Last day of August and new projects started

 Last day of the month and tennis canceled because the courts are wet.  I wish it was because we have had so much rain but, sadly, we have had about ¼" - not enough to get the ground wet under the shrubs.  We are still experiencing smoky air because many new fires caused by lightening when a thunderstorm rolled through a few nights ago. 

So, I mucked around all morning and did some tidying, organizing and then pulled out two new projects to work  on even though I started two new tops earlier this week. 

This first one is a 3 yard quilt and using yardage was the monthly challenge for my Heartstrings group so, blocks cut, half square triangles being made and this is almost ready to stitch the blocks together. 

I decided to go through my leftovers container of Canadian themed fabrics and choose any strips that were 6" wide plus odd pieces that I could get a rectangle, that was the correct size.  

And, then, I started stitching... and pressing and more cutting.

And, my blocks are made and ready to be joined together.  An easy project and I tried to use up some fabric? 

While I was getting organized for this project, I brought all my gray fabrics out of the closet and put them on the ironing board to sort them.  I was looking for any pieces that were at least 1.5 yards or longer and I folded those a little differently and set them aside.  The rest got sorted from lights to dark and returned to their home in neat piles and easier for me to find what I might be looking for.  Funny how one project leads to another but, I found a good gray for the brick blocks. 

The yellow rainbow scrap challenge blocks got made and are now tucked away with the blocks made in the previous months.  My yellow scrap bin is actually not overflowing!

New projects that I cut and started today.  This is an autumn pumpkin table runner and I bought the kit earlier this year at a quilt show.  I wasn't too impressed with the cutting directions and the amount of fabric so had to go digging for more orange fabric that blended with what was in the kit. 

A package arrived to day from Dragonfly quilts and in it was a cute autumn quilt kit that is going to be super simple and quick to make so I cut up the strips needed to piece the squares that alternate with the panel.  Some mindless sewing. 

My intention is that September will find me quilting some tops to get a few finished including a couple of UFO's... I am lady in waiting in the UFO group that I belong to and so a finish is important to avoid being promoted to Queen!  

I did manage to get the rest of these half square triangles finished and this is now waiting to have the blocks joined together.  

This is the pattern that I used from a 3 yard quilt book. 

Off to resume my stitching and see how much I can done before the first of September.  I always celebrate on the first day of school and enjoy not having to get up early and do a 45 minute commute to and from work and endure staff meetings and all the paperwork that has to be done at the beginning of a school year.  Hard to believe I have been retired 21 years! 

Failing at blogging - my best intentions aren't quite good enough

 My last post was July 29 which is almost a month ago.  The crazy part of this is that while I am sewing, I think to myself, I should post on my blog about this project... and then I go onto something else and forget to take pictures.  

But, will endeavour to catch you up on my stitching projects since the end of July. 

My name came up fairly high on the Queen of UFO's list, meaning, I am close to being Queen which means I need to finish an older project.  I dug out some rail fence blocks from the last few years of Rainbow Scrap challenge - all leftovers.  My idea was to add a sashing to two sides and see what happens.  I wanted to alternate the direction of the rails but ended up doing it haphazard rather than a logical plan. 

I also dug out a Tonga Treats package of batik strips of unknown age but am going to guess at least 10 years?  They were all whites and darks and I was a bit stymied as to what to make with them.  I knew I wanted to make a Quilt of Valour. 

I ended up pulling out a variety of red batiks from my stash and had to add in a few more lights and darks and used Simplicity II pattern by Cozy Quilt Designs.  This is a simple design made from 2.5" strips and I think it was an effective use of my aging fabric.

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I also put together another top of leftover rainbow scrap challenge blocks.  This is a bit of a hodge podge of friendship stars, some extra blocks from a Quilt of Valour and some rail fence blocks.  It is scrappy - but I think it works and great use of leftovers! 

And my leftover rail fence blocks got sewn together and now residing on a hanger, waiting for quilts and binding. 

Then I got the Simplicity II batik blocks joined and pressed and it is also waiting patiently, on a hanger.

For a change of pace, I went back to my Aunt Gracie fabrics and finished stitching more half square triangles to create this quilt top.  The blocks are 4.5" which ends up being slightly larger than the preferred size for a preemie, but there was no way to change it without trimming each block to make them smaller and that wasn't going to happen.  The best part of this quilt top was that I was able to put away my AG fabrics and, only two containers, totally organized and tidy. 

Then, time to dig out another Tonga Batik aging package of fabric and this time it was 10" squares.  I have one left which is 6" strips but that can wait.  I decided to make the GE Designs pattern, Kimberley because it is super simple, quick and mindless stitching.  It works up fast and a great way to use the squares of batiks.  I did dig out a few more fabrics to go with what was in the package to get the quilt to the size I wanted. 

The cutting is so easy with fabrics stacked on each other and then a quick switch of the light and dark center and off you go to the machine.

 

After finishing the last Aunt Gracie quilt top, I got it layered and then had 4 preemies for quilting and binding.  They got finished and are waiting to be donated to the local NICU.

While I was putting away the Aunt Gracie containers, I spied a container of leftover 16 patches from quilts we made for our host and hostess of our Wednesday sewing diva group.  They moved to a new house 8 years ago (am guessing) and they wanted a home where we could continue to meet and enjoy refreshments.  We made them each a quilt and the blocks were contributed by members of our group.  I had the leftovers and thought I could make a Quilt of Valour.  That idea didn't work very well as there was lots of sewing themed fabrics.  I remembered that I had some leftover blocks on a hanger so they got added to the mix.  I also found some fat quarters that were suitable and made more blocks.  In the end, I had three quilt tops ready to stitch.  One for QOV, another for Quilts for Survivors and a third one that will be a gift to a special person (which used up the sewing and knitting themed blocks).  One of these is stitched together and the other two are still on the design walls.

This quilt was made by a dear friend of ours who was in our guild and she sadly died earlier this year, leaving behind a quilt not quite finished for one of her grandsons.  Another good friend of mine was in touch with the family and she found it and had to do some frog stitching where the quilting was not great due such poor health of the quilter.  I quilted it and bound it and put on a label and it is now ready to be sent to the grandson, fulfilling Rose's wishes.  This was a true feel good project.

My Patterns by Jen blocks got done for August... RSC in yellows are not started yet but, I still have a week left!

Weather here is crazy... yesterday, cool morning temperatures and lovely tennis weather and today, we are looking out at thick smoke as winds from the east brought us the horrible air conditions from the interior of the province.  I am trying to not complain because we don't have fires, just the after effects.  But, for sure, a/c is running with an expensive filter in place to clean our house air.  A good day to sit and write my blog!

If I wrote a blog post more often, it wouldn't take me as long... and I totally admire my blogging friends who post daily, with loads of pictures.  But, am now up to date for August and hopefully, won't go another month without recording what I am doing and working on. 

Ignoring my new 'age' and trying hard to stay younger!

 For some reason, this is the first time I remember feeling "my age" and for sure, am slowing down and not nearly as productive as in past summers.  I am also tempted with doing a lot more reading than in past summers which is ok but not much to show for my time. 

The weather has been hot (for us) and constant heat is a bit annoying.  It is much harder to go outside and work in the garden or even sit outside to read.  However, last weekend, we had rain and a cooling off so this week has been so much nicer!We have had a few days without using the a/c which means the house is quieter with more fresh air enjoying open doors and windows. 

I settled into a good routine with the day of rain and decided to get all my leftover bindings out and start joining without much thought other than pink for girls and no pink or fuschia for boys. 

Once that task was completed, I went full steam ahead with binding of 14 preemie quilts and 1 youth quilt.  I did a few a day and worked as steadily as time allowed.  After 3 days, my quilts were bound. 

 Two of the quilts were kits from the guild that I picked up in June and they are now finished in time for the September meeting.  Ahead of schedule.

It was time to work on my Patterns by Jen blocks for July and the color was Purple.  As mentioned previously, I am making two blocks with the colours reversed which gives me 24 by the end of the year and 20 makes a good size quilt when sashings are added. 

Then my Rainbow scrap challenge using reds for July got made.  Strange how my container of red strips is still just as full?

And, my plus blocks got made using reds.  I realized that with a few more blocks, I would have enough for a quilt top.

I had a very good friend come for an overnight visit.  We are best of friends and have known each other for about 65 years.  She lives in California but we chat daily because we play online Scrabble at take at least one turn if not two per day and always add in some personal tidbits about our day, activities, family etc. 

It was perfect weather to sit outside with some wine and watermelon... actually wine for me and BC Apple Cider for her!  One of her favourite beverages that is Canadian and not available in the U.S. 

I worked on my Aunt Gracies and made two tops but 15 blocks extra!  So with another 5 blocks made, I will have a third top.  I cut the pieces, tidied up the fabric bins and set aside to work on at our next Modern Guild Saturday sew in. 

Then time for something completely different!  Our garage floor was looking awful and it was leaking into the basement below last winter so we decided it needed some TLC.  We ordered special paint for garage floors that are driven on.  Apparently the heat from your car tires when you park is tough on the paint which makes sense.  So, garage got emptied but thankfully, we had done a good clean up last fall and moved things out there that could be stored elsewhere, given away or trashed.  

We are quite pleased with ourselves... it looks really good even though it was a bit of work although my fitbit gave me credit for using the elliptical machine for two hours each day!  My husband was able to start off the painting and then it was too much for him so I finished and then did a second coat.  Now I have to be patient to wait 5 days before I can park my car inside. 
We are also happy that our local tennis courts are finally painted and have the next up and gate unlocked... ready for us to play there. 

My other accomplishment this month was to package up 12 finished quilts and mail to New Brunswick to the Quilts of Valour rep there for distribution.  Apparently, they are really lacking in donated quilts in the maritime provinces so doing my small part to help out.

I also packaged up all of quilt tops that were waiting to be quilted and bound (8)and mailed them them off to Newfoundland to a rep there and she will distribute them to long arm quilters for finishing which means I have only tops for Quilts for Survivors on hand to be quilted or mailed off without quilting - still trying to decide.  My hangers are quite empty!  

Quilts of Valour will be next on my list since there are none on hangers and the Heartstrings group chose 1 yard pieces as their precut for August so time to dig out my books making 3 yard quilts and kit some projects to work on over the next month.  

We are enjoying another day or two of cooler weather.... will only get to 80º this afternoon so I spent time this morning weeding in the garden.  Now, this afternoon, time to dig out fabric for the three yard quilts.