Finishing the month

   The calendar says another month is gone .  I am not exactly sure where it went.  I have been plugging away on the boxed squares, and piecing backs for quilt tops to get quilted.

 I missed quilt-cam with Bonnie Hunter last night, so I played it this morning and I began on sewing the rows together.

  I have the additional blocks pinned to the design wall, as I could not reach any higher across the top.  So it seemed like time to begin getting the rows together.  Large sections are harder  for me  to handle, so this will get put together in sections.

   I also worked on the ongoing forever leader/ender 4 patch units.   I used these  to piece as L/E for the Boxed Squares as I created the rows.    I just keep a deli tray as the landing spot  on the cutting table for 2 1/2'' squares as I cut or clean up scraps.    I have used these as borders, parts for 16 patch blocks, and etc.  Some are done with neutrals and dark prints, and other mixed up everything goes.  I can always turn them into mug rugs if needed or such.    

   I have several tops on hangers that really need to get quilted.......thus I am piecing fabrics for backings.  I absolutely hate figuring out the pieces to fit together.  I do resolve to just buy wide backings from now on and forget trying to merge fabrics to create a back.  

Next month:

•   Quilt at least one top that has been hanging around.
•   Continue joining the Boxed Squares.  
• Garlic Knots.....just keep cutting and stitching.  Someday I will get enough made:)
•   Begin cutting for a new floral fabric feature.......this has been on my idea list for a long time.  More on it next month.

  The weather has greatly improved....mostly.    We have had a lot of rainy days, not complaining about that.  But it plays havoc with the joints and fingers, so I have not gotten too far along.  I feel Spring is about to arrive, maybe just one more cold spell and things will improve a lot for me.  

I am trying to post this from the new laptop.....I love the light weight, but it does strange jumps and hops on me.  I am a plugger....I will figure it out eventually.  

Happy stitching.  

  

Hearts!

  Nothing says Valentine's Day like hearts......my Valentine wall hanging is called Red Hots.  It is from 2013 but gets pulled out every year to enjoy.  My original post is here.   Here is the new link to the pattern layout.   (Note:  The time to download and save a pattern is when you see if.  Later it may be gone)  There is a scaled down version now for a pillow too.  Design is by Jane Spolar.    I simplified the design for mine. 
    So red hot, heart felt wishes for a great Valentine's Day.  Or maybe some sunshine, chocolate and hot coffee.  Either way, enjoy your day.
Happy stitching.

More box blocks and lamp base

  I use several swing arm lamps for extra lighting when sewing and also quilting on the Tiara---aka Hot Legs.  A week or so ago, the one over my machine would not stand up and kept falling over.  I thought the spring has sprung...lol.  But no, the base support was cracked and could not hold the lamp upright.  Sir Old Man to the rescue---once again.    Scrap wood, glue, drill, sand....etc, and I had a new strong base support for the lamp by the sewing machine.   







 Since he had it figured out now, it was easy to make a couple more bases for the swing arm lamps over the Tiara.    These are the type that are screwed to the edge of the table and the base drops into the support. 
   No more sewing and stitching in shadow land!  And the wood is so much prettier than black plastic! 









   I haven't done a lot of sewing this week......mainly just more of the same.  By that I mean more Boxed Square blocks.    I have cut thru my boxes of cut strips for these 90 floral blocks.    Gulp!  I think I noticed one duplicate floral fabric.
  Anyway, these blocks will be 4 1/2'' finished.....so this would be 40'' by 45'' if sewn now.    So I need to decide if I want to duplicate fabric and go larger,  or hunt in the closet for more uncut fabrics,  or stay smaller in size and add borders.  We won't include the option of stash enhancement/shopping trip.  Not for floral fabrics...lol. 

   Seeing the photo.....I am leaning towards larger.....I really like this floral mix a lot.  I will ponder this question as I assemble some Crossroads blocks I had forgotten as well as stitch a few garlic knot blocks too.  Heavy rain predicted for the weekend, so it will be a good one for stitching.  Happy stitching.

Florals and scraps

  I started making Boxed Squares  from Mary Quilts last month....got side-tracked to finish up the bed runners, and finally got back to them.  Now they are filling up the design wall.    I haven't decided how big I want to go. 

  The blocks I am making are small...5'' unfinshed.  My strips are 2'' rather than 2 1/2''---because that is what I have a lot of!   So right now this would sew up to about 31'' by 36''. 
  Yes, more, I need to cut more parts.    I am using floral strips for this one, and just playing light again dark, usually.  There are a few thrown in that can go either way.  Be warned....making these are fun and addictive.  Like  potato chips....just one more!







So since I was cutting for the Boxed Squares, I looked at my "intend to make list".   I had pulled out a page from an old Quiltmaker magazine.  One of Bonnie Hunter's Scrap columns.....Garlic Knots.    The block is also known as Arrowhead.

  I am cutting scraps as I go and stacking them on a deli tray for sorting/pairing.  I put together 2  blocks for samples to make sure I was  cutting enough pieces.    The  neutral backgrounds are going to be mixed probably in the blocks and that is fine with me. 
  I am changing up my piecing a bit from Bonnie.  I am assembling the block as 4 patch units.  It works better for me for some reason. 
Keep stitching:)