To Do Tuesday: Not Much Accomplished But Definitely Something to "Show" For It!

It's time again for "To Do Tuesday" with Carol and the quilters gathering at "Quilt Schmilt"!

Not a lot to report on last week's "To Do" list but it was a thrill filled week none the less!  I had a long list of things I had hoped to get done but only got to two of them:

I did add the last two borders to finish the "Picture That" QOV top that was Item #3:

And its pushing maximum density on my design wall!

I'll be sending it down with the other QOV top made and both will be given to the guild member who will quilt them.  Now that it's done I really need to work on the Log Cabin WIPs I also want to finish.  I want to send at least one of them down with the QOV tops to my MIL in May so it can be presented at the guild's "Log Cabin Challenge" meeting in June.   

I also did get to Item #5 and made up the first of the two "Alaska" BOM blocks for this month:

Two down six more to go!

The reason I didn't get to anything else this week was because of two special occasions:  the first was that my DH and I celebrated our anniversary!  My gift for the occasion was actually something I had asked him about a month ago:  We attended the American Quilters Society New England Show held in Hartford, Connecticut!

I had known that the show was scheduled for this past weekend but hadn't put two and two together that our anniversary was the day after the show opened because I had already planned to go on the show's last day on Saturday.  However when my husband asked what I wanted to do to celebrate,  I asked if he could take Friday off from work so we could go to the show that day instead.  I figured the crowds were likely to be a little less if we did that and he could use the next day to rest after walking the show with me!

It was my first time attending an AQS show.  I thought they had held this show here before but it was actually the first time the show has been held in CT.  It is also only the second time they have held a show in the northeast since the first one held in Syracuse, NY in 2016.  

As we entered the show (after a stop at the "show swag" booth),  we got to see a display "in the round" of all the big show winners:

For me, this one was particularly influential.  I had talked last week about adding applique to my "Hexie Snowflake" quilt but had been debating about whether I "should" really do it by hand since the hexies had been done that way.  Well this quilt and most of the others in the show were done with fusible applique and machine stitched and all were gorgeous!  

So that settled that for me because the applique I wanted to add would be easier done that way any way!  There was also another quilt in this show by this quilter that excited me but more on that later.

There was a great exhibit of landscape quilts called "A River Runs Through It: The Farmington River Quilt Experience".

All the quilts in this exhibit depicted quilted renderings that captured the beauty of Connecticut’s “Wild & Scenic” waterways.   The quilt pictures were designed so that the image of the waterway "flows seamlessly from one quilt panel to the next".

The latest Cherrywood Challenge quilts were also on display with the theme of  "Abyss – Creatures from the Deep":

This is just one wall of two!

There were also a lot of Quiltworx by Judy Neimeyer quilts on display:

There were some more versions of this particular design as well as a few other Quiltworx designs in the show.  

I attended a lecture on entering quilts in an AQS show given by Michelle Thompson, the AQS Contest Coordinator.  She said that for most patterned designs (or images used to inspire a quilt) you have to get and submit written permission by the designer or image artist along with your entry to use their work in the competition.  However,  AQS already has a "blanket permission" from Judy Neimeyer for any Quiltworx designs so you would not need to supply that if entering one of those designs in one of their shows. 

There were a couple of "Dear Janes" on display:

This particular one was set "on point".

I had a wonderful conversation with a group of ladies who have seen the original at the Bennington Museum in Vermont.  They say it's phenomenal in person and is displayed horizontally (not hung) and the museum only puts it out on display once a year (in September)!  Yet another of my "quilt bucket list" items I really need to plan to go see!

Two big surpises for me was that Ricky Timms "The Visitation" was on display at this show:

This quilt had won "Best in Show" in Houston in 2025 and won 1st Place in the "Large Quilts - Stationary Machine Quilted" category here.  I had seen the video he made about making this quilt so it was a big thrill to get to see it in person!!  Even my husband was very imprssed with it.  

The other unexpected quilt sighting was to see another Pat Holly quilt --- this one made with her sister Sue Nickles:  the original "Jubilee Album" quilt was on display!

This one was part of the "Threads of Liberty: Celebrating 250 Years of American Spirit with AQS Instructor Quilts" exhibit.  

Back in January when I made the label for my "Beth Dutton - Yellowstone" quilt it had been because I saw the cowboy boot block on the cover of  a Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine from 2003.  That issue had been the first issue that this quilt had been patterned in as a series quilt.  

I had this set of magazine issues because at one point in the past I had thought about making this quilt.  Making the label block revived my interest in making this quilt but this time as my "America's Semiquincentennial" quilt.  Hmmm, is this one of those signs that the Quilt Muses are telling me to "go for it"?!?

Needless to say there were many, many, many more quilts we saw that day!  Added to that was the vendor mall (and two CT LQS that I have visited in the past were vending) and an opportunity to sew up a few blocks for the "Quilters for a Cause: Supporting Local Heroes" charity at a booth staffed by members of the Greater Hartford Quilt Guild.  Yes, it was a great anniversary activity and I look forward to attending this show again when it returns to Hartford next year but it will be in August.

Our Community Garden had its first meeting of the season the day after we attended the show.  I only saw the announcement of it after we came back from the show so it was a good thing we had changed the day I had originally planned to go to it!  Although the garden's official opening will be late this year (not until mid-May due to continuing garden bed construction work),  there will still be times I will need to start going in to prepare our bed for planting.  So Sunday was a total "chill out and recuperate" day for both of us!!

Now that the "glow from the show" is starting to recede, the new "To Do" list for this week is:

1.  (Once again) hoping I can continue and finish quilting "Modern Twist".

2.  Layer "Lady Claire Boxtrot" so I can start quilting on it before this month ends.   

3.  Test out doing some of the fusible applique motifs for the "Hexie Snowflake" wallhanging and decide if it can get done this year.  

4.  Piece two more of the "Alaska" BOM blocks.  

5.  Make the final stitching decision for the "Rainbow Log Cabin" top and layer it.

6.  Start making the alternate blocks for the RSC "Rainbow Log Cabin Hearts" layout.  

Another long list that I'm not sure how much I will get to.  So I look forward to seeing what everyone else will be trying to get done in the coming week on the "To Do Tuesday" lists over at Carol's "Quilt Schmilt"!

To Do Tuesday: The Start of April

Now that we are done with March,  April is really starting to feel Spring-like!  I know that because my annual "Official Spring Indicator" has appeared:  the Hosta plants on my terrace have popped up!

I expect that Spring projects will more quickly than I'd like have to make room for the ones for the "Patriotic Season" (especially this year!) and for Summer projects.  Therefore,  I am trying really hard to stay on track and get a few more things done before that happens.  So I am grateful for another opportunity to post a "To Do Tuesday" list along with everyone over at Carol's Quilt Schmilt.  

So last week what I had hoped to get started for April were:  

1.  Continue (and possibly finish?) quilting "Modern Twist".

Nope, nothing further done on that although I had a good reason.

2.  Find out what the "UFO Challenge" project pick is for April.  

When Shelley of The Quilted Forest pulled the next number,  ironically she picked the perfect one for me!  Shelley picked #11 which on my list is my "Lady Claire Box Trot" project. 

 It just so happens that a few days before the pick, I had shared that top on Facebook because someone had posted asking about making a "scalloped border" and asked for examples of what other quilters had done.  

After sharing the technique I used in it,  I did wonder when I'd get back to work on finishing it.  What's also funny is that last month I had swapped "Modern Twist" into its original slot on the list.  So its number being picked this time around is a case of perfect timing for me!

3.  Do the cutting for the "Picture That" QOV top and maybe start piecing it togther. 

Done and done and this is why I didn't do any more quilting on "Modern Twist"!  

After getting the cutting done, I've put together the top and only have the last two borders (the blue mottle and the paisley) left to do.  Then this will be ready for mailing back to my MIL in North Carolina (along with the top finished last month) to submit to the guild for quilting.  I've also ordered more of the red fabric used in it for the binding.  

I also stitched up four blocks for the Quilt of Valor Foundation's Annual Block Drive as leader/enders.  

In the blocks on the left, both centers and the white and red fabrics in the bottom block came from leftovers of the previous QOV top I finished.  The rest of the fabrics came from my RWB stash.    

4.  Finish stitching the fourth (and last) "Hexie Snowflake" block to its background.

Also done!  And now all four of the blocks I have made for this are complete.  

Now it's time to think about how I want to finish the wallhanging I had designed these for.  I've been looking at the applique done on the borders of the original pattern....

I do have the Accuquilt die for those motifs so now am debating if  I'm willing to go "all the way" with this, LOL!!  If so and knowing me, that might mean this could take until next Spring to be completed.

5.  Cut the pieces for the next set of the "Alaska" BOM blocks and make the first two.

Well, I did get the cutting done....

...so I'll start the block making this week and should still be able to get the eight blocks completed by the end of the month.   

6.  Layer RSC "Rainbow Log Cabin" and (possibly) start quilting it.

At the top in the picture.

Nope with all the work on the QOV I still didn't get to sit down and finish deciding on the stitching pattern.

7.  Start making the alternate blocks for the RSC "Rainbow Log Cabin Hearts" layout.  

The "Heart" blocks are also pictured in the photo above and "nope" to work done on this project too!

So moving forward for the month this week, I will be:

1.  Still hoping I can continue and finish quilting "Modern Twist".

2.  Layer "Lady Claire Boxtrot" so I can start quilting on it later this month.  

3.  Add the final borders on the "Picture That" QOV top and get it ready for mailing. 

4.  Think about how I would want to finish the "Hexie Snowflake" wallhanging and decide if it can get done this year.  

5.  Piece two of the "Alaska" BOM blocks.  

6.  Make the final stitching decision for the "Rainbow Log Cabin" and layer it.

7.  Start making the alternate blocks for the RSC "Rainbow Log Cabin Hearts" layout.  

Still another long list this week and that usually doesn't bode well for getting to everything.  But I know where the danger zones are and am perfectly willing to let some things slide if it means completing others. 

I see that Carol at Quilt Schmilt did get a "To Do Tuesday" link up posted last week so need to try to go to the blogs she noted along with checking out the ones for this week.  Also looking forward to seeing more of my Hostas and to start setting up the rest of my terrace plantings too!

To Do Tuesday: The End of March and Plans for April

 Ahhh, so another month ends!  How fitting that it aligns with the weekly check in for "To Do Tuesday" that is usually hosted by Carol over at Quilt Schmilt.  

However as of the time I'm posting this, Carol hasn't posted the link-up for this week (I hope everything is okay).  So if she sets one up in the next day or two, I'll update this with the link to it.   

So last week the plans for finishing up the month were:  

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

I am still working on it.  I've only been able to sit down and stitch on it a little at a time as I'm still feeling my way on quilting it.  So at best I can call it "moved forward" for March.  

Even as I am looking forward to seeing what "UFO Challenge" number The Quilted Forest pulls for April,  I also want to continue working on this and try to finish it by the end of that month. 

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

Okay, finally made the final fabric choices so I can start cutting and piecing it.  I expect this one to be a quickie to stitch up!

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

Yes, it has been started and is about half way done.  Should be completed by the weekend.

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

Done!  Detail on that in this post.

Also Accomplished as March Finished Up:  

Having been able to finish the March blocks for my "Alaska" BOM a week early, I figured I'd put the blocks I've made to date up on the design wall just to take in how far I've gotten with this project.

Pretty good!  Although when I went to take the blocks down, I realized I had placed some of the blocks flanking the outer most center blocks incorrectly.  The blocks in those positions are pieced in mirror image and I clearly had put some of them in the wrong spots.  I made a note of that for when I lay these out again.

I have two more blocks to make to fill the center and in both cases I'll need eight of them.  So in April I'll tackle one of them knowing I need to make two blocks a week this time around.

Since I also have plans to make an enlarged version of the basic deisgn, I'll also be adding an additional  border of blocks.  Those blocks just so happen to have the same piecing as the other block I need for the center, just colored slightly differently.  So when I make those (in May), I'll make both sets of blocks in tandem.  I won't get them all done in a month --- I will just continue to work on them consistently until I have all that I need.  

Ooh, since the block making and constructing the final top is likely to go into June, this will be a perfect project to put on my list for the Fat Quarter Shop's annual "Red, White & June" event that month!   

Other Plans For April:

I'm trying to meet a deadline of making a Log Cabin quilt by May so I can send it down to my MIL to present at the June meeting of "our" guild.  Originally my plan had been to make two new designs that I've long wanted to make.  However with so many other projects in progress,  I've accepted that it just isn't going to be possible to get them done in time.  

I did start the "Sparkle & Shine" project that has only nine giant blocks and will continue to work on that in April and am hoping to get it done.  However, the other week I realized that I already have two Log Cabin WIPs, both of which started as "Rainbow Scrap Challenge" projects and one of which just needs to be quilted.  

So I decided it would make way more sense to try to get them finished up for the challenge.  The hold-up on the finished top is that up to now,  I couldn't decide how to quilt it.  So I need to sit with it a bit more over the next few days and try to come up with a plan for that.  

I also need to work on an idea I have for the layout of the other blocks which as of right now involves making additional alternate blocks for it.  If I can get that done, then I can determine if it'll also be possible to get it quilted in time as well.

So plans for this week are:

1.  Continue (and possibly finish?) quilting "Modern Twist".

2.  Find out what the "UFO Challenge" project pick is for April.  

3.  Do the cutting for the "Picture That" QOV top and maybe start piecing it togther. 

4.  Finish stitching the fourth (and last) "Hexie Snowflake" block to its background.

5.  Cut the pieces for the next set of the "Alaska" BOM blocks and make the first two.

6.  Layer RSC "Rainbow Log Cabin" and (possibly) start quilting it.

7.  Start making the alternate blocks for the RSC "Rainbow Log Cabin Hearts" layout.  

Hope I don't shoot myself in the foot with such a long list to start off the month!  I'm hoping Carol at Quilt Schmilt is able to get the "To Do Tuesday" link up set up.  If she does, then I can go see what other quilters have finished for March and have lined up for the start of April.  I'm guessing there should be a lot of pretty Spring projects starting to bloom in quilt studios around the world!

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!