London through the eyes of an 11 year old--post 2

J requested a boat tour on the Thames. She reasoned that listening to stories would be more entertaining that racing down the river in speed boat or taking a dignified city cruise or riding in the water public transport. She was right!

J in front of the fountain near our pick up point

J enjoyed the Terrible Thames boat tour. Over the years that I've visited, I've heard the music on this tour as the boat travels within site of my daughter's flat. We didn't have far to go to arrive at the meeting point. We only had to walk across Tower bridge and then down to the dock.

J enjoying the tour

The tour was 45 minutes and perfect for kids/families. J enjoyed learning a little about the history of some of the bridges and buildings along the route. 

Quilting Grow/Another Broken Foot--post 4

Late last Wednesday, I returned from a two week visit to my daughter who lives in London, England. My 11 year old granddaughter, J, was my travel partner. It was fun to see London and Paris through an 11 year old's eyes! Yes, we squeezed in a few days in Paris. We HAD to go someplace her sister hadn't been yet! My plan is to post about the trip on Sundays. You can read the first post here.

Circle motif for the sashing

Broken foot

I've missed reading a number of blog posts. If I read posts, I likely wasn't able to comment. I haven't linked up in some time. While I'll be linking less since my trip had nothing to do with quilting, I am getting back into the "swing of things! I did photograph some tile that would be a great quilt pattern.

At any rate, the jet lag, while it could have been worse, has tinkered some with my head. Besides wanting to sleep when I should be awake, I'm not feeling creative. Rather than work on projects that require thought, I chose to continue quilting "Grow" in the ditch.

Leaf quilting

I realized I hadn't added that project to my August list; but, it is on the list now! It is goal number 11 which is to make progress quilting it! After a couple of sessions, I had finished the ditch quilting. I wanted to keep the quilting simple; but, Gertie, my inner squirrel, convinced me to quilt a bunch of circles in the sashing and outer borders. 

View of the sashing and border circles

I've spent about 14 hours quilting the circles and completed the sashing. I started quilting the borders and my ruler foot broke. This is the fourth time the foot has broken. Bernina has known of this problem for years. 

Since I was quilting with a group on Zoom, I moved on to quilting the leaves because I could do that with a quarter inch foot. While I quilted, I contemplated how I was going to replace this foot.

My challenge this time is that it wasn't as simple as going to my dealer for a new one as I had done on 3/2017, 11/2017 and 5/2020 because that dealer is no longer a dealer. I e-mailed another dealer. Kudos to this dealer as I received a phone call about two hours after I had sent the e-mail.

Overall view

The jest of the conversation was that there was one ruler foot left in stock and it would be set aside for me at a reduced cost of $68. I said a foot ought to last and this was the fourth time it had broken. I didn't have sales receipts because the dealer just exchanged it. I said Bernina knows it is a design flaw and I shouldn't have to pay anything and neither should you as the dealer!

When I went in to the store to pick up the foot, I left the dates that I had replaced the foot. She was surprised that I had the replacement dates. I had blogged about the foot so the documentation was in post form! She gave me a greater discount. I paid $36 for the replacement. I'm glad it wasn't the full price of $77! 

I do appreciate the service the dealer provided. She said she had contacted the company and maybe I'll get my $36 returned to me. The good news is that while the foot looks the same to me, the design has changed so perhaps it will not break. I'm saving the receipt though in case it does break!

After quilting a few leaves and once I had the new foot, I continued quilting the border. I'd appreciate any suggestions about what motif to put around the leaves. I may continue working on this project for awhile until I get over the jet lag. My issue is that about six in the evening I fade and fade fast. By seven, I can't keep my eyes open so off to bed I go. I wake up about every two to three hours thinking that I've slept the night. By three in the morning, my body is finished with trying to sleep!

Linking up with Finished or Not Friday, Patchwork Quilts and Oh Scrap!

London Through the Eyes Of An 11 Year Old--post 1

At departure from Portland, Oregon

July 23 through August 6, my 11 year old granddaughter, J, and I visited London, England where my daughter and youngest granddaughter live. The four of us also spent four days in Paris, France. This was J's first time to London and France. We took the usual photos before departing the Portland airport. It is a "thing" here, to photo one's shoes against the airport carpet before one leaves. We made sure to capture that moment!

Iconic shoe photo with the airport carpet

I'll be writing a series of posts describing the top six activities of J's trip. There is no particular order to the posts There may be several activities in a post. 

The cats at the cafe

This post will highlight having high tea at Whiskers and Cream which is a cat cafe. Admittance is by reservation only. The cats are rescues. Patrons can pet, play, photo and admire the cats during their reservation time. The cat no no rules were few. You can't feed the cats people food and you can't pick up the cats. You could order a drink, a drink and a dessert, a high tea or a meal. The time period for high tea was 90 minutes.

The cat, Jack

J LOVED watching, petting and photographing the various cats. She took more than 100 photos/videos of the cats. She snapped the majority of photos in this post.

Basil about to leap

There were cats on tables, on chairs, on scratching posts and in cat beds scattered about the cafe.

Basil in repose

The patrons were all busy with The food was definitely second fiddle to the cats as far as J was concerned! She has an intolerance to dairy. This cafe was able to make a tea that contained no dairy which was great.

Jack making himself available for seating too

We did see one cat try to join a group having a high tea. One of the employees walked over and picked him up before he could help himself to the treats!

The three tier tea tray part way through tea

Our tea consisted of sandwiches, scones and a variety of desserts.

J rated the experience a success

To get to this location, we took a bus,  two trains and walked about ten minutes. I was impressed that I was able to navigate there and even more impressed that I was able to navigate back to my daughter's house!

I'll be using my Sunday posts to document our trip. Goal number six on my August list was to begin documenting my trip. 

Rita's Rhododendron Trail Is A Top!

The skinny border sandwiched between
the top and outer border

When I wrote the last post about progress on my Grassy Creek project, I noted that I planned to detour and finish a Rhododendron Trail top that my friend, Rita, had started. It was her first Bonnie Hunter quilt. It was also a mystery quilt. 

This mystery happened during COVID and Rita didn't have enough pinks in her stash. At least one member of our Mystery Mavens group mailed Rita fabric. Stashes were shared because in person shopping wasn't a task that Rita could do.

Rita pieced away on the project. We celebrated when she announced to the group that she had the top done in the summer of 2023. . at least, that was what I thought I had heard. 

When she died a few months later, I learned that the family wasn't interested in having that project finished for them; but, they were happy to gift it to me. That happened in April 2024. I helped them distribute a lot of Rita's fabric, sewing supplies and quilting projects. I worked on my own projects as well as her temperature quilt that he family did want finished. This project languished in its project box.

The top on my bed

Last month, I pulled it out because the Gresham Senior Center is holding an auction in the fall to support quilting activities. Rita supported a number of organizations with time and quilty projects. She would approve of her project raising money to support quilt activities.

When I pulled the project from the box, Rita had the center complete and two of the skinny borders stitched to the center. The other strips were cut. I laid the quilt on a bed and using the center of the top, I measured the strips for length. Then I stitched the two remaining borders to the top. I did need to do a little easing. I did need to rip the stay stitches that were stitched beyond the seam allowances. 

I took photos of the 89 x100 inch top. 

Rita had pieced the flying geese borders. I did do a little unstitching and restitching so the borders mimicked the pattern.  I cut the binding strips and stitched them together. I took the top, the binding and the batting that was in the project box to the Senior Center at the end of June. 

The top on my living room floor

There was backing available which will look great. A volunteer will quilt it and another will add the binding. I'm glad to have my part in this project "finished!" The center is having a fundraiser in October to raise money for their quilting activities. I know that Rita would be happy to support the center in this way. I may make a bid or two on it at that fundraiser!

Goal number seven on my August list was to document getting Rita's Rhododendron Trail mystery to a top! 

ReCap of July and August 2025 Goals

Solid acquisitions

I'll be away for my usual Sunday post so. . .I'm posting early!!!!

While I did begin quilting Grow, I purchased fabric so I didn't make notable progress toward my annual goals this month.

My Annual Goals are:

✒1. Have a net loss of 100 yards of fabric from my stash.

✒2. Finish six UFOs

✔ a. Temperature 2021--pin basted and ditched quilted started in January;  progress made in February. Almost finished the quilting in March. Completed the project in April. Hooray!!!! 

b. Temperature 2022-2023

c. Martha's House blocks--purchased backing in May

✒ d. Positively Grows--pin basted in February; started ditch quilting in July

✔e. Maze top--purchased backing in May; longarmer quilted and I added the binding, sleeve and label in June!

f. Butterfly number four 

Fabric Summary:

Fabric in this month: 20 3/4 yards   

Fabric in year to date: 58 3/4 yards

Fabric used from stash this month: 0 yards 

Challenge, Sweet Tooth binding and Sweet Additions 
fabric purchases

Fabric used from stash year to date: 83 yards

Net loss/gain this month: 20 3/4 yards

Net loss/gain year to date: -24.25 yards  

My July goals were:

✔1. Make the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks. This month the color is purple!

✔2. Make some 2025 Temperature quilt blocks each Friday of the month when possible.

✔3. Continue with the knee rehabilitation. Last May, I was able to schedule two PT appointments.

✔4. Work on Grassy Creek at least twice.

✔5. Figure out the back and binding for Sweet Tooth.

✔6. Begin quilting Grow. I scheduled several days to start; but, it just didn't happen. I got sidetracked with quilting Stitch by Stitch and by the scraps from the Sweet Tooth mystery. 

Binding this project

✔7. Piece the back to Stitch by Stitch. Layer and pin baste it.

✒8. Spend 15 minutes before each sewing session processing scraps--prewashing, cutting, etc..I started well; but, lost momentum. I need to rethink the scrap processing as I am easily distracted seeing SHIBs! Also, while prewashing is necessary, doing it with small pieces takes time and patience.

My August goals are:

1. Share my progress with the Triple Treat Leader Ender project.

2. Make the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.

3. Sew more 2025 Temperature quilt blocks.

4. Make progress on Grassy Creek.

5. Document gifting a quilt to my niece for her wedding.

6. Begin documenting my trip to London, England.

7. Document Rita's Rhododendron Trail becoming a top.

8. Bind and label Sweet Tooth.

9. Make progress on Stitch By Stitch.

10. Document one QoV presentation.

11. Make progress quilting Grow.

Grow--Ditch Quilting Begun--post 3

Goal number six on my July list was to begin quilting "Grow." Early in the month, I set aside some days to do just that . . .only, no quilting occurred. I'd have some time that I could spend on the project and I chose to work on another project. . .like Stitch By Stitch, the 2025 Temperature blocks, string piecing. . .

Ditch quilting

So. . .a few days before the end of the month, I took Linda D's mantra of just doing a bit on the project to make progress. I wound a bobbin, threaded monofilament thread in the machine, applied the walking foot and completed one row of ditch quilting.

Not the progress I had intended; but, progress none the less! I'll make more progress in August!

Temperature Blocks 2025; Progressing--post three

Staging area

It's been more than a minute since I worked on these blocks. . .actually, my last post was in March! I made progress in June. Goal number two on my July list was to sew some blocks. This year with my monthly goal setting, I've tried to set achievable goals. My friend, Linda D., talks a lot about making "progress." I adopted her line. So instead of writing, I'm making a certain amount of blocks or getting to a certain point in a project, I write: make some, or make progress!

This change in focus has helped me be more successful and enjoy the process a bit more. When I worked on previous temperature quilts, I did try to stay current. I may have started slowly and I may have had a few months where I was behind. Eventually, I caught up.

Some house centers 

I'm planning that this year will be no different! Although, I MUST devote some time to this project. Last Friday, I pulled it out. Of course, I had to reacquaint myself with my process; but, I did move forward. 

I start with having the size of strips I need to make the block in a temperature range. I don't cut these strips until I need that particular temperature. Then I take the two
bundles as one is the low temperature range and the other is the high temperature range, to my sewing area.

I paper piece the center section of one block while I add the roof and background to another. In this way, I can chain piece blocks. When I finish a block, I add it to the row. 

The beginning of the third row

As I use a strip, I cut more so that my little "packets" are ready for use.I am using a painless foundation paper piecing technique which means I anchor the first piece of fabric to a paper foundation and then I fold the paper away as I stitch the seams. Using this technique means I don't have paper to remove when I'm finished with the block. Best yet, it means I can reuse the pattern! I found a similar You Tube video here.

In a sewing session, I fully pieced seven blocks and four centers. I have sewn enough blocks to piece together a couple rows. I had thought that I would insert a solid fabric between the rows; but, because the rows are so long, I would have to piece those too. I decided to take my time and match the intersections.

The first two rows sewn together

Moving forward, my plan is to spend some time one day a week on this project. Last month, I began with January 20 and ended with March 29. While I am still behind, I'm not as behind as I once was! I will need to devote more time to the project; but, I will figure that out along the way. 

July progress

I did use all of my background fabric for rainy and sunny days. I placed an order to replenish those fabrics along with a few others that are runny low. I purchase online from The Quilter's Trunk which is located in Liberty, Kentucky. They are a family owned and run business. My order arrived last week. 

I missed a couple Fridays to make progress on this project while I was waiting for the background fabric and then I needed to prewash it. I did stitch almost another row this row. I'm back at it now and more progress will be made!

Fabric Summary:

Fabric in this month: 20 3/4 yards   

Fabric in year to date: 58 3/4 yards

Fabric used from stash this month: 0 yards 

Fabric used from stash year to date: 83 yards

Net loss/gain this month: 20 3/4 yards

Net loss/gain year to date: -24.25 yards 

Linking to Oh Scrap

A Fabric Purchase and a Knee Update

Fabric purchase

Goal number three on my July list was to continue with my knee rehabilitation. Last May, I was able to make two physical therapy appointments for the first and third week of July. It is crazy that I had to wait so long; but, the demand for service is high and the therapists are booked! 

This is a facility that my primary care provider strongly encouraged me to try to see if I could gain more flexibility and have less pain. At my first appointment, I was impressed that I was able to do all the exercises. I was able to do the exercises the following day. The day after that. . .well, progress went south.

The floor after my haircut

At my next appointment, we switched the exercises with ones that activated the muscles in a different way. Again, I left the appointment hopeful. The day after was good and the rest of the week was good. I thought that I was finally on the road to a full recovery. At the third appointment, I was given a slightly advanced variation of the exercises from the previous week. I was sore for days after the appointment and have backed off on the number of repetitions; but, I believe I am still improving. Fingers crossed that the improvement continues! Because of my schedule, I won't have another appointment for a couple weeks.

I'm still going to an acupuncture appointment once a week. It helps reduce the swelling and the tightness that is in my thigh and knee. 

Buoyed by the PT success, I made a hair cut appointment for myself. I've worn my hair long for years. Before the cut, it was down to the middle of my back. I was ready for a change. I asked for a wash and wear style. This style will work well. I feel lighter without the length and it sure is faster to wash in the shower!

New hairstyle.

On the fabric front, I purchased more background fabric for my "extra" project that I started piecing from the scraps of the Sweet Tooth mystery. Because I made the extra blocks from the scraps that Bill and Weeks called "Sweet Additions," this project will be named, "Sweet Additions."  I bought fabric for the sleeve and binding for it as well as Sweet Tooth. I even bought a piece of fabric for a challenge. More on that once I begin the project! I also purchased a spool of neutral thread for piecing. 

Where I purchased these fabrics is out of the ordinary. My friend, Nancy, has had a fabric shop in her garage for over 20 years. It is the one place to go for a visit where you can come home having done serious damage to your budget! Seriously, she stocks wonderful fabrics and she has a great color sense so you can't go wrong if you are struggling with what works for your project. Since my workshop with Irene Roderick, I mainly purchase blenders, solids or fabrics that read as solids. Nancy has a great variety.

Fabric Summary:

Fabric in this month: 6 3/4 yards   

Fabric in year to date: 44 3/4 yards

Fabric used from stash this month: 0 yards 

Fabric used from stash year to date: 83 yards

Net loss/gain this month: 6 3/4 yards

Net loss/gain year to date: -38.25 yards  

I'm not decreasing my stash; but, it will happen. I may need to make finishing projects more of a priority. I have several that are at the quilting stage. Hmmm. . .maybe September will be a quilting month!