October Happenings

At the Village Dry Goods "Chit Chat, Finish That" the first week of this month, I finished the last houses I needed for my house quilt. And they are tiny.

 I had the idea that in place of a few stars used in the cornerstones, I would slip in these little houses. You can find the link for the foundation paper piecing pattern HERE. I tend to go rogue here and there with a pattern. And you can see the results below. Excuse the really poor lighting in the photo.

I have assembled each row, but have only sewn three rows together--the three that include the center block. I like that you don't notice anything different at first, but as you look closer, you can see the three tiny houses. I have yet to decide if, or what kind of a border should be added. I had planned to make just 2 blocks a month for this, sewing along with Lori @ Humble Quilts blog as she made a different traditional block in 2 colors. But when I decided to attend the "Chit Chat" events as much as possible this year, I decided to get as much done as I could. It feels good to be this close to a finished top.

I also took along a project from a few years ago, "Every Little Bit," by Pam Buda.

This was published in the June 2015 American Patchwork and Quilting Magazine. I love how scrappy it is, and that you can use even the tiniest scrap in making the sides on the churn dash blocks. Even the on point 4-patch blocks don't take much fabric.

I still have quite a ways to go with this one, but it has no deadline. I will take it with me if I am able to go to any more Chit Chat's this year.

I finally got this little piece quilted and bound. I made two versions back in 2023, and I finished and gifted the other one earlier this year. It is shown here along with the quilting-themed games my youngest son has gifted me over the past several years. Hubby is not a gamer, so I enjoy playing these with my kids when they come for visits.

I've dabbled with a couple of minis, but the only other real progress has been placemats for the guild service project.

So that ends the quilty content. 

We took a short jaunt to Yellowstone National Park this month. Wanna see?

Watch a mud pot. I love these!

(Click the "Full Screen" image to get the full effect.)

And then we came home.

Due to our extremely dry summer, the fall colors are not very bright.

Too long between posts--I need to improve on that.

Until next time, be creative, and be kind. I want to say more on that subject, but I'm at a loss for words. 

Janet O.

p.s. Blogger is messing with the background color on my text and I can't seem to change it back to normal. It is hard to look at, IMHO. Sorry about that.

Progress made!

I have the center of my house quilt assembled, and was able to incorporate the two different sizes of houses. I also have the rest of the layout planned. It feels good to be moving forward with this project. It was one of many I began in my very ambitious plans for 2021. It was the following year when the sign went up on my sewing room door (that remains to this day) that reads, "No New Starts!"

As I have explained before, I started out following the pattern by Valerie Langue in the October 2020 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting. After making the first 5 blocks I purchased the house Block on Board die for my Accuquilt cutter. The 1 1/2" size difference in the blocks presented a challenge, but I wanted to include all of the blocks I had made, hence the "medallion" style center. 

This was my first block, as shared in my 2021 post. I accidentally trimmed it too small, and thought about using it as a label on the back, but I repaired it and have placed it in the quilt. Can you find it, and see the repair?

The rest of the quilt will follow the pattern pretty much as Valerie designed it, with striped sashing and stars in the cornerstones. But I will be adding another round of houses, beyond what is shown in the first photo. That means I need 25 more made.

Seven of those 25 are cut and waiting for me on design boards. To keep up with my SAL commitment with Lori @ Humble Quilts blog, of two blocks per month, I need one more block made for May. I plan to tackle it right away. The other six will go with me to the little shop over the mountain on Thursday for the monthly "Chitchat, Finish That" open sew. I made six blocks when I went in April, and I hope to do it again. That will cover my blocks for the summer months.

Aside from building houses, I have mostly sewn placemats the past couple of months. Our guild does these as our service project, for the local "Meals on Wheels".  

I've been over the service project for the past year, and it has been fun to find bright, happy fabrics to make people smile. Next year I think I will use more cute animal prints.

We spent the first week of May on a trip to Oregon to visit DD#1, and our youngest grandchild. We always try to get to the coast, if we can. Though the day was cool, overcast, and sometimes raining, we made it happen, and had much of the beach to ourselves. It was still a great day, in spite of the weather!

The cold water, and breezy conditions did not deter our granddaughter from testing the waters. But this was one time I did NOT dip my toe in the ocean. That may surprise some of you who know I "always" try to dip my toe. Below is the view from the lookout above the beach.

We were back home before Mother's Day, and I want to share the beautiful collection of flowers I received for the holiday. The vibrant colors seemed to glow.

I've been very anxious to get this post up before May was over, and I've barely made it. May is the anniversary of my blog, which began in May 14 years ago! I always try to have a little "Thank You" opportunity for those of you who have joined me on this journey. This is a very similar bundle to the gifts I took to Australia and New Zealand when I met up with bloggers there. That was so amazing to meet up with all those gals, and it never would have happened without blogging!

We have a Utah Truffles Raspberry Milk Chocolate bar, a Riley Blake charm pack, a pineapple block mug rug, and a few bars of my handcrafted herbal soap. Mention in a comment if you'd like to be included--and if you are a no-reply blogger, please leave your email in your comment. And if you aren't sure if you are a "no-reply" blogger, just leave your email in your comment. If your name is drawn and I don't have a way to contact you, I will draw another name.

ETA: Drawing Now Closed

Also, in the spirit of giving, I was cleaning out some fabric tubs, and ended up with a pile of Thimbleberries FQs, and some Thimbleberries-ish fabrics. I've just tied them together for the photo, but may untie them to package and send. If you are interested in this bundle, say so in your comment. 

Same advice about including your email applies here.

Thanks for visiting my little corner of blogland! Until next time, be creative, and be kind--and if you can only choose one of those to be--choose kindness!

Janet O.

P.S. I did finally notify the winner of the "General's Wives" pattern from my last post. Two of you who were interested were not linked to an email address, and had not included it in your comment. If you are really interested in either of the options above, and you have never had email communication with me before, please just include your email.

Monthly Mini--and what was I thinking?

It's that time again. I really intended to post more than once this month. I even had something to share, but I never seemed to have time to post, so you get the whole month's boatload in one post! Sorry. This month's mini is in homage to Wendy's August mini last year, which you can see here. 

 

I was so taken with her little quilt and finally had a chance to make a "tribute quilt" inspired by her creation! The 4-patches in this little thing are 1" square, and the quilt finishes at about 15"x17". 

 

I quilted the center section by machine, but just HAD to honor the beautiful border fabric with hand quilting along the curves. This was such a busy week and I didn't start this quilt until Tuesday. I don't know why I thought I had time to do any hand quilting, but sometimes it is just a requirement!   The photo below almost gives you a good view of the quilting--almost.

Linked to Wendy (The Constant Quilter blog) for the monthly mini links. Many fun and creative minis to check out in that post.

My Winter Retreat project from January 2014 is finally a flimsy! This is Pam Buda's Settler's Puzzle. As I said in a previous post, this is designed as a 2-color quilt. Though they look so beautiful, I get pretty on edge working with only two colors for very long. Hence my 4-color version. It will also be bound in green, if it ever gets quilted.

Hopefully it won't be another 7 years before this is quilted and bound--but you never know around here. I am thinking that when it does get quilted, feathers will definitely be involved.

I thought I was being so brave to sign up for Barbara Brackman's "Hands All Around" Alcott family themed BOM. (One block a month--not too late to join!) I have attempted to join her SALs in years past, but when I fall behind I tend to drop out--and that is what has always happened. I am determined to keep up this year. It is only one star block a month--how hard can that be? And you have a choice of 8", 12" or 16" blocks. Of course, I am making two blocks each month, and I am making the 8". Some people are doing one of each size. Mine will be in Civil War pinks and browns (obviously), and these are for the first two months. This is as far as I ever get before life gets in the way, so I am hoping to actually get month three made in March.

 

And then there is that other Pam Buda project on my design wall--Every Little Bit, from the June 2015 Issue of American Patchwork and Quilting.

I am on track to have all of the blocks made by the end of the year. That is my "goal", but it is a loose one. Originally I thought I would be glad to get the blocks made within 2 years, but the blocks make up more quickly than I expected, so it may turn out to be a one year project. On the other hand, who knows what curves life may throw as the year progresses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

And speaking of curves--my quilt for Cecile's QAL is all sewn together. I am toying with different Ideas for the quilting. I have a couple of months (I think) to get it quilted and bound, but I can't keep putting it off, or it won't happen. This is much more modern than my normal work, and the quilting style should reflect that. No feathers here!

 

 

 

Another project I had planned to do this year came from the October 2020 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting. I have wanted to make a bed size house quilt for years, and had saved a couple of possible patterns. But when I saw the one in this issue, I knew this was the winner.                                                                                   

I am doing my houses in a variety of Civil War blues, but the star cornerstones will still be red. I am also adding another row of houses.

I made my first block last month, but when I went to trim it up, I accidentally cut it too small. This will now have to be an orphan block and I will need to start again. Sharon at Grass Roots Quilting blog is making this quilt, and her top is finished. Click the link on her name to see it.

As if this all isn't enough "works in progress", I had ANOTHER weak moment (so many already this year) while reading Kyle's blog recently, and I am now signed up for Gay Bomer's BOW, Heartfelt--and it is another 2 color quilt. I have toyed with the idea of doing it in purple and cream--or possibly throwing in some cheddar, and maybe a pop of black. Strange color scheme, you think? I made a mini in this combination years ago, and I still love the effect. We'll see. But I am already behind a couple of weeks, so I hope I don't get discouraged. I know so many of you do so much more than this at a time. But I know my limits, and this exceeds them--so what was I thinking?!?

Like I said in the beginning, you got the whole boatload! Now take a few deep breaths as you look at this and see if you feel better. This photo was taken on my drive home from my oldest grandson's orchestra concert last Thursday--yes, I pulled over to take the picture. I think I pulled over about 4 different times to capture the changing colors, but this was my favorite.

 Until next time,                                                                                                               

Janet O.