Fun at Gran and Papa's

Airplane ride

When you are four and live in another country, going to your grandparent's home is an adventure because you fly on an airplane for a long time. The best part of the ride is that mama packs a lot of snacks to munch while I get to watch my shows!

Playing in the sand at Cape Cod

Mama and I spent some time in Cape Cod to visit friends and to give me time to adjust to the time change. I loved playing in the sand, eating pasta and finding a mermaid t-shirt! I had less jet lag when I arrived at Gran and Papa's house.

Sorting string fabric

At Gran and Papa's house, I got to sort fabric. I thought Gran had lettuce in her sewing room because that was what the scraps looked like to me!

Lap time with Papa and Bailey

Bailey shared Papa's lap with me whenever I wanted. She was an awful nice dog to pet and scratch.We celebrated her 12th birthday while I was there.  I will miss her when I come to visit in October because she crossed the Rainbow Bridge four days after I returned to London. I know Papa and Gran miss her!

Sewing strings

I learned the parts of the sewing machine and how to make the stitches go forward and reverse. I laughed when Gran told me about the "foot." I thought she was kidding me because I know what a foot looks like! Sewing strings was too boring. I decided it wasn't safe for a four year old to press as I could burn myself with the iron. I told Gran that pressing was for adults! 

Gran repaired the rip in my favorite striped dress and let me wear it as often as I wanted.

Scraping zucchini seeds

I like cooking. Especially when tools are involved. I liked using a spoon to scoop out the zucchini seeds. Gran cut the pieces so they fit my hand. I got to do a lot of scraping!

Zucchini shreds everywhere

Better than scraping was shredding because Gran let me use a machine she called a food processor. I said it was a giant shredder! I got to measure the shreds and sometimes the shreds went other places than in the bowl or the plastic bag. I don't know how those got on the floor!

Adding chocolate chips to the top

Gran let me write on the freezer bags. She said there was enough zucchini to make three zucchini cakes later and one for today. I like eating especially if one of the ingredients is chocolate. I got to use the mixer to stir in the ingredients. Some ingredients went in a different order than how Gran usually makes the recipe.

Testing the batter

The cake was delicious so the changes I made were okay. I liked being the taste tester to ensure that while the cake was baking  the batter was edible!

New swimsuit

Gran made me a new swim suit to wear to my friend Wendy's swim pool. I love to go swimming. Gran let me choose the fabric. My cousin had a suit out of this fabric so it was special to have one like hers!

My art for thank you notes

We painted and made thank you notes for people who gave me gifts of swimming and puzzles. I like to watercolor. I like using a glue stick and I love the color pink! I wrote my thank you on the front and Gran translated my words on the back of the card. 

Checking out the castle at Enchanted Forest

My cousins and Auntie took me to the Enchanted Forest amusement park and the zoo. I like hanging out with my cousins. My auntie is special; but, my Uncle really rocks!

Paper removal of string blocks

Ripping the paper from the back of the completed string blocks was a lot of fun! I could do it faster than Gran!

Riding the trike with Papa and Bailey

Papa and I walked Bailey. I rode the trike almost every day.

Pillow case removal

Gran showed me how to take the pillow cases off of the pillows to wash the cases. I liked shaking the pillow which was almost as tall as me!

Baking sourdough bread

Gran and I baked a loaf of sourdough bread. I liked it best as toast with lots of butter.

Hammering the nails

Papa and I watered the flowers and cut off the old flowers from the roses. I built a letter box out of a kit that came from Home Depot. When my right arm was tired hammering the nails, I switched to my left hand. Papa always started the nails and held the parts still. I never hit his fingers. Papa said I have good eye/hand coordination.

Finished letter box

Gran helped me decorate my mailbox with stickers that came in the kit. I love stickers.

Tracing a coloring sheet

Gran showed me how to trace. I liked making the lines; but, I liked painting best. When I come to visit next month, I want to bake another cake and paint a lot more! I bet Gran will let me!

Documenting my granddaughter's activities during her August stay was goal number two on my September list.

Marigold--A Meadow Mist Designs Mystery--post 1

Front to back: block background fabric, 
accent fabric and main background fabric 

First: A dear friend's dad, who served in the Signal Corps British Army during WWII, needs a quilt. He served in Africa and Cyprus. Dementia is robbing his brilliant mind. His daughter, who lives in the U.K., and I are collaborating on this project. She loves literature and loves looking at quilts; but, doesn't sew. If you have knowledge of a print, symbols that were used during that time, would you please contact me? Thank you!

Goal number one on my August list was to select fabric and begin piecing the clues for Marigold which is a free Meadow Mist Designs mystery. (This is the third project that I decided to start last month. Gertie, my inner squirrel, ran rampant. I should had have my head examined; but, all will be well!)

I was intrigued to participate in this mystery because the remaining fabric consists of about a yard and a quarter of scraps. I have an over abundance of those!

Dutchmen's puzzle block

Again, my quest is to use what I have! I dug through my stash and came up with more than enough main background fabric. This was leftover from the Sweet Tooth mystery and I had planned to use it to with the Sweet Additions blocks that I had sewn last year. If I have leftover fabric, I'll use it in the Sweet Additions project.

I'm about an eighth of a yard short of the solid that I chose for the accent fabric. I returned to the store where I had originally purchased; however, this solid wasn't available. I checked my local quilt shop and the area fabric store; but, I was unable to find it. 

I believe it is a Moda solid; but, there is no information on the selvage so I'm not sure! I have no idea what the color is. I purchased it because I liked that it was a brown toned dark grey! If I'm unable to find a closer match, my plan is to supplement the accent fabric with another dark solid fabric that is a similar value.

I also don't have enough of the yellow, which is the block background fabric. I'm about a quarter of a yard short. I do have a similar fabric available from my stash that will work so I'm okay there. 

All four Dutchmen's Puzzle blocks

In August, we received clue number one. We made two different blocks. I used the color swatches shown in the clue to guide me as I looked through my solid scraps to find enough fabrics to construct four Dutchmen's Puzzle blocks. I used green fabric because I had it. Although it wasn't a color listed in the swatches. 

Starting the selection process

Then, I moved on to selecting scraps for the six pointed star block. While I had enough of a few solid scraps, I had to go to the prints to find chunks big enough to cut the pieces needed for the block.

Kitted pieces sans the background fabric

After selecting the star fabrics, I cut the size pieces needed. I kitted the pieces with the block background fabric. While the directions were to have a print center in the star and solid star points, I used what I had. I did make one star without solid rays. I liked that fabric and had a big enough piece to cut the center block so I made the entire star out of that fabric. I hope I won't regret my decision later!

Five completed star blocks

After making nine blocks, I put them together to see how they look. They look cohesive. I didn't take a photo of them so you will have to trust me on that one! Bring on clue number two!

Small bits scrap bag

I ran out of days last month to post about this project. Here is the continuation of progress regarding the Marigold mystery! For September, we were to make Ohio Star and Chain blocks. I checked out my small scraps bag and found a few scraps that I could use for this project. As I was looking at the scraps, I thought why not also use the leftover chunks from the Modern Quilt Mystery from last year? I hadn't gotten around to putting the Sweet Additions blocks together; but, I figured. . .when I do. . .I can make a smaller quilt or I can---wait for it--- buy what I need!

Sweet Additions possibilities

Out came the bag of chunks. There was some stitch removal. There was some trimming and in the end, I cut the segments for the blocks and kitted them in a plastic bag.

Kitted block parts

A few days later, I cut the background pieces. I'm about out of the background. Maybe, I've purchased a similar background;. If I haven't, I've another that will work.

Background pieces cut

I sewed these blocks the day before and morning of my knee surgery. By the way, the surgery went well and the recovery is going well. I wrote a bit about my knee in my previous post. 

I did not read the directions correctly. I had cut too many chain blocks and not enough Ohio Star blocks! It's okay, I like those chain blocks. That extra block may become part of the back!

Ohio Stars and Chain blocks

I'm ready for Clue number three which will come out in October. While I can peek at the reveal for the mystery, I haven't; I like not knowing where or how the blocks will be used. Making progress on this project was goal number 10 on my September list. Linking to Oh Scrap, Sew & Tell and To Do Tuesday.

Purple Month Nine of the Rainbow Scrap Challenge--post 10

Purple Strings

Goal number three on my September list was to piece the Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks. This month the color is purple. At the beginning of the month I was organizing a bin. In the the bin were not one but two small bags of purple scraps. Adding the contents of my dedicated string bag made for a plethora of purple!

One purple block

I'm coming to the end of the constant fabric and likely I will not have enough to finish the project; but, I have another piece of fabric with dots that will work. I would have had enough of the fabric had I not changed the block orientation back in March! I'm fine with not having enough. I'm working with scraps and using it up works for me!

Two purple blocks

I had planned to make three purple blocks. I pieced enough purple for three blocks. However, I discovered that even after raiding my chunk drawers, I don't have enough variety of black strings to piece the third block. I still have enough gray strings. I did make an online order for a whole bunch of fat quarters that are a small print on a black background that appear to read as a neutral. If I use all of those, I will be asking my small group to send me some black strings. . .LOL!

Remaining purple scraps

After making these blocks, I had to see what all the blocks together look like so far. This is going to be a big quilt. . . .about 104 inches square as I'm planning to have a four by six block design. I am planning to piece grey and black string blocks to border this piece. It is likely that I will continue making blocks into next year. For sure, I want an orange, a red and a pink block. As for the other two blocks, I'm sure Gertie, my inner squirrel, will have an opinion or two to offer!! She's been telling me yellow and aqua.

All of the blocks so far

My knee surgery was last Monday. My surgeon left her initials on the knee to be revised. I said. . .what? Where is the love? She kind of looked at me and I said I think that knee needs a little pre love. How about leaving a heart? She thought that was a good idea. She said she would have to add a heart in the future.

The surgery was long (4.5 instead of three hours) and successful. I could straighten and bend my leg the day after more than I could before surgery! The top part of the prothesis was loose so I have a whole new one. I hope that is the last knee surgery I will have! I was in the recovery room for two hours--I remember nothing but the last 30 minutes or so. Because of the length of the surgery, I got to spend the night.

Marked and ready for surgery

I experienced hours of nausea. I was able to come in the afternoon the day after surgery. I was sent home with a wound vac. It is a small item that hooks to a tube in my spongy bandage. At intervals, the machine slowly compresses the bandage against the wound to remove any weeping (in two days there wasn't any). The compression blows air on the wound and helps it heal faster.

Homr

I also was introduced to a drug that blocks the nerves so there is less pain. The honeymoon from the drugs injected during the surgery have worn off. I have a lot of muscle soreness and stiffness. In the next week, this will lessen. I have less actual knee pain than I had before surgery. Recovering from knee surgery was goal number 11 on my September list.

Linking to Finished or Not Friday, So Scrappy and Patchwork and Quilts.

Summer Virtual Retreat

At the end of September, our guild held a virtual retreat. It started on Thursday and ended on Sunday. Because my family was in town until late Friday afternoon, I didn't really check in until after my daughter and granddaughter departed for London.

Toilet paper roll challenge

In our retreat bag, we were gifted an empty toilet paper roll. We were challenged to make something useful from it. There were some awesome entries. I had help. My little four year old carefully covered it and we made a cord holder out of it. She had fun. I had fun watching her carefully select just the "right" piece of fabric and glue it in place. 

Cord holder

The cup contains the Elmer's glue school glue container. The plastic zip lock bag contains a wet paper towel to wide fingers when there is glue build up. The newspaper grocery ads protect the surface from errant drop action.

There was a mini-precision workshop. We were gifted a small wool pressing bar and a bottle of a pressing spray that our retreat leader had made out of vodka and water. It really gets out the wrinkles from the fabric. We were gifted some fabric that was in the color of our team. My team was the red team. The pieces were cut on an Accu-Quilt machine. 

After hearing that the blocks were coming out small, I compared the Accu-Quilt piece to the piece I had cut. My piece was slightly larger which would make a difference. When I sewed my blocks, I was careful to sew a generous scant 1/4 inch. 

Comparing my cut with the Accu-Quilt cut

When I pressed, that red fabric wanted to shrink. It wasn't a hundred percent cotton so that could also have been a reason why people had trouble getting their blocks to size.

The blocks were called Jarts after the lawn game from the 70s. That is my era; but, I wasn't that familiar with the game. The block looked like Bonnie Hunter's current leader/ender, Tulip Swirl. 

We were to make four blocks. There are many ways to put these blocks together. The quilts made with the Jarts will be fun and will provide comfort to someone. By the way, my blocks were right on at four and half inches! Whew! As for the size issue of the red fabric, I learned 

Label and four Jart blocks

that it is important to place the fabrics carefully on the die to avoid shifting. Shifting could have happened with the cuts that I received.

We sewed. There were guest lectures. One was about Accu-Quilt dies. The lecturer rents space and the dies so people can cut out their projects much quicker than at home. One lecturer talked about how to prepare your projects to take to the longarmer and a little about the longarmer process. Another lecturer talked about the importance of keeping your machine clean and oiled.

Rail Fence variation charity blocks

We played BINGO. I won a game and a twenty-five dollar gift certificate to a great quilt shop that is in my friend Nancy's garage. I'll be going to visit after I recover from knee revision surgery. My surgery is tomorrow!

We were given a white square of fabric to make a label. Since our quilt show is around the corner, it was an opportunity for people to make a label. Some people were creative. I missed some of the directions so mine is plain. These will be trimmed to three and a half inches and used to label the quilts made with the dart blocks. 

Yellow string Rainbow Scrap Challenge block

We also made a second charity block using two colors. One color had to be a neutral and the other fabric could be of your choosing. The directions were from a four minute Sewing Parts On Line FaceBook video. 

These blocks will be used to make quilts for a kid's camp. If I were to make these, I'd heavily starch the fabrics as all the edges on are on the bias. 

Green string Rainbow Scrap Challenge block

While I like participating in the retreat activities, I really like making progress on my own project. This retreat had so many activities and so many people that needed a lot of help that I wasn't able to work on my own projects as much as I had anticipated. I did piece the yellow and green string blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge. 

In November, one of my small groups will be the hosts of a virtual retreat. I like attending a virtual retreat because I can eat my own food, sleep in my bed and not have to pack, cart, unpack, cart and repeat my supplies. I also won't forget an item. I like to listen to people chat. I get inspired and pick up a gem of a tip too! 

Sharing what I did on this retreat was goal number four on my September goal list.

I haven't been commenting on your posts because Blogger hasn't updated my blog roll in at least six days. Chantal, At the Corner of Scrap and Quilts, had a similar issue which resolved itself after several weeks. I'm hoping for the the same. Linking to Oh Scrap, Sew & Tell and To Do Tuesday,

Garden Flowers Is A Flimsy--post two

Progress mid July

Warning: this is one long post with many photos! Grab a cuppa! 

Goal number five on my September list was to share my progress on the Garden Flowers project. The last time that I posted about this project was July 22. I had moved from the plan of orienting the flower blocks like photos on a wall to arranging them around a center medallion.

Adding the sawtooth border and beginning to fill in the background 

I had raided the parts department for the leftovers that became the center star, points in the outer string border, half square triangles that I had incorrectly cut for the last Bonnie Hunter Mystery and an arm/hand I had made for a previous book club project.

Changing the position of the hand/arm

I had about a yard of yellow fabric to use for the background. This was a scrap from a previous project. I knew I couldn't make cutting errors because of the limited quantity! When I was creating the center medallion, I planned ahead so that the sides measure a full finished inch so that I could piece the sawtooth border. 

Adding a tiny spacer

When it came to inserting the flower blocks into the sawtooth border, I decided that I didn't want to cut into a HST to piece in the flower blocks. There would be too many seams and the design would get lost. I pieced a larger white triangle in this area. My goal was to piece as few Y seams as possible. Sometimes I had to add a spacer to make the pieces fit. it was like working on a jigsaw puzzle! If my flower blocks had finished to six inches, I would have caused myself less figuring!

Adding more background

For the most part, once a piece was in place, I left it and worked to piece one section at a time. I did consider eliminating the top flower; but, decided that it added to the overall design.

More background in place

It was scary to watch the remaining background fabric diminish. It was exciting to see the piece take shape with every addition so I was encouraged to keep going.

Flowers in place, hand/arm in place

While I would have liked to have had the top flower closer to the group, I was over Y seams! I pinned the hand/arm in place and began constructing the borders.

Beginning to add the background borders

Truly, the background chunk was down to a few pieces. I decided that I should take another look at perhaps adding a different shade of yellow as the borders because I didn't think I had enough.

Auditioning alternate background border fabrics

One look at the existing yellows with this project and I knew the current background was the only option. I did more math and measured the existing scrap. It was possible that I had enough if I didn't have math errors!

Determining the best use of the remaining background fabric

The reality is I have math errors. I measured twice. I measured twice again and cut once. With each slice of the background fabric, I said a silent prayer that I my math was correct!

Background borders added

In the end, there was enough background fabric. I breathed a sigh of relief! 

Leftover background

There had been enough background fabric after all. Although, the scraps remaining were little!

Auditioning more sawtooth HSTs

I liked what I had created! I began auditioning the string borders. I allowed my brain to think about quilting motifs in the open background spaces. It was then that I felt the design was lacking some spark. It was too plain.

Cutting more HSTs

There were a few remaining HSTs so I placed them around the flower blocks. I considered stopping with adding a few here and there; but, the center didn't feel finished. I made more HSTs. I auditioned them  almost encircling the center.

Piecing HSTs strips into the background

I liked the effect as it felt more finished. Then, I had to psych myself up to piece those HSTs into the top. I had sweaty palms and heart palpitations removing the borders and cutting into the finished top!

Half of the HSTs added

Because of how the flower blocks are inserted into the center medallion, there is no way that the HST strips would line up. I decided I was okay with a little jog!

An HST border added

Inserting the second half of the HSTs was challenging. I spent about two days adding this border. I did use a few of the remaining background scraps to fill the spaces. The repetition of the HST border was a good addition. Now the center felt finished! 

Adding the upper string border

I added the upper string border and smiled! 

Finished flimsy

I added the lower string border and smiled some more! I'm glad I challenged myself to add those HSTs! I did find a pink print for the backing and have layered and glue basted it. It is ready for quilting which will happen after I recover from my knee surgery.

Linking to: Finished or Not Friday and Patchwork and Quilts.