Flying By....

 

 

 

Wave, bye-bye !!!

 

 I will admin, I'm not sorry to see these DOG DAYS go away...man, has it been hot and humid !!!  😰

 

 

 

 

 

My goal for the remainder of August is to finish up bits and pieces and re-group. 
 

I'll start with tidying up the studio.  It's a bit out of control.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've not been totally distracted from the UFO groups...  
UFO's I'm SUPPOSED to be working on for the month of August are:

River's Edge:  August's Letter is " I " 

 

 

Years ago I was going to make a quilt for one of my dearest friends, Hank.  
I ordered these panels because I thought they were so pretty.  
Sadly, Hank passed away in 2013. 

These panels have been in the queue for at least 14 years? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They're beautiful and hand-painted and a bit intimidating, I don't really know where to start, and I don't want to mess them up.  But, might as well jump right in and do something....better than having them in a box on the shelf !

 

 

Companion fabrics purchased over the years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

APQ's:  August number is 10.  Barbie Fat Quarters!   

I'm probably not going to even think about Hank's quilt for now and focus on the Barbie Fat Quarters because it will be easier.  

I don't know what I want to do with the "Hank" panels  and Barbie will be a no-brainer... or mostly a no-brainer.

The Barbie Fat Quarter bundle was purchased in 2023 while I was in Las Vegas visiting my quilting Niece, Desiree.   An impulse buy from Sew Yeah Quilting.

Not sure where I picked up the black fabrics, but I think they complement the Barbie fabrics, don't you agree?

 

 

 

Maybe use the same pattern I used for the Halloween Fabrics, 
Falling Charms?

 

 

 

 

 

 

By-the-way the Halloween-Fabric quilt is finished.  
Needs to go to the LAQ*. 

Update:

You're Invited has been received by my Great Niece, JayCee...and she loves it!

 

Peanut, the puppy, is checking out the points...seeing if they line up. (Don't look too close, pup.)

*LAQ - Long Arm Quilter.

And, Furthermore ...

 ... in addition to .... the UFO lists.

Sister's Birthday present:

 

 

 

 

 

 

My goal was to make her a different table runner for each month...but, if I hit the BIG celebrations, I'll be happy.*

She has a Very L-O-N-G table (72")...Happy Birthday, baby sister.

 

 

An addition to the Small Quilt Wall:  

 

Star Bright from River's Edge, the finished product from the Mystery sew-a-long a couple Saturday's back.  HERE

Practiced FMQ....it's coming along.

I like the River's Edge shop more and more...one of these days I'm going to go visit them in Wisconsin.

 

 

 

 

 

Finished up a Cat bed:

 

How could something so simple take so long to complete??
(hint....because it's boring...)

Lou already has 4 beds scattered around the house, but this came in handy when I washed two of his beds and they took DAYS to air dry.

(The inner pillow is muslin, then made a "pillow case" so it's easy to wash. 
Filling is scraps.)

 

I must say....I'm a bit proud of myself for accomplishing so much, so far this year....(the universe did not hear me say that...."Pride goes before a Fall"....Proverbs 16:18)

 

*No pattern for this runner.  I saw a picture similar to this and decided to make my own as I went along.  I'll admit, this is the second version....my first attempt was very wonky and ended up in the trash.

 

April is Brought to You By...

 

The APQ  UFO Number is 2 and the
River's Edge UFO Letter is "H"
and the NEW River's Edge Quarterly Project is W3.

APQ's:  April number is 2.

The memorial wall hanging I made for my Quilting Auntie Nyla using Row-by-Row license plates.  This is not TOO old....only a couple of years.  And, NOT the first time shown here.  

 

When originally posted as a UFO in 2023 the purpose was to learn to use the Flynn system for quilting. 
Let's see if I can kill two birds with one stone.

River's Edge:  April's Letter is "H" 

 "H" is two items:

 

A paper pieced cup....this was started WAY back .... WAY, WAY back...at least 15 years ago???  It was a class at Greenbaum's Quilted Forest in Salem,  OR.  (The store closed  in 2016. It was such a great store.) My introduction to paper piecing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And, the second item....the TP wall hanging.  I bought this pattern just before the "Lock Down."  Remember when everyone went nuts and filled their spare rooms, attics and basements with TP?  That was crazy, but the pattern is still too cute not to sew up.  

Looking at this pattern brought back fun memories of the Needlers and creating a Care Package for Miss Wanda.  HERE

 I sure miss those ladies....

 

 

 

The River's Edge Quarterly Project was to make covers for my large kitchen appliances....well, NO...just NO.  This is not the kind of sewing that "sparks joy".... so into the donation basket it all goes....thank you, Marie Kondo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instead of non-joy-producing sewing, I'm going to make a quilt for my great nephew, Sterling.  That will bring us BOTH joy... he's a pretty happy guy most of the time, already.

There is a reason this is a UFO, even though it has not even been started...Truth be told, I've had this pattern for "a while", a LONG while.  And I'm going to see this little guy in June, so perfect timing.

 

 

 

There you have it...the plan for the month....I've made my list...
Lots of FINISHES.  I feel motivated, and I ain't foolin.

Mystery Solved!!

 ...And, a Fun little virtual get-together...River's Edge Antiques & Quilts

It started in the morning and every hour they would release the next "Clue."

Another small quilt for my Small Quilt Wall....

 

 

 The more I interact with this shop on line, the more I want to hop in the car and go visit them.

 

It Was the Butler

...In the Library with a Candle Stick!

I wasn't going to say anything....I signed up and was just going to DO IT. 

But then I thought y'all might like to have some fun, too.

River's Edge Antique's and Quilt Loft is sponsoring a one-day mystery quilt-along, called Star Bright.

 

 

 

 

 

March 29, 2025

Here's the skinny:  It is a one-day event, it will be a small wall quilt when finished.  It just looks like fun.

* Go HERE to sign up.  Participation is FREE.

* Pick 6 Fat Quarters from your own collection....or they have some bundles for sale (the bundles look good and I was tempted, but I have FQs that are begging to be sewn up!)

*Then just tune in on FB on March 29 and follow along.

 It's THAT simple, but the date is fast approaching so don't delay....sign up today....see all y'all there (virtually) !

March is Brought to You By....

 

The APQ  UFO Number 6 and the
River's Edge UFO Letter "A"
and the same River's Edge Quarterly Project W1,
Peggy's Memory Bears.

APQ's:  March number is 6.

My number 6 is an easy one....Label older quilts....quilts I made early on and never labeled.

 

After digging them out, I realized there weren't as many as I thought. Two of them are quilts I made  "back in the day" when
I did not even know HOW to quilt.... a little embarrassing to me now, but they still deserve a label.

 

 

River's Edge:  March's Letter is "A" .

You're Invited, A panel by Riley Blake. HERE.

This one is only a couple years in the queue.
As UFOs go, not too bad.

Purchased from a wonderful quilt shop in Omaha,
Country Sampler.  

The thought was to make this for one of my great nieces, JayCee.  

She grew up so fast and is now a young woman.  I'm not sure if she'll like it.  I will see her when I'm in Vegas this summer.  (See Below)  I'll make it a point to spent time with her and get to know her better, and what she likes.

  

 

 

Most of the work is done....It just needs to be assembled. 

This month's Machine Spotlight is Baby Doll.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Doll was in impulse buy.  A Janome Harmony 4052.

Someone on the Next Door app was selling her and I thought it would be a good little machine for my great niece, Savannah.  HERE 

Savannah was showing an interest in sewing at that time.

That didn't happen, so then I thought I'd keep her as a backup machine.  That was two years ago....have only fired her up once.  Obviously I don't really need a back up machine.

This summer I will be driving from my 'ol Kentucky home to California for my grandson's H.S. graduation...with a stop off in Vegas to spend time with The Quilting Niece, her siblings and their mom....Baby Doll is going to finally find a new home either with Miss Savannah,
or Miss JayCee ??   (See Above)  Because, honestly, do I REALLY need FIVE sewing machines? (The answer is "no.")

But, in the meantime....let's see how she performs.

March is off to a promising start!

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.

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.

The UFO Plan

 

2025 is going to be THE YEAR...
The Year to get my UFO's under control...

...I'll either Finish them or Pass them on to someone who will ....

 

 

I signed up with River's Edge, paid my fee and started the process.

 

 

Step one was to dug all the UFOs out from the closet, drawers and cubbies.

(Is it my imagination, or are there MORE this year than last year??? 
They seem to be multiplying ... like wire hangers in the back of the closet!!!)

 

 

 Lou is amazed....and bored...

 

 

 

Two groups of UFOs ... 40, total.  

So Neat and Tidy! I'm actually excited to get started, I may not wait for January!

A R E A     51

Everything is organized and labeled and ready!!

Just Like Clockwork

Every Year...About This Time...We visit the UFOs ...

I made my list....checked it twice.. picked my numbers and organized it all... HERE And accomplished ABSOLUTELY NOTHING*!

Last year American Patchwork & Quilting stopped picking the number each month...left it up to each individual person...some of the wind went out of my sail.  But, we have a new year just around the corner!!  A new beginning...A fresh start....
and Hope Springs Eternal!

According to the FaceBook posts for this group, I'm in good company...

Barbara did make me laugh out loud!  I can so relate!

Melanie's D.H. has volunteered to pick the number each month in 2025.  What a sweet Hubby!!

Now that I have returned from my travels I will, once again, pull out all the UFOs from their hiding places and make my list...and check it twice and gear up for 2025!

 

In addition to the American Patchwork and Quilting, River's Edge Antiques and Quilting is sponsoring a challenge. This idea just may work for some of us..... Charge a fee....there is something about plunking down a few bucks that gets my attention,
for sure!  

 

This is the one I joined for 2025.  HERE 
Let's see if mixing it up helps get the job done!

* I guess it wasn't ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.  I dug out my 2024 UFO Project list.  I finished a few things: