Design Wall Monday

To see what other quilters are up to go to

Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.

On my wall is the latest Exchange block.

Mine is the large one on the bottom.

While I was working on this block I had to wind some bobbins. I found this.

I am using this cone of thread just for bobbin winding since I had run into problems with it when quilting. I kept having thread breakage and couldn't figure out why until I noticed the thread on the cone had slubs. However this is the biggest I had found. Since it is a cone it doesn't fit on the spool holder on my machine. I set it behind the machine and use my fingers to hold it up as it feeds into the thread guides. I felt this big mess so I was able to cut the thread at this point so it didn't wind onto the bobbin. I had contacted the seller (Connecting Threads) and they replaced this cone free of charge. Wasn't that nice!

I like to stand at my front door when I brush my teeth in the morning. I enjoy seeing what is going on outside. Depending on the time of year I see rabbits, hummingbirds, butterflies, lovely flowers blooming. Yesterday I saw this.

Look closely at that bright spot. That is a house three miles west of my house. It was built a few years ago. It has big windows that face east. At this time of year when the sun is just rising it reflects off those windows. The first time we noticed it we thought the house was on FIRE! Seriously. We almost called the fire department. Then we realized there was no smoke. As we watched a little longer and the sun rose higher the brightness dimmed. Thank goodness! 

But, later in the evening we noticed off to the west, but a mile north, that there was a real fire.

This is the second one in that area in the last week. The first time we heard a farmer was doing some field work. We haven't heard anything about this one yet. Hopefully, no one was hurt and damage is minimal.

I am continuing to follow along with Pat Sloan's Crazy Quilty Calendar. Yesterday her prompt was about travel. Do you travel to sewing days or retreats with friends? Or take projects to work on when traveling? She suggested duplicates and making a travel project bag/box that can quickly be grabbed knowing it is loaded with all the tools, etc. needed. I have been doing that for a few years. I hate not having all the tools I need when I am not at home. I don't like to ask others to borrow theirs, although my friends are very willing to share. I also found that it is nice to have extras to share if needed.

In my rolling bag I keep a machine, small iron, pin cushion, Sew Together bag that holds many items from scissors to machine needles, and more - all duplicates.  

The link goes to Amazon, but it can be found on other sites as well as some quilt shops.

Here's a nice tutorial that walks you through putting it together.

I am working on getting duplicates of bigger priced items - rulers, cutting mats, etc. - that will stay in this bag. Because I still have a few items that have to get packed for each Sew Day or Retreat I made an inventory list so I don't forget anything - like my lunch, snacks and beverages!

I have a small tote with compartments that I use to hold Hexies for the Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt I am working on - duplicate scissors and thimble.

I am close to getting all the blocks made for this quilt. Then I need to make the hexies and diamonds for the path.

Decluttering

is what I am working on. I want my house to be free of unnecessary, unwanted and unused stuff. But, it's hard! Today I spent the afternoon going through my collection of QuiltMaker magazine. I had been given quite a few a long time ago. It included the very first issue. I have every, almost every issue up until March/April 2020. 

After much thought I had decided to let my subscription lapse. The library where the quilt group meets has a subscription so I can look at it there. If I find a pattern I really like I can have a copy made. I had not been finding much of interest lately anyway. 

So I started with the newer issues and carefully looked through each one to see if there were any patterns I wanted to copy. I quickly decided that I only needed to look at the pages I had marked to see if I was still interested in those patterns. Most I was not. I also realized that I could use my phone to take a photo of the pages I wanted to save. I have downloaded them to the computer as well as saved them on my phone and will either print them if I want/need to or work directly from my phone. Saves paper and ink. Some of the older patterns had templates so I did make paper copies of those. I found that a lot of the older patterns that required templates I was no longer interested in making. 

You can see from the photo above how many pages I had marked. Did I really think I would have time to make all those!?

I removed the page markers as I came to them. 

That is quite a pile.

I will be taking these, a few at a time, for the quilt group to look at. I really don't know what else to do with them. With so many patterns available on-line now I don't know how many people will be interested in paper versions.

On Tuesday I took a little trip with my quilting friends. We hit our favorite shop where I got backing for a quilt, an applique pressing sheet and a three FQs for the 365 Challenge. Great restraint again! I really am trying to get only what I need, not just because I like it.

Then we went on to visit my friend who had her shoulder replaced. She is doing well - feisty as ever and ready to get her therapy going so she can go home.

Wednesday I went to a dr. appointment with Husband. His breathing issues have worsened in the last couple of months. He now has several tests and appointments scheduled for the next several weeks.

Thursday was Sew Day. I worked on Circle of Life. 

I finished up the large New York Beauty spikes and the Star units. 

I am now to the outer pointy borders. I still need to sew the large New York Beauty spikes and Stars together, though. 

Tomorrow is Exchange Day and I will bring home a new bag of lovely fabric to work with!