Finished Or Not Friday: RWB Edition

 I'm back to join everyone at Quilty Girl Alycia's for "Finished Or Not Friday" with a quick follow-up to last week's post.

A Frivols Finish!

In July I had picked up one of the old MODA Frivols kits.  I got the #2 tin with fabrics by designers Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson and featuring their "Polka-Dots & Paisley" fabric line.  

If you want to know how the whole "Frivols" thing started, check out this MODA Schoolhouse video from 2015 here.

In honor of the current "patriotic season",  I've finished it!

Front

Back with label area

The fabrics in the tin were enough to make the whole top for this small wallhanging the designers named "Faithful".  I lucked up on someone selling just the fabric set from this same tin so used some of those to make the backing and the binding.  The label square came with the full kit.  To help bring the backing to size, I added a Paisley and a Polka Dot print from a more recent M&S line called "Union Square".  It is quilted with a simple all-over meander pattern.

This little quilt is just the right size to swap out with the "Americana Lone Star" I have hanging up now and I can enjoy this one from now through Labor Day.  

I eventually hope to follow in the footsteps of the bloggers at "Occasional Piece & Quilt" and "One Stitch at a Time" and continue the process of making up the other Frivols tins I have.  I also remember seeing a post somewhere on the MODA blog showing how to make a padded lining for the empty tin to turn it into a decorative storage box.

In Other Red, White & Blue News....

I had plans to work on two cross stitch projects as part of celebrating the country's 250th birthday.  I had finished stitching one and posted it for July 4th and now it's "fully finished"! 

This is the "Peace" design from Susan Ache's "Summer Memories" book that features quilt and cross stitch projects.   I love that I was able to use some scraps leftover from making a QOV top a few months back to finish up this little pillow.

However, the second project is still very much a "WISP": a Work In Slow Progress:

Digital pattern purchased on Etsy.

I was surprised to find this one a bit of a struggle for me as I had thought I've done enough projects on Evenweave to be more comfortable working with it.  Well, I'll keep plugging away and eventually it'll get done!

As always I look forward to seeing what others have in progress or completed this week for "Finished Or Not Friday" at Quilty Girl Alycia's!

Happy Fourth of July!

Cross Stitch design by Susan Ache from her "Summer Memories" book.

And a happy 250th birthday to the United States of America!  May we unify to work towards all the promises that inspired its founding.

To Do Tuesday: Trying To Get Back on Track for June

Ooh, it's been a while since I connected with everyone for Carol's weekly "To Do Tuesday" over at Quilt Schmilt!  The end of April and all of May were busy and only got busier as each week progressed!  It was hard to make time to get to my stitching spots --- whether the couch for some hand work or at my sewing machine.  As a result I feel like I've neglected some of my favorite family members --- my craft projects!!

Some of the life events that got in the way of crafting during this time:  There's been a slate of community association meetings and a related conference to attend.  The community garden season started so there was spring planting,  hosting the 5th grade of the local middle school for their annual Spring visit and attending a virtual eco-gardening course I signed up for.  

Part of our plot in mid-May

Since my last post we've also been on two camping trips with my DH's co-workers: one early season one to test out some new equipment we had purchased and the other our 3rd (for us) annual Memorial Day Weekend trip.  That weekend was also my birthday weekend when I hit a milestone one: the big 6-5!

Just part of our group and a rainy weekend saved by canopies and tarps! 

  

On the crafting front, in late April after finishing the second of two Quilt of Valor tops for the guild that I belong to long distance, it was my plan to then work on quilting a Log Cabin project to submit for their June challenge or to try to work on or finish two LC projects-in-process for the same purpose.  

However that got pushed aside mostly because there have been an over abundance of new quilt project idea "squirrels" that completely overtook my attention and wallet!  I also signed up for both the Quilted Life Summit and the Machine Quilting Summit again this year.  Good thing I opted for the VIP extended access membership for both since I have yet to be able to sit down to watch the sessions!   All of these beautiful distractions and "what ifs" knocked my focus totally off.  While enjoyable and exciting they were all horrible for my productivity!!

All of the same has also been true for my cross stitch productivity as well!  Back in April I couldn't resist embarking on a new Spring themed CS freebie by Jardin Prive.  My hope was to stitch it up quick, finish it using Helen D's "floss wrapped hoop" technique and then also "fully finish" the Lizzie Kate Spring-themed design I stitched up two years ago.  The plan was to put both out on display for Spring before April ended.  

Nope, didn't happen!  This was where the "Peace 'N Love" stitch was as the life events and squirrels got in the way of stitching on it reguarly enough to get it done.  However I'm glad to say that I got in enough time during the Memorial Day camping trip and while doing laundry when we returned to finish it up!  

So now I still need to "fully finish" it as planned.  Unfortunately,  I'll need to get a bigger hoop than the one I originally planned to use to do that since I'd like more space surrounding the stitching in the finish.  

However with June now underway,  I want to focus on "patriotic season stitching and decorating".  In past years I followed the Fat Quarter Shop when they did their "Red, White & June" stitch alongs but I don't see any mention of that on their site this year.  That's probably because they are doing the Celebrating 250 Years of America Quilt Along that started back in February and runs until the same month next year. 

I already had my projects lined up for "RWJ" stitching for both cross stitch and quilting.   For the former there were soooo many great cross stitch patterns being offered to honor the country's big occasion when I looked them up at the start of the year:   

Click the picture to enlarge and excuse the few non-cross stitch images here....

I did finally settle on purchasing just one pattern to try to make:  

I liked this one because it is done in the tiered cake stand format.  It will be similar to the London themed one I made last year from Erin Elizabeth's series of patterns.

I had picked out this Susan Ache design three years ago when she released her "Summer Memories" book:

I had hoped to start both in May for "Cross Stitch Maynia" but I've already shared how May went off the rails for me.  In addtion to those two cross stitch projects,  I can also continue in the patriotic colors theme by getting back to work on my Laundry Basket Quilts "Alaska" BOM project that stalled due to all the other things that came up last month:  

I only got to three and a half of the next eight blocks I needed to get done. 

Additionally there's the possibility of (finally) FFO-ing my Primrose Cottage "United We Stand" WIP and to finish up my "Seeds of Glory" quilted pillowcover since I want to try the same edge finishing technique on both.

The good news is that despite all of those plans, goals and dreams, my actual "To Do" list this week will be super short:   

1. I need to finish quilting my "Rainbow Log Cabin" project to be presented at the June guild meeting in NC the Saturday after next!  

This is my one and only priority right now even though I hope to also still do some cross stitching in the evenings as well.  

Needless to say there's never a dull moment even if it's not always doing the crafty things I love.  So I am glad to jump back in by linking up with everyone for  "To Do Tuesday" at Carol's Quilt Schmilt blog and look forward to seeing what everyone else will be working on this week! 

P.S.  If you are a Tula Pink fan, you've got to check out reports (article here and video here) of her career retrospective that was displayed at the recent H + H industry show.  Very fun, colorful and inspiring!!

Slow Sunday Stitching: Handwork in March

I can honestly say that the back bone of my crafty work in March has been handwork!  I've had two projects keeping me busy on that front and am pleased to say I made a lot of progress on both.  So I figured the end of the month was a good time to join everyone at Kathy's Quilts to show a little of my "Slow Sunday Stitching".

Cross Stitch

Back in January I decided to make another "Year Of The...." piece that celebrates the new spirit animal for the Chinese New Year.  I had started making these in 2023 after seeing that Pat Sloan was going to make one.  Each year I made them using the patterns designed by The Frosted Pumpkin ladies.  

Admittedly, I embarked on this year's piece to warm up to returning to another cross stitch project that I had stalled on back in November.  

Ironically the one I made for this year was also inspired by seeing one that Pat was going to do.   This time she had found a free pattern that Maja of The Snowflower Diaries had offered on her Patreon account.  I welcomed the opportunity to make another New Year celebration stitch but in a different style.  

Fortunately I had fabric suitable for the piece already in stash.  I also had most of the floss colors required for this one already on floss drops in other projects that are in progress.  So I borrowed those temporarily, pulled out one color from my floss stash and then only had to purchase one addtional color to finish kitting this up.  I started it towards the end of January.....

...and finished it up at the end of February.  I stitched on it before, during and on the drive home from our two week visit (and mini quilt retreat) with my MIL that month.  I also picked two fabrics (one for the front and one for the back) for the "fully finishing" step:

However,  once I was ready to finish it up this month,  I decided to only use one of them for both sides and to frame the center using reverse applique.  When I went to actually stitch it, I decided that it needed "a little something more" so decided to add beads around the frame.  

I took those from this old jewelry making kit I had on hand because I felt the beads would be easy to replace if need be.  

I long ago stopped getting kits from this monthly club as I never did as much jewelry making as I thought I would.  Considering how long I've had this kit,  I'm doubtful replacing them may ever actually happen, LOL!  But as with hand work,  I've learned to never say never!!

As with the others,  I did a pillow finish on this one.   Now I can call this one done and display it as we continue to watch the passage of this year!  

English Paper Piecing (EPP)

The other project I focused on was stitching down some "Hexie Snowflake" blocks to their backgrounds.  I had started this project back in 2021 as part of the "Blue & White" Christmas quilt decorating scheme I had decided to do that year.  

My plan was to do a four block version of Edyta Sitar's "Snowflake" EPP design.  It was also part of my continuing obsession with her Laundry Basket Quilts designs that started during the pandemic.

It took me until the start of 2022 to finish stitching all the hexies in each Snowflake together.  Since then they have sat waiting to be stitched down to their backgrounds.   I decided I wanted to finish this one up both as part of the "decluttering challenge" I did at the start of this year and because I realized this project now also worked for "Blue & White Winter/early Spring" quilt decorating.   

I was very surprised by how well it went as I thought all of that "stitching around the hexie edges" would be a real bear but it wasn't.  Turned out to be great for doing while watching TV!  So three are now completely done.

The papers have been removed from the fourth one:

And stitching is underway on it:

As I noted in a previous post two helpful tools for each of those processes was my "Sixth Finger Stilletto" for removing the papers and the "Under Thimble" for the stitching work.  Both are available from Colonial Needle.

Not to mention I think I've finally completely overcome the aversion I had to hand work that I had when I first started quilting 20+ years ago.  Now I heartily welcome opportunities to do some!

If you feel the same then you will love seeing all the projects being done by everyone that gathers at Kathy's Quilts each week when they share what's on their lap during their "Slow Sunday Stitching" sessions! 

To Do Tuesday: Catching Up Before the Month Ends

I had started writing a post last week, got it almost completed then got the "hanging circle of death" when Blogger wouldn't save my edits.  As the day came to a close I shut it down hoping that at least some of what I had recorded were kept but nope!  

So this week you'll see what projects moved forward over the last two weeks as I link up with this week's "To Do Tuesday" being hosted by Carol at Quilt Schmilt.  

Here was my list from two weeks ago:

1.  Continue quilting "Modern Twist" as this month's UFO Challenge finish.  

Two weeks ago I did finally sit down and start a little more of the quilting.

The vertical strip was the first pass but after stitching another section just like it,  I felt it wasn't exactly the look I wanted.  I tried again in the horizontal strip on the left.  Okay, done a little looser, it was closer to how I wanted it to look.  

However,  since I was still a little unsure about my approach to this I admit I let it sit last week in favor of focusing on the other projects on the list instead.

2.  Piece another "Alaska" BOM block.  

I had gotten one done the first week so then had two blocks.   Last week I decided that since the month was fast coming to a close,  I sewed up the last two that I needed to complete for this month.

3.  Finish piecing the center of  the "Freedom Stars" QOV top and possibly add the borders to complete it as well.

I did get the center all together (leader/endered with the "Alaska" blocks)....

....and in the week that just passed have also put on the borders so can now call the top done! 

It will sit awhile as I work on the other projects that I hope to send down to North Carolina with it in May. 

4.  If  the "Freedom Stars" top has been finished, re-start the layout of the "Picture That" QOV top with the new fabrics for it that I picked up in NC.

I still haven't gotten to this one since "Stars" was still in progress these past two weeks.  

5.  Do the finishing work on the completed "Year of the Horse" cross stitch.  

Two weeks ago,  I had started setting it up having decided to only use one fabric in the finishing and frame it by reverse appliqueing the fabric around it.  Here it was pinned:  

 Ready to stitch it,  I then decided it needed "a little something more".  I settled on adding beads around the frame which is now finished.  

6.  Finish stitching the second "Hexie Snowflake" block to its background.

Yes!  After that last post, I was thrilled to get Block #2 done and Block #3 started. 

As of today, #3 is almost done!

I should be able to complete the last of it while watching the news shows tonight.

7.  Continue making blocks for the "Sparkle & Shine" Log Cabin project as leader/ender piecing.

I've managed to keep up on these blocks by also using them  as "leader/enders" and now have four done.  

For this project that means I have five more to make.  Although I was hoping to continue these as I work on piecing other projects, that may not happen for the rest of this week.  

There's been a lot of new "squirrels" coming into my space so there are test blocks I'd like to make up.  Also I got word recently that our community garden will be opening up for the season in mid April.  So this one may have to sit for a while until I clear some project space.   

So my plans for this week are to:

1.  Go back to "Modern Twist" and try to complete it for this month's UFO Challenge finish.  

2.  (Finally) work on the "Picture That" QOV top. 

3.  Start stitching the fourth (and last) "Hexie Snowflake" block to its background.

4.  "Fully finish" the "Year of the Horse" cross stitch.

With such a short list, I should be able to finish up March with a bang!  This should also give me plenty of time to check out everyone else that has linked up for "To Do Tuesday" this week at Carol's "Quilt Schmilt".  

To Do Tuesday: Happy National Quilting Month!

There is something special brewing for this Merry Month of March!  It is National Quilt Month and on Saturday the 21st it will be National Quilting Day!  

To start the month's festivities off,  you should check out this Instagram post for an opportunity to get a free Missouri Star Quilt Co. pattern:

Next are some suggestions from the Quilt Alliance for how to plan to spend National Quilting Day:

Click the picture or the link to see the suggestions.

May I also recommend an excellent and very special podcast that my non-quilter son passed along to me:  Quilters Joe Cunningham and Luke Haynes and museum curator and textile conservator Olivia Joseph were interviewed about the "History of Quilting" on Allie Ward's "Ologies" podcast.  

Their discussions cover the various fabric, quilt and creative piecing styles used in quilting that have developed over the centuries.  They also discuss quilting's ever evolving position in the craft and art worlds.  My family is good about keeping their eyes and ears open to things related to this craft that I love so much!!

Before I can focus on all the craft month celebrations (well, I have already listened to the podcast),  I need to get back to the work at hand!  As always,  I am happy to join in with everyone linking up for "To Do Tuesday" hosted by Carol over at "Quilt Schmilt" and talk about the doings from the past week and what's on my agenda for the current one.  

The list of things on my last "To Do Tuesday" report was as follows:

1.  Trim and bind the UFO I longarmed while I was away.  

Done!  As usual I had hoped to get it done sooner but finished is better than timely! 

I still have to clip any visible basting stitches, trim some threads and bury their knots and apply the label I made for it.  Then the "Finished Or Not Friday" post that should have gone up last week can go up at the end of this one!

2.  Continue quilting "Modern Twist" as this month's UFO Challenge finish.  

Nope, didn't get to it since "Pulpit Tile" took longer to finish than expected.  But now that the other one is almost done,  I can go back to work on this at some point later this week.  

3.  Cut out the next set of "Alaska" BOM blocks and get at least one pieced together.  

Also done!  And the good news is that all the piecing in the block gave me the opportunity to do some leader/ender sewing with two other projects as well.

4.  Finish piecing the "Freedom Stars" QOV top.

Not totally done but definitely moved a little further along.  I've now got eight rows of the center pieced so only four more rows to go and then I can sew the whole center together.  This was one of the projects I used to leader/ender with the "Alaska" block and push the pieces for that project out from under the needle.  

I think that going forward this week, I want to try to do some 30 minute daily sewing sessions during which I can get another "Alaska" block done and hopefully the rest of the center rows for this completed as well.

5.  Continue working on the layout of the "Picture That" QOV top with the new fabrics for it that I picked up in NC.

Nope and until "Freedom Stars" gets done, this one will have to wait to get up on the design wall.

6.  Do the finishing work on the completed "Year of the Horse" cross stitch.  

Nope, didn't get to this one.  I did make the final decision on which of the fabrics I had put with it that I will use for the finishing step.  The floral will surround the piece in the front and the other print will go on the back.  I am thinking that I would also like to find some trim to add around the edges of it as well.  Sigh, another time when the loss of Joann's hits hard!  

I'm hoping I can get a chance to go to my local Michael's and see if they carry trim.  It's not something I ever shopped for there in the past so I don't know what they might have or if they even carry that kind of item.  

7.  Stitch the second "Hexie Snowflake" block to its background.

  I did start working on it but so far only have the center flower circle and three of those inner mushroom shaped areas on the left stitched down.  It will continue to be my nightly "news show" stitching for the rest of the week.

8.  Try to squeeze in some work on the "Charming Sweatshirt" I got started while away.  

Nope, didn't get to this and I don't think I will this week either.  This is going to be a project in "time out" for a while until I can get some of the other things done.

9.  Work on two other projects I cut out while away. 

The first of those projects were the Bowl Cozies I had die cut.  They are all now finished and the details will also be in this week's FONF report.

The second is the "Sparkle and Shine Log Cabin project I had rotary cut the parts for.  

This was the other leader/ender I used as I worked on the "Alaska" block and "Freedom Stars" QOV top.  This is a really big block once it's done!  

Even though it was simple sewing (just straight seams), with all the rounds to be stitched I was only able to get one block completed.  However, this too will go into the rotation for the "30 minutes a day" sewing.  With only nine of them to make,  I figure I can get them finished by month's end.  

So my plans for this week are to:

1.  Continue quilting "Modern Twist" as this month's UFO Challenge finish.  

2.  Piece another "Alaska" BOM block.  

3.  Finish piecing the center of  the "Freedom Stars" QOV top and possibly add the borders to complete it as well.

4.  If  the "Freedom Stars" top has been finished, re-start the layout of the "Picture That" QOV top with the new fabrics for it that I picked up in NC.

5.  Do the finishing work on the completed "Year of the Horse" cross stitch.  

6.  Finish stitching the second "Hexie Snowflake" block to its background.  

7.  Continue making blocks for the "Sparkle & Shine" Log Cabin project as leader/ender piecing.

I look forward to seeing what quilting projects everyone is celebrating in our special month when they link up for "To Do Tuesday" this week at Carol's "Quilt Schmilt".  Happy Quilting!