binding sewn onto my 2018 mystery quilt so all that is left is stitching it down, and also finished week two of the PG pieced SBOW. I also managed to get the borders onto Frolic! so it is ready to load onto the long arm. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I'm even happier to be finished piecing it!</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_e158_23e0_b216_4d0b" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/e6QuDafaHoMbmLIZmSPSkSviUPeJHLhRfNMCk5ySVozKpn8YBkWSSv7uy_uDC2U" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I decided mid-retreat that I would rather sit my 2020 pieced SBOW aside until I finish the one from 2019. I spent the last day of retreat completing week six, so I am halfway through the blocks. Still a long way to go but I absolutely love this quilt!<br /><br /><img alt="" id="id_bfe7_b401_c05c_ba48" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/itb6wcXK81ku5C6sr_cv0vhrVFBFDSPmTYRBRXQOWzeOr-ov_rKEQ1VLLvvlddI" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />Ans yes, that is one week's assignment! And speaking of intense piecing projects, in a weak moment I somehow decided it would be fun to sign up for Vintage Rose, a Judy Niemeyer technique-of-the-month workshop that is being taught by one of our local quilt shops via Zoom. We've had two classes so far and I am hopelessly behind. There are monthly classes through January....supposedly if I keep up the top will be nearly complete by then. I'm not seeing that happening!</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_d3e5_ef1e_a42_16c2" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/WYCtlPuZdrd_TMabGDhSBtiHpuWO45nrn2vWXuyxnBdKa_M34kkkpcrs9gWELnk" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I find paper piecing incredibly tedious. I am following all of the prescribed steps and have to give Judy credit for developing a some pretty slick process steps to help things along, but I still am not a fan of tearing the paper out. </div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_27bf_6052_ae62_5b45" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/V7mhUN_AjnQ_l2nWX-rawuFwwb7hGQLY-Wfn7X2Fuv8jtqUL81qeWAGJgmrudiY" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 307px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />Another online event that I participated in last month was a "retreat in a box" through Granny's Legacy Patterns. They shipped all of the supplies for the retreat project along with a treats and a couple of little gifts a week or so ahead of the retreat event, and then during the retreat they hosted a few technique sessions, games, a trunk show and a shop tour via FB Live. It was fun and I enjoyed the project. I just finished mine over the weekend - now I need to get one of those oval trays for it to sit in.</div><div><br /><img alt="" id="id_1640_bfa2_529_e7ff" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/0hErBETA5LT81ZR8joklG2CKG8-KkvXhVhKyWIOHojeLLy6kLxDDRnoP_uBBmB8" style="display: block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; width: 385px;" title="" tooltip="" /><br />I have several virtual events scheduled for September, including another workshop in a box from Granny's Legacy and another Vintage Rose class. I also hope to get Frolic quilted and the bindings on both it and the 2018 mystery before the next one begins - it's hard to believe but November is right around the corner!<br /></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-44075624067455279082020-06-28T18:13:00.001-07:002020-06-28T18:13:12.683-07:00Hooking in KCIt was wonderful to get a chance to travel and spend time with friends last week! Our gathering was small - only 8 instead of the usual crowd - but Janice treated us like royalty as always and we had a fantastic time! I started a new rug and am loving it so far. The colors are based on a bouquet of hydrangeas that Janice cut right before the birthday bash last November. Originally blue, they had started drying out and had turned gorgeous shades of lavender, white, soft green, and gold with deep burgundy leaves. We had pulled wools to match the colors at that time and they’ve been stashed away waiting for this camp.<div><br></div><div><img id="id_c4f8_23be_334f_a944" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Wdchiz-e0QTmJdhjiiKYeWWvhRwyKsvf2ow7Evarpyucrx5uFRomP0GKCphGNB0" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>I forced myself to put it away when I got home and have gone back to work on Old Maine House. I would love to have it finished by the time I go to Janice’s again next month.</div><div><br></div><div>There were some great projects in progress in our little group. Joan was working on a huge critter runner she designed for her lake house.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_8895_d598_eed_ba9" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/QKwPgSoSOpcNEQf6kRY-Fn6IhnKK8fsUCLBfLLEOFWu0GBTKtlAHBZsPRYQBifc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>Betsy started This Vine, an older pattern Janice designed. I am planning to get started on it next month.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_89f8_8c9f_ea13_cd1" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/nC9K_AMA70MR47VnMKnSK8rTYmKrM8fo0OIHjEJcNzpXFo9drE21Vl2D0K-aQbY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>And Leah was working on a design she asked Janice to draw that is based on an antique rug she found.</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_d9ee_606c_c445_2aab" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/mY7fm5AhR_AH_d-_YfKUF0c-MFwiSzGj1HZaV_6TH2TvioSecfpIxtg-fR2WCv8" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>Lynn was working on an incredible project she designed herself and was incorporating standing wool shapes into her hooking. It was amazing!</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_3b42_7f3c_4e2_e225" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/eESr9YOp_7xki4vyfR1tWe7pTBBia3W9zFm1F7PPHXnLTBLxH-kNVYuMMSn0Yt4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>The camp went by way too quickly as usual and tomorrow I’m back to work with a very busy week ahead. It was nice to get the time away to recharge!</div><div><br></div><div>I did manage to do a tiny bit of sewing on the weekends. I have been keeping up with the prep work on the first three weeks of the Primitive Gatherings wool SBOW and have been starching the fabrics for the pieced version. I did get one of the pieces blacks finished and pieced the centers for the other four blocks for week one.</div><div><br></div><img id="id_2d80_78f9_6a31_fe60" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/8bBmgQt9qxp9T21Z0THcQGcY-6jc6MFmgxSblfxx8RZm-VsCC2fFnmQ-HDl5ohY" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 307px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>And I managed to add two more quilts to my collection. The one below was found by my friend Cindy in Amana, Iowa. It has a couple of damaged spots but is a great design and has beautiful quilting. It’s hard to see in the picture but there are blue leaves on the border motifs. It’s hard to tell if it was a green fabric that lost its yellow or if it started out blue, but it clearly wasn’t the same fabric as used in the blocks. The baskets look to have been red initially but have faded to various degrees of pink.<div><div><div><br><img id="id_879a_c7ba_7b31_8685" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/G8-bqXXph6t13t4vt7enai1ESNKzXPS9rChMSSMrXV1PpRfyOClH2HsG6FLux4E" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>The only nice thing about returning to work tomorrow is that it’s a short week. I am already looking forward to a long weekend in my sewing room!</div><div><div><br></div><div><br><div><br></div><div><br></div></div></div></div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-63727334946209000072020-06-03T20:40:00.002-07:002020-06-04T07:03:27.314-07:00 May Update<div>
In spite of having more weekends at home as a result of most events being cancelled, I just don’t seem to be getting much sewing or rug hiking accomplished. It’s partly due to the very nice weather we’ve been having - I think it was the longest spring ever - but also because I have been trying to force myself to spend time finishing up the move to my new sewing space. Sadly the move has been in progress for 17 months now....but I finally received my new dresser that will provide additional drawer space so I have no more excuses. My goal is to have it completely organized by the end of June. I will share pictures when I succeed.</div>
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I did manage to get a few things accomplished in May. I added a few more houses to my Village...<br />
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And I was thrilled to be able to join a very small get together at Janice’s and get started on my Old Maine House rug. I saw the original when visiting the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Museum in Williamsburg in early 2019. Unfortunately the rugs were displayed under glass so the photo isn’t great.</div>
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Janice drew up the pattern and we had planned to get a big group together to get started on it at the end of March, but unfortunately that had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. A few of us were able to meet in May to get it started.<br />
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I’m a little farther along than this now, and hope to get the rest of the sky and both trees completed before I head back to Janice’s to start another new rug later this month.</div>
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I finally managed to assemble the center of Frolic! and I have the borders pieced and ready to attach. I may try to tackle that this weekend.</div>
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And last, but not least, I started on a relatively new BOM from Homestead Hearth called Subtle Shades. It’s a nice mindless project - a welcome break from Frolic!</div>
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I am looking forward to participating in the Retreat From Home - Sew in your Jammies 2020 event this weekend. I am hoping I will have plenty of progress to show at the end of the 2.5 days!<br />
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-69520181830439718302020-04-27T13:09:00.001-07:002020-04-27T13:09:39.900-07:00April ProgressI decided to forgo setting goals for April and instead just work on whatever grabbed me at any given time during the month. Initially when all of the pandemic-inspired sew-alongs and projects started coming out I wanted to do them all, but soon reality set in and I decided that other than jumping into the Village project (too cute & fun to resist), the little bit of extra time I have gained from all of my travels being cancelled would be better spent focusing on existing UFOs. <br />
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I decided that I would dust off an old hooking project that has always been one of my favorites. I planned this one in a workshop with Sally Kallin in 2012. Here's where it was when I pulled it out of the project bag. I've made decent progress on it over the last few weeks and plan to continue to work on it even if I am able to go anywhere and start anything new in the coming months. I still really love this pattern! <br />
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Down in the sewing room, I decided I needed to make myself assemble my Frolic! pieces and parts. I finished assembling all of the blocks:<br />
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And then pieced the sashings and started assembling the top:<br />
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I have to say that this is not my favorite of the mysteries I have participated in. There were so many leftovers after piecing the blocks - dozens of flying geese and HSTs that weren't needed. I understand why it was set up how it was, but can't help but find it highly frustrating that I spent so much time sewing and trimming flying geese (which are not my favorite to make) that won't even be used! And then there's the assembly - so many seams don't nest that it is a challenge to get everything lined up. I'm about half way done with the top and then will be forced to make a decision on the border. <br />
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I also decided it was time to get the 2018 mystery quilted. I reverse-sewed the block in the inner corner and was able to turn it the right direction and piece it back in with surprisingly little difficulty. I loaded it up on the longarm with a backing I pieced from a batik I happened to have a lot of. I knew it was a bad idea - Bonnie Hunter quilts do not work well with batik backs - but thought I could run the machine slow enough for it not to be a problem. Wrong! I had five thread breaks on the very first pass. I slowed it down even more and have had a little better luck with the next three rows.<br />
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I have two rows left to quilt and this one will be ready for binding. I've decided that my next quilting project will be custom. I have a couple of tops purchased on ebay that I plan to practice on. If all goes well I may even get my Starlite Skies (2017 Primitive Gatherings pieced SBOW) finished this year...G<br />
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Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-43940131636923033662020-03-22T19:54:00.001-07:002020-03-22T19:55:36.007-07:00Changing PlansIt’s hard to believe that just two weeks ago I was returning home from the Appliqué Academy and a gorgeous view of the James River. We had a great time there, found a couple of fantastic new places to eat, and fell in love with yet another project that I am excited about starting as soon as the pattern arrives. I made a bit of progress on my Rising Sun, too, in spite of the fact that I wasn’t really all that motivated to work on it when I prepared for the trip.<div><br></div><div><img id="id_a407_575a_d292_4b80" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/rKNe_eFvphbgev-fcXnYN3fTCG8U9vfV0VE8e6VgTRMkoHyVvl5ZUnyzuZt9Nlc" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>I had planned to really focus on my Basket Case baskets this month for my OMG project but have instead continued to work on Rising Sun since getting back. I’m nearly half way finished with my center star - I will have to start assembling it once I get the fourth point finished. I am loving the colors!<br><div><br></div><div>Unlike many I see posting on Facebook, sheltering in place does not mean lots of extra time for me. I work at home anyway, and since I am involved in monitoring the status of our operations around the world it has meant working very, very long days. This weekend was the first time I’be had off since getting back from Williamsburg. I set up my steamer and finally finished my Schoolhouse Sampler and got it up on the wall.</div><div><br></div><img id="id_5fd7_1bf6_5fd1_c596" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/9-xpTjv_iKmN_0uulm0zAYMeNgnMLMb3QJ2AnWy3nnPTWQ7JmVVX-kwwlLvMOPA" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>I also steamed my Fraktur Floral so I could get started on binding.<div><br></div><div><img id="id_7ec8_874b_3d5c_c520" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Jkc4Rqvp8EfGLosjDKDs0sEqzuDUAm_tsobw7LuavEbWrhqIfmUNFmIsN8y0Of4" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br></div><div>I was tempted by so many of the new projects and sew-alongs that I saw online over the weekend. I’m waiting for fabric to start on Edyta Sitar’s mystery quilt. I was really looking forward to taking a class with her next month but of course that won’t happen now. I also fell for the sew-along posted by Primitive Gatherings CA - the Village pattern from Miss Rosie’s Quilt Company. I’ve always liked the pattern so I decided to join in the fun. Here is the start of my Village:</div><div><br></div><div><img id="id_b6bf_24dc_a3e7_2e0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/EzSCh8LQheG2apJ5DQkmlWTcqYgwZ_MK2bbBeR0kkMccdYl93bga46vqSbH9gCo" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 385px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>With no travel plans in my immediate future - a rug hooking trip to KC cancelled this week, Quilt history and Paducah cancelled in April, and Quilting With Confidence postponed for May - I am thinking I might need to take a vacation day or two to spend in the sewing room just to maintain my sanity. With all the time at home I might even finally get my sewing room in order...</div></div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3155849309680934429.post-40281453353870345422020-03-07T20:32:00.001-08:002020-03-10T07:01:24.758-07:00March OMG ProjectGetting in a quick post just under the wire to link up with Elm Street Quilts <a href="https://www.elmstreetquilts.com/2020/03/one-monthly-goal-march-link-up.html?m=1" id="id_b197_f6fb_fddb_abc3">One Monthly Goal</a> for March.... I am hoping to make significant progress on the baskets for Irene Blanck’s Basket Case quilt this month. I finally was able to see the finished top in person this week (this is a Irene’s):<div><br><img id="id_4544_46e0_33d6_40fe" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/wfyLU10sU0YyiOAmDPQ292ycvprAhNH_UOSXbO-1uO75Pz9uv68Zy8uiYD4mDtw" alt="" title="" tooltip="" style="width: 392px; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; display: block;"><br>The lighting wasn’t great in her classroom so the colors aren’t true. It’s such a happy quilt! I prepped quite a few blocks to take to the Academy but didn’t end up spending any time on them. I want to get the center finished before she comes to teach in October. So far I have two blocks finished. My goal for March is to finish half of the center baskets (so 16 more). Ridiculous stretch, I know - but a girl can dream!</div>Danahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13726159442086808838noreply@blogger.com3