Zen Tangle with the Grands

Giving a thumbs up that we can see the screen

Yesterday, Sarah Vedler of Meaning of Life Designs, hosted a free introduction to Zen Tangle via Zoom. It was about an hour and 15 minutes of description, practice and lecture. We did not purchase the recommended items to make the drawings because we we were unsure if we would want to make more drawings at a later time.

Work in process

It is fun to make art together because we all interpret the directions differently. So to see view each other's art is great! As you can see from the photo, our ages varied. The youngest was 2 1/2! 

Top: Miss A; Middle: me; Bottom Miss J

We decided we liked being able to switch up the ink colors. Miss A didn't want her work photographed. She drew a lot of the shapes and spent at least 35 minutes working on her art. I was impressed with her focus!

We had fun drawing and we found the practice meditative. We all said we would do it again! For me, it was a lot like free motion quilting except, we lifted our pens off of the paper! Sometimes, when I free motion quilt, I warm up with doodles. Sometimes, when I want to make a new to me design, I'll draw it on paper until I have the rhythm of the design.

To that end, Linda at Flourish Palms posted a link to a free motion quilter that I has developed some all over designs that she can quilt on her domestic. 

Merry Christmas

 There has been some swimming...

We made a batch of cookies. . .

Cookie baking

Elf duties were taken seriously. . .

Checking if Santa's helpers' shoes fit

Santa has been making his rounds. . .

Santa caught making deliveries

We witnessed Santa and Miss A. She was excited that he brought her a gift which turned out to be an orange swimsuit which she immediately put on over her pajamas.

Miss J with her finished quilt

Gifting the quilts that I finished for the girls wet well. They were both surprised and loved being able to ue their quilts.

Miss A and her finished quilt

Miss K was also excited about her quilt. She loved the circle quilting. We talked about what information can be included on the label. She thought a bit and then she made her label. She learned the importance of leaving a quarter inch space around the edge. I showed her how to attach the label to the quilt back. She stitched in one direction; I stitched in the opposite direction. It wasn't long before the label was in place. 

I loved what she named the quilt, which was "Iris" Iris was the Greek god of rainbows. The rest of the label reads, designed by Keira Callahan. Books by Keira Callahan. Mostly quilted by my Gran. Started in 2021. Fineshed (sic) in 2024. Born in Oregon.

Label for the string quilt

There has been no sewing in several days and likely that trend will continue until after the first of the year. It is more fun to be playing with the grands!

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas.

Old Town Clues 4 and 5--post 3

Half square triangles

This week in between wrapping gifts and readying for guests, I sewed clues four and five of Bonnie Hunter's Old Town Mystery.

Our youngest daughter and her daughter will arrive later today for the holidays. I've tried to stay up on the clues because while they are here, I know I'll be playing with that granddaughter as much as I can!!

If you check out Bonnie's blog, you'll see that she used melon colored fabrics to pair with the neutrals for this step. I didn't have that color in my stash so I used yellow.

Oversized squares

Clue number four was to make a lot of half square triangles and to group a certain number of them together. 

Clue number five was to make some square in a square units using aqua/blue as the center and yellow for the triangles. I used a variety of yellows for the triangles. I was limited on the number of scraps that were large enough to cut the squares. 

This time, I paper pieced these units. It took me a bit to figure out the center size of fabric because it was bigger than I thought. I did find drawing a line that was the size of my unfinished square helped with fabric placement. I over cut the triangles so that I could trim the block to the size she requested. 

Finished square in a square units

In the oversized square photo, you can see the outline of the foundation paper which was the true block size. It didn't take much effort to trim the blocks.

When I paper piece, I use the painless method which is pinning or tapeing the first piece to the foundation. Next, I fold the paper section out of the way and stitch next to the fold. When I'm finished, I unpin the pin. There is no paper to tear and I can reuse the paper foundation.

I found a You Tube tutorial if you are interested in the process. The presenter uses a spray adhesive to anchor the pieces to the foundation instead of a pin or tape.

The finished squares look great. Today, I'll do the rest of the step which is cutting a whole bunch of red and white squares. I'll likely fall behind with the clues next week; but, I will catch up when I can!

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

 

Rita's Legend Complete--Post 4

Snow, rain, light rain, sun fabrics

Goal number six on my December list was to finish the legend on Rita's Temperature quilt. She had a fabric for snow, rain, light rain and sun. In her project box, there were chunks of the fabric for light rain and rain. There were fabrics that she had cut for rain, light rain and sun. Two times I went through the box and found no fabric for snow. 

There was also a box labeled temperature fabrics. No snow fabric was in there either. What to do? I went back to the project box and pulled the fabrics she had cut for piecing into the blocks. These were two inch squares. As I pondered options, I spied a small corner of what looked like the snow fabric. . .it was! One piece that was about two inches by three inches. 

I cut a two inch square of the snow fabric and pieced it to a background fabric. I added the rain square and a background fabric. It took a little figuring to ensure that this pieced section would end up six inches long so it fit the legend that she had put together. I pieced the light rain and the sun days in to a strip. I attached both to the legend. Next, I embroidered the words that she used.

I'm glad that I found the snow fabric. I'm glad that the math worked. It wasn't as difficult as I had thought it would be. Now the next steps are to add the legend to the top and finish the top. Will there be borders? I don't know!

Linking to Alycia at Finished or Not Friday.

Rainbow Scrap Challenge Quilting--2021 Project Finished

Block ditch quilted

Goal number one on my December list was to finish the quilting on this Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC) that I started in 2021. One day when my oldest granddaughter was visiting, she saw the string blocks on the sewing table. Miss K asked if she could make some blocks with strings. 

She liked piecing the blocks. Then she asked if she could have the blocks. She laid out the blocks and stitched them into a top. She pieced a back. We pin basted it  In July, she started ditch quilting it. Although she hasn't said a negative word about quilting, I could tell it was difficult for her. I could also tell she wasn't confident with quilting in the ditch. Stitching in the ditch is hard!

Circle template from Sue Nickles

Last month, I decided that I would quilt it for her. I spent parts of three weeks completing quilting in the ditch. Originally, I thought that would be enough quilting. 

When I finished the ditch quilting, the quilt asked for more. I pondered the request for a few days. I decided to quilt a few circles on the blocks. I used two rulers from Sue Nickle's circle wedge set. For the inner circle, I used my two inch circle ruler from Westalee's starter sampler set.

Circle motif addition

I chose a yellow 40 weight polyester thread produced by Superior Threads for two reasons. First, yellow is Miss K's favorite color. Second, she likes a little glitz and the
polyester has a bit of a sheen.

I did have some thread shredding. When I switched from a size 80 topstitch needle to a size 90 topstitch needle, the shredding disappeared. There were a lot of starts and stops. In the end, the effort was worth it! The quilting provides texture and a little "specialness." Even though I spent parts of another two weeks on circle quilting, I'm glad the quilt talked to me. I'm also glad that I listened!

Quilting rulers used in the project

In the black area, I quilted straight-ish lines. Once the quilt is washed and the quilt takes on that rumpled look, the straightness or lack of straightness isn't going to show.

When I free motion quilt, I don't see much of the quilt as it is scrunched and mushed so that I can access a particular area. Honestly, it feels like eternity quilting because it doesn't feel like I'm getting anywhere!!! 

Adding some stitching to the sashing areas

To ensure that I give my body good breaks, I set the timer on my phone or watch for 30 minutes. Once it goes off, I get up and walk around for 5-10 minutes. Then, I return to quilting. When my knee is too tired for more, I stop. Sometimes that can be after a couple sessions and sometimes that can be after many sessions. I take a break to stretch and heat my knee and leg. Sometimes, I can return to quilting and sometimes I can't. 

When I finished quilting, I cut, prepared and attached the binding. The last two times that I have machine applied the binding has been successful. I found the best set up for me is to use the number 34D foot; set the needle position at 2, place the foot on the fabric edge so it s scant of the 3/8 inch
marking and carefully stitch the binding to the quilt. When I topstitched the binding to the quilt front, I found this combination worked the best.

Binding front view

Miss K wanted a hanging sleeve so I attached it. She selected an extra block as a label. I will let her fill out the label. I will help her attach it to the back of the quilt. Once the label is in place, the quilt is truly finished!

Binding back view

This quilt measures 77 x 93 inches. Many of the strings came from my friend Martha's stash. The link will take you to the projects that I have made with her strings and bits. We purchased no fabric for this project.

Back

I sure hope that she is okay with my finishing her project and my choice of designs for the quilting. Time will tell! 

My favorite memories of this project are: *When she was curious about the string piecing and making blocks in a specific color. *The expression on her face when saw the blocks in that color way on the design wall.

*The time she took to layout the blocks exactly to her liking, *The way she measured the project to ensure it was going to be large enough for her. (She laid down next to the blocks. If her body was outside of the blocks, the project needed to be bigger!) 

*How she checked every seam I pinned to be sure she was sewing the blocks as per her layout. (I pinned them in the wrong order multiple times until she took over quality control!) 

Front

*The absolute joy she had on her face when she completed piecing the top and the back! Her insistence that her quilt had a "hangy thingy." ("Hangy thingy is otherwise known as a quilt sleeve!) She was so fun to sew with!!! I hope we can do it many more times.

This project used 16.5 yards of fabric from my stash, bringing the total used 24.5 yards this year. While my total is paltry, I am thankful that I have a net loss! Next year, I'm planning to document how much fabric I purchase as well as how much I use. This year, as I purchased, I deducted that amount from what I used.

I was intrigued to begin this project because Allison over at New Every Morning had posted about making a string quilt. Her project didn't have the constant black fabric. I asked if I could copy her idea and she said yes! Quilters are generous people! Thank you Allison!!

Previous posts: Yellow Strings; Green Strings; Blue Strings; Red Strings; Purple Strings; Blue or Brown; Aqua; Orange; Lime Green; Granddaughter Time; Quilting w/two Granddaughters; Sleepover; Pinning Strings;

Linking to: Alycia at Finished or Not Friday; Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts; Angela at Scrap Happy; Cynthia at Oh Scrap.

Sweet Tooth and Temperature Quilt 2025 Fabrics

Purchased backing fabric for 2024 temperature quilt

Goal number five on my December list was to order the fabric for the Sweet Tooth Mystery. This mystery is through Modern Quilt Studio (Bill Kerr and Weeks Ringle.) It will begin February 14. Sign ups for the mystery will become available soon too. 

Ordering early was because I wanted plenty of time to pre-wash my fabrics. This year, the fabric bundle will be in half yards rather than in fat quarters. When it arrives, it will increase my yardage in by 22 yards.

2024 temperature quilt

I've been putting in the hours quilting my granddaughter's Rainbow Scrap Challenge String quilt. My goal is to finish it in time for Christmas. It is going to be close!! If I do finish, I'll be able to add to the amount of fabric that left my stash before the end of the year! If both of these purchases arrive in this calendar year, overall I will have added to my stash which is not the direction I had planned to be going!!!!

This month I purchased four yards of an orange print that I plan to use as a back for my 2024 Temperature quilt. I have yet to quilt the tops for 2021 and 2022-2023. Maybe in January, I can get one of the tops layered and basted!

Finally, I ordered, 21 yards of Superior Solids from Benartex fabric for my 2025 Temperature quilt. I posted about the process I used to determine my palette in this post. Ordering the fabric for this project was goal number eight on my December list. I don't know when this will arrive.

Next year, I plan to track my fabric in numbers as well as my fabric out numbers.

 

Old Town Clues 1, 2 and 3--post two

Some of clue number one

The Friday before Thanksgiving, Bonnie Hunter released her first clue for the Old Town mystery. She was going out of the country leading a tour of quitters the day after Thanksgiving. Because of her departure, she wanted to start the mystery a week early.

We got to work with our aqua fabrics for the first clue and we made sets of flying geese. I was able to use some leftovers from Chilhowie for the wings!

Some of the background fabrics came from Indigo Way, some from Chilhowie and some from Rhododendron Trail. Those leftovers from past projects were already cut into strips which was a time saver. I love being able to use my "pre-cuts!"

Some of clue number two

I did use parts of some fat quarters that I collected a couple years ago. I really am working on using what is in my stash!

Clue number two, which Bonnie released on Black Friday, was all about making four patches. We used our red fabrics and our background fabrics. 

I didn't have pre-cuts in the size needed for the red fabrics so I cut a bunch of strips. I did have a bunch of pre-cuts of background fabrics so this clue went together fairly quickly too!

More of clue number two

Over the weekend, I made about half of the units. Bonnie suggested grouping them in a particular number of pieces so that was what I did.                                        Monday, my Mystery Mavens group met in person. I was able to finish making the remainder of the units. I didn't have a lot of leftover pieces which was great. Often, Bonnie's clues are to make several hundred of an item. Some people will cut all their strips, sew the strips, press the strips, cut the units, sew the units, press the units. I'm not one of "some" people. 

With my knee and issues with my neck and back, I prefer to cut a little, sew a little, press a little and repeat until I'm finished. My process takes longer; but, I move around more and can have longer sewing sessions if I break up the tasks!

Clue number three

Our group met from 10 in the morning until 3 in the afternoon. As the contact person, I am there the whole time. This was the longest I have been away from home since my second knee surgery October 1. We formed our group in December 2019 to support each other working on the Bonnie Hunter Mystery. 

Mystery Mavens group

We meet twice a month. The first meeting is an in-person/Zoom hybrid. One of our members moved to Kansas and we wanted to stay in touch! Zoom also allows those who can't make the in-person meeting Zoom too. The
second meeting of the month is Zoom only. Being part of this group is a good way to stay in touch and to make progress on our BH projects. 

Last Friday, Bonnie released clue number three. We were to use our red fabrics and our background fabrics to make some hour glass units. Mine are finished. Bonnie is away leading a groups of quilters on a tour. She is due back next week. Likely, the next clues will take more time and thought. 

Until the release of the next clue, I'll be working on quilting my granddaughter's quilt and making blocks for the temperature quilt.

Goal number three on my December list was to continue making the clues for this mystery. Linking to: Frédérique at Patchwork and Quilts and Cynthia at Oh Scrap.

November Recap and December Goals

 

Clue #1 in process for Old Town mystery

My November goals were:

✔1. Trim, bind, label and sleeve the QOV that I started back in August. It's back from the quilter.

✔2. Trim, bind, label and sleeve Indigo Way that was the Bonnie Hunter mystery last year. The quilter delivered it last Friday.

✔3. Catch up with the 2024 Temperature quilt.

✔4. Determine the fabrics for the 2025 Temperature quilt.

✔5. Determine the pattern for the 2025 Temperature quilt.

✔6. Continue with my knee PT rehabilitation.

7. Complete the August bonus lesson and the September embroidery software lessons.

✔8. Gather fabrics for the 2024 Bonnie Hunter mystery. Have enough prepped to begin the mystery on 11/22.

✔9. Finish the blocks for the 2024 Rainbow Scrap Challenge.

Some of the background fabrics used in 
Clue #1

✔10. Share the results of the Mt. Hood Quilters Guild show.

✔11. Make progress stitching in the ditch on a RSC project.

✔12. Document any play time with the two older granddaughters.

My favorite post of the month was Miss J's recap of the day we spent together. This knee recovery has tested me in so many ways. Not having to come up with post content was sure nice; however, spending time with the two oldest granddaughters was the best! All the food that they made was truly welcomed as I've done little cooking since my surgery.

Some of Clue #2

I'm finally almost comfortable to sit in my chair after having knee surgery October 1. The nerve pain continues to lessen so I'm hopeful that I will be able to concentrate and complete the software lessons. Being able to swim a couple times a week at my friend Wendy's pool has sure helped my
progress. 

My goal is to go back to work January 13 and to travel to London in March for the youngest granddaughter's third birthday. I feel like I'm at the point I was three weeks after my first surgery. I'm telling myself to stay the course and to get discouraged. . . .;BUT, I am getting tired of the pain!!!!

My December goals are:

1. Finish quilting the RSC project.

2. Complete making the blocks for the 2024 Temperature quilt.

3. Continue with the clues for Old Town Mystery which is Bonnie Hunter's 2024 mystery.

4. Watch for Modern Quilts Studio information release to sign up for the alphabet sew along and the Sweet Tooth mystery. Sign up when it is available!

5. Order the fabric for the Sweet Tooth mystery.

6. Finish the legend on Rita's Temperature quilt.

7. Complete the August bonus lesson and the September embroidery software lessons.

8. Order the fabric for the 2025 Temperature quilt.

Indigo Way--Finished--post 9

Goal number two on my November list was to trim, bind, add a label and sleeve to Indigo Way. Last Sunday, I trimmed it. While this was a bigger quilt to trim than Stars Like Spaghetti, I managed to trim it without taking a break. Although after I finished, I took a nap!  

View of the binding

Monday, I machine sewed the binding to the quilt. This time, I was able to sit at the machine and sewed both sides of the binding. I felt victorious! I'm impressed with how I was able to save the points on the border.

View of all the intact points

Tuesday, I made and pinned the label to the quilt. Because this is destined to be a Quilt of Valor (QOV), I placed the label on the right side of the back. Our QOV coordinator embroiders a label with the recipient's information and I'll be placing that on the left side of the back.

Label

Wednesday, I made and pinned on the sleeve. As I watched TV with my husband in the evening, I hand stitched the label and sleeve. I also hand stitched the corners of the binding. 

My goal with any Bonnie Hunter mystery is to finish it before the next one begins. I almost made it this year. I will admit to having two mysteries unfinished--Good Fortune and Grassy Creek. Maybe, I will get one of those finished this year.

View of the back

I used 21 yards of fabric from stash which brings my total for the year to 33 yards. I figure I spent about 120 hours making the quilt. I spent $375 for the materials to make it and have Christie quilt it. The design is a star with swirls. I chose a light blue thread so the quilting allows the piecing to be the visual part of the quilt.

Finished front

If you want to read previous posts of this project click the links. Gathering and Preparing Fabrics; post 2; Clue 5; Clue 6 and 7; Clue 7 complete Clue 8 Begun; Working through Clue 8; It's a Top; Off to the Quilter

Linking to Cynthia at Oh Scrap.