Winner, Winner

Not very long ago I visited a local graphic arts / printing studio to have the binding of a devotional book I use replaced with a comb binding (so it would lay flat.)  While waiting Vanessa,  the employee, and I got to visiting and I mentioned if she ever had any scraps of foam board they're going to toss, let me know.

Sure enough, I got a call a couple days ago....Why do I want scrap foam board?  To make Design  Boards.

 

Something I discovered a few years ago watching a 
Lori Holt video all about making Design Boards. HERE 

So, I made a few. Quick, useful project!  But those original boards are starting to show their age.   I could use some new ones. 
HERE was my original post.  

 (These original design boards have been holding these pieces for three, THREE, years!  See how they are bowed? And, Yes, these projects are on one of my UFO lists to hopefully be completed this year.)

 

 

 

 

NEW,  good-sized boards and FREE! 

I don't get too fancy...just glue down a piece of batting with dollar store glue to keep the quilt pieces from sliding around. Add some weight until the glue dries.  I don't bother with edging or trying to make them pretty.

 

 

 

Viola !

 

Everything is together and if I need to move them aside for whatever reason ..... easy peasy! 
And did I mention they were FREE ?

It was a total WIN, WIN, WIN.... no trash ended up in the landfill,  I have something useful for my hobby, I made a new friend AND I saved money to boot! (The cherry on top....they only charged me $2 to put a new binding on my book....TWO dollars!  Best bargain in town!)

A Shout-Out to Zebra Graphics....Thank You!

Lions and Tigers and Bears ....

 OR, my version...

 

But, no matter.... I have managed to make some progress on the 3-Yard Quilt.  I must say, the instructions are very clear and easy to follow.  I thought I'd pass this book along when this quilt was finished, but I may make others...it is THAT easy.**

 

 

 

With the entire town shut down today due to icy, snowy streets, my goal is to get the top finished!

 

 

**This would be a good book to take on my car trip next summer.  You know when you're visiting quilt shops and you really, really want to buy fabric but you can't think of what you want to make? 
These 3-Yard quilts are a good choice.  (BTW, they give instructions for larger quilts, too.)

A Place in the Sun

Question:  How many sewing machines do you have?

Recently, conversing with an acquaintance, the subject of sewing machines came up.  Specifically, the number of sewing machines a person NEEDS vs actually HAS.  She has over a hundred!!!  
She's a collector of old sewing machines.  

 

(This is a screen shot of a Wall of Sewing Machines;
a display in a store in New York City.)

 

I actually understand WHY she would have so many .... when I see an older sewing machine, I just WANT it...
but obviously, unlike my acquaintance, I have self control....
(and no $$  and not much space).  So I have only five (5).

 

 

 

The machine that gets the most use is my favorite Janome.

 

 

 

This is Millie.  (As in "Thoroughly Modern*...")

Millie has been in the family since 2012.

 

 

 

This conversation  did get me to thinking....
Each machine has the right to SHINE! 
To Strut Their Stuff!
Their OWN Place in the Sun!

 

IDEA: I'm going to use a different machine for each new project..... 
I'm between projects now....
(stay tuned for a FINISHED project reveal.)

 

Next Up.... Fran!

Fran is a Singer Slant-O-Matic, also known as a "Rocketeer."

She originally resided at the home of Fran,  my sister's neighbor. 
Fran (the person) does not sew.  She has had this machine since she, Fran (the person),  was in High School, somewhere in the neighborhood of 1961. 

Fran (the person) gifted me Fran (the Rocketeer) a couple of years ago. While she, the Rocketeer, has been to the spa for rest and rejuvenation, I have not actually sewn with her.

 

So, Fran, let's see what you can do!

 * Thoroughly Modern Millie ... A 1967 musical HERE

February is Brought to you By....

The Number 12 and the Letter "L" and the same Quarterly Project W1

February's UFOs.

APQ's  February number is 12.   The APQ number 12 is a BIG project...actually a fat quarter bundle and a pattern...no cutting has even happened yet!  So, is it still a UFO?  I've always counted it a UFO if the fabric and the pattern have made a match...so, yes, I guess it is.

BUT, since January's  Number 5 project is not completed, and it is an easy one, and February's Number 12 is a BIG one ...
I swapped the numbers.        PERFECT, Problem solved!   Moving On...

River's Edge  February's Letter is "L" and There is still the Quarterly Project, W1, which is the Bears.

But wait, January's Confetti Stars are not finished!  The "rule"  is:  If you're not finished with the previous month's UFO, you move on to the current month's project and go back later and pick up where you left off with the previous month ... it feels good that I've made progress, but it's still a UFO... 

"L" is a book I bought...I don't remember when I bought it...The Magic of 3-Yard Quilts.

And, somewhere along the way I matched this book up with fabric...
Which I also don't remember where or when I purchased this fabric. 
But I still like it, so that is a plus.

The pattern looks fast and easy ... I still like the fabric ...
All-in-all I think "L" UFO will be a win, Win, WIN !!!

 

Let the sewing commence.

 I'd  sure like to have a "FINISH" in February.

Sayōnara January

 

Working on UFOs in January is like making a resolution to lose weight....everything is hunky-dory for the first couple of weeks, then temptation hits.....  (for a quilter, temptation is a new pattern....see below...)

 

 

 

 

APQ's January Number was 5. "Easy Peasy." she said.  "Whip those puppies out in about a hour!"    😁  My number 5 was relatively easy...a collection of Totes.  But, I was so busy working on the Confetti Star that I never actually got to the Totes....  Easy or not...not done....

River's Edge Confetti Star

Here is a step-by-step tutorial.  Her blocks are nicer than mine...I believe her secret is she's using add-an-eighth ruler and I'm using add-a-quarter ruler....interesting, I did not know until right this moment add-an-eighth ruler even existed!  
And, my excuse is the pattern is not even printed for add-an-eighth.  AND, until I stumbled across this tutorial, I did not have any instructions to follow.  I only had the pattern.  OK, enough with the excuses.

Why does it even matter?  Because after trimming, my blocks measure 6 X 6 instead of 6.5 X 6.5...shucky-darn! 
The finished block needs to be 12.5 X 12.5.  But, we quilters make do.  I made up the difference in the block borders.

Here is my progress so far. 28 blocks finished:

 

Memory Bears  

No Progress on the Bears, except I've washed and prepped the shirts and decided on patterns.
I will see Miss Peggy (and Morgan (daughter) and Maddie (g-daughter)) in Reno in June.... My goal is to take them with me.

BONUS:  Rosie O'Doggie

TEMPTATION!!  Scrolling around the internet, I came across a website that I wasn't even sure was still active:  Silver Lining Originals. 
(If you go to this site, you'll see what I mean.)  But, I found the cutest, paper-piecing pattern for a Border Collie and it looks just like
Rosie O'Doggie....HAD to take a chance and see if I could buy the pattern.  

AND, what to my wondering eyes did appear in my mail box a few weeks later???!!!

 

What a Face!!
HOW could I resist!!! 
(Rosie was a good doggie)

I have pinned this pattern to my work board and hope to get a small wall quilt finished for my daughter's 40th B-day in June.

The goal is to make Progress, right?  I feel good that I've made progress.  Bring on February!!

Like an Inch Worm

 

I've been inching along.... I don't think I'm even half way finished with the blocks.

 

I've been working on these Confetti Star quilt blocks diligently all month
(I started these blocks TEN YEARS AGO!!) with the hope that I'd at least have all the blocks completed before the end of the month...but...

It has come to my attention that that is not going to happen, so I changed the plan.....

New Plan:  Work on these blocks through today and then do something else....I need a break, and I have a couple other projects that need attention.

Confetti Star Progress: All set up for chain piecing... Bonnie Hunter* would be proud.

Twenty-Two blocks...I am starting to like it....

The purpose of joining a UFO club is to make progress...that is what I'm doing. 😁

AND, so far I have not purchased any new fabric...using up bits and pieces of what I already have.

Good On Me!!

 

* Bonnie Hunter's Leaders and Enders HERE

Decisions, Decisions

Confetti Blocks....

I have two choices....continue making Confetti Stars and make a Totally Confetti Star quilt. 
OR, design a quilt around what I have completed (42). 
I guess I have THREE choices...make a lap quilt.

I have plenty of lap quilts....THE WINNER IS ... design a quilt around what I have! 

The American Patchwork and Quilting 2024 Quilt-Along pattern was my inspiration.

Evening Glow.  You can read about it HERE.  (And buy the pattern.)

A quilt-along participant's example.  She did a great job!

Firing up EQ8* and digging deep into the memory banks, I deigned a similar quilt.

The Rendering from EQ8

The finished quilt will be big, 116" by 128".  With all the cold weather we've had of late, I've been wanting a larger quilt: one that hangs well-over the sides of the bed and doesn't fall off in the night with all my tossing-and-turning! 

My Progress So Far

 Doesn't look like much yet....

There are still 40 Confetti Starts (and 40 Setting blocks) to go.  The Hope was to have the top finished by the end of January....that goal has been adjusted...I hope to have all the blocks prepared by the end of the month.  I can live with that.

*Electric Quilt 8

Slow and Steady

 

... Eventually Wins the Race!!

It feels like the first two weeks of January have crawled by!

 

I've been plugging away at the Confetti Stars all week,
and I have made some progress, I'm happy to announce. 

 

It doesn't hurt that it has been cold and snowy all week,
forcing me to stay in...

 

Paper Piecing is not fabric-conserving.  It's hard to resist saving all the little scraps....I have two buckets under my table....1.  Throw Away.  2.  Save (scrappy blocks?)  

I made my S-I-L a scrappy-block quilt 
a few years back...HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'd forgotten how time-consuming Paper Piecing is!  😟 
It takes about 20 minutes for each star.

Only 15 ... or so ... to go!

This Month Was Brought to you By ...

The Number 5 and the Letter "E" and the Quarterly Project W1

January's UFOs.

I have so many UFOs that I've joined two UFO groups. See this Post from December 11, 2024 HERE

American Patchwork and Quilting is drawing Numbers and River's Edge is drawing Letters. 

APQ's January Number is 5.  My number 5 was relative easy...a collection of Totes.

River's Edge Letter was E and Quarterly Project, W1.

The last thing on my January list is River's Edge Quarterly Project.  Memory Bears.

 

A dear friend, Terry LaDow, past away a few months ago.  His wife, Peggy, sent me a bunch of his shirts.  I will make memory bears for Peggy, Morgan (daughter) and Madelyn (grand daughter.)

So, there we have it....Our Marching Orders for January, 2025.