Welcome to this week’s update of all things quilty that I have worked on for the past seven days. I have slowly readjusted to being home. Still feeling a little scattered but working in my sewing room for a few days has gone a long way to settling me down.
The biggest relief is the heat. We finally came out of the heatwave over the weekend and it has been a pleasant 75-80F each day. I don’t have to wait until almost midnight to take my 30 minute walk now. Although, I do find it refreshing to walk before I go to bed and get the blood moving.
I will be linking up with Carol @ Quilt Schmilt for To Do Tuesday. Please check out her blog.
Well let’s get to it.
Under the Needle This Last Week
Friday I found myself in the sewing room tinkering around and figuring out where I left off. I mostly worked on organizing my space but found myself
- finishing the June Cottage (above).
Saturday I jumped back into my studio to
- assemble row 2 of my 2024 SJ Temperature Quilt and then
- attach it to Row 1. It felt good.
- So I started on my July Cottage.
I quickly realized that when I made the roof that I was using, I did not sew right and spent quite a bit of time messing around with the roof so that it was as least as wide as my tiles for the cottage. It looks hinky but I am not changing it.
Sunday I spent most of my time cutting blocks to sew on Monday for my Quilt Zoom day with my quilty friends.
- Cut blocks 93-100 for #100days100blocks2023
- Cut July Monthly Color Challenge blocks
- Finished cutting Scrappiness is Happiness block “Sixty-four”
- Finished sewing #100days100blocks2023 93-100
- Sewed July Monthly Color Challenge block
- Sewed Scrappiness is Happiness block “Sixty-four”
- Finished sewing a set of 4 Daydreamer blocks(see below)
- Started the next set of 4 Daydreamer blocks (leaders & enders project)
- Sew one Churn Dash block
- Started Ruby’s Garden EPP block 24
- Assembled Row 3 of #100days100blocks2023
- Assembled Rows 1 – 3 of #100days100blocks2023
While assembling the rows of 100 days 100 blocks 2023, I realized that I had momentary lapses and ended up with fabric next to each other that I did not intend. It still has that rainbow colorwash look that I love.
Overall a pretty productive week after being gone for so long. I feel more at peace now.
July’s Goal List: *Week of July 16th
I realized that I am almost done with my leaders and enders blocks: Daydreamer 4 patch. So I played around with possible arrangements with the four blocks that I finished this week. This could be a fun project to put in EQ8 to play with color placement. I don’t really have a design wall big enough to accomodate all the blocks. I am currently thinking an X – O layout could be fun!
Here is my updated July Goal list for this week with this week’s *priorities:
- *Wind 12 gold bobbins for long arm
- Cut batting for Sunshine quilt
- Quilt Sunshine quilt
- *July 13th-18th Cottage for 2024 Temperature Quilt
- 2018 365 block challenge – Cut Sep 1 & 2 blocks
- *2022 Scrappiness is Happiness – assemble Section 4
- Sweet Childhood Memories – Assemble one side border
- Continue working on Leaders & Enders project: Daydreamer
- Tula Pink Butterfly quilt – make HST for section 1
- *Finish cutting blocks for 2024 Venti AG Sunprint FPP quilt
- *Cut block 1 for 2024 AG Stamp quilt
- Pull fabrics for Queen of Diamonds EPP block 3-1
- Ruby’s Garden EPP – finish block 24
- *1920 Farmers Wife EPP – start block 47
- Sash one block of Lost & Found EPP quilt
- 2019 100 days 100 quilts (FEB UFO) – assemble backing
- 2019 Zuma quilt (MAR UFO) – Make one side pieced border
- 2017 Halifax Temp Quilt (APR UFO) – Finish Sep 2018
- 2022 Bring Home the Tree (JUN UFO) – Pull fabric for one car block
- *Find 2018 100 days 100 blocks (JUL UFO) & determine layout
- *2018 100 days 100 blocks (JUL UFO) – Assemble Row 1
- 2023 Gnome is where the Heart Is – Start January
- *Finish Blooming Pointsettas
- Finish appliquing A Year in Words Christmas
- Start Sep Backdoor Banner
- Start appliquing On Wander Lane Bunny Knoll
- 2024 Reno Teeny Tiny Elephant Collage – finalize elephant
- Finish Rainbow placemats
- *Assembled all the items needed to finish Patriotic Project Bag
- *Finish Patriotic Table Runner
- Patriotic Napkins – pull fabrics
- Patriotic Placemats – pull fabrics & pattern
Afterthoughts
When selecting the fabrics for this month’s July Monthly Color Challenge block, I decided to go through my stack of 2023 Alison Glass Sunprints that I am using for the 100days100blocks 2023 SAL. I found I had about 4 gray/silver prints and landed on these two. I was actually excited about using this block to show off the little rainbow 🌈 down the back of the scarbs. I love how this block turned out. Because of the awkwardness of making this block, it did have a lot of waste.
I have a container of monthly blocks from the monthly color challenge dating back to my first time in 2020. At some point these blocks need to be assembled. The good news is that I have made all five years with Alison Glass fabric. I received an email from Jen Schaffer from Patterns by Jen with the 2024 layout which is cute, but once again this could be a good project for EQ8.
Now that I am done with all immediate needs, it is time to actually get ready for the Quilt Retreat. It is my first one and I am excited.
I am not sure if I will be doing a blog before I leave or not. Depends on my time. I could possibly blog from the quilt retreat as well. We shall see. We leave on Monday for Zepher Cove in Lake Tahoe. I am very excited.
I have been keeping a mental list of things to do, but I think it is time to actually put pen to paper and make my lists: (1) before I leave, (2) prep for the retreat, and (3) packing list. I still have to figure out how I am going to fit 3 quilters and all their gear into my truck. People seem to think a truck has oodles of space. Honestly, I use to be able to fit twice as much stuff in my minivan when I had it. It actually held more stuff because I had the whole length of the van and the height. If a minivan was a 4 wheel drive, I would get one again. Hmmm.
I wanted to end this week’s blog with some kitty photos. Nala is our special guest this week:
Nala has been my constant companion since I got home. In some of the sewing machine shots, you can see Nala napping on her wool mat in the background. Those are the peaceful moments after she spends time stealing spools of thread, digging to get under the rows I am sewing, jumping up onto the ironing station, sitting in front of the zoom camera, or just sitting on my lap. The above photos are shots of her in other places beside the sewing room. Enjoy her spunk. She is a joy.
Have a great week and I will check in with you on Friday with my cross stitch projects.
Peggy Stockwell in San Jose, California
Your temperature quilt is so cute. I forgot, is that a pattern from Fat Quarter Shop? Your Daydreamer blocks are really pretty, looking forward to seeing your layout. Love the photo of Simba modeling and Nala photo-bombing other shots. She is a rare ginger female and so pretty – all your kitties are adorable. Glad you’ve had a break in the weather, we are due a break starting later today, and I cannot wait. I get what you mean about a truck. We have a mid-size truck, and while it is good for bringing home lumber and such that can hang out the back, there are many things that simply don’t fit. A retreat in a cove in Lake Tahoe sounds wonderful, hope you have a great time.
Yes Linda the Temperature Cottage quilt is a free pattern from Fat Quarter Shop. I am excited about my first quilt retreat especially in such a beautiful place.
I love your temperature quilt, fun little houses and trees! All your blocks are pretty, and I wish you good luck with the 32 items list ;)) Have fun and enjoy your first retreat!
Thanks Frederique. The list works for me but not everyone.