Parents come first.

Wow, almost the end of July and I still have few projects to complete to meet my goals that I set for myself at the beginning of the month.

After my last post, I felt the need to play a bit and my online friend, Susan G, sent a link to these adorable, cute and quick little baskets.  If they were made according to instructions, you would get three out of a fat quarter of outside fabric, plus a fat quarter of lining and would need some fabric for the top cuff.  Easy to make and was mindless.  Just what I was craving.

I have since made three from the fat quarters and interesting differences.  The fabric I used for the outside of the buckets was much thinner than the first ones I made and the buckets aren't nearly as firm.  I used the same fusible fleece in each but just illustrates how much the thickness of the fabric you are using makes a difference in the finished product.  I also cut the first one I made about half an inch taller because I had the fabric to do that... with making 3 from a fat quarter, there isn't any extra. 
My friend Bonnie and I decided to tackle one of Emmaline's retreat bags.  This bag uses a special frame to hold the bag open.  I made one first to just try the pattern.  I used the required fusible interfacing and then added fusible fleece.  It was simple to sew and I got it made fairly quickly with no mishaps.

Then I made second one while we were sewing together and used Soft and Stable instead of fusible fleece and we found a pattern online that was a little different than the original with handles and outside pockets.  I struggled with this.  I must admit, I cursed a little (maybe a lot).  There are some tricks to making it work with the thicker interfacing though, the bag stands up and holds it's shape much better. 

And then it was no sew time.  I headed to Victoria and moving our parents was on the agenda.  They are not married and they lived in separate places, dad in independent senior's living and mom in a government run nursing home.  A lovely new place opened up very close to my sister's house and we decided to move them both in there as it would make parental care easier and much closer.  The new place has all levels of care so this worked for each of them.  It was a lot of work, many boxes to pack and carry and unpack but all is done and while the artwork did not get hung, my sister will eventually get it done. 
They are both settling in and hopefully, they are happy and will thrive.

It took me awhile after getting home to get back to sewing.  It is so hot here and everything is so dry, the ground is parched. But my irises are blooming nicely!

I did get my O Scrap blocks of the month made.  The July colour was red and I managed to get some strip pieced blocks plus 40 rail fences from my scrap bin.

And I have a number of quilts quilted and waiting for binding!

On Wednesday, while at quilting Divas, our hostess is putting out boxes of fabrics for us to help ourselves and I saw a panel this week and when I went to put it away, I stopped and figured I would just make a donation quilt right then and there.  Waiting for binding but the it is close to being finished.

I got the last of the Wednesday Divas happy blocks stitched into a quilt top.  I don't know when it will get quilted but it will be for Quilts of Valour and this is top number 4!

Just for fun, I made some selvedge mug rugs.  They need binding but wanted to try the technique.

This colourweave quilt, a free pattern in the Moda Bake shop, got the binding stitched down.
This is a UFO from last summer.

And today, I managed to load and quilt one of my winter projects.  This is a free pattern from Christa Watson and I loved making it using jelly rolls plus background. I need to choose a binding for it and will wait until morning to make my decision when the lighting is better.

So, not many finishes but lots of projects started and almost finished.  I have two quilts that I will try hard to load and quilt in the next two days and that would make for a very successful and productive July.  And, this time next week, our temperatures should be cool enough that the a/c won't be needed and sleeping with windows open will be just perfect.

So far a cool July but the heat is coming!

I spent some time with my  mom last week.  She has gangrene in one of her feet and needed an ultrasound and xray before returning to the lower limb clinic to see about treatment.  Next time I do this, I need to take my knitting to work on.  Working a binding a quilt is too bulky and cumbersome and not fair to sit and read while with mom so have a plan!  Knitting project will get organized and ready for the next visit.

I have my July and August blocks made for the Quilter's Planner challenge. I want to be finished the blocks by early October so I don't have to drag my fabric supplies back down south with me and then bring home the blocks to finish here.  Why not just get ahead of the game?

This second block was paper pieced and even though I was sure I had measured the little box that said 1" and it was.... well, it wasn't and my bottom block is 1/2" too small.  But am not worried as all these blocks get surrounded by a sashing and will have to cut the fabric an extra ½" wider to allow for the smaller block and only you and I will know!
And fresh raspberries along with a lovely bowl of blueberries.  Picked from my buddy's house and no pesticides or chemicals so no washing of the fruit.  Yum!  

I have this quilt finished.  This was a Craftsy kit from last fall that I purchased on sale and was a quick and easy way to use up strips of fabric.  I added to the kit to get this to the appropriate size for a donation quilt.  Bright and happy!

And Yippee!!  My village quilt is bound and ready for the washing machine.  I want to sleep under this and so will wash to remove any chemicals in the fabric.  No, I do not prewash before cutting and all these houses were from my scaps buckets as well as the scrap table at the Langley quilt show and a scrap bucket that Jean Jones had for sale at our last guild trunk sale.

This is quilt number 3 from the blocks that my Wednesday quilting group made from fabric squares and strips that I took from my stash.  Quilt number two is sitting on the pile, waiting for the binding to get stitched down and enough blocks left for a fourth quilt.  Good stitching by my friends and great use of fabric for fun quilts for injured military members.

I have my red scraps pulled for my paper pieced string blocks and my rail fence blocks for Oh Scrap rainbow challenge for July.
And I am working on more teal/purple 16 patch blocks.
Plus, the pile of quilt tops with backings made and batting cut is waiting for the heat to arrive, later this week.  When it is hot outside, it is perfect in my downstairs bunker.  In the meantime, it is time to be in the garden harvesting zucchini and baking. 

Welcome July

Hard to believe that our year is half over and I am another year older.  But, I am still playing tennis and working on getting my projects quilted so my life is good.

My Wednesday Diva group has been making 'happy' blocks for me (and Quilts of Valour) from some squares and strips that I cut and had in a container.  Every time we met in June, they took some and brought them back stitched and ready.  This is the second quilt from the blocks, ready for quilting.

And, more blocks waiting.  I counted 88 so enough for two more quilts! I have quilt 3 on the design wall so that will be a total of 5 from our stitching efforts when they are all finished.

I am working on my second autumn rails but the first one is quilted and bound and ready for donation. I was inspired to make this from a picture I saw last summer of a quilt donated to the fire victims and figured out how it was made.  But I didn't realize I would have enough blocks for two quilts from one jelly roll package.

Christmas in July!  I have stitched up 13 pillowcases, ready for some gift giving in less than 6 months.

I tidied up a little this past  week while I was stuck at home because of the rain making the tennis courts too wet to play and found a box of strips all cut and ready for the St. Louis 16 patch so will work on these as leaders and enders.

Slowly working on the binding on my village quilt.  I don't seem to be watching as much tv or, if I do, the show is either really gripping or they have subtitles, slowing down my handing stitching time.

To begin the month of July on the right foot, I got busy yesterday and cut some battings and stitched up some backings for the next batch of quilt tops that are patiently waiting.  Most of these tops were from my winter stitching and would love to empty the hangers that are still full.

It makes it much easier to get a quilt loaded onto the B-line when the backings are ready to go. 
My aqua rail fences for June got finished and a nice stack of them.  This month the Oh Scrap rainbow challenge is red - lots of that colour fabric hanging around in containers.

So many projects but this will be a month of other activities.  Both of my parents are in their 90's and we are moving them to a new senior care residence which will hopefully be an awesome place for them to live and get the care that they need.  And, they have appointments and aren't quite capable of getting to and from on their own so a few ferry trips coming up.

Happy summer and so far, I have no complaints and am enjoying the cooler temperatures and windows open rather than inside with a/c running.  Am sure this won't last long but wonderful while it lasts.