March-ing Along

This year March came in like a lamb and is going out like a lion. As I sit here writing this there is thunder and lightning...and we still have snow in the yard! I don’t ever remember this happening before. Wowzers. I also think I shouldn’t be on my iPad then I remember oh yeah it’s got a battery. Here comes the rain...or is it hail? Oh oh...power bump...

It was so nice yesterday to gather with some of the ladies from the quilting guild. We met at the park keeping socially distanced and talking almost all at the same time. So much lost time to make up for. So many conversations. 😂 

I hemmed and hawed over getting a subscription to The Quilt Show. I came across a block of the month there that I absolutely fell in love with. I asked myself why would I want to do this? Where would I hang it? Then I thought why not? It won’t be finished until Christmas and by then I may come up with a plan. And besides there are new techniques to be learned. Click...I was in...

I downloaded the first 3 months and printed off templates and watched the videos on the techniques (ended up quite a few times) and of course I had to change things up some. Need to use freezer paper and print off on a printer. Only stuff I have is on a roll....so I pondered a bit and decided to use my Brother Scan and Cut. Cut the paper to fit my mat...loaded a felt tipped pen and scanned the pattern and drew out the lines. Voila! And then I couldn’t remember how to cut it out! Had me a good chuckle...so I just used scissors to cut around the outside which was simple enough. I am determined to use fabrics from my stash and any supplies needed I am going to improvise with what I have. This my personal challenge.

So I’m merrily sewing along and soon realized I don’t have enough of the blue background. Now remembering my personal challenge I decided to use another blue that I had. Worked out perfect.

This is my first Mariners Compass. I used ombré fabrics. Idea for colors came from the Color My World blog. Turned out awesome

I just love this

...and of course there were some panels embroidered for Joette to make more bags and wallets....we stitch a lot while video chatting so she gets to weigh in on color choices. Hard to tell from this pic but the cork is navy blue.

This one was a challenge...couldn’t find the right color combo. So this was our final decision.

...and I made another Gratitude wallet for someone special

Didn’t have enough cotton for the lining so used waterproof lining and it's even better!

These blocks are from Anita Goodesign and I did not need another wall hanging. So I turned them into a sewing machine cover. I am not very good at designing a pattern, but it turned out ok.

Thinking I will make another for my Scan and Cut...oh and then there’s the serger ....

Another February

Another February....another birthday...Happy Birthday Tony. I sure do miss you 🥰 42...yikes

Came across this pic of Will and Tony (cousins) back in the day...❤️

I finally finished this and it’s already on my bed. What an accomplishment...6 weeks start to finish. Worked on this everyday solid 4-6 hrs. 

Label I created for it

I sold this baby blanket that I quilted last year... so it needed a label too

Made a freestanding lace heart...closest thing I got to Valentines Day

I stitched up these outhouses and mounted them onto canvas frames. Because the canvas was not planned they didn’t quite fit so I painted the edgesof the canvas, mounted the design and then edged the sides with mod podge. Turned out pretty darn nice. I'm thinking I need to do more....

This one popped out of the embroidery frame and it's a bitch to get it lined back up perfectly...but you can’t really tell..shhh...

I have been putting this project off for a while now. It scared the heck out of me. Didn’t think I could do it plus I didn’t think my machine could handle the layers of fabric...so the embroidery design is so appropriate 

This is the lining...and everytime I unzip the side pocket I will get this reminder

What the heck?! What was I thinking? Not hard at all...but then there were these videos that I followed step by step...so grateful and my machine did amazing. Only broke one needle...🤪

When this zipper is opened up it can then be used as a backpack

It’s a New Year

So we see the start of 2021 begin as disturbing as we saw 2020 go out. When you read the news, every 6th article is about something non related to Covid or politics. I have stopped reading the news and only stream it every couple of days. Do need to keep current with the status of COVID-19 though and waiting to hear when it’s our turn for the vaccine. Wonder when we will see the end of the tunnel.

Am having to adjust my diet yet again and discovered some awesome new recipes. Learned how to make Irish Soda Bread, which surprisingly tastes really good! Who'd a thunk?! Lol...

I had to take McDreamy to get serviced and so I started a new project that has taken me all month and I’m still going strong. There are approximately 1200 teeny tiny square blocks (not counting the pieces cut to make up these blocks)! I keep shaking my head....why would you take perfectly awesome fabric and cut them into itty bitty pieces and then sew them back together 🤪 lol....this pattern is a mystery quilt and once a week a clue would get posted. I wasn’t interested until I saw one of the blocks on fb and thought...hmmm would love to learn how to make that. So it began. I didn’t want to make the entire quilt because you don’t know what it’s going to look like until the big reveal...well...I did half and I love it. So I decided to keep going. I had enough fabric, so why not? I don’t have a quilt for my bed and besides how many things can I truly make? 

So the pattern is called Grassy Creek, designed by Bonnie Hunter and depicts the fall colors from her hometown in Virginia.

...this is only half

These are for the final borders

I did manage to embroider another block for Joette

One more fabric basket...love making these.

Tried my hand at snow dyeing...so cool

Used soda ash as mordant

Soy milk as mordant...big difference in saturation!

Highlight of the month was Skyping with Dom...sigh...love this kid