SoScrappy Saturday 8.19.2023

Today is the third Saturday of August of the color YELLOW!

I'm running a little behind on my SoScrappy blocks so today I am going to show my yellow house and hut.

First, here is the house. Yes! That is a black bear in the window...

pattern: Debby Brown's Little Pink Houses

I decided to put the whole rainbow neighborhood on the design wall to get an idea of how the neighborhood is coming together.

pattern: Debby Brown's Little Pink House

Next up is the yellow hut. I did find a crumb block in the parts department that had bees in it. I, personally would not live here!

pattern: a cutting oops that turned into a block I liked. 

Here is the rainbow hut neighborhood. 

pattern: a cutting oops that I liked.

I'm thinking of keeping the houses and huts separate so the huts can travel with the crumb trunk show if needed.

Sharing with SoScrappy Saturday.

Finish or NOT Friday 8.18.2023

Like I have always said, ' My quilting and crafts will wait for me'! 

My sewing space was just as I left it 10 days ago, no magic quilting fairy visited to work on my projects. I have not yet looked into my current scrap bin as they tend to multiply and oh boy, ten days unsupervised! 😱

First up, I took my fellow bloggers' advice and sewed the yellow 4 patch into a flimsy. It's approximately 48 x 64 right now, I'm unsure if I want it any bigger. I think it might appeal to a Mom at the Cancer Hospital but not a child. I'll ask around and 'see' what the consensus is...

pattern: Mary's Double 4 patch

I've been wanting to make myself a pincushion with a pocket to hold my scissors when I travel. I made one for an exchange many years ago but I didn't take a picture or make one for me. My Pinterest search lead me to the pincushion but it is now a published pattern in a book. Back when I made it, it was a free download. I did find another free download, here, so I swapped out the block on the front. Of course my block was a bit bigger so I had to adjust the other sizes to fit. Overall, I'm happy with it. The scissors are bigger and I actually needed a little bigger pocket. who knew? One change, I would have made my 9 patch red and brown instead of red and black.

pattern: adapted from 'How to make a Pocket Pincushion'

But, Pat, why do you need a pincushion with a pocket? Good question...I wanted to finish making my yo-yo's for the clothes pin project while upstairs watching TV. Ta-da! Yo-yo's are done! The next step is to glue onto the clothes pin...

pattern: extra large Clover yo-yo maker

Sharing today with Alycia at Finish or NOT Friday and

Sarah at Whoop! Whoop!

WIP Wednesday 8.16.2023

Today was the sew and lunch day at the Melon Patchers. I chose to take 4 quilts that needed labels, yes the labels I made earlier in the week! 

Here is most of the group. Lots of ladies brought their machines. Today's emphasis was on Charity (or Comfort) Sewing.

For some reason, I didn't end up with a lot of room. I was heading towards the empty round tables but was told that they were reserved for lunch so we could all eat together! I did manage to squeeze into a place and sew all four of the labels onto the Comfort quilts today! Yay!

One of the ladies brought door prizes but the drawing was going to be after lunch so I opted to stay. I didn't win a prize but I was able to make one yoyo...the blue one. I'm going to glue the yoyo's to clothes pins...like the one in the picture...to use at the QOV Booth at AQS QuiltWeek Grand Rapids. Sometimes the Signature squares need to dry just a pinch and last year we used the clothes pins to hang the blocks on the curtain backdrop in the booth. Not only does the ink dry but it's a fun way to decorate the booth. This year I'm either going to take clothesline or make something to act as a clothesline. Well see 'how' busy I am coming into the show dates.

pattern: Clover Extra Large yo yo maker

Sharing with Susan at MidWeek Makers.

Design Wall Monday 8.14.2023

My grand plans were de-railed!

My brother was home about 4 days from an 11 day hospital stay when he fell. He was admitted again where it was discovered that his sodium levels were dangerously low. He is also diabetic, has high blood pressure and quite a few other health ailments. So I went to the hospital both Saturday and Sunday. Our quick visit on Sunday turned into a 3.5 hour stay while my SIL went home and checked on a few things. 

My design wall is the same as I left it Last Tuesday night. I'm not sure if I am going to sew this top into a flimsy or set the blocks in the 'some assembly needed' pile. It's about 48 x 64 right now.

pattern : Mary's Double 4 Patch

I did clear off my tables so I am ready to sew. I usually move as much as I can off the floor when I leave for an extended time. I would hate to come home to a flooded basement and have quilts (and whatever) destroyed because I didn't move them to higher ground. I also started in the Tuesday night guild bag...putting 'things' away from my crumb block demo.

I did manage to face a few labels today. 4 for the Melon Patchers and one for the QOV Signature Quilt. Since it was made with mostly Casual Quilters signed blocks, I wanted to put a Casual Quilters' QOV Label on it.

Here is the QOV Signature quilt that will get the above label. I had already posted it last week, but here it is again. :)

A few random pictures from Shipshewana, Indiana. I seem to like the horses and the flowers! I didn't mean to capture some of the Amish in this picture, I was just amazed at the number of buggys at the grocery store.

One of the most pleasant surprises on this trip was 'this little bit' of sewing inspiration. It was for sale at our hotel but unfortunately not my size. :( I've been 'noodling' and 'watching' for ways to make my crumb blocks into flowers. This just might be one possiblity!

Thanks for sticking with me through this long post. :)

Sharing with Judy at Design Wall Monday.

WIP Wednesday 8.9.2023

I did my 'whistle stop' demo last night. I tried to keep it simple and straight forward but sometimes my brain likes to complicate <things>. Here is my set up 'in the wild'. My friend Mary was demo-ing next to me and remarked how 'Pat's looks like a science fair project'! I guess you can take the girl out of the science world but the science world stays in the girl and sneaks out every so often...LOL

The other question..yes, I worked on the QOV Signature quilt. First I cut the alternate 7.5 inch squares.

Sewed them altogether, added a 2.5 inch cut inner border and 4.5 inch cut outer border.

I loaded it on the long arm and called Monday a good workday.

Tuesday I made the back, loaded the back, batting and quilted down the QOV before lunch. 

I made the binding and sewed that on after lunch and ta-da! From cutting table to finished quilt in 3 days!

 To celebrate...I'm taking 3 days off! Well, DH wanted a mid week get away so we are going to Shipshewana.

pattern: 7.5 inch cut Signature squares with alternating Patriotic print

panto: serpentine

Good news! I found my patriotic clothes pins. We used these last year to hang the Signature blocks on the curtain to dry and help decorate the QOV AQS booth. Somehow, I thought I had about 24 not 12! Maybe I'll make more but that means finding the yo yo maker...

And because I had a few minutes before I needed to load up for the meeting last night, I put my current leader/ender project on the design wall. My take on Double Four Patch, except I am using one color way. I'm low key liking the Barn Raising Setting.

pattern: Mary's Double 4 patch

That'a a lot to take in from me! Whew!

Sharing with Susan at MidWeek Makers.

Design Wall Monday 8.7.2023

Well, I'm starting the week off with another finish or two. Go Figure! I finished the fraternal Safari Animals quilts over the weekend. I used the Villa Rosa October Sky pattern and was able to make all the blocks at the same time. I make hst's using the tube method and 3/5 sets yielded 8 blocks...enough for 2 quilts. I only had to make 2 more hst's for the second quilt. win-win!

Quilt 1:

Quilt 2:

pattern: Villa Rosa October Sky

panto: serpentine

I also worked on my Crumb Block display board. I used the tape from our card making/ scrapbooking days to adhere my pieces. When I went to the sewing room on Sunday morning, a few of the pieces had fallen off. I pulled out my Elmer's glue and stuck the pieces back on. I'm currently waiting to 'see' if anything else falls off. The banner was made using a combination of tutorials from Pinterest. I'm also have a handout that lists about 5 web sites to visit to learn more about 'crumb blocks'. (giving credit where credit is due)

Ever have an 'oh no'? moment? I realized that guild is this Tuesday night...well, doh...my crumb block demo but I had also collected QOV Signature blocks last month and wanted to have the quilt ready for show and tell this month. So, out came the Signature Blocks and patriotic fabric for the alternating block. It will hopefully be a flimsy by Tuesday's meeting!

Sharing with Judy at Design Wall Monday.

SoScrappy Saturday 8.5.2023

Today is the first Saturday of August of the color YELLOW!

Time for my Happy Blocks! Yikes...they are really golden yellow and busy! I might swap them out for a calmer yellow but then maybe not! I haven't put all the Happy Blocks on the design wall yet to 'see how they play together'!

pattern: Mary's Happy Blocks

Sharing with SoScrappy Saturday.

Finish or NOT Friday 8.4.2023

Hon E Bear and Ted E Bear can be moved to the finished but need labeling pile! Yea!

pattern: alternating light/dark charm squares with border insert

panto: serpentine

I have progress to share on the Safari animals October Sky quilts. One is all pieced...

...and when I made my hst's, three out of five sets yielded eight hst's! Enough for two quilts! I only had to make two more hst's and here is the second quilt. I actually think I like the second one just a wee bit more. The center is smaller but the print is calmer.

pattern: October Sky by Villa Rosa

Sharing with Alycia at Finish or NOT Friday and

Sarah at Whoop! Whoop!

WIP Wednesday 8.2.2023

So...I was going for a checkerboard with the Hon E Bear and Ted E Bear in the <sorta> middle. Something like this...

 When I sewed it together, I made an error in my rows. Not good. <sigh>

Out came the seam ripper and I ripped two seams and settled on this arrangement. I just hate it when my rows and/or blocks jump around from the design wall to my sewing machine. This is better.

pattern: 4 patch with 5 inch cut squares. 

               I actually pieced it as rows, alternating the light and darks.             

I also pulled out the Safari animals themed pieces that were on the free table. I pulled a few fabrics as potential 'go with's'. The darker leafy fabric in the center was, you guessed it! On.The.Free.Table.

I've been itching to make Villa Rosa's October Sky pattern.

Sharing with Susan at MidWeek Makers.