Is it Spring? Or, is it still winter?

 Weather here in the Pacific Northwest has been brutal. I know not as bad as in the eastern part of the continent, but not pleasant and certainly not dry.  Tennis playing days are very limited.  However, I have tried to get the roses pruned and a few weeds pulled as well as cutting the grass when it is warm enough to venture outside without wearing a raincoat or something warm. It is nice, when weather is decent, to see the baseball games happening with spectators cheering their teams on.

My April goal was get quilting and binding done and reduce my large number of tops waiting their turn.  

Three Thomas the train quilts got finished and they are toddler size.  Plus, two rail fence butterfly preemie quilts were finished and the main fabric came from a garage sale of a  dear, departed friend, Sally, in Mesa.   The flannel backing on the Thomas quilts was given to me by Marge, one of my Wednesday Diva quilting friends. 

A quilt made last fall at retreat was taken by a long arm quilter, Dianne, and she returned it to me, quilted and bound.  And, she took two more quilt tops/batting and backing with her to work on and get finished.  Thank you Diane!

I had a stack of quilt tops ready for quilting and managed to get three done plus the binding. The first one is Carolyn's blocks and used up a variety of fat quarters from my stash in Mesa.  

And, another project using the same Carolyn's block made from some knitting themed fabric and will go to a special friend who loves to knit.

This one is quilted and bound and was made by Janet.  Great use of red scrap fabrics. I need to get a picture of it finished with the binding.

Two more are quilted and waiting for binding - 9 patch field day and Illusions (another 3 x 1yd quilt) plus,  my red/beige hst quilt is ready to load up for quilting.   I also worked on cutting more batting and making more backings for the next 5 quilts that I am ready to tackle. 

We had a lovely Easter dinner, thanks to our neighbours and Susan always makes a great turkey dinner.  

March: 13 finishes

April: so far - 12 finishes with one ready to be quilted and a stack waiting their turn. 

This last quilt was made by Carole and I am showing it as a reminder and inspiration for using up scraps.  She used a variety of Canadian themed fabrics that she had on hand and made happy blocks.  But the center in some cases is a 2.5" square, some are four patches, half square triangles and some are strips.  She used what she had on hand and I think it turned out quite stunning and great use of  a "make it happen" quilt. 

The good news is that it is only the 19th of April so I still have 11 days to work on finishing up some of these tops that are living on hangers.  

Springing into quilting action for the month of April

 The weather here in the Pacific Northwest is typical of April but that doesn't mean I like it.  We switch from warm, sunny days to miserable, cold, wet, dreary days in a matter of minutes and hours.  But, on a sunny day, one can't help but enjoy spring growth and colours. 

Two more quilts of Valour got bound and labelled and are ready for donation.  These are technically UFO's since I made and quilted them in the fall of 2021 but didn't get them completely finished until March 2022.  However, as UFO's go, that wasn't a lengthy wait. One is a tumbler quilt and I did cut the tumblers in 2020 and these were leftover from a quilt I made a year ago.  The other is Sew Easy, a 3 yard pattern that is super simple and quick to make. 

 

I also quilted and bound 8 preemie quilts.  I cut kits for these in the spring/summer of last year and then stitched them up at retreat in September 2021.  I had managed to cut battings and backings for them and they were spray basted and waiting.  Last week, I quilted them and got the labels and binding added and they are now ready for donation to my guild's We Care program. There is quite a selection of fabrics in these quilts.  There are trucks, Dora the Explorer, bears, tools, Lorax and some ducks. 

Now, I am onto my next huge project getting all the tops hanging, quilted.  I have spent the last couple of days making "frankenbatts" which is leftover batting pieces put together to create a new piece that is large enough for a quilt.  Great way to use up batting scraps but not my favourite activity.  Thank goodness for Zoom because chatting with guild members on a Friday is a good distraction from a task I don't enjoy.  But, it does feel good to see the stack of leftover batting reduced in size and it is like getting a batting for free. 

I have been cutting some backings as well and have 3 quilts ready to go.  I would like to prepare two more so that I have 5 and can try to get those done between now and the middle of the month.  If I can do 10 per month, that is just over 2 per week and it would make a nice dent in my hanging collection of tops waiting to be finished.  This week at Wednesday Quilt Divas, I came home with 4 more tops to add the hangers.  sigh. 

Maybe by this time next week, I will have a couple of finished quilts to show you?  Think positive.

Back in Canada, waiting for spring and warmer weather

 We have changed homes once again and it is a little cool for my liking.  Rather difficult to get your legs to move quickly when we finally get to play tennis on a dry court (rare, but we grab the opportunity when it happens).  

Other than the chores that happen at this time of year plus all involved in arriving home and putting away fall decor etc, most things are running smoothly.  A bit of glitch happened with the battery on my husband's vehicle, but happy to say, we are now back to being a 2 car family.  

I didn't turn on a sewing machine until a few days ago but I have lots of projects waiting for me to work on. Quilt tops that came home in my suitcase are now resting quietly on a hanger until I get into the quilting frame of mind. 

There were quilts that had been quilted last October and binding was made but they were waiting patiently to be finished. I have the binding on #1  Mary's log cabin wonky hearts quilt. 

I have a stack of preemies waiting for quilting and binding.  On the wall behind are my PBJ blocks for last October, or was it November? plus my blocks for March this year.

A better picture of the March blocks.  Hot pepper was the theme.

I have put together a block for Ukraine, to show support.  It still need quilting and binding but all proceed of these kits goes to help the country.  In case you aren't aware, the sunflower is the flower for Ukraine and their flag is yellow and blue.  So this will get finished and hung on a door or window to show our solidarity with those most unfortunate people.

This quilt, Town Square is #2 to be bound and ready for donation to Quilts of Valour. If you can't see the fabric, the main block are jugs of maple syrup. 

Quilt #3 is Stepping Stones, another pattern in the 3 yard quilt books. 

Our front garden has been weeded and almost time to cut grass.

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Heading to the courts on an 'iffy' day but no puddles so we were good to hit some balls.

This was my project before we left our winter home.  I was playing with scrappy four patches and half square triangles.  I have no plan, just put them on the design wall to remind myself in October when I am back, as to what I was working on.

Sad to leave the warm weather, fresh citrus off our trees and  lots of outdoor time.  I have two quilts left to bind and then the larger ones are taken care of.  And it will be on to quilting the preemies and getting them bound and off for donation.

February ends and March begins.

 I have so many ideas and projects sitting around my sewing room that I almost feel overwhelmed at times.  However, one project at a time and I am on the last few weeks of being in our winter home.  That means some tidying and organizing must happen as it is so much nicer to return in the fall and not have to guess what I was thinking and planning before we left in the spring. 

A 3 yard quilt, Roman Holiday, got put together although I used more than a yard of each of the fabrics. 

The aqua, teal, black Illusions quilt is also put together.  The original 3 yard quilt pattern got altered and I made a fourth set of blocks.. so actually a 4 yard quilt. 

Roman Holiday flimsy is pressed and ready to head north for quilting.

The Pretty Please 3 yard quilt is also to the flimsy stage and again, more fabric used than the actual pattern requires.  I made more blocks and used both a blue and a red paisley for the main blocks.  The methods in making these blocks is efficient and easy with construction steps simple to understand. 

I saw a quilt top made by Heartstrings "Mary" and copied her forest bricks pattern.  She had combined the reds, grays, blacks/whites and I though it would be a good way to use up some of my extra fabrics and scraps that multiply overnight in my sewing room.   This top is halfway put together and am playing with scraps as my leaders and enders. 

We are on countdown here for leaving our winter home.  Lots of tennis, a tournament coming up next week and then it will be all the usual chores of spraying for termites and bugs, killing weeds, picking the minimal fruit on our orange and grapefruit trees, oiling all the wood furniture, making sure my pantry has everything well sealed etc.  The list is long!  Services to be started at home and cancelled here. One day at a time and with the temperatures warming up, the patio beckons as a place to sit and read after a day on the courts. 

Catch up day after a night of rain in Arizona

 I have been stitching in my spare time and have accomplished a more quilt tops to the flimsy stage.  However, I have put off pressing the finished tops, my most least favourite activity!  Yesterday, I told myself that I wasn't going to sit at my sewing machine until I got the pile of tops pressed nicely.  

Job done! 

I started making some framed 9 patches with my fat quarter challenge for the Heartstrings group. I pulled out odd pieces of both long quarters as well as fat quarters in browns, reds and beige fabrics. And I started another 3 yard (with more than that of each fabric) using the Picture Perfect pattern.

The Heartstrings challenge is completed using the fat quarters and Carolyn's block.  This is a super simple block that uses most of the fat quarters without much waste.  The blocks are 15" finished so a large block that goes together quickly.     

The blocks for the Picture Perfect pattern got made and put together and pressed! 

Here is the framed 9 patch that also used fat quarters and it is ready for quilting and binding. 

The Bento box quilt for Quilts of Valour is a UFO that is now done.  I had some blocks on a hanger and had to make more and put them together and now have a flimsy.

Two Puzzle Me This tops are finished and pressed.  I like this One yard pattern.  Super easy to make. 

 

The Spinning Blocks top is finished for Quilts for Survivors.  I had to make four St. Louis 16 patch blocks for the corners but it works and now a second quilt for this worthy cause in Canada. 

The current project on the go is another Illusions Three yard pattern but am using 4 fabrics instead of the original 3 called for in the instructions. 

Yet again, a Three Yard Quilt pattern called Pretty Please by Fabric Cafe.  Of course, I am using more than the 1 yard cuts called for in the pattern and in this case alternated two different fabrics for the solid squares so technically a 4 yard quilt? 

I have been feeling quite successful in the number of quilt tops I have made in February but really need to work on some scrappy blocks to use up the piles of strings that are accumulating.  Enjoy the second half of the month and hoping that wherever you live, you are seeing some signs of Spring with sunshine and warmer temperatures and maybe some flowers poking their way out of the ground?  

February: seniors enjoying sunshine.

 We are so glad to be snowbirds and not stuck at home in miserable rain, cold weather and now snow predicted for this week.  Tennis takes up a lot of our time with games, practices, skills sessions plus a group for 75+ which we both fit into this year.  

While I am in Arizona, for those that are new to the blog, I work on quilt tops.  Since we fly back and forth, I am restricted by the weight of our suitcases and flimsys weigh less and take up less room when packing so, I quilt very little here.  It doesn't help with my UFO's though I do still have a few row by row kits calling my name. 

This month, I did well with piecing a variety of projects. I worked on more 3 yard quilts.  Topsy turvy was one of them and because I made more blocks and lots of the red and black but not enough of the gray print, I had to make a few more blocks substituting a fabric.  I think it works out ok because quilters of the past always 'made do'. So, this top is ready to be folded and taken home. 

After a modern guild presentation on the Survivor quilts, I decided to use these blocks for two more quilts.  I had enough to make one from the spinning blocks but needed to add in some blocks for the second one.  I made some St. Louis 16 patch blocks for the four corners and two more tops are waiting for pressing and the suitcase trip home.

Puzzle me this is a 3 yard quilt made from an orange print plus background and brown.  I did have enough of the three fabrics to make extra blocks to increase the size of the quilt.  This one is now stitched together and waiting for the job I detest the most, pressing the finished top.

A second Puzzle me this quilt is on the design wall and was hoping to have it pieced by the end of January but life got in the way.  Too much time on the courts and not enough time sitting at my sewing machine. 

I pulled out twenty fat quarters in red, brown, and beige fabrics for the Heartstrings February challenge.  I think I will make some Carolyn's blocks and will end up with a nice sized quilt top for Quilts of Valour.

I also put together some groups of three fabrics to work my way through some more one yard quilt patterns.  This seems to be my go to project for 2022 in Arizona.  My goal is reduce the amount of yardage I have on hand. 

The bento box Quilt of Valour top is now finished and is another project waiting for me to give it the final pressing. 

In the Stashbusters online quilting group they do a January Reckoning and thought I would do one on here. 

1. Finished a mug rug

2. Finished a missouri star wall hanging that came in the Xmas box

3. Finished a Christmas Table runner

4. Made flimsy from Red and Beige strips using half square triangles

5. One yard quilt: Dash from browns and beige fabrics

6. Butterfly fabric with rails #1  40x 50

7. Butterfly rails #2

8. Thomas the Train Happy blocks (Heartstrings Jan challenge) #1

9. Thomas #2

10. Thomas #3 and that used up the last of the 10" squares I purchased

11. PBJ Saffron Spice January challenge blocks (2)

12. Every Day quilt using 5 yards from Connecting Threads 

13. Jigsaw one yard quilt using batiks

14. Strips of Fun, Cool Water pattern using blues/purples and whites

15. Illusions 3 yd quilt using a red, lt gray and dark gray

16. Seventeen Bento Box blocks made to add to those from 2019 for a quilt top

17. Topsy Turvy 3 yard quilt - Downton Abby fabric for centers with red and black

18. Puzzle me This 3 yard quilt in orange/brown

19. Puzzle me This 3 yard quilt in red/gray (not quite finished in Jan)

20: Survivor quilt #1 made from spin blocks

21: Survivor quilt #2 spin blocks plus 4 St. Louis Sixteen patch blocks 

A fairly productive January and I have stacks of fabrics in bundles of 3 waiting for more 3 yard quilts.  The Rainbow scrap challenge was red for January and I worked with reds in a few of my quilt tops including the bento box blocks so will consider that good enough? 

On to February!!