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.

It"s Not My Fauilt

Really, it isn't.

Husband is an enabler.

I leave my Facebook page open all the time and I think he is on there more than I am. Occasionally something will pop up there that he likes and he thinks I will too

A few days ago this one came up and he left it there to see if I liked it. 

When I said it was pretty he said 'get it'. It's a panel called Butterfly Vortex by Studio E. Clicking will take you to Etsy. I found more fabric in the line at Fabric.com. I started looking for patterns that use panels and decided on Bevels by Mountainpeak Creations. Again, this takes you to Etsy.

A few days before that Husband saw the bright butterfly fabric, again. It keeps showing up on Facebook. He asked if I had ordered it yet. When I said I hadn't, he said 'get it'.

It is Unusual Garden. This link goes to Hancock's of Paducah which is where I ordered it from. Each panel has six different butterflies that measure around 16 inches. I don't have a pattern, but I do have a plan!

In other news I finished the binding on the Cow quilt.

I can't think of a clever name for it so I am just calling the Cow Quilt or Makenzie's Cow Quilt.I think she will love it. And if she doesn't Son says he will claim it for himself.

I've been looking at Pat Sloan's Crazy Quilty March Calendar every day and watching her videos. I haven't posted any comments though. I am not strictly following this calendar, but it does make me think about the prompt and whether or not I can improve in that area. I think it might be something to do every month just to stay on top of things.

I wrote the prompt for Monday-an Assistant. While the sewing room might be a mess, the assistants are pretty organized. 

Tuesday and Wednesday's prompts were about long owned Fabric and a Project needing attention. I chose Circle of Life for both those days because it needs attention and has been in my stash for a while. 

Thursday's prompt was Learning. a few weeks ago I purchased a Pineapple Trim Tool by Creative Grids.

The link goes to Amazon. I got mine at a local quilt shop. There is also a Mini tool. I got it out thinking I might make one block, but decided I did NOT want to start another project right now so I put it away for later.

Friday's prompt was UFO.

 Again, I chose Circle of Life. 

Today's prompt was Machine Love - clean your machine, change the needle, etc. My main machine was just in for service so I didn't do anything with it. I did clean and oil the MegaQuilter that is on my frame after I quilted the Cow. 

Pat's Tidy Up prompt made me think about my stash of cotton yarn I use for knitted washcloths. I got that out to see what I have and can use. 

I end up with a lot of little bits of leftovers that aren't enough for a whole washcloth but can sometimes be paired with other colors the make striped ones. I did throw some away GASP! because they just didn't go with any of the other colors I have. 

And, finally, I tried a new recipe. We ran out of coffee creamer because I forgot to get some last weekend when we made our grocery run.

I had these recipes, but had not tried any yet. It turned out ok. Husband hasn't said anything so I don't think he even noticed it isn't what we usually use. 

I washed out the empty creamer bottle and mixed up the recipe in it. I made the French Vanilla. It tastes a little different, but it's good. I will try some of the other flavors. 

Lists

It is likely that very little sewing will be done today. Father-in-Law has a couple of medical appointments today. Husband and Sister-in-Law are taking him to those. I applaud my husband for insisting that his sister be involved with parental care this time around, even though it would be easier for he and I to do it without her. She did very little to help when her mother was ill. It all fell on my husband's shoulders. She is not happy about being forced to be involved so she insists that Husband go with her to the appointments. This means Husband will be out of the house for a bit today. I have things to do. Things that are easier to do when he is gone. I made a list.

I know I most likely will not finish everything on the list so I am trying to do the most important things first. 

I am also following along with Pat Sloan's Crazy Quilty March calendar. She is giving prompts every day to help people organize their sewing spaces, finish projects, etc. I find that even though I don't need someone to tell me what to do everyday I get more done if I have a plan. Sometimes I need a little help making a plan.

Sunday was an 'Assistant'. Identify something that assists you in your quilting. I have a lovely green cabinet that Husband thought I needed. He was so right! 

I am still in the process of organizing it. I have moved things around in the drawers a couple of times trying to figure out what will work the best for me. It's getting there.

Monday was the day to find a fabric that has been in your stash a long time and come up with a plan to use it. Rather than starting a new project I chose Circle of Life since that has been in my stash for 3 years. I am progressing.

Yesterday was a project that 'needs your love', in Pat's words. Again, I chose Circle of Life since I love it and it needs to be finished. 

Today is tidying up. Pat talks about making your space tidy so it is easy and enjoyable to work in it. I have a big table in my garage that is great for laying out projects and cutting, especially big pieces and trimming quilts after quilting.

When we brought it home Husband said he was making a rule that things were not allowed to pile up on the table. Oops.

When I visited my parents recently I brought home some boxes of things they had been storing for me...since I graduated HS/College. The boxes got set on the table. I have been going through them trying to decide what to toss and what to keep. I need to find a place for the things I want to keep. Some of it I don't want to keep, but know someone will want it. Some of it can be used for Bingo prizes at Retreat. The local nursing facility will want some of it to sell in their garage sale-style tent during the fall fundraiser. They don't want the things now, so I have to figure out how and where to store it here. Some of it will go in the trash. As soon as I say a proper goodbye to it. I need this table cleaned off. I have a quilt to trim so I can get the binding sewn on. I have several projects I want to cut out. I need to get busy!