To-do's - February 24, 2020

Played hooky for a few hrs on Saturday but managed to get a number of things done.

Completions for the last couple of weeks -

1. Teddy Bear for Henry - Completed and to be delivered Wed
2. Repair antique Sun Bonnet Sue quilt for SR - Completed and mailed
3. Sew Cross-stitch blocks together as needed for SR - Completed and mailed
4. Fleece Doggie Coat - Completed and mailed
5. Commissioned Storage pouch - Completed and mailed
6. Feb. F2F Blocks - Completed and mailed
7. BD Postcards - First set of 19 finished, two sets of 6 delivered for display and sale
8. Owl print quilt for sister of TK - Blocks have been cut/pieced as needed

Commission To-do's for February -

1. Easter Postcards for sale - Background of first set completed
2. BD Postcards
3. Mother's Day Postcards
4. Father's Day Postcards
5. Graduation Postcards

Current For Sale projects & Commissions-

1. Owl print quilt for sister of TK - In Progress, pieced blocks ready to trim to size
2. Pincushions for sale - make and list
3. Repair blanket/quilt for KA - commercial quilt received, plan of reworking it decided on, no due date
4. Auction quilt for private prep school where a friends DD attends (for JM) - Design drawn up, JM to verify proposed design ok with school

2019 Christmas gifts -

1. Pillowcase(s) for triangle support pillow for PN - pillowcase taken apart, ready for new pattern to be made
2. Send gifts to the N family

Future Commissions-

1. T-shirt Quilt for friend in an online group (no due date, waiting for shirts and specs)
2. T-shirt quilt for a friend at church (no due date, waiting for shirts, specs)
3. Men's Shirt alterations (multiple, not sure how many at this point) for AJ
4. Hem dress and alter jacket for CJ
5. T-shirt quilts for CA and CA
6. Memory bears for TA
7. Quilt/Finish baby quilt for SN

Possible Commissions/Sales-

1. Airplane quilt - need to make sample blocks before getting back with friend to see if she's interested
2. Music Quilt - long time possibility....rumblings about it happening again - Designed, waiting on down payment
3. Teddy Bear Quilt - This needs to be quilted (either for the original order or sold to someone else)
4. Quilt tops that are for sale (Wolf + more)

Other projects that need to be done -

1. Keep up with blocks for this years F2F swap.
2. List items for sale on Ebay or other fitting site
3. List fabric "Sets" for sale on FB
4. Ship snail quilt out for quilting - Ready to ship, but have to wait till I get paid again 
5. UFO Alphabet quilt #4 - Quilt, bind and finish
6. Prep t-shirts for my own t-shirt quilt - t-shirts are all together (and have been for several yrs) but need to back with interfacing and get ready for quilting (doing quilt as you go).
7. Downsize quilting fabric stash - Started, lots more to go thru
8. Find place to donate clothing fabric - One email sent, waiting on response.  More to send
9. Get website set up so that I can sell what I'm making and my quilts - started need to finish
10. Continue looking for and applying for new, paying jobs
11. Teddy Bear for Ezra
12. Stretching Art 2020 - Quilting in Progress
13. Purse for Caroline for Graduation - same type as 2 Christmas's ago, just larger.

Gratitudes:

1. For meds that are helping knock the sinus infection

2. For the blessing of friends with new babies

Repairing a Vintage Quilt

A longtime friend of mine in Phoenix asked me to repair a vintage quilt she inherited from her mom that had been damaged by one of her dogs during a storm.

Poor pup had been scared and was "digging" on the bed to try to hide.   And ended up making a couple of holes all the way through the quilt in one block.










Next up was to add a piece of batting to the back and then sew a piece of muslin over that to start the repair process.  I then quilted through that so that it would hold to the quilt.

Next step was to cut a couple of batting patches in order to fill in the holes in the quilt so that the surface was level.

I then sewed a piece of muslin over the patched areas so that the background would be filled in.

Next step was to make a new bonnet for Sue.  Found the best match in color in Kona Cotton and used another block to trace a pattern.  I enlarged it just a teensy bit in order to make sure to cover the damaged areas.  Before sewing it down I took and did the embroidery on the bonnet.   Was able to make colors of the embroidery thread fairly closely using some of my umpteen bits of leftover threads.  The bonnet is hand appliqued down.

Final step was to hand quilt the bonnet down so that the look would be consistent with the rest of the quilt.   It was at this point that I realized I'd left off one bit of the original black embroidering...but I wasn't taking things back off to add that in.

Overall look to the repaired block.

Gratitudes:
1. For being able to find the right color for the repairs.

2. For the warm weather to wake up to this morning.

February F2F Blocks

I've signed up for the next round of the F2F block swap.   In it everyone makes 3 different blocks to send one person each month for the duration of the swap.   This round it will last 10 months, and the first month to send is February.

I saw this block in a quilt pictured somewhere and don't remember where now.   I like the quilt and the look of the block.   It worked up quickly and I do plan to use it for each month.   And am thinking I'll also use it in the future for a quilt.
















I also saw this block in a quilt pic on one of my social media accts....original blocks tho were 12 inches so I down sized to 6 inches to show the repeat.   Not hard to do, just tedious as I paper-pieced them.   Doubtful that I'll do this one again, even for me......















Final block made is one that I experimented with.  I used two different greens and two reds in the center of this block, and pieced the striped center in a spiral.  With the closeness of the colors though it's a little hard to see.  I pp'd this block and will make it for the remaining months as well.

I've got an idea for a setting for this block so I'll likely use it for a scrappy quilt in the future.

Gratitudes:

1. For pharmacy techs who have the time and inclination to look for coupons / better deals to help the customer save money on prescriptions.

2. For meds that are helping to knock this sinus infection.

Finishes - 2/23/19

My plans for last week got thrown for a loop when my body decided it wanted to get sick and actually force me to slow down.  =(   After spending the morning Saturday between urgent care and then Walmart waiting my prescriptions to be filled, and then crashing nothing much got done until Saturday.

First up was sewing this teddy bear.  He'll be off to a little one who is a new big brother as of Friday when I deliver dinner to a family at church this week.  Big Bro keeps eyeing the bunny I made Lil Sis, so he needs his own critter.

Got the blocks cut and/or sewn for the next commissioned quilt.  The pieced blocks still need to be trimmed to 9.5" unfinished, but that is for this week.

And I got backgrounds fused for the first set of Easter postcards.  To come are Easter eggs, baskets, and who knows what else.  =) 

I also managed to make it by the post office so the two commissions from last week and a set of swap blocks were put in the mail on Thursday when I ran out for early voting.

Gratitudes:
1. For an urgent care office in the next town (none in the town where I live) that is never busy....

2. For friends who bring meals over when I'm not feeling good.

Next commission

The next commissioned quilt is up to "bat".   These two are the fabrics that I'll be using in the quilt.  The Kona solid matches the green in the print fabric.

Plan for the quilt top is to make it similar to this one.  This quilt will be made the same was (except for the center panel).  Blocks will finish at 9".

Backing will be more of the owl fabric and binding will be the green solid.

Gratitudes:

1. For surprises from friends

2. For having a budget that I live on because I'm able to see that I am making progress in paying things off in spite of the current financial frustrations.

Finishes as of 2/18/2020

Several commissions were finished up over the weekend and are ready to go back out into the mail to the appropriate customer.

First up was finishing the repair on this vintage quilt. 

Next up was finishing this fleece dog coat.   Also finished but not shown were sewing together the pre-stamped embroidery blocks that the same friend had asked me to sew together.

 Then it was onto birthday postcards.   Three different types (multiple fabric/embellishment combos).   Have one more pattern drawn up that i'll be making as well, but first I need to get in gear on Easter ones.

Final project was a zippered pouch for a friend.  She'd asked me to make one like the one I'd made years ago for her.....and nope, I didn't have anything written down on it....sounding familiar?  Finished pouch is approximately 14" wide by 11" tall.  12" zipper was used in the bag, and pet screening for the front of the pouch.  I used scraps for the back and quilted them myself.











Front of the bag.   Another scrap was used for the fabric panel on top of the pet mesh.  Pansies are the favorite flower of the friend the pouch is going to.

Inside seams were double stitched and then bound in bias tape so there would be no rough edges for something to catch on.

Gratitudes:

1. For God's provision in the midst of all the financial stress that has enabled me to be 3 months away from paying off the first of my student loans and hopefully able then to pay off another 2 or 3 bills by the end of this year!

2. For winter weather that has not been severe this year (altho that means the bugs haven't been killed!)

Scrap-Happy February 2020

I've been playing with my silk scraps lately as I have been working on a challenge quilt that needs to be finished by the end of February.

21 different ones had pieces cut and fusible webbing ironed on before I took and cut out stylized people/figures from them.














There were 50 something (i lost count of exactly how many) ironed onto the quilt top for my Stretching Art Challenge quilt for this year.  Other than using templates to trace the leaves, this has all been freehand - both cutting and placement.

All of the fabrics in the top except for the sky are from my scrap bins, and yes that includes the big pieces used to make the grass.

Close-up of the leaves at the base of the tree.  Still need to add two more leaves off to the right, but still need to cut those out of the extra scraps.

Gratitudes:
1. For safety in driving

2. For the steady stream of commissioned work this year

To-Do's and Project Status, 2/11/2020

Played hooky for a few hrs on Saturday

Completions for the last couple of weeks -

1. Commissioned tote #1 - cats - Completed and delivered
2. Commissioned tote #2 - dachshunds - Completed, delivered and then the customer changed mind and returned it.  =P
3. Hem sweatpants for customer - Finished and ready to deliver
4. Stretching Art 2020 - Top has been completed
5. Patterns for Easter and BD postcards designed, and specialty prints and trims purchased
6. Feb. F2F Blocks - Block 1 completed

Commission To-do's for February -

1. Repair antique Sun Bonnet Sue quilt for SR - Needs Bonnet and final quilting of block
2. Sew Cross-stitch blocks together as needed for SR
3. Make fleece doggie coat from red/white print fleece remnant for SR - Cut out and ready to sew
4. Easter Postcards for sale 
5. BD Postcards
6. Mother's Day Postcards
7. Father's Day Postcards
8. Graduation Postcards

Current For Sale projects & Commissions-

1. Owl print quilt for sister of TK - Fabric has been received (used in the front and will be the back
2. Pincushions for sale - make and list

2019 Christmas gifts -

1. Pillowcase(s) for triangle support pillow for PN - pillowcase rec'd
2. Send gifts to the N family

Future Commissions-

1. T-shirt Quilt for friend in an online group (no due date, waiting for shirts and specs)
2. T-shirt quilt for a friend at church (no due date, waiting for shirts, specs)
3. Men's Shirt alterations (multiple, not sure how many at this point) for AJ
4. Hem dress and alter jacket for CJ
5. T-shirt quilts for CA and CA
6. Memory bears for TA
7. Auction quilt for private prep school where a friends DD attends (for JM)
8. Quilt/Finish baby quilt for SN
9. Repair blanket/quilt for KA

Possible Commissions/Sales -

1. Airplane quilt - need to make sample blocks before getting back with friend to see if she's interested
2. Music Quilt - long time possibility....rumblings about it happening again - Designed, waiting on down payment
3. Teddy Bear Quilt - This needs to be quilted (either for the original order or sold to someone else)
4. Quilt tops that are for sale (Wolf + more)

Other projects that need to be done -

1. Keep up with blocks for this years F2F swap.
2. List items for sale on Ebay or other fitting site
3. List fabric "Sets" for sale on FB
4. Ship snail quilt out for quilting - Ready to ship, but have to wait till I get paid again 
5. UFO Alphabet quilt #4 - Quilt, bind and finish
6. Prep t-shirts for my own t-shirt quilt - t-shirts are all together (and have been for several yrs) but need to back with interfacing and get ready for quilting (doing quilt as you go).
7. Downsize quilting fabric stash - Started, lots more to go thru
8. Find place to donate clothing fabric - One email sent, waiting on response.  More to send
9. Get website set up so that I can sell what I'm making and my quilts - started need to finish
10. Continue looking for and applying for new, paying jobs
11. Teddy Bears for Henry and Ezra
12. Stretching Art 2020 - Ready to layer, quilt, bind, label
13. Purse for Caroline for Graduation - same type as 2 Christmas's ago, but a little larger.

Gratitudes:

1. For safety in driving in the rain so far this week

2. For being able to share what I've been blessed with, with friends

Stash Update, 2/7/2020

I've now tackled the two xerox boxes of novelty prints that I've had and haven't been doing anything with.   I've totally emptied them, sorted through each piece in them, and measured each piece.   Fist box contained 82.889 yds and the second box had 70.639 yds in it. 

Wondering why I measured them?   It's because it is time to check and see how my insurance coverage is on my quilting stuff, actually it is past time.   I should have done it several yrs ago, but haven't had the time.  I'm not going to measure each box, but given most of them are as full as these were I'll use the average of these two as the figure for the remaining boxes when I figure up how much is in my stash for $$ estimation purposes.    And given there is about 40 boxes in my stash, not counting the big totes full of cottons and the under the bed totes full of FQ's you can get a sense of how much that I'm dealing with. 

Some of the cottons are going up for sale online this weekend, here's hoping that they sell w/o a problem.  I'm also considering using some of the bigger pieces to make pillowcases for the triangular support pillows to sell.  One of my best friends has one and she can never find pillowcases for it.

When I say I've got more than some quilt stores that I've been in, I'm really really not joking.   Sigh.....

Fabric Out the first week of Feb - 11.722 Yds
Fabric In for January 20 - None!
Clothing fabrics pulled for donation - 115+ yds
Cotton fabrics pulled for sale/donation - 88.945 yds
Fabric ready to be sent off - none at present, just mailed off some

Total In/Out since January 1st - 28 yds
2020 Goal - 250 yds out of the stash
Remaining to go till goal - 222 yds

Gratitudes:
1. The car battery gave me warning before total failure, giving me time to get it replaced

2. Finally found a new purse that works for me (I hate shopping for purses!)

Designing Patterns......otherwise known as why didn't I take notes.....

Christmas of 2018 I made and gave several cross-body purses for gifts.  I have a niece that is graduating from college this year, and I asked her mom, one of my best friends, what would be a good thing for her.   And she suggested a new one of these because my niece had said that her's is showing the wear and tear after almost two years of use.

These pics were of one of the one that I made for her originally.   Made with silk drapery scraps, linen, and cotton it has worn well for what i'm told has been almost constant use.

Finished size of the purses were approximately 7.5" wide by 9" tall. 

Only problem is that I didn't write down any details of what I did the first time.   Oops...guess what I'll be doing this time around, lol.

Debating on what fabrics to use for the new purse, but do know i'll make it from stash.



Gratitudes:

1. For being able to find a new purse at a decent price (I really hate having to shop for purses!)

2. For surprise pkgs (a lovely journal arrived today)

Progress on Challenge Quilt

I think I've found the shape that I'm going to use as "leaves".   But before cutting out umpteen pieces I decided to "test" the idea by cutting a few pieces out of paper and pinning them onto the background.

I'm like how this abstract form for a person is working for the leaves on the tree, so these are the shapes that i'll be using but may decide to change up the sizes a bit.

Gratitudes:
1. Paychecks for December came thru today, so I can pay bills...yeah!

2. I get to work from home tomorrow and don't have to commute in the winter storm that is due in tonight and tomorrow.

To-Do's - Week of 02/02/2020

The new year has started off with a bang as it were.........at least that's how my house looks....working on getting the disaster zone cleaned up tho.

Completions for the last couple of weeks -

1. 16 more Valentine Postcards - Finished and delivered to nursing home for display and sale!
2. Owl print quilt for sister of TK - Recieved....
3. Fabric Downsizing - 2 xerox boxes of Novelty print fabrics sorted through and measured
4. Embellish Sweatshirt for DN - Finished and ready to ship
5. Stretching Art 2020 - base of quilt designed and fused, ready for "leaves"

Commission To-do's for February -

1. Commissioned tote #1 - cats - Tote assembly in progress
2. Commissioned tote #2 - dachshunds - Nothing more done
3. Repair antique Sun Bonnet Sue quilt for SR - started, ready for bonnet to be appliqued on
4. Sew Cross-stitch blocks together as needed for SR
5. Make fleece doggie coat from red/white print fleece remnant for SR - have remnant and pattern.
6. Postcards for sale as I can make them - Easter, Birthday and spring ones need to be started.  Mother's Day, Father's day cards, and Graduation also need to be done.

Current For Sale projects & Commissions-

1. Owl print quilt for sister of TK - Fabric has been received (used in the front and will be the back
2. Pincushions for sale - make and list

2019 Christmas gifts -

1. Pillowcase(s) for triangle support pillow for PN - Pam to send old pillowcase back so I can use it for a pattern
2. Send gifts to the N family

Future Commissions-

1. T-shirt Quilt for friend in an online group (no due date, waiting for shirts and specs)
2. T-shirt quilt for a friend at church (no due date, waiting for shirts, specs)
3. Men's Shirt alterations (multiple, not sure how many at this point) for AJ
4. Hem dress and alter jacket for CJ
5. T-shirt quilts for CA and CA
6. Memory bears for TA
7. Memory Pillows and stuffed pigs (2 each) (customer = friend of my realtor friend) to be done after Christmas

Possible Commissions/Sales -

1. Airplane quilt - need to make sample blocks before getting back with friend to see if she's interested
2. Music Quilt - long time possibility....rumblings about it happening again - Designed, waiting on down payment
3. Teddy Bear Quilt - This needs to be quilted (either for the original order or sold to someone else)
4. Quilt tops that are for sale (Wolf + more)

Other projects that need to be done -

1. List items for sale on Ebay or other fitting site
2. Ship snail quilt out for quilting - Ready to ship, but have to wait till I get paid again 
3. Additional work for the PT job - waiting for an issue to be resolved.
4. UFO Alphabet quilt #4 - Quilt, bind and finish
5. Prep t-shirts for my own t-shirt quilt - t-shirts are all together (and have been for several yrs) but need to back with interfacing and get ready for quilting (doing quilt as you go).
6. Downsize quilting fabric stash 
7. Find place to donate clothing fabric - One email sent, waiting on response.  More to send
8. Get website set up so that I can sell what I'm making and my quilts - started need to finish
9. Continue looking for and applying for new, paying jobs
10. Teddy Bears for Henry and Ezra
11. Stretching Art 2020 - make and add "community", quilt, bind, label
12. Purse for Caroline for Graduation - same type as 2 Christmas's ago, but a little larger.

Gratitudes:

1. For the hope of the company sale in the works

2. For the support network of friends and family that I've been blessed with

Recap of Week Finishing 02/02/2020

I was able to get the binding sewn down on all three of these quilts.   Top two are patterns I designed to use odd ball sizes/pieces of some of the many alphabet fabrics that I've collected over the years. 




















This quilt was made with blocks that were from a swap many years ago in an online group that I was a part of at that time.  That group is now gone, but many of us are still connected through FB.

And the final project that I worked was to start my Stretching Art 2020 challenge quilt.  Next up is two-fold - first "sketching" how I want the tree shape to look like, and then, second deciding on the "leaves" and what shape I want to make them. 

I'd started with one idea for the 'leaves' and am now thinking I might go a little more abstract in my shaping of them.

Gratitudes:

1. Elders who listen when needed and give good suggestions on what might be done to.

2. For friends who have good ideas - both on ideas of things I can make from my stash to sell, and for ideas to deal with issues that loom in the future.