WIP Wednesday...Retreat Review 10.29.2025

I finished a few things and worked on a few things but I had a ton of FUN!

First I worked on the WIC Christmas stockings. I made 10 at retreat and along with one I made at home to 'see' if I could jog my memory on the construction! There wasn't a fireplace mantle but the ironing board worked well.  :)

pattern: it's an adaption from Yvonne's pattern.

Next, I made my squares for Lisa Sutherland's Rectangle Window quilt pattern. There really wasn't a very good design wall space so the blocks came home with me to be sewn into the top for finishing.

pattern: Lisa Sutherland's Rectangle Window

The retreater's were also asked to bring a mini wall hanging to place outside their door. I displayed the quilt my friend, LindaJ made for me circa 2011.

I also started a rope bowl that I hope to use as a candy dish at Howell Melon Patchers' Christmas party. I was also dusting out the cobwebs to remember this construction. too. :) I had brought a bowl at Dollar Tree as a size reference.

MaryG and I left retreat early and stopped at two quilt shops along the way home. First was Bittersweet Quilt Shop in Pinconning, Michigan. It is a really cute, uncluttered store in an old church.

Our second stop was at Hartland Quilt Shop in Hartland, Michigan. This shop has lots and lots of stuff!

A little bit of fabric followed me home as my Quilting Buddy always told me that I needed to be a 'good shopper' and buy a little something at each shop I visit so the shop stays in business. I also like to support the shops as I always seem to stop right at 'bathroom break' time. :)

This was a very fun retreat even though I didn't know a lot of the quilters but everyone was very friendly! I definitely want to make plans to go next spring and fall. Who knows? Maybe I'll get to the casino!

Sharing today with The Inquiring Quilter's Wait Loss Wednesday.

Design Wall Monday 10.27.2025

This morning finds me on the road at Quilt Retreat in Mackinaw City, Michigan.

I usually travel with my pillow and a quilt. This trip is no different.

The hotel has really beautiful views of the Mackinac Bridge, The Grand Hotel and the shoreline.

My sewing station is a bit small but I'm at a table with friends! So all is good! I'm working on Christmas stockings to donate to the WIC (Woman, Infants and Children (I Think)) through the Howell Melon Heads.

Sharing today with Judy at Design Wall Monday.

Finish or NOT Friday 10.24.2025

As promised, my two finishes for Marlene. I did hand sew back the binding as I felt M would have finished her quilts in this manner. First is her guitar quilt. I had to un-pick quite a bit of her stitching but I was able to use some on the backing fabric on the back and binding.

pattern: a BQ, I believe

panto: serpentine

Her second project needed the inner and outer borders. M had it listed as a mystery from 2001. 

pattern: mystery from 2001

panto: serpentine

I also quilted down two Casual Quilters' QOV's last week but didn't post. I already turned them in and all that is left is labeling and sewing back the bindings.

Quilt #1:

pattern: looks like a jelly roll race

panto: simple stars and loops

Quilt #2: 

pattern: rail fence

panto: simple stars and loops (sorry: no close up)

I also finished piecing the Tower 2 Tunnels quilt. It ended up very big 85 x 85 before quilting. I am going to add a little bit of a buffer background on the top/bottom to endure proper length after quilting. :)

Sharing today with Alycia at Finish or NOT Friday.

Design Wall Monday 10.20.2025

 It's been awhile blog friends but this about sums it up...

...except for me, it was 9 months worth of 3.5 inch strip quilts.

After my Quilting Buddy did a 'wellness check' on me, I decided it was time just to do what I had to do! The thought of hand sticking back two bindings left me 'not wanting' to make the effort and also guilty for starting any new (or new-ish) projects. I buckled down and worked on the hand sewing yesterday. Friday you will see the fruits of my labor. Now it's just a sneak peak.

A few weeks back, a fellow guild member shared English Paper Piecing. I used Christmas fabric as I am helping with the Christmas party planning and maybe (?) a party favor... It actually was not as awful as I thought it might be!

I also need to get moving on my Tunnel to Towers quilt. It is to be at least 75 x 85 to cover a full bed. Clue the crumbs to the rescue. This time in brown and beige for (hopefully) a more masculine quilt. I'm going to sew it on point so it gets bigger faster. 😍

pattern: crumbs surrounded by 2.5 inch frames, block size is 10.5 inches unfinished

Thanks Quilting Buddy for the 'check in' and helping me to find my 'sewing mojo'! 

Quilty friends are the BEST!!

Sharing today with Judy at Design Wall Monday.

WIP Wednesday 10.1.2025

 In August, I agreed to help Darby's cousin (well, the grandfathers were brothers, the dad's are first cousins and I guess, Darby and Buffy are second cousins?) with a few of her mother's UFO's. The Mom is a quilter, 87 years old and suffering from dementia and is unable to sew and/or quilt. I immediately agreed to help without really 'knowing what' I was getting into...

The first project I tackled was this little quilt. M (Buffy's mom) was hand quilting it. Buff said that I could totally remove any stitches and finish it on the long arm. It just about broke my heart to take out all the hand stitching but I finally am nearing the end of the stitch removal. 

pattern: BQ 2, I think.

Another box I received from Buffy had a notation on it: 'just needs borders', easy right? 

This is a mystery from 2001. M had already cut the final border wider than the pattern suggested so I just continued on her path. This is a monster! 75 x 95 inches! Unquilted!

I 'knew' I was close on batting but I lost 'batting chicken' today. :(

Sharing today with The Inquiring Quilter's Wait Loss Wednesday.

SoScrappy Saturday 9.27.2025

Today is the fourth Saturday of September of the colors light blue and light green. It is also the reveal of the Table Scraps Challenge for September. Our prompt this month is Television and /or radio.

The first place mats I worked on where the motorhome place mats. The two for the table were too large so I took off the bindings and cut them down to our local Meals-on-Wheels size. DH wasn't too crazy about the place mats as he thought they 'looked like Christmas'. I can see it...with the flying geese and former red binding. This time, I used brown binding... 

I'm counting this as 'green' but doesn't work for the 'television/radio' portion of the challenge.

I went to my trusty source of inspiration, Pinterest. I did find a Lori Holt free tv block but what to put on the screen? I searched my novelties and found an older Hobby Lobby print of cowboys. That's sorta 'Howdy Dowdy' -ish right? So I worked on piecing two place mats. This is where I left off the other day. They are sandwiched and ready for the quilting.

Took a little spin through Baby Brother for just enough quilting to hold the place mats together! 

Ta-Da! Light blue background with a older TV... check and check! :)

pattern: Lori Holt's free pattern

Sharing today with SoScrappy Saturday and 

Joy at Table Scraps Challenge 2025.

Finish or NOT Friday 9.26.2025

I have two finishes this week!

I finished my offset brick wall. I used a new to me panto but I actually miss my favorite serpentine panto!.

pattern: Off set brick wall: public domain

                I used 3.5 x 6.5 inch bricks, 3.5 x 3.5 inch chips and a hunk of novelty

panto: Forever friends by Dave Hudson

My second finish is a QOV based on Lisa Sutherland's Scrap Strips and Stars. The change I made was to use 3.5 inch scraps and strips instead of 2.5 inch scraps and strips. Oh...I also made Floating Stars instead of Sawtooth Stars.

pattern inspiration: Lisa Sutherland's Scrap Strips and Stars

panto: serpentine

Sharing today with Alycia at Finish or NOT Friday.

 

WIP Wednesday 9.24.2025

I decided to make another Quilt of Valor using leftover 3.5 inch cut strips. I had made the floating stars earlier in the year so all I had to do is sew my leftovers end to end, press, measure and sew together. This quilt is based on Lisa Sutherland's Strippy Stars.

pattern inspiration: Lisa Sutherland's Scrap Strips and Star

                               my 'wonky meets floating stars' ( I cut my legs at 4.0 inches)

After I have my strips sewn end to end, I rough cut the strips then sew along the length. For example, if I want my strata to be 48.5 inches then I cut my strips at 52 inches and trim to my desired size.

I also sewed the borders onto this quilt. Yes, it really is this quick since I already had the floating stars made. :)

Sharing today with The Inquiring Quilter's Wait Loss Wednesday.

Design Wall Monday 9.22.2025

 I'm doing another quilt with 3.5 x 6.3 inch (cut) bricks and 3.5 inch (cut) chips. It's the staggered brick wall. I'm going to insert the print between the bricks. Here is my starting point and quite a few of the fabrics are from the free table at guild.

The novelty measured 40.5 inches so that meant I could only sew 6 full bricks across for 36.5 inches. I opted to make the rows first.

I then rowed it together and placed the novelty towards the top of the quilt.

I wanted it a little bigger so I added a small 2.5 inch (cut) border. The black might be a little harsh but it was what I had/found in the stash.

pattern: Brickwall with novelty inserrt.

Sharing today with Judy at Design Wall Monday.