Santa Tree Skirt--pieced--post 2

Santa's boots and belt buckle

Goal number eight on my April list was to continue piecing the Santa Tree skirt. Last month, I got off to a rough start. This month, I'm making progress! I did celebrate with a happy dance after I correctly pieced the boot sections this time!

Four Santa sections ready to piece into a block 

There are a lot of pieces in this project with a lot of marking squares on the diagonal and sewing the line, trimming the excess. There is also a lot of matching of angles. It is not a fast project! The finished blocks measure 12 and a half inches.

Face details

After the blocks are finished, I add the details to the face: the eyes and the mustache. I use fabric marking pens for the eyes. I add stabilizer (fusible backed interfacing) to the wrong side of the mustache pieces. I use a narrow reverse blind hem stitch to attach the mustache pieces to the face.

Pieced top

I always struggle with putting the blocks together. The layout is a little funky with parts of the block needing to be trimmed.This time, I had no issues with the "Y" seam at the bottom of the top. the seam at the top will be opened. The pattern has you cut it; but, if you do that, you will lose the points on the arms. I'll be adding a ruffle to the edge and ties. The step after that will be to add the batting and backing and sew around the edges leaving an opening to turn it. 

I may continue working on this project until I get it "birthed" and ready to quilt. I'm happy to have this much of it done! My niece is getting married in July and this tree skirt will be her wedding present.

I'm linking to Frédérique and Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap.

March ReCap and April Goals

Free motion motif for Temperature quilt

My two 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.  

b. Temperature 2022-2023

c. Martha's House blocks

✒ d. Positively Grows--pin basted in February

e. Maze top

f. Butterfly number four 

Fabric Summary:

Fabric in this month: 6 yards    

Fabric in year to date: 14 yards

Fabric used from stash this month: 0 yards

Fabric used from stash year to date: 6 yards

Free motion motif around the circles/highs of the day

Net loss/gain this month: 0 yards

Net loss/gain year to date: +8 yards

I did purchase a wide back fabric for Old Town. 

My March goals were:

✔1. Document my progress with the Sweet Tooth Mystery.

✔2. Continue quilting my 2021 Temperature quilt. The first three photos are the free motion quilting that I did.

✒3. Baste and begin quilting "Love Makes a Family."I basted but didn't quilt!

✔4. Begin piecing the Santa Tree skirt. After a rough start, I'm making progress.

✔5. Continue making progress on the Old Town mystery. -- It's now a top!

Lines in the piano key border

✔6. Continue making progress with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks. 

✒7. Paper piece an average of two blocks per day for the 2025 Temperature quilt. I have January pieced and some of February.

✔8. Figure out what to do for the next book club quilt.

✖9. Complete the August bonus lesson and the September embroidery lesson. Since I'm still unable to sit in my chair, I didn't work on this assignment. I'm taking it off my list until I can spend time in my chair!

✔10. Continue with the knee PT. The last two sessions of PT took me four days to sort of recover. For now, I'm giving PT a break. I can do the exercises, walk and swim. I will have weekly acupuncture appointments and a monthly massage. Let's see if I have more extension and less pain at the end of next month. My flexibility is good now; but, I'm thinking it could be a little better.

One section of Santa pieced for tree skirt

Last month, I made progress. There were times when I thought much less would have been achieved! I am especially excited that Old Town is a top! 

My April goals are:

1. Trim the threads from the back of Old Town.

2. Schedule Old Town quilting with the longarmer.

3. Share the Indigo Way quilts that were shared at the guild quilt show.

4. Share the book club quilts that were shared at the guild quilt show.

5. Share the judges feed back about quilts that I entered.

6. Sort a small bag of scraps.

7. Finish the 2021 Temperature Quilt.

8. Continue piecing the Santa Tree skirt.

9. Continue with knee rehabilitation. 

10, Make progress on Love Makes a Family,

11. Make progress on Fleur.

12. Make progress on Sweet Tooth.

13. Share the story of "As Noted."

14. Make the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.

I'm linking to Carol at To Do Tuesday and Alycia at Finished or not Friday.

A Germ of an Idea--post one

Panel for the project

Goal number eight on my March list was to figure out what to do for our next book club quilt. We are reading "The Dressmaker of Khair Khana" by Gayle Tzemach Lemmon. I had read the book a couple years ago. RecentlyI listened to it through my library's Libby app. I tried to become inspired. Some books are easier than others. This story is about a woman who figures out a way to thrive under the Taliban rules for women in Afghanistan.

I was inspired by the color green because it was the green gate that was outside their home. Crossing through it meant they were safe at home. I was also inspired by the tiny flower the dressmaker made on her first project. I thought about all the handwork the women did. Perhaps, I could incorporate some beading and embroidery in this piece.

I'm trying to use from my stash. A couple years ago during a Zoom sew session, a friend shared some panel prints that she hadn't done anything with and was ready to let them go. I said I would like them. She gave them to me. It cost me the trip of driving into Portland to pick them up. 

Backing fabric for panel

At first, I was going to use them all in one piece. . .then, I thought of other options until nothing came to me and I stored them . . .out of sight, out of mind. . .until, I thought about a project for this book! This print with the green background is "it."

I have a backing fabric and will need to quilt it as the beading and embroidery will be embellishment. I was going to use a Warm and Natural type of batting. Instead, I will use wool batting because it will be easier to add the embellishments. I may call it "Fleur." I have other projects in the works---as is usual for me--so I may need to let the idea percolate for awhile. At least I have the germ of an idea! 

While I'm on the subject of books, my two favorite reads/listens this month were "Good Night Irene" by Louis Alberto Urrea and "Women in White Coats" by Olivia Campbell. I am reading/listening to Patrick Taylor's series which begins with "An Irish Country Doctor." 

New York City--Rockefeller Square

On another note, Blogger may have changed something which makes commenting on my blog impossible. I'm sad about missing your comment. I did goggle the issue. What did we do before google? I tried changing my comment settings which had no effect.  You might try emptying your cache to see if that works for you. Please let me know if it does! Thanks in advance!

A stuffed bear

We did enjoy the granddaughters' visit last Thursday. They didn't arrive until 11am as they wanted to sleep in! I was the one who baked the cookies and the sourdough rolls to go with my homemade chicken noodle soup. They did enjoy lunch and there were enough leftovers that I could put together a care package for my friend Wendy who had come down with a nasty cold bug.

The Eiffel Tower

The younger granddaughter and I did go for a swim at Wendy's pool; but the older granddaughter had time with Papa because she was getting over a cold. We did some art. We were prompted to find an inspiration. Miss K chose a photo from her trip to New York. Miss J chose a stuffed bear. I chose a piece of pottery.

We drew a resemblance of the inspiration. Then we played with taking a shape and making something else out of the shape. We added words. It was fun and a great way to journal a trip or an activity. We spent about half an hour on the activity. While we worked independently, we chatted as we worked which was fun too!

Linking to Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap!

Santa Tree Skirt--piecing begun--post 1

One and two are incorrect

Monday was an in person sew day with my "Sew Happy" group. I went with my Santa tree skirt kit that I cut last month. I started stitching the sections for the boots. 

Wouldn't you know it. . .I stitched the wrong size square to the end of the first section I stitched. Because I trimmed the excess fabric, I couldn't reclaim it. 

In the photo, the sections labeled one and two were incorrect. It was back to the studio to recut the pieces that I had sewn. . . .sigh. . .I had made little progress. 

Replacement pieces cut

That afternoon, I managed to recut most of the fabrics. Friday, I'll spend some time stitching them. I will be sure to mark the pattern as to the size of that square so I don't make that mistake again! Because I did actually sew on this project this month, I've met goal number four on my March list.

This week, as I've had free time, I've continued adding motifs around the appliquéd squares on my Temperature Quilt. I'm getting closer to finishing the quilting. I plan to work on that project today.

Tomorrow, the oldest granddaughters invited themselves to spend a day with us. it is spring break. We are looking forward to their visit. They are 11 and almost 13 years old. We will likely play with making some art in the morning with a swim session scheduled in the afternoon. 

I have had a request for chicken noodle soup for lunch which I'll serve with some sourdough rolls. I've an acupuncture appointment in the morning and while I'm away, I plan for them to bake cookies for dessert. It will be a full and fun day.

Basting Love Makes A Family--post 3

Filler stitch on the right completed. Shape on the left begun.

Goal number three on my March list was to baste and begin quilting Love Makes A Family. I spent my free time last week quilting my 2021 Temperature Quilt. While I'm getting closer to a finish, I've hours left to quilt! I plan to be working on it this weekend. I'll be making the wonky shape around the appliquéd centers in the photo on the left. Friday, I finished quilting all the blank squares with the filler on the right.

Taping the backing to the table

I view at my monthly goal list almost every day. This month, I am not making the progress that I had hoped. I decided that I could at least meet half of goal number three which was to baste and begin quilting the top "Love Makes A Family" that I pieced in February. I pulled the supplies and taped the backing to my table. Usually, I would use some clamps but this backing is smaller than my table so tape it was.

Batting in place

The batting of choice for this project is a leftover piece of wool batting that I pieced together. I layered it on top of the backing and lightly smoothed it in place. I wish that wool batting wasn't so expensive as it is a favorite of mine! I like the puff it gives when quilted. I also like how it drapes around a body.

Ready for quilting

I smoothed the top on the batting and pinned. Once pinned, I trimmed the excess batting and backing. When I finish quilting the temperature quilt, I'll begin quilting this project. . .although, it might not be this month. This is okay, I'm making progress and that is what counts!

Linking to Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap.

Sweet Tooth Mystery--post 1

February 14 was when Bill and Weeks of Modern Quilt Studio dropped the first clue. We were to make different recipes for the size of top we selected. The recipes should illustrate transparency. I struggled with this step. I rejected some options and wasn't sure about the options I chose!

A rejected option

The directions were to stitch the recipes together so we would remember which fabrics we chose to group together. We were to press the seams open. I generally press the seams to one side; but, I decided that I would give pressing the seams open a try. What I learned was that I needed to sew an exact quarter inch rather than a scant quarter inch. Pressing the seams to one side takes up some space!

The recipes

We were to make two different units using the fabrics from our recipes. On my first go, I didn't get the transparency effect that I had envisioned. I should have chosen a green that was closer in hue to the blue and yellow fabrics to have made the transparency effect work.

A failed recipe

Back to the fabrics, I decided to try to get a brown transparency. I had better success. It was also better to layout the fabrics and step back. Viewing the fabrics that way made it easier for me to see if I achieved transparency or not.

Better attempt at transparency 

I continued with the process until I had made all the blocks in the first clue. There are some additional blocks to make. I haven't felt like playing with these fabrics to make the blocks. I want to enjoy this project so I'll likely wait until I finish quilting my temperature quilt before I work more on this project.

More blocks. . .some blocks are subtle transparencies

These blocks are better. These will work. I didn't take a photo of the second set of blocks. They are stitched and labeled, however! Stay tuned. I'll post about as I work through the clues. Goal number one on my March list was to document my progress on this project. 

Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday.

Quilting the 2021 Temperature Quilt--post 2

Quilting the month strips close up of the stipple

I greatly underestimated the amount of time it would take me to finish quilting the strip of fabric containing the month and the spacer strip at the end of the month. Part of the underestimation came from my left knee. 

View of both the top and bottom strips. . .lots of pebbles

Since the day it took me 2.5 hours to drive home from work because of the snow, I've been experiencing sciatica pain in my left leg. Some days, I can't sit to quilt because my leg goes numb! Piecing is okay because after stitching a seam, I stand up, walk a few steps and press. UGH!!! I am so over the knee and now sciatica issues!!!! Am I improving? Maybe, I'm doing the exercises from physical therapy and have had several acupuncture treatments. I don't have the extension of my knee that I had before that drive; but, I'm working on getting it back!

More pebbles. . .these are part of the legend

After I had completed the month strips, I moved on to the legend sections. I stippled around the temperatures. I pebbled the open areas as well as around the rain and snow section. It took me half an hour to quilt a seven inch by three inch section. It took me about three minutes to stipple around the temperatures. 

Then it was back to the invisible thread and stitching in the ditch. Stitching in the ditch is necessary; but it is also so boring!!! I chose to take on this task during a couple zoom sew sessions. Doing a boring task while people are talking and laughing is so much better! Goal number two on my March list was to continue the quilting of this temperature quilt. I've made good progress so that is a win!

Quilting the legend

I've about half of the months to complete the ditch stitching. What will be left is the free motion squiggle around the circles and the straight lines in the border. I had hoped to finish the quilting this month; but, it may not happen. 

The sciatica pain in my left hip/leg is causing me a lot of discomfort. Sitting is uncomfortable. Walking to begin is hard; but, after a minute or two gets easier and a few minutes after that walking gets hard again. The pain radiates from my hip to the middle of my thigh, to the outside of my knee and down my shin to my ankle where the pain pulsates! If I don't stop and rest, that pain moves to throbbing. Tylenol or Ibuprofen don't even take the edge off of the throbbing. I quilt in short stretches and not more than an hour in total.

Friday, physical therapy gave me a few more exercises to do for pain relief. The session itself was painful and all day yesterday I still felt the effects of the session. I've decided to give physical therapy one more week. If I don't feel better, I'm giving it a rest. Perhaps, my body will heal better using massage and acupuncture. I know that I will get better. I have to find what will work and I need to be patient. . .sigh!!!!!

I did work two and a half days this week. At the end, I wasn't as exhausted or in as much pain as I was last month so I know that I am getting better. 

Linking to Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap.

2025 Rainbow Scrap Challenge Yellow--post 2

Daffodils blooming in the yard

Angela chose yellow as the color for March in the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. Honestly, when I think of the color yellow, I think of daffodils. These are such happy flowers which always make me smile!

Sewing the yellow selvage squares

For the scrap challenge this month, I was ready! I pulled my yellow selvage squares and began stitching them into blocks. Finishing the blocks was goal number six on my March list.

Yellow blocks completed 

Now that I'm organized, in no time, I had finished piecing the blocks.I wanted to see the yellow blocks with the pink and blue blocks. I arranged them all on the design wall. I liked what I saw.

The finished blocks

Then my little squirrel, Gertie, began swishing her tail and chattering. She wants to know how these will be set because she thinks there aren't enough! I told her that I didn't know what layout I would use. I told her that I was okay with making more blocks . . .maybe next year. . .well. . .She harrumphed me big time!! She obviously wants to see this finished sooner rather than later! LOL

Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday and Angela at Scrap Happy!