Making and Making Do

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I haven't done any more quilting on Windmills.

But, I have been busy with other quilt-related projects. I finished piecing this top, Crimson Poppy.

And, this top - A Sparkling Samper.

I also got out this project yesterday - Coral Reef. 

I got all the foundation papers cut and organized. But I need a bigger surface to work on to cut the fabrics. Before I can do that  I need to clean up in the sewing room.

I started piecing the Churn Dash blocks together over the weekend. 

I divided them into piles - dark backgrounds, light backgrounds. I may regret it later, but for now, I'm just picking up one from each pile and sewing them together. I got one row sewn yesterday. 

My little design wall above the big ironing board is only big enough for a few blocks, not for complete rows.

Plus, I keep pinning things up there so it is slowly getting covered with things that are not quilt blocks. The big ironing board and cutting area are covered with the Churn Dash project and the RSC (yellow for February) block for next month. Somewhere in there are also blocks for the Stashbuster Challenge for 2021 by Border Creek Station. 

So, I am making do with my fabric stash by pinning things to the fabric in the cubbies. 

I like to take photos outside but that isn't happening right now.

And, one more thing to add to my list of projects; My Quilter's Exchange group has decided that since we are unable to meet in person, but are all wanting to have some kind of connection during Covid we will be working on a mystery quilt. It is being organized by our 'leader' and the first clue will be posted today. I have chosen a fat quarter batik bundle and added some more fabrics from my stash. 

The colors aren't true (I just can't seem to get that right) but you can get an idea of what they look like. I will have to use the lighter fabric in the middle as the light because I don't have enough of the darker one. The dark teal on the left and the dark green on the right are border options. I will probably not decide which one until the rest of the top is pieced.

I can't believe it is already February! Winter has made itself known here the last few days.

We have gotten snow. Not a lot, really, but enough to cause problems. 

It all started Saturday afternoon with rain, that turned to slushy rain, that turned to snow. Cold temps and wind have made for icy, drifted roads that are hazardous. 

There are some rabbits that live under the end of the ramp where those drifts are. I think the drifts probably help keep the wind out, maybe.  

The drifts haven't blocked them in. There are a lot of rabbit prints around the front garden.

And, it appears, at least one cat has been lurking about! And, that is fine by me. I hope he is keeping the rodent population under control.

Husband set out early this morning to travel the 1-1/4 mile distance to his parent's house to feed the cows. He had to turn around and come home for the tractor. The roads had drifts large enough that made getting through impossible. A snowplow has just now gone down my road so hopefully, the roads will be better soon. The sun is shining now which is quite deceiving. It looks like a pretty day, but the wind is picking up again and it is COLD!

Stay safe and well.

Good things

 are happening.

I have the bottom and middle sections pieced for A Sparkling Sampler.

I have two quadrants pieced for Crimson Poppy, two more to go.

I have thirteen hats ready to donate.

A quilt, Windmills, got loaded on the machine. It is about half quilted. 

All this happened last week before I went to Son's house on Sunday. His new stove was scheduled to be delivered mid-day on Monday. I had planned to go early Monday morning but the weather forecast for my area didn't look good for Sunday night into Monday morning. So I made the decision to go Sunday and spend the night. That went well; my parent came over that day to bring Son some kitchen items since he was left with very little when GF moved out. That's ok, most of it was hers anyway. It was nice to see my parents although my dad didn't recognize me. I wore my mask and my hair looks different from the last time he saw me. As they were leaving, after he was safely in their car, I removed my mask. Then he recognized me! The next morning we woke up to this. Ice on everything.

I was worried the stove delivery wouldn't happen, but the ice was melting and the roads were much better by late morning. The delivery crew were quick, efficient, cleaned up and removed the packing materials, and WORE MASKS

He is one happy camper! 

The weather was not good at home and Son wanted me to stay to help him figure out the new appliance so I spent another night. Pork loin and rice for supper - all cooked by him. 

I don't think the dog minded either. 

We found him 'guarding' my pillows and quilt frequently.

I got a text with a pic of supper last night - salmon, rice, and cooked carrots. He is enjoying cooking. He was very concerned about what his life would be like without GF, but it is never good to stay in a relationship that is not working. He knew his decision would be life-changing, and it was, but he has a good support system and is in a good place.

Last night there was a lovely sunset.

I have trouble getting good photos. The color is never right.

This photo was taken a few minutes later.

The moon was beautiful this morning.

Same shot, different filter. The bottom one is more true to color. And now the sun is shining, which is nice, but it is very cold.

We had to make several trips out to get supplies/groceries. About half the people we saw were not wearing masks. That makes me sad. 

Stay safe and well.

Design Wall Monday

 To see what other quilters are working on go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I am making progress on Crimson Poppy.

I have made the blocks for the second week of the Stash Buster Challenge 2021.

There are bonus HST being generated - 8 per block. I am immediately sewing them together. I have no plans for them yet, but I am sure there will be enough to make something.

And, I have started working on piecing together the last exchange project -  A Sparkling Sampler.

I still need to make 50 HST units which I am doing between piecing the blocks and other units together.

Stay safe and well.

Design Wall Monday

To see what other quilters are up to go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

Happening around here:

Night farming.

I don't like it when Husband stays out after dark, but this night he was right across the road where I could see him.

There was a beautiful sunset that night.

And a bright Halloween moon 

the next morning.

I am still cutting the fabrics for the 

Crimson Poppy quilt.

This is taking longer than I expected. My large cutting table is in the garage where there is no heat. The temps have dropped here and the wind has been fierce so it is cold out there. My hands get cold after about 20-30 minutes and I have to come in to warm up. We are to have warmer temps this week so I hope to get this part done soon.

I have had a couple of comments about how organized this is. This is not my idea. The pattern instructions recommend doing this. It really helps me know exactly what I am doing.

I am working away on the 

Churn Dash blocks.

I had a little oops! 

And, it wasn't just a matter of that row being sewn on upside down. Oh, no, I had to take that row apart and turn the HSTs.

But now it's fixed. (Same block, different lighting so the color looks off.)

 Some of the fabrics are directional so I am trying to be mindful of that when piecing them.

I have separated my Civil War fabrics into piles by color. I am planning to use each fabric only once, but that may change depending on how many blocks I end up with.

 As each fabric is used it is either put back into that pretty purple box on the right in this photo or into the upended drawers. The blues, browns/tans, and reds are being used in the 365 Challenge so they go back into the drawers. Everything else goes into the box.

Everyone I know continues to be well.

I hope you stay safe and well.

It's Monday Again

To see what other quilters are up to go to Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

I have been busy mostly prepping projects, not really sewing or quilting much.

Crimson Poppy - papers are cut and organized into baggies. The fabric has been labeled and is being cut and organized.

More Churn Dash blocks are being cut.

My quilt group met over the weekend to exchange our bags. I have the pieces for that block cut.

It was decided at this meeting to speed things up so we can be finished with this exchange before Christmas. So now we will meet every two weeks instead of once a month. Then we will take a break until spring and hopefully, things will have settled down with the virus. If not, we will at least be able to meet outside again. We all wear masks at our meetings, even outside, but I think we will all feel safer outside. I know I will.

You know there is a quilter in the house when the mending is done with pretty fabrics. At least I think it is pretty, but the color was a close match and I only had a small piece, a piece just the right size to double over and mend this small hole under the back pocket of Husband's jeans.

I kept hearing something hit the big front window and door. I finally was able to figure out what it was.

This little guy, a Golden-Crowned Kinglet,  must have seen his reflection and thought he was defending his territory. After he hit the front door he may have been a little stunned as he sat on the decking right outside the door for quite a while. He didn't fly off even after I walked by the door several times, pausing to take his photo. He finally did fly away.

Friday afternoon it was predicted that we would get some rain. I thought this tree looked pretty with the sun shining on it and the dark sky behind.

We did get a little rain, but not enough to stop the farmers from going about their business.

Today lime is being delivered in the field across the road from my house.

There will be four piles there soon and this will get spread across the field to improve the soil for next year's crop.

My top priority today is the land-line. We have had terrible issues for several years. The last time a service tech was here, which was this summer, he told us that the cable to our house was on its last leg (or line). Today I was told that the cable is beyond repair. We are the only customer on the line from the point where it is bad. It is an underground cable and goes under the road. The phone company does not deem it to be too costly to repair/replace. So, no land-line for us. I have had a cell phone for a long time; Husband only just got used to using one in the last few months. Thankfully, that is going well. I had to call to cancel our service, but we have a security bundle through the phone company. Billing for that is tied to our land-line phone and since that is being cancelled we have to set up an alternate payment method. That requires talking to a different department, which is very busy. I have been on hold most of the morning. Finally, I was given the option to have a call-back. So now I am waiting for that. 

Our Covid friend is doing well. My son and his GF and her sister are feeling fine. 

Stay safe and well.