June list - additions because I can't stick to a plan.

I wrote a list of projects last week, for June.  This was a busy week for me in my quilting studio as well with grad for grandson #2 and tennis 3 mornings.  Also the other usual mundane tasks got thrown in there as well.  So, I looked back at my list and realized that I have started projects NOT on the list.
I have a new list for June:
1. Iceberg, Villa Rosa pattern - needs quilting and binding (finishing up binding, but done!)
2. Busy Bee, another Villa Rosa pattern - waiting for quilting and binding
3. Two quilts from one of my Wednesday Diva group for quilting and binding for Quilts of Valour (both are quilted and need binding)
4. Rainbow scrap blocks in blue for June
5. Squared off - Craftsy kit, waiting for quilting and binding
6. Welcome Autumn  - Patchabilities
7. Rainbow strip blocks: assembled into a top, quilted, bound (one assembled and on a hanger, second one ready to be assembled)
8. Sparrow 50 blocks up to date
9. CQA 52 blocks up to date
10. New totebag from 10" squares of fabric
11. Cafe Heartland from top to finished quilt
12. Blocks for Canada Stitches (Quilts for first responders) (and in the mail!) 
13. Dixie quilts (2) layered, quilted and bound.
14 Flower shoppe, diagonal layout

Not very encouraging accomplishments considering how many hours I have spent downstairs? I did get a picture of my "Field Day", a surrounded 16 patch and and from jelly roll (2.5") strips.

 Some tidying and organizing happened in my bunker and I pulled out fabrics that have enough yardage for backings for quilts of Valour and wrapped them on empty cardboard bolts.  This helps me to see what I have on hand when choosing a backing.  And, honestly, I had forgotten about some of these so now they are visible and more likely to get used.

 Here I am, in the process of working on happy blocks.  I cut up a load of 6.5" squares from my kid's fabrics (I have far too much!) and also cut 2.5" strips and am matching up, as best as I can, and getting blocks made.

 Here are some happy blocks on the wall and I should end up with three or four quilts for kids.

 I also have this stack of happy blocks.  But, for some reason, these blocks (which I brought home from Arizona), are not the same size.  These have 5" centers.  Not to worry, however, as I also cut up a large stack of 5" squares so I can make more and all will get used in juvenile, I Spy quilts.

 My second rainbow quilt from string piecing is waiting to be stitched together and can get added to the hanger section, meaning, it will be waiting for quilting.

 I spent too much time this week trying to figure out a setting for my CQA 52 weeks blocks.  I was thinking that I would like to keep up with the setting blocks as I go along rather than waiting until the end but also trying to work with fabrics on hand.  I think I have narrowed my choice down to these two fabrics and am thinking hourglass alternating blocks?  I need setting blocks to get the finished blocks into a quilt of a decent and usable size. The 52 finished 6" blocks won't make a very large quilt so I need a plan.

 So what happened here?  I saw a blogpost about a double slice block made from layer cakes and my Heartstrings Yahoo group is challenging members to make a quilt from 10" squares so off I went, slicing and adding to the pile of stitching projects next tot he sewing machine. First step is almost done and onto the second.  Slice, stitch, slice and stitch again!

 

 More happy blocks in the planning stage.

 My husband has a really hard time not burning both his and my rice bags (I actually use flax seed) in the microwave.  I had to replace his once again and was most annoyed when he burnt my bag.  So, this time, I replaced my bag with pink fabric... hoping it will deter him from using it when he sees it sitting in my unoccupied recliner!

 The quilt top sent to me by my cousin's wife, Joanne, in N. Carolina, got loaded onto the B-line and quilted, here it is waiting for binding.  And then, here it is hanging up, for a photo.  A lovely quilt and I will be donating this, quite possibly, to Quilts of Valour. 

 I have a stack of fat quarters that I pulled out from my stash and set aside for  making yellow brick road blocks.  Great pattern that uses up all of the fat quarter with no waste.  You never know when we will have another rainy day and I like to be prepared.  Or, maybe, all my other projects will be finished and I will be needing a project waiting to be started?

And, one more project to be started.  There is a stitch-a-long making disappearing 9 patches using charm packs and so I pulled out two packages on hand and found some white charms so am ready to go with this project. 

Sometimes when I am working, I haul fabrics out of my cupboard to audition or play with them and then they pile up waiting for me to put them back in their rightful place.  I am happy to say that my cutting table is looking much better with an hour or so of cleaning up. 

One of the quilters in my Wednesday quilting group has been collecting all of our fabric and batting scraps and making pillows for the homeless.  But, she is now too busy to be doing this and so, instead of collecting my scraps in a plastic bag, I made a pillowcase from fabric and used it to line my bin.  As my scraps get tossed in there, I can squish it down and when it full, stitch up the end and have a pillow ready for donation.
My City View quilt, a kit from Connecting Threads is finished.  I learnt something about myself while making this.  I do not like working with strips that are long and can become distorted.  I am much happier working with blocks that match up at the corners and end up with quilts that are much more square.  This is really wonky and not my favourite way of making a quilt. But, it is done and ready for donation. 
 

Two quilts were quilted yesterday and today and ready for binding.  These quilts were made by Darlene H, a member of my Wednesday group and she is donating them to Quilts of Valour.  I have been procrastinating with the quilting and had them on my May list of projects.  Only a few weeks behind and the binding will get stitched on both of them by machine.  Thanks to Darlene for her contribution.

Some of my happy blocks are trimmed and on the design wall to stitch together and I will have quilt#1 done, hopefully by this time next week?

Our weather forecast is for some hot days by mid week.  Am sure I will be on the tennis court most mornings and will be happy to be downstairs in my studio when it warms up in the afternoon.