Mission Accomplished

This is the third week in a row that I have actually completed my stated goals.  I think it's because my goals have been modest and we did not have internet service for three days.  The time I usually spend reading blogs was spent sewing.

I was able to complete a baby quilt that will be donated to Little Lambs through Sarah Craig's annual Hands 2 Help challenge.  I made the top last year, but it languished in the sewing room until this week.  When I was preparing the top to be quilted, I realized the light green gingham check, I chose last year for the backing, was too blah for the low volume four patch top.  I found a jungle animal print in my stash that livened things up a bit.

My attempt at an art shot was less than successful so I had to depend on my husband to display it. We were away last week and the quilt got very wrinkled on the trip back home.  After a spin in the washer and dryer, it will be ready to ship out.

My second goal was to make enough blocks to create a top from blocks I made a few years ago.  I needed more than my original estimate and wound up sewing 116 blocks.

They will have to ferment while I work on this week's goals.  I plan on finishing another baby quilt for the Hands 2 Help Challenge and making the latest block from the Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail Sew Along.  Melva, at Melva Loves Scraps has chosen the Indian Star block for the third installment of the sew along.  It would make a great block for a Quilt of Valor quilt.

I'll be linking up with Sarah to "Whoop" along with other quilters who have something to share this week at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Making A List

 I've been frustrated with the lack of finished quilts coming out of my sewing room.  It seems like every time I look for something in my fabric closet, I find unfinished items that divert my attention from what I should be doing.  Bonnie, from In stitches with Bonnie, suggested that I make a list of things I wanted to accomplish for the week.  I decided that my previous failure making lists was that I tended to add too many projects.  My list for this week, included just two projects.  I planned to make the second block of the Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail quiltalong at Melva Loves Scraps. The Double Nine Patch block is now completed.

The second item on my list was to complete a quilt for the Hands 2 Help Challenge hosted by Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  The Eye Spy quilt has 48 novelty fabric squares including, mammals, sea creatures, birds, all kinds of food, boats, sports figures and sports equipment, as well as insects.  The back will make a great play mat with roads, a fire station, airport, and a construction site.  It's fresh out of the drier and looks crinkly and cozy. The quilt will be going to Quilty Hugs for Happy Chemo.

Since making a list worked so well this past week, I've made a list for the coming week.  I plan on quilting another quilt for the Hands 2 Help Challenge and piecing additional blocks to complete one of my UFO tops.  I will be linking up with Sarah at Confessions of a Fabric Addict to "Whoop Whoop," about my finishes.  This week is especially exciting at her blog.  In addition to the weekly finishes posted, there are also quilts completed for the Hands 2 Help Challenge.  

Thank you Bonnie for your suggestion to make a list.  Hopefully, it will keep working.

Some Days Are Just Like Christmas

     While searching in my fabric closet for potential backing fabrics, I found a plastic box hidden amongst the piles.  When I opened it, I was pleasantly surprised.  Inside, I found blocks in various stages of completion.  The blocks were made up of 1.5 x 2.5 strips.  Inspired by the 2021  Table Scraps Challenge at The Joyful Quilter, I decided to use the scraps to make table runners.  

The runner with the yellow binding is 16 by 32 inches and will be used on my maple sewing machine cabinet.

The runner with the pink binding is 20 by 36 and will be placed on the wooden desk  where I am currently using my Viking Sapphire machine.

The backing used for both runners is Michael Millers, Geisha's Puzzle.  I have no idea when or why I bought it.  It is very bright and busy, but it will work well sitting beneath my sewing machines.  I still have some blocks left. They may be made into placemats.

As if one box of blocks was not enough of a surprise, on a second diving mission, I found more.  There were two partially finished tops and a pink Ghiardelli candy box filled with partially and completely finished blocks to match the quilt tops.

I added a few rows of blocks to one of the tops to make it lap size.

I also finished the last of the doll quilts and the matching pillow.  The four doll quilts and pillows will be placed in the mail this week.

This week, I hope to make the Double Nine block which is the second block of  the Pieces of the Sante Fe Trail Sew Along at Melva Loves Scraps.  I also plan to work on finishing one of my quilts for the Hands 2 Help Challenge at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

I'm linking up to "Whoop, Whoop," with some of my favorite quilters at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.

Have a pieceful week. 

The Drought May Finally Be Over

 After having a productive few weeks, I feel like a field sprinkled with rain after a drought.  It wasn't a soaking rain, but it did produce a few signs of life. 

Melva, who blogs at Melva Loves Scraps, is hosting a quilt along called Pieces of the Santa Fe Trail.  It's a bit unusual, in that, the inspiration for the blocks is based on the memoirs of Marian Russell who traveled the Santa Fe Trail.  I really enjoy reading the snippets of Marian's book that Melva posts with each block.  If you are a history buff or you just enjoy quilt alongs and sampler style quilts, you should visit her blog.

After I chose my fabrics, I realized that one of them was directional.  I was determined to keep the fabric facing in the correct direction in each part of the block.  I managed to be consistent while sewing the Kit in the Korner block, but I didn't notice that the fabric was oriented incorrectly in the block itself.

The block above shows my flowers/artichoke shapes facing up.  The block below shows the flower print upside down, but in the correction orientation in the block.  My block will just have to be Kit in the Opposite Korner.

I promised two of my favorite little girls that I would make doll quilts and matching pillows for them.  Four of the quilts are finished.  Three of the matching pillows are stuffed and waiting to be hand stitched closed.  I'll post the fourth quilt when its matching pillow is finished.  All of the doll quilts are made from scraps.

The Joyful Quilter created a Table Scraps challenge in January.  The challenge is using the colors issued for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge at So Scrappy.  Any quilted table covering can be made for the challenge.  The covering can be a table runner, topper, placemats, candle mat, or mug rug. I didn't have a need for a table topper/runner in the colors being used for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge this year so I have started making quilted toppers for various surfaces using a rainbow of scraps.  I started making bow tie blocks for a doll quilt and enjoyed it so much, I made a topper for my clothes dryer and one for my laundry room hamper.  The topper for the laundry hamper is made with 2.5 inch squares.

The topper for the clothes dryer is made using 3 inch squares.

The color for May is red.  I would love to have a table topper or runner for Valentine's Day so this month, I'll be using the  Rainbow Scrap Challenge color.

Like many quilters, I enjoy reading blogs, seeing pictures of quilts, and being inspired.  Since I rarely finish anything, I don't feel compelled to post the projects I work on that will probably never be finished.  My lax attitude has kept me from acknowledging the lovely things that other bloggers have done for me.

 I enjoy reading Pat's blog over at Life in the Scrapatch.  Once upon a time, in the not so distant past (November, 2019) Pat celebrated the 10th anniversary of her blog by giving away a Riley Blake magnetic pin catcher.  I was lucky enough to be the recipient and I use it every day.  Pat has some wonderful free patterns and tutorials on her blog that you should definitely take a look at.  She has a free pattern from the Disney Mandalorian series that features the baby Yoda eating bone broth.  If you have a Star Wars fan in your life, this is a MUST.

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For the first time this year, I actually have something to Whoop about.  I'm linking up at Sarah's Confessions of a Fabric Addict to whoop along with all of the other fabulous quilters.  I've also linked up for Oh Scrap! at Quilting is more fun than Housework.