What's Up 7.24.17

My MoJo is back, in fact I just wanted to work in the sewing room all day. 
But I had other tasks on my list to do too like clean out the refrigerator, change and wash sheets on bed, vacuum... heck you get the idea.
Did tho in between all of that was able to get some sewing in.

Started with making freezer paper template for the sashing.

First I just used the one I made for both side and realized that it was off, not the same curves. Now I'm picky at times and this just had to be one of those times. If it wasn't for the fact that the look was frames around each block and they are side by side I thought there needed to be more even.

So I did a reverse of template. 

Like it so much more. Only doing a few will tell.

Then worked on the leader and ender project that I have been working on the past year and pretty close to finishing the strip sets. 

Want to get the strips finished so I can cut the strips into 
1 1/2" subsets. That for making the multitudes of nine patches, a few hundreds. 
The working on 9 patches will be easier to to take to the retreat for my leader and enders.

Linking up with
     love laugh quilt

cooking up quilts

ems scrapbag

Slow Sunday

I can say for a fact, my Sunday has been slow, a slow progress was made. Today I have spent all day prepping various projects I plan to take to a retreat I'm going to in two weeks.

Well at least that was my intention. I think I got a little carried away when I went looking for some fabric out in the garage and found a couple projects that I've been wanting to do for a couple years now.

One is a Kaffe Fassett kit I had purchased on one of our quilt shops bus trips. 

And another was one that I had started, Oh it least seven years ago. Have all the appliquéd blocks completed but need to do the sashing and borders.

But the ones that I intended to do, which is a QAL over at Confessions of a Fabric Addict which is her Trip Around the World. Part of her 12 days of Christmas blog hop. Got the strips cut and now ready.

Another is going to be a baby quilt using one of Deb Tucker's patterns called Tumbling Triangles. I have the strips cut out for that also. 

I cut out enough hexagons for at least another three diamonds to take with me to the retreat along with working with on the ones I had already prepped here before. 

In fact my Go cutter has been very busy today besides the strips it's been cutting the hexagons I've been working on also. 

Then I was prepping the hexagons for the Kaffe Fassett quilt top, which I needed to actually cut fabric and the paper hexagon shapes.

Now I have to say this is basically the first day I've been in my sewing room since the boys left Tuesday. I spent Tuesday napping when I got home. 
Then Wednesday I went with my parents to my mom's doctors appointment in Tulsa. This is been the first one I have been able to attend since the end of June. That was basically an all day event too.

Thursday I pretty much spent the day home other than going to the post office and getting the mail. I spent all day cleaning which was long needed after the three week visit of two five-year-olds.

Friday I went to Grove, Oklahoma because they were having their annual quilt show and also "Bob" was going to be there and he had brought my cutting table he made with him. So besides seeing a bunch of beautiful quilts and trying to get my mojo back, I also picked up my cutting table.

And yesterday Saturday, I spent most of the day inside putting around the house until it was time to meet my parents for dinner to celebrate their 56 anniversary. It has been so hot. Not just hot but also very humid this past few days that I have done very little outside other than trying to keep my plants alive. Haven't been able to take my morning walk or any other type of physical activity outside the past couple days

So yesterday besides putting around the house I also gave a lot of serious thought to what I want to bring to the retreat into weeks. It's a four day retreat so I'm capable of getting a bit done. And this year I'm going to have everything precut and ready to assemble and sew like crazy.

It feels good to write again,
so till next time

linking up with Kathy's Quilts

Up For Air

I'm into my third and last week with these very active five year olds. I can take breathers (short) now, figure I would give a shout out to everyone. I am going through a need to touch base with adults.

I was able to finished crocheting the afghan of the American Flag.

I went with the design of the first one, 13 stars.

Been only able to do just a little hand stitching. By the time they go to bed, I'm too tired to even do mindless hexies.

Been able to do a little blog reading and finding it very soothing.

They are up now so I need to go for now. 
See you next week

   

What's happened

What a week with both good and not good news to share.

I'll just start with last Tuesday.

Tuesday

I was able to get the my No Brainer done. Well sort of, I need to get a border on but need to look for something to use.

Wednesday

This day I spent most of it cleaning in preparation for the boys coming. Did do some handwork, worked on the Diamonds hexies.

As you can see that there are 5 diamonds. 

I was hoping to get more fabric cut out but just never got around to it.

Thursday

I had a list of tasks to which was baking pound cakes (which I did on Friday morning) for the salad luncheon we were having Friday at church when I received a call from my Dad to see if I could come help mom get ready to go to the doctor. Come to find out she had been feeling bad for a couple days now. I talked with her Monday and all she talked about was the floaters she was having in her eyes. Well after seeing the Oncologist she sent her to the ER and admitted her.

Friday to now  

Mom has and still in the hospital. She was having side effects to the immunotherapy.

It can attack healthy cells due to her immune being in active mode. It went to the lining of her lungs and cause her to get a form of pneumonia. So she is on steroids and antibiotics. 

She has made improvements but unfortunately has a case of bronchitis now. They have not said yet when she'll be released or if she can continue with treatment.

While visiting I been with me the Flag Afghan   

 As you can see I've made a lot of progress and believe I will have it completed in time to decorate for the Fourth.

So there, a taste of my week

Today I had started on getting the boys room spruced up.

And I started a soft toy for a new baby at church. We are having a baby shower Saturday and thought it would make a great gift.

Looks fairly easy, hope it is. 

It's Monday 6.12.17

I meant to write all weekend but here it is Monday.

Weekends sometimes just are not long enough.

Was able to get a little more done on the No Brainer quilt.

I named it that because it was suppose to be a mindless, just stitch squares together and call it good but my mind couldn't just rest. It evolve to this now.

Of course it is taking a little long to assemble.

I found this golden beige in my stash, tone wise goes well but in a way boring.
It will be a good gift quilt because of it's safe color palette.

Spent some of the weekend potted up the herbs.
Almost done with potting plants and cleaning up the porches.

Would of gotten more done but I just had to take time out and sit and enjoy the day.

I spent an evening working on the Hexagon Diamonds 
The 3/4" shapes came in the mail and I was excited to get back to it.

And spent last night crocheting.

I'm now adding the blue. It was the only dark blue available of that line at the store. It will be ok but have to say not really what I would make my first choice. 
I moving right along.

I am getting so excited because in 2 weeks the "little dudes" will be here and we get to have them for 3 weeks.
Starting to get the house ready for them. Means the pool needs to be put up. Their room ready. Groceries bought and some new toys and games. 
Now that they are five some of the stuff we have they have outgrown. They like surprises. Who doesn't

Busy...Busy

It's been a couple days since I've written and boy have I been busy around here. Mom had her follow up appointment after her first treatment yesterday and all looks good and she's having no side effects due to the treatment.

I've been busy in the morning working around the yard trying to get the flowerbeds, potted plants and such in order. Last night "the man of the place" and I cut out what I call weed trees. It's amazing each year how many of these little tree seedlings come up in my flowerbeds.

This bed is in really poor shape and the next one to work on. Beside major weeds there are quite a few unwanted trees.

Yesterday since I wasn't home during the broadcast of Mr Comey testifying before the Senate, I had recorded it all. So yesterday afternoon while resting after getting back from Mom's appt. 

I worked on a new crocheting project watching what I recorded. Have been working on baby blankets but I decided that I would start a patriotic flag Afghan in hopes of having it finished in time for the Fourth of July. 
That way the flag quilt will hang on the wall and this on the couch.

This is what I have so far completed I can't say I'm quite halfway down I thought I would say I'm definitely a third done. Here is a link to the free pattern 

I haven't been able to do much work on my hexies at night due to the fact that I have ran out cardboard shapes and I had ordered some. That was a little over a week ago and haven't received them yet. This is the last ones that I have, enough cardboard hexies for just one more diamond.

And then Tuesday after I had finished the flag quilt I still felt like sewing but I didn't want to work on anything that needed some brainpower. After getting done assembling the storm at sea pattern I had had enough dealing with technical piecing. So I looked in the garage and found a stack of charms squares. Started piecing those together, brainless sewing and that's all I wanted, which is just a brainless sewing. Well that's was Tuesday afternoon.

Then Wednesday I started sewing the squares into rows and put them up on the design wall and I was just going to go with the basic horizontal/vertical row construction. 

Well after looking at it I thought it was kind of small and be a lap quilt which is OK, but I just didn't care for it too much. 

What about on point.... okay that started to look better for me. I left it up there and came back and looked at it and I thought it's in the little too plain.

Well what about sashing in between maybe a four patch. Found some fabric in the closet that was different,  kind of cool. Had thought about a solid but this floral looked better. Put it up on the wall... took a picture and left it up on the wall. 

Went to bed night and while trying to get to sleep and thought you know that 2" sashing just looks a little too thick.

 I think I'll look to see what it looks like thinner. Up there on the design wall made them little thinner and I liked it.

 So now my strip are 1 1/2 instead of 2 inches.

That's what I've been when working on this afternoon, finishing the four patches, cutting out 1 1/2" strips and then putting this all up on the design. Like it.

Well now that is where I am.

Now you're all caught up on what I've been up to the past couple of days.

Red, White and Blue

I had remember the other day that it has been 6 years now that I started blogging and have enjoyed every time I write. Some days are better than others but the main thing is how lucky and grateful I am for all of you who take time to read and comment.
Thank you so much.

Yeah the top is finished.

Measure out to be 61 x 47 as it is now.

I'm not sure if I want to add a border, sort of like it as it is. Plan is to hang it up on the wall.

I did try auditioning some different pieces of different colors and just didn't like any of them.

Thinking the binding will be all it needs.

I still haven't heard back yet from the designer Amy in Texas about a pattern. I'll let you know when I do.

Today and yesterday morning have been perfect (weather wise) and been taking advantage of it. Been weeding some of the beds around the house. I'm only about 1/4 done. 

And then some of the potted plants  needed to be
 re-potted 

Had these Boston ferns that have outgrown their pots.

Two of them I just potted into larger pots 

and then the other one

I divided up into thirds

 and potted them up into same size pots like the one it came out of.

I would've used a hand pruning saw but couldn't find it so I had to use a hacksaw. Worked out just fine but pruning saw would of been easier.

They will all do fine.  

Have some more to do tomorrow and will try to get to it but Mom does have a doctor's visit to check on how she has done this first week on treatment.