Sunday stitching or pinning.

 It has been a lazy start to the day. I watched the F1 race (which was way too early for me, so I watched it when I got up!) and felt a little closer to the boy away at college. Hubby cooked a brisket on the smoker and then in the oven yesterday and it took all day long! It was a 17 pound one. I finished the clean up this morning of the dishes. I'll have to seal and freeze a bunch at some point today. I got a whole brisket instead of the flat since the price was very different. The extra part is pretty fatty, so he made some chunks of it and I'll seal them and plan to use them when I make beef barley soups. (Still pretty hot here but I can do soups any time of the year!). I did make a baked french toast for breakfast this morning. Yummy.

Grandma wants to go see the new Brad Pitt movie, so Greg and I will go with her today to see that. 

I'll be adding more outline stitches to the cross stitch later today. Question for all who do cross stitch, do you do the outline one stitch at a time, or do you do a couple at a time? I've done a bit each way but think the single stitches look better. I know some of my stitches will be over multiple areas for the grass later so those are different. The outline sure does make a difference! The three wheels are done and I'm working on the wagon now.

 

Yesterday, I decided to machine quilt the graduation quilt and was laying it out to roll onto the boards. I'm using a new to me batting so we will see how it works. It is so soft! Bear really liked it. I got a roll of MSQC Natural Cotton batting on sale at some point and just cracked it open. It says it is good for either hand or machine quilting. I need to clear off my sewing banquet table so I can put the boards up there and pin this quilt. I measured it at 78x78 so decided to cut a 4.5 inch strip and add it to each side to make it a little bigger. It should finish around 86x86.  If I can get it pinned today, I hope to work on it a bit each afternoon this week.

I do need to do a little girl scout online training before a retreat next weekend. That will take a solid hour or two. I'd better get moving and get a little done before the movie time starts.

Linking up with Kathy and the Slow Sunday Stitchers.

Weekend wrap up

 Friday on my morning walk with Bear the dog, we got to see 4 deer! I think I was able to get 3 of the 4 in this photo. I had the leash in one hand, so the shot was not great. 

For the RSC, I was able to add one teal house to the pile. I plan to add a few more later tonight and maybe a chicken or two! Linking up with the RSC.

I did get into the sewing room on Thursday and figured out I had the Graduation quilt bear paws into diagonal rows, but they needed their side triangles added. Then they got sewn into a top. Did I mention I absolutely hate sewing those long seams? I added the four corners today. 

It needs a press and to determine a border or not. I believe it is 80x80 now so might want a little plain border all around. It might just be a slightly darker cream to make it bigger as it will shrink a bit in the quilting. I'll let the boy decide though as it is his quilt. I'll have to find a backing and batting for hand quilting, and put it onto the frame. Someone will have to wait a bit for it but, that is what he wants. The crazy summer delayed it a bit (doubt I would have hit the deadline anyway!). We will see how long it takes. I see a green binding to finish it off.... or maybe the blue? I think I have enough of a couple of fabrics so we will see what happens when I need a binding.

I've been doing a lot of counted cross stitch and I've managed to distort my fabric, so it is horrible in photo's. I've tried spritzing it with water and pressing it. Nothing seems to work. So, here is where I am at this point. I'll work on the pumpkin in the lower left tonight, I think. This will be taken with me for plane work (yup - travelling again but this one was scheduled!Flights 12+13 for me since June 3) up to Vermont. The kids and hubby are going with me this time. We have our house/animal sitter in place again. Linking up with Kathy and the Slow Sunday stitchers.

June OMG

 

My daughter snapped this photo of the 24 blocks for the graduation quilt last night. I started with 5 inch squares so the 'finished' block of 4 is bigger than my 12.5 inch ruler! This is a disappearing nine patch done in white, black and red for my nephew. I plan to deliver this in person at the end of this month when we fly up to Vermont.... so it does need to get completed this month into a twin size quilt for gifting! That is my OMG for June finish the top, quilt and bind it for delivery. There will be a small red inner border and a larger blackish outer border. My daughter is tasked with making the pillow to gift it in - she is pretty good at making the pillow cases. She has been doing all the pressing for this quilt while I sewed it this past week. Not bad for a 12 year old helper!

Linking up with the June OMG.

Graduation Quilt

 Yes, the high school graduation is this year.... and I hope to have this completed by the end of June so it can fly up with me to Vermont.

First step - pick a pattern and colors. Black,white and red were selected. I showed a photo of a disappearing nine patch in those colors and it was approved. I got to Joanns yesterday and I think it was the quickest I have ever picked out 13 fabrics for a quilt in my life! Cut and paid for was this bunch of goodness.

Now to start cutting and hope my math was correct! I have never done this pattern before but it looks 'easy' to do. We will see how it goes. 

This is the photo I sent for approval I found on Pinterest by searching on black and white disappearing nine patch quilts. Another had the instructions using 4.5 inch squares to make the nine patch. Fingers crossed it works out for a twin size!

I have a crazy week coming up after a crazy weekend of running errands all... day.... long! 

Saturday was horses, then home for lunch then arrive late to a birthday party which I ended up staying at until after 5Pm with her. Honestly no clue what I did that night but being outside all day in Florida in May... I was probably in my recliner! The weather just drains me!

Sunday - once the kids left for Grandma's around noon I had about 5 hours or running. Seems the Dollar Tree was out of helium - at both stores I tried for balloons. I was picking up things for bridging and end of year scouts party tonight and then the fabrics. My badges I ordered last Saturday are still in route - so those won't be handed out but the water balloons did arrive so I'm calling it a win. They will bridge up from the last 2 years to their new units. Then will have some snacks of veggies, fruits and cookies. Then a water ballon fight... and yes, I expect to get soaked as well. I think I'll man the hose! Hehehe.

Wednesday I have school awards for Emily in the evening. Friday night we have Emily's FFA banquet. I'm assuming I will get an invite to Aidan's awards this week for next Monday night. Last day of school is Wednesday May 26. The kids are counting down the days.....

Graduation quilt.....

Another year, another graduation quilt needed. This year Sally graduates from high school so she is needing a quilt for her graduation present. The good news..... I am almost out of nieces and nephews... just her younger brother is left to graduate in 2 years! Then my 2... but that is a long way off, thank goodness!

Sally has selected blue and yellows.... and a simple zig zag type pattern. She is a no frills type of person. I'll have to get out some paper and colored pencils and see what I can come up with ..... I was thinking of having the values go from light to dark.... but we will see what the paper drawings come up with. I grabbed this lot of fabrics to play with (70% off at Joann's on Sunday!) along with what I have in my stash for her quilt. I think I got 2 yards of each....the yellows are different values even though it did not show in the photo. I know I have another light and medium yellow in my stash to go with this light and dark yellow.

Wish me luck!

Some links for ideas for this quilt... so I have them in one place!
Rachelmhayes easy quilt for beginners.
blue zig zag - looks like easy half square triangles.
quilting cubby - like how this one looks.
Fons and porter version.
Super Zig pattern.
Chevron quilt.

A very late start on a quilt with a deadline....

I've been putting off the graduation quilt making process and Angela mentioned last week how few days there are until Graduation time..... Yikes. Time to get started.

I've had the medium blue and white fabric as requested. I picked the pattern - Hunters Star and have had the Deb Tucker Rulers for it for years. So what is stopping me? Trying something new I think. Too late - time to try it out as this quilt needs to get made.

I've checked out the Hunter Star tutorial a few times and have the instructions with the ruler. Time to get started.

This is the progress so far this morning. I have a slew of trapezoids sewn to each side of the diamonds. I just need to press and cut these and then add them to the triangle. I am doing the 8 inch block and figure on an 8x10 setting for a 64x80 size quilt. That should cover a twin size for college for Alex. It might get some borders...it might not! Depends on how it goes together and how close to mid June it is =)

I had to stop as I needed to bake off the sugar cookies for the spring fling this evening at school. Note to self - check to make sure it says parchment paper and not wax paper before you put it in the oven to bake! The six butterfly's will stay home to be gobbled up. I noticed it 3 minutes into the cooking time. I also did my 3 mile walk this morning and a little weeding out in the garden while the banana bread was baking in the oven. The peas are budding so they should start producing soon. The watermelon plants disappeared but so far the cucumbers are up and have not been eaten by the bunny yet. I need to drop off the recycling and pick up some gallon size ziplock bags to transport the cookies to school in.... then it will be time to pick up the kids. Maybe I can get back to my Hunter star blocks this afternoon...... I hope?