Monday, July 30, 2012

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Over the weekend I worked on the Simply Solids project.  

Its hanging sideways over the top of another quilt that has pink borders.    I've added another row and made it two blocks wider.   Twin size maybe.  The rows are now all numbered and pressed--ready to sew into a top.  It was a very quick and easy project.

Weekly Goals--

  1. sew Simply Solids together
  2. more Merry Go Round blocks 
  3. sew more Trip Around the World rows together
I took these pictures from the Visitor Center a few days ago.  See the tour buses??


I like this picture better--more perspective.


It looks like the buses are driving off the cliff! 

I have a few days off from volunteering and plan to sew and veg.   What are your plans for the week?

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Motivation Weekly Review and Rainbow Scrappy Challenge

Busy busy week!   These were my weekly goals--
  1. Press Sister's Choice rows--nope
  2. Press Simply Solids rows--YES
  3. Cut more Merry Go Round strips--YES  
Lots of sewing but no finishes.   That's okay--progress is progress!

I finished the last of the blue Rainbow Scrappy Challenge blocks for July.

Blue Rainbow Scrappy Challenge
Lighting isn't the best--but you can see what happens when you use two fabrics where the value is too close--the blue/green combination.  That's ok -- I will use them anyway.  How many blocks do I have so far?  31 -- 36 patch blocks that finish at 12".  50 Spool blocks that finish at 8".  And 169 - 4 patches that finish at 4".   Five months left until the end of the year.  

Laura Beth, Nick, Mason and Asher were able to stay overnight on their way to visit Melissa her best friend.   Mason immediately wanted to help me "sew Grandma".  Ken had to work (he works overnights) so at 4:23am when Mason fell out of bed in the room next to ours he missed the excitement  I wasn't asleep yet and flew out of bed fearing he had whacked his head on the nightstand but thankfully no.  I crawled back in bed chanting "go to sleep" and had been asleep about an hour when I heard Mason get up and crawl into bed with me.  "Grandma--is it time to get up?  I have all my energy back."  I said "not until 7:00am when Grandpa comes home from work".  So THAT prompted Mason to get the two alarm clocks in bed with us and discuss what time it was and how long until 7am!  As soon as the clock changed to 7am Mason asked "where's Grandpa?" and I explained it would take him a little while to drive home.  Lots of sighing and several times he would get out of bed to "check Ruby" since she lays right outside the bedroom door.  As soon as Grandpa opened the door Mason was ready to eat breakfast.  Before they left Mason helped me pick tomatoes--

Prince Mason and tomatoes
while Ken and Asher hung out.  


I can't get this photo upright!!(Fixed by Henrietta)

I wanted to position my small fan to blow directly on me one hot afternoon at the camper while napping-- 

Fan on Drawer
I pulled out a drawer and laid a serving tray on it--perfect shelf for my fan. 

I hope you've had a great week and stayed cool!


Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Weekly Goals

Its been too hot to blog.  No motivation for anything.  107F yesterday.  Its good weather to read and nap!

Weekly Goals--

  1. Press Sister's Choice rows
  2. Press Simply Solids rows
  3. Cut more Merry Go Round strips

I can't say I haven't been sewing.  All the Sister's Choice blocks are in rows.  Simply Solids blocks are in rows too--just need to measure and see if I want to enlarge it a bit.  I have used all the MerryGoRound strips I brought with me to the camper.  And--I've even done some hand applique on Beyond the Cherry Tree quilt.  

I haven't finished anything.  I haven't bought any fabric.  No design wall because Ken was sleeping on the bed Sunday!  (I use the bed while at the camper)

Remember when I bought Evelyn the 301 for $5?  

Evelyn   
I needed a slant shank 1/4" foot.  

1/4" foot
Cost--$20.  4X what the machine cost.  Now that made me chuckle!!

I hope you have cool activities planned for your week!



Monday, July 16, 2012

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

I've been working on these blocks---

Merry-Go-Round by Sandy Klop

It uses 2.5" strips and is scrappy--perfect!  A box of noodles is waiting on the couch.  You can buy the Marry-Go Round pattern here with free shipping.

Last week I bought a dozen Kona solids.  I had seen this pattern in McCalls-America Makes Fast Quilts magazine.

Simply Solids by Heidi Pridemore
So simple--5" charms with a neutral strip.

Weekly Goals--

  1. Birds in Air blocks
  2. Rainbow Scrappy Blue blocks
  3. Merry Go Round blocks
  4. Simply Solids blocks 
  5. Sister's Choice blocks

The weather is hot HOT HOT!  I'm staying inside and sewing.  

What's planned for your week?



Sunday, July 15, 2012

Sunday Stash Report

Its confession time again!.   I have a LOT to confess!  22 yards!   15 yards was cream to tan backgrounds.  6 yards were 1/2 cuts of Kona solids.   That makes my numbers----

In This Week--22 yards
In Year to Date--146 yards
Used This Week--ZILCH
Used Year to Date--106.75 yards
Stash is ahead 39.25 yards

See how everyone else has done at Patchwork Times!


Saturday, July 14, 2012

Motivation Saturday

Its going to get HOT today!  100F+  The Visitor Center is a good place to be when its hot.  Today is the first day of Paddlefish archery season.  

Paddlefish Archery
Look closely and you can see the bows and arrows.  Paddlefish have a strange "bill".  They do not bite on a hook, they sieve out microscopic plants and animals.  They can grow very large.

(Photo from Internet)

I've done quite a bit of sewing so far this week.  More of the Trip Around the World rows are sewn together.  More Rainbow Challenge blocks are cut.   Prepped a hand applique block.  Tomorrow is a day off--I'm staying inside where its cool and plan to SEW  (and nap, and read.......) 

How did you spend your week? 


Monday, July 9, 2012

Monday Goals

My goals will remain the same as last week.
  1. Set Birds in Air blocks together
  2. Sew Rainbow Scrap blocks (blue)
  3. Set Sister's Choice blocks together
I've not done much sewing, last night the weather was BEAUTIFUL and I sat in my lawn chair and read.   There will be days when its too hot or windy or buggy to sit outside and I will sew then.

Every weekend the Visitor Center has Interpretative Programs.   John does a wonderful Fur Trader--dresses in costume and draws the spectators in.


John the Fur Trader


It must be the "lazy days of summer".   I'm definitely lazy!




Saturday, July 7, 2012

Motivation Friday and Blue Rainbow Scrap Saturday

I played with my blue noodles and made a 36 patch block, a couple of Spool blocks, and a few 4 patches.  All to go in my basket until the end of the year.   

Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2012

This week I tried to stay cool.  100+F every day this week.  Today is much cooler--82F.  Tonight I will sit outside my camper, drink a cold beverage, and read.    

How did you spend your week?  Summer activities?  Sewing?


Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Weekly Goals

Time for goals--
  1. Set Birds in Air blocks together
  2. Sew Rainbow Scrap blocks (blue)
  3. Set Sister's Choice blocks together
This week is half gone and I'm not sure how much sewing I'll do.   I have plenty of projects to work on in the camper.  

Mason and I made cupcakes in ice cream cones over the weekend.  Fluffy whipped frosting with red/white/blue sprinkles.

 

Tonight is a free concert at Riverside Park and later fireworks over the Missouri River.   I wish you a safe and happy 4th of July!


Happy 4th of July


Sunday, July 1, 2012

Stash Report Week 27

Time to change the numbers--

In This Week--1.5 yards
In Year to Date--124.0 yards
Used This Week--12.5 yards
Used Year to Date--106.75 yards

Stash is ahead 17.25 yards

I finished the Blue Urban Cabin--that used 12.5 yards.  I bought some 1/4 yards cuts for my applique and added 1.5 yards. 

There are 25 weeks left.  I've used 100 yards of stash.  I'm not sure where I'm going with my stash--but that's okay.  Do you have a plan for the rest of 2012??

Ken and I are in Minnesota.  Its hot and a pool and a Slip'n'Slide are on the lawn. 


Asher and Grandpa stayed inside where it was cool.


 Check out everyone's stash report at Patchwork Times!



Playing Catchup

Its been busy!  Thanksgiving has come and gone, soon it will be Christmas.  We got our vaccinations a couple weeks ago--Covid, RSV, Influena...