Hand Pieced Quilt Along....

 I have joined in on two hand pieced quilt alongs that Patty Dudek and Kristin Esser have hosted in 2019 and 2020. As you can tell by all the hand piecing I have been doing lately (endless diamonds and flowering snowball blocks) they might have created a monster! There are tutorials and videos on their blogs on how to hand piece if you are interested in learning a new skill. I will warn you, it is very portable and a wee bit addicting. 

This is the first quilt along in 2019. I chose to make 2 of each block and used blue and white scraps. These are smaller blocks finishing at 6 inches. The quilt is 28.5x38.5 and is now pinned for hand quilting. I'll fold the excess and pin it to the front of the quilt edges so the cat's won't tear it up while I am working on it.... and should give me enough room to work the edges in the hoop. I try to think ahead occasionally!

This was the 2020 quilt along - Book Club - where we learned template making and curved piecing. That bottom block in the middle was called 'Emma' and is also known as the Flowering Snowball block. I got the die to cut that one (so easy and quick to make all those parts perfectly!). I am working on a blue and green little throw right now... and will plan to cut some parts each month in the RSC color way to build up a nice scrappy quilt project to be pieced at a later date.

They will be announcing the 3rd sew along Monday January 25th. I can't wait to see what we will be learning this time!

Last finish of 2020? Book Club is completed!

 

I finished the binding last night and just popped it up for a photo. This finishes at 35x35 and was a fun quilt to make. Now to put some holders up on the wall in my office so I can hang it up. This was my OMG for December and I'm happy to report I met my goal. Linking up with the OMG Challenge. Thanks to Patty for hosting the challenge and for doing the Book Club sew along with Kristin this year and the Hand Pieced Quilt Along last year. Maybe I need to get that one quilted next?

I'm off work today. I woke with a headache and around 8:30 mentioned to hubby I have been off all weekend (lots of stitching time in my recliner) and had a splitting headache this morning. He said to call off and go back to bed, so I did. I woke up at 11AM. Thinking probably dehydrated.... so will be trying to drink my water and just finished a Propel for the electrolytes. Not even hungry for the yummy soup I made yesterday but I'll warm some up in a bit anyway. It seems the cat has been meowing all morning and irritating Aidan since Peanut thinks I need to be working so he can nap in his bed on my desk. Silly cat.

Last Slow Sunday of 2020

 I spent yesterday relaxing in my recliner with some hand quilting. I'm happy to say all the hand quilting on Book Club is done! 

Now to trim it up and I'm waiting on my helper to press my binding in half - last time I went ahead and did it I got a 'talking to' so she has instructions to get it done this morning so I can attach it and work on the binding by hand today.  I always am surprised when I flip it over to see the back, that the stitches actually look pretty good! Of course, the cats had to inspect it this morning as I was snapping some photo's. Ollie (or Lee Lee as he is called) is on the quilt and Peanut is on the side. 

I did cut out one flowering snowball block with my Accuquilt Go cutter on Christmas day. Isn't it pretty? I remember how long it took me to cut out the one in book club and love how quick the cutter makes this with the curves. This one is bigger, and will make a 12 inch block. If the binding gets done, then this block will get hand stitched as well.

Linking up with Kathy and the other slow Sunday stitchers. Thank you all for all the encouragement over the years and all the beautiful inspiration every week.

The Sunday before Christmas.....

 I had in my head I would work on finishing up the kids crochet and knitting projects I started for them last year. Did you know, if you want to make progress on something you actually have to work on them? I seem to have forgotten that little part of it! Oh well..... they have waited this long.... what's a few more months?

Emily's is probably pretty close with her crochet afghan.

Aidan's knitted sheep pillow.... lets just say I am still not comfortable with the changing of yarn colors to make the sheep. I really just need to sit down and figure it out!

I have been concentrating on hand quilting book club - and just have all the sashing and cornerstones to finish off then add a binding. The 9 blocks are all quilted.

I watched 2 movies last night - you would think I would have been working on something... but no! I did not. I watched The Nutcracker and the Four Realms with Emily, then we made cookies. I put on Godmothered after that and was half watching it. I need to really watch it again as it was a pretty good movie! I hear it just was released this month and was able to watch it on Disney Plus or whatever their viewing option is bundled with Hulu. I plan to watch the original Parent Trap this week - love Hailey Mills movies =). 

I decided to start something new in December.... A puzzle! I got it out after Thanksgiving and started with a 500 piece one. I mostly was the one doing it. I kept the dining room table extension in and put it out on that.... plenty of room to still use the table to eat, and I could sit and add some pieces in here and there. I was missing one piece and had an extra.... won't mention how long I was looking to figure out where that red piece went before I realized it was an exact duplicate of one already in place! I have 2 1000 piece puzzles and asked Aidan which one to do next. A ocean scene with animals. Both kids have put in a few pieces but he has helped the most. I think our minds are similar with 'seeing' the pieces and where they fit. 

I still have one Endless Diamond block prepped - it is number 20! Hmmm. Maybe 5 more (25) for a 5x5 setting and 60x60 throw? We will see. I hope to start on that block while at horses with Emily on Tuesday. I opted out of riding for her on Saturday... she was not happy with me at all! We took her to the Dr. on Tuesday this week after a fever Sunday/Monday and that was day 3 of a sore neck. Infected lymph node and some good antibiotics later and she is better but I didn't want to push it with the neck and horses until the antibiotics are through this Tuesday.  She is much better though, now. On the plus side... the kids and Greg finally finished putting up the outside lights out front yesterday.

Linking up with Kathy and the other slow stitchers this week. We are off to Grandma's for her 'Christmas' at her house. This is 'her' favorite holiday so she goes all out! May you all have a safe and happy Christmas Week.

Book Club....

 A little over halfway through the month so I figured I'd give an update on my OMG. I have all 9 blocks hand quilted and have started quilting the sashing and cornerstone blocks. 24 sashings total - and I have continued on with the outline stitching like in the blocks so it should go pretty smoothly. I hope to be attaching the binding on the last week of the year. Fingers crossed this will be all finished by December 31.

Off to try homemade mac n cheese. I think Emily will be good with it (lactose issues) since it uses cheddar and her lactaid milk! It's what's for lunch today!

Crazy week so far...

 It is the last week of school for the kids in 2020...they start back up in January. Em was out the past 2 days and got to go see the doctor yesterday. The neck pain on day 3 was concerning so a check by the doctor and diagnosed with an infected lymph node below her ear going down the neck. She has had 2 doses of the antibiotic (pricy little bugger but a strong one) and hopefully that will do the trick. 

I really need to get off my phone at night playing games and stitch or address the Christmas cards or something... I did get a little progress on block #8 last night. I do love the look of the simple outline stitching.

Sunday evening...

 It has been a busy day and I am about ready to settle in with a little stitching tonight and relaxing. Hubby has gone to fetch the kiddo's from his Mom's so I have another 1-2 hours of peace and quiet.

Lots of running around today - dropping card making supplies to all the girls in my troop for our card making Zoom meeting tomorrow night. I also had to pick up the girl scout cookie packet for the troop today. Cookie sales will start for us January 2. We will see how it all goes this year.

I hit up the local grocery store where they have the standing rib roasts on sale this week and I just pulled it out of the oven. Yes, it appears no one but me likes it so I get it all to myself! I cut slices then seal a meal and pop them in the zero degree freezer to pull out when I want some for lunch options.

I did get a little cutting and sewing in on Clue #3 finally late afternoon. It is a start anyway. The silly cat pulled the draping himself over the sewing machine so I decided I'd better turn it off and pay some attention to him. I'll settle in with some hand quilting where he can settle in on my lap and purr and nap like a spoiled boy that he is! This is block 8, so I'll have one more to go after this and then all the sashing and cornerstones.

The chickens were all in their coop so they got their door closed for the night. It is dark now, so I'll pop out to watch for meteors tonight as well. I hear there will be a lot so if you have a chance, look outside.

Some photo's of the chickens, 4 are laying now and the others will start in a couple of months. This was my find earlier this week one morning. These are from the light brown chickens.

Emily with Emma the chicken. Poppy is an easter egger on the ground. 

3 Plymouth Rocks and the 2 easter eggers.

the 4 that are laying now - a cross between a rhode island red and white.

Linking up with the Slow Stitchers this Sunday.

Not much sewing....

 It feels like girls scouts took over my life again the last few days.... I opted to be the Troop Cookie Mom this year.... so I would not get stuck taking over halfway through again. That meant training.... and since it is technically my 'first' year, I had to do both trainings despite having figured out the system.... twice. Sigh. 2 hours on Saturday Zoom, 2 hours on Tuesday night Zoom. I also had a troop meeting on Monday night so that hour (Zoom again) plus the planning for that meeting and the follow up gathering supplies for the next 2 meetings.  Last Wednesday was a Zoom leader meeting as well. 

No sewing time allowed since that took up most of my non-working and car pick up the kids and drop off to school time. (we live 20 minutes from their school of choice and I shuttle them and pick up - it is worth it for the Cambridge program they are in). Tonight was Aidan's guitar lesson... which was a struggle to get him out of the house to go. Once there, he is fine and enjoys it.  Em and I hit Sam's while he was at his 30 minute lesson and managed to get back with 4 minutes to spare! Not too shabby... but there are not many people there at 7:30 at night and we use the scan and go app as we shop so no checkout through the lines. Kids have things for their lunches, a roaster chicken for either lunch or dinner tomorrow night. Other than dropping supplies to the girls for our Christmas card making meeting next Monday together on Zoom, I get to sew! The girls opted to do their community service project for their holiday share the season patch by making Christmas cards to bring some cheer to local hospitals. I called and made sure they would accept them, and the administration said they would and would be happy to distribute throughout the hospital. We will have at least 90 cards to drop off (each girl is doing 10). 

The little bit I have done is add some quilting to the flowering snowball block on the Book Club quilt. 

I'd better prep the kids Christmas snakes so they can start them in the morning. All chocolate goodies (or sourpatch or nerds) this year. I might have hit the dollar tree after picking up the cards for girl scouts to grab the fillings for the 'snakes'. I tend to start on December 10 so I have 15 days of things for them to open for the countdown to Christmas. Little things in the past but went with all goodies to eat this year. Instead of yarn to separate the days.... I saw some cotton flannel extra bits. I cut them into strips and used those to tie the different day's. The cats tend to eat yarn... so we will see how these strips of fabric work! 

Slow Sunday stitching...

 The kids are heading to Grandma's house for the day. I get a good span of hours all to myself! Well, hubby is home too but he will be relaxing on his day off too after putting on some outside lights on the edge of the roof.

Yesterday..... a lot of time was spent on errands - Emily had horses in the morning, then I remembered I had a cookie training... which was 2 hours!... followed by haircuts and a quick stop to Aldi to get things for 'Greek' night. I used some greek seasonings on some chicken tenders and put mine on a salad with some tomato and tatziki and feta. Aidan had his tatziki in a pita... and left me about 2 tablespoons! Em wanted potato salad so she made and ate that. We did head over to see the Christmas house that is all decorated up and set to music on a radio station. It seems Emily's favorite song is the Grinch set to the lights! There were about 8 other cars during the time we were there.

I did manage to cut out the clues for part 2 of the mystery while on the beginning of the training... and sat outside with the computer with the chickens outside for the last half.

Today - I plan to sew up the mystery clue, play with the new Accuquilt Go! cutter and get a little hand stitching in.  Maybe a little prep in the garden too. I 'should' pick up in the sewing room and my office as well, but we will see if that happens or not. I also want to make a batch of cookies - but the recipe for that is pretty quick.

The cat interrupted the hand quilting last night so I have 2 triangles to finish off block #6 of 9 on the Book Club quilt. I plan to finish that off and start on block #7. I was thinking of doing a stencil in the sashing... but I think I'll just go simple and continue with the outline stitching in those area's as well. 

Linking up with the other slow stitchers this morning. 

RSC Saturday

 Earlier this week I got the Stashbuster quilt to a top. I had hoped to work on it more but alas, life. My goal is to get it quilted before the end of the year. Right now it is 48x60... a good snuggle size.

Last night I got a little hand quilting in on the Book Club quilt while watching the movie Goonies. Love that movie!  Block #6 has just a little quilting to go on it. The center part is done, time to move onto the four corners of this block later tonight.

Before I can do anything.... someone has a riding lesson this morning. We all need hair cuts - so that is right after lunch. The outside and inside of the house needs more Christmas decorations put up/out and I would like to rake and till the garden area today... so the chickens can peck in there a bit more before I attempt to plant something this winter. Not sure I'll get to the Grassy Creek Mystery until tomorrow.... or playing with my new Accuquilt Go! I have plans for the HST and square that came with the  8 inch die block set that came with it for one of next year's blocks. I 'might' have ordered the flowering snowball die for a Christmas present for me.... which is the block in the middle of the bottom row in this photo. A future hand piecing project for me =) I'm really hoping that by taking that rotary cutting part out it will go much quicker on the prep work side - so just marking the sewing line and stitching!

Linking up with the RSC Challenge.

Hand quilting progress....

 Well, it seems the hair place near us closes at 6PM right now..... so it was closed. Aidan actually asked if it was too dark to take a walk instead... so the kids and I got a walk in last night instead! We enjoyed seeing the Christmas lights and decorations around the neighborhood.

I have managed to get 5 of 9 Book Club blocks hand quilted! I need to start on the 6th one tonight.

There have been 3 eggs so far this morning... and it is early! Maybe we will get 4 today? One egg was on the bottom of the coop and 2 were in the nesting boxes. We have 14 eggs in the holder... guess the kids really need to make those merangue cookies this weekend! I see more quiche on the menu at our house! This was the basic recipe.... I added a couple handfuls of wilted kale instead of spinach last night and chopped up some deli ham into it as well. I also cook some onions in butter and add those in. We tend to go crustless so I just make sure to spray the pie plate before adding in the egg mixture.

December OMG

 My goal this December is to finish the Book Club quilt that I hand pieced earlier this year. The goal is to get it quilted and bound in 2020! So far I have 3 of the 9 blocks hand quilted and started on the 4th block.

Linking up with ElmStreetQuilts and One Monthly Goal.

Sunday stitching

 Sunday is for some slow turtle stitching. I guess I have not touched this one since Thanksgiving day...this is the 4th block of my hand pieced Book Club sew along quilt from earlier this year. Some stitches should happen on it tonight.

The Endless Diamond block is ready to assemble. I am cutting these out using templates and hand piecing them. This will look like the blocks in the header. I'll need to prep some more of these today at some point.

This afghan I started last year in November for Emily. I think it is long enough... wish I had made it a little wider... but maybe a few rows of edging will help? This is a crochet blanket stitch pattern from Mama in a stitch. Peanut approves... but I had to quickly put it back in it's container as someone loves to eat yarn! I hope to finish this one off then pull out the knitting on the sheep pillow for Aidan. My thought was maybe wrapping them up for Christmas..... but we will see how the month goes! 

Linking up with the other turtle stitchers over at Kathy's Quilts.

Last night was another bonfire night. We burned part of a big tree that fell down when Eta went through. 

The kids put lights on the chicken coop and run yesterday. I snapped a photo while I was sitting watching the bonfire last night. 

Today is a very special day in our family. My Dad's birthday! This photo was from a few years ago out at the camp in Vermont when we were up there in the summer. Hopefully we can go up next summer and enjoy some rides on the lake with our favorite Pontoon Boat Captain. Happy Birthday Dad.

Monday

Well, I did refold and organize one whole shelf in the sewing area yesterday.... and I made a bowl cozy! I need to make another and work on my sewing skills. Maybe change the thread too! I did break a needle so I have a fresh one in for the mystery on Friday now. Greg tested this one out and says it works great! I admit, we use the one we have a lot and it needs a good wash more than what I give it so having another couple in the house will come in handy. No burned fingers when pulling the bowl out of the microwave when you use these!

I did get some slow stitching in yesterday. I finished off the second block and also hand quilted the third as well. 6 more blocks to go before I tackle the sashing and cornerstones.

 Kids have dental cleanings this afternoon... very overdue as they were originally scheduled in March when things got shut down. They are off this week so I figured it was a good time to get it done. I had my physical follow up this morning. The good news is I am down 16 pounds from last year. The numbers are borderline right before pre-diabetic again this year (hey - it didn't go up or over so that was good!)  so I am hoping another 10 pounds will help that number go down for next year and get me out of the danger zone. Cholesterol is still slightly high, sigh. Darn genetics. All in all, pretty healthy so I will keep at it.

Grandma is coming over for Thanksgiving with Papa Andy. Need to see if Grandpa Tom is planning to come over or not. We see Grandma every week since the kids go over on Sundays.... her house is kinda linked to ours as a 'household'! Aidan requested her yams with the sauce and marshmallow on top, Em wants my Mom's orange salad this year instead of Grandma's heavenly hash (similar but a little different). We'll have her pick up the potato rolls from Publix as well and a pie. I've got the turkey, stuffing, potato and gravy with various pickles and olives. I'm opting out of cranberry sauce since no one eats it.... but I do have a can if someone insists. Way too much food for 6-7 people but oh well. Want to take bets on if she will bring appetizers or not? I'm tying to not have them. I made Taco Salad for Em on Saturday and did a cheeseball for the household on Friday so they can get their munching in other than on the one day. I hear the kids want to make macaroons, since the chickens are laying eggs now. We will see if they try that today or tomorrow..... I have requested the car get a total cleaning inside and out as well this week. Wonder how many times I'll need to 'remind' them on that one?

 

Sunday Slow Stitching

Some slow stitching will happen today. I will finish off the hand quilting on this block today so I can move the hoop to the third block. I just have to outline the big curve section. This is the hand pieced quilt from the Book Club sew along earlier this year.

I also pulled out the Endless Diamond blocks which have been sadly neglected lately. I was able to finish one block off and started another one while waiting on Emily at horses yesterday. Some stitching might have tried to happen while out watching the chickens in the afternoon but Emma decided to peck the yellow wrist band attached to the pin cushion so I figured I'd stop. Silly ladies. The second one started laying today - Fred gifted us with an egg first thing this morning - she was laying in the nesting box when Em let the chickens out this morning a little after 7AM. Lily has laid an egg a day since last Friday! We are curious if we will get 2 today or not. **Edited - 2 egg so far... wonder if we will have a 3 day? *** Yesterday the kids went out to check for eggs around 9:30 and when they lifted the lid Lily was in there! They let her be and within 5 minutes Emily came in with a warm egg. It was the first time they both got to feel the just laid egg. Pretty amazing what nature can do. One of the eggs was used in the banana bread Emily made last night. It was deemed the best bread ever!

Linking up with the other Slow Stitchers over at Kathy's Quilts.

Shopping.....

The next block on Book Club is in progress to being hand quilted.

After dropping the kids to school I headed to Joann's Fabrics. They might have mentioned I was a wee bit too 'happy and cheerful' this morning! Silly kids. Would you believe... this came to under $100! Not too bad. I picked up some Christmas fabrics on sale - 2 green and 1 red (1 yd ea) with some embroidery floss for the Fa La La... Yes, a wee bit late but I do have it all saved off and printed out ready to go. I have white in the stash for the middles.... although I might make it a cream instead. I think white might be too much of a contrast. 

I picked up the last package of wrap-n-zap so I can make a few of the microwave bowl cozies... since mine is always in use and dirty! Darn oatmeal tends to boil over if you don't watch it. I picked up some Guitterman threads on the buy 3 get 3 free. I was missing pink fro some reason and I tend to use blue for binding and I ran out. I figured a purple or two would fit into the open spots of missing colors pretty well. Then a couple of 4 ounces of dish cloth yarn on sale. After that was all picked up it was time to search for the Quiltville mystery fabrics for Grassy Creek. I know I don't have much in my stash in the way of maroon, orange and gold yellow so picked up some half yards of that and one remnant. I opted for 5 yards of a deep lake blue for the main color and I have whites in the stash from an earlier splurge this year. There was a grassy green purchased as well but it must be hiding under one of the other fabrics. I know I have more of those in the stash with other shades of green. It should get me started for next week. I think I'll have the kids dump out the ahem.... cough, cough, 3 big rubbermaid bins of scraps (we won't include the various baskets and buckets of other scraps in the mix) and have them sort them into colors if they should get bored at all over the next week off school! 

A quick trip to Aldi as I am finally feeling like eating again after 19 days and needed some veggies for the crisper. Hubby is picking up a frozen turkey today after work and some cuban bread and sliced ham.... I pulled pork carnitas from the freezer this morning and have dill pickles, swiss cheese and mustard for our cuban sandwiches tonight for dinner. I am working on making a batch of cuban black beans to go with it as well.  I love the black beans from Chili's and eventually I will figure out how to make them taste like that or better! Tomorrow night will be Emily's favorite - roasted italian sausage, zucchini, mushrooms, onion, and peppers with penne pasta. See, I really did need to get veggies =). She dislikes the tomato so we tend to leave that out of the recipe I linked to. 

1PM.... Think I'll grab my endless diamond pieces and a cup of water and go let the ladies out of the coop for some free range time. I wonder if there will be 1 egg or 2 when I check? We have had one per day since Friday from Lily we think. She has the red waddle. Emma or Fred or Molly might start laying in the next week we think.

 

Book Club

 

The first middle block of book club is quilted. It has been a while since I have quilted so the stitches are pretty big. I had not pinned the quilt...hey, it was 35x35 that's small enough right? Well, that was a mistake so about halfway through this block I popped it on the floor last night. Grabbed the purple bucket of open pins and after smoothing it out 3 times (the cats decided to play with a ball and kept rolling it over the quilt and chasing it!), I added a few pins around the blocks, then folded the excess backing fabric up and over to the front edge of the sashing. Much better now. I'm not sure if I'll quilt all the blocks and then do the sashing? We will see where the hoop moves to tonight.

Slow Sunday

 Saturday was the day to finally piece some batting for hand piecing the Book Club quilt.  I cut the strip in half to meet the size I needed and then had a skinny long strip that I added to each size to make sure I had enough for at least one inch on each side. It works! 

I had a little of the backing left from the last 2 quilts to back this little one (35x35) as well. All set with a hoop on. Ready for some hand quilting.

Joining up on Sunday with the other Slow Stitchers. 

We were gifted with egg #2 from the chickens on Saturday. We had egg# 1 in scrambled eggs Saturday morning. I also completely forgot to pick up my girl scout nut and candy first thing Saturday.... so I arrived a couple hours late. They were still there and had my troops stuff. Thank goodness. Greg took Emily to horses for me. The boy and I were watching the chickens when I got home...and had left the coop door open... a black snake slithered in! We noticed when we were going to put them back in the coop. Since neither of us like snakes.... it was an interesting 25 minutes before it managed to slither it's way out. As he left, G and Em arrived home. There might have been some texts and photo's sent of the snake and my dislike of them! Emily got shuffled off to a friends house for a sleepover. I know. We are rising slightly in our area above the 5%.  She has not seen Seri since March. Both families have been being 'safe' and sometimes you just have to take a calculated chance. Seri's reaction when she saw Em - You got taller! . It has been a long 8 months! These 2 girls met in pre-k at age 4. With her gone, we had homemade shrimp scampi with linguini for dinner. She dislikes shrimp so it was a good night to have it. Aidan got to help me make it. I have had a lot of boy time today. As he is putting away my halloween candles, it is time for me to pick up a needle and get some stitching in.  

Friday the 13th! in 2020!

 Now normally I have great Friday the 13th days.... but then again, this is 2020 so who knows what will happen!

The kids are off to school... thinking they are doing an 'A' day again rather than a 'B' day. Emily is looking forward to it since theirs is the only in person Ag class today so they get to do prep work with the animals for the weekend. I have my 5 hour work day today to finish off the week.

Greg is having back pain again and is back to finding those 'good' pills and has called off work for the next few days to rest it. From getting up normally on Monday to doing the roll to get up today is not a good sign. At least he has VA doctor appointments lined up in the next 10 days.

He just came in from checking on the chickens and moving a roost to be in front of the window (the big girls love to look out the window and one decided to try and be there despite there not being enough room last night so we are humoring them!) and look what he found in the nesting boxes he made and attached yesterday to the new coop! The one he found is the brown one... the white is a large from the store for comparison! 

I finished adding the last hexagon last night... and would you believe I managed to turn it one too many? Oh well, it is staying.

From doing the little hand quilting on these guys I realized I really missed it so I pulled out the Book Club little quilt (35x35) and went searching for hand quilting batting. I found this leftover piece rolled up in it's bag... and I think if I piece it together it will be just big enough to work for this quilt.

Hope you all have a great Friday the 13th!