To Do List for the Week of 02/27/2024

Last week's To Do List post was so optimistic. Things worked out that way in the end, but it went way south before things got on the right path. I wasn't able to walk up the stairs to my sewing room for a couple of days, so that definitely impacted how much got done on last week's check list. 

To Do List for 02/20/2024

1. 2024 SAHRR: Finish border #5 - progress

2. Betty: Finish assembling quilt - progress

3. Guild BOM: Make February block ✔

4. Malted Mystery: Finish February clue - progress

5. Wild and Goosey: Continue making red blocks ✔

6. Indigo Way: Continue making blocks as leaders and enders ✔

It was still a pretty good week. Three check marks and progress on all the other to do items is really good considering how bad I felt for most of the week.  

Still no clue on what is causing my leg issues. Physical therapy started yesterday. I'm pretty sore from that, but thankfully the medication has helped with the rest of pain.  I was able to walk without a limp yesterday for the first time in several weeks. Fingers crossed I can get back on track with my projects this week. 

To Do List for 02/27/2024

1. 2024 SAHRR (Quilting Gail): Finish borders 5 and 6

This is going to be challenging, but this week's list is one item shorter than last week's.  If I make this my priority for the week, it should get done or at least very close to done.  

2. Betty (Meadow Mist Designs): Finish quilt assembly

Progress was made on getting some of the rows sashed.  It shouldn't take to long to finish the sashing add the narrow gray border and then add a final blue border.  Fingers crossed on that anyway.  The final quilt parade is on March 5th.  Hopefully I can make it that far by then.  

3. Malted Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs): Finish the February Clue

All the pieced borders are added. All that's left for February is a white strip border and one of the dark blue.  The March clue doesn't come out for over a week, so hopefully I can get that finished before then.  I'm really happy with how this mystery is coming together.  

4.  Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter): Continue making red blocks and start blocks using the March RSC color

I've done really well with the red blocks this month.  I've made over 10.  Hopefully I can end the month with about 12.  I need to check my block counts to see how many I need, but I may be about half way there on the red ones.  

5. Indigo Way (Bonnie Hunter):  Continue making blocks as leaders and enders. 

I've finished off a couple of B blocks this week.  There aren't enough component parts made to finish all the blocks needed for my layout.  Once I use what's in the drawer it will be time to figure out what else needs to be cut and pieced.  

If I can do as well as last week on making progress, even if things aren't checked off, I'll be happy with this week.  Linking up with The Quilt Schmilt: For the Love of Fabric for To Do Tuesday.  

2024 Stay at Home Round Robin: Week 5

Week 5 of the SAHRR ends today.  Up to this week, I'd done such a good job of keeping up. Unfortunately, some health issues really limited my sewing room time this week.  It didn't help that my first idea for the border turned out to be a bit unreasonable to piece in a timely manner, so I ended up coming up with plan 2. I did make some progress, just not nearly as much as I would have liked. 

Quilting Gail set this week's prompt as "4".  I followed her lead and decided to add Friendship Star blocks, which have "4" points each.  I need to make another 20 stars to finish off my planned border.  The last border prompt will be posted Monday morning by Kathleen McMusing.  I have till March 18th to finish off the last 2 borders. That's doable.  I'm not so far behind.  

Linking up with Quilting Gail, Patchwork & Quilts and Monday Design Wall.  

Stitching Stuff: Week 8 of 2024

It's not been the best week. What I thought was a pinched nerve, isn't.  The doctor isn't sure what's wrong, but it's gone from bad to worse.  I wasn't able to walk at all Friday. Mobility improved throughout the day on Saturday.  So I worked on some embroidery stitching both days as I couldn't navigate the steps up to my sewing room.  With that I was able to maintain my stitching time for the week.  

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/February  = 24/24 days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 55/55 days
• Success rate = 100% 

I worked just a bit on my long term butterfly panel. 

Not a lot of progress, but enough to get in my 15 minutes of stitching time the days I couldn't make it to the sewing room.  I was able to navigate the stairs last night just before bed time to get in a shower. Fingers crossed I'll be able to get in some good stitching time today. 

The problems with my leg have limited my computer time a bit. I can't sit at my normal work station, any other location causes issues with my shoulder.  So till I get a better handle on the leg, I'm going to be behind on my blog reading and comment responses. Fingers crossed that state doesn't last too long.   

How did your stitching week work out? 

1. Gretchen 2. Julie in GA 3. Deb in Canada 4. Karen 5. DonnaleeQ

6. Jocelyn @CNN 7. Melisa- Pinker n' Punkin Quilting 8. Quilting Gail 9. Dq at Dreamworthyquilts 10. Shelina @ High Road Quilter

11. Bonnie in Va 12. Frédérique 13. Andrée 14. Celine @ Espritpatch

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To Do List for the Week of 02/20/2024

It's not been the best week.  The pinched nerve in my leg is slowly improving, but I'm still pretty slow and sore. Add to that My Guy has a stomach virus.  The only good thing out of that is I've been sleeping on the couch due to my leg and apparently missed out on the virus. Thankfully my stitching time hasn't been impacted too badly and I did pretty well with last week's long to do list.  

To Do List for 02/12/2024

1. 2024 SAHRR: Finish border #4  ✔

2. Betty: Start assembling quilt ✔

3. Guild BOM: Make January and February blocks - progress

4. Malted Mystery: Finish the February clue - progress

5. Wild and Goosey: Continue making red blocks ✔

6. Indigo Way: Continue assembling blocks as leaders/enders ✔

Four check marks with progress on the remaining to do items is a really good week. Hopefully I can do as well this week.  

To Do List for 02/20/2024

1. 2024 SAHRR (Quilting Gail): Finish border #5

Grad girl picked a very challenging block for this week. It looks really cool, but I may not finish this week. We'll just have to see how that goes.

2. Betty (Meadow Mist Designs): Finish assembling quilt. 

It took a bit to decide which blocks went where.  Two rows are sashed and sewn to another row of sashing.  I needed the design wall for the 2024 SAHRR, so I took Betty down and just didn't get it back up to take updated photos. 

3. Guild BOM: Make February Block

I finished January block.  All the pieces are cut out for the February block. It shouldn't take too long to get the block put together.  

4. Malted Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs): Finish the February clue. 

I put the last border strip together without the sashing pieces and didn't realize it till I tried to add it to the rest of the quilt. I spent the last of my sewing room time last night doing the unsewing and pinning on the sashing pieces. That should all go together this week.  

5. Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter): Continue making red blocks

I've done well on the W&G blocks this month. I should have at least 10 completed by the end of the month.  

6. Indigo Way (Bonnie Hunter): Continue making blocks as leaders and enders. 

I finished all the corner blocks, now I'm working on finishing off the setting triangle blocks.  

That's my list for this week.  Hopefully the leg will continue to improve and I can continue to stitch.  Linking up with The Quilt Schmidt: For the Love of Fabric for To Do Tuesday.  

2024 Stay at Home Round Robin: Week #4

No winter precip this weekend, but it was cold. So it was definitely a hang out in the sewing room weekend.  The main priority was to finish the prompt for week #4 of the SAHRR posted by Songbird Designs. You could choose from square in a square blocks or blocks set on point.  

I went with the square in a square blocks around two corners.  It's been fun to watch this quilt come together.  The prompt for border #5 will be posted over at Quilting Gail's on Monday morning.  I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.  

In addition to linking up with Songbird Designs, I'm also linking up with Patchwork & Quilts and Monday Design Wall.  

Stitching Stuff: Week 7 of 2024

 

Winter came back in full force on Friday.  It's just been cold, no winter precip in the forecast. It's definitely been stay in and sew weather.  So it's been another good week on the finding time to stitch front. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Feb = 17/17 days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 48/48 days
• Success rate = 100%

So half way through the second month and I've not missed a day yet.  I came close earlier in the week. I've pinched a nerve in my right leg and it wasn't comfortable sewing early in the week.  I'm back on muscle relaxants and physical therapy.  That's given me some relief.  Fingers crossed I'm back to normal soon.  

How are you doing on keeping up with your stitching stuff?  

1. Julie in GA 2. Gretchen 3. maggie f 4. Karen 5. Quilting Gail

6. DonnaleeQ 7. Andrée 8. Shelina 9. Deb in Canada 10. Bonnie in Va

11. Frédérique 12. Amanda 13. dreamworthyquilts 14. Celine

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Week 103 Photo Challenge: Stairs

We are in for another chilly weekend.  Thankfully it was nice enough early in the week to get out and about to look for potential subjects for  last week's challenge. 

I did go out on a walk early in the week, but you don't tend to find stairs along the walking paths. Having said that, I just realized there is a staircase along one of the trails I normally walk. But as I didn't think of that earlier, I went with one that was easily accessible at home. 

Kate: Mini Stairs

  

Grad Girl's Lego sets to the rescue again.  As part of my decluttering efforts, I've been disassembling these structures that pretty much cover every open shelf in the living room.  I may have to leave a couple of the more complex ones assembled, but maybe move then to her room.  They've showed up in several previous photo challenge posts.   

My Guy was concerned we'd get the same photo this week as there is one building in town with external stairways.  

My Guy: County Courthouse Back Stairs

There only one other building other than the courthouse that I can think of that has external steps and that one is hard to get to. I did consider this location, but completely forgot to get a photo when I met My Guy downtown for lunch earlier in the week. 

Grad Girl probably had the easiest time finding her subject for the week.  

Grad Girl: Art Deco Stairs

She takes these stairs pretty much every day up to her lab on the third floor.  This isn't the first photo she's taken of the Texas A&M Chemistry building lobby.  They just don't build STEM buildings like this any more.  

The last couple of weeks the challenge cards have been easy subjects to interpret.  It will be interesting to see how we each interpret this week's challenge. 

As My Guy said, this would have been a fun prompt for last week.  I've already said we can't use photos of each other.  Not sure we'll stick with that, but you never know.  

Photo Play 2024: January Summary

One of my 2023 goals was to focus on my photography more.  Well that lasted until about May.  It's not that I quit taking photos, it's just that I stopped what limited studying I'd been doing and didn't keep up with reviewing and critiquing my photos.  At the end of this January, I asked myself what I really wanted out of my photography, why am I taking photographs?  I came up with three reasons:

1.  I need to walk for my health, photography makes it more palatable and interesting.

2. I'm retired, but I want to keep learning new skills.

3.  It's something both My Guy and I both enjoy doing together. 

Those are all good reasons.  Having decided that, the next question was what do I want to achieve with my photography?  I read a few articles on other photographers and what they thought was important about taking photos and here's what I decided mattered to me:

1. I enjoy photographing the little things we tend to miss, how the light shines on water or how light shines through a leaf. One photographer said "An image is a poem about time".  And that thought really resonated with me. 

2. It just brings me joy.  Simple as that.  

So I'm back on my journey to document the interaction of light with objects via the camera lens.  My plan is to do a monthly summary on the blog. Here's the best that came out of my January photography efforts. 

January was cold and dreary, but we did get some incredible sunrises. 

Even broken glass can be interesting. 

The play of the morning light can create some interesting images.

 

Even after an extremely cold January, you can still find color out in the woods. 

Some of these photos were taken with my I-Phone, some with my digital SLR.  Not a bad start to 2024.  

To Do List for the Week of 02/12/2024

We woke up to about 3" of wet, fluffy snow yesterday.  Then it promptly warmed up and made everything messy.  But it was pretty while it lasted.  The roads were really slushy, consequently, My Guy's office had delayed start yesterday.  That threw off the start to my day, in a good way. It's always nice to have him around the house.  Though I didn't get to my housework,  I did make it upstairs to finish the last check mark on last week's to do list. 

To Do List for 02/06/2024

1. 2024 SAHRR:  Finish border #3 ✔

2. Betty: Assemble last 5 blocks ✔

3. Indigo Way: Continue assembling blocks ✔

4. Malted Mystery: Work on the February clue ✔

5. Wild and Goosey: Work on red blocks ✔

6. Chilhowie: Finish last block ✔

So it was definitely a good week in the sewing room.  Chilhowie is going to drop off my list as I need the design wall to deal with the pieced sashing.  But I'm adding in a new project to take it's place as you'll see in this week's to do list. 

To Do List for 02/12/2024

1. 2024 Stay at Home Round Robin (Quilting Gail) : Finish border #4

I've got the design for border #4 worked out with Grad Girl and she's chosen the fabrics.  I've made a start.  I'm going to paper piece the square in square blocks.  Fingers crossed I can avoid any errors this week.  

2. Betty (Meadow Mist Designs):  Start assembling quilt.

The last 5 blocks were finished over the weekend.  I'm going to have to take Indigo Way off the big design wall so I can lay out all 20 of the Betty blocks and decide on a final layout so the sashing strips can be added. I'm hoping to get all the sashing done this week and maybe started on sewing the blocks together into rows. We'll see how well that goes. 

3. Guild BOM:  Make January and February blocks.

 

I don't really need a new project, but when the email came out in January with this year's BOM, it looked like such fun that I couldn't not join in.  The green on blue is a long term stash fabric. I'm happy to find a place for it in this project.  It's just one block a month. I should be able to keep up with that.  

4.  Indigo Way (Bonnie Hunter):  Continue assembling blocks/quilt as leaders and enders project. 

I finished a few more blocks this week.  It seems my BH mysteries always end up as leaders and enders. At least this one is much closer to finished then I normally get them.  I had hoped to get the rows all sewn together before I took it off the design wall, but I have projects that need to go up on the big one so down it will come.  

5.  Malted Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs): Finish the February Clue.

Maybe I'll get caught up this month and have the February clue done before the end of the month.  I've probably just jinxed myself with that statement.  I need to finish the bottom border and then add 2 rounds of simple strip borders if I remember correctly.  What looks like black in the photo is actually a very deep navy.  I'm really happy with how this one is coming together.  My fabric choices worked out well.  

6.  Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter): Continue making red blocks

I've finished 6 red blocks this month. I think that's a record.  I had to stop to cut more of the black triangle pieces.  Hopefully I can finish another 6 before the end of the month.  That would definitely make a dent in the number of blocks needed to finish off that color in the quilt.   

My list hasn't gotten any shorter, but I can say that there has been good progress on each project.  I'm on track with most of them.  Linking up with The Quilt Schmilt: For the Love of Fabric for To Do Tuesday.  

2024 Stay at Home Round Robin: Border #3

This week I had hoped to finish off the third round of borders for the SAHRR before Sunday evening.  I was doing so well Friday on getting my triangle borders pulled together.  The first set of border blocks went up on the design wall just before dinner on Friday.  Something  didn't look right.  The diamond tips don't line up.  

I'm paper piecing these diamonds. Note that a diamond is made up of two equilateral triangles and four isosceles triangles. These look wonky because the center diamonds aren't made from two equilateral triangles. I didn't draw the block correctly in EQ and didn't catch it till these were up on the design wall. Why didn't I see it in my EQ quilt mock up?  I used triangle in a square blocks to design the border and decided that paper piecing the blocks as diamonds would be faster.  It would have been if I'd caught that drawing error before I started making the blocks. Lesson learned, double check my measurements in EQ before I print my paper templates.    

By Saturday evening, I had redrawn the block, reprinted the paper pieces, cut the replacement fabric pieces and finished the first set of blocks.  It took me the rest of Sunday to finish all 4 borders. 

The quilt top is now 34" x 36".  I'm happy with how this quilt is coming together.  Grad Girl has been giving me input on fabric selections and a thumbs up on each border mock up in EQ before I start making the blocks.  It's not too hard to collaborate via text.  The prompt for border #4 should be posted Monday morning over at Songbird Designs.  

Linking up with The Darling Dogwood for Round #3 of the SAHRR and my typical Monday morning linky parties for Design Wall Monday and Patchwork & Quilts.  

Stitching Stuff: Week 6 of 2024

 

The second week of February has been a mixed bag weather wise.  It was warm enough for some hiking and photography before getting cool enough that hiding in the sewing room was really the only option.  Even with the days spent out on the hiking trail, my stitching time for the week didn't suffer.  

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Feb = 10/10 days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 41/41 days
• Success rate = 100%

I've managed to hold onto a 100% success rate for 6 weeks. So it's going well on the finding time to stitch front this year, at least for now.  I'm sure there will come a day soon that getting in any stitching time just won't work out, but till that day occurs, I'm going to enjoy all the stitching time. 

One thing about the flaky weather, sunny one day, overcast the next, is that we've had some pretty incredible sunrises and sunsets the last couple of weeks. We were on our way to grab some dinner last night and this was the view as we headed into downtown. 

 

All the warm colors of the rainbow splashed across the sky. It didn't last long and it was mostly overcast today, so no pretty sunset this evening. 

Has your 2024 gotten off to a good start? How are you doing at getting in your stitching time lately?  

1. maggie f 2. Gretchen 3. Julie in GA 4. Karen

5. DonnaleeQ 6. Frédérique 7. Melisa- Pinker n' Punkin Quilting 8. Dq at Dreamworthyquilts

9. Quilting&Learning 10. Bonnie in Va 11. Carol @QuiltSchmilt

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Week 102 Photo Challenge: Leaves

We are in for another dreary and chilly weekend, with a chance of snow Sunday night.  So it's definitely a great sewing weekend.  Though it doesn't make for fun photography, I'm not a fan of walking in the cold. It doesn't seem to bother My Guy.  Thankfully it was warmer early this week and it was more enticing to get out and find a photograph for this week's prompt. 

After last week's challenging "good and evil" prompt, this one was much easier for everyone.  There are several meanings of the word "leaves", which is illustrated by this week's photos. My submission may be the first meaning you think of. 

Kate: Just Pretty Leaves

You can still find colorful leaves on some of the vines and small bushes along the wooded parts of town.  I have no idea what plant this is, but the orange against the blue sky made for a pretty picture. 

My Guy went with what might be the second meaning you think of for this week's prompt. 

My Guy: The Flock Leaves

 

These are Double Crested Cormorants leaving one of the lakes near Tulsa.  The Cormorants winter here, but breed in the northern US into southern Canada.  So these guys are likely leaving soon to head to their spring and summer hang outs.  

Grad Girl is still working long days. She worked last weekend and will work this weekend.  So she's not had much time to contemplate getting photos. So she got creative for this week's prompt. 

Grad Girl: Leave-less, Petal-ful

So not your typical response to the prompt, but I like the monochromatic tone of the photo.  It's definitely a week where we all went a different interpretations.  

Hopefully Grad Girl will have more time to get a photograph this next week.  The challenge will be how to get an interesting photo. 

I know of some interesting stairs, but not necessary around here. Definitely going to have to do some contemplation for this week's prompt.  

To Do List for the Week of 02/06/2024

The beginning of February ushered in some warmer temps, so afternoon walks have been taking some of my afternoon sewing time.  Even with that added activity, I did pretty well with my long to do list from last week.  

To Do List for 01/30/2024

1.  2024 SAHRR: Make border #2 ✔

2.  Betty: Assemble 5 blocks ✔

3.  Indigo Way: Continue assembling blocks ✔

4.  Malted Mystery: Finish Jan clue, start Feb - progress

5.  Scrappy Butterflies: Send out for quilting ✔

6.  Wild & Goosey: Finish green blocks, start red blocks ✔

7.  Chilhowie: Continue as leaders and enders project ✔

Check marks on six out of 7, with progress on the 7th is a really good week. I've been prioritizing the current quilt along projects, so those get done first.  Progress on the other projects has consequently been slower, but there is still progress.  

I've been contemplating my strategy for this week. Now that Scrappy Butterflies is out for quilting, do I pull out another quilt to be finished and add that to the rotation?  With two on going quilt alongs, it's probably best that I concentrate on what's currently up on the design walls. I can concentrate on finishing up some of my older projects later in the year.  A to do list with seven items is just a bit long for comfort.  So here's this week's to do list. 

To Do List for 02/06/2024

1. 2024 Stay at Home Round Robin (Quilting Gail): Finish border #3. 

 

The prompt for the third border is to use triangles.  I've got my design worked out. But I need to pick an orange and a black for those triangles.  

2. Betty (Meadow Mist Designs): Assemble last 5 blocks.

The last 5 went together pretty quickly.  Just 5 left to construct for this week. Then it's on to quilt construction. 

3.  Indigo Way (Bonnie Hunter): Continue assembling blocks. 

Not a lot of progress on this project, but there has been some. I'd like to get this to finished quilt top and off the design wall. Since all the blocks are laid out on the design wall and ready to stitch, it just makes sense to keep working on this project. 

4.  Malted Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs): Work on the February clue. 

January clue is done.  It doesn't look square, but it is.  This design wall is behind my cutting table and it's hard to get something laid out straight on it. The February clue is out, I'm really excited to get the new rows added and see how my version comes out.  

5. Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter):  Work on red blocks.

One red block is already finished and a second not far off finished.  I've been working on 2 at a time as I stitch on my other projects.  

6. Chilhowie (Bonnie Hunter): Finish last block.

The 9th block is almost finished.  Once it's done, this project is going to go into a project box for a bit.  The sashing is pieced and it would help to have the blocks on the design wall while working through that process.  Chilhowie has been my leaders and enders project. I will probably start working on Indigo Way as my leaders and enders till I can get it off the design wall.  

So that's my list for this week.  A bit shorter than last week's, which I hope means better progress on what's left on it.  Linking up with The Quilt Schmilt: For the Love of Fabric for To Do Tuesday. 

2024 Stay at Home Round Robin: Border #2

It's been a cold and rainy day, perfect for lots of sewing time.  My focus today was to finish the second border for this year's SAHRR.  Last week's prompt was from Anja Quilts, using just two colors do anything you like for the second border.  I decided to go simple. 

The rail fence borders were pretty easy, but those 9 patches with the 1" orange strips weren't as easy.  I didn't do too badly at matching the corners up with the sides, but even being just a tad off shows up with those bold colors. Grad Girl likes it, which is all that matters.  I'm looking forward to seeing what guidance we get for border 3 on Monday morning. The quilt is just 26" x 28", I'm going to need to use some larger blocks in the next 3 rounds to get this to a good couch sized quilt.      

Linking up with the 2024 SAHRR Round 2, Design Wall Monday, and Patchwork & Quilts.  

Stitching Stuff: Week 5 of 2024

 

Week 5 of 2024 means it's February.  Day one and two were very nice, but now we are back to a chilly rain.  That usually means more stitching time for me, but with the nice weather, walks and photography took over a couple of afternoons. Saturday morning was science fair, so my stitching time took a hit, but I still got in at least my 15 minutes each day. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Jan = 31/31 days
• 15 minute days/Feb = 3/3 days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 34/34 days
• Success rate = 100% 

I'm doing better than last year on getting in my stitching time each day.  The last time I managed 100% in January was in 2018.  My record for hanging on to a 100% success rate is January to March 2017.  My goal is to stay over 75%, but it's fun to see how long I can stay at 100%. 

A quick follow up:  A couple of weeks ago, the family photo challenge was flowers.  Grad Girl's photo was of her her latest Lego Kit, Wildflowers. But it was all in pieces. This is her fourth kit of Lego Flowers.  There were several comments that said they'd never seen Lego Flowers, not surprising if you don't have kids (little and big) that enjoy those kits.  Here's what the wildflower kit looks like assembled.

 

It's amazing what Lego offers now. It's a lot more than just building bricks now.  

Have you stayed on track with your stitching goals so far?  Link up and share how it's going. 

1. Gretchen 2. maggie f 3. Karen 4. DonnaleeQ 5. Julie in GA

6. Jennifer in Indy 7. Dq at Dreamworthyquilts 8. katie z. 9. Bonnie in Va 10. Frédérique

11. Deb in Canada 12. Quilting Gail 13. amanda 14. Celine 15. Andrée

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