tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25061929972569162852024-03-18T17:17:05.980-04:00Bronx QuilterVivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.comBlogger570125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-130400171632773802024-03-08T09:00:00.003-05:002024-03-17T06:49:12.283-04:00February Recap: Part 5 - A Little Finished Or Not Friday Reporting<p>Happy March to all who are participating in this week's "<a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/03/log-cabins-and-finished-or-not-friday.html" target="_blank">Finished Or Not Friday</a>" session hosted by the lovely and gracious <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Alycia of Quilty Girl</a> (and Quilts of Valor)! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/03/log-cabins-and-finished-or-not-friday.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="300" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfFdlZNEx4VoyFgyKqFQT3UWm02cIO6GRFRGNHzISOYa2a7GTjRCSzUCLa-ARKwcrxVdFizRBoPwcJbWbmgNiJQmh03m26X9hnIiZvGKTogM3xLdeBCCptq0fIwDghJkYTLkkhXxOdPhWQ-mxJN_lnUv5OrqU5XcGm9TfoS16_5z13o24a0RGEBpeiVlE/s1600/FONF%202024%20small.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>I have two contributions for this last report on the things I worked on in February: one is "Not Finished" and the other is a very important "Finish" for me! </p><p><b>Almost A Flimsie</b></p><p>In my <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/03/february-recap-part-4-quilt-con.html" target="_blank">last post</a> I talked about attending the big Quilt Con show during a visit to my MIL in North Carolina. Once that weekend of quilts and excitement was over, it was time for my MIL and I to get back to our mini quilt retreat and working on some of our projects. </p><p>In that post about the show, I talked about using scrap strings to make a cover for the little notebook I used to take lecture notes. The reason I had those strings along with me on the trip was because I brought this project with me to work on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mHjf4jCqJDJH_O-wMRGKpiNioghF90JhpmcOia6NrhyphenhyphenWn7vBoSAhziWwznpDnYATASatvQKwpiJ2asV5J5DTLSRVLPSl6WcVC1euVrOA1U0hGc4Qg_xgMNM1h7oh6BiUDO8HvhF1BXkXjZYSOXhCHhUBjlf66KnCrpnL01fhOumjXjfDmwidZAPBhTo/s5507/Design%20and%20Strings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3190" data-original-width="5507" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mHjf4jCqJDJH_O-wMRGKpiNioghF90JhpmcOia6NrhyphenhyphenWn7vBoSAhziWwznpDnYATASatvQKwpiJ2asV5J5DTLSRVLPSl6WcVC1euVrOA1U0hGc4Qg_xgMNM1h7oh6BiUDO8HvhF1BXkXjZYSOXhCHhUBjlf66KnCrpnL01fhOumjXjfDmwidZAPBhTo/s320/Design%20and%20Strings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It is Abigail Dolinger's "Scrap Vortex" design that originally appeared in <a href="https://www.quiltingdaily.com/mccalls-quick-quilts-june-july-2019/" target="_blank">McCall's Quick Quilts June/July 2019</a> but can also be purchased as an <a href="https://www.quiltingdaily.com/product/scrap-vortex-quilt-pattern-download/" target="_blank">individual pattern</a>. I've long liked this design and was encouraged to finally start it in order to try to participate in <a href="https://auntemsquilts.com/blog/strip-quilt-challenge" target="_blank">Emily Baily's (of Aunt Em's Quilts) strip quilt challenge</a> that had an early March deadline. </p><p>I had gathered fabrics for the dark corner squares and the first two solid fabric borders but had problems finding a fabric for the third border. Actually, I found one I really liked in my stash but of course it wasn't enough for what I needed and I couldn't find more of it. So I was hoping to find an alternative at the show. Luckily I did! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE8Ky9kh3gDMJ5-2-tBPSNKNogdM_HV0Ll1YzzPhw9f-ldKWcJEvv8zozUJS1FxHYPxaPpjk0cScmdfA2CzkFCXIeWADjpztoQWnKzuoj1cwFTPizgtGa3GinNqNMBiA_d-RAaOgYJtz-PaMnhYOVA6IMXOqrdfj3Ys_UVcc-LPm1AMe2P6INM3RJ_IA/s2882/Border%20Fabrics%20and%20Strings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2882" data-original-width="2193" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOE8Ky9kh3gDMJ5-2-tBPSNKNogdM_HV0Ll1YzzPhw9f-ldKWcJEvv8zozUJS1FxHYPxaPpjk0cScmdfA2CzkFCXIeWADjpztoQWnKzuoj1cwFTPizgtGa3GinNqNMBiA_d-RAaOgYJtz-PaMnhYOVA6IMXOqrdfj3Ys_UVcc-LPm1AMe2P6INM3RJ_IA/s320/Border%20Fabrics%20and%20Strings.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><p>The medium gray calico was the fabric I had originally hoped to use for the third fabric border but found the replacement fabric below it in the <a href="https://gequiltdesigns.com/" target="_blank">GE Designs</a> vendor booth at the show. I then hoped to finish the top before we left NC but only got this far with it by that time. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrCR4wgxvcAlx07_JGYazkRS17uQ-YwcWEoiIv7syrQjvz5HTmi9LeybdOC-jz6znFnTPBOYZrN9nArJla5W887q-SgRkMKyH66SVtFxNCnl_0xp-5rYwX6PqFKmjlZ3x93Ffr_cNrohlnwRgcco7wt9QrDZXB01VmQdwCDLms2g2N64VeocsI-l3Stw/s3056/20240301_160543.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2352" data-original-width="3056" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxrCR4wgxvcAlx07_JGYazkRS17uQ-YwcWEoiIv7syrQjvz5HTmi9LeybdOC-jz6znFnTPBOYZrN9nArJla5W887q-SgRkMKyH66SVtFxNCnl_0xp-5rYwX6PqFKmjlZ3x93Ffr_cNrohlnwRgcco7wt9QrDZXB01VmQdwCDLms2g2N64VeocsI-l3Stw/s320/20240301_160543.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Still hoping to make the challenge deadline, I continued work on it once we got back home. Unfortunately I didn't get it done in time and I still have three sides of the last string border to add at this point. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKA5IGxz_F3_jg7oH7XBufnR8IRynlEWZQCwxOdVuuftBj3EFY5S1p9H6hTFzm79kyvhBAzzq1SdkZBUlgjf_XO3jigjdli1vyEGlgTZdeVd4Mi6kdZvQe74aOWfYqCwyl_7Y_M5L4ipL_J5UaHCvtcdGgjRqu-FRwl5QH3eAaOszCaoVAEs7FY8toUM/s3056/20240308_013125%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKA5IGxz_F3_jg7oH7XBufnR8IRynlEWZQCwxOdVuuftBj3EFY5S1p9H6hTFzm79kyvhBAzzq1SdkZBUlgjf_XO3jigjdli1vyEGlgTZdeVd4Mi6kdZvQe74aOWfYqCwyl_7Y_M5L4ipL_J5UaHCvtcdGgjRqu-FRwl5QH3eAaOszCaoVAEs7FY8toUM/s320/20240308_013125%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>And of course, as often happens with scrap projects, it feels like I've still barely made a dent in the string stash!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbNulroA6ZbYrtCg6CUX6GXILAtRYoozBGxdSPihAJpxu4dcK2iY-MNp_h2x7tfnLwd2Hv-bKzJnwzvhCksk7y8_VtJSN-TOE4QuJfoRqVZ7H-hUZK3r7lN7yuJ4DKEFCA0zX1Mpb6pZPWOJmhEaG65TZH-OxrTg5P6ZsxvsmT7xIv-UXXqWXAVfJcdI/s2448/20240308_013055%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwbNulroA6ZbYrtCg6CUX6GXILAtRYoozBGxdSPihAJpxu4dcK2iY-MNp_h2x7tfnLwd2Hv-bKzJnwzvhCksk7y8_VtJSN-TOE4QuJfoRqVZ7H-hUZK3r7lN7yuJ4DKEFCA0zX1Mpb6pZPWOJmhEaG65TZH-OxrTg5P6ZsxvsmT7xIv-UXXqWXAVfJcdI/s320/20240308_013055%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>A Long Awaited Mystery Finish!</b></p><p>As I had talked about in <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/03/february-recap-part-3-on-road-again.html" target="_blank">this recap post</a>, the big task for our little quilting retreat was to try to learn to use the computerized <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpqEXTIRZUA&pp=ygUlaGFuZGkgcXVpbHRlciBtb3hpZSBwcm8gc3RpdGNoZXIgbGl0ZQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">Pro Stitcher Lite</a> software on the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb9MEK7bkLo&pp=ygUTaGFuZGkgcXVpbHRlciBtb3hpZQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">Handi Quilter Moxie</a> long arm my MIL had purchased during the shop hop we did on our last visit back in the Fall. You know how they say two heads are better than one? Well it must be true because we got some done! We stitched two of hers...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXFNts6x6KfSch-mwRYHkONFT_7wMQWYPL4TJYhsv0O82bF7kGgkCCNalEi5n1GnX5tKNLtLzDhk9l_bkek0_1NCAdQl5_XP1CZdbEPVSOsX8CFV0Vk3YMRZVAILkUTfYOJhHUH66wsMw4F6LjcbLfYVBMGRM7xpx81ScYuFBXG52SUazXe1LUjeopR0/s5507/MIL%20Quilts%20Using%20ProStitcher.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3190" data-original-width="5507" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXFNts6x6KfSch-mwRYHkONFT_7wMQWYPL4TJYhsv0O82bF7kGgkCCNalEi5n1GnX5tKNLtLzDhk9l_bkek0_1NCAdQl5_XP1CZdbEPVSOsX8CFV0Vk3YMRZVAILkUTfYOJhHUH66wsMw4F6LjcbLfYVBMGRM7xpx81ScYuFBXG52SUazXe1LUjeopR0/s320/MIL%20Quilts%20Using%20ProStitcher.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>....and I got one of mine done! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZOLLeWPgS1dddAjGwwGDQzr7lkke3Va_OEDLx2WU_EOauQzyyLvgKQlyporL4TI1xIwMZp8JTBcnDkSYM1up0ftDAm9jcDUYrfcHA8r9HErLduUWdXwpeS_wmy6n8se2B1adMRbP1psWwyvhJTP-VP2Z30uRUV8qQ922nwSy4TI5TCCwe5tnvR64NRI/s6292/After%20longarming%20and%20trimmed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3190" data-original-width="6292" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZOLLeWPgS1dddAjGwwGDQzr7lkke3Va_OEDLx2WU_EOauQzyyLvgKQlyporL4TI1xIwMZp8JTBcnDkSYM1up0ftDAm9jcDUYrfcHA8r9HErLduUWdXwpeS_wmy6n8se2B1adMRbP1psWwyvhJTP-VP2Z30uRUV8qQ922nwSy4TI5TCCwe5tnvR64NRI/s320/After%20longarming%20and%20trimmed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Long arming done and edges trimmed<br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This is a big thrill since this top, aptly named for the mystery as "An Oldie But A Goodie" is just that! I made the top all the way back in 2014 for the last mystery hosted by the Planet Patchwork website before they shut down. It has been sitting all this time and now it is a lovely and bound finish!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDpyZt1QTrifAxsrwc2E0mSDojhjzeq1NGr7odDKbjxtZHBOihWwCtSughXzJzonFYQY2Jg00PtLYvr1PxISSXPws5XNL4jcvZv4mnv3Jz_4RBpg-KjuF-7yXNKZGmVl7quBMkNFJsTbA_j2Y-3fvdmunT4GMPws9Fip8NKCt8rvMaPePRw02BPYfQ6c/s2737/20240307_115419%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2653" data-original-width="2737" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDpyZt1QTrifAxsrwc2E0mSDojhjzeq1NGr7odDKbjxtZHBOihWwCtSughXzJzonFYQY2Jg00PtLYvr1PxISSXPws5XNL4jcvZv4mnv3Jz_4RBpg-KjuF-7yXNKZGmVl7quBMkNFJsTbA_j2Y-3fvdmunT4GMPws9Fip8NKCt8rvMaPePRw02BPYfQ6c/s320/20240307_115419%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8ygMZCMUIzXwmC6yV3IrLHlqz7yTxSCf1DatJyxwFAfxSlZHnyVcWLQ2zy141mDdnbn1QHuPyCgFUgPYouu4qbzNDD5GSZL5_w9m4uGNTawd792ZentFB2U32LBarXMX3iEatuUgYzFws9htkqigA2zQse4U9nXjJeqklQWMPfTI7eIJMu0nyxgofAM/s2792/20240307_115802%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1785" data-original-width="2792" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8ygMZCMUIzXwmC6yV3IrLHlqz7yTxSCf1DatJyxwFAfxSlZHnyVcWLQ2zy141mDdnbn1QHuPyCgFUgPYouu4qbzNDD5GSZL5_w9m4uGNTawd792ZentFB2U32LBarXMX3iEatuUgYzFws9htkqigA2zQse4U9nXjJeqklQWMPfTI7eIJMu0nyxgofAM/s320/20240307_115802%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All that's left of the pretty binding fabric.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I did learn some lessons about long arming through this process. Loading a quilt on a frame is less time consuming than pin basting but you really do need all that excess batting and backing around the edges of the top both to help with tensioning and to provide space to test your stitch tensions and patterns. Setting up your desired pattern to stitch out on your top how and where you want it and learning the mechanics of advancing the quilt, basting it for each advancement and resuming a design if the stitching is interrupted or you need to change bobbins, all take practice to master. <p><b><u>Bonus lesson from the Quilt Con Show</u>:</b> We had checked out the <a href="https://www.wonderfil.ca/invisafil" target="_blank">Wonderfil Threads</a> booth, particularly their DecoBob 80 and Invisifil 100 Weight threads. Oh boy, those threads are a wonderful alternative to using monofilament thread on multi-colored tops! </p><p>After seeing the quilted samples in the booth, I purchased two spools of 100 wt. in Beige and light Gray and a spool of the 80 wt in a medium Gray planning to try them out on the <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/10/october-in-review.html" target="_blank">"Over/Under" quilt</a> I had struggled with quilting using monofilament last year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKTX1xBhnqpIOkFKhPOPn_VDSPHlKsEgInqSuF3w8pUu5XkoaB-6BcgujzVh0tE9_LWn2-f247V774Q82Gv_c9TUjoAwrJHhKuvDEZUD3n3yqMnWOKabDv380AsKJHwZbw8fFcGQAgsQVtLpDVRal2FOUAoZrVECw0zqIzEI_q9l7Zni1kg2WNWDwXSw/s3056/20240307_121606.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkKTX1xBhnqpIOkFKhPOPn_VDSPHlKsEgInqSuF3w8pUu5XkoaB-6BcgujzVh0tE9_LWn2-f247V774Q82Gv_c9TUjoAwrJHhKuvDEZUD3n3yqMnWOKabDv380AsKJHwZbw8fFcGQAgsQVtLpDVRal2FOUAoZrVECw0zqIzEI_q9l7Zni1kg2WNWDwXSw/s320/20240307_121606.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>However, I wound up using the Beige 100 wt. for this quilt and thought it stitched out beautifully over all the many colors of fabrics I used in this top. My MIL had purchased pre-wound bobbins in the 80 wt. which they carry for all different classes of long arm machines and that was used for this quilt too. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRm-cp7SvrGV-8ucSwco-lJ4knHcE8FWmz6D6Ng7eGz6ZMAOm17PMrPvZsrDBd9hYIPwUp8yvmkiBmSdY86RKKqlk9GUO0LAHCM0vWKS3a3MperMY1wtrjI8SIWfPvKvVjGk48aGPpwpULnbbQ3XdQgyY88mwhi6e_HBF4LA20MowZ-Eaf9gO1aX3iqA0/s4587/DecoBob%20PreWound%20Bobbins.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3160" data-original-width="4587" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRm-cp7SvrGV-8ucSwco-lJ4knHcE8FWmz6D6Ng7eGz6ZMAOm17PMrPvZsrDBd9hYIPwUp8yvmkiBmSdY86RKKqlk9GUO0LAHCM0vWKS3a3MperMY1wtrjI8SIWfPvKvVjGk48aGPpwpULnbbQ3XdQgyY88mwhi6e_HBF4LA20MowZ-Eaf9gO1aX3iqA0/s320/DecoBob%20PreWound%20Bobbins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I used about 1-1/4 bobbins to stitch out the Baptist Fan pattern on this 47" x 60" quilt. I definitely look forward to stocking up on more of it! Fortunately, they gave us a list of dealers that sell it in NC and at least one of the shops usually participates in the "All Carolinas Shop Hop" in the Fall which is when we'll be returning for our next visit. I will definitely have a wish list with me then! </p><p>So that wraps up my doings for February and I am thrilled that it coincided with the first FONF report for March. Now I can head back over to <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/03/log-cabins-and-finished-or-not-friday.html" target="_blank">Alycia's</a> to see what everyone else has going on as the Spring rains come in and prepare the way for the flowers we will see before long!</p></div>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-5907114053137212642024-03-07T08:00:00.004-05:002024-03-10T00:02:04.761-05:00February Recap: Part 4 - Quilt Con!!!<p> If you saw the icon on my side bar these last few months, you know what was the special event I came down to North Carolina for: I attended <a href="https://quiltcon.com/" target="_blank">Quilt Con</a> for the first time! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmd7_7jZfppc7iqa8zb5JgdjpCTrtvWqwfCNPf1LzavpMUSJlxpTELrizIlNbXcfuDb5Oh1IyGSAZyTNejaBtoAzHnryX_tYvTv97eLQFdMJvsMjJ5hNXv_AFLBI-LDkZmCFFpsqVV7jLLiHie5g07Nj6Xh_CDq-EFfl5Ru-9v6bi-M8yQYHwhoHEczBg/s3056/20240222_093326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmd7_7jZfppc7iqa8zb5JgdjpCTrtvWqwfCNPf1LzavpMUSJlxpTELrizIlNbXcfuDb5Oh1IyGSAZyTNejaBtoAzHnryX_tYvTv97eLQFdMJvsMjJ5hNXv_AFLBI-LDkZmCFFpsqVV7jLLiHie5g07Nj6Xh_CDq-EFfl5Ru-9v6bi-M8yQYHwhoHEczBg/s320/20240222_093326.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilH4IgefEh5AUqDnBdgJoH2Zdb9f_YRTEv0m1TXChW7vsp3GLv37O2iEIRScGLLsHyTscdTKbDmn91-2JBCO-hL_mq-JbOkPe_Ppfu7tHQiNpJ9qRzen8CwAQm6GJp_4fQevxD2Oic1mL2Ktuv-CBP1Wd17p1grILTsWmLzFZ_ZAxwz3Q0Eh_6ug2-jIw/s2962/20240227_081047.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2797" data-original-width="2962" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilH4IgefEh5AUqDnBdgJoH2Zdb9f_YRTEv0m1TXChW7vsp3GLv37O2iEIRScGLLsHyTscdTKbDmn91-2JBCO-hL_mq-JbOkPe_Ppfu7tHQiNpJ9qRzen8CwAQm6GJp_4fQevxD2Oic1mL2Ktuv-CBP1Wd17p1grILTsWmLzFZ_ZAxwz3Q0Eh_6ug2-jIw/s320/20240227_081047.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When we learned last year that it would be coming to my MIL's neck of the woods, she and I immediately made plans to go. Since my DH and I usually go visit my MIL this time of the year, it was a perfect fit!</div><div><br /></div><div>If you have ever been to Quilt Con or any of the other big national shows, you know how phenomenal yet overwhelming attending can be. We had four days of <a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/Y3_rlai0aSI?si=JlqCjJm7O6DRlZW9" target="_blank">viewing quilts</a>, attending lectures and watching a few live vendor demonstrations, admiring the "<a href="https://youtu.be/zXFBqn3Dz7s?si=S8onmydey_kD7yqC" target="_blank">attendee fashion show</a>" that flowed past us daily, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcrAi17kxDc" target="_blank">shopping the vendor booths</a> and having more than a few "sew-lebrity" sightings! Click the links for better reports of some of those than I can provide here.</div><div><br /></div><div>All the "hands on" workshops were sold out by the time we registered so we were were only able to attend lectures including <a href="https://www.jacquiegering.com/" target="_blank">Jacqui Gering</a>'s keynote address. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoLki9FHZmioyeq4CLmM6KDbEbUY4DxvczrIf-cFHPfb1KubthqFFVPgUCP_VvUf1lJMwXZGbeaPwh9-hGjME0tZ5lWYOKVThMWK9iuwdIf2DWS3C8_QgspdV80m3AaJYujmAz0KQA1HX97KWNPUhlAoxt9IZiMlOQACfsJ9HTwVCIDzlu2InO8GKgUo/s2887/20240227_081156.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2887" data-original-width="2437" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOoLki9FHZmioyeq4CLmM6KDbEbUY4DxvczrIf-cFHPfb1KubthqFFVPgUCP_VvUf1lJMwXZGbeaPwh9-hGjME0tZ5lWYOKVThMWK9iuwdIf2DWS3C8_QgspdV80m3AaJYujmAz0KQA1HX97KWNPUhlAoxt9IZiMlOQACfsJ9HTwVCIDzlu2InO8GKgUo/s320/20240227_081156.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><div>All of them were great! David Owen Hastings lecture on <a href="https://davidowenhastings.com/portfolio/lecture-quilt-labels-to-love/" target="_blank">Quilt Labels</a> and <a href="https://christaquilts.com/" target="_blank">Christa Watson</a>'s lecture on planning your quilt stitching gave me some ideas I hope to try on projects I already have going at home. The lectures on working "improv" and exploring color had me itching to want to try to structure some time for trying some truly creative (aka no pattern) work. Although, the reason I rarely do that was also addressed in the lectures: some times it takes a lot of time for inspiration to hit! However, I also realize that these are projects or sessions I have to approach with no deadlines in order to give myself time to see where whatever I decide to do takes me. I also learned about a new-to me <a href="https://www.banjoflannel.com/" target="_blank">sashiko-style hand stitching technique</a> from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C33NHbwPY6Q/" target="_blank">Diana Fitzgerald</a> that I'd like to try as well. </div><div><br /></div><div>Even better, we met great people and had great quilty conversations while standing in line waiting for the lecture hall to open for each session. So if you are afraid of going to these big shows because you have to go by yourself, I say don't be. We're all there because we love quilting so just turn to the person next to you and strike up a conversation! You will be surprised to find that you either have a lot in common (happened often) or that you are kindred spirits in the things you've discovered about quilting or about yourself as a quilter.</div><div><br /></div><div>I had mentioned to DH that I should have brought a notebook down with me to take notes at the lectures. While making a trip to the local Walmart, he bought us both some, bless his "good quilt husband" heart! So the other pre-show quilting project that I did was to make a quick QAYG Note Pad cover the night before our first day at the show. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtSfrT5vr3c3zh73Ko852z1x9nhkLusDnDOLtyG4Jwu4JvnT2kjUKqouSTN2cLb-UWvtrJk6Z4mZ3kEz9CtdqYXpnrJhvdZ3XK4v52TMJo88A498MmV1w_PA4I0QmOW9J5hK59e4JubuchRtVlSz4JzMRsYAE-eq0wXzPYLeTrPIZUqyXREO6Mzb14xg/s2697/20240227_081404.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2697" data-original-width="2320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHtSfrT5vr3c3zh73Ko852z1x9nhkLusDnDOLtyG4Jwu4JvnT2kjUKqouSTN2cLb-UWvtrJk6Z4mZ3kEz9CtdqYXpnrJhvdZ3XK4v52TMJo88A498MmV1w_PA4I0QmOW9J5hK59e4JubuchRtVlSz4JzMRsYAE-eq0wXzPYLeTrPIZUqyXREO6Mzb14xg/s320/20240227_081404.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><p>Good thing <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/03/february-recap-part-5-little-finished.html" target="_blank">one of the projects I brought down with me</a> was one using scrappy strings! </p><p>Needless to say in a show with aisles and aisles of vendor booths, ya' know there will be haul! I did come to the show with a list of specific things I was hoping to stock up on.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsydE8KQO6RINjjdOJgYXMk8XyOQ10IJN5wqzePlAhLLZqWNc4ksxP7t2okdrtcRt5jE_tat7EePtWkIrkhQlUNb68rjrutNIxTj9St9J5fMAq7xq7y4uXNpxB_Qfl07LEOsn6dQorFBJeJYJvHSm0t-Fxz20xNOrvKDAXW_8mW67Z2gBKOxpa65TofeQ/s2972/20240305_190441%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2142" data-original-width="2972" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsydE8KQO6RINjjdOJgYXMk8XyOQ10IJN5wqzePlAhLLZqWNc4ksxP7t2okdrtcRt5jE_tat7EePtWkIrkhQlUNb68rjrutNIxTj9St9J5fMAq7xq7y4uXNpxB_Qfl07LEOsn6dQorFBJeJYJvHSm0t-Fxz20xNOrvKDAXW_8mW67Z2gBKOxpa65TofeQ/s320/20240305_190441%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>In the picture above, the Kaffe Fassette and Marsha Derse fabrics on the left that I got from the <a href="https://villarosadesigns.com/pages/fabric-collections" target="_blank">Villa Rosa Designs</a> booth were just the inspiration I was hoping to find for Pat Sloan's <a href="https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/march-block-a-day-2024.html" target="_blank">"March Block A Day"</a> project starting this month. The low volume fabrics on the lower right were pieces I had hoped to pick up for a "Lozenges" project that will be teamed with leftover red and black fabrics from other projects and were purchased from the <a href="https://www.webfabrics.net/" target="_blank">Web Fabrics</a> booth. The other bundle of low volume prints (also picked up from Villa Rosa) I am hoping to use as backgrounds for the "Stronger Together" quilt project I spoke about back in <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/03/february-recap-part-1-little-cross.html" target="_blank">Part 1</a>. </p><p>At the top, the denim backed cork is from <a href="https://sallietomato.com/" target="_blank">Sallie Tomato</a>, a vendor I hadn't heard of before and will go towards a "<a href="http://www.pinksandbeachdesigns.com/120-barbados.html" target="_blank">Barbados Bag</a>" project I've long wanted to make from recycled denim. Ironically, I had been directed to check out their booth after a conversation with a nice saleslady at the Handi Quilter booth who liked the bag of the same style that I was wearing and that I had purchased on Etsy a few years back. </p><p>The Quilt Con pin was one of four show swag items I purchased. I also picked up a project bag (good for quilting or cross stitch!) and two pairs of MQG socks. Unfortunately I missed out on the show t-shirt as they sold out and MQG did not get enough additional orders to do another print run. So if you go to the show and want a shirt, buy that first!!</p><p>I picked up <a href="https://cindygrisdela.com/2024/01/31/textile-talk-interview-recording-available/" target="_blank">Cindy Grisdela</a>'s "<a href="https://www.ctpub.com/adventures-in-improv-quilts/" target="_blank">Adventures in Improv Quilts</a>" book from the <a href="https://www.ctpub.com/" target="_blank">C&T Publishing</a> booth. It is one that had been on my wish list for a long time and with 20% off I decided to go for it since it might add to the lecture concepts I was learning. But it got better: I purchased it on Thursday and was told by the woman manning the booth that Cindy herself was going to be in the booth on Saturday so I could have it signed. Cool! Well, on Friday we were scheduled to go to the "Evolution of Quilts and Color" lecture to be given by <a href="https://thequiltshow.com/learn/category/artist-interviews/miscellaneous-artist-interviews/alex-catches-up-with-sarah-bond-at-piqf-xxx" target="_blank">Sarah Bond</a>. It turned out Ms. Bond couldn't make it and guess who subbed for her that day? None other than Ms. Grisdela!! So I not only was able to get the book signed right after the lecture but I got the bonus of getting to hear her speak on the topic of color as she uses it in her improv work as well!</p><p>The <a href="https://quiltalliance.org/" target="_blank">Quilt Alliance</a> also had a booth at the show as they are based in North Carolina. Speaking of those lecture hall waiting line conversations: I had one with a woman who had quilts made by her grandmother. As I am <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2016/12/catching-up-on-quilt-labels-part-1.html" target="_blank">a big proponent of using labels</a>, we had a long discussion about how she might document the quilts for her family's future generations. I only wish I had remembered about the QA booth in that moment and could have directed her to visit it for more ideas. For myself, I picked up one of the label cards they were giving out...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSb0qQ1vkYpsGmVNdzh6gu9Gxp4A6r88ZR_4SptN8vEhhyphenhyphenL0-aK-z8FHTiQD50lDzUtVHcAt5Vry0srzAviceglovqMq8KKmnZuSwTSgm5OqI15R6fHQMFEHzhuBn5IWRMALCIntRveqFRcQs7gAiC2bYLqYgydiZdylRM8Tw_n42TrbaxVtt5G5RFhSg/s6195/Quilt%20Alliance%20Label%20Giveaway%20Card.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2537" data-original-width="6195" height="131" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSb0qQ1vkYpsGmVNdzh6gu9Gxp4A6r88ZR_4SptN8vEhhyphenhyphenL0-aK-z8FHTiQD50lDzUtVHcAt5Vry0srzAviceglovqMq8KKmnZuSwTSgm5OqI15R6fHQMFEHzhuBn5IWRMALCIntRveqFRcQs7gAiC2bYLqYgydiZdylRM8Tw_n42TrbaxVtt5G5RFhSg/s320/Quilt%20Alliance%20Label%20Giveaway%20Card.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>...and this time I didn't wait to get a t-shirt! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PB8RRLr3fAA2WRRZIT-1I3BEc1sykJIQPca9tQIQOB7LOKPyXpuqBXRElUJiSgQlc6dp2storOpG76xWShPC56eef6dUq6kTA5_rXSgrhdp1cY4MMqi1l3-4gZjuogdE6qaaGJHgtEy18jj9xYtV_9Y7sjwr7Q9jRv8bMqNlMxf9M6F3517pByfQxKk/s3056/20240305_201129%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PB8RRLr3fAA2WRRZIT-1I3BEc1sykJIQPca9tQIQOB7LOKPyXpuqBXRElUJiSgQlc6dp2storOpG76xWShPC56eef6dUq6kTA5_rXSgrhdp1cY4MMqi1l3-4gZjuogdE6qaaGJHgtEy18jj9xYtV_9Y7sjwr7Q9jRv8bMqNlMxf9M6F3517pByfQxKk/s320/20240305_201129%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Another thing we learned at the show is that next year's event will be going back to Phoenix, Arizona and they have already decided to return to Raleigh, NC for 2026! I'm already looking forward to it!! </p><p>Once the four days of the show were done, it was finally time to tackle some of the projects that I brought down with me. While I didn't get to work on many, I did get some significant work done on two of them --- but that is a story for tomorrow!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-52232082685193543962024-03-06T09:00:00.247-05:002024-03-10T13:14:23.018-04:00February Recap: Part 3 - On The Road Again...<p>Continuing with all the reporting on the things that happened in February: As noted in the <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/03/february-recap-part-2-little-valentines.html" target="_blank">last post</a>, there were definitely a few quilty things I should have worked on in preparation for our trip but time had run out and I had to focus on packing! On the third Saturday of the month, we had to wait until a light snow storm passed and then we hit the road! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dBN86y30Ufc" width="320" youtube-src-id="dBN86y30Ufc"></iframe></div><p>Because of the late start out due to the weather, we didn't arrive in North Carolina until Saturday evening. Once we got to my MIL's, we just unpacked, ate and spent the rest of the night catching up with her and the current treatment status of her ailing sister. </p><p>Sunday is when I finally set up my usual sewing space having once again brought <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/08/august-recap.html" target="_blank">my Juki</a> down with me to sew on. When my MIL returned from church, I watched and assisted her in loading one of her quilt projects onto the long arm frame. She has a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb9MEK7bkLo&pp=ygUTaGFuZGkgcXVpbHRlciBtb3hpZQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">Handi Quilter Moxie machine</a> and has already quilted a few by free motion Stippling them but feels she still needs a lot of practice on that. </p><p>She had not yet "cracked the code" on using her computerized <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpqEXTIRZUA&pp=ygUlaGFuZGkgcXVpbHRlciBtb3hpZSBwcm8gc3RpdGNoZXIgbGl0ZQ%3D%3D" target="_blank">Pro Stitcher Lite system</a>. That was going to be our joint task to try to learn that during our visit. I had brought a few completed tops with backing fabrics down in the hopes of getting to try out using the machine as well. So I too had a big incentive to try and understand how all of this worked together.</p><p>While we worked on getting that education under our belts, I spent the next few days there working on what was supposed to have been one of the pre-trip projects:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7C4u-Gngn6wM_2LeAkwp-PqZBaWghnm520EoGr-lZLJlkxOy7LItVvTa-rQv4b6axdb0Z0bcO9FPTENS06dBez13SGUjwEkCSNZAKX7Y7csLIhzYudI3NKKfBZ36qnxXmhj4_THIbemnlygP3wTac2gTW37d3kXK_oAgxOZfBM4tiunPMQWUayEsfyA/s6439/MSQC%20Carry%20All%20Tote%20Inside%20and%20Out.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3226" data-original-width="6439" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7C4u-Gngn6wM_2LeAkwp-PqZBaWghnm520EoGr-lZLJlkxOy7LItVvTa-rQv4b6axdb0Z0bcO9FPTENS06dBez13SGUjwEkCSNZAKX7Y7csLIhzYudI3NKKfBZ36qnxXmhj4_THIbemnlygP3wTac2gTW37d3kXK_oAgxOZfBM4tiunPMQWUayEsfyA/s320/MSQC%20Carry%20All%20Tote%20Inside%20and%20Out.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Exterior and Inside Zipper Pocket with Magnetic Clasp</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This is my version the Missouri Star Quilt Company's "<a href="https://youtu.be/RsssCwvhrgU?si=5W_sANyVUhktW8Yu" target="_blank">Carry All Tote Bag</a>" tutorial project. I made mine a little taller and deeper (18"H x 20"W x 7"D vs their patterned 14"H x 20"W x 4"D) in order to mimic a large Christmas Tree Shop tote bag I have that is useful when carrying large items. That bag can only hold light weight stuff and I wanted a bag that was the same size but a little sturdier/stronger. </p><p>I also wanted a larger bag because I wanted to use it to bring home the (hoped for) finished quilts. However with the design changes, it took me a lot longer to complete it than I expected. The bag utilizes stabilizer and a layer of foam filler and I added an additional layer of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eB_Yi0yBgzc" target="_blank">Peltex stabilizer</a> in the bottom for a sturdier base. </p><p><b>Important tip:</b> even if you cut the foam filling and stabilizers smaller initially, once fused on, trim them again if necessary to be sure to have a clear quarter inch seam allowance to make the completion of all the connecting seams easier. </p><p>So even though it took a while to complete, the new bag definitely delivered in being able to hold a lot of stuff! </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZvnOAfuGQQe6yveMN-1Jkfaqg_K34z-UME1NREpgZW_awlAjSI30rApri4GNt8moPyNFN7Ni2kfRyy2DcSh0Ox0_Et3BUatjIQqzICMYWY1aTjXB_BMd-nmK8oQZEshDOigWPMxDJbUSbmVNFERO9RrKTQNMXoseKoEIX36fvyvLSoalKr0Wis0FbFA/s3056/20240305_090258.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2444" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeZvnOAfuGQQe6yveMN-1Jkfaqg_K34z-UME1NREpgZW_awlAjSI30rApri4GNt8moPyNFN7Ni2kfRyy2DcSh0Ox0_Et3BUatjIQqzICMYWY1aTjXB_BMd-nmK8oQZEshDOigWPMxDJbUSbmVNFERO9RrKTQNMXoseKoEIX36fvyvLSoalKr0Wis0FbFA/s320/20240305_090258.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">And the finished quilt in the bag can be seen in <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/03/february-recap-part-5-little-finished.html" target="_blank">this post</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>However, all the time spent making this meant that I didn't get to start on any other of the projects I had brought because by then it was time to attend the big special event! More on that tomorrow!!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-52616220252456641302024-03-05T08:00:00.016-05:002024-03-06T10:33:11.879-05:00February Recap: Part 2 - A Little Valentine's Day Prep<p> More on the February doings: After enjoying <a href="https://youtu.be/9gJHWEsTeq8?si=DPpo5Go7RaZPlfAl" target="_blank">Pat Sloan's Red and White quilt display</a> at the beginning of the month, I realized that my own display that was up at the time needed some enhancement: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZGIuBwu9qHyvFCSJbbdMUjj1qOCkffWL-4vrU_2pzlxfxOHVCe1-51smcLbYrYO4M2c-PAcGHlD48HX8jnlSzCUy-Y3c9bC6-CNgU0-Lw-IdDOjrBUB10lxbSUBiBH3fVQ1Srj_XBumfIKj46IpPBuuLcbXMgkAkYs5-BvQAPFFleBR_UbGj1zRTS8c/s3056/20240205_202452.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZGIuBwu9qHyvFCSJbbdMUjj1qOCkffWL-4vrU_2pzlxfxOHVCe1-51smcLbYrYO4M2c-PAcGHlD48HX8jnlSzCUy-Y3c9bC6-CNgU0-Lw-IdDOjrBUB10lxbSUBiBH3fVQ1Srj_XBumfIKj46IpPBuuLcbXMgkAkYs5-BvQAPFFleBR_UbGj1zRTS8c/s320/20240205_202452.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>So at the last minute I decided to make a little Valentine's Day wall filler using Pat's "Hello Luv" design. Although it later appeared in her "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pat-Sloans-Holiday-Celebrations-Occasions/dp/1683561317?crid=2LKTK16G8DU6T&keywords=celebrate+the+seasons+pat+sloan&qid=1707003302&sprefix=sloan+celebrat,aps,213&sr=8-1&linkCode=sl1&tag=patslosquihom-20&linkId=3962df0a63fb75702a78428e14361e49&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">Holiday Celebrations</a>" book, I had originally picked up the pattern when she made it for the <a href="https://patsloan.typepad.com/files/pat-sloan-jan-2019-button-club-directions.pdf" target="_blank">Fat Quarter Shop's Button Club</a> back in 2019.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8OlYU_nRPY2uol7BUgC7k3XXv6a2Nn-n7HwCpsYjSF_4JI9teRaj0RU5aLfQxs4Mx35PKZ-V76fROQzJfsDSNH_GDEiUYrHoMMasuW9zzQtLlFdxHe6rOqZgxyEanzrO5QboL8P3S4xGvlzkO9AVFaaPgb23a2OJDF2FM5ZUhQjD9El-ZvEqmgJQqzI/s774/PS%20January%202019%20Button%20Club%20Table%20Mat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="774" data-original-width="670" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib8OlYU_nRPY2uol7BUgC7k3XXv6a2Nn-n7HwCpsYjSF_4JI9teRaj0RU5aLfQxs4Mx35PKZ-V76fROQzJfsDSNH_GDEiUYrHoMMasuW9zzQtLlFdxHe6rOqZgxyEanzrO5QboL8P3S4xGvlzkO9AVFaaPgb23a2OJDF2FM5ZUhQjD9El-ZvEqmgJQqzI/s320/PS%20January%202019%20Button%20Club%20Table%20Mat.jpg" width="277" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Pat's Button Club version</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsuC_1m_Qj0PTiWdQ_E8FYcIT_bxX7Y7xBpXa3RAFKX5Mf9OCpzm6tGofiPG2cSG_t6462xPjnCV60H7pizt57YILJdVreiygFe95mn8eYopsKAX2d5g1wcKssTtAGlFCS5GbJCnYj52et__u6MxE23HdnyLVK11NbdUb5n-ChPY8tbgq59R0322gHNI/s3056/20240214_215007.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAsuC_1m_Qj0PTiWdQ_E8FYcIT_bxX7Y7xBpXa3RAFKX5Mf9OCpzm6tGofiPG2cSG_t6462xPjnCV60H7pizt57YILJdVreiygFe95mn8eYopsKAX2d5g1wcKssTtAGlFCS5GbJCnYj52et__u6MxE23HdnyLVK11NbdUb5n-ChPY8tbgq59R0322gHNI/s320/20240214_215007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">My addition to my Red and White display!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>For the block units that make up the larger four patch "Hugs" and "Kisses" blocks, I had gone the die cutting route and used my Accuquilt <a href="https://www.accuquilt.com/go-signature-block.html" target="_blank">4-1/2" Finished Signature die</a> and the 3" finished HST triangles on my <a href="https://www.accuquilt.com/go-churn-dash-9-finished.html" target="_blank">Churn Dash</a> die to cut out the pieces. That made my blocks and wall hanging a little larger than what's patterned. </p><p><b>Updated 3/6/24:</b> Now <a href="https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/2024/03/whats-in-your-closet-block-7-.html" target="_blank">a smaller version of this same design</a> is one of the blocks in Pat's "Block Wednesday: <a href="https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/whats-in-your-closet.html" target="_blank">What's In Your Your Closet</a>" mystery quilt along! </p><p>Where Pat had used the buttons from the club to decorate the X's and O's, I am only now noticing the buttons in the center of the X's so didn't do that. I did put something in the centers of the O's though. Continuing with the "make it fast, cut it fast" scheme, I picked a heart applique to put in the center of my O's. Originally, I thought I'd use the 2" Heart from their basic <a href="https://www.accuquilt.com/go-heart-2-3-4-die.html" target="_blank">"Heart" applique die</a> but instead chose to go with the Heart from the <a href="https://www.accuquilt.com/go-heather-feather-2-by-sarah-vedeler.html" target="_blank">“Heather Feather #2” die by Sarah Vedeler</a>. </p><p>To further hasten the finish, I once again decided to save some time on cutting and assembling binding and pulled out my <i>usually </i>trusty "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxUZiryM-yI" target="_blank">Quick Easy Mitered Binding Tool</a>"....</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7u48-5F1cVBRUwTvDzI_wwTI7rcbNc0At6H01e2YsT2_O-QdMdbePVaH1HDhi9kcU-zp8heucTi2r9TKBNNiRxo16DVmtKhEOBjdPIeI3DqyGmeHqsoEc3N47Psu9F7e3ka-jK5p2vjTQqawLCuMJDW-ODAWsLXvehluc-bkPnrmt9qbj9gOgbpVt4-A/s2048/20200923_114231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1378" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7u48-5F1cVBRUwTvDzI_wwTI7rcbNc0At6H01e2YsT2_O-QdMdbePVaH1HDhi9kcU-zp8heucTi2r9TKBNNiRxo16DVmtKhEOBjdPIeI3DqyGmeHqsoEc3N47Psu9F7e3ka-jK5p2vjTQqawLCuMJDW-ODAWsLXvehluc-bkPnrmt9qbj9gOgbpVt4-A/s320/20200923_114231.jpg" width="215" /></a></div><p>....to turn the simple backing (with label area added) to the front! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw45r9UtmCQxbaecgE8_Rs0EOvTwJdgLDE-MsdAUQLBvKdfENpj-GK0Y_V4O7BKA8EaIYPB8vYTs9SmXAV4jnEqLd4-nPotW1eRqFK1FpVObzyvQptaIy5_RoBr-QXqMZeFmMhdWSUH17vJFtCmcNwDaLrnmIeJPRDubrm13LHuP8gPyTW1p1h1V1daxA/s6439/Back%20and%20Front%20Binding.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3226" data-original-width="6439" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw45r9UtmCQxbaecgE8_Rs0EOvTwJdgLDE-MsdAUQLBvKdfENpj-GK0Y_V4O7BKA8EaIYPB8vYTs9SmXAV4jnEqLd4-nPotW1eRqFK1FpVObzyvQptaIy5_RoBr-QXqMZeFmMhdWSUH17vJFtCmcNwDaLrnmIeJPRDubrm13LHuP8gPyTW1p1h1V1daxA/s320/Back%20and%20Front%20Binding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I say "usually trusty" because when I tried this technique back in January for my "<a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/01/finished-or-not-friday-my-travels-down.html" target="_blank">Old Tobacco Road</a>" quilt, it was the first time it did not work for me. </p><p>I had started this one a few days before Valentine's Day and finished it up right on the holiday! However, the holiday was only three days before we were scheduled to leave so it was now time to focus on packing!</p><p>There still a lot more to February, so watch for more posts this week!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-64062533206110921122024-03-04T12:03:00.006-05:002024-03-06T09:47:11.204-05:00February Recap: Part 1 - A Little Cross stitch Talk<p>Wow, last month was a busy one for a lot of reasons. Primarily, things were in a jumble because my DH and I had plans to spend the second half of it visiting his mother in North Carolina. For those that had seen the icon on my side bar these last few months, you already know that part of those plans were to also partake in a big special event but more on that later. Now that we are finally back, it's time to recap all the doings that happened both before and while we were away.</p><p>There were a lot of quilty things I needed to work on last month but I admit I did not do great on that front so more on that later too. Thankfully though, before we left I did get some things both done and started on the cross stitch front. </p><p>With regards to an existing project I have a finish: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWLwvgxhTzaykNmK4FeO1sxG3O195GdmzA1rZF1GJgBvs6ISSX6QBoxvgZv9P2p-FAeFRHi3UuM9RmFFqshzUS5_F_XPBPw0uVUXKMdH4mRGGmM8NkuXEbLvOs_zuhbRR5oXAe33GWW2Q97FDdSa8OC7GYNEZiINbpXyHn6vwhUkZnBGuhW1xwSK1ocM/s3056/20240205_173146.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2937" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyWLwvgxhTzaykNmK4FeO1sxG3O195GdmzA1rZF1GJgBvs6ISSX6QBoxvgZv9P2p-FAeFRHi3UuM9RmFFqshzUS5_F_XPBPw0uVUXKMdH4mRGGmM8NkuXEbLvOs_zuhbRR5oXAe33GWW2Q97FDdSa8OC7GYNEZiINbpXyHn6vwhUkZnBGuhW1xwSK1ocM/s320/20240205_173146.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><p>The stitching was completed on my "<a href="https://www.thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.com/collections/chinese-zodiac/products/year-of-the-dragon-cross-stitch-pattern" target="_blank">Year of the Dragon</a>" cross stitch piece (link is to the PDF version but it is also available as a <a href="https://www.thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.com/collections/chinese-zodiac/products/year-of-the-dragon-printed-cross-stitch-pattern" target="_blank">printed pattern</a>). I also pulled more fabrics from my Asian fabrics stash to choose for the "fully finishing" part of this project. </p><p>The plan is to make it into a stuffed lantern ornament. I didn't get to work on that before we had to leave so it was one of the things I packed to take with me in the hopes that I could finish it while away.</p><p>With that "New Years" stitching project from January now done, I decided to start on some Black History month stitching for February. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGGo-AQV2-V7Dkq4mutHTu52YA4VE9JPAble7Y3kyDCFIz-g3dOKqt2Gznu66ojo4X19Y8_8RqCxeweSR4zIqIKu4vkb59CE9igEybxgyu_lZmaR9l6vnID089pjNTf7AKVnThg24-oAwIT_rYptI10y_rvxgbBwULOZCrsZTkyzSlXYnv5o0b6AicAU/s3056/20240208_132119.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGGo-AQV2-V7Dkq4mutHTu52YA4VE9JPAble7Y3kyDCFIz-g3dOKqt2Gznu66ojo4X19Y8_8RqCxeweSR4zIqIKu4vkb59CE9igEybxgyu_lZmaR9l6vnID089pjNTf7AKVnThg24-oAwIT_rYptI10y_rvxgbBwULOZCrsZTkyzSlXYnv5o0b6AicAU/s320/20240208_132119.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Last year I had purchased the cross stitch kit for the Fat Quarter Shop's "Stronger Together" project. Their <a href="https://www.fatquartershop.com/sew-alongs/stronger-together" target="_blank">"Stronger Together" campaigns</a> support the <a href="https://uncf.org/" target="_blank">United Negro College Fund</a>. I had purchased it for a chance to try stitching on a "dark" base fabric, something I had heard others say is a bit challenging to do. For this year's campaign, I purchased the fabric pack because I want to make the <a href="https://www.fatquartershop.com/2024-stronger-together-downloadable-pdf-quilt-pattern-fat-quarter-shop" target="_blank">quilted version</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK3Meu7Bk8_iLhUbuGJ9LqXz4goKhIbyj2ucxszzYVEc7hKcbIXlY7ONGJZ_uplVuTN-wlqZJn7erstP8e_hHsI03Ji-hhNvsd12YRWSy9_pW234_1a15DgcDA3CCXuczkZgosdrQQnSGrGz2E5NqgLVTqy1Vs4OKXyOIyg91o5tO1E_cITo2QQyLoVY/s3056/20240210_113802%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDK3Meu7Bk8_iLhUbuGJ9LqXz4goKhIbyj2ucxszzYVEc7hKcbIXlY7ONGJZ_uplVuTN-wlqZJn7erstP8e_hHsI03Ji-hhNvsd12YRWSy9_pW234_1a15DgcDA3CCXuczkZgosdrQQnSGrGz2E5NqgLVTqy1Vs4OKXyOIyg91o5tO1E_cITo2QQyLoVY/s320/20240210_113802%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>For that I was still in need of some background fabrics so planned to shop for those while away.</p><p>Back to the cross stitch front: One of the earliest cross stitch projects I had kitted up was this <a href="https://www.theprimitivehare.shop/product-page/harriet-tubman-pdf-pattern" target="_blank">Harriet Tubman design</a> by the Primitive Hare from her <a href="https://www.theprimitivehare.shop/patterns?Category=Women%2520who%2520made%2520history" target="_blank">"women who made history" series</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqKNX3XQEwSK26zd0xF-UtYmZHDUEE2AoHybahcH6xL8CYDMEKybNbZfrPSe0r_5vGkDEgFhc3QuKxkjJeQWGn7-QU7YAMsfZGoQgshgYPMAq7vsx8sLi3CJ5dtnrbhrtulEktY1I_3c7Eg-ouJLpZ4H6LTpNoVQoOIv3nBp0cjUKIbrm2joejuq-kVE/s3056/20240208_132325.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2354" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqKNX3XQEwSK26zd0xF-UtYmZHDUEE2AoHybahcH6xL8CYDMEKybNbZfrPSe0r_5vGkDEgFhc3QuKxkjJeQWGn7-QU7YAMsfZGoQgshgYPMAq7vsx8sLi3CJ5dtnrbhrtulEktY1I_3c7Eg-ouJLpZ4H6LTpNoVQoOIv3nBp0cjUKIbrm2joejuq-kVE/s320/20240208_132325.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><p>I'm hoping to hang this one with a display of my Civil War reproduction quilts. Both of these "in progress" cross stitch projects were also taken with me on our trip in the hopes of continuing work on them either during the drive down and back or in the evenings while there. I admit I also hoped that I might even finish them up!</p><p>There's so much more to report for the month still to come, so stay tuned!!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-61456181463015220982024-01-30T16:49:00.002-05:002024-03-05T21:43:56.189-05:00To Do Tuesday: Focus on the BOM Blocks<p>It's time again to join the group over at Carol's <a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/2024/01/30/to-do-tuesday-linky-party-59/" target="_blank">Quilt Schmilt</a>, the hot spot for "To Do Tuesday" reporting!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/2024/01/30/to-do-tuesday-linky-party-59/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="300" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5azFJVcM6DwWQY054NMIk7Uyuq9IpOp5F7cQOLVIkRTQsr0bPM7K2EAftnpJiR2K5-A-Tbn5rRhAA7b13Re9AkztjArhsU8EVdgl8D20T2WoU4Sq4TqfIEsXKqscKGN18zJ0xEcp5nljALVjjdHEOjX6g2GASSo23FTY61HEyICeS042OpD5YdfTe85M/s1600/To%20Do%20Tuesday%20At%20Carol%20Andrews_Quilt%20Schmilt.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p>The goal for my quilting this past week was to get back to working on blocks for a UFO challenge project, a mystery quilt and a raffle quilt. I only managed to get some work done on two of those. </p><p><b>UFO Challenge: Scrappy Figs </b></p><p>I had started making the "Christmas Figs" sampler quilt using a scrappy mix of Fig Tree fabrics <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2020/01/boms-away-2020-week-2-1-christmas-figs.html" target="_blank">back in 2020</a> as a personal BOM project. Pandemic projects disrupted that along with the projects that followed in the subsequent years. I am hoping to finally bring this one to a finish this year and had eight more blocks to piece before I could make it into a top. This week I got to a little under half of them done with three more blocks finished.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiqsv4iJ9jTq2vXEhkMEvb_4tWbD21eXXg0Jkn0ZAniMfoI9ZCOiETA6lJPLgKZARzd3kW7HiuLPZujb4ZVHpbjZ6nIhGyzOGtrcUvfKtGbOjlEgLyWehKXojc_lBexc7AjUZ9V3CtocgMvMB0XSzNHzWA8B2Tu7ofIqE_mhsI5Cnf0XfVcVHEUPpi-Y/s3056/20240129_180615%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1809" data-original-width="3056" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZiqsv4iJ9jTq2vXEhkMEvb_4tWbD21eXXg0Jkn0ZAniMfoI9ZCOiETA6lJPLgKZARzd3kW7HiuLPZujb4ZVHpbjZ6nIhGyzOGtrcUvfKtGbOjlEgLyWehKXojc_lBexc7AjUZ9V3CtocgMvMB0XSzNHzWA8B2Tu7ofIqE_mhsI5Cnf0XfVcVHEUPpi-Y/s320/20240129_180615%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Each of these involved fairly intensive piecing so I was thankful that I was able to put my Accuquilt Go! cutter into service to help cut parts for the blocks. The "Bow Ties" block on the right isn't true to the pattern. The patterned block consisted of 4" finished Bow Tie blocks in a 4x4 set for a 16" finished block. </p><p>Joanna Figueroa designed her version of the blocks to be made with the "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6HzA9kVLcE" target="_blank">sew and flip</a>" technique to form the center triangles of the Bow Tie. I am not a fan of "sew and flip" and avoid it whenever possible. Usually, I would rather cut an angled edge off of a square using either an "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/EZ-Quilting-Acrylic-Template-6-5-inch/dp/B004KYTYYK/ref=sr_1_5?crid=LFXBHUK2YPOE&keywords=easy+angle+quilting+ruler&qid=1706570164&sprefix=easy+angle+%2Caps%2C351&sr=8-5" target="_blank">Easy Angle Ruler</a>" or a "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Antler-Quilt-Design-AQDR1-Corners/dp/B073WFPD41/ref=pd_bxgy_d_sccl_1/135-2008456-1691044?pd_rd_w=0uL07&content-id=amzn1.sym.839d7715-b862-4989-8f65-c6f9502d15f9&pf_rd_p=839d7715-b862-4989-8f65-c6f9502d15f9&pf_rd_r=YQVDXTXN58AJAPAYDP5M&pd_rd_wg=ip5rf&pd_rd_r=5e0bda49-0ea4-479b-b6aa-59cafb21ffe3&pd_rd_i=B073WFPD41&psc=1" target="_blank">Folded Corner Ruler</a>" and then stitch an appropriately sized HST triangle to it using a regular 1/4" seam. This is exactly what I did to make the points of the "Star" block and for the tree trunk center. For the Bow Ties, I didn't even need to do that! </p><p>I have Bow Tie die sets for 6", 4-1/2" and 3" finished blocks purchased on clearance some years ago. The closest I could get to a 16" block was to use a mix of 3" and 6" blocks which left me with three less blocks to make than patterned and a 15" finished center. To bring it up to size, I then added a 1/2" finished coping border in the background fabric around it. There are other blocks in the original quilt design that also make use of those kinds of borders (such as the "Tree" block also made this week) so it won't look odd among the sampler set. </p><p>Since this block in particular is effectively 13 blocks in one, being able to die cut <i>all </i>the parts and then just sew seams -- as opposed to marking sewing lines and trimming off <a href="https://quiltingjetgirl.com/2023/08/04/bonus-hsts-from-stitch-and-flip-tutorial-and-sizing-table/" target="_blank">bonus triangles</a> after -- was a time saver! </p><p><b>Leader/Ender Mystery and Other Project Blocks</b></p><p>With all the sewing I had to do for the BOM blocks, I was able to use the "Log Cabin" blocks I need to make for Quilty Girl Alycia's new Quilts of Valor Mystery called "<a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/stars-like-spaghetti-intro-and-fabric.html" target="_blank">Stars Like Spaghetti</a>" as <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/leaders-enders-whys-and-hows.html" target="_blank">leader/ender piecing</a>. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA2sUTp51-G2QGYqz2y-rqAWHoGoumcSw3OJWZQ8ENmYb4wR0sDG-R8qtcO9xQ1M8f5PoVd144XoW_A4QZL-4kdtySGqA7NK48BH8E1uOojxlDKw_3j3NXEImjfxVmLbsccTCrf76nIBkoTuOcbnO-xRygO9z4gnq_JoHWdQfXWUFfEKqkJ9og6iy13k/s2949/20240129_172852%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1671" data-original-width="2949" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYA2sUTp51-G2QGYqz2y-rqAWHoGoumcSw3OJWZQ8ENmYb4wR0sDG-R8qtcO9xQ1M8f5PoVd144XoW_A4QZL-4kdtySGqA7NK48BH8E1uOojxlDKw_3j3NXEImjfxVmLbsccTCrf76nIBkoTuOcbnO-xRygO9z4gnq_JoHWdQfXWUFfEKqkJ9og6iy13k/s320/20240129_172852%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The Log Cabins are for the <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/stars-like-spaghetti-clue-1-quiltygirl.html" target="_blank">first clue</a> of the mystery and I still have four more to make. <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/stars-like-spaghetti-clue-2.html" target="_blank">Clue #2</a> has already dropped and Clue #3 drops tomorrow. </p><p>With so many seams to sew, it still took throwing in a few more blocks to get everything through the machine. So I was also able to make another "Striped Squares" block for a really old UFO project I have wanted to make since the very early days of my quilting. The scrap blocks with the diagonal strip in the middle are made from a free McCall's Quilting pattern called "<a href="https://www.quiltingdaily.com/friday-free-quilt-patterns-scrappity-do-dah-mccalls-quilting-blog/" target="_blank">Scrappity-Do-Dah</a>". So four projects for the work on one! </p><p><b>Related: Charity News!</b> When I went over to Alycia's blog, she mentioned in a <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-ohio-star-for-qov-and-finished-or.html" target="_blank">recent post</a> that details for the <a href="https://www.qovf.org/in-the-news/qovf-national-block-drive-of-2024-is-ohio-star/" target="_blank">2024 Block Drive for the Quilts of Valor Foundation</a> have been posted. They are looking to receive "Ohio Star" blocks and you can pick up the pattern for them <a href="https://www.qovf.org/national-block-drive/" target="_blank">here</a>. Additionally this coming Saturday, February 3 is a "National QOV Sew Day". If you have a local group or shop that hosts these events, you may be able to go there to submit or even make blocks for the cause. </p><p><b>No Love For the Raffle Quilt</b></p><p>The plan for this had been to stitch down the applique flower motifs that I had added to three of the basket blocks when I last worked on this a year ago: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuMHDoJhdCXuBblihAC2G0sx_C0ec7NSKTNW3Vznrhd9AzKrLx1sgyLV68VMxZuelScxSXL_lCnE0kG67eth4XpdN5bkG7dyCCIoT-jX_RJfbT3391q_jY6oOYTvzuab8MrR5m38FXe2aavE6BOxgg0r_z7AIUAv3lNP7kMeRCOMFRyZaRLv5d0dFGQ4/s3056/20240119_125217%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXuMHDoJhdCXuBblihAC2G0sx_C0ec7NSKTNW3Vznrhd9AzKrLx1sgyLV68VMxZuelScxSXL_lCnE0kG67eth4XpdN5bkG7dyCCIoT-jX_RJfbT3391q_jY6oOYTvzuab8MrR5m38FXe2aavE6BOxgg0r_z7AIUAv3lNP7kMeRCOMFRyZaRLv5d0dFGQ4/s320/20240119_125217%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>However with all the work on the other blocks, I didn't even get to that. What I did do however, was to take a good look at the top and consider whether to add more. The more I looked at the layout I found that I wanted to keep it as symmetrical as possible and adding more just complicated that. So the good news -- given that I haven't made any progress on this so far -- is that I am okay with settling for what I have. Ironically, I also have another applique project that will be a "New Start" but didn't get to that either. So I guess <i>February </i>will have to be the month for applique!</p><p><b>And Let's Not Forget Cross Stitch!</b></p><p>Oh and last but not least, I did make progress with <i>almost </i>daily stitching on my latest cross stitch project:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglwmQAKt39q1aUYDBxfJ-wGrX0gL2Hvq5rk-CEJAZH8nE-kW25B-S8042_wdBdfqyDql1y_r9SoxdPD8rjWdxUclyqbS336rUZVSp5n0j46AYk2HZRERhoHGIoK8LoBdGvntmSqDTE-IyTu5nCDFWrU1yaZuY3OB8hmhRirc4jnPJ5XJKOBN6xs-8_EI/s2962/20240119_130342%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2641" data-original-width="2962" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglwmQAKt39q1aUYDBxfJ-wGrX0gL2Hvq5rk-CEJAZH8nE-kW25B-S8042_wdBdfqyDql1y_r9SoxdPD8rjWdxUclyqbS336rUZVSp5n0j46AYk2HZRERhoHGIoK8LoBdGvntmSqDTE-IyTu5nCDFWrU1yaZuY3OB8hmhRirc4jnPJ5XJKOBN6xs-8_EI/s320/20240119_130342%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Last week....</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19rvGwlE4PjrnBOE3xFOvSvDh5utHMpkeEQBjDhDl46KJsp6SPbvBKqQ6LB5R6uwSTCpH-8S6jkFOZqKOz07AanmFgjmsPNuToOu04aPbn183D8Qu_2r8b7XSdDFn9lt81dHhLoeDNc_La4I07LusreAz3EfAW0Q1nJ-cfI3wdE1of2k3-eieKumBFHw/s2980/20240130_152125%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2973" data-original-width="2980" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg19rvGwlE4PjrnBOE3xFOvSvDh5utHMpkeEQBjDhDl46KJsp6SPbvBKqQ6LB5R6uwSTCpH-8S6jkFOZqKOz07AanmFgjmsPNuToOu04aPbn183D8Qu_2r8b7XSdDFn9lt81dHhLoeDNc_La4I07LusreAz3EfAW0Q1nJ-cfI3wdE1of2k3-eieKumBFHw/s320/20240130_152125%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">As of Today!</span></td></tr></tbody></table>I'm hoping to finish stitching this one up by the 31st or at least by the end of the week! <div><p>As always I will be heading back over to <a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/2024/01/30/to-do-tuesday-linky-party-59/" target="_blank">Quilt Schmilt</a> to check out what everyone else is working on. Hope it's been a good week for everyone!</p></div>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-55153056473901626082024-01-23T18:07:00.012-05:002024-03-05T21:44:37.403-05:00To Do Tuesday: From Cross Stitch Back To Quilting<p>Checking in for another "<a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/2024/01/23/to-do-linky-party-58/" target="_blank">To Do Tuesday</a>" with the crafters who gather over at <a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/" target="_blank">Quilt Schmilt</a>!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/2024/01/23/to-do-linky-party-58/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="300" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtd3miO7Tez3_himc5Ucsx1JuDL62muofRgDKrL1aAaAX88IbTTYjYNYboJSN2GYB5T6tWXpopCGZkIDK9ikN_utWdL6_PAxWcCDWAT9fSWrBQNWnCBM-2LHibXfZaCnnTIvqaTbQ-PuY17RQFCxyQ9qsOCIEX25J09TaD-LfJGooulSyHdXJ7W3qYas/s1600/To%20Do%20Tuesday%20At%20Carol%20Andrews_Quilt%20Schmilt.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><b>Diverted by Cross Stitch Finishes</b></p><p>So I mentioned on <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/01/to-do-tuesday-little-forward-little.html" target="_blank">last week's list</a> that I had finished stitching a Valentine's cross stitch project and purchased the finishing supplies. Well now that project and another cross stitch piece for Thanksgiving are "<a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/01/slow-sunday-stitching-now-im-ready-for.html" target="_blank">fully finished</a>" as the cross stitchers say!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaFeHhyvoTAHz2uYWoRToe4c0EZO6KVWXZGeJqbjEYID63IPVhS82NXOUyNHcf3NFKy5KMWBKNlk07em_NnkqYd2NuBp5xHvq6VKv5zOuFDhTCd_28dG5W2DM4xac_anQQx6G1vJqLELmWfuiIsTzWsmOmtm1Ro2raYF_gXueF_cvdc04l-kg9LsaE2Y/s5489/Two%20January%20CS%20Finishes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2626" data-original-width="5489" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkaFeHhyvoTAHz2uYWoRToe4c0EZO6KVWXZGeJqbjEYID63IPVhS82NXOUyNHcf3NFKy5KMWBKNlk07em_NnkqYd2NuBp5xHvq6VKv5zOuFDhTCd_28dG5W2DM4xac_anQQx6G1vJqLELmWfuiIsTzWsmOmtm1Ro2raYF_gXueF_cvdc04l-kg9LsaE2Y/s320/Two%20January%20CS%20Finishes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">"My Heart Is Yours" and "Give Thanks"</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>So while the good news is that these two are now done (and way early for their respective holidays for a change), the bad news is that meant I didn't work on anything else. Well, during the day that is. In the evenings I've continued with my next cross stitch project: the "<a href="https://www.thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.com/collections/chinese-zodiac/products/year-of-the-dragon-cross-stitch-pattern" target="_blank">Year of the Dragon</a>" piece.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-51FJIe-mgYl5VDhya-G27L_YGmzh__RZ9hL4fSar22h25KRc8IlSn5hSzRmfqp6jCmJMUPgGKwvloQQgG1nzq5yq3_1DuPHv-QEp34bsECxFiS_d5Ld7-1yJdKM5H0cI7ZWLIYoE6OI5gx6uGyTm_e-Zk77oQXuxZtjvOyJXgSIemzCzzz1mG90n8E/s2962/20240119_130342%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2641" data-original-width="2962" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS-51FJIe-mgYl5VDhya-G27L_YGmzh__RZ9hL4fSar22h25KRc8IlSn5hSzRmfqp6jCmJMUPgGKwvloQQgG1nzq5yq3_1DuPHv-QEp34bsECxFiS_d5Ld7-1yJdKM5H0cI7ZWLIYoE6OI5gx6uGyTm_e-Zk77oQXuxZtjvOyJXgSIemzCzzz1mG90n8E/s320/20240119_130342%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Now that the project slate is a little clearer, maybe it will allow me to focus on some quilt projects!</p><p><b>Now Back To Quilting</b></p><p>So first off, I will be finally getting back to the blocks and finishing one of the tops for the two raffle quilts I need to get done by April.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUfvmjDtLXV7AUcxEx2x1s24fZLgk_f3NE9NUunUsO_7YXEmKFsrqqdTSyEhPkI9Rzcd2Ui1j-s8Nj_2HSlDQO1C3PmnJKN68uilmk36bqDXoAL6s7aKirGKZXirrUYEkew_Dv2SdFHSJz0AA3ajuLJ8Ukcj8e3q8VHQs4n7faJNap340D5xTL1tg2qQ/s3056/20240119_125217%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUfvmjDtLXV7AUcxEx2x1s24fZLgk_f3NE9NUunUsO_7YXEmKFsrqqdTSyEhPkI9Rzcd2Ui1j-s8Nj_2HSlDQO1C3PmnJKN68uilmk36bqDXoAL6s7aKirGKZXirrUYEkew_Dv2SdFHSJz0AA3ajuLJ8Ukcj8e3q8VHQs4n7faJNap340D5xTL1tg2qQ/s320/20240119_125217%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I still have to stitch down the edges of the applique motifs for the blocks already prepared. I had debated about adding flowers to more of the baskets but looking at the layout, I may try to make a few motifs to go in the half rectangles on some of the row ends instead. </p><p>Since I have to stitch down the motifs for this one, I'll also finish stitching down the motifs for the applique blocks for the second dark quilt as well. However, putting together that second top will have to wait until this one is done. </p><p>From the UFO list, I was also supposed to work on my Fig Tree BOM project using various lines of their fabrics. Funny thing though: when I pulled out the fabrics I had purchased on the <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/10/october-in-review.html" target="_blank">Shop Hop back in October</a> and looked through them to catalog what lines they were from, I realized I had made a mistake!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLYVyP9jRA9kGfErlNWUCSzgRLplpM70jSjU5weT_hCuZ5cc_OeH7WQVJ8UW-5lC4Ghel_7EmZdgoqyk_J0sM85aMpZWtpOBzpl1g270Yeuq8Z_Oc7kxn-wzdJfTm95-p4k7hO5shzO2mFzswQ5u1WcnKz7p7Mefn8YiN63DlR7r6oDXd4uEv1ZfItJc/s3056/20240123_160403%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2033" data-original-width="3056" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLYVyP9jRA9kGfErlNWUCSzgRLplpM70jSjU5weT_hCuZ5cc_OeH7WQVJ8UW-5lC4Ghel_7EmZdgoqyk_J0sM85aMpZWtpOBzpl1g270Yeuq8Z_Oc7kxn-wzdJfTm95-p4k7hO5shzO2mFzswQ5u1WcnKz7p7Mefn8YiN63DlR7r6oDXd4uEv1ZfItJc/s320/20240123_160403%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Unfortunately, these are <i>not </i>all Fig Tree!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The fabrics on the left are definitely Fig Tree and all but one is from the "<a href="https://my.modafabrics.com/webfiles/fcc_StrawberriesAndRhubarb_FigTreeAndCo.pdf" target="_blank">Strawberries and Rhubarb</a>" line. The ones on the right are from another designer entirely: <a href="https://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponline/fabricstock_display.asp?i=245022" target="_blank">"30's Playtime" by Chloe's Closet</a> which I believe is a "basics" 30's reproduction line from MODA. They had all been sitting in the same area in the shop so I guess this means I don't know the Fig Tree "look" as well as I thought, LOL! Fortunately, I do have a stash of 30's reproductions that these will fit in nicely with anyway.</p><p>I did take one of the new Fig Tree prints and put it with two others already in stash to use in the next block.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHTwP0uYbAqncfxITGGLLEl3yyb5W5yF446Q-unR0o76cgC24TcaSB1vbp2mIwS9kf86VfPEqnKAMi_v0GjSVk8oQnAr2EonHbY4jn4dKK_soTnhX-9nF0ykkh-KTQI9dVSxIapWhA2TmBz48n81C8Hq59J9QW1cQ2ieulMGOqqChNaXeoykjh82hujo/s2954/20240123_161712%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2901" data-original-width="2954" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHTwP0uYbAqncfxITGGLLEl3yyb5W5yF446Q-unR0o76cgC24TcaSB1vbp2mIwS9kf86VfPEqnKAMi_v0GjSVk8oQnAr2EonHbY4jn4dKK_soTnhX-9nF0ykkh-KTQI9dVSxIapWhA2TmBz48n81C8Hq59J9QW1cQ2ieulMGOqqChNaXeoykjh82hujo/s320/20240123_161712%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I already had the deep burgundy print picked out for the trunk of the tree block and I've been using the "Fig Tree Cream" solid on the left as a background in all the blocks, interspersing it with other light prints depending on the block design. Joanna Figureoa did this with the book's cover quilt which seemed to make the blocks "float" in the layout. I'm hoping to achieve the same effect with mine.</p><p><b>That's Not to Say New Stuff Doesn't Come In.... </b></p><p>Another reason I got so off track this past week is that the "squirrels" have been coming in hot and heavy! I have two new things I hope to begin working on, the first of which can be stitched as a leader/ender as I put the raffle quilt top together:</p><p>1. Alycia of the <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Quilty Girl Alycia blog</a> and who hosts "<a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/p/finished-or-not-finished-friday.html" target="_blank">Finished Or Not Friday</a>" has a <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/stars-like-spaghetti-intro-and-fabric.html" target="_blank">new mystery quilt</a> being released. It <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/stars-like-spaghetti-clue-1-quiltygirl.html" target="_blank">starts off with Log Cabin blocks</a> which have been an obsession of mine for the last couple of years. Alycia's designs these to encourage people to make Quilts of Valor tops which is something I still want to do in my community so I just had to join in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qjkWrGc6jto64y_Lg7z5O3AFDPb2fWDWYdgfe0KcuG0FBsneGqtORDwNxEmKQXJ_PVQlrl1LFT9UqnoZ9YwHhv_ZQNeWN28EKC5vbi6uf0SjFZ8enq15dc0qdRAiJmLzycc4s5zvhzS9K0XoG8hpfzhM74zbkFOiaqQVAgmxyGa6HqHVTcZbXiyQjwg/s3056/20240119_125342%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3qjkWrGc6jto64y_Lg7z5O3AFDPb2fWDWYdgfe0KcuG0FBsneGqtORDwNxEmKQXJ_PVQlrl1LFT9UqnoZ9YwHhv_ZQNeWN28EKC5vbi6uf0SjFZ8enq15dc0qdRAiJmLzycc4s5zvhzS9K0XoG8hpfzhM74zbkFOiaqQVAgmxyGa6HqHVTcZbXiyQjwg/s320/20240119_125342%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The strips for the first blocks are already prepped. Well, the lights came out of the box where I put scraps for making LC blocks so they were already cut to size. I had to mine the red strips from the stash of fabrics I have leftover from making red and white quilts for the holidays in 2022. </p><p>2. Pat Sloan's <a href="https://www.ilovetomakequilts.com/breakfast-club-.html" target="_blank">Breakfast Club</a> is one of her current mystery sew alongs. I've always wanted to make a quilty wall hanging for the kitchen. When she started it, I liked the first block and saw I had a place to display this one with one caveat: I'll be making mine a mini! This will be an applique sampler and since I had really liked the fabric line she was using and found a good deal on it, I scooped it up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3POO8wSL4prNhZqwkAQhvpkPBa-m4lVhQYxCQJiX2Iprj82Z1Qi1ty4RKRmGM-urZPg-2ev41LyezBn8aNzQkZBkwvx-8fj9c3WEsX8jR1pUKWXse57jsU19NcEY5fln00wieCwi3ACyL6DbIgZFSDHYC7_aK46D_z078Lflxn_VhJVeUZNyPAhkFxS8/s3056/20240123_172944%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3POO8wSL4prNhZqwkAQhvpkPBa-m4lVhQYxCQJiX2Iprj82Z1Qi1ty4RKRmGM-urZPg-2ev41LyezBn8aNzQkZBkwvx-8fj9c3WEsX8jR1pUKWXse57jsU19NcEY5fln00wieCwi3ACyL6DbIgZFSDHYC7_aK46D_z078Lflxn_VhJVeUZNyPAhkFxS8/s320/20240123_172944%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I will also have to pull bits from my stash for some of the food motifs. This is a "block a week" sew along so I hope I can both space out the work and keep up. At least for right now, this is another one where I can stitch down the motifs along with the raffle quilt blocks. </p><p><b>But Wait There's More!</b></p><p>Added to all of that there is also a lot of fun stuff I'm following. While I was tempted to join in, I think I'll just watch these from the side lines. Are you checking any of these out? </p><p><b>Project Quilting - Season 15:</b> <a href="https://kimlapacek.com/2024/01/summary-15-1-bird-house.html" target="_blank">Challenge 1</a> has already been completed and the <a href="https://kimlapacek.com/2024/01/prizes-for-the-project-quilting-15-1-challenge-2.html" target="_blank">winners</a> chosen. <a href="https://kimlapacek.com/2024/01/15-2-sky-_color-challenge-2-of-project-quilting-season-15.html" target="_blank">Challenge #2</a> was just announced yesterday. Will you be joining in?</p><p><b>Stay At Home Round Robin (<a href="https://quiltinggail.com/2023/12/20/announcing-the-2024-sahrr/" target="_blank">SAHRR</a>): </b> I've followed this one for a few years now and hope to do it one day. I even have an orphan block I could have used but it's applique so I wasn't confident about being able to interpret pieced rounds with it. I know I should have just dove in but with so many other things on my plate I think it's better to just watch and learn again this time. The <a href="https://www.piecefulthoughts.com/sahrr-border-1-2/" target="_blank">first Round</a> has been announced on this one so go check it out if you think you might want to participate!</p><p>It sounds like a lot but with some focus it should be doable. Or is that "famous last words"?!? In any event, I'll head back over to <a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/2024/01/23/to-do-linky-party-58/" target="_blank">Quilt Schmilt</a> and see what everyone else is up to this week!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-36553801679683541992024-01-21T22:39:00.011-05:002024-03-06T10:49:36.632-05:00Slow Sunday Stitching: Now I'm Ready for Thanksgiving!<p>I'm connecting today with the group over at <a href="https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/slow-sunday-stitching_01608846556.html" target="_blank">Kathy's Quilts</a> for some "Slow Sunday Stitching".</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/slow-sunday-stitching_01608846556.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="125" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDfptjyQejOANkuXcH7aM0j61Zzllx8xyJCzFmYQZ4zuP7nSxzDunoRzWTARQ4CPdi4MpqNce2d3Ss3I3JWn2vTNXf__loRkni-OYyRLDtml_tgyfUcF82KegQ7jPzAwN26JLon7bvEcfGBdMUR7LDTCtMTRWgTYDvGOTlEP-O_PlLhfTIn0nCwoofcRE/s1600/KathyQuilts%20Slow%20Sunday%20Stitching.png" width="125" /></a></div><p></p><p>Yeah, I know that it's an odd thing to be talking about Thanksgiving during the first month of a new year. However, in November last year I began a cross stitch project that was influenced by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26eClsMtY5w" target="_blank">Flosstuber Helen D.</a>:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLn6u-JwTU9uwiC5yAKHptJTqyf4YkCp8G2PxtlKJZ3wzWBxmaInqU2KCc37Y_JEfk4QTzMR8-0c2ro8xr1PBhOXlAMvhTAwk7-XQirI919LqrIJjSow-o7vw8O89qN_-qCn1Dv8vMGiyaybeqJ3kZjNflXo3xtIQerZue86ow11ALpTNF0wqWD-6qWE/s3078/Helen%20D_Give%20Thanks.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2396" data-original-width="3078" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwLn6u-JwTU9uwiC5yAKHptJTqyf4YkCp8G2PxtlKJZ3wzWBxmaInqU2KCc37Y_JEfk4QTzMR8-0c2ro8xr1PBhOXlAMvhTAwk7-XQirI919LqrIJjSow-o7vw8O89qN_-qCn1Dv8vMGiyaybeqJ3kZjNflXo3xtIQerZue86ow11ALpTNF0wqWD-6qWE/s320/Helen%20D_Give%20Thanks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>This is <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/899888689/thanksgiving-cross-stitch-sampler-fall?click_key=82d185a18fb212fd6eb3b92a9001b2830bdd5d63%3A899888689&click_sum=c15c94b3&external=1&rec_type=ss&ref=landingpage_similar_listing_top-1&sts=1" target="_blank">"Give Thanks" by Autumn Lane Designs</a>. My plan had been to get it stitched up for display for Thanksgiving. Since I still consider myself a relative CS newbie (my two year floss-iversary is next month!), I can forgive myself for not realizing that it was going to take far longer than the month I gave myself -- even with stitching on it daily -- to get it done. Once the deadline passed, I continued working on it with the goal of getting it done by the end of year. I did make good progress on it...<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYp8XzRbOKOjd6wv5f2b0gpoALvtsAKFJLNvdWjhs8WLmF380gmTNxdXPucX0eCH5KQWGZhl7aIkvWJUb0U6Z34-eEDeTe7wNs-RCmYFuVpqChZVwCXikfRNFwQQe9OiIOuFWBhQnApDJYxj-_v-afdL4EycKh4nQoOXVyOTa63u4Nv-Rcdewe5yK41Y/s7161/GT%20Project%20Progress.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4532" data-original-width="7161" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqYp8XzRbOKOjd6wv5f2b0gpoALvtsAKFJLNvdWjhs8WLmF380gmTNxdXPucX0eCH5KQWGZhl7aIkvWJUb0U6Z34-eEDeTe7wNs-RCmYFuVpqChZVwCXikfRNFwQQe9OiIOuFWBhQnApDJYxj-_v-afdL4EycKh4nQoOXVyOTa63u4Nv-Rcdewe5yK41Y/s320/GT%20Project%20Progress.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>...finishing the last of the stitching a few days after New Years and then washed and laid it out to dry a few days after that.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiRqwb_jKK1hGFAHlKAw9Ky3tubonXWz011aEfV76W5W44AFIHp-N4MWM1e90NzY_hWY4EzBsfJzsuWfBY-YTNdQPSqs17bH6zG8L1pOsdDUboXiQ0tHBjSgtEDY2QZBAATD4oTeYsv-NVOjdjepBH56TbeNMF0WNGzBjEoCNq_izBAagBoVRYprW_WE/s3056/20240105_122054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggiRqwb_jKK1hGFAHlKAw9Ky3tubonXWz011aEfV76W5W44AFIHp-N4MWM1e90NzY_hWY4EzBsfJzsuWfBY-YTNdQPSqs17bH6zG8L1pOsdDUboXiQ0tHBjSgtEDY2QZBAATD4oTeYsv-NVOjdjepBH56TbeNMF0WNGzBjEoCNq_izBAagBoVRYprW_WE/s320/20240105_122054.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>With the stitching done, the next step was to "fully finish" it. One of the things that had originally jazzed me about the project was how Helen had it framed in a round wood frame. I loved that aspect! Initially, I thought I'd get one of these hoop backed frames:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghghCIH3u2RF9g9xKSxgg35fHBF_8vteQnyfmkCYb0kRqLZDB5l4jKVkayQn9a3wNwuVYYPPxRzH5DclwE9NSX1ac8BtAPqTamO60Pkbj-mA9AWEW0rk0GA6C97VanyrYGatPba5s6tLo-KBF7XZIl9he6dERVyv9T2J07TaBFwb_r7PERFmMNJlIl-aU/s5799/Wooden%20Circular%20Frames%20for%20Embroidery%20Hoops%20by%20Stitch%20Life%20Studio.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3254" data-original-width="5799" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghghCIH3u2RF9g9xKSxgg35fHBF_8vteQnyfmkCYb0kRqLZDB5l4jKVkayQn9a3wNwuVYYPPxRzH5DclwE9NSX1ac8BtAPqTamO60Pkbj-mA9AWEW0rk0GA6C97VanyrYGatPba5s6tLo-KBF7XZIl9he6dERVyv9T2J07TaBFwb_r7PERFmMNJlIl-aU/s320/Wooden%20Circular%20Frames%20for%20Embroidery%20Hoops%20by%20Stitch%20Life%20Studio.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They can be found on <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/StitchLifeStudio?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=586295912&from_page=listing" target="_blank">Etsy</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>However, when I went to the craft store to pick up some of the threads I needed for the project I saw one of these at Michael's:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjZrrPyFn8RgK1BhhhwZ6pO3mYhv8mn-IstEossnhWrPeXIQ4Ac9dEollg2NOiaNCd95FEhXNT-OckUpJOXy-Az_aJrkoGIy7sTBe9KWcUUXT3S1VUCcSK6HYfNGXgPECr_ghsEHTOiyZSpq3vao9j6hMrAaPkC-C4SgbwoCm2I3b2EBtHKfUoH5a1S0/s2754/20231106_124317%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2754" data-original-width="2591" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjZrrPyFn8RgK1BhhhwZ6pO3mYhv8mn-IstEossnhWrPeXIQ4Ac9dEollg2NOiaNCd95FEhXNT-OckUpJOXy-Az_aJrkoGIy7sTBe9KWcUUXT3S1VUCcSK6HYfNGXgPECr_ghsEHTOiyZSpq3vao9j6hMrAaPkC-C4SgbwoCm2I3b2EBtHKfUoH5a1S0/s320/20231106_124317%5B1%5D.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><p>I thought that would be an even better way to frame it with a little seasonal flair. So here we are!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoZz4gFeduQ3N1u1vyZOcJjhASco_j4Bda38Q6fBs95xhKvl6zgx2fTxYYL3gXy3T030sos_jA6qyEsteLP81lY6vm_hu8RylP_wRiMYbpl97JV95n7fO5eDuVjy92xQJg6NEwcDkOGcmFwckwPF2Qe4hlod5cgcJZkrwXsaryBKdMIGMvd6CPa9InU8/s2448/20240121_132744%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2448" data-original-width="2448" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzoZz4gFeduQ3N1u1vyZOcJjhASco_j4Bda38Q6fBs95xhKvl6zgx2fTxYYL3gXy3T030sos_jA6qyEsteLP81lY6vm_hu8RylP_wRiMYbpl97JV95n7fO5eDuVjy92xQJg6NEwcDkOGcmFwckwPF2Qe4hlod5cgcJZkrwXsaryBKdMIGMvd6CPa9InU8/s320/20240121_132744%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I added a few dollar store Fall flower bits to fill in a gap created because the natural shape of the wreath didn't quite conform to the more structured circular shape of the finished piece. Then I added the feather fronds on the upper right to balance them out and because I like them and had them in stash! </p><p>When the Thanksgiving season rolls around again, this will hang as a companion to the "<a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/11/finished-or-not-friday-two-fall-finishes.html" target="_blank">Thankful For My Stash</a>" quilted wall hanging I finished up back in the Fall.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixz4eD6U7vnEC7oJMqgo8AhvC7zbeQVhp4rv8ASV-i92L5RTgmlrGMXBftshhoovgZXpCEshUINehBozqeXy5Z_HKDYTjyaBYQz5H7ZRHJksd4Tm0d0Kg6cdKrWSjArfe9mw9LNs-2i0MPlfTE_yIAQsSO62fFeUX51HvG1f-EwCuLr8lxySzdPofVFLk/s2352/20240121_132901%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1531" data-original-width="2352" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixz4eD6U7vnEC7oJMqgo8AhvC7zbeQVhp4rv8ASV-i92L5RTgmlrGMXBftshhoovgZXpCEshUINehBozqeXy5Z_HKDYTjyaBYQz5H7ZRHJksd4Tm0d0Kg6cdKrWSjArfe9mw9LNs-2i0MPlfTE_yIAQsSO62fFeUX51HvG1f-EwCuLr8lxySzdPofVFLk/s320/20240121_132901%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>When I finished stitching that one, I was on to the next. <a href="https://www.luminousfiberarts.com/products/my-heart-is-yours-pin-keep-exclusive-by-luminous-fiber-arts-digital-pdf-pattern" target="_blank">"My Heart Is Yours" by Luminous Fiber Arts</a> was actually the very first cross stitch project I started with back in 2022! I was encouraged to take it on after also seeing it on one of Helen's videos and because I have done a lot of quilt projects for Valentines decorating. I thought this would be a good companion project to go with those. </p><p>Unfortunately, I knew even less about how long stitch projects take when I started back then so needless to say I wound up putting it down unfinished in March of that year. I picked it up again the next year hoping for a holiday finish but quickly put it down again within a few days. Having already started and finished two other much easier pieces by then, I wanted to focus on "fully finishing" those and learning finishing techniques. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGSlFSZes6Opfk5kgIydmFL5Xqj9no0rqduFvx_RNFJj1SgscH0qBq9v3jhJiXGKg3qg6GUqOq6pWnZopnDwGIHsbp0Vh0W3f-C9D16CVZkuoMkYaZMAsby6j8JWeecp-5opMifcGnMh1Uwk6YaRDyUUWL_aHOeMn4t_-ihdf62oQsB7hRb-8O0akD0A/s3056/20240101_190144.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdGSlFSZes6Opfk5kgIydmFL5Xqj9no0rqduFvx_RNFJj1SgscH0qBq9v3jhJiXGKg3qg6GUqOq6pWnZopnDwGIHsbp0Vh0W3f-C9D16CVZkuoMkYaZMAsby6j8JWeecp-5opMifcGnMh1Uwk6YaRDyUUWL_aHOeMn4t_-ihdf62oQsB7hRb-8O0akD0A/s320/20240101_190144.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Eye" Needle Minder by <a href="https://www.mybigtoedesigns.com/needleminders.htm" target="_blank">My Big Toe Designs</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>As I eventually learned, what made this piece a little tougher to stitch than some later ones is that it is stitched on 18 ct Aida with silk floss versus the other lower count Aida projects I started with regular cotton floss. It had been a kit that I purchased because I also thought it would be easier than others to do since it only used one color of thread. Ooh, that thread felt so good right from the beginning but is a bit slippery and twists more than cotton floss. </p><p>I also didn't know back then about "stitching in hand" (I started off stitching this in a hoop), stitching your crosses in only one direction or about the "sewing method" and the <a href="https://www.catkinandlillie.com/post/english-vs-danish-method-for-cross-stitch-which-is-better" target="_blank">Dutch progression method</a>. I also didn't I know about the need for varying the number of strands of thread or the size needle you use based on the stitch count of your fabric. After all of the experience I've had on all the other projects I have worked on to date, it was a much smoother stitch to work on now.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieBZH12dTs8XcIiG90vgFQ12aW6yGabA5Ilv8qtzgFVDGE1QqdAx76e_DwFXdgUIce2MBNWhKzEzQvYgNFtVnDK4xLHUNYrh25k0scT7PJnI4WhkKPZDVEkyl3Hp6ZlZNJtvZ1Ea9kO3KfVS2A8MYNQDQ2oiwQ4QITjXXcihkq0jDiEDNhdWTGOMFfV8/s3056/20240113_134446.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2388" data-original-width="3056" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieBZH12dTs8XcIiG90vgFQ12aW6yGabA5Ilv8qtzgFVDGE1QqdAx76e_DwFXdgUIce2MBNWhKzEzQvYgNFtVnDK4xLHUNYrh25k0scT7PJnI4WhkKPZDVEkyl3Hp6ZlZNJtvZ1Ea9kO3KfVS2A8MYNQDQ2oiwQ4QITjXXcihkq0jDiEDNhdWTGOMFfV8/s320/20240113_134446.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: center;">Needless to say I also didn't know about checking the finished size of your project against the size of the piece of fabric you are planning to stitch on! When I started cross stitching, I had read that you were supposed to stitch from the center of your fabric piece to insure that you finish up with enough space around your finished piece to allow for the finishing process. What I know now is that definitely depends on what you're stitching, LOL! Fortunately, when I prepped it for the finishing, I still was able to save a little of the leftover fabric to use for some future "smalls" pieces. </span><p></p><p>However, the back of the piece tells the <i>real </i>story of how much I've grown as a stitcher.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTE6qAc2kMYczFL8cLKgHVtyubDcGQpNsdFPRBzSmPgtMWlHNgNpj4H8GohJtc0JOT2K7hduwlFk6du-cxjMY7Br19Dc_ji2tcyGxmOzTZAhK25A1OpCnyHeCokqDq6Tfu8QQZPw1chsyEQsWa4TBPsYy4sX9YtY1fiZnXOS3yjx0iCw0XQtk3chTknw/s3056/20240113_132141.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTE6qAc2kMYczFL8cLKgHVtyubDcGQpNsdFPRBzSmPgtMWlHNgNpj4H8GohJtc0JOT2K7hduwlFk6du-cxjMY7Br19Dc_ji2tcyGxmOzTZAhK25A1OpCnyHeCokqDq6Tfu8QQZPw1chsyEQsWa4TBPsYy4sX9YtY1fiZnXOS3yjx0iCw0XQtk3chTknw/s320/20240113_132141.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I had started in the center with the two birds and finished it this year with the surrounding hearts and border motifs. Yeah, big difference! When I finished stitching this up a little more than a week ago, it meant I had a new finish that now needed supplies to prepare it for display so I had to go get some for that. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ixKfQfRd9i4q2H-ZTIbIpzL9ylixYYc3R3y93vjFBTHmlUJYlDYB93EXNGaesny7Hx4eM0GxL5JNzYx4Lk8jgG62-jUNK_G6-9Qa3duJE8KDlsIblqioXjMSGPlAF8-80Gx0u8RY3FndSN7W7zwMwKaDOAE0OXKGLdB7VyrylP9ihovfcOMIsaPuMBI/s2850/20240121_211634%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="2850" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ixKfQfRd9i4q2H-ZTIbIpzL9ylixYYc3R3y93vjFBTHmlUJYlDYB93EXNGaesny7Hx4eM0GxL5JNzYx4Lk8jgG62-jUNK_G6-9Qa3duJE8KDlsIblqioXjMSGPlAF8-80Gx0u8RY3FndSN7W7zwMwKaDOAE0OXKGLdB7VyrylP9ihovfcOMIsaPuMBI/s320/20240121_211634%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Fabric and ribbon were purchased, luckily the embellishments were already in house!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The good news is that now this is finally ready for display for Valentine's Day in February! <p></p><p>With this Valentine's cross stitch done, I was ready for a new cross stitch start. Last year I made <a href="https://www.thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.com/collections/chinese-zodiac/products/year-of-the-rabbit-cross-stitch-pattern" target="_blank">"The Year of the Rabbit" by The Frosted Pumpkin</a>... </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmk7m_Q_9D6Ea0dqKDJplP9-TjRUWBeyQsvQlNclT7NeDyMHseyBtHsKmEJRL0b-5tzvtyavSPuSRvrKOTsx77xunGST7pBxoNTD3myCa_XZOKDa_uXhRwXZUzAqeln1PppdsKlCms45rjSmurGW5t1KoFwbRhPDkdnaOl0fhnYX24zFwApEXAKvV7l0/s3056/20230530_085135%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2625" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmk7m_Q_9D6Ea0dqKDJplP9-TjRUWBeyQsvQlNclT7NeDyMHseyBtHsKmEJRL0b-5tzvtyavSPuSRvrKOTsx77xunGST7pBxoNTD3myCa_XZOKDa_uXhRwXZUzAqeln1PppdsKlCms45rjSmurGW5t1KoFwbRhPDkdnaOl0fhnYX24zFwApEXAKvV7l0/s320/20230530_085135%5B1%5D.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><p>...so wanted to do a follow-up this year. I downloaded "<a href="https://www.thefrostedpumpkinstitchery.com/collections/chinese-zodiac/products/year-of-the-dragon-cross-stitch-pattern" target="_blank">The Year of the Dragon</a>" shortly after the new year started. I was able to kit up all but one of the threads from stash so picked that up when I went shopping for the "Heart" finishing supplies. It's underway and I'll see if it gets done by the end of the month like I did with the "Rabbit" or will have to proceed with it further into the new year.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOP-ZpHozIjzEIB5Omvl51AyB01peLzPmz1Rwg2QX1_NosO1mh7WM3MQGCjKgofJhlvHG2ZoGNi4MlTunJPUeH0ahOsmWm05RoFAcYq8bameSLhs8ZfLagLx1dMsbqM6gghrHmF0VDtO9_BmCbc0tHsSUNannKoSCa_-Bhzsxc9yFfQt9WmVzh1iSxpk/s2962/20240119_130342%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2641" data-original-width="2962" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOP-ZpHozIjzEIB5Omvl51AyB01peLzPmz1Rwg2QX1_NosO1mh7WM3MQGCjKgofJhlvHG2ZoGNi4MlTunJPUeH0ahOsmWm05RoFAcYq8bameSLhs8ZfLagLx1dMsbqM6gghrHmF0VDtO9_BmCbc0tHsSUNannKoSCa_-Bhzsxc9yFfQt9WmVzh1iSxpk/s320/20240119_130342%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p>Looking at me now, you'd never know that when I started as a quilter, I vowed to never do <i>any</i> kind of hand work! Yet, it is quilting that has led to doing cross stitch, something I also thought I wouldn't get in too deep on. Ha!! I actually have another Valentine's themed project that I just finished kitting up recently. However, it needs threads from a few other projects that are either in progress or that I hope to start this year so I'll probably just wait to start it at either at the end of this year or at the start of the next. I also have a really big year-long Christmas cross stitch project waiting in the wings but want to get the "Dragon" piece a little further along before setting it up for stitching. </p><p>So that's the stitching that has been going on in my place. I'm sure there are many other busy stitching bees sharing things on <a href="https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/slow-sunday-stitching_01608846556.html" target="_blank">Kathy's blog</a>. I look forward to checking them all out!</p></div>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-67866458326872135722024-01-19T18:35:00.006-05:002024-03-14T21:56:36.120-04:00Finished Or Not Friday: My Travels Down The "Old Tobacco Road" Are Now Complete!<p>It's that time of the week when we all gather at <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/lightening-streak-1-yellow-and-finished.html" target="_blank">Quilty Girl Alycia</a>'s to see what everyone has worked on this week:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeafrGpIBBWOY55oxcj3QtfiPj_q2xIKRYdf42u2MKSH0tu-Rrcax_6N1s4iVgtQoKj906UeDy45TrlgYPVo9j7bw_QkCLYIxg1uuWIfGabeHisoRjKXJFUMCP-QEcaWmDo5FSeQ-WlY4cnimkkyUEPSOEIDsT09q0mSU5eXpCOxzYMYxcBqQg5Wvqmg/s300/FONF%202024%20small.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="300" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVeafrGpIBBWOY55oxcj3QtfiPj_q2xIKRYdf42u2MKSH0tu-Rrcax_6N1s4iVgtQoKj906UeDy45TrlgYPVo9j7bw_QkCLYIxg1uuWIfGabeHisoRjKXJFUMCP-QEcaWmDo5FSeQ-WlY4cnimkkyUEPSOEIDsT09q0mSU5eXpCOxzYMYxcBqQg5Wvqmg/s1600/FONF%202024%20small.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Year, new button!!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today, I am posting my second <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Bonnie Hunter Quiltville</a> mystery finish in as many months. I had hoped to get it done before the end of the most recent mystery season but as always, better late than never! BTW, hopefully you have checked out the reveal of Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery, "<a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2024/01/indigo-way-mystery-part-eight-reveal.html" target="_blank">Indigo Way</a>" before she removes it from her blog.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w1xw48VAg22ydRbNnbBPIPfjxpHHTlruobL9DLjLtpUmX43ues9kG6RAuGsZaUnJ1gk3QQ4V1TWcY8UbHQYUH5ezpywRUvQROt9B82KRs9cOy9pvYfq9CIzDqGmSSTISLOP2v6InhP7dOjkIs4Bt-MUutwWsd4UJXu1HalETub3uQyHIOuaDFLsv2is/s5307/OTR%20Front%20and%20Back.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3203" data-original-width="5307" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8w1xw48VAg22ydRbNnbBPIPfjxpHHTlruobL9DLjLtpUmX43ues9kG6RAuGsZaUnJ1gk3QQ4V1TWcY8UbHQYUH5ezpywRUvQROt9B82KRs9cOy9pvYfq9CIzDqGmSSTISLOP2v6InhP7dOjkIs4Bt-MUutwWsd4UJXu1HalETub3uQyHIOuaDFLsv2is/s320/OTR%20Front%20and%20Back.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">With all the recent bad weather it's hard to get good full shots while staying inside.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This is "Old Tobacco Road" Bonnie's 2008 mystery. If you like this one, it is still up on her website on her <a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/old-tobacco-road-intro.html" target="_blank">"Free Patterns" tab</a>. I had liked this design from the beginning but it took me until 2018 to get myself together enough to start on it. This is also another mystery quilt that is true to Bonnie's esthetic where all the blocks for it were made from scraps. </p><p>When I originally set out to make this, it started as a "travel kit". The year I starting pulling fabric together for it, I thought I would be traveling to help a friend during an illness. Fortunately my friend was able to get through her treatments without needing the extra help. I still wound up starting this while traveling -- this time in <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2019/10/checking-in-for-october-part-2-travel.html" target="_blank">October of 2019</a> while visiting my MIL and her husband who was ailing at the time.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iSNIPK44BbbHXz60LLImkB7moKLVkzZWM1XjR8y2okGZqhFzj_USE1HQOMUIjd4WSFf9fu-gtM8z52QRRVeqXOtkmomkvLJkdXQETiw_9QHWVZ0yqEcoww3QL-uNKSkkdUkBQV1iR-6GKlNTVTjnJCmDm8eZwDd4oTFgojitreEYizkeLdiUlA1IKXk/s4882/OTR%20Fabric%20Picks%20and%20Travel%20Kit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2639" data-original-width="4882" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iSNIPK44BbbHXz60LLImkB7moKLVkzZWM1XjR8y2okGZqhFzj_USE1HQOMUIjd4WSFf9fu-gtM8z52QRRVeqXOtkmomkvLJkdXQETiw_9QHWVZ0yqEcoww3QL-uNKSkkdUkBQV1iR-6GKlNTVTjnJCmDm8eZwDd4oTFgojitreEYizkeLdiUlA1IKXk/s320/OTR%20Fabric%20Picks%20and%20Travel%20Kit.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">From fabric picks to travel kit!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>It is safe to say that in times of stress, quilting is a haven! Later, I continued work on this as my mystery season project during Bonnie's debut of the "<a href="https://quiltville.com/shop.html#!/Frolic-Digital-Pattern/p/174479645/category=13038426" target="_blank">Frolic</a>" mystery that year. For that mystery, they had to make Pinwheels and Flying Geese and combine them into blocks so I was able to do the same for this one!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUD07v2oSCDZUsieSoqX5syMq0q5JSDMIF_xK9q3hdOnjp6-aJUBG5IAf_SVuiRID4jMYqX_aRlmwZyhO50t66vzE_VANQ8K5jgRokBjm7nS4yEu3g7PcCBEAj7LHeIAt-7BJYBvmuyQ50ntcX3WM4MiCTO__gP6oOVSCnUFBGfU6mMuBTG5O4L4yTxw/s2048/20200110_001430.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1507" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbUD07v2oSCDZUsieSoqX5syMq0q5JSDMIF_xK9q3hdOnjp6-aJUBG5IAf_SVuiRID4jMYqX_aRlmwZyhO50t66vzE_VANQ8K5jgRokBjm7nS4yEu3g7PcCBEAj7LHeIAt-7BJYBvmuyQ50ntcX3WM4MiCTO__gP6oOVSCnUFBGfU6mMuBTG5O4L4yTxw/s320/20200110_001430.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><p>After "Folic" was revealed, I started laying out the blocks on my design wall to start putting together this top. That was in February of 2020. </p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBD0TATr5fNYuKuH8gz0WGhj1w88cS1TJgiC22hY40Crt3VlqII4OVsWJNk7Z2mL9JBmBrceZCHkkBp2OzcanDqMtq_R1kBDWJw3cFTXEaaj0UIDwClC1K2BoQxkzNplYrpfo-FzxNxPYIA1ylWjIPavf-NzuI1zgtTB7TJuHoOl5iufepn3vvfjKAq0/s2048/20200203_215151%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1405" data-original-width="2048" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBD0TATr5fNYuKuH8gz0WGhj1w88cS1TJgiC22hY40Crt3VlqII4OVsWJNk7Z2mL9JBmBrceZCHkkBp2OzcanDqMtq_R1kBDWJw3cFTXEaaj0UIDwClC1K2BoQxkzNplYrpfo-FzxNxPYIA1ylWjIPavf-NzuI1zgtTB7TJuHoOl5iufepn3vvfjKAq0/s320/20200203_215151%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Well, we all know what happened after that! I did finish piecing together the center in the early days of March but after that it languished in favor of working on all the great pandemic projects and quilt alongs that were offered to keep us occupied during the quarantine. </p><p>So it wasn't until January of 2021 that I finally put the borders on it with some debate about whether to just end the front with the Flying Geese border. I saw many OTR's finished that way that looked really good. However then I saw a pretty fabric I liked and that swayed my decision to go with the additional outer fabric border just as Bonnie had. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPnNZYVnL03H72UWvZUiH2ysW3Z98LsozVuZhf10lpDPQXsgxdp-fmfxCqxOTLOHZOqumQYjAJQ0NPF9DLTlSgSFalqIwDJyhRfps2i3lBUYJVzQY6G5p9UkzoGS-wAm9ZX2bLed3AsnlvwWj8yB8yASNgaJmg7YVFfrQqPYiY5f-ssLC8Q8jF2gSOi0/s4748/OTR%20Outer%20Border%20No%20or%20Yes.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="4748" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPnNZYVnL03H72UWvZUiH2ysW3Z98LsozVuZhf10lpDPQXsgxdp-fmfxCqxOTLOHZOqumQYjAJQ0NPF9DLTlSgSFalqIwDJyhRfps2i3lBUYJVzQY6G5p9UkzoGS-wAm9ZX2bLed3AsnlvwWj8yB8yASNgaJmg7YVFfrQqPYiY5f-ssLC8Q8jF2gSOi0/s320/OTR%20Outer%20Border%20No%20or%20Yes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Second border or not? I chose Yes!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Another year went by before I worked up the backing. That was because this project was pulled as my UFO Challenge number in <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2022/03/its-time-for-march-madness-recap.html" target="_blank">March 2022</a> and I was also piecing another scrappy backing at the time (for another Bonnie quilt actually). </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsniVJgUcEEKfwzZRa_BGbAnxdxC4623r9e1a9R9MvRftzLOBfdci9YES6O0Kx1HQ20zx_LPnjiVxQ0hk0skZrUFYkGMDgdKy3UIrc-8DvPsCjTNOLxe-_Ml6FIZUeLphKEuD_cUDLXyKnQILggzmR1NGmKTP2edVyWJKOWWH_rm7pCRWCrdsZqc0s9A/s4128/20220329_170305%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4128" data-original-width="2322" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZsniVJgUcEEKfwzZRa_BGbAnxdxC4623r9e1a9R9MvRftzLOBfdci9YES6O0Kx1HQ20zx_LPnjiVxQ0hk0skZrUFYkGMDgdKy3UIrc-8DvPsCjTNOLxe-_Ml6FIZUeLphKEuD_cUDLXyKnQILggzmR1NGmKTP2edVyWJKOWWH_rm7pCRWCrdsZqc0s9A/s320/20220329_170305%5B1%5D.jpg" width="180" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">And some leftover Flying Geese were just enough to help fill out the back.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Well, then it "simmered" for yet <i>another </i>year after which I was <u>determined</u> to get try to get it done during 2023's "Indigo Way" mystery season. However, I was also working on finishing up "Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll", another Bonnie project that was just as old and since it still needed piecing, took priority. I even ran out of basting pins so had to wait until "Boll" was finished being quilted in order to layer this one! </p><p>Once <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/finished-or-not-friday-cotton-harvest.html" target="_blank">"Boll" was done</a>, I spent the next two weeks quilting this and then thought that last week, I'd get this bound and completed. Except, I pulled out the project box only to realize that in all this time, I had not made any plans for the binding! Fortunately I keep a journal while making my projects so in those notes, I saw that the yardage I had purchased for the front outer border and part of the backing had been split and put with another project to use for its backing as well. At first I was reluctant to use that fabric since the other project is on my UFO Challenge list for this year so I might need that backing at some point. </p><p>I then thought I had enough excess backing around the edges of this that I could instead finish the edges by turning the backing to the front. I have done it before but I guess I needed to have taken some notes on that because it did not go well this time. Needless to say, the backing from the other project then got immediately sacrificed in favor of cutting binding strips so this could get done <i><u><b>now</b></u></i>, LOL!! The good news is I only took about a half yard from it so there still should be plenty to finish the backing for the other project when the time comes.</p><p>So lessons learned: when you have a long-term project, take good notes and have a checklist of your supplies from the start! Now that this is finally in the can, I can hop back over to <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/lightening-streak-1-yellow-and-finished.html" target="_blank">Alycia's </a>and check out what everyone else has finished up during this cold and stormy week!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-49621379890901390772024-01-16T23:24:00.004-05:002024-03-06T11:03:23.156-05:00To Do Tuesday: A Little Forward, A Little Stopped.....<p>Joining in again -- albeit a little late -- for "<a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/2024/01/15/to-do-linky-party-57/" target="_blank">To Do Tuesday</a>" over at Carol's <a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/" target="_blank">"Quilt Schmilt" blog</a> (and I have to chuckle every time I say "Quilt Schmilt" -- too cute)!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3V4jwhhdjGQhnpuMqaJHXNslP0dPbvNYykaJylxSqnPsG_SKeH9ebWjGVaPa5hA3KwFfACYnn4uQeA5FubVI2xaCjXQBkXR8GWYwm7pIlMZlbw-b1yAEzRvmX_kso-Ba9OXQ2zKvxuSJLtym_3PP9F08gGbpeStLN9A1hyW0mYLIhedni2D8s51rX_Y/s300/To%20Do%20Tuesday%20At%20Carol%20Andrews_Quilt%20Schmilt.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="300" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3V4jwhhdjGQhnpuMqaJHXNslP0dPbvNYykaJylxSqnPsG_SKeH9ebWjGVaPa5hA3KwFfACYnn4uQeA5FubVI2xaCjXQBkXR8GWYwm7pIlMZlbw-b1yAEzRvmX_kso-Ba9OXQ2zKvxuSJLtym_3PP9F08gGbpeStLN9A1hyW0mYLIhedni2D8s51rX_Y/s1600/To%20Do%20Tuesday%20At%20Carol%20Andrews_Quilt%20Schmilt.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p></p><p>It took me so long to check in because it took so long to finish this up:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuzmabhfKD9yYFyA1lyE0Y6_gt0X1seQRJQpVY1zllfCoqd5FL6IjsDcKqu6Hp7XK4dBNY7NMiYtJskh2Q2RKoH-GghHxXkQb9Z-L0NDa9mMeXjFFfgQ-WYhGoM8rdYRV0mFo-rdLBS6Rtk9jJX9AP08qt2yfZSZVUgx4ffg7EEEzeX8ZNbxJRX_EB2M/s3056/20240116_214239%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2886" data-original-width="3056" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuzmabhfKD9yYFyA1lyE0Y6_gt0X1seQRJQpVY1zllfCoqd5FL6IjsDcKqu6Hp7XK4dBNY7NMiYtJskh2Q2RKoH-GghHxXkQb9Z-L0NDa9mMeXjFFfgQ-WYhGoM8rdYRV0mFo-rdLBS6Rtk9jJX9AP08qt2yfZSZVUgx4ffg7EEEzeX8ZNbxJRX_EB2M/s320/20240116_214239%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>"<a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/old-tobacco-road-intro.html" target="_blank">Old Tobacco Road</a>" one of the early <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/about-bonnie.html" target="_blank">Bonnie Hunter</a> mysteries is finally done! This was top of my list for <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/01/to-do-tuesday-two-reboots-for-2024.html" target="_blank">last week</a> because I was really close to finishing it. </p><p>I thought that I could finish the quilting of the last two outer borders and then apply the binding and call it done by the end of the week. Instead the quilting took right up to end of the day Thursday so I didn't get started on the binding until Friday. That went awry too for a number of reasons so the binding only got finished a little while ago! Now that it's done, I'll review <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/01/finished-or-not-friday-my-travels-down.html" target="_blank">the full finishing story</a> at the end of the week.</p><p>Needless to say that means I didn't get any work done on the other two projects on my list for last week so work on those (two Raffle Quilts for my community garden's season opening and a BOM using Fig Tree fabrics) can now proceed during the rest of this week. Let's hope for a better report on those for next week!</p><p>Ironically something that I had not put on my list did get completed -- well at least the stitching: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENK41if9jkmYKfryoPBbYeLTKB1sxqsIiWIrOZMfStIQ4tWU_zyePRfmjugtGcYybK1Cr5bynkSduUQlG7ikf6IP_A3hW1kt4Tb8s7ZAOCfrpNR8Xor7jOCCfVd2A_b9AwYaMRu3pkHjBEqDNt7nq25j06jogXp8rmODUo1k_l2kOxp-hpUg0UTR9VYY/s3056/20240116_224349%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjENK41if9jkmYKfryoPBbYeLTKB1sxqsIiWIrOZMfStIQ4tWU_zyePRfmjugtGcYybK1Cr5bynkSduUQlG7ikf6IP_A3hW1kt4Tb8s7ZAOCfrpNR8Xor7jOCCfVd2A_b9AwYaMRu3pkHjBEqDNt7nq25j06jogXp8rmODUo1k_l2kOxp-hpUg0UTR9VYY/s320/20240116_224349%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This was my very first cross stitch piece that I started back in <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2022/02/its-now-last-day-of-february-so-its.html" target="_blank">February of 2022</a> in the hopes of having it ready for Valentines Day that year. CS-newbie that I was, it is now not a surprise that I didn't get it finished. In hindsight, stitching with Silk floss on 18ct Aida is not the best first project! I had stopped working on it in March figuring I'd finish it up for the holiday the following year. </p><p>Well that didn't happen until this year (and many projects later) when I finally resumed stitching on this last week figuring on getting a slightly earlier start on it this time for the holiday, LOL! At first I only got in a few more stiches because I was so focused on the quilt project. However, when the binding problems hit, it felt better to just go do some cross stitch instead to blow off steam. As seen in the picture, I also shopped for finishing supplies this weekend so getting this "fully finished" (as the cross stitchers say) now also goes on the list for this week. </p><p>So here's hoping that the rest of the week I can relax a bit and get a few bite-size parts of these projects done. Looking forward to seeing what others have worked on this week so will be checking out all the goodies over at <a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/2024/01/15/to-do-linky-party-57/" target="_blank">Quilt Schmilt</a> and see how the middle of January is treating everyone!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-48715664398471711122024-01-09T20:13:00.004-05:002024-01-10T09:05:33.968-05:00To Do Tuesday: Two Reboots for 2024<p>I learned about a new link up last week so this is my first time checking in for Carol's "<a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/2024/01/08/to-do-linky-party-56/" target="_blank">To Do Tuesday</a>" at her <a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/" target="_blank">"Quilt Schmilt" blog</a>:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/2024/01/08/to-do-linky-party-56/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="300" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs2L25IfNLSNeFVBqBinSkNQhGUnmBEr9OA2p_58jSzbR7Y2qEaRKNn2luR2pD19H89lagM1hCE5Jc9PP9TLyCz6aEJvDsrNeseHRH15eZb1wcwWyRXqPyO4ALwlkzR92DRw890GCyyxzNsvD26lKpEcMK4R91XBpNqtZM6OPxmEJ_zxOw1o6RCCrdjzs/s1600/To%20Do%20Tuesday%20At%20Carol%20Andrews_Quilt%20Schmilt.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks like <a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/" target="_blank">Quilt Schmilt</a> attracts a fun group!</td></tr></tbody></table><p>I am trying to be mindful of the things I want to get done both this year and this month. Doing so was helpful in getting a lot of things done last year so I'd like to continue the trend. </p><p><b>A Reboot From 2023 That Is Now "Close to Finished"!</b></p><p>So far for the start of the year, I am finishing up the quilting of my "Tobacco Road" mystery quilt:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdTCh8f4tg5hVlq9ePBY4UC8z1uYI-7JFvfHGBc88HTkHJ4lqFSkOS-1Dv6njaIVcdPoHHrI-xjCJWBIM_iAs85r-wSiw0fH_vHiVZuoo19KXfhZagdsUM0VvXQqQEcpRWIgMkNlKeHIMFCIchn_5sa92XcWDjSxvFhMejVJxT2uxmUozDIh774LpbR0/s2942/20240109_185508%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2942" data-original-width="2833" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdTCh8f4tg5hVlq9ePBY4UC8z1uYI-7JFvfHGBc88HTkHJ4lqFSkOS-1Dv6njaIVcdPoHHrI-xjCJWBIM_iAs85r-wSiw0fH_vHiVZuoo19KXfhZagdsUM0VvXQqQEcpRWIgMkNlKeHIMFCIchn_5sa92XcWDjSxvFhMejVJxT2uxmUozDIh774LpbR0/s320/20240109_185508%5B1%5D.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><p>This is one of the early <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/p/about-bonnie.html" target="_blank">Bonnie Hunter</a> mystery quilts issued <a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/old-tobacco-road-intro.html" target="_blank">all the way back in 2008</a> but I didn't start mine until 2018. I finished piecing the top <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2021/01/continuing-to-clear-out-2020-projects.html" target="_blank">in 2021</a>, made the <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2022/03/its-time-for-march-madness-recap.html" target="_blank">backing in 2022</a> and layered and started quilting it <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/7-days-of-new-years-day-3.html" target="_blank">at the close of 2023</a>. </p><p>I'm down to stitching the cornerstone blocks and the outer two borders then I can move onto the binding. This one should be done by the end of the week. Not bad, only one week past the end of the latest mystery season! BTW, have you taken a gander at the scrappy loveliness of Bonnie's newest mystery quilt "<a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2024/01/indigo-way-mystery-part-eight-reveal.html" target="_blank">Indigo Way</a>"?!?</p><p><b>Reboot#1: Garden Raffle Quilts</b></p><p>The first of the reboots for 2024 is actually two quilts: I've pulled the storage box back down for the raffle quilts I want to make for my community garden's 2024 Season Opening Day. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAQyLQmkesyfgv61c4O9wUkBmG4nQOHIHY3x5p9VHB-p2f9hFW5gTgqtyNZlY1ocUb6Bsg4nJxWeNgRUxKEONeFbyZwyWAqVCXASd0jko4Qj9R7IwC6Bt2IMRj5Etyh8djvphRPoIaEcs9jdif7AF4UIyALTwuguoBZfESuhTrWUn-x5UBOJZztKfdsc/s2402/20230425_082518%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2261" data-original-width="2402" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPAQyLQmkesyfgv61c4O9wUkBmG4nQOHIHY3x5p9VHB-p2f9hFW5gTgqtyNZlY1ocUb6Bsg4nJxWeNgRUxKEONeFbyZwyWAqVCXASd0jko4Qj9R7IwC6Bt2IMRj5Etyh8djvphRPoIaEcs9jdif7AF4UIyALTwuguoBZfESuhTrWUn-x5UBOJZztKfdsc/s320/20230425_082518%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Here they were when I packed them up last April.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Technically these have a firm finish deadline. Well, firm in terms of this year I really want to get them done! I had originally started them <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2022/04/march-carryoverplans-for-april.html" target="_blank">in 2022</a> and did more work on them <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/04/works-in-progress-wednesday.html" target="_blank">last year</a>. The last time I worked on these, I had finished the top for the light version and left off debating the addition of some applique elements to it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSbynnyfRuPHiQFHRJlRAcAh_qkhh4h4UzqGSTw1bqttZnV9nN-Fs40Ozc2GiqpCqiJQsRW0iM2mQOo5d8QiyKkjJg7S-gKZE_yEDHYtExANTb6m9qHpd4_394C4vLHFlWCLYk3OzKPQ1fd9FR_Ie9PqTev12TPAZNTrWq8wlmnoBGOS0ilTiU1ph0aM/s3056/20230405_182213%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="1573" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSbynnyfRuPHiQFHRJlRAcAh_qkhh4h4UzqGSTw1bqttZnV9nN-Fs40Ozc2GiqpCqiJQsRW0iM2mQOo5d8QiyKkjJg7S-gKZE_yEDHYtExANTb6m9qHpd4_394C4vLHFlWCLYk3OzKPQ1fd9FR_Ie9PqTev12TPAZNTrWq8wlmnoBGOS0ilTiU1ph0aM/s320/20230405_182213%5B1%5D.jpg" width="165" /></a></div><p>I still have to finish up the applique blocks for the dark version and assemble all the blocks into a top.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd1zYmsRLL2bQAVixG0p9Zh0_rEIgUzgG-QLATrz8C87rkYEGh1LMqQgKbDwQo-9uEf_NtXL6R-ucue2vJefKP-9pcMQLYZkTsf4U-n5ctfGywEW8oLnCeOWRnipoYk_2VSfEQ-9jlK0y3nm3FbJwN0PqfTRKNp9hOtFiaZFA1eOhYWhmf-gI1TACYkM/s2925/20240109_190659%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2925" data-original-width="2382" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxd1zYmsRLL2bQAVixG0p9Zh0_rEIgUzgG-QLATrz8C87rkYEGh1LMqQgKbDwQo-9uEf_NtXL6R-ucue2vJefKP-9pcMQLYZkTsf4U-n5ctfGywEW8oLnCeOWRnipoYk_2VSfEQ-9jlK0y3nm3FbJwN0PqfTRKNp9hOtFiaZFA1eOhYWhmf-gI1TACYkM/s320/20240109_190659%5B1%5D.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><p>Our garden's President has invited me to the Steering Committee meeting where they will start planning for this year's event. We always hold the season opening day on the Saturday closest to <a href="https://www.almanac.com/content/earth-day-date-activities-history#:~:text=your%20local%20environment!-,When%20Is%20Earth%20Day%3F,always%20celebrated%20on%20April%2022." target="_blank">Earth Day</a>. It's on Monday April 22nd this year so we'll probably open on Saturday April 20th. Our garden's Event Coordinator passed away last year so we are still determining who will fill that role in organizing that and other events during the year. More than likely, we will all have to "pitch in" on the tasks for the foreseeable future. </p><p>I would love to be able to take the tops to the meeting at the end of this week and give them a "preview" of them. If I show them to the Committee, that will really "commit" <i>me </i>to the project and then I'll <i>have to</i> stay on them this time around until they are finished, LOL!! </p><p><b>Reboot #2: The </b><b>Scrappy Figs BOM</b></p><p>My "Scrappy Figs" project was one of the things left undone on my <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/07/world-ufo-day.html" target="_blank">UFO Challenge list</a> last year. I was introduced to this project back in 2018 when Pat Sloan had done a sew along to make Joanna Figueroa's "<a href="https://store.figtreeandcompany.com/Christmas_Figs_Book_p/xmasfig_book.htm" target="_blank">Christmas Figs</a>" quilt. Pat had sewn up two versions of it: one in the patterned Red and Green and one in Blue and White. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VlFF4227dsrh0akEjLVkEBz7GuYOgLJgV2BZAFgP8QQ_Z2obD46b-iur-ELCTOcUhpxAp49Lf0DdOJnIqnSoZhw2IVYwohHPDX1lWzVPulY5oHuSTWc6DextOqPqC66kLfYM0XsI3-t9MzE5C9Zd9aH00y7xkyV6TAAUAC87QyPTaAKHxUzkQJ9HabI/s1507/Pat%20Sloans%20CF%20Quilts.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="1507" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2VlFF4227dsrh0akEjLVkEBz7GuYOgLJgV2BZAFgP8QQ_Z2obD46b-iur-ELCTOcUhpxAp49Lf0DdOJnIqnSoZhw2IVYwohHPDX1lWzVPulY5oHuSTWc6DextOqPqC66kLfYM0XsI3-t9MzE5C9Zd9aH00y7xkyV6TAAUAC87QyPTaAKHxUzkQJ9HabI/s320/Pat%20Sloans%20CF%20Quilts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Watching Pat's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-UcgwuZkBM&t=1161s" target="_blank">daily video at the beginning of December</a>, I was surprised to find that she had also not finished those two yet! She put it on her December "To Do" list to finish them and that prompted me to think about trying to at least finish my blocks for it by the end of the year too. </p><p>I had loved the original quilt design but didn't want to do it in Christmas colors. That inspired me to do it in a scrappy mix of Fig Tree fabrics which was something that I had always wanted to stash. I had started this project as a personal "Block of Month" all the way <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2020/01/boms-away-2020-week-2-1-christmas-figs.html" target="_blank">back in 2020</a> but the pandemic and all the wonderful pandemic quilt alongs that year meant I got off track on it. </p><p>Pat only needed to bind her Red and Green version to finish it and still needs to get the Blue and White one quilted. For some reason, I thought I had twenty-five blocks to make for this project which is what I had put on my UFO list. However, reviewing the pattern book again I see there's only twenty blocks in the original design although it does call for making some cornerstone blocks that I don't know if I will be including in mine. I have twelve of the twenty blocks needed so only need to make eight more. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd2kixghCXF4bsBbib2tqG50fcMxdYm-DaXna3cDUEDozGbCO6ANUix17vfPBlJLmYNaQOIl5dVrnxz7ZEXgYbbelKNCJH0mMrlXyT9dezeH624y6xep0DzutmWiD3l2rLNduFz5W15ASHH_wMzt1rfwctldE5hUeBQ8lo_iQFsuJCmSgFcfDuOisc5o/s3056/20240109_172952%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2439" data-original-width="3056" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTd2kixghCXF4bsBbib2tqG50fcMxdYm-DaXna3cDUEDozGbCO6ANUix17vfPBlJLmYNaQOIl5dVrnxz7ZEXgYbbelKNCJH0mMrlXyT9dezeH624y6xep0DzutmWiD3l2rLNduFz5W15ASHH_wMzt1rfwctldE5hUeBQ8lo_iQFsuJCmSgFcfDuOisc5o/s320/20240109_172952%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>When my DH and I visited my MIL back in <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/10/october-in-review.html" target="_blank">October</a>, I was able to stock up on a whole bunch of new Fig Tree Fat Quarters during the "<a href="https://allcarolinasshophop.com/" target="_blank">All Carolinas Shop Hop</a>". The <a href="https://quiltlizzy.com/" target="_blank">Quilt Lizzy</a> store in Warrenton, NC was closing its brick and mortar shop to go fully online so the sales presented a phenomenal opportunity to stash some more!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfQWM2keqqaOuJPybw9Z5Y6ApdDGIJzyCtMAgsxZoEGCnMeRfazs6zXvpX_ueInPLdJXkZ_QZqbmiWJKKwg88DBJFsAOMs_OtyXI40PrU8e1Jw3g9hZZ1YcyiyHls3yQcCuF9koQLojHXPrM7QzVnhZZIz2QkaqjL4qCEE1KYF65Asm2bZ-EZ2PhyudY/s3056/20231030_102614%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2064" data-original-width="3056" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlfQWM2keqqaOuJPybw9Z5Y6ApdDGIJzyCtMAgsxZoEGCnMeRfazs6zXvpX_ueInPLdJXkZ_QZqbmiWJKKwg88DBJFsAOMs_OtyXI40PrU8e1Jw3g9hZZ1YcyiyHls3yQcCuF9koQLojHXPrM7QzVnhZZIz2QkaqjL4qCEE1KYF65Asm2bZ-EZ2PhyudY/s320/20231030_102614%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">The Fig Tree FQs are on the right but a lot of <a href="https://shop.modafabrics.com/category/grunge-basics-102422" target="_blank">Grunge</a> was purchased on this trip too!</span> </td></tr></tbody></table><p>Getting back to work on this now gives me an opportunity to incorporate the new Fat Quarters into my existing stash and scrappy design. </p><p>As always big plans for the month and big hopes for staying on track! I'm looking forward to regularly checking in with those making "<a href="https://quiltschmilt.ca/2024/01/08/to-do-linky-party-56/" target="_blank">To Do Tuesday</a>" lists so we can help each other stay accountable!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-67106349109132773682024-01-05T12:45:00.002-05:002024-03-15T11:43:04.705-04:00Quiltville Mystery Season: Indigo Way Part 7 and The Reveal!! <p>Did anyone else know Bonnie gave us a New Year's gift?!?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKoBhSQWc8f0Im3zG-KkmiwHugDC24JCiTZV0LJTiXQpTRdKRP9_2wnhvkz9SdL_YcEegtmkVqqvJ9nu1zJ6evGA3lImgnbXsc5XN4VBmo82feesv8WFm9pR8Ek9o6Iw9-6LbaXWTVSzujWGJxC2Qx9r9V1XUA2wMr9PtRUV3hVtlLG1yv9WoAW2Hff0/s640/Quiltville%20Indigo%20Way%20Mystery%20Logo1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKoBhSQWc8f0Im3zG-KkmiwHugDC24JCiTZV0LJTiXQpTRdKRP9_2wnhvkz9SdL_YcEegtmkVqqvJ9nu1zJ6evGA3lImgnbXsc5XN4VBmo82feesv8WFm9pR8Ek9o6Iw9-6LbaXWTVSzujWGJxC2Qx9r9V1XUA2wMr9PtRUV3hVtlLG1yv9WoAW2Hff0/s320/Quiltville%20Indigo%20Way%20Mystery%20Logo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Well Bonnie sure surprised me! I was in the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/291023511046957" target="_blank">Quiltville Open Studio on Facebook</a> yesterday and people were posting pictures about their "<a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2024/01/indigo-way-part-seven.html" target="_blank">Clue #7</a>" blocks. I was like, "<i>wait it's not Friday yet is it?!?</i>"! It wasn't but Bonnie bestowed the clue early as she will be headed out of the country in a few days. Once I learned that, I suspected that meant the last <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2024/01/indigo-way-mystery-part-eight-reveal.html" target="_blank">Clue #8</a> would be (and has) been released today!</p><p>This is also the final reveal of the finished "Indigo Way" quilt so go on over to <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Quiltville</a> to get a good look at it as it is featured in her header photo at the moment. It's a beaut but there was never any doubt on my part that it wouldn't be, LOL!! Oh, this one definitely goes on my "must make" list! </p><p>Bonnie also shares the last few bits of the Vietnam trip: a beautiful temple, some cute "patio dancing" (there's a video!!) and the farewell dinner on the last night of the trip. Everything that she has shared makes me really want to take a crafting trip!</p><p>If you are playing along with the mystery, in Part 7 you make Quarter Square blocks using the "special" fabric if you picked one for the project. You'll combine those with the units made in Parts 1 and 4 to make "Block A" for the design. In Part 8 you use the units made in Parts 2, 3 and 5 to make "Block B". </p><p>In the final layout of the top, the blocks will be set on point. A lot of people in the Facebook group had guessed that or at least had already liked the way their blocks looked set that way. I also liked a lot of the alternate colorways on display there! There will be a lot of "half and partial block" trimming to finish the center of the quilt, the addition of two sets of strip borders (with another chance to use your "special" fabric) and the units made in Part 6 will finish off the outer edge.</p><p>With the mystery season now completed, you have until the end of the month to download all the parts for free. After that, Bonnie will compile it into a pattern and it can be purchased from the <a href="https://quiltville.com/shop.html#!/Digital-Patterns/c/13038426" target="_blank">digital pattern section</a> of her <a href="https://quiltville.com/shop.html" target="_blank">online shop</a>. </p><p>Well, my own mystery season is not quite over yet! I am close to a finish on "Old Tobacco Road". I have completed the quilting in the center and the centers of the Flying Geese in the second border:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vYXrusIJ5ZwA_8mw_oEBKrZFCnsOzf2x_-XJhFWNpzgk_Se7QPF4j4pE3TGGkwzwX7UYBe2PjgyfAyTdfIJPEFwe2QbvBigOuC9C2rqaCWJTUYN-hwHjOriTzVp7cRW8m1RnlkDpfc3W6f_OR_9gEXfRMbiCHNi6PMTmPhyphenhypheneg9hMBYMRrNSm1Mhkq7w/s3056/20240105_085048%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2971" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vYXrusIJ5ZwA_8mw_oEBKrZFCnsOzf2x_-XJhFWNpzgk_Se7QPF4j4pE3TGGkwzwX7UYBe2PjgyfAyTdfIJPEFwe2QbvBigOuC9C2rqaCWJTUYN-hwHjOriTzVp7cRW8m1RnlkDpfc3W6f_OR_9gEXfRMbiCHNi6PMTmPhyphenhypheneg9hMBYMRrNSm1Mhkq7w/s320/20240105_085048%5B1%5D.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><p>I still have to stitch the inner border (probably just down the center), outline the triangles around the Flying Geese and then figure out how I will stitch the final outer border. I have a feeling I will just outline stitch it as well but I have considered doing something free-motion/decorative. I'll see how tired I am of all the quilting by the time I get to that point and <i>that </i>will help me make that decision, LOL!! </p><p>And unrelated to the mystery season, Fall is finished for me too! I've finally finished stitching the Thanksgiving cross stitch piece and it has been washed and dried.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4KPFFmjkB5a6pBDH_vRAqAUw5joF-se9PCHiqGVxB7G3XsymChB8UnftqxKLe4p_ffIqxGz4o5UO2odcwMM76X7HZhWpYaXUZS_V6zYqXpj4NCU4AUEYtkjhyphenhyphenZtgnTAdubQfk9XrcuQ29OIxUIEcol1APZsH68iVYJGBFCXZmX73-7hYghG8yZhgRwU/s3056/20240105_122054%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4KPFFmjkB5a6pBDH_vRAqAUw5joF-se9PCHiqGVxB7G3XsymChB8UnftqxKLe4p_ffIqxGz4o5UO2odcwMM76X7HZhWpYaXUZS_V6zYqXpj4NCU4AUEYtkjhyphenhyphenZtgnTAdubQfk9XrcuQ29OIxUIEcol1APZsH68iVYJGBFCXZmX73-7hYghG8yZhgRwU/s320/20240105_122054%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Now all that's left to do is the "<a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2024/01/slow-sunday-stitching-now-im-ready-for.html" target="_blank">fully finishing</a>" work. I have to pick up some foam core board to back it with as my local craft stores don't carry large enough adhesive backer boards in stock. </p><p>I'm sorry to see another mystery season go but it'll be back before I know it later this year!!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-15741738113784926032024-01-01T22:57:00.001-05:002024-01-03T06:31:55.819-05:007 Days of New Years - Day 7: And Now A New Year Begins!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU_pXTOEvAO4Y78L5bC6H6OoEVc0qbaAT3SKCYtRsw9ioyIf8wEGxWgR1CesrcuLhAnyR4VRfpPwn1Y5jgCQ-35F2OXJPYjoG9XTBHFVd6vjYFvxWrAO4qMwEy5OxS45ZHuR3kVxAFSP4XTW1WxYU8fOJDIZlGQpjtco2CVDjMz3lGJOk0SV3yt4yj0U/s480/Happy%20New%20Year%202024%20-%20The%20Best%20Is%20Yet%20To%20Come.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoU_pXTOEvAO4Y78L5bC6H6OoEVc0qbaAT3SKCYtRsw9ioyIf8wEGxWgR1CesrcuLhAnyR4VRfpPwn1Y5jgCQ-35F2OXJPYjoG9XTBHFVd6vjYFvxWrAO4qMwEy5OxS45ZHuR3kVxAFSP4XTW1WxYU8fOJDIZlGQpjtco2CVDjMz3lGJOk0SV3yt4yj0U/s320/Happy%20New%20Year%202024%20-%20The%20Best%20Is%20Yet%20To%20Come.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p>So my "7 Days" marathon has come to an end. Much like all of 2023, it went faster than I expected. I was glad for the things that did get done ("Tobacco Road" is well underway!!) and just a little bummed on the things I couldn't get to (the "Thanksgiving" cross stitch finish is still a ways away😔). All in all though, it was great to really focus on some things and I am more than ready to ring in the New Year with another set of projects!</p><p>One of the things I didn't get to tackle before the end of the year was one more thing on my 2023 UFO Challenge list. My "<a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/finished-or-not-friday-cotton-harvest.html" target="_blank">Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll</a>" quilt was the only thing I managed to get completely done on that list although the good news is that I also got a few things moved forward. The last project I had hoped to try to tackle was the number <a href="https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-to-quilt/finishing/2023-ufo-challenge" target="_blank">American Patchwork and Quilting magazine</a> had picked for December: </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgRxsYNv4QQn3Vt2KeXBICDsu0IRYXG14LEcGgo1P7HjJY6Noi51Bwbl2tdhe_cKmL9Pmgrr0y9RfwrM9vwGd87hfNBcxGmSPom5N2hvoc31A7DbF_AmL487YL8J3Sk99jdDRN5M1VhtLysK8Mrp4gSi8A1uwfPlx5Mb2e71JMAlVvsYHhWI71ZfrOk0/s2489/20231229_101451%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1887" data-original-width="2489" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgRxsYNv4QQn3Vt2KeXBICDsu0IRYXG14LEcGgo1P7HjJY6Noi51Bwbl2tdhe_cKmL9Pmgrr0y9RfwrM9vwGd87hfNBcxGmSPom5N2hvoc31A7DbF_AmL487YL8J3Sk99jdDRN5M1VhtLysK8Mrp4gSi8A1uwfPlx5Mb2e71JMAlVvsYHhWI71ZfrOk0/s320/20231229_101451%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p>That task was just to set up my Hand Quilted Wholecloth project. Since it only meant pulling it out and getting it onto a new frame, I thought that would be easy to get to. However, the weekend and it being a holiday one at that, got in the way. So the first day of the New Year is as good as any to get it in place! Like "Cotton Boll", the wholecloth project is a blast from the past <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2018/01/happy-new-year-and-whats-on-deck-for.html" target="_blank">that I started on back in 2018</a>. I <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2019/05/update-on-april-and-mays-doings.html" target="_blank">ran into problems stitching it</a> on my original circular hoop.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFm11mjM-gy_1FonDi_AxqzIxbvIUFaF3SgtdZuOZ-eUgmH4y9eka3bvL5MjMRNYZHBSgAp5dTEy8SEdJymzO7-YcRJbsYoBzpvkUpWlnQ5aTVBIzjn6Bjck_25wnqe30Cnx78Npq9xO-SMAKomQV8UYrCpRqcvYypqDi6oeb5EeTj8cT0pAOlfiLaRsI/s1637/2018-04-02%2015.28.49%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1637" data-original-width="1076" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFm11mjM-gy_1FonDi_AxqzIxbvIUFaF3SgtdZuOZ-eUgmH4y9eka3bvL5MjMRNYZHBSgAp5dTEy8SEdJymzO7-YcRJbsYoBzpvkUpWlnQ5aTVBIzjn6Bjck_25wnqe30Cnx78Npq9xO-SMAKomQV8UYrCpRqcvYypqDi6oeb5EeTj8cT0pAOlfiLaRsI/s320/2018-04-02%2015.28.49%5B1%5D.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">This was taken around the time I started the project.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I am not yet adept at hand quilting so can only stitch in one direction. The problem I had with this frame was that it was hard to turn the bulk of a queen size quilt around in order to stitch on it the way I am able. Doing so often left the bulk of the quilt all twisted around the base. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxuAXbBS8bSpch4XrRce26872QSWRbGqIRyfz3yvigKjAQT8wnMMEECD145gNGv1ajkZoOrAm8LUy1pdL_23zkzAZbC0sgPOX9Rb8gV4S6el4hZjhu1un3y5zjZ4AJIxA9SpcTcd4XwcvqrXYzvlo4ZD68rT6njtsvlH2doKqoYF93HBq2nLVNI_pQws/s2048/DSCN3282.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmxuAXbBS8bSpch4XrRce26872QSWRbGqIRyfz3yvigKjAQT8wnMMEECD145gNGv1ajkZoOrAm8LUy1pdL_23zkzAZbC0sgPOX9Rb8gV4S6el4hZjhu1un3y5zjZ4AJIxA9SpcTcd4XwcvqrXYzvlo4ZD68rT6njtsvlH2doKqoYF93HBq2nLVNI_pQws/s320/DSCN3282.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><p>So I went on the search for an alternative. Greatly influenced by the beautiful hand quilting being done by Karen over at her <a href="http://karensquilting.com/blog/" target="_blank">Quilts...Ect/Karen's Quilting blog</a>, I really wanted to get a frame that for future quilts that I might want to hand quilt, I wouldn't have to baste them in advance. In 2019, I was lucky enough to find a used Grace Frame at a great price:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9LfRKEuwEs5-yGq7OOPFYh1uauhWMJLyvM9ph7IMjOx_bLedRGvbA1G36FfcW0KTl9zU4uVSZtzqrk_1HcTOl0ZwzLLvDxhWnhaiZueHUgpDNBFoZfSbHFd1HXGGaEsI_GfXVjYmt4O-SSwffEb3XRIvX1fy3KuJyvTQSqXaFNmd3Tcl97GZJ0uHzoE/s2048/20190520_095401.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9LfRKEuwEs5-yGq7OOPFYh1uauhWMJLyvM9ph7IMjOx_bLedRGvbA1G36FfcW0KTl9zU4uVSZtzqrk_1HcTOl0ZwzLLvDxhWnhaiZueHUgpDNBFoZfSbHFd1HXGGaEsI_GfXVjYmt4O-SSwffEb3XRIvX1fy3KuJyvTQSqXaFNmd3Tcl97GZJ0uHzoE/s320/20190520_095401.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I also loved the idea that the width of this frame could be telescoped out to whatever size needed and that it could be stored folded down either while standing or laid flat for storing under a couch or bed. The separate rods it has to hold the quilt top and backing were just what I wanted even if I wouldn't use that feature for this project since it is already basted for trapunto work. </p><p>Unfortunately, I thought I would be able to sit it in my living room with full width of the quilt open but realized a little too late that I don't really have the space to do that easily for the duration of the project (measure twice, quilt once)! Additionally, it also still meant only stitching from one side of it. </p><p>So I continued to look around and eventually I saw another option: a Q-Snap quilt frame (also used)! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLa5eND5crjq7Hd0tqpZFbtfo2jLOrD1v-A2B4JMtrs88u3k2S_ANLOaRgmY5zWqWUQkvOZdomeIlsASl-Mph_sqoAq64aczNxNKAW3FBsjwi2bK4Zut7xKbck5hTvA3KT3dRRnZAwir4ijMal0a28k0jetSpbLJo2qca5j0eSgF5jF35TvcDtEifrag/s3056/20240101_131713%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2127" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLa5eND5crjq7Hd0tqpZFbtfo2jLOrD1v-A2B4JMtrs88u3k2S_ANLOaRgmY5zWqWUQkvOZdomeIlsASl-Mph_sqoAq64aczNxNKAW3FBsjwi2bK4Zut7xKbck5hTvA3KT3dRRnZAwir4ijMal0a28k0jetSpbLJo2qca5j0eSgF5jF35TvcDtEifrag/s320/20240101_131713%5B1%5D.jpg" width="223" /></a></div><p>The good news here is that it has legs that can be tilted on both sides of the square base which makes it possible to turn it around when I need to change the stitch direction. Well at least I hope so --- I haven't tried it up until now so we'll see this year if it works. Today was a chance to take a crack at it! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-qTcFKFS0Xipy6zrtYkF2fcJ3Q0DDaZBp1MznVNPEdFcYga37Z7MKvKu6W8UMAmvzqPCcjSEdHgOSBCdsJgnQvf2Gsyizgj5kJ9HtC4-Qg6CwWOX9AbHXeXQla_Ne0LXU1A-zit_IEZwVg8S6pUz5ag0z3fAzrxvVaaj_zM5l4vcF44MYcFfrSMRWus/s2224/20240101_140124%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2224" data-original-width="2030" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim-qTcFKFS0Xipy6zrtYkF2fcJ3Q0DDaZBp1MznVNPEdFcYga37Z7MKvKu6W8UMAmvzqPCcjSEdHgOSBCdsJgnQvf2Gsyizgj5kJ9HtC4-Qg6CwWOX9AbHXeXQla_Ne0LXU1A-zit_IEZwVg8S6pUz5ag0z3fAzrxvVaaj_zM5l4vcF44MYcFfrSMRWus/s320/20240101_140124%5B1%5D.jpg" width="292" /></a></div><p>It was easy to assemble and on the plus side, a larger stitching surface than I expected. One issue is that it is also taller than I thought it would be. In order to use it from my "stitching chair" I will need to add a couple of the couch cushions to set myself high enough to stitch at it comfortably.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscU9pJ7rShZJQmQSmo6jzKjjbDVQ2iQKIg_ZH4fvNX6yBiaBpSAkEh5SBL0Dx3ZvjB_530ezjgkUtNv_PspL_hkF6KLbrj9EXNVZZpFpN4WJppgpA-Kqc6ghhIM547QqMPwQ2BB2jW2Cs_qu_pDO5tJza_PGA0JFaD6JFHyPUOX-PTYZJk9fPDXt7A_M/s3056/20240101_143712%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2556" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscU9pJ7rShZJQmQSmo6jzKjjbDVQ2iQKIg_ZH4fvNX6yBiaBpSAkEh5SBL0Dx3ZvjB_530ezjgkUtNv_PspL_hkF6KLbrj9EXNVZZpFpN4WJppgpA-Kqc6ghhIM547QqMPwQ2BB2jW2Cs_qu_pDO5tJza_PGA0JFaD6JFHyPUOX-PTYZJk9fPDXt7A_M/s320/20240101_143712%5B1%5D.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_V3QnE5ehvdirqi4BMBps0EKkhqvQxZkMT8iQ02z8O1a2TZRACHAsespVrKTczbBKb3VeIdLSqpQumtKD9tTurDjtat-ZkSiGX8_j-4xBS-ywl7ErZ3qEzAyqf-w8kbNHuofLGUVzwc-KHAdx-fKYE5pKbBbEJJdW3gPkCUD-5UxnQ8hwHzjgbXv1hk/s3056/20240101_143914%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_V3QnE5ehvdirqi4BMBps0EKkhqvQxZkMT8iQ02z8O1a2TZRACHAsespVrKTczbBKb3VeIdLSqpQumtKD9tTurDjtat-ZkSiGX8_j-4xBS-ywl7ErZ3qEzAyqf-w8kbNHuofLGUVzwc-KHAdx-fKYE5pKbBbEJJdW3gPkCUD-5UxnQ8hwHzjgbXv1hk/s320/20240101_143914%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>On the other hand, my sewing table is next to here and the drafting chair I use for it is tall enough for the frame. I can also turn it in that direction and stitch using that chair although maybe not as comfortably as I might like. So I'll have to see how this goes. </p><p>In 2022, I had waited until APQ called the UFO Challenge number for January and I had slotted the wholecloth project in that spot with the intention of starting on it and then working on it for the whole year. However, that didn't happen as I never got to the wholecloth that month and didn't pick it up after the month it was introduced passed. For 2023, because I had already been working on the string blocks for "Cotton Boll" at the end of 2022, I put that as my January pick for 2023 (and at least that one <i>did </i>get done). </p><p>So I am trying that strategy again for 2024. This year APQ is not picking the numbers but has given quilters an <a href="https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-to-quilt/finishing/ufo-challenge" target="_blank">"evergreen" list sheet</a> (there is no year pre-printed on it) and a page of numbers to cut out and use to pick their own. I also decided to set up two separate lists this year: one for projects that still need piecing and one for the "To Be Quilted" projects. </p><p>My lists are already set up and I pulled the first two numbers for the year. I've already assigned the wholecloth to the "To Be Quilted" list and put my "<a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2020/01/another-reason-why-i-liked-christmas.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Figs BOM</a>" on the "To Be Pieced" list as I had hoped to also work on that during the "7 Days" quilt-a-thon. Since I want to finish both the blocks and the top for that, I have also already put "Figs" on the "To Be Quilted" list as the February pick so I can continue to work on it and just finish it. </p><p>I have the project from the <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/10/october-in-review.html" target="_blank">improv workshop I took back in October</a> as the February "Piecing" pick and my <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2018/01/happy-new-year-and-whats-on-deck-for.html" target="_blank">Double Wedding Ring project</a> is the March pick as I want to finish mine as a precursor to working on one as a gift for someone. The rest of the projects on both lists will be picked as I pull the numbers in the subsequent months.</p><p>So starts the New Year! I hope mine is as productive as last year's and that everyone will have a lot of beautiful things to show us in 2024!!</p></div>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-61373852973868995212023-12-31T20:49:00.000-05:002023-12-31T20:49:18.054-05:007 Days of New Years - Day 6: Finishing The Last of 2023<p> Well, I didn't get to do any more quilting on "Old Tobacco Road" <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/7-days-of-new-years-day-5.html" target="_blank">yesterday</a> so that will be moving into 2024. It still will be a finish by the end of the mystery season though. </p><p>It also turned out I didn't do any cross stitching yesterday after all but did get a little more done today. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzblsl40lPeulBDal3padz10K-4FY4ql9vgQ5JRL7fM09F8G7-n_ICvxj4s0EES7mH7KemQjj_Qlq3yUIH2GRrTvg6codTIreRKf6dzteZMGstJYY5VeBkEzTDYa9gxsJi1V8jq8UQIADTxY7dF-PnmD17icvUGMuRVz5-B95xoVQDADSMQRtMh9Um18/s3007/20231231_203029%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3007" data-original-width="2886" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzblsl40lPeulBDal3padz10K-4FY4ql9vgQ5JRL7fM09F8G7-n_ICvxj4s0EES7mH7KemQjj_Qlq3yUIH2GRrTvg6codTIreRKf6dzteZMGstJYY5VeBkEzTDYa9gxsJi1V8jq8UQIADTxY7dF-PnmD17icvUGMuRVz5-B95xoVQDADSMQRtMh9Um18/s320/20231231_203029%5B1%5D.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Ooh, so close! I had hoped to finish this up but it too will be moving a wee bit into 2024. So I look forward to two early finishes for 2024! <div><br /></div><div>Friends are already sending early "Happy New Year's" texts so I guess it's now time to settle in and wait for the ball to drop!!</div>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-882334210936489662023-12-30T10:49:00.004-05:002024-01-28T12:29:53.230-05:007 Days of New Years - Day 5<p>Okay a quick post: It's the weekend and DH and I have errands to run today so I had expected not to get much done today. However, since he needed a nap after coming in from work this morning, I took that time to work on what I could. Having finished the full columns <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/quiltville-mystery-season-indigo-way_29.html" target="_blank">yesterday</a>, this morning I got the half columns of bars on the sides of the "<a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/old-tobacco-road-intro.html" target="_blank">Old Tobacco Road</a>" quilt also done.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa3y9AeNOqOMIkcMv_ifzCGwCnqazsKZlOO4KEwCJSmWbDPoa0ysnha-HTP30g5w7tyX9-ShGQc4e6A_LxeohV9CTLqwp0D7EnLMCVMc-1_O14ob-reSp_iSKcpyHoibDzufaSvwDobrj0-voiQv1dWaV5iC9nx6s0onzOq-oh5g9qyIcvh5WIcnFg5w/s3056/20231230_085358%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa3y9AeNOqOMIkcMv_ifzCGwCnqazsKZlOO4KEwCJSmWbDPoa0ysnha-HTP30g5w7tyX9-ShGQc4e6A_LxeohV9CTLqwp0D7EnLMCVMc-1_O14ob-reSp_iSKcpyHoibDzufaSvwDobrj0-voiQv1dWaV5iC9nx6s0onzOq-oh5g9qyIcvh5WIcnFg5w/s320/20231230_085358%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I did the same thing I did last night: marked them and used a walking foot to outline stitch them. Before doing the columns I had wondered if I should try to just eyeball the lines, use the edge of the walking foot as a guide (the one for <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/08/august-recap.html" target="_blank">my Juki</a> doesn't have the hole in the casing for a spacing bar) or if I needed to mark them and how? </p><p>Well, another "not designed for quilt marking" tool is doing double duty to mark stitch paths this round. Much like I had used my Hera marker with one of the "<a href="https://suepellanddesigns.com/product/leaves-galore-template-petite/" target="_blank">Leaves Galore</a>" templates to mark continuous curves on "<a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/finished-or-not-friday-cotton-harvest.html" target="_blank">Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll</a>":</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID0CN4OztPqs0TI7HyuKTzQdk7lWV8tfSYa20ENFVC1E5eZNYQHWuxJ5jepMt4tWIgpvoyk5LqI7UEt6yqrcyibOwWk3eLQAVaH_MnHwIROtkQmW80Y6Gc_3RLRsSNMdg7NX7tBeGy23YXLD2rhYEL5rJB68vU_fSbpfWcQ_xE_Jz_rTI40VYkAQefss/s3056/20231210_102421%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhID0CN4OztPqs0TI7HyuKTzQdk7lWV8tfSYa20ENFVC1E5eZNYQHWuxJ5jepMt4tWIgpvoyk5LqI7UEt6yqrcyibOwWk3eLQAVaH_MnHwIROtkQmW80Y6Gc_3RLRsSNMdg7NX7tBeGy23YXLD2rhYEL5rJB68vU_fSbpfWcQ_xE_Jz_rTI40VYkAQefss/s320/20231210_102421%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This time around I used the Hera and my "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/CM-Designs-Ruler-Add-Quarter/dp/B01GORCHN0/ref=sr_1_3?crid=HVIVFSCVO3VH&keywords=add+a+quarter+ruler+for+quilting&qid=1703949662&sprefix=add+a+quarter%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-3" target="_blank">Add A Quarter Ruler</a>" -- normally a paper piecing tool -- to mark the outline stitch paths on the bar blocks!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLxDtO54yFELLh9JJ3tCwYGhguChatEVCZOaxfNisCUNGN5USrCyHxgb_iRVoUjdrhj3Ak2cNJhstHxcXq5cvdKreMeJFStWrG6p7w7mCjh2viKCw2zsVZX3UQVcVMGBKMaejMoS2JFaoC-_qErKrxRccN6FzxGEjpa1tDb7BMFA_7j42KDtuunhRqk0/s3056/20231230_072723%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLxDtO54yFELLh9JJ3tCwYGhguChatEVCZOaxfNisCUNGN5USrCyHxgb_iRVoUjdrhj3Ak2cNJhstHxcXq5cvdKreMeJFStWrG6p7w7mCjh2viKCw2zsVZX3UQVcVMGBKMaejMoS2JFaoC-_qErKrxRccN6FzxGEjpa1tDb7BMFA_7j42KDtuunhRqk0/s320/20231230_072723%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>It was the perfect width so it was simple to just lay it down the center of each bar and mark with the Hera on both sides. Easy peasy!</p><p>I also got the first column of leaf motifs stitched over the pieced blocks:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomL8cEthk5VGbKe3DCWsalKwKvXPJ_QfKc09FFghfpvhbMNf0nyLoMCQyJmS3W6cvicRJwnk7MEnYeoqlqvlQCmKJsq21s770Ue8wI2jkSIxhyphenhyphennp651rL4TjL1MwN70DvS2AmERLcBHY3ZxaSHTYNuaCz05vvWKtSVXmIjY7wKtsUBHUHjbQzb9aksmA/s3056/20231230_100718%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomL8cEthk5VGbKe3DCWsalKwKvXPJ_QfKc09FFghfpvhbMNf0nyLoMCQyJmS3W6cvicRJwnk7MEnYeoqlqvlQCmKJsq21s770Ue8wI2jkSIxhyphenhyphennp651rL4TjL1MwN70DvS2AmERLcBHY3ZxaSHTYNuaCz05vvWKtSVXmIjY7wKtsUBHUHjbQzb9aksmA/s320/20231230_100718%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Not bad, good for texture. Maybe one of these days I'll get confident enough to stitch with really contrasting thread -- but not today!</p><p> Oh, and the cross stitch has also been moving right along over the last few days. Since I probably won't get any more quilting in today, I might be able to sit and cross stitch when we come back from running errands. I should be able to stitch while we catch up on shows.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTM_qCwdONT30q_czr5YgiiG_Yj1NkrW-w1vsWmaMROIuugXl8gizy708hyQBJH5EHpVKDM4Jtk4QDiGykjuLTKaAJhNm_8f6YZcyNfwlYfg5m30s2ZR5QbdEM0LEv-4pplYpGP0szrmFHCWaeRuO997fHpiKGw7-s2Nuu2qhx-ebGsNqTteCEueRjH14/s2834/20231230_102817%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2834" data-original-width="2773" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTM_qCwdONT30q_czr5YgiiG_Yj1NkrW-w1vsWmaMROIuugXl8gizy708hyQBJH5EHpVKDM4Jtk4QDiGykjuLTKaAJhNm_8f6YZcyNfwlYfg5m30s2ZR5QbdEM0LEv-4pplYpGP0szrmFHCWaeRuO997fHpiKGw7-s2Nuu2qhx-ebGsNqTteCEueRjH14/s320/20231230_102817%5B1%5D.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Last progress was seen <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/7-days-of-new-years-day-2.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'd love it if this could be a finish (even if not "fully finished") by the time the ball drops tomorrow! </p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-59577534192690158832023-12-29T20:48:00.001-05:002024-01-19T21:08:40.032-05:00Quiltville Mystery Season: Indigo Way Part 6 and 7 Days of New Years - Day 4<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFT08EAAK6jD6SLk7QM8xUpDlMrfTHyb14X-bTuGVrXZrHhLKAEcdHAMpa-qcxXbd0Ff3GW4Lz7y-MnS8tDCwGCH3uruntXv7VnQA1cYL1aquEOBvZ2BysHVMw9Z1gZXQuc3GdQxw3xWeoGwGP64o6yK3YnE9hEad2mEvwRsxQAyZC3I_zTHbrHaE0Apc/s640/Quiltville%20Indigo%20Way%20Mystery%20Logo1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFT08EAAK6jD6SLk7QM8xUpDlMrfTHyb14X-bTuGVrXZrHhLKAEcdHAMpa-qcxXbd0Ff3GW4Lz7y-MnS8tDCwGCH3uruntXv7VnQA1cYL1aquEOBvZ2BysHVMw9Z1gZXQuc3GdQxw3xWeoGwGP64o6yK3YnE9hEad2mEvwRsxQAyZC3I_zTHbrHaE0Apc/s320/Quiltville%20Indigo%20Way%20Mystery%20Logo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />This week the quilters going the "Indigo Way" are treated to more of Bonnie's Vietnam trip in <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2023/12/indigo-way-mystery-part-six.html" target="_blank">Part Six</a>. Have you ever heard of "water puppetry" or wondered about Vietnamese cuisine? If so, you'll love this week's post as Bonnie gives a first hand view of both. If you've ever considered traveling with Bonnie, you also get a good look at the accommodations a trip with her will provide. <div><br /></div><div>Quilt construction wise: you are once again making "triangles in a square" (also called Tri-Recs or Peaky and Spike) like you did in <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2023/12/indigo-way-mystery-part-two.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a>. However, this time they are with Red centers and Light Blue sides. As Bonnie notes, if in this period of the holiday season you are still busy with family and friends get-togethers, just download the instructions now so you can pick up the work when you are able. <div><p>Well it's appropriate to check in with the mystery season today since I published the <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/finished-or-not-friday-cotton-harvest.html" target="_blank">final report of one mystery</a> and am continuing with my progress on another: quilting my "Old Tobacco Road" mystery quilt. I started the outline stitching of the columns of bars:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ79zh80_HZkXD_vXK0QypyG5Ou7h8W4ndoh_FaKbM2WGGmOG2HKR3UJ1uZwtj_slgp4BLefzEtCJX7Wtmxw2Vk-O4_Zw0wQRwCUGffOUDsQ85bNjgFQXbBZvAydY2_SiSI8rNTQBx4feG5blf7qIzXbJtwYDcFAOK5doBwqpooA5cz1CSkWfTMPo5GSM/s3056/20231229_202854%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ79zh80_HZkXD_vXK0QypyG5Ou7h8W4ndoh_FaKbM2WGGmOG2HKR3UJ1uZwtj_slgp4BLefzEtCJX7Wtmxw2Vk-O4_Zw0wQRwCUGffOUDsQ85bNjgFQXbBZvAydY2_SiSI8rNTQBx4feG5blf7qIzXbJtwYDcFAOK5doBwqpooA5cz1CSkWfTMPo5GSM/s320/20231229_202854%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I have all of the full bar columns stitched but still need to do the half columns on the sides. Once that's done it will be on to do the "leaf" pattern in the pieced columns in between. </p><p>I had hoped to get to that today but the phone lines have been really busy today so lots of distractions. Not to mention I lost half the day to working on the "finish blog post" and checking out what others have posted. So reminding myself again that it's okay if I don't get this done before New Year's and that it's well on it's way to a mystery season finish!</p><p>Once again breaking for dinner and then onto cross stitch and then onto Day 5 tomorrow!</p></div></div>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-10432327079470715722023-12-29T11:33:00.011-05:002024-03-15T11:47:27.867-04:00Finished Or Not Friday: The Cotton Harvest Is Finally Done!!<p>I have fantastic news to share for this week's <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-starry-finish-and-finished-or-not.html" target="_blank">Finished Or Not Friday over at Alycia's Quilty Girl blog</a>:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-starry-finish-and-finished-or-not.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="320" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicaNz9bKRsdzixaoYSK_QvXaKJevZbvlynFuDKCNybR4_ayc7fFScnQAfW7lQU4n-faGdmRCtCCsmJK_-9b1DjvBg-QYUt4WgpbuoIPiU9eta7GIMqM8lF1QR9UsLHr4Io8XRAlYUJSyPTyrQ6p8urZgjZU0hGmWiY20SGKycOv3Zs1_FV4qJL9WgGols/s1600/FONF%20at%20Alycia%20Quilts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I have finally finished my "Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll" Quiltville mystery quilt!</p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VbYjQy67Wu88Ze7NjBrax-Z3JWOHBjG8sWcz8O8yM1dka0Utpmo6FDlY_mV59x6qyJRhM8pPX8NomLQhRb78Iy260KYorcGwhy8Ad4LFOs0C3UOBepjZRAc3esztGadl1JNPldLifGYU13wPmNYqKNCc3WyTDzXC6YWz3HwlUbYIxNfM2E_CBzxNhtY/s3056/20231229_092914%5B1%5D.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2746" data-original-width="3056" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7VbYjQy67Wu88Ze7NjBrax-Z3JWOHBjG8sWcz8O8yM1dka0Utpmo6FDlY_mV59x6qyJRhM8pPX8NomLQhRb78Iy260KYorcGwhy8Ad4LFOs0C3UOBepjZRAc3esztGadl1JNPldLifGYU13wPmNYqKNCc3WyTDzXC6YWz3HwlUbYIxNfM2E_CBzxNhtY/s320/20231229_092914%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>This was Bonnie Hunter's 2010 <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Quiltville</a> Mystery Season quilt. After the mystery was over it was published in her book "<a href="https://quiltville.com/shop.html#!/String-FLING/p/50087832/category=13038050" target="_blank">String Fling: Scrappy, Happy and Loving It</a>" (and a preview of the quilts in the book can be seen <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/05/presenting-string-fling.html" target="_blank">here</a>). Although I followed and downloaded Bonnie's mysteries from when she began offering them in 2008, I didn't get up the nerve and organization to actually try to make one until 2016. This particular quilt was started in 2018. Yes, it was a looonnng harvest!!<p>Bonnie is known for designing scrappy quilts. She gets her fabric for them from her prodigiously collected <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2011/12/fabric-herding-c.html" target="_blank">scrap bins</a> that are organized using her "<a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/scrap-users-system.html" target="_blank">Scrap Users System</a>". Bonnie's quilt designs may have a definite color scheme but the fabrics in them will run the gamut of print style and time. She is famous for finding and using <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2011/12/truly-wonderfully-blessed.html" target="_blank">millennium fabrics from the year 2000</a>! </p><p>While I have gone fabric shopping for some of the Bonnie projects I have made, with the exception of the inner border and backing, this is one that is made all from scraps. This project got started when I realized that I had fabric leftovers from three projects that used the colors that could get this one started. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT4JC-jcOwCC5BdfaFRLSIz9iYArpKS7ilvw_Dz2IKjTaxwq9bcj6WfqlStMxsaT3BpTpHEYvbq9NHynXBnYTJua9J8IAiuEAGQ2WOboezaGip0x_duIBfok1Inhew-KaWnhDz3ot8Eue4scQr0EtLKjXxscMgBdt08GBOeO6jZmdkAUp-o7TuoWcEvc/s8644/Cotton%20Boll%20Fabric%20Sources_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5142" data-original-width="8644" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvT4JC-jcOwCC5BdfaFRLSIz9iYArpKS7ilvw_Dz2IKjTaxwq9bcj6WfqlStMxsaT3BpTpHEYvbq9NHynXBnYTJua9J8IAiuEAGQ2WOboezaGip0x_duIBfok1Inhew-KaWnhDz3ot8Eue4scQr0EtLKjXxscMgBdt08GBOeO6jZmdkAUp-o7TuoWcEvc/s320/Cotton%20Boll%20Fabric%20Sources_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2019/02/continuing-quiltville-adventures-double.html" target="_blank">Double Delight</a>, <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2018/07/checking-in-for-june-two-days-late.html" target="_blank">On Ringo Lake</a> and <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2019/03/happy-national-quilting-day.html" target="_blank">Emeralds</a> contributed.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Ironically the two projects on the left are also Bonnie designs! The holiday quilts that I started for Christmas 2022 contributed more....<div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5XQqoCqGHj5xp7NtXLfie2oFW2e6SXCDBV3LoRbEhbLh6HGWFD4Xx2HSwIWJSx8sKd3GzUm7DNM_s0teIyzuyBrthVZ0USoRI2-XcyoqaRu5jiEsuB-nKS8IL6Zz_KFgf0LWjVjz_0Lq_IPMrBey_8LAptZZx-QSHdPFjAf3qcjwptmS1K2AQHB4jCY/s8151/Cotton%20Boll%20Fabric%20Sources_2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5246" data-original-width="8151" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM5XQqoCqGHj5xp7NtXLfie2oFW2e6SXCDBV3LoRbEhbLh6HGWFD4Xx2HSwIWJSx8sKd3GzUm7DNM_s0teIyzuyBrthVZ0USoRI2-XcyoqaRu5jiEsuB-nKS8IL6Zz_KFgf0LWjVjz_0Lq_IPMrBey_8LAptZZx-QSHdPFjAf3qcjwptmS1K2AQHB4jCY/s320/Cotton%20Boll%20Fabric%20Sources_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Leftovers were taken from <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2022/12/and-so-starts-7-days-of-new-years-and.html" target="_blank">Temecula's 12 Days of Xmas</a>, <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/01/finished-or-not-friday-jelly-ish.html" target="_blank">Jelly-ish Snowflake</a>, <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/01/quiltville-chilhowie-mystery-part-7-its.html" target="_blank">The Last Dash</a> and <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/02/a-saturday-finished-or-not-friday.html" target="_blank">Cherry Crunch</a> (<i style="text-align: left;">another</i><span style="text-align: left;"> Bonnie design)</span>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The strings all came from cut offs of neutral/background fabrics and were collected over the years.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuMzx9-GOZs8BLCYzztUtUQNEJGghPw02u7mMgSdzz2ti4trXcKzU3rxPPPQ1TkFDW4ojk6qxa1-y9_YeXQ4p9K3pDAasKre1SUpj7H7iAVQg8cuHzlHCRLkDvJHypG4l6YkrZOXy757rVQnwBPnbgMBNRtl_SYiZBGjEHOmM7CB3u1q3MGt_SC1JEVk/s2048/DSCN3219.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuMzx9-GOZs8BLCYzztUtUQNEJGghPw02u7mMgSdzz2ti4trXcKzU3rxPPPQ1TkFDW4ojk6qxa1-y9_YeXQ4p9K3pDAasKre1SUpj7H7iAVQg8cuHzlHCRLkDvJHypG4l6YkrZOXy757rVQnwBPnbgMBNRtl_SYiZBGjEHOmM7CB3u1q3MGt_SC1JEVk/s320/DSCN3219.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>Each time I mined scraps, I would complete one step of the mystery. In 2019 when <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2019/01/humble-quilts-string-along.html" target="_blank">MODA Fabrics and Lori DeJarnett of Humble Quilts ran string piecing challenges</a>, I began to focus on trying to get the string blocks for this project done but I found those blocks to be hard to <a href="http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2005/06/leaders-enders-whys-and-hows.html" target="_blank">leader/ender</a> (a piecing concept popularized by Bonnie) with regular blocks. So it wasn't until the holiday season in 2022 when I embarked on making "Cherry Crunch" which also called for string blocks, that I made significant progress on those. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMTBe16ekDPXwKfbYr2-F0r1pzHCA0QpjGuZJzUUPoq3vELlKK1myJ62PC_zJkujnhuhgrQg1PSAPD4tTRcUbA60HJzLoSE9yiIyGIhiDbbyjcsyWBLXuH_jypv827aT2igSpqCbEoq65Bz0PTTdtMJr4jAYo8NwDqnn9-3DiKtPcWaJEmed4Wq5bYl4/s3056/20230106_144231%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMTBe16ekDPXwKfbYr2-F0r1pzHCA0QpjGuZJzUUPoq3vELlKK1myJ62PC_zJkujnhuhgrQg1PSAPD4tTRcUbA60HJzLoSE9yiIyGIhiDbbyjcsyWBLXuH_jypv827aT2igSpqCbEoq65Bz0PTTdtMJr4jAYo8NwDqnn9-3DiKtPcWaJEmed4Wq5bYl4/s320/20230106_144231%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">"Cherry Crunch" strings on the left, "Cotton Boll" strings on the right.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Working those together in tandem helped me focus on getting this last part of the puzzle done so I could proceed to finish all the blocks and then the top.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw6YrdXpRlTma1xn0L5lYglzyyBrdP8mEQj4FXM1tRMx0VPD0XRXaonKjPYdjWPw7zx32XjCP38VLyraCWXLeJYJz1VAyLDv7gQj6mQcXu5sJ5qOZMEWkf9tFfeHxAbweFfM-eHwEyaV5kOZZRX0s4UPsaMeuXL_6WMjrCERZRFFXIgoiRYa_jNoan9E/s3056/20231124_184828%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiw6YrdXpRlTma1xn0L5lYglzyyBrdP8mEQj4FXM1tRMx0VPD0XRXaonKjPYdjWPw7zx32XjCP38VLyraCWXLeJYJz1VAyLDv7gQj6mQcXu5sJ5qOZMEWkf9tFfeHxAbweFfM-eHwEyaV5kOZZRX0s4UPsaMeuXL_6WMjrCERZRFFXIgoiRYa_jNoan9E/s320/20231124_184828%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This was also a great project for pulling inspiration from multiple sources. Right after I decided to get this project in gear, I saw some cotton themed prints on sale that I knew had to be the backing.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50S2wCBHiw0i3Ic0pX0r7q_ujzD7TvjpEGIB4GPep09-DDA1M6Kk5wljJNJeQDMrW9wAbmvo60iftdesu8i5nEshjyGvTvebe-dMHOfAy12dE-S1nrQJjYJ6m5BFmha6YhIS5xifV8yK2rGTx0RZ9SUcgVRghlqhk0zf_8Y2aZTc3ZEK5GSRfJfOcvuo/s3056/20231124_192008%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj50S2wCBHiw0i3Ic0pX0r7q_ujzD7TvjpEGIB4GPep09-DDA1M6Kk5wljJNJeQDMrW9wAbmvo60iftdesu8i5nEshjyGvTvebe-dMHOfAy12dE-S1nrQJjYJ6m5BFmha6YhIS5xifV8yK2rGTx0RZ9SUcgVRghlqhk0zf_8Y2aZTc3ZEK5GSRfJfOcvuo/s320/20231124_192008%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Then I saw <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-1NfjGPk7E" target="_blank">an old episode</a> of Georgia Bonesteel's "Lap Quilting" show from the 80's and knew that had to be on my label when I made my backing!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q5q5HeMbJ28JX6wuKy2mBsivX4VXCIRqnLk8WHO4CuxgfGdp9TzaH61uC1QesUFuM_ZTI6HKZbJTz75HhZWO5pyMntouqdfYJ6OCYDlJl6kV90urmGCKhUScjFmRgDLMDG1u0LQI5hilazYBA8dSlSd20RfSqx72iv8n777Vd9N75spCFJ4Z7Vux0wo/s1366/Cotton%20Boll%20Quilt_Lap%20Quilting%20w%20Georgia%20Bonesteel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1366" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q5q5HeMbJ28JX6wuKy2mBsivX4VXCIRqnLk8WHO4CuxgfGdp9TzaH61uC1QesUFuM_ZTI6HKZbJTz75HhZWO5pyMntouqdfYJ6OCYDlJl6kV90urmGCKhUScjFmRgDLMDG1u0LQI5hilazYBA8dSlSd20RfSqx72iv8n777Vd9N75spCFJ4Z7Vux0wo/s320/Cotton%20Boll%20Quilt_Lap%20Quilting%20w%20Georgia%20Bonesteel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNirUrZEwYdFaTGLNbryCUsLYqWqA3M2-zE-J62X7qwdVASloEMjLGDywG0Vd7hBXyXAk5W2QJKcdUfrg4kDEmrFdY1uwGJn4nIPVqqpF4qxeXqxiPBO_VWuSipF6xz9j7q8YosOmFIbBgije8Z9GlO0uVHYXlg3ZUwwD7PsGNxxKkWjILl2Piy3IO3M/s3056/20231127_205433%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2764" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFNirUrZEwYdFaTGLNbryCUsLYqWqA3M2-zE-J62X7qwdVASloEMjLGDywG0Vd7hBXyXAk5W2QJKcdUfrg4kDEmrFdY1uwGJn4nIPVqqpF4qxeXqxiPBO_VWuSipF6xz9j7q8YosOmFIbBgije8Z9GlO0uVHYXlg3ZUwwD7PsGNxxKkWjILl2Piy3IO3M/s320/20231127_205433%5B1%5D.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><p>BTW: If you are a fan of Georgia Bonesteel and a member of the <a href="https://quiltalliance.org/" target="_blank">Quilt Alliance</a>, her "Birthday BOM" block and interview are up on their site now (and Bonnie made a block and interview for this BOM too)!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvg4uWrL05I4QCud5SE0-bnFPkHZqMkXrgw36WN9baE7cFsFqpvNjQ1xBmqcLYuKg7rvSquYuUDokiLHBfL_4zhgW1BYdTG4CIvkg3_OPH-QP_sqSMG2Ycq-QSNEhnR38Ux3xQD3vszKYXhki36o3af6ZEIW8t_3zGY3sm7panlgVRKJHaNib5o1NhBk/s1229/Georgia%20Bonesteel%20for%20the%20Quilt%20Alliance%20Birthday%20BOM.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="1229" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvg4uWrL05I4QCud5SE0-bnFPkHZqMkXrgw36WN9baE7cFsFqpvNjQ1xBmqcLYuKg7rvSquYuUDokiLHBfL_4zhgW1BYdTG4CIvkg3_OPH-QP_sqSMG2Ycq-QSNEhnR38Ux3xQD3vszKYXhki36o3af6ZEIW8t_3zGY3sm7panlgVRKJHaNib5o1NhBk/s320/Georgia%20Bonesteel%20for%20the%20Quilt%20Alliance%20Birthday%20BOM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>That's not to say a big project like this didn't have its challenges.... </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiailNv6IsVTLvm2CwQV33ttINRWf6tjbon-4mDPQtUJQHBPcxcuVc9s2JPgIrP6KkfTFXHKTqQfqc0JJZWr4XFii9jnLiui2mQCFv-pagad8P0W15Ef42Z9jS3NRGvn7ZazKvIsoa6GhOMQkyR_BpNZIFJKYgs3mvA48eBPu2-e1eVNGw2zIRkqZkwAHE/s3056/20230206_130655.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1523" data-original-width="3056" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiailNv6IsVTLvm2CwQV33ttINRWf6tjbon-4mDPQtUJQHBPcxcuVc9s2JPgIrP6KkfTFXHKTqQfqc0JJZWr4XFii9jnLiui2mQCFv-pagad8P0W15Ef42Z9jS3NRGvn7ZazKvIsoa6GhOMQkyR_BpNZIFJKYgs3mvA48eBPu2-e1eVNGw2zIRkqZkwAHE/s320/20230206_130655.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Like that block on the end...</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCMhjIopPRI5Pdcn1d8QjkSi_pAPgdPhiMiPpIxnHvl5NVYCcXSFs_e9yAWS-wQMu8IChyphenhyphenAvhFKAyRQtpYbG0ZRQCXUAlsr1lHapOB2RVRo81xuwhYVc75lBsRU8Cbi6_2pF9tNVjex_vqbU8aPLGg3msrtwODcQ781_OpYd4RtHw4-VRK1Abn7dcMYk/s3056/20231221_080300%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCCMhjIopPRI5Pdcn1d8QjkSi_pAPgdPhiMiPpIxnHvl5NVYCcXSFs_e9yAWS-wQMu8IChyphenhyphenAvhFKAyRQtpYbG0ZRQCXUAlsr1lHapOB2RVRo81xuwhYVc75lBsRU8Cbi6_2pF9tNVjex_vqbU8aPLGg3msrtwODcQ781_OpYd4RtHw4-VRK1Abn7dcMYk/s320/20231221_080300%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">I didn't discover this one until <i>after </i>it had been quilted in!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">When I had finished the basting, I realized I had a few pleats pinned in on one side of the backing. I thought I had worked them out before the quilting. Nope!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xu0Old6C6Vm26AGzdfgBuAFDc4ocs9KNlfv2k6xKsXK3PH4brixyCOGdRkLl9Oz12kGwg6nwYprpwtB7KXF65xCKSFwxmt5kXJSVnB2kczImmV91jYERx-qNRIxL-LLsSUslnWr4KeZs9wogpHbInQwHxsOtBvoI3SAKUKb9ylIo9Qf8d5t2OcaEhHc/s3056/20231222_074329%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2xu0Old6C6Vm26AGzdfgBuAFDc4ocs9KNlfv2k6xKsXK3PH4brixyCOGdRkLl9Oz12kGwg6nwYprpwtB7KXF65xCKSFwxmt5kXJSVnB2kczImmV91jYERx-qNRIxL-LLsSUslnWr4KeZs9wogpHbInQwHxsOtBvoI3SAKUKb9ylIo9Qf8d5t2OcaEhHc/s320/20231222_074329%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are a couple more like this. <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;">As a result, I think they caused the back to be a little short of the width on that side. On the plus side, to make it stretch I had to include a little of the selvedge in the back which I think adds to the charm and history of it! </span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXnG9bP0s53cr70hueUENCa_UIJeud4J_FWYc-2wzpD_gMLK-HMd2AwNliUbkn0DrImyEyPYZT2z-AvQ7m2wnHXmMj_AUJJKDfpHUB6ZePjVGkJgjy-EH90n91UwEYdHt_fx51wBQe4Is_3OV1qwc3PYQBU9F83enymcar2oEftol0stM6L2eJjhjO2Q/s2918/20231229_103642%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1743" data-original-width="2918" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCXnG9bP0s53cr70hueUENCa_UIJeud4J_FWYc-2wzpD_gMLK-HMd2AwNliUbkn0DrImyEyPYZT2z-AvQ7m2wnHXmMj_AUJJKDfpHUB6ZePjVGkJgjy-EH90n91UwEYdHt_fx51wBQe4Is_3OV1qwc3PYQBU9F83enymcar2oEftol0stM6L2eJjhjO2Q/s320/20231229_103642%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At this point, I think a little of "Bonnie's Collected Wisdoms" are in order: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUfNLTf5iNruUzWsJzBNtvC2EbvWBt6m7gsXbHPprmKvvm3Z9I-ESI8_33wgFAtEEswU-a62-PPBbeAW_90pF2OC6fhY5JkTRobloMAEhRiLTFY55wcMeqXADSyvl48dmEKeHta5LvuqeryLB8Gik1LyHxicVmJfPaO_zmvle-XSckGQCfT5vyzpuv6I/s640/BH%20Quiltville%20Things%20turn%20Out%20Best_12_26_23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUfNLTf5iNruUzWsJzBNtvC2EbvWBt6m7gsXbHPprmKvvm3Z9I-ESI8_33wgFAtEEswU-a62-PPBbeAW_90pF2OC6fhY5JkTRobloMAEhRiLTFY55wcMeqXADSyvl48dmEKeHta5LvuqeryLB8Gik1LyHxicVmJfPaO_zmvle-XSckGQCfT5vyzpuv6I/s320/BH%20Quiltville%20Things%20turn%20Out%20Best_12_26_23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back in September when <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/updating-record.html" target="_blank">I displayed my quilts in a show that my community garden held</a>, someone said to me that my quilts showed I have "patience". I countered that I saw it as a sign of <i>persistence</i>. Let's face it, there were plenty of people who finished their "Boll" quilt right away during the mystery season so these <i>can </i>be run up quickly with the right amount of focus on them. </div><div><p>However, I could have also given up on it at any point in the five years (!) it has taken me to get it to this point. It was really (no, <i><u>REALLY</u></i>) wanting to have this one as a finished quilt that has kept me going and kept it always near the top of the "To Do" list. Even better, it is the one thing I was able to completely cross off this year's <a href="https://www.allpeoplequilt.com/how-to-quilt/finishing/ufo-challenge" target="_blank">UFO Challenge</a> list even though it took all year to do it!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnO1HxTWpZ1ZcWaN3BfhJABObUJNqWUpYtJDNXiSP70f73J5VUOvHsAqKe8gGGha7njFWW0V6bxTRCH3GqfFCV37FmbudptBxoup3XrJAds95O1KRpV2nGHfYGbDwNNGvIt_KTFpim5aoyJ6BHvym_Wv4IjqmDtI_gBcpR2vsrQculUchDGhZoDvUM4u8/s2489/20231229_101451%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1887" data-original-width="2489" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnO1HxTWpZ1ZcWaN3BfhJABObUJNqWUpYtJDNXiSP70f73J5VUOvHsAqKe8gGGha7njFWW0V6bxTRCH3GqfFCV37FmbudptBxoup3XrJAds95O1KRpV2nGHfYGbDwNNGvIt_KTFpim5aoyJ6BHvym_Wv4IjqmDtI_gBcpR2vsrQculUchDGhZoDvUM4u8/s320/20231229_101451%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>If you've hung on with me this long, you'll agree that this project has been a "long and winding road" for sure!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fR4HjTH_fTM" width="320" youtube-src-id="fR4HjTH_fTM"></iframe></div><p>Now join me in heading back over to <a href="https://alyciaquilts.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-starry-finish-and-finished-or-not.html" target="_blank">Alycia's</a> to check out what other people have finished (or not!) this week. This will be the last look at all the creative work for 2023 before we all start anew for 2024!!</p></div></div>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-16874562100011310582023-12-28T20:09:00.000-05:002023-12-28T20:09:28.668-05:007 Days of New Years - Day 3<p>Well, contrary to what was predicted at <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/7-days-of-new-years-day-2.html" target="_blank">the end of yesterday's post</a>, I'm still working on the same stuff today. The plan to go "simple" on "Old Tobacco Road" lasted all of a night! I thought I was satisfied with the plan to "stipple" the center of the quilt but when I got up this morning, I decided to take a look at my "stitch pattern ideas" book to see if anything jumped out at me. Turns out, a few things did!</p><p>I had originally wanted to use the vertical lines of the design as inspiration for the stitching and channel "tobacco leaves" as a motif. The initial leaves I had sketched out were just free-form and when I looked up tobacco leaves, I didn't feel I had captured them nor was I sure how to do so. Then I came across two motifs that I liked that both resonated and seemed doable at my skill level. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Flq5yJHunFT3oIuU9htpR1RgiIbEJWrF1xZbYU1NuVGQAdF67SJ4G1SlPM4v5iwo0Drr5L_J-3aXz2e9Ljz0TO3z0KBhgjFC5muv-4vbtAfGWHhvNLiGhKM1Gy25nGVULnZdNUyTfutTQ3QVEQzlbe-7hDXPxl9HPmAss1xrgxPcDlbhpwD_i8qe12E/s3056/20231228_112545%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Flq5yJHunFT3oIuU9htpR1RgiIbEJWrF1xZbYU1NuVGQAdF67SJ4G1SlPM4v5iwo0Drr5L_J-3aXz2e9Ljz0TO3z0KBhgjFC5muv-4vbtAfGWHhvNLiGhKM1Gy25nGVULnZdNUyTfutTQ3QVEQzlbe-7hDXPxl9HPmAss1xrgxPcDlbhpwD_i8qe12E/s320/20231228_112545%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc12mgjknkJjS3baH8AkjxCITKUXQ_99WFWeU-N3pWKtYVtboc3KyyhWBzBl7tHsKoGfnmOIsaxRJZwLJHktcGidPQJu3N8suvpLLC4JpsACB2_GczTPr-h1gORvcj_eJzRYj-ox7O4JefxDEOLTEioHRpRg_Vkiz2zcHgC96RN1QTir3FkfsZ8EGl6ZM/s3056/20231228_190838%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc12mgjknkJjS3baH8AkjxCITKUXQ_99WFWeU-N3pWKtYVtboc3KyyhWBzBl7tHsKoGfnmOIsaxRJZwLJHktcGidPQJu3N8suvpLLC4JpsACB2_GczTPr-h1gORvcj_eJzRYj-ox7O4JefxDEOLTEioHRpRg_Vkiz2zcHgC96RN1QTir3FkfsZ8EGl6ZM/s320/20231228_190838%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Okay, but what about the stacked bars? I hadn't had any inspiration for those yesterday but today I realized I could do the kind of stitching I did in the "Checkmate" quilt, I finished up back <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/11/finished-or-not-friday-two-fall-finishes.html" target="_blank">in November</a>:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIx-5K9uJ3EXjq558n9IButgzgoWEuhyphenhyphencsT-aE1r-hP5p3g_RKmCaPNn3w1yZbH1uzUeXtt1SYkvt7QfPVcwocimGltmxMxMdoagoMZhXyf1GFnZqBzZIVgYJmPfJAiuMPvgco0irXe4vOTHIxyn-WbqWuGy00PK59AqBpi_yyTkWFXpHicKc0Gk5kqRs/s3056/20231117_100524%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="1849" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIx-5K9uJ3EXjq558n9IButgzgoWEuhyphenhyphencsT-aE1r-hP5p3g_RKmCaPNn3w1yZbH1uzUeXtt1SYkvt7QfPVcwocimGltmxMxMdoagoMZhXyf1GFnZqBzZIVgYJmPfJAiuMPvgco0irXe4vOTHIxyn-WbqWuGy00PK59AqBpi_yyTkWFXpHicKc0Gk5kqRs/s320/20231117_100524%5B1%5D.jpg" width="194" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Some simple outline stitched zigzags would do the trick! So the new plan looks like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbEWxSDwhFh-Wz8u01WKmz_G0b2DpnK5LDvUWJgYqc0SeWG5fVETz1IwXSTUdEtqNObXDT6yF0weElf1XerEFVVhZeJUYePbbSTFEdLl6XghJuzgR1naPA-LDxko3p8sLPe04_qG-NzOBtVA7l3GN3i7w6KCca8vC4uWut7si-8wihqGMXZ7W17OCNIA/s3056/20231228_190720%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="2429" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNbEWxSDwhFh-Wz8u01WKmz_G0b2DpnK5LDvUWJgYqc0SeWG5fVETz1IwXSTUdEtqNObXDT6yF0weElf1XerEFVVhZeJUYePbbSTFEdLl6XghJuzgR1naPA-LDxko3p8sLPe04_qG-NzOBtVA7l3GN3i7w6KCca8vC4uWut7si-8wihqGMXZ7W17OCNIA/s320/20231228_190720%5B1%5D.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, but both would benefit from doing stabilizing stitching around the columns of bars prior to the decorative stitching. Remember when I said yesterday that I thought that would take a lot longer than I might want to stitch?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivSPjTwN7My-XcR0Wjx3TAZHVKc01jyS09RjqUNwxEvRGajHq77XKtA0MEFIZImAjm4aVKsDeCC5Y3SGfDd_VCGY89gzIxeS4dqe4x_1W9SLWFq4QcH9_KDLtU3j1Vc2GcUM7WBjo3gcgf_OxPHeoNDYkg6Q3G1EohwIk5GeegV4ZDHl5Vi7BNfqN5hc/s3056/20231228_185503%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivSPjTwN7My-XcR0Wjx3TAZHVKc01jyS09RjqUNwxEvRGajHq77XKtA0MEFIZImAjm4aVKsDeCC5Y3SGfDd_VCGY89gzIxeS4dqe4x_1W9SLWFq4QcH9_KDLtU3j1Vc2GcUM7WBjo3gcgf_OxPHeoNDYkg6Q3G1EohwIk5GeegV4ZDHl5Vi7BNfqN5hc/s320/20231228_185503%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">You may not be able to tell it from the front....</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7FlQNv3uO-66eY0f9vpVejUqbS3g0n0to3s0F8F77NFj-ckwPPUamN0FvfkMXuZ1f6AKuom9-r0qFHMIIr-1y6A6ramrLyWVBwBnz4PPz8Fge3w0APev3lkTDa_Phgmf7hzErMy84Y9PWJztppxRxV1pog43KFzWRp112dEpFIpgA0_xiUx_UFHdHKM/s3056/20231228_185710%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh7FlQNv3uO-66eY0f9vpVejUqbS3g0n0to3s0F8F77NFj-ckwPPUamN0FvfkMXuZ1f6AKuom9-r0qFHMIIr-1y6A6ramrLyWVBwBnz4PPz8Fge3w0APev3lkTDa_Phgmf7hzErMy84Y9PWJztppxRxV1pog43KFzWRp112dEpFIpgA0_xiUx_UFHdHKM/s320/20231228_185710%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">....but it can be seen from the back!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Yeah, turns out it didn't take as long as expected! So now I'm set up for the stitching in the center --- but not tonight! Got to admit, getting up close and personal with the piecing gave me a chance to revisit all the projects the scraps in it came from. Ahh, a little trip down memory lane while doing the stitching!</p><p>At this point, I'm going to break for some dinner and then spend the rest of the night on my cross stitch. After all, tomorrow is another day towards the New Year!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-8731918024105823762023-12-27T20:24:00.001-05:002023-12-27T20:24:35.500-05:007 Days of New Years - Day 2<p>Continuing with my personal Quilt-A-Thon from the day after Christmas leading up to New Years, I am working on projects that I want to "clean up" before the New Year starts. <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/7-days-of-new-years-day-1.html" target="_blank">Yesterday</a> I finished the first of the Quiltville mystery quilts I have been working on since Bonnie Hunter's <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/11/the-start-of-this-years-quiltville.html" target="_blank">mystery quilt season began on Black Friday</a>. Today, I finished basting "Tobacco Road", the second of the two quilts I'd like to complete this year. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u8p4ApkYDJeuG_MhdYbRS3Ep_SyAvYLS8-hWFVAYJD6V0AEHOhRgND4mwWExyomQJO4IcmFggz8XfVleRBj5EUuNs_e8QofmhufqV5v4FSyvQxeJQcHl5CErR3B0xzig4chNkBAxuINoLCfe0OJ0wmyW3jDxObN9JcP4Lzh36lPFVc2gNnRYKZIydBc/s3056/20231227_173316%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2654" data-original-width="3056" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u8p4ApkYDJeuG_MhdYbRS3Ep_SyAvYLS8-hWFVAYJD6V0AEHOhRgND4mwWExyomQJO4IcmFggz8XfVleRBj5EUuNs_e8QofmhufqV5v4FSyvQxeJQcHl5CErR3B0xzig4chNkBAxuINoLCfe0OJ0wmyW3jDxObN9JcP4Lzh36lPFVc2gNnRYKZIydBc/s320/20231227_173316%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>As I had with the previous quilt, I needed to preview potential stitch patterns. All during the time I pieced this quilt, I really thought what I was going to do is highlight the vertical columns of pieced blocks and solid bars with some sort of leafy print. The idea was to try channel tobacco leaves. I would also just stitch simple continuous curves in the Flying Geese border blocks but I wasn't sure what to do in those backgrounds.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-z_X_-Crq-Ia_NlvhyL-gAYGLpLZL-KQ75kQSuLck_87vhutIDdIXS-JbK2WMgyrCeZKVgltOS2EZwc1Xsg6WLPTlYh3gnBq5_2iAjZaUUyON0HvozD_AiX5wZYOVB27Ul6FzDPBsWhGeqGT0hO2bCneM6EQbuG3dOXZhPrkTb8c0YROre6xldIARur0/s3056/20231227_171423%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-z_X_-Crq-Ia_NlvhyL-gAYGLpLZL-KQ75kQSuLck_87vhutIDdIXS-JbK2WMgyrCeZKVgltOS2EZwc1Xsg6WLPTlYh3gnBq5_2iAjZaUUyON0HvozD_AiX5wZYOVB27Ul6FzDPBsWhGeqGT0hO2bCneM6EQbuG3dOXZhPrkTb8c0YROre6xldIARur0/s320/20231227_171423%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I did try sketching out the motifs and I did like them. However, then I debated if I really wanted to do that much detail stitching again as well as all the stabilizing stitching that would need to precede it. Since I still really want to try to wrap this one up sooner rather than later, I'm thinking of just going simple with stippling in the center and slightly fancier continuous curves in the Flying Geese blocks with more stippling in their backgrounds. Quicker because it is all a lot more continuous stitching than I did for the last quilt. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEwYGt3O8-20b9MQ495R5nZk2y0wxAO9ko1mc-8y9s9oiYUesf6pjfS-U1mZtQ52ora_dDRzVehpNGVTFyiklW3hVYbwrMHr6he43EWouGVLdJIcOlvdCZqlcfpF0dvaFCluLCsNXv00V3xxTAEGytHrgqjPHN_zGKKorzIMOCBkPRPDM8ZWFQ-ERdXU/s3056/20231227_172351%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVEwYGt3O8-20b9MQ495R5nZk2y0wxAO9ko1mc-8y9s9oiYUesf6pjfS-U1mZtQ52ora_dDRzVehpNGVTFyiklW3hVYbwrMHr6he43EWouGVLdJIcOlvdCZqlcfpF0dvaFCluLCsNXv00V3xxTAEGytHrgqjPHN_zGKKorzIMOCBkPRPDM8ZWFQ-ERdXU/s320/20231227_172351%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>However, I can also think more about it as I continue to work on my cross stitch tonight.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25nPGuJKveFw5HnxenlAUh3v3ol8t3PkbuwsSWVk5Jr_tr6FkDP7kIwLmMhNSfrgZ3bXhOLMrvpSvl67PGGyNw688fLF8H1Uw-5mel6HXxayi_6O7p-40hHC8ylZTVHbyLXcbWHhmidwed1FnIDqDicXWA9zapqaJwZ58Iur57QB8U6SEm4vvqsr-6Z0/s3056/20231227_195941%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25nPGuJKveFw5HnxenlAUh3v3ol8t3PkbuwsSWVk5Jr_tr6FkDP7kIwLmMhNSfrgZ3bXhOLMrvpSvl67PGGyNw688fLF8H1Uw-5mel6HXxayi_6O7p-40hHC8ylZTVHbyLXcbWHhmidwed1FnIDqDicXWA9zapqaJwZ58Iur57QB8U6SEm4vvqsr-6Z0/s320/20231227_195941%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the "stitch space" chair is now <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/09/finished-or-not-friday-better-late-than.html" target="_blank">dressed for the holiday season</a>! </td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: center;">I will adding in some different stuff in Day 3!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-38756174785704350342023-12-26T21:22:00.005-05:002023-12-30T00:00:12.428-05:007 Days of New Years - Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEQISi2ayy5kboEqLq_p2B3CZ4xHwGQsPqjkY9Uzbv36T9bAXMwOOhmO_S3eVJARaQ2JITr3yRmCi_t85vrcrA-S9o3w16tqkhJu78UKBHlUqFldJ5xdrTef4p4AzC7g6dfC1mUi3s6_7eC29YocrCipMxQSXztQ-U5kZ3yMFKvf3Bt2e2XVfMBSvm2g/s640/christmas-is-over.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJEQISi2ayy5kboEqLq_p2B3CZ4xHwGQsPqjkY9Uzbv36T9bAXMwOOhmO_S3eVJARaQ2JITr3yRmCi_t85vrcrA-S9o3w16tqkhJu78UKBHlUqFldJ5xdrTef4p4AzC7g6dfC1mUi3s6_7eC29YocrCipMxQSXztQ-U5kZ3yMFKvf3Bt2e2XVfMBSvm2g/s320/christmas-is-over.gif" width="320" /></a></div><p>So once again, I will be embarking on a special holiday crafting celebration: a personal Quilt-A-Thon from the day after Christmas leading up to New Years! Most of the projects slated for this period consist of things I want to "clean up" before the New Year starts. I spent a good part of the day thinking and re-organizing which of those should be on that list. It was the usual: pulling out projects and fabrics and seeing where they were and what I wanted to work on.</p><p><b>Quiltville Mystery Quilts</b></p><p> Of course, one thing I already knew was that for the first day I would be continuing the work on the Quiltville mystery quilts. I had finished the quilting and prepped the binding for "Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll" <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/a-very-merry-christmas-to-all.html" target="_blank">on Christmas Eve</a>. Now after spending Christmas Day chillaxing, it was time to get it on the quilt!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt25uGbqEgHub1wGZOZsTrFz8Xm8XUyMkZ3kLB_ZsnKzaYDjxH2vIVb6li67suFgcACinKhIM_O8eNWVJ395C55u99XglKKu5Hh1ZJ5zy8V-LNz9N4ZeYsMTvuKS9vuRCO6NjV1DdSCqRlp0TsL9gQxy-ELEqIGz85_yEBJvDzMmAKIOMqcoMnWzy0AbQ/s3056/20231226_200635%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2819" data-original-width="3056" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt25uGbqEgHub1wGZOZsTrFz8Xm8XUyMkZ3kLB_ZsnKzaYDjxH2vIVb6li67suFgcACinKhIM_O8eNWVJ395C55u99XglKKu5Hh1ZJ5zy8V-LNz9N4ZeYsMTvuKS9vuRCO6NjV1DdSCqRlp0TsL9gQxy-ELEqIGz85_yEBJvDzMmAKIOMqcoMnWzy0AbQ/s320/20231226_200635%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>As usual, it took longer than expected (did I mention this is a big heavy quilt?!?) but it is now done! </p><p>I am a big fan of attaching my binding by machine whenever possible -- which is most of the time. When you get this close to the finish on a quilt, a machine attached binding makes that end come that much faster. It was stitched onto the front, glue basted to the back and stitched down from the front in the ditch. I did pretty good this time and only had a few small spots that didn't get stitched down so I had to go back in and hand tack them. I'll <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/finished-or-not-friday-cotton-harvest.html" target="_blank">post on the full reveal</a> at the end of the week after I get a few good pictures of it.</p><p>Mystery Quilt#2 is "Tobacco Road". Now that the "Boll" is "fully finished" (as the cross stitchers say), I'm finally, really ready to focus on getting the finishing of this one in gear. So that starts with the basting:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXAWyAxLbnFbbrw_kzbHOUGySE0Rkh7438cKEET3Tu1qW69dh8oxAmyXi9BPUmIJs6A_TtiWiQkIS2zgm0lKcjy94NBpR_3c2Bpkr_DtcoQDjwdccKwHirJXtH3pMuQfiqtHOV1V0rwbU9oTCLH0BH9mCgRb20t_Nbq9Zgax8WBY5MD_Sk5o8_JlbrhA/s3056/20231226_210033%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXAWyAxLbnFbbrw_kzbHOUGySE0Rkh7438cKEET3Tu1qW69dh8oxAmyXi9BPUmIJs6A_TtiWiQkIS2zgm0lKcjy94NBpR_3c2Bpkr_DtcoQDjwdccKwHirJXtH3pMuQfiqtHOV1V0rwbU9oTCLH0BH9mCgRb20t_Nbq9Zgax8WBY5MD_Sk5o8_JlbrhA/s320/20231226_210033%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Center is done, still a lot more to do to get the sides done.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I'll get the rest finished tomorrow. As I am pinning, I'm re-thinking the stitch pattern I thought I would use. So now I'll have to preview this one before I can start on the stitching. While I hope I can get a lot done on it this week, I'm prepared for the possibility of it not getting it completely finished before the New Year rings in. However, at least it's started so I'm sure to get it done before the mystery season ends in January.</p><p><b>Crossing Over To Cross Stitch</b></p><p>Lastly, I will end the day as I usually have lately with cross stitch. The Thanksgiving piece I've been working on is almost done.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mTjMEUg0tSyfiudxrYygvWCBflKXOuTasFc2Iv_qF86I5n8bpgWee-e9ZU_OQHbcVjyJ-pJfU7gPZ9f6bXzqzVugK_m5U7kPZJ1i6K0QuWtfN9oBNII-rlpry7iGOEMBVsO57sOgjJTl5iMddRjLPp6FEKJVRlD2z_XGQo4t0f49T3obtIUzsEQLvo8/s3056/20231223_103710%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mTjMEUg0tSyfiudxrYygvWCBflKXOuTasFc2Iv_qF86I5n8bpgWee-e9ZU_OQHbcVjyJ-pJfU7gPZ9f6bXzqzVugK_m5U7kPZJ1i6K0QuWtfN9oBNII-rlpry7iGOEMBVsO57sOgjJTl5iMddRjLPp6FEKJVRlD2z_XGQo4t0f49T3obtIUzsEQLvo8/s320/20231223_103710%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Last progress on this can be seen <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/quiltville-mystery-season-indigo-way_15.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">On to Day 2!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-72071825456804982642023-12-25T09:00:00.001-05:002023-12-25T09:00:00.143-05:00A Very Merry Christmas To All....<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.giphy.com/media/gNke2UrUTopOg/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://media.giphy.com/media/gNke2UrUTopOg/giphy.gif" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">....on this day of good cheer!</div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">And Merry Christmas to me!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_mZAlX_ScAOACVpLsj-aFO_2aGuHIRGZUrHjRQ-gUu8XVuQ6l3eeIY1_IZgIoYL_y6NBgZCEjwHfr_2csKDvrXGr9UH0mWNjNMciJLOkYVqsKR69Q2CX3hd19c6yMlngr-63MSzRgbgYaMjC3ubFOsTMvD2yWP53nn9K-YQSGnyjrpKd3bglBVnEsF4/s3056/20231224_143225%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2962" data-original-width="3056" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_mZAlX_ScAOACVpLsj-aFO_2aGuHIRGZUrHjRQ-gUu8XVuQ6l3eeIY1_IZgIoYL_y6NBgZCEjwHfr_2csKDvrXGr9UH0mWNjNMciJLOkYVqsKR69Q2CX3hd19c6yMlngr-63MSzRgbgYaMjC3ubFOsTMvD2yWP53nn9K-YQSGnyjrpKd3bglBVnEsF4/s320/20231224_143225%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;">The quilting is done and the binding is made. It's almost a finish on the bed to be laid!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-26059766943378195062023-12-22T10:43:00.005-05:002023-12-23T14:08:41.633-05:00Quiltville Mystery Season: Indigo Way Part 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBfKWhXn5XAiyxrSaZp51Ersu67Cixch-1JQ6WvWrQb7WV2BBUujNtcQh790cprIswOH-i1lkioZPLYtZkRHjwgFp-jqh5163VCkTpgUYzyxd4G_7BCuy5v4SngNT_yZYg9J6UOqzTKdWvMPdg7RWVjHkoKyEBIX3hFUZMCTbsu0WVDk1RQTRrTneaDw/s640/Quiltville%20Indigo%20Way%20Mystery%20Logo1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDBfKWhXn5XAiyxrSaZp51Ersu67Cixch-1JQ6WvWrQb7WV2BBUujNtcQh790cprIswOH-i1lkioZPLYtZkRHjwgFp-jqh5163VCkTpgUYzyxd4G_7BCuy5v4SngNT_yZYg9J6UOqzTKdWvMPdg7RWVjHkoKyEBIX3hFUZMCTbsu0WVDk1RQTRrTneaDw/s320/Quiltville%20Indigo%20Way%20Mystery%20Logo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>This week the number FIVE plays prominently in Bonnie's <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2023/12/indigo-way-part-five.html" target="_blank">Part 5 post</a> for the Indigo Way mystery! We are also treated to more of the sights of Bonnie's Vietnam trip -- specifically a look at some of the beautiful textiles seen while she was there. There is also a video of a woman working a loom (with hands <i>and </i>feet!) to weave a base cloth.</p><div style="text-align: left;">For the mystery, the blocks this week are Square-In-A-Square blocks. For the centers, Bonnie plans to cut them from a piece of printed hemp fabric she brought from Vietnam but mystery quilters can use what they like to fill the center squares. In the instructions, Bonnie shows you <u>five</u> ways to make them: </div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Rotary cutting of both center squares and corner triangles with regular rulers</li><li>Rotary cutting of center squares using the Essential Triangle Tool for the corners</li><li>Doing "Stitch & Flip" corners by either drawing lines or using the laser lines on your machine if you have one</li><li>Trimming the center square corners using the Simple Folded Corners ruler (so cut first, sew second)</li><li>Paper piecing</li></ul></div><div>Whenever I get around to making this mystery, I have two more techniques at my disposal and of course they involve gadgets: my go to for SIS blocks is to use Deb Tucker's "<a href="https://deb-tuckers-studio-180-design.myshopify.com/products/large-square-squared" target="_blank">Square Squared</a>" two ruler set.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaFl3_GjDbTZpprFgHu05yzxGB4kzlt5sxhNZMeSMLhTkGbpNO-0ycjMDE3qjcE1vH8AUD-F1KQq4OkXdDcN6OwNHQ46qCKmI4_xZbxzieXo93TOkfPXSgtpKkjHptolp_Fr8OJvYcNI3nfVocSrjKnR62bUKVr4FdvW0hlC1BkLEqiK2LbNMM1h65Kg/s2998/20231222_092011%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2662" data-original-width="2998" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyaFl3_GjDbTZpprFgHu05yzxGB4kzlt5sxhNZMeSMLhTkGbpNO-0ycjMDE3qjcE1vH8AUD-F1KQq4OkXdDcN6OwNHQ46qCKmI4_xZbxzieXo93TOkfPXSgtpKkjHptolp_Fr8OJvYcNI3nfVocSrjKnR62bUKVr4FdvW0hlC1BkLEqiK2LbNMM1h65Kg/s320/20231222_092011%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Deb also has a technique sheet that tells you how you can use the ruler to make what she calls "<a href="https://deb-tuckers-studio-180-design.myshopify.com/products/stacked-squares-technique-sheet" target="_blank">Stacked Squares</a>" but you may know them as "<a href="https://catbirdquilts.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/economy-block-any-size-with-cheat-sheet/" target="_blank">Economy blocks</a>" which are basically "Multiple Squares-Within-A-Square" blocks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezcudsd9pA53JAYdjGdFsa4WgcA_FXVPcx0c23YR92ko0f8yAMfgbo2jWy6FnJihzdyKNPKOkoYM0yDkiYBdapzck2ubN9VnpihFEBtfXVlAekhiUQ_yUsCD2XaLsv4ZGYiuTe7AihnQri2qWZ0UEHnALd2L-nTJC5r3LeXFleovr36w5xJ4ChjglFDc/s2919/20231222_092047%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1327" data-original-width="2919" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjezcudsd9pA53JAYdjGdFsa4WgcA_FXVPcx0c23YR92ko0f8yAMfgbo2jWy6FnJihzdyKNPKOkoYM0yDkiYBdapzck2ubN9VnpihFEBtfXVlAekhiUQ_yUsCD2XaLsv4ZGYiuTe7AihnQri2qWZ0UEHnALd2L-nTJC5r3LeXFleovr36w5xJ4ChjglFDc/s320/20231222_092047%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>I have not gotten to use this ruler much so I look forward to when I try this mystery. If I'm pressed for time, the other option for me will be to die cut all the units. Accuquilt has dies to cut the center squares (what they call "<a href="https://www.accuquilt.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Square+On+Point" target="_blank">Squares On Point</a>") to the exact odd sizes needed and the packaging will tell you what size coordinating triangle die you need for the corners. Fortunately, I already have the ones for the size of block being made for this round. </div><div><p></p><p>As to my own mystery season journey, I am getting close to the end of quilting "Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll"! Last night I finished the last of the free-motion stitching on the blocks in the center of the quilt. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-2IU_bXdphOkwdOY8FSl3U30R3fze9PmP5Brox8IhVd2JSI981TMZFckQ2WxT56Z8yNcu02XWjoQCeecJqgAJoIIswf099FrIX0hx8qT3H81msODzHHI_S5M_wP7s4X76tNSUdJ3C3zlu0oS7xRq3xuobG1gtCnLyzKtvCSbWk0sSV44q_jn2EGuXZY/s3056/20231222_072831%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2855" data-original-width="3056" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-2IU_bXdphOkwdOY8FSl3U30R3fze9PmP5Brox8IhVd2JSI981TMZFckQ2WxT56Z8yNcu02XWjoQCeecJqgAJoIIswf099FrIX0hx8qT3H81msODzHHI_S5M_wP7s4X76tNSUdJ3C3zlu0oS7xRq3xuobG1gtCnLyzKtvCSbWk0sSV44q_jn2EGuXZY/s320/20231222_072831%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oFg8dX_ACC8p12YX2WuUPuuSomnH2BoQ1cRDVf99BUg7PTOCDBX7ibds8ELzHuI0153AnCJ293v2h9TlDhqVazMTF4sKDAm5BUdzt-TMgZ6SIuQUpTUGHUq4Ex08q0dXq6waqcM6tyo2S9bf5uY2BjO-rUMeOa9-X5ukMR4DebVimpUVVyOUzXQ7le0/s3056/20231222_073155%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9oFg8dX_ACC8p12YX2WuUPuuSomnH2BoQ1cRDVf99BUg7PTOCDBX7ibds8ELzHuI0153AnCJ293v2h9TlDhqVazMTF4sKDAm5BUdzt-TMgZ6SIuQUpTUGHUq4Ex08q0dXq6waqcM6tyo2S9bf5uY2BjO-rUMeOa9-X5ukMR4DebVimpUVVyOUzXQ7le0/s320/20231222_073155%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I definitely got a little wild and wooly stitching out the motifs on the quarter square string blocks. In hindsight, I am reminded that when doing FMQ on a DSM it's better to stick with small motifs for better control. There are definitely places where I overshot the design and could have marked points to hit with a wash away marker for more even looking motifs. </p><p>But you know what? It's done and that's all that matters to me right now! The thread isn't high contrast and once the quilt is washed and acquires "that crinkly look", a lot of stitching sins will be hidden, LOL! And boy is this quilt heavy now!! It will be very warm to have on the bed during these winter nights. </p><p>What's left to do is to stitch up the border setting triangles, the inner border and the outer border. I changed plans and am now going to do the same stitch pattern in the setting triangles that I did in the full string blocks just halved. The good news is I think I can do the design I wanted to do on the inner border with the same ruler I had planned to use for stitching on the outer border. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbCDiazavKDR-jne2qBmLEIyWR9KrhZrqHNeUCHloIRF-M-uQX-5Hba6dRizqKKwsxtcsXf8Q3NcyqzHkGNDH6Q8XdDYqJOlWTaFPVhcihXWabPIiRgMsVmTnVcOfNCDu_Du_9U5hKwmw_m1qMDTSV86byDBa6xVpSa1_sw1oWx14jiVHQh_FrybeJ0Y/s3056/20231221_195703%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbCDiazavKDR-jne2qBmLEIyWR9KrhZrqHNeUCHloIRF-M-uQX-5Hba6dRizqKKwsxtcsXf8Q3NcyqzHkGNDH6Q8XdDYqJOlWTaFPVhcihXWabPIiRgMsVmTnVcOfNCDu_Du_9U5hKwmw_m1qMDTSV86byDBa6xVpSa1_sw1oWx14jiVHQh_FrybeJ0Y/s320/20231221_195703%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Although this is actually a long arm ruler, I think (hope?) it will still work with my DSM ruler foot. When I finally finish it all, I want to take it over to our community garden and get a picture of the quilt in the outside light. </p><p>I'm excited that this journey is almost to a close as I still haven't started on basting "<a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/quiltville-mystery-season-indigo-way_8.html" target="_blank">Old Tobacco Road</a>". Thank goodness the mystery season runs into the first week or two of January so I may still get that one done before the season (if not this year) ends! </p></div>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-25857207430676638532023-12-18T15:36:00.002-05:002023-12-18T15:36:48.675-05:00Moving It Forward Monday: Another Step Further Along....<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoHtMs-6CQE-4ycVUicz7mqXx50OMXGbetqmouGHE0tD2Zpsy30d0VqSxxoubuVJVQ_Q0J75Gx30eRYyP0S6rPahlhFSu67A1Kfda2pCHG02p-K6Y8sHo8tF3nvBdWP7r_kpWMr_RqxoizjBJ2PaFiLdXfqQgIqteg0W29kifWy4JrCpYOjshn1bJh8k/s200/Moving%20It%20Forward%20Monday%20at%20Ems%20Scrapbag.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="174" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtoHtMs-6CQE-4ycVUicz7mqXx50OMXGbetqmouGHE0tD2Zpsy30d0VqSxxoubuVJVQ_Q0J75Gx30eRYyP0S6rPahlhFSu67A1Kfda2pCHG02p-K6Y8sHo8tF3nvBdWP7r_kpWMr_RqxoizjBJ2PaFiLdXfqQgIqteg0W29kifWy4JrCpYOjshn1bJh8k/s1600/Moving%20It%20Forward%20Monday%20at%20Ems%20Scrapbag.jpg" width="174" /></a></div><br /> Okay, the stabilizing stitching is <i>finally </i>done!! <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY_h_Wcj6Dj8eVnmow510RoUepzKu4CFWWi_Uf707zSS9zxeqPjYiEgX8PffCQDjgz25XrRhvqQCaEhzKnBKI-AJeN530hLut2rHwQfa8W9HSzw4IuB33q9J1p5VhvqoLJj51xnkAfOQN__b5rEjtp8R8GprDYg7EPcZsCCE4pxUNRCpNEIpm-e7WuVo/s2886/20231218_101506%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2701" data-original-width="2886" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWY_h_Wcj6Dj8eVnmow510RoUepzKu4CFWWi_Uf707zSS9zxeqPjYiEgX8PffCQDjgz25XrRhvqQCaEhzKnBKI-AJeN530hLut2rHwQfa8W9HSzw4IuB33q9J1p5VhvqoLJj51xnkAfOQN__b5rEjtp8R8GprDYg7EPcZsCCE4pxUNRCpNEIpm-e7WuVo/s320/20231218_101506%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>Once again, hard to get a good picture of it. Actually, correction: the stitching in <u>the center</u> is done, I still need to stitch on the outside edges of the String setting triangles along the inner border. That however should be easy since unlike when I was stitching the center, I will not have to deal with pushing the bulk of the quilt sandwich through the harp space.</p><p>I was able to remove all the basting pins in the blocks since they are all surrounded so won't be moving anywhere. So now I <i>really </i>have enough pins<i> </i>to<i> </i>start the basting on "Tobacco Road"!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE38TqTi3j2Dg75YH_9gwv1e_xfFWhNvju6kLMB95lqpd4KWmm-TknBlc-YKm5af0omPxt4LZevOMtiSC2uu-bP16tNjnycdG0boDEsIfMRQeAvuOQ01EZk478hTUOg3AtnF8O2VwZBEwodAy-ToSDc3Ey_faxn80fIaqhLg49dWBpVtrK3lteecSPCQk/s3056/20231218_141339%5B1%5D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE38TqTi3j2Dg75YH_9gwv1e_xfFWhNvju6kLMB95lqpd4KWmm-TknBlc-YKm5af0omPxt4LZevOMtiSC2uu-bP16tNjnycdG0boDEsIfMRQeAvuOQ01EZk478hTUOg3AtnF8O2VwZBEwodAy-ToSDc3Ey_faxn80fIaqhLg49dWBpVtrK3lteecSPCQk/s320/20231218_141339%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>However, progress maybe slow over the next few days because it's holiday cookie production time! I have two more people than usual on my list this year so that is going to add to the time it takes to get that done. However, the further along I get on these projects, the closer their finish feels. I'm sure any of you still working on Christmas gifts right now can relate! </p></div>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-24282866372311705832023-12-15T11:46:00.005-05:002023-12-18T07:51:07.279-05:00Quiltville Mystery Season: Indigo Way Part 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2023/12/indigo-way-mystery-part-four.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkpy1IU8CJiItb_sWmYUJhOCfGAlewrcp8eM723RGvN9-yMhTf-mINu1Lp0Z_D5Dvs-0VdX0-AmPHaUHi_3fZEkabbflMp0Ignu8SZhBN6tC-7lMe_AtNRaJOQT0TfEB7Y8F4Z9qNLg1t2Yw3m-x4tfka8fJm66aHaWzhxSlh8WdLfVxFxgl02WWnOG74/s320/Quiltville%20Indigo%20Way%20Mystery%20Logo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's another week on Bonnie Hunter's Magical Mystery Quilt Tour of sightseeing in Vietnam! Part Four can be picked up <a href="https://quiltville.blogspot.com/2023/12/indigo-way-mystery-part-four.html" target="_blank">here</a>. She also makes a good point about downloading the instructions: you aren't required to print out <i>all </i>of the pages of instructions. You can print just the pages you need or copy and paste just the text into a word processing document and print only that. Of course you can also just follow the instructions on your computer, tablet or phone and completely save on the printer ink! Just be sure to save it to your device in case you need to refer back to it after the mystery is done and removed from her blog. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week, mystery quilters are making what Bonnie calls "Multi-Triangles" in Blue, White and Red. I wondered if there is another name for this basic block so I consulted Barbara Brackman's "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Quilt-Software-BLOCKBASE-Windows/dp/B08ZLXGPP4" target="_blank">BlockBase</a>". She only has it categorized as a "Two Patch Block with Equal Diagonal Division".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_7y_vI2MZ12ny-DfC9Be_MIUOyUjjXUoQKE4ncFxr-XI-r0lc7a9ZYZZ0UCrCtDPcacHwTrM6pmEoGn5U6R4CdJBAwTQTp1MS6iOtxoYmBeEMJ6xzY1BpfpkGWCnkhOX5pkAHHiUnaYw3VKERLBNrH7SbaTKN7l6ZB2KiTbx10s-wOCYfw4DPoA8hjQ/s1246/Block%20Base%20Two%20Patch%20Blocks%20With%20Equal%20Divisions.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="1246" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_7y_vI2MZ12ny-DfC9Be_MIUOyUjjXUoQKE4ncFxr-XI-r0lc7a9ZYZZ0UCrCtDPcacHwTrM6pmEoGn5U6R4CdJBAwTQTp1MS6iOtxoYmBeEMJ6xzY1BpfpkGWCnkhOX5pkAHHiUnaYw3VKERLBNrH7SbaTKN7l6ZB2KiTbx10s-wOCYfw4DPoA8hjQ/s320/Block%20Base%20Two%20Patch%20Blocks%20With%20Equal%20Divisions.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">It's the block circled by the blue square.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Doesn't exactly roll off the tongue so I'll stick with Bonnie's name for it! These are basically Half Square Triangles where one half is made up of two Quarter Square Triangles pieced together. Bonnie gives instructions for rotary cutting these as well as provides templates for paper-piecing them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for me, I am still on the "Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll" quilting expedition. I have finished up the continuous stitching along the string block seam allowances and am now doing the same for the "Boll" blocks. That got held up as I hit a snag with the threads I had planned to use. Because of the high contrast between the more neutral string Quarter Square blocks and the Red, Brown and Pink "Boll" blocks, my plan was to use two different threads on each section. I had picked Aurfil #5011 for the light blocks and #2370 for the dark blocks and thought the two would balance out after everything was stitched. I had done a similar thing when I made a <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2019/09/the-latest-gift-quilt-have-some-moscato.html" target="_blank">desk mat</a> for a friend a few years ago.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92wpj0T6deJRW38NWjzLdi7S5-PKqw8WuT837kQyogY6dcvpuj8S1QzFMjE1dgHCJTvxo3nQWaYaHZauqBaNDcvZDzqYZzxusiSXJR98tMORTxjPab6kimIb53UwDmiTE2Cx0kmDd2AnAP5tQS94teL3V-5Y0mnzgfAk1D-Z3HhDpxqjovsfpt78VdTI/s2048/20190913_123423.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1576" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92wpj0T6deJRW38NWjzLdi7S5-PKqw8WuT837kQyogY6dcvpuj8S1QzFMjE1dgHCJTvxo3nQWaYaHZauqBaNDcvZDzqYZzxusiSXJR98tMORTxjPab6kimIb53UwDmiTE2Cx0kmDd2AnAP5tQS94teL3V-5Y0mnzgfAk1D-Z3HhDpxqjovsfpt78VdTI/s320/20190913_123423.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In that instance I found that the two grays used balanced out the stitching on the light and dark areas to create an overall even, balanced look. However, it didn't work this time probably because there was too much contrast in the two threads I used.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5I3mxpkzIeeHLCH7VDIFvDFt9b4tp483MZ1Sey9zGzlLnWAwZbFBtW0Z_88shQpvct49qGxiYxr2L-odloc49SCGZPgrT0wLvDo7xy_1uC-3jJuelZau_cCyr1HwutoCMi9Qy97IUZxsuuxFqBn1FwwRapiIMamiFkQEEa-9NL5IqROK48Ogpi7xwWo/s3056/20231215_084322%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5I3mxpkzIeeHLCH7VDIFvDFt9b4tp483MZ1Sey9zGzlLnWAwZbFBtW0Z_88shQpvct49qGxiYxr2L-odloc49SCGZPgrT0wLvDo7xy_1uC-3jJuelZau_cCyr1HwutoCMi9Qy97IUZxsuuxFqBn1FwwRapiIMamiFkQEEa-9NL5IqROK48Ogpi7xwWo/s320/20231215_084322%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">I'm not sure how well the differences show up here... </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After stitching the first seam (on the right in the picture), I felt there was TOO much contrast between the threads. I tried switching back to the same light thread used for the initial stitching along another seam (on the bottom of the block). That actually looked better than I expected. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I've used the Dark Tan #2370 in my <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-to-z-quilt-challenge-c-civil-war.html" target="_blank">Civil War repro projects</a>, I have sometimes used #2324 with it as the "light thread" so I tried that one (top seam). Hmmm, I think I like that! It reads a lot like #5011 but doesn't contrast as much on the "Boll" blocks. I think I may even stick with this thread when I'm ready to switch to the free-motion stitching and use it to stitch the centers of <i>both </i>blocks.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since I'm free today to continue work on the stitching along the block seams, I'll probably start on basting "<a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/12/quiltville-mystery-season-indigo-way_8.html" target="_blank">Old Tobacco Road</a>" over the weekend with the pins I've freed up. I have also been continuing on my Thanksgiving project cross stitching in the evenings. I am thrilled that I am almost halfway done:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJ2WuIpEugdxL6YwhhaBkq1OrCnNYMDbM1Fx1BLkMQWAcR59jltNqwBGp3knb3Yw79L5qbt0-lzvLZujdv42EQNr4C_JU03JF5UvtVtJHN91iEkM8_i32W3csoQdGd9FN8mJJcPJjIcs35IzuZQOYRR92kz2IL9pua4jumIdvdNYvdr67yjfik0FTmG0/s3056/20231215_110141%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJ2WuIpEugdxL6YwhhaBkq1OrCnNYMDbM1Fx1BLkMQWAcR59jltNqwBGp3knb3Yw79L5qbt0-lzvLZujdv42EQNr4C_JU03JF5UvtVtJHN91iEkM8_i32W3csoQdGd9FN8mJJcPJjIcs35IzuZQOYRR92kz2IL9pua4jumIdvdNYvdr67yjfik0FTmG0/s320/20231215_110141%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #444444;">Last reported on <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/11/moving-it-forward-monday-quilt-label.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It has certainly taken longer than I expected but I like that I am able to stitch in the evening while listening to the late night news shows. Takes some of the sting off of what they report on! So I'm hoping that maybe next week I can report on <i>two </i>finishes?!? Stay tuned!</div><p></p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2506192997256916285.post-32805450838714160622023-12-13T09:00:00.005-05:002023-12-15T11:19:08.745-05:00Updating the Record....<p>As the year winds down, I started doing a review of the projects I have worked on and realized I was missing a few things here on the blog. Back in <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/09/plans-for-september.html" target="_blank">this post</a>, I had talked about preparing for our garden's (now) annual "Art Show". We have a lot of creative garden members and for my part, I show my quilts. I did a display of "Red and White Quilts" mostly featuring the ones I made for my holiday decorating plans last year.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRM_sa4gVW0MM01DLqBsOJT-pvQ4XFHtgb075tb9-t-qq7CBRPCyHcgO8nBfa4nnd0sklyIQmhIrh6sZKbSrL4aHLafCpJMx4bRdC723E2tSKy6QMXxI2govcBNUUKMwM2feT3gEkFIOIgI4GEeABfxVGS_riu2G63LXTAW04w1WhbVDn-O-D61nJZt1c/s4080/20231001_134748.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="4080" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRM_sa4gVW0MM01DLqBsOJT-pvQ4XFHtgb075tb9-t-qq7CBRPCyHcgO8nBfa4nnd0sklyIQmhIrh6sZKbSrL4aHLafCpJMx4bRdC723E2tSKy6QMXxI2govcBNUUKMwM2feT3gEkFIOIgI4GEeABfxVGS_riu2G63LXTAW04w1WhbVDn-O-D61nJZt1c/s320/20231001_134748.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Front Display: <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/09/finished-or-not-friday-better-late-than.html" target="_blank">Christmas Ribbons</a>, <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/01/quiltville-chilhowie-mystery-part-7-its.html" target="_blank">The Last Dash</a> and <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/02/a-saturday-finished-or-not-friday.html" target="_blank">Cherry Crunch</a></span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULxCTxGhPpGi8nWGB1kedd08o14mbMEJbd1W5ml54NtYYOtbyunfRtf-OJz_rqh74ymdoWLk7y7hjcXg3eeFm2BnbC0IraJGYWiHhjEqh_kpO0ABbWwvg4HaaUGW4kyC2y_nWqKC5cjuVw-gTlePZg2a1vpTTARLgy-Iw8_kAp-p9Il6NyxUnUGuZL50/s3056/20231001_141318.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULxCTxGhPpGi8nWGB1kedd08o14mbMEJbd1W5ml54NtYYOtbyunfRtf-OJz_rqh74ymdoWLk7y7hjcXg3eeFm2BnbC0IraJGYWiHhjEqh_kpO0ABbWwvg4HaaUGW4kyC2y_nWqKC5cjuVw-gTlePZg2a1vpTTARLgy-Iw8_kAp-p9Il6NyxUnUGuZL50/s320/20231001_141318.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSW8kk74cF7ZaFEWtHn9h7XmOd1JmeX5FuHo11z4C1DQGSm-HcxrSwS1MGU05L3pv__Xh2KM6nx4ZKhf4ITjCrhAO8ti2aSrLaizURHcVtvMVDDsezcZ4B2VFmhP50AfJ4jvhj2muyTd_2OpInCqw_bIGtE8KhwNTB-DMAvs1GOYhyphenhyphen9uv8D6N4Jc9nBVw/s2552/20231211_114016%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2552" data-original-width="2127" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSW8kk74cF7ZaFEWtHn9h7XmOd1JmeX5FuHo11z4C1DQGSm-HcxrSwS1MGU05L3pv__Xh2KM6nx4ZKhf4ITjCrhAO8ti2aSrLaizURHcVtvMVDDsezcZ4B2VFmhP50AfJ4jvhj2muyTd_2OpInCqw_bIGtE8KhwNTB-DMAvs1GOYhyphenhyphen9uv8D6N4Jc9nBVw/s320/20231211_114016%5B1%5D.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Click to read a little of the history I found out about Red and White quilts.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>I also had my <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2021/04/a-to-z-quilt-challenge-i-infinite.html" target="_blank">"Infinite Variety" book</a> on display at the show in the event I could interest anyone in a discussion of how popular Red and White quilts have been among quilters throughout history. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZIZGUf6tx3gNsshiBmpAPUrmEFQyCX6Zs5CqqYw9mfxY2nYezY2YYIfx6xkma-k8XbhMjmdbHLFYc17Im6X5lq8z7A5xG2RcRDbNIp1Ls5v3kRhMz2XRCo1kI5zrkf3JFBnvfjGF1E1nBNYQsHeXT50TT1DMFNEwUO4Nlpb0Niw8Dm3z_gIZqQ1VMfg/s4080/20231001_134933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1836" data-original-width="4080" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZZIZGUf6tx3gNsshiBmpAPUrmEFQyCX6Zs5CqqYw9mfxY2nYezY2YYIfx6xkma-k8XbhMjmdbHLFYc17Im6X5lq8z7A5xG2RcRDbNIp1Ls5v3kRhMz2XRCo1kI5zrkf3JFBnvfjGF1E1nBNYQsHeXT50TT1DMFNEwUO4Nlpb0Niw8Dm3z_gIZqQ1VMfg/s320/20231001_134933.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>There are two finishes that I haven't reported on previously that were related to my participation in that show. The first was that I finally made good on a promise to the garden's Steering Committee and provided a quilt to raffle off. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMXzKOtDS0Wbm694vaYs3wJ7Dc83qPnAL9bQN3MfhoQUMWYQgZf59rpfx3Hur6bqymXtMcky6kiPHeS1XQRAlW_KT1NwtfcEGy0VTljYDy3T5BqM5wks7CC_kVecfvhZtigaTiN6E0y64UnQESDHh-AuoDcrKrrW-X3bfZkNcmz8vn-zOCmDMqio2SZA/s5759/Raffle%20Quilt%20Front%20Back%20and%20Label.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5759" data-original-width="4947" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMXzKOtDS0Wbm694vaYs3wJ7Dc83qPnAL9bQN3MfhoQUMWYQgZf59rpfx3Hur6bqymXtMcky6kiPHeS1XQRAlW_KT1NwtfcEGy0VTljYDy3T5BqM5wks7CC_kVecfvhZtigaTiN6E0y64UnQESDHh-AuoDcrKrrW-X3bfZkNcmz8vn-zOCmDMqio2SZA/s320/Raffle%20Quilt%20Front%20Back%20and%20Label.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><p>This was the second "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5N8BLZ4FxY" target="_blank">Nine Fat Quarter Disappearing Nine Patch</a>" quilt I finished this year! The fabrics I used were inspired by the lavender-themed <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/08/august-recap.html" target="_blank">cross stitch workshop I led</a> for the garden in August. I had originally planned on having two quilts to raffle but was only able to get one done in time. So I decided to include the largest sachet I had made as a sample for the cross stitch class to give with the quilt as part of the prize. </p><p>Ironically, the quilt was won by one of the Steering Committee members! This helps me as I have been toying with the idea of making each of them a quilt for all the hard work they have done both in the founding of our garden nine years ago and continue to do to keep it a going concern. Now that one of them already has a quilt, I'd only need to make three more, LOL! We'll see however, if I manage to get that done. </p><p>What it also confirms for me is that, as the first quilt design I've made more than once, this is going to be a "go to" design for making up quick quilts for gifting. It was also great to be able to show both of those quilts in the show at the same time and once again demonstrate how versatile quilt designs are.</p><p>And speaking of cross stitch: since that is now another creative <strike>obsession</strike> interest of mine, I decided to make a piece to include in the "Red and White" display. As usual the Craft Muses came through and at some point I saw <a href="https://www.123stitch.com/item/JBW-Designs-Christmas-in-the-Round-Cross-Stitch-Pattern/JBW393" target="_blank">this design</a> in a Flosstube video:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAK7nh-1laNignUr8Cnyzm_6oaUVDqULd_5ocwS1aoIoNkFu6E6vBraN63Xmg1Cw1bcrQYpuxq8BjZ3SGGMfCufUyAXYMF3vXiH4zKhO8k-LmfLey3eJnyhtaE36fGB0YXiS6_29YafWnROnN2a_rIceUhZ32CvTzX9agzcFovpvvynhqIpfC5ieLhMg/s3056/20230910_110935%5B1%5D.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3056" data-original-width="3056" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQAK7nh-1laNignUr8Cnyzm_6oaUVDqULd_5ocwS1aoIoNkFu6E6vBraN63Xmg1Cw1bcrQYpuxq8BjZ3SGGMfCufUyAXYMF3vXiH4zKhO8k-LmfLey3eJnyhtaE36fGB0YXiS6_29YafWnROnN2a_rIceUhZ32CvTzX9agzcFovpvvynhqIpfC5ieLhMg/s320/20230910_110935%5B1%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444;">Seen here with some of the floss already in my stash that I was considering using.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Perfect! Small (so quick to stitch), Red and White and Christmas related so once made not only could be displayed in the show but can be part of future Christmas decorating. I hung it with the smaller quilts displayed on the back of the larger R&W quilts, under my "<a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/01/finished-or-not-friday-jelly-ish.html" target="_blank">Jelly-ish Snowflake</a>" wall hanging in the center:</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPcTCj1lasm0QXR3l2eROgdlEXZypg43F1jBqG1HqWKkp2ceSAe7tA1eMbsNcFQPkwCndI7f1kugx5I1rqnfjrTtTf6fLZB2QFOdUb3Unij1rNUj86lz4yoYkLBcSsgB0uHsckAZD_JUgzmkwIup8ItMJqLgeuZNrwFT6LkyrsgtHzbtpKrSsBxjqdYg/s3056/20231001_141331.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2600" data-original-width="3056" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaPcTCj1lasm0QXR3l2eROgdlEXZypg43F1jBqG1HqWKkp2ceSAe7tA1eMbsNcFQPkwCndI7f1kugx5I1rqnfjrTtTf6fLZB2QFOdUb3Unij1rNUj86lz4yoYkLBcSsgB0uHsckAZD_JUgzmkwIup8ItMJqLgeuZNrwFT6LkyrsgtHzbtpKrSsBxjqdYg/s320/20231001_141331.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2021/02/happy-valentines-day.html" target="_blank">FQS Stitches From the Heart</a>, <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2023/01/finished-or-not-friday-jelly-ish.html" target="_blank">FQS Jelly-ish Snowflake</a> and <a href="https://bronxquilter.blogspot.com/2022/12/and-so-starts-7-days-of-new-years-and.html" target="_blank">TQC 12 Days of Christmas</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Hmmm, it's a little hard to see in that picture so here's the close-ups:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcotjYOV739s_DXjqtuwtN6-nF1is_hlpqNWkUpHOKoK2t3jHtblBsSANx2i4a_SkGuRblwDNhHCjLRSc2l62LCD-N2XO_pfuZuSgfO4OmlFGGa4KuqOQ9NYjLNbEn-0__JoIGfSlq7vXwOpsa3iUsQRrAgisfmXrDI1f0Ttg1uDzgf53XK5gUmd0ZVM/s6110/JBW%20Chirstmas%20In%20the%20Round%20FFO.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3237" data-original-width="6110" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidcotjYOV739s_DXjqtuwtN6-nF1is_hlpqNWkUpHOKoK2t3jHtblBsSANx2i4a_SkGuRblwDNhHCjLRSc2l62LCD-N2XO_pfuZuSgfO4OmlFGGa4KuqOQ9NYjLNbEn-0__JoIGfSlq7vXwOpsa3iUsQRrAgisfmXrDI1f0Ttg1uDzgf53XK5gUmd0ZVM/s320/JBW%20Chirstmas%20In%20the%20Round%20FFO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I finished it as an ornament and will hang it up on our Christmas tree this year. Now the record is complete!</p>Vivianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17845920248231910491noreply@blogger.com1