17 in 2017 for August....

 I have not posted my 17 in 2017 for a couple of months. I finally made some progress on one of my projects so I can post!
Yesterday I finished the hand appliqué on the last border block for the 1857 album quilt. I started this journey in January 2016 as a quilt along with Gay Bomers over at sentimentalstitches.com. She would provide 3-4 blocks for free each month and you just had to copy them off before she released the next set. They are available for purchase now in her store. I kept up until last September.... when life got in the way... and maybe I was a little tired of all the appliqué! I decided to do a 6x6 layout of my 10 inch blocks and picked the last 8 that I needed to get my 36 blocks of the 68 released. I had already started making the border fleur de lis, so continued on with those. Boy, did they take forever at the end! So far - these blocks are all done (oh shoot - one block still needs it's corner peels!) and just need to get sewn into a top - hopefully over this holiday weekend. One of my helpers plunked herself down when I started laying out the top border blocks to supervise the progress. I guess I did ok, since she has not rearranged them on me!

1857 Album Quilt by VTQuilter 2016/2017. Hand appliqué.

And one photo standing on the couch for a better view.

Linking up with Meredithe at Pomegraniteandchintz. Head on over and see how others are faring this year.

A finish!

I finally got the last of the binding sewn down last night on this green and brown bricks and stepping stones quilt. Just in the nick of time to get a finish for the month of August!

Pattern from Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville under the free patterns. Made from my stash. I used up some homespun tan on the back along with another neutral to fit in with my RSC Challenge month of neutrals.

Weekend.....

I finally got a little sewing machine time this afternoon. I was able to finish the 6 unstructured, scrappy log cabin blocks and added 2 more for an even 12 blocks. This is how they turned out - unfinished 12.5 inch blocks. I might make 4 more blocks.... we'll see. I have plenty of scraps......

This morning was carting the kids to Grandma's in Inverness - 40 minutes away. A little visit and then the trip home. Hubby was ready to hit Lowes, so after I threw the towels into the washer we headed out to check out ranges. Our oven decided to take a permanent vacation on Wednesday. The stovetop is still working and I found a way to make cornbread in the crock pot (2 boxes of Jiffy corn muffin mix  takes one hour and 45 minutes on high!) and Aidan finished his brownie making in the microwave - 7-8 minutes in an 8 inch glass pan instead of his 9x13 pan. I really missed my double oven I had in Vermont so.... we are getting one again! Unfortunately they have to order from the manufacturer  so it won't be in until mid September, but I am getting a convection double oven with an electric flat top with 5 burners! We got it on sale, used the 6 month no interest credit card from them and got an extra 10% military discount! Did you know if you show a military discharge or current form you can get a 10 % discount on everything with your My Lowes card? We didn't! Nice benefit from hubby serving in the military right after high school.

Grandma should be returning the kids within the hour so I'll relax for a bit with some slow stitching. 6 of these border blocks left for the 1857 quilt and then I can put it together. Just need to trim from the back basting and needle turn them under.

Linking up with the rainbow scrap challenge, Oh Scrap and slow stitching Sunday. Head on over and take a look.

Solar Eclipse....

We got a 85% eclipse where we live yesterday. The kids got out of school and home before the 'main event'.

We were able to try a few things to see the eclipse without the glasses.

Boxes to see the reflection. I know the boy is standing the wrong way but he did make it work.

Through crossed hands with space left for the sun to shine through. - little half moons there.

Through leaves of a tree.

Through a colander. I thought this one was the best personally, little half moons!

It got slightly darker here like when a storm would be rolling in but was still very light at the peak time of the eclipse. Such a neat experience and I'm so glad I got to share it with my kids. We had scouts last night.... unfortunately a lot of the girls were unable to witness it or view it. I know mine got to see it happen on tv out in Oregon in their classrooms at school and we did watch a bit on tv yesterday while it was going on. A few of my girl scouts did not see anything about it yesterday and did not get to experience it. Such a shame. It was a perfect opportunity to teach about science and get the kids excited about our world around us.

Slow Sunday.....

I got a little machine sewing time in this morning to finish off my 4 unstructured log cabin blocks. I just pull from the pile of scraps on the floor and sew them in rounds until they are a little bigger than 12.5 inches and trim them down. These are four finished ones.... and another 6 got started until the bobbin ran out. I took that as a cue to take a break.

Lunch is done. I helped Emily make a 'Grammy' salad. Growing up Mom made salads with iceberg lettuce, cucumber, tomato, onion, celery if we had it and carrots if we had it. Then used the glass dressing shaker to make the italian seasoning packet of salad dressing up. It is still my favorite dressing - although I just make my own and omit the sugar from a recipe here. In my house.... no one would eat it so I decided to just prep lettuce and they all (hubby and kids) would eat that as salad with a dressing of choice - usually ranch. Me... I would cut other things up and toss it on my individual salad. While up in Vermont this summer, Grammy made salad. Both kids ate it - although I think Aidan just pushed a few things off to the side or didn't get them on his plate like tomato's (I know, I really am not sure he is my child not liking tomatoes!). Turns out... Emily now likes all these things on her salad! We have a bowl full made up and it will hang out in the fridge and be nice easy lunches for me for a couple of days. We were out of the seasonings so Emily got to help measure everything out and then made a batch of salad dressing to put in the fridge. The herbs are in a prep bowl tucked away in the cabinet for the next 2 bottles of dressing.

Then we made a eclipse viewer with a cereal box. I just did a google search and found a video on how to do it. We tested it out and found the white dot so it is working.

Now I think it is time for my foot stretches and then some pool time. At some point I will enjoy hand stitching some more of the 1857 border blocks. I have 6 that still need back basting and 2 are back basted and need trimming for needle turn appliqué. I think those 2 might get done at some point today after I finish the inch or so needed on the top one below. 

Linking up with Kathy for the Slow Sunday Stitching.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge.....

Since I missed out on most of the blue month... and those scraps were still hanging out I decided to sew them with the neutral scraps into a freestyle log cabin block. These are not measured and are just sewn together in rounds to make the block whatever size it decides to be. I am thinking maybe 12 inches finished should work.... and who knows, it may end up replacing this one that I sold last year! We will see how the scraps do with it.

I needed a little sewing time today after a busy morning. The kids decided to make breakfast - home made cinnamon rolls which turned out pretty good. Then someone is all worried about his 4th grade science project due in November and got a little lippy with me... so he stayed home while Emily and I went to the Kid Fest at the bowling alley this morning. Oh My Goodness! The place was packed and we got on a waiting list for a lane. To kill time, we headed outside to see the fire truck and police car. When we came in I saw some friends sitting at a table waiting! So nice to see them and we put our names together on the list and shared a lane to bowl! So nice to chat with another adult and the kids had fun. Then it was a trip to Sam's Club to fill up the empty car with gas and pick up a few things. That place was packed too on a Saturday. We did see this guy enjoying a pizza as we left!

We got home to visit a bit with Grandpa and then the thunderstorms hit. I needed some 'me' time so headed into the sewing room.

Sigh... the kids kept coming in so I stopped here and will head into the pool with Emily while Greg is making dinner. Baked potato is in the oven and the grill got fired up for the steaks. I'll go swim a few laps while that is coming together.

Linking up with Angela and the other RSC Challenge participants.

Slow Sunday Stitching....

I hope to be getting a few stitches in here and there today. The house is mostly cleaned (ok, the dusting didn't happen but sweeping, mopping and vacuuming with a few loads of laundry has happened). I should... make up a few hours at work since I only got in about 12 out of 20 last week with no internet Monday and Wednesday was meet the teacher and get supplies and hair cuts...then one hour of working in the afternoon while very excited kids were too loud,  I called it a day. Sigh. Should get back to 'normal' this week.. but that means busy in the evenings.

We are dog sitting for my MIL - she will bring Buddy the horse... I mean dog with her when she returns the kids this afternoon. At least with Buddy the Boxer here tonight - Maxie cat won't come out to the living room so I should be able to work on the binding on the bricks and steppingstones quilt in green and browns. I got it pinned and machine quilted last Sunday but Maxie has been demanding to be on my lap and is too darn cute to move once I get a section done. See what I mean?

Head on over to Kathy's Quilts and see what the other slow stitchers are working on this week.

RSC in neutrals....

I was hoping to have a finish to show ... but since I have not finished the binding on the bricks and steppingstones that will have to wait. I am showing the back since it is made up of all neutrals. This was my Sunday sewing to get the backing made and then pinned and quilted.  I just have had a cat not allowing me to get the hand stitching done at night .... as you can see here. If there is a quilt near me... Maxie cat will be on it. Silly girl.

I made a couple of neutral 16 patch blocks to add to the collection. I had found some black and tan squares leftover from my maple leaf quilt a few months ago so sewed them up back then.

Then I laid out the bow tie blocks. Oops - miscounted on the blue so I have cut 3 more and one more yellow to make my 12 bow ties. I need to make some red and green so those will hopefully get done this month as a catch up.

Head on over to see what other things are popping up in the RSC Link Up.

First day of school!

The first day of school has arrived! Aidan is in 4th grade (age 9) and got the teacher he was hoping for. Emily is in 3rd grade (age 8) and got the teacher we requested for her. Both were so excited to start school and get back to seeing their friends and the routine. New this year - no homework for the elementary grades! They are also adding a 20 minute recess back to their day along with their 30 minutes of PE.  Looking forward to a great school year.

I guess they grew.... here is last years picture!

I'm enjoying the day - got a little sewing in (neutrals for RSC) , relaxing in my chair,  PT session for my foot and a trip to Aldi for veggies. Time for lunch and then a little more sewing before I head over (with handwork) to wait in the car line for the kids at school. Planning a new to us meal tonight - salisbury steak meatballs in a gravy with mashed potato, a cucumber salad and zucchini. Always fun to try something new while working through the freezer and pantry.

Slow Stitching Sunday....

After doing some yard work yesterday morning I was completely wiped out for the rest of the day. It also probably was not the best thing to do with a sore foot since my PT on Thursday.... but... the flower beds are weeded out front and some of the bushes were wacked... I mean trimmed.

That led me to the recliner and some slow stitching in the afternoon.  I got all my prepped baskets completed....

and need to prep 2 more to make 8 for a small wall hanging while the 25 others will become another little quilt to be hand quilted. I plan to exercise the machine today while the kids are gone and get those rows sewn together into a top for the 25 baskets. Not a great photo but I think this is the layout I am going with.

I was able to get this to a top stage today. Looks a little washed out in the photo but it is a 32x32 top now. 

Since I was so tired yesterday and went to bed really early.... I was up at 6:30 and had peace and quiet while the rest were sleeping. I was able to finish off the last basket and finish one of the corner borders for the 1857 quilt. I will needle turn the last corner border sometime today while resting my foot.

Head on over and see what others are slow stitching today.

July blue baskets....

I seem to have miscalculated on how many baskets I needed. I was laying them out yesterday .... and it seems 25 is a good number to make a quilt. I have been swapping the blocks and adding the ones I made last night and removing them. I think I am happy with my layout  - which is different from this photo.

Hmmmmm. What to do with the remaining 6? I have a feeling they might turn into something else? Did I just add a new project.... Oops! I can see 8 baskets around a center open square.... maybe corner triangles to hand quilt in and then a nice blue binding for a small wall hanging?  Or a medallion quilt? We shall see....

Thunder storms have been rolling though this morning and I am wondering where the children and Grandma are.... they had a double kid sleepover last night after she took them to the skyline for the trampoline yesterday late morning. Someone turned their knee - I hear she is just fine though - Emily not Grandma!. They went to her house after instead of bowling and that led to the overnight offer so she could take them to the gulf and watch the sunset. Who am I to argue with a kid free night? Greg got home from work and mowed the lawn then we went out for dinner and had a nice evening without kids. Hopefully they get returned in the near future - Emily has gymnastics tonight and I have a meeting right after that..... I think I'll go sew these blue baskets together...that will pretty much guarantee she pulls into the driveway as soon as the machine gets turned on!

August 1....

Aidan's Beach Day Table Runner.

The boy was home with me yesterday while the girl was at Grandma's for a sleepover and shopping for school day. This is the one that is not good at entertaining himself...... he wanted to make a quilt. I said - draw the picture you want and write your steps. We needed a runner for the table and figured out the size (around 9x30) and discussed ideas for the runner. I said something summery - so he did a beach scene. He drew it and wrote his directions. I helped with some of it but he did all the sewing, quilting and some of the cutting with a rotary cutter. Yes - I got more grey hairs yesterday but he did ok. No cuts - which reminds me I must find the klutz glove for his next time of supervised cutting. He wanted an umbrella - and picked out the red stars fabric and the pole. I hand appliquéd them down. Then he wanted a round float - I was done with appliqué so we found some fusible to try. The purple blended with the 'water' so it went up on the beach. He decided he needed one in the water - so modified his drawing and made a lime green one. Then he wanted a rectangle float - that one is the white sparkle. It still needs a binding (I did trim it after this) but he has not decided on the fabric for that yet. I sure hope he makes a decision soon - I'd really like to put this to use on my dining room table.