Hi Everyone! Today is the first day of October. It is hard to believe we are in the last quarter of 2024. It just seems like yesterday I was thinking about all the things I wanted to do this year. LOL! I may have not done everything, but I have been busy.
As usual, I will be linking up this blog with Carol over at Quilt Schmilt for To Do Tuesday link up. Come take a look.
Under the Needle Last Week 🪡🧵
I really didn’t sew much last week as I spent most of my time doing all those mundane things we have to do to live 😝. So, I decided to have another Monday Quilt Day. At least then I would have something to write about. Literally that is why I had a quilt day. 😂. See how you inspire me to get off my butt…
- I had hoped to work on finishing my Bunny Knoll wall quilt, but only finished quilting as well as cutting & sewing the binding. I didn’t even iron the binding yet.
- Since I did the Bunny Knoll binding, I figured I should sew together the Patriotic Tablerunner binding as well even though I still need to quilt it.
- I used the last four blocks of Daydreamer as leaders and enders why I worked yesterday and was very pleased to have finished all the four patches and am ready to assemble the final four blocks.
- I couldn’t resist working on my September cottage so I added the September 19th – 24th row and ended up needing to –
- Make more half square triangles for three different temperatures. It was a good thing I made those bright pink. Those are my over 92F blocks. September has a few but this first week of October is predicting 4 days over 92F of which 2 will be over 100F. I was surprised I needed the cooler blue blocks. I don’t know why as this is typical Fall weather here in California. 100F one day 66F another.
- My main objective yesterday was to finish my 2023 100 days 100 blocks quilt top. Success!!! This pattern had no border and I plan on leaving it tht way. If I change my mind before I quilt it, it would be a black border. I just love the rainbow colorwash effect.
Looking Back to September Goals Completed
Nala was a big help this week. She was taking her job as quilt inspector quite seriously. Meanwhile, Simba was curating fabric pulls for future quilts when he wasn’t hanging out with Shaun (my grandson) or terrorizing Cali & Nala.
- *Finished August Cottage and combined with July for my 2024 SJ Temperature quilt
- Started September Cottage for my 2024 SJ Temperature quilt
- *Finished my September 2024 Monthly Color Challenge block
- Finished 1 churn dash block
- *Finished 12 log cabin and 1 economy center blocks for my 2024 Venti AG Sunprint FPP quilt
- *Finished my 2022 Tula Pink Tiny Beast Jelly Basket quilt top
- *Finished my 2023 100 days 100 blocks quilt top using Alison Glass 2023 Sunprints
- Finished 8 of 12 Daydreamer blocks with the last four units all done
- Finished on Alison Glass stamp block
- Made all of the units for the English Paper Piecing project – Queen of Diamonds – Block 3-1
- Finished assembling and quilting On Wander Lane – Bunny Knoll. Only have to bind and do the hand embroidery and embellisments for a finish. 🤞
I originally had 15 goals for the month. I completed 4 of my top 15 and worked on a number of other goals. Looking back, yes I wish I did more, but I am super happy with what was done! Good and productive month.
Looking Forward to Top October Goals
I haven’t put much thought into all my goals for October yet. I have it on my list to spend some time working on that today. I was thinking the following goals though:
- SAL: 2024 SJ Temperature Cottage Quilt: Finish September Cottage and assemble the July – September row and add to January – June. Then I will start the October Cottage.
- SAL: 2024 October Monthly Color Challenge Block
- SAL: 2024 Venti AG Sunprint FPP quilt – Make 4 Courthouse blocks and 4 Economy blocks so I can assemble Rows 1, 2, 6, & 7
- EPP: Finish Queen of Diamond Block 3-1
- EPP: Pull out Lost & Found. Figure out layout of the 24 blocks and begin sashing the first row of blocks.
- EPP: Farmers Wife 1920: Start Block 48
- Applique: Finish Bunny Knoll on Wander Lane
- Applique: January Gnome is Where the Heart is start & hopefully finish
- Applique: Start September Backdoor Banners
- Small Project: Finish Patriotic tablerunner
- UFO: Pull out 2020 Meadowland blocks and figure out a layout, then start assembling.
- UFO: 2019 Tula Pink Zuma Charm Quilt finish – just need to assemble the pieced border and attach
- UFO: 2017 Rainbow Log Cabin – Decide whether I am really going to add top and bottom borders or follow the pattern and have no borders. Make the final decision and then move the quilt to be Quilted pile.
- Long Arm: 2021 Sunshine Quilt – quilt it
- Long Arm: Halloween Quilt – quilt it
- Long Arm: 2013 Fall quilt – load it
- Cross Stitch FFO: Finish Let’s Talk Autumn Pillow
- Cross Stitch FFO: Start Autumn Basket pillows x 3
Whew! That was off the top of my head. I will definitely have to refine this next week when I have more time to look at everything. Maybe the top goals should not be the top 3 of each category, just the top 🔝 1. This is looking just as long as my normal list. Hmmm. Something to think about. While I am getting alot done, it just seems like a lot to do especially since I don’t sew every day. I will get back to you!
It’s hard. I KNOW I will do the first four things for sure, but some of the other categories (especially the EPP) doesn’t seem as likely to happen. Food for thought.
Afterthoughts
After all that, what kind of afterthoughts could I possibly have. LOL!
I finished making my 2024 Quilt WIP list that I started a few weeks ago this week and actually wrote all of them down. I had quit faithfully tracking everything and was under the impression that I didn’t start very many quilts in the last few years. LOL! Well that myth was busted.
While working on this list, I have been adding to my Finish Gallery as I went back on my blog to the beginning in 2016 to take a look. As you can imagine, this has been a slow but joyful process. I always knew, I was using the blog as a way to practice my writing as well as document my quilting journey.
There are days I think I don’t get anything done. Part of that feeling is because I only keep about 20% of what I make. Everything else is gifted to others (or requested by others). When you look around your home, you wonder why you never finish anything.
I have only made it partially through 2019 so far.
I don’t expect to see alot of finishes in 2019 as I was working 70 hour per week as I gathered and prepped all the data to sell our multi-million dollar company. While I didn’t have a lot of spare time, quilting was my anchor and sanity savior during that time. I was under a great deal of stress and unable to share with anyone except for a few people. When you are selling a company, you have to keep it a big secret. 18 months of keeping a secret takes a toll. When I am looking at the projects I was working on in 2019, it brings back those memories and what a blessing quilting was. I can’t regret that stress and intensity because I was able to retire in 2020. I just wasn’t expecting COVID to happen which made the change over of management beyond difficult and dragged out my responsiblities.
It sure is cool seeing my life through my quilts and now cross stitch. Each piece is a memory from my life. They evoke a story in my heart. Thanks for sharing in my journey.
Okay that’s enough of the serious stuff. Enjoy your week and have fun!
Peggy Stockwell in San Jose, California
Peggy you have astounded me with all of the many projects you are working on and the progress you make each week. Isn’t it true that in times of stress our quilting or stitching can be our sanity saver. I discovered it last year when I was working 10-18 hours a day, seven days a week managing the clubhouse. Now that I am once again happily retired my quilting still is my calming influence. I’d like to follow your example and get my finished projects catalogued and carptch up on my WIP and UFO Lusts. It’s going to have to wait until I get my eye surgery and can see and read better! Hope you’ve had a fantastic week. Thank you for linking with To Do Tuesday and sharing the link. Carol
Hi Carol. Quilting is my therapy (for real). It doesn’t judge me and is always there for me. I remember working all those long hours when I was the CFO of a large company. Thank goodness for quilting!
I wish you the best of luck for the eye surgery. From what I hear, it takes some time to recover. Thank you for hosting the To Do Tuesday linkup. It is much appreciated.
So many pretty projects! I made a quilt with that bunny knoll fabric line. I’m always more into fall colors but those were like a perfect springy mix for me.
I really enjoy Nancy Halvorsen fabrics. She is one of a few designers who are not all bright colors (as that is what I love) who I usually enjoy her fabrics. They are typically perfect for applique projects. I believe she released a second colorway with more fall & winter colors as well.
Enjoyed the little peek at Nala, and that bunny quilt is adorable. I like what you wrote – each piece is a memory from my life. That is a good reason to make things! All beautiful projects Peggy!
Thank you Linda!!!!