September and a mixture of summer and autumn weather.

Today is September 1st and it makes me happy that I don't have to return to work on Tuesday... even though it has been 17 years, I still celebrate my retirement.

A new month and my list of quilting goals still has some carry overs from July and August but I am determined to not get side tracked by new projects and ideas!

1. Polka dot blocks -  ready to quilt
2. Solstice (will I ever get around to this?)
3. RCS blocks for Sept 19
4. Ohio Star blocks (not very excited about this)
5. Replace Joanne's US flag block
6. Cut up kid's fabrics for Yellow Brick Road quilts (heartstrings fq challenge)
7. Make up the zip pouches that I have kits for
8. Woodland kid's quilt - Mary's strippie pattern?
9. Quilter's planner blocks
10. In from the cold block
11. Make more of Marge's blocks
12. Make more hourglass blocks
13. Stitch some blocks for Canada Stitches
14.Teal block swap
15. Quilt rail fence #5
16. Quilt rail fence #6
17. Quilt Missouri Star Diamond Chain
18. Quilt Sparrow blocks quilt
19.Diamond Chain
20. Strippie kid's quilt 
21 Baby block preemie 1 & 2 
 


I am loving my post it notes on my white board and it is really working for me. I can move the post it notes from being an idea to a project for the month and then to needs quilting and binding.  And when finished, it comes off!  And a great way to inspire me when I am figuring out what to work on next.

My last rail fence quilt from August got finished last week.  This is #4

Another rail fence block quilt is finished.  It is on the list for this month and I finished the binding last night so am ahead of myself.

I also got some blocks made for Canada Stitches (quilts for first responders at Can Praxis, horsecamp for PTSD).

My last rail fence block quilt is ready to load on the machine for quilting.

I had a quilt that I made earlier this year, using up the last of my Happy blocks, given to me to bind.  I donated the quilt to Victoria Quilts and my friend Kelly did a fabulous job quilting it.  Victoria quilts cover patients under going chemo therapy or cancer treatments with a quilt but it must have flannel on the back.  Kelly has the flannel and she played with various quilting designs in each of the blocks.
It will get bound this week... I have it stitched on one side, now to sit and hand stitch while I watch the US Open tennis this coming week.

I also got my strips made for my purple RCS blocks for September.  Now to get them stitched with the white squares and create hst's and add to my stash of blocks from the previous months.

I have my quilt tops ready to quilt and they have the backings and battings cut to size.

My teal swap, mug rug, is still waiting but I added more teal prints to the basket. Unfortunately, my swap partner is in hospital after having a major health issue so am waiting until she is back home to get going on my project.  She asked for brights so will narrow my choices down.

And a stack of fat quarters from forever ago!  I have had these for a very long time.  One of my groups that I belong to (Heartstrings) chose fat quarters as their precut of the month so I pulled out the stack and might try some of the pattern ideas that they are sharing.

Otherwise, it will still be tennis daily since the weather is still dry and tennis on tv with the US Open all this week.  And I should be dealing with some of the large zucchinis that my husband didn't see until they were huge.
My grandson has moved back home now that his parents have returned from their summer cabin so I have cleaned his bedroom thoroughly and all the bedding is washed and bathroom is clean.  The feather duvet that he uses has developed a lot of pinholes and the feathers were poking out and so lots of vacuuming to get those floating bits under control and I have tried to stitch up the holes but have also decided he can switch to a poly duvet next time he is here.  He isn't a quiet, calm sleeper and bunches the duvet which am sure helps to push the feathers through the fabric.

Hello September, good bye August.  Time moves on but I had a great August and accomplished a lot of projects, played a lot of tennis and got to enjoy having my 18yr old guy in my daily life. 

Last week of August and am on target for my finishes.

I am on track for this month and it feels good. My list for August looks like this:
So, onto August goals:
1. Polka dot blocks
2. Solstice (will I ever get around to this?)
3. RSC rails (yes, on the design wall)
4. Welcome Autumn (this has been kicking around for far too long)
5. Ohio Star blocks (not very excited about this)
6. Replace Joanne's US flag block
7. Cut up kid's fabrics for Yellow Brick Road quilts
8. Make up the zip pouches that I have kits for
9. Kit for cutting mat carrier bag
10. Catch up on CQA 52 blocks
11. Catch up on Sparrow blocks
12. Make RSC blocks for Aug 19
13. Woodland kid's quilt
14. Quilter's planner blocks
15. In from the cold block
16. Make more of Marge's blocks
17. Organize for Sept workshop for log cabin QOVC
18. Make more hourglass blocks
19 Stitch some blocks for Canada Stitches
20 Teal block swap
21 Missouri star Diamond chain
22 Abby quilt guild fat quarter winnings
23 Harper 
Two projects got finished yesterday...  I actually finished my autumn Patchabilities triplet that I started in 2017.  All they needed was to have the applique stitched down and the bindings added.  DONE!  Finally!! But, I took the picture sideways?  Sorry, you have to turn your head. 

 I also made a project that wasn't a UFO but it has been hanging around since January and I kept debating with myself as to whether or not I really wanted to make it. It is a mat carrier and was a kit on Connecting threads that was on sale.  The center fabric is a panel by Cheryl Arkison.  I did not make it exactly as the instructions but it is done.  It actually has a zipper opening across the top which is probably a good thing to keep things from falling out?

 "Harper" is completed, waiting for quilting

Plus, even better, my Sparrow 50 blocks in 50 weeks is stitched together.  I stopped at 30 blocks as this is good size and I was losing interest in making the blocks.  Another one ready for quilting.

So, I have a few quilt tops at the hanging stage... waiting on hangers to be quilted.  September projects!

I managed to get my Wednesday Diva group birthday gifts organized and fabrics cut.  All ready for the rest of the year!

And a few finished quilts as well... was a busy week! Three of my rainbow rail fence quilts are finished... only 3 left to do!

 And this is my fat quarter quilt which is actually one of my favourites to make with very little waste of fabric when cutting.  This was a stack of fat quarters that I won at guild awhile back... am thinking maybe spring 2018?  But could have been fall 2017?  Anyway, they have been hanging around and I couldn't decide on a pattern to use.  Decision made!

I have pulled fabrics and need to make a decision on my teal mini swap mug rug.  Obviously far too many choices here.  This is a swap to support research for Ovarian cancer and I am teamed up with a partner from Labrador-Newfoundland.  The fabric on the cutting mat is the one that was sent to me (and everyone else) that needs to be visible on the front of the mug rug.  My partner asked for brights so I will figure out a design and then choose appropriate fabrics.  Some of the works are quite stunning that participants make.  If you google "teal mini swap' on Facebook, you might be able to see some?

So, a full week left in the month and I am determined to finish quilting my last quilt on my August list, cut batting and backings for my September quilting projects (and get them off those hangers) and see what other projects call my name.  Month end so I know my desk is whispering, come and sit here and tidy me up.

Two weeks left in August.

I need to focus on my list of things to do for the rest of the month.  I have been distracted by new projects that are more fun that the existing ones.  I did make the time to catch up on my CQA 52 blocks in 52 weeks.  I was 9 blocks behind and now am up to date until Tuesday.  I also added the frame around each block.

I need to focus on my Sparrow blocks this coming week. 
I also got my Missouri Star top put together although it is patiently waiting to be pressed.

The blue rail fence got quilted and the binding is made but waiting to be attached.  Also my fat quarter quilt from my guild winnings got quilted and again, binding needs to be finished and attached.  But close to being finished.  And that makes me happy!

And then I started another new project... called Harper from the Cloth Shop on Granville Island.  I have it half done and will get the top finished hopefully this afternoon and it will go the waiting list for quilting.

I feel like I was sewing a lot this week but it sure doesn't appear to be that I accomplished much?  But one day was appointments with my husband which messed up any sewing time.  And we had to celebrate his birthday so, "me" time was limited. 
Hoping this week will see me finishing projects instead of starting new ones?  But.... the new ones are so much fun!! :)

Such a crazy idea, making all those rail fence blocks!

Last year I had the idea (without a plan) of making rail fence blocks using 3.5" strips, mostly scrappy, for a second batch of Rainbow challenge scrap blocks.  It sounded like a great idea and every month I made a batch using the colour of the month.  And, I kept up with the challenge every month.
I ended up with a lot of rail fence blocks.This is only 'some' of them after I made a couple of quilt tops.

It was boring to stitch these blocks together but I persevered and made quilt tops that hopefully resemble a bit of a rainbow.  Except, I ran out of yellow blocks after the first two quilt tops were put together.

 These are the first two tops so you get the idea of what I was doing.

 And after these two were done, still loads more blocks in the pile but only one yellow block.  I was NOT going to make more blocks.  But, I did keep sewing along and ended up with one completely blue quilt (so many blue blocks but I used them all up) and in total, six tops measuring approximately 60 x 70 and one that is 40 x 50.  I still have a small stack of 27 blocks.  I have loads of ideas of what can be done with them but, for now, they might reside on a hanger, they might get offered to other quilters at guild and see if someone else wants to play.

So much tennis to watch on the weekend but that helped me to get lots of time at my sewing machine and I have one other top put together (made from a stack of fat quarters that I won at guild awhile back) and waiting for quilting plus, there is one on the design wall waiting for the blocks to be joined.

 And today, after playing tennis, getting sheets changed and a couple of loads of laundry and taking time to deal with 'office' type work for Quilts of Valour, I managed to cut and sew backings and cut batting for 6 quilt tops.  My goal was to get some tops ready for quilting by mid month and then after the 15th, try to get a few quilted.  I think I am 'on goal' though the quilt on the design wall wasn't on my list of things to do and totally sidetracked me.  But always fun to add in a new and different project that isn't a UFO although the charm squares were of unknown age.

I have totally cleaned up both my main sewing space and my underground bunker and I keep finding things to take to the free table at guild.  Less is more, I hope! But it is nice to find things I have forgotten I had and also not so nice to find duplicates or triplicates of things that are tucked away.  Now, if only I could find my red sewing apron??

A fun day with my local guild

I signed up for a workshop with my local guild and we were fortunate to have Suzie Parron, of Barnquiltinfo.com come and teach us how to make a barn quilt of our own!
She provided the plywood with a base coat on it, the patterns, the brushes and the paint.  We had to provide our own pencils, ruler and tape... and a hairblower.  Easy!!

My finished barn quilt!!  What a fun way to spend a Wednesday.  Thank you to the organizer of the workshop... it was great and I know everyone enjoyed painting.

A week into August... almost, and what I have accomplished?

Here we are on the 6th day of August and how much have I accomplished?  A few days of sewing and some days of watching tennis - tournaments in Washington and now Roger's cup in Montreal and Toronto.
I looked at my list for August and then I chuckled because I am working on two projects that aren't on my list.. typical. I am ignoring my list because I am not excited about the UFO's that are on it.

First though, I have been working on the stack of blocks of strips from the rainbow scrap challenge last year and have two tops made BUT lots of blocks left.  It takes 56 blocks in one quilt with 7 rows and 8 columns but the pile doesn't appear to go down much? 

I have decided to participate in the mystery quilt by Meadow Mist designs: Mosaic Mystery and have cut my fabrics, ready for clue #1.

Then, silly me, saw a tutorial on Missouri Star and it was using charm squares so I looked in my container and I have lots to choose from.  I happened to need two charm packs and I found these so have started cutting and stitching as a beginner and ender project while sewing my rail fences together.

And, because two projects on the go isn't enough, I decided to cut my stack of fat quarters that I won at guild 18 months ago and start making blocks.

And now the blocks are finished and they are waiting to be stitched together.  I did rearrange them a few times until I was happy with the layout.  These have to be sewn so I can get back to the rail fence blocks.  This is a good pattern and makes a 15" square so they assemble quickly. 

And one finish which is actually from July but the binding needed to be stitched down.  It is made from churn dashes that I started last winter in Arizona after a call from Canada Stitches for the blocks but I didn't return to Canada early enough to get them mailed in time for their deadline.  In the meantime, some of my quilting friends made a few blocks and rather than have them sitting around, I made more, enough for a quilt.  I think I will hang onto this one because there are times when I get a call for a quilt for a first responder who isn't military and doesn't qualify for a Quilt of Valour.

Back to my mess and get my design wall empty so more rail fences can be worked on.  Thankfully, my basement is cool with the a/c running since we seem to be in a bit of a heat wave until the weekend.

Hot August nights? Seems that way so far into this month.

The weather this summer is sort of normal but we are having a variety of temperatures and some rain.  A thunderstorm was predicted this morning, but it didn't happen although it did rain overnight.  The rain is lovely for the garden but it does make it more humid.  Thank goodness for our new a/c which removes the moisture very efficiently and makes it more comfortable.
Great weather for stitching and quilting but not so good for making meals for my family.  Today, however, is rib cooking day and I have a full pot on the stove and then will make Dar's sauce and bake them and will be happy because I will package into heat and serve meals.

I have finished piecing my sunrise, curved blocks and the top has moved to a hanger, waiting for the next step: quilting and binding.  

 I have turned all of my 170 happy blocks into finished quilts for donation to various kid's places.  Some are 40 x 50" and will go to transition houses and other programs that our guild supports.  And the smaller pile are 30 x 36" and will go the NICU and cover the isolettes that the preemies are living in for the first few days, weeks and months of their lives.  I am not so sure my fabric stash is reduced but I manage to get a total of 11 quilts made. 

My disappearing 9 patch is done.

Now I am tackling my stack of rail fences that I made last year.... a different colour was chosen every month for the Rainbow scrap challenge but I use 3.5" strips, not strips as is intended.  It was a good way to reduce some of my fat quarters and yardage of older fabrics... or some of my 'what was I thinking?' fabrics.

My list from July had a few finishes and completions and I am happy with the progress I made.  Not much to move to August from this list.  I did cross off the churn dashes even though the binding isn't quite finished.  It will be and I consider that to be a July finish.

1. Polka dot blocks made 2018 for the Sparrow block of the week challenge
2. Make the kid's happy blocks into 5 quilt tops
3. Adult happy blocks for Victoria quilts
4. Churn dash - red/white
5. Solstice blocks from Pat Sloan mystery - from 2017
6. Quilt and bind RSC strips#2 quilt from 2018
7. Work with my RSC rail fences from 2018
8. Make hsts from my leftover RSC strips from 2018
9. Quilt and bind Heartland
10. Bind Corner Cabin
11. Applique Welcome Autumn wall hangings from 2017
12. Quilt and bind 9 patch Tailor's tack
13. Dig out Ohio star blocks and make enough for a quilt 2016
14. Quilt and bind Disappearing 9 patch challenge
15. RSC 2019 pink blocks for July
16. Make a block for Joanne's quilt to replace the US flag with maple leaves
17. Cut up kid's fat quarters for a Yellow Brick Roa
18 H Bag 
19 Lemonade block swap

Ten out of seventeen projects completed but I don't think that I realized that the #2... Make happy block quilts would end up as 11 finished projects.

So, onto August goals:
1. Polka dot blocks
2. Solstice (will I ever get around to this?)
3. RSC rails (yes, on the design wall)
4. Welcome Autumn (this has been kicking around for far too long)
5. Ohio Star blocks (not very excited about this)
6. Replace Joanne's US flag block
7. Cut up kid's fabrics for Yellow Brick Road quilts
8. Make up the zip pouches that I have kits for
9. Kit for cutting mat carrier bag
10. Catch up on CQA 52 blocks
11. Catch up on Sparrow blocks
12. Make RSC blocks for Aug 19
13. Woodland kid's quilt
14. Quilter's planner blocks
15. In from the cold block
16. Make more of Marge's blocks
17. Organize for Sept workshop for log cabin QOVC
18. Make more hourglass blocks
19 Stitch some blocks for Canada Stitches
20 Teal block swap
21 Missouri star Diamond chain
22 Abby quilt guild fat quarter winnings
23 Harper
 

There are some projects on the list that I am not motivated to work on and they are true UFO's but others are just me procrastinating with the best of intentions to finish them.  Many of the things on this list are a one day, get it done, project!!  And there are still 29 days left!
I have some odd jobs that need to be done around the house and my pile of quilt tops to be quilted is totally current with two on hangers so am hoping to spend time playing around with some new ideas as well as work on the 'old' stuff.
* update, Aug 14 - added a few more projects for August that weren't on my original list.