A Finish

I have mailed 25 masks to my SIL to deliver to the hospital where she works.

I have delivered 25 masks to the nursing home where my FIL is a resident.

I am making 25 masks for the hospital where my niece works.

I will make masks until I run out of elastic - 25 yards of it. It's pink, but who cares?!

I will make more if requested.

But over the last few days I took a break from the masks and worked on this UFO.

It is a pattern from Missouri Star Quilt Co. I had the squares in my stash and wanted to try the pattern.

I used a playful kitty border and a cute butterfly backing. I think the quilting design fits it well. I hope some little girl likes it.

I am also distracting myself from all this craziness with these.

We live in the house that Husband's great Aunt and Uncle built. I found Aunt's diaries when we moved in. I had read through them a little. I am going back to her first entry and reading them again.

Lots of day to day stuff - got hair set, went to town, people came over for dinner - but some interesting information in here too - when crops were planted and harvested, yields and prices, building the house, deaths, marriages, births. 

I hope you are staying safe and well.

Thankful

To see what other quilters are up to go to

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

In this crazy, scary time I realize I have much to be thankful for.

I am thankful that the severe storms that were possible in my area yesterday did not happen. I know other places were not so lucky.

I am thankful for the hopeful signs of Spring and the feeling that life will go on.

I am thankful for beautiful sunrises and sunsets.

I am thankful that so far none of my family or anyone I know has become ill due to this horrible virus.

I am thankful that Husband and I keep a good amount of food and supplies on hand regularly. We are set for a while.

I am thankful for my craft/fabric stash. I have plenty of projects and materials to keep me busy for a long time. A few weeks ago I was happily pulling fabric for a quilt. 

Now I am pulling fabric for masks. 

I've made 53 so far. Some with elastic, some with ties. But I ran out of elastic and energy. So I ordered more elastic and am doing other things while waiting for it to be delivered.

Today I pulled some batting scraps, pieced them, pieced a back and loaded this 60" quilt on the frame. 

It is Charm Quilt on Point from Missouri Star Quilt Company. A supply list and YouTube tutorial can be found here. I chose the Ravioli design board because it made me think of the crazy way a ball of yarn unwinds when kitties are at play. Or the way butterflies flit about on a meandering path. This is definitely a girly quilt. I got about half way through and will probably be able to finish up tomorrow morning before the elastic arrives. I will still need to cut more fabric for masks though. 

All of this is making me feel frightened, angry, and tired. I know that there are people who are much more frightened and tired than I am. With that in mind I will practice social distancing as much as possible and be thankful for what I have. 

Be safe and well.

My Worldl

right now is pretty small. We have been out for medical appointments for Husband related to issues he had been having long before COVID-19. Other than that we are not going out. 

Back at home I watched a pair of mourning doves. 

I have been hearing them for about a week now, but this day they were right up by the house.

Then last night there was a lovely sunset.

We were suppose to get severe storms with possible hail and tornadoes. That did not happen, but it is very windy today with dropping temperatures. I'm thankful for my safe, warm home.

I hope you all are safe and well.

Waiting

for several things.

Waiting on more elastic to arrive.

I have 22 masks made. I will be dividing them up between the hospitals where my SIL and niece work. Both have made requests.

I have 14 more sets cut out. Edit: I have cut more since I started this post.

I am out of elastic. More is on the way, though!

Before I started making masks I finished the cover for the photo album.

The pieced star was entered in the fair a couple of years ago in the 12 Inch Block Category. It got a 3rd place ribbon. Now it will be a fair entry (if there is a fair) this year in the Photo Album Cover category.

Waiting on better connections. The internet is slow, TV reception is bad, cell phone is slow.

In between the waiting I am knitting.

I have a small stash of cotton and scrubbie yarn that I use to make dish clothes and scrubbies. My goal is to use most of it up. Then I will have a small stash of dish clothes.

Waiting for Husband's test results, insurance approval, more tests and appointments to be scheduled. The appointment with the doctor yesterday left  me feeling a little bit angry and a whole lot frustrated. I'm feeling better today, but we did not get the answers to questions we had. I appreciate and am thankful for the people in the medical field and I know this is a scary time, but the symptoms my husband is having he has been having for several years and we are not getting satisfactory answers.

Waited for the fog to lift this morning. That took until around noon. The temperature was warmer and the sun did shine this afternoon so that was nice.

Waiting for things to calm down with the mask making so I can get back to this.

Waiting for my turn at the computer so I can check in with Pat's daily challenge.

Saturday was National Quilting Day. Pat provided a pattern and suggested that we have a Sew-Along as a way to stay connected in this crazy situation we are all in. She provided a pattern - Scrap Happy 'Little Wishes' Challenge. I did not sew along, but it's a cute quilt. I certainly have scraps to use up.

Sunday's challenge was Friends - try to connect with some quilting friends on-line, phone call, Facetime, etc. I did have a conversation through Facebook Messenger with some of my quilt friends.

Monday's challenge was Favorite Tool. She didn't include her sewing machine, but suggested another tool that helps you. Her favorite tools were a small cleaning brush and cloth, seam ripper, stileto. I mine would be my seam ripper. It fits my hand nicely. The handle is cushy and easier to hold. I do enjoy my rotary cutter. It is the Olfa Quick Change. It is so easy to change the blade.

Tuesday's challenge was Notions. Look at yours. Do you have one you haven't tried yet, or one you haven't used in a while. Try it out now. If you decide you don't like it pass it on to someone else who may be happy to have it. One thing Pat talked about was Wonder Clips, she loves them. I don't see the point in them. I like my pins, but several of my quilt friends use them and like them a lot. I like all the notions I have, I guess. I can't think of anything I have that I don't use, except of couple of rulers, but I haven't started the projects they go with yet.

Today's challenge was Kits - projects you have started. Go through yours. Pick one or two and look through them to make sure all the parts and pieces are there. Or are there things that shouldn't be in there. Tidy them up. My most current kit is the masks. I have all the fabric cut and sets made. I am just waiting on elastic.

While we all wait for this to be over I hope you are all safe and comfortable. Be well.

Design Wall Monday

To see what other quilters are up to go to

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I have spent the last few days pondering about whether or not to make the Face Masks I have been seeing everyone talk about on their blogs, Facebook, etc. My SIL who works at a hospital sent me a link to a post on Facebook with instructions and a pattern, but  she said that her hospital wasn't requesting any at that point. The next day my niece sent me a link from the hospital where she works (different one than the one her mom works at). Her hospital is requesting them for people in non-clinical roles. 

So I started making some even though I am still hearing and seeing conflicting information. I am also hearing that places initially requesting them have received so many that they aren't accepting any more. I truly want to help if it is needed. But, I also don't want to waste my time or materials if these are not needed. So I will make the few I have cut out - nine, I think - and wait to see what happens. I am making child and adult sizes.

EDIT: Before I finished this post my SIL sent me a link that HER hospital is now requesting masks. I cut more, ordered elastic and will get as many made as I can.

These masks are NOT approved as Protective Personal Equipment (PPE). 

There are lots of patterns and tutorials available on-line. If you decide to make some, you should chose what works best for your situation.

In other news - we got snow!

Not a lot, just enough to cover the ground. 

The rabbits didn't seem to mind. This morning they were having a meeting, or maybe it was a sporting event, in my front yard and flower bed. They would face off, jump straight up and over each other, then run like crazy around the yard and under the ramp. 

There were at least four of them. I wasn't able to get all four in a photo at the same time. Those guys are fast! The snow was gone by mid-afternoon.

Before I started sewing masks I made a pillow out of a T-shirt for Son's GF's brother.

Then, I made a couple of doggie bandanas for Son's dog. They are reversible.

 

I made a beaded counted-cross stitch ornament. This will be a fair entry.

I don't know when I will get back to my projects, but meanwhile I am happy to be doing something that might be helpful in this crazy situation.

Stay safe.

Happy Spring?

The last few days the weather has been cloudy, rainy, windy and now cooler here. There is a forecast of up to an inch of snow for Sunday night. I guess the crocuses didn't hear about that. Or maybe they knew I needed a bright little spot of happiness.

I can see these right out my front door.

The rest of the front bed is greening up, too.

This is a Black-eyed Susan from my brother's prairie. I'm glad to see it coming up.

In my continuing efforts to make my sewing room less cluttered and more organized I came across this beautiful counted cross-stitch piece.

I had not seen it in a very long time and thought I had given it away, which I regretted. I like all the Lavender and Lace Angels, but this is the only one I have attempted. I looked for a link, but found this listed in several places with several names - Angel of Freedom, The Second Angel of Freedom and Christmas Angel of Freedom. I guess if you are interested in the pattern you can google it. It is stitched on 32-count linen which is probably why I quit working on it. This is a big design with lots of color changes and requires concentration. I was working full-time with a two hour commute and had a young special needs child at the time. I just could not find the energy to work on it. It's beautiful and I hope to finish it someday.

I also found another shoe box full of floss.

Oh, boy. I am beginning to think that maybe I need to cut back on my interests - reading, knitting, crochet, card making, counted cross-stitch, quilting. 

Several years ago someone in the area where my parents live closed up a quilt shop. I was gifted lots of fabric. Today I discovered three bolts I had forgotten about. Somehow they had gotten behind a cabinet in the room of lost things upstairs. 

Two are partial bolts, but still have a lot on them. One bolt is still wrapped in plastic. I should be able to get a couple of quilts out of these, don't you think?!

Following along with Pat's calendar - 

Yesterday's challenge was Reboot - get back to working on a project that has been set aside for a while.

Today's challenge was UFO - look through the UFOs and do a status check. Lost interest? Missing anything? Maybe choose one and work on it or if you've lost interest pass it on to someone.

I didn't do either one of these challenges. I was busy with reorganizing/decluttering and finishing up a project.

My state governor has issued a shelter in place order beginning Saturday at 5 pm. We can be out and about to get groceries, prescriptions, medical appointments, food pick-up, gas, walks outside only until April 7.

Hope you are staying well and comfortable.

My Last Outing

for a while anyway.

Me and three of my friends decided to make one last fabric run today. None of us plan to be out and about much for a while.

So what did I get?

I made this block as a fair entry a couple of years ago. It's been hanging around waiting for me to figure out what to do with it. Today I got the green batik and plan to make a photo album cover. It will be another fair entry!

This little piece will go into the stash for the 365 Challenge. 

Backings except for the light batik. There was just over a yard left on the bolt so I took it all. It will be a great background in a future quilt.

This bundle (actually it is two bundles) was there last time I went. One of my friends bought two, I restrained myself. This time I couldn't resist. I just love the big print. Since each bundle has four 1 yard pieces I decided I better get two - the very LAST two - so I could make a quilt bigger than the pattern makes. That is what my friend did. She says doubled it is a nice size.

Yesterday Pat's calendar challenge was to make her Shamrock block. I think she plans on finishing it into a mug rug.

I didn't do that. It's cute, but I am not into shamrocks, don't use mug rugs and can't think of anyone to gift it to. 

The pattern can be found here.

Today she talked about Patterns. Look through your patterns and pick one that calls to you, one you want to do next. Then gather the fabrics and schedule it on your calendar. 

I did not schedule mine, but the next pattern I want to do is Designer Star.

 It is a free PDF from Anthology Fabrics. I bought a kit from Keepsake Quilting, but I don't see it on their site now.

My efforts to organize must be working. I have a lot of empty containers!

The blue flowered box on the bottom in the stack on the left is full of smaller containers.

I hope to continue working on organizing/decluttering. All of my sewing and retreat days have been cancelled. I have plenty of projects to keep me busy and we are pretty well stocked for supplies and food. 

There are new cases of Covid-19 being reported around us daily, but so far none in my immediate area. I worry about my family. None of them live close-by. Some work in the health care field. My SIL's mother was taken to the hospital today with breathing issues. She lives in an assisted living facility where they have been quarantined to their rooms, but she is high risk with some health issues.

I hope you are safe and comfortable where ever you are.