What I'm Working On

With surgery looming I need precut simple piecing for after surgery.  Mindless, no brain needed piecing.  I have a box of homespuns Judy B in MN gave me, I've been pondering a project.  Pulled out all the homespuns, grouped by color and washed them in hot water.  I hung them to dry, this is some of them--

There are at least 35 yards of homespuns.  I needed a plan.  I have Accuquilt Churn Dash (9" & 12") and Flying Geese (3"x6") dies.  I have plenty of natural heavy muslin.  I can make LOTS of blocks easily.  Homespuns + vintage blocks = WIN to me!  Homespuns aren't bright like Kaffe Fasset, or eye catching like modern prints BUT I find them timeless and comfortable.   Cuddling in a quilt made of these is like putting on your softest flannel shirt.  I made a few blocks to see--

So that's my plan, I will press with plenty of starch before cutting--essential to working with homespuns.  

Lori1R in South Dakota

PS--Thanks to Liz in Houston for tip on cutting pool noodles to go on hangers--they're perfect for hanging fabric or quilts tops and prevent a stiff crease!  The noodles are easily cut/slit with a serrated knife.

Unexpected

The last 10 days have been busy.  In July my knee started hurting.

No swelling, just hurt.  So I limped on.  By the end of the season I knew it was not getting better.  I saw my local Dr.  He Xrayed it, didn't see anything too major.  He thought it was probably age related arthritis.   I kept saying most the pain was on the inside of the knee.  He suggested a cortisone injection to see if the knee would quiet down.  (It hurt to touch the skin like fire).  Two weeks later still  terrible pain.  It hurt no matter what.  Back to Dr who refers me to ortho Dr.  Ortho Dr xrays, sees some fluid inside the joint but is 95% sure I have a torn meniscus.  Has me sign surgery form, says he will do arthroscopic surgery, a simple procedure.  Yah!!  But he says he wants a MRI to make certain, got me in for scan at 5pm, will call me in two days with results.  Wednesday call--no arthroscopic surgery--I need knee replaced!  I am gobsmacked!  Yes, meniscus tear, but it can't be fixed, should remove it, but no cartilage on bone ends anymore.  So my knee has no cushioning.  And since I've had a cortisone injection, surgery has to wait 90 days.  Might cause problems with bleeding/healing.  This is a very conservative ortho Dr!   

Sigh.  I am limping around.  I can drive the big pickup, its my left knee and seat adjusts enough I can extend my leg fully, rest it on a pillow while driving.  Walking on flat ground in straight line is painfull but doable.  Bending, twisting, leaning, carrying is out.  I am sewing with my leg propped on cardboard box.  My sewing machine cabinet has no front left leg.

Planning on surgery early February, cutting projects that are simple piecing, maybe I can do that while I am recovering.  I'd like to quilt a few tops before then.  

I never dreamed I would need a new knee.  My knee is sore, but very little swelling.  

Lori1R i South Dakota 

I Have A Finish/RSC Saturday

This fall I finished a quilt, the Jacob's Ladder--

It's a big quilt, 88x94 or close to that.  The border is a dark purple.  The backing is flannel I dyed what I call "tired grape".

Quilted with the panto Teeter Totter.  I made these blocks over several months, the HST in each block were whatever the RSC color was that month.  Very scrappy, whatever odds & ends I found.  I didn't want a square quilt so added the picket fence at the top and bottom.  (Its hanging sideways on the fence).  How much fabric?  16 yards I'll guess, lots of piecing.  I'm linking to SoScrappy.

Lori1R in South Dakota

Design Wall Monday

Earlier this year I made 56 Churn Dash blocks as a RSC project.  Last week I pulled them out to see if I had a plan.  Nope. There were lots of pink, yellow, orange, green and some blue blocks.  I had seen a picture of a quilt that alternated Churn Dash and Greek Cross blocks.  That would be easy, I can use the same Accuquilt die to cut the Greek Cross blocks.  Browns, purples, reds, and a black were cut and sewn up.  Dee said to "lay out my blocks to see".  Great advice Dee!

A happy design accident!  The darker Greek Cross blocks stand out and look like straight setting, the the lighter Churn Dash blocks recede and look like the diagonal setting they are.  More blocks to be made, I have enough cut for two boy quilts.  Each will have 30 Churn Dash and 20 Greek Cross.  I did not rearrange these blocks AT ALL when I laid them out, but after I took a photo to study I could see the possibilities.  Not everything went as smoothly--

A date with "Jack".  I'm linking with Oh Scrap, Monday Making, and Design Wall Monday.

Friday the 13th I had a fling!  I delivered 13 boy quilts to my guild's donation coordinator.  

These quilts were 70-75" x 80-100".  Mary in SD, Dee in Nebraska, and Liz in Houston all made tops.  Judy B in MN donated many of the backings.  Mary also bound several of the quilts.  I made quilts.  Some quilts all I did was quilt and supply the batting.  Many friends shared fabric. They filled the back seat of the pickup--

This was truly a group effort, thank you everyone!

I have a hibiscus named "Marvy".  He is supposed to start going dormant, be pruned, and rest up for next year.  Nope, not doing that yet--

10 huge flowers with at least that many buds.  How big are those flowers?

As big as my hand!   I brought in two hibiscus and two mandevilla to overwinter.  They were all growing happily and I could not bear to let them freeze, they are tropical flowers, when it drops below 50° they are unhappy.

Happy Monday!

Lori1R in South Dakota

Ladder of Success

November 1st, time to start Ladder of Success by Judy Martin!

It was published in the May/June 2012 issue of Quiltmaker magazine.  

I am ready to start cutting, I've prewashed my black and have picked the white background.  This will also be a new start for 2021 IJDC Challenge on Stashbusters@groups.io.  IJDC is "Inspiration Journal/Document Challenge".  Its a challenge to start a project on your bucket list.  Would you like to join me??

Lori1R in South Dakota

November OMG

November is wide open for goals!  There are several projects that require a design wall, so that will be my goal--empty the design wall!  Currently there are two projects on the wall.   First layer is Bricks & Stepping Stones--

and pinned on top of those is Beaded Lanterns--

November OMG is to get these blocks to finished flimsies.  Several projects need the design wall as the next step.  I'm linking with Elm Street Quilts OMG.

Lori1R in South Dakota 

October OMG

Guess I needed a bigger goal for October--the Crossed Canoe blocks were easy--

We packed up the camper last Thursday--

and got home in time to winterize it before the snow on Saturday.  Still lots of stuff to unpack, mostly clothes and items that freezing weather won't hurt.  Its going to be warm weather for the next two weeks, we will bring in the rest of it then.  I'm linking with Elm Street Quilts OMG.

Lori1R in South Dakota

Design Wall Monday

Bricks and Stepping Stones rows are being sewn together--

I am quite happy to allow the fabrics be random BUT--

I did change out one of these!  The squirrel is still being VERY friendly--

I hear him hanging on my door handle, you can't mistake the scrabbling of those claws/feet.  I am sure he would come in if the door was open.  He must be bringing friends, there were four squirrels outside a few days ago.  I'm linking with Love Laugh Quilt, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, and Quilting Is More Fun Than Housework.  

Lori1R in Nebraska

Design Wall Monday

Naragansett Green (Naragansett Blues/Bonnie Hunter) has all its rows sewn together--

If you see a turned block--please tell me!  I've put it back in its project box while I ponder borders.  Next I pulled two more project boxes out of the closet--

This project box has 56 9" finished Churn Dash blocks in it with the precut background.  Which muslin background I used is written on the note.  The other blocks are Around and Around, the block directions plus more background is in there too.  Hmm, not today.  Something easy!  

Bricks and Stepping Stones!  Its a favorite scrappy pattern (Bonnie Hunter), you can see more notes--the baggie has 108 black/white 4 patches plus a big pile of bricks.  Should I feel like putting more together, there are plenty of b/w 4 patches and 318 bricks cut from scrap taming earlier this year.  I sewed enough Bricks and Stepping Stones in vertical rows for a boy size quilt.  (Turned the pic to fit the page).  There are 176 Bricks and 4 patches, 22 vertical rows.  

Starting Tuesday I will work every day until the campground closes on the 19th.  Sigh.  I'm not ready for camping season to end!

I'm linking with Love Laugh Quilt, Small Quilts and Doll Quilts, Quilting is More Fun Than Housework.

Lori1R in Nebraska

RSC--RED

RSC has been neglected this summer--working and life has kept me busy.  This week I snuck in some sewing time--

These were cut using the Accuquilt BOB die, it is so easy to piece these odd shaped blocks (9" finished).  All the dark fabrics were given to me, the lighter neutral was found last year on a clearance table at I Bee Quiltin' in Norfolk Nebraska.  2Rs and I stop every chance we can, its on the way to Dee's house!  I'm linking to SoScrappy RSC.

Lori1R in Nebraska

October OMG

October will be busy!  Just a small goal.  This summer I bought a Crossed Canoes BOB.

I want to make a few blocks to see if I like them.  

Red is the RSC color from September so I pulled some red scraps.  I will make four Crossed Canoe blocks.   That will be my goal for October.  I'm linking with Elm Street Quilts OMG.

Lori1R in Nebraska

Would you believe.....

I recently started using online ordering of groceries. 

Today was my 2nd effort.  I was combining three errands--hauling a friend's large canoe to our house to be picked up later, taking extra fabric and other items I won't use the rest of the year in the camper home, and picking up groceries.  When you place your online order you have to send a vehicle description (red pickup) and pick a time slot (2-3pm).  You park in designated spots and call to say you are waiting, which spot, and your name.  Sounds easy!  Okay, I am driving a BIG red pickup, pulling a 16 ft canoe.  

I call, tell them I am parked in spots 5 to 8, red pickup & pulling a canoe.  

I watch a blue pickup pulling a kayak park down the row.  The grocery person brings my groceries to my truck, verifies my last name, loads my groceries in the back seat.  Still sounds great, right?  I decide to drop my groceries back at the camper.   Pull out the first bag.  ???? Look in rest of bags.  ????  Not my groceries!!!  I call the store and explain.  I am on hold quite a while.  Much apologizing by store.  Would I mind coming back to the store to get my order?  Sure, but what do I do with the wrong order?  I was told to keep it, they do not take it back.  Gee, I hoped they had ordered ribeyes and expensive booze, maybe some chocolate??!  No, but did get 8 porkchops, popcorn, and a six pack of Dr Pepper.  Other asorted items.  Why the mixup?  Remember the pickup pulling kayak?  They had the SAME LAST NAME, said they were pulling a boat, and had bought about same amount of groceries!  We had picked same pickup time.  I wonder what they thought of some items in my order?  A whole pineapple, Cheetoes, a case of Coke, ONE PARSNIP!  I hoped they laughed as hard as I did!  

Lori1R in Nebraska

September OMG

I made a big pile of YoYos in September.  

Doesn't look very big but +300 YoYos in that pile.  Yesterday I cut two different fabrics for the "borders" on finished YoYo blocks.  You can see them in the small baggie.  This is a relaxing project.  I'm linking with Elm Street Quilts OMG.

Lori1R in Nebraska

Keeping Busy

I've been able to do a little sewing.  Naragansett Greens came out to play--

No design wall in the camper, I used hair clips to attach the rows to the woodwork above the slide out.  I was worried it would be a bit blah, or worse, like boring green salad, but I think its going to have enough variety and zinger fabrics.

The weather was cool today, and I like to set my crockpot outside to cook.  The aluminum picnic table works perfect.  To help keep my crockpot warm, I covered it with a cardboard box--

The box fit tight enough the wind didn't blow it off, but about an inch of clearance  kept it from overheating at the bottom.  A fireman once told me he'd seen lots of house fires caused by malfunctioning crockpots, and he said the safest places were 1)on top your stove  2)in your kitchen sink 3)on a concrete floor (basement/garage).  Not your cupboard or anywhere it could ignite or melt what its setting on.  It was a dry cold windy day--the picnic table was perfect.  The beef stroganoff turned out tasty!

Lori1R in Nebraska

Two More Finishes

Two more finishes to report--

The first quilt was made by Dee in Nebraska, the backing is a soft brown/deer print flannel supplied by Judy B in Minnesota.  I quilted it with floppy feather (Dandelion) and added the binding.  So I can count 3/4yd out.  The 2nd quilt was a challenge by Lorri2Rs, we each made one of each color block to share.  The pattern's name is Stay Centered.  The backing is a gold mottle from Judy B in Minnesota.  I'll guess I supplied 8yds of fabric.  Its quilted with a panto called Orbits.  Both these quilts will be donated to the boy's group home.   

77° and quite breezy.  Great camping weather!  The campground is full.  

Lori1R in Nebraska

A Few Finishes

Last week Mary in SD dropped off quilts she finished the binding on.  I was so glad she did!  A fellow Stashbuster reminded everyone subcontractors are wonderful!  Here are two quilts--

Mary in South Dakota pieced the tops and made and applied the binding.  Judy B in Minnesota supplied the backings.  I quilted them.  The quilts are 75x95 more or less.  These will go to the boys group home.  YIPPEE!

Camping season is still going strong.  The campgrounds are full, the weather is perfect.  Life is good.  

Lori1R in Nebraska

OMG September

For September I'm going to work on the YoYo quilt.  I had put it aside to work on bindings but would like to finish it in 2020.  Here is a current pic--

It needs eight more "blocks".  512 more yoyos.  8.88 yds of fabric.  I will try to make 250 yoyos this month.  Ken brought my 5" charm box with him, I will work from it.  But the last "round" on each block uses more than 1/2 yd of one fabric.  2,880 yoyos total.  Each yoyo is handled a minimum of 4x, once to make the yoyo, and all yoyos are stitched to the next yoyo on three, or most of them four sides.  I'm not tired of it, I enjoy the mindless stitching.  The plan is to set it on point.  It's very sturdy, the yoyos are more square than round, lots of hand stitching holding them together.  I'm linking to Elm Street Quilts OMG.  

Do you draw diagrams when making a quilt?  I do!

The different colors just make it easier to "see" the pattern,  I am a visual learner.  The VARK model explains them--visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic.  I also use reading/writing to learn.  Do you know which type you are?  

A current pic of my campsite--

Only eight weeks left this summer.  Can we start over with May again?

Lori in Nebraska

OMG August

For August I finished binding the Blue Sheep quilt--

ITS DONE!!  YAH!!  The album blocks are from RSC a couple years ago.  I didn't have enough of one blue so the setting triangles are a darker blue.  It's a big boy quilt, it will be donated to the boys group home.  Thank you Kat for helping me with the math.  I'll guess 15 yds of fabric, the quilt is 80"x90" more or less.  It has a dyed solid blue backing, and is quilted with Dandelion or what I call "floppy feathers".  

The squirrel is becoming a problem.   He is on top my camper, my awning, the golf cart, hanging on my screen door looking in.  He is NOT social distancing!  I set two mouse traps baited with peanut butter on the picnic table.  The next morning they were missing.  I found one underneath the camper,  the other at the base of a tree--

I think he jumped off the picnic table with two traps, lost one as he passed underneath the camper.  When he went to climb the tree he couldn't, so he chewed the trap until his paw was free.  I didn't see him for several days, hoping he had been scared off.  Nope, he was back.  I set bigger rat traps on top the picnic table, but he is smart.  He bumps the edge of the trap until it springs, then eats the peanut butter!  I watched him do it twice.  This is the latest squirrel incident--

This is a heavy plastic tool box I keep my bird seed in.  He can't reach the bird feeders, so instead he went to the source.  This tote is in the back of the pickup, I have turned it so the hole is underneath and surrounded it with different mouse traps.  So far I've not caught anything.  

Lori in Beautiful Nebraska

OMG August

Time for an August goal!  I will bind the blue sheep quilt--

There are sheep in the border fabric.  More RSC Album blocks from 2015? The binding is made, it's in the ziploc bag on the left.  Whew, thought my quilt had a strange design element but its just a leaf that blew on it while taking the picture!  So another binding project for August.  

Gorgeous weather today in Nebraska--72° and the forecast high for today is 79°.  I plan to sit outside at work and sew binding.  I'm linking with Elm Street Quilts OMG.

Lori1R in Nebraska

OMG--July

OMG for July was to finish binding Honeycomb--

It's a BIG quilt--about 104"x110".   The fence is more than 8 foot tall and there is at least 20" on the ground.  I dyed the backing, attempted to get a teal, but its more of a slate blue. I quilted it with the panto hyacinth--leafy fronds.

Bias binding and rounded corners, stripes are so much fun!

(Ignore the loose thread.)  😉  This is a copy of an antique quilt, somewhat like an Irish Chain but not quite.  I pulled blender type strips in colors I liked.  The border and binding fabric were bought at the guild rummage sale last fall.  I'll link with Elm Street Quilts.

Except for binding the campground job keeps me busy.  I miss piecing but there are a lot of binding projects to be done.  

I miss shopping.  More time spent on the internet, I value the tutorials at Jordan Fabrics so I ordered some fabric from them.  I felt my stash was a bit stale, I needed some "zinger" fabrics.  There was a Kaffe Fassett mystery bundle, that should have zinger fabrics!

These prints will add interest to any quilt.  I also ordered some Kaffe Fassett yardage--

I've wanted to make a brown quilt someday, the middle fabric is a prospective border, the flowers are BIG.  I just liked the two prints with circles.  

Its almost August.  Sigh.  Can we start summer over?  

Lori1R in Nebraska