Week 151 Photo Challenge: Water Splashes

It's been over 2 months since my last photo challenge post.  The new deck of photo prompts we are using are a lot more challenging then the previous two decks.  On the one hand, it's fun to have the challenge. On the other, some of them require specific conditions and very special set ups to capture.  That just takes more time and effort. Even My Guy struggled to get good shots for the last challenge card. 

I really tried the experimental approach and just didn't get anything photo worthy at all.  So as we often do in these challenges, I went with a different interpretation.  

Kate: Splash Initiator

Capturing the splash was very elusive, but after our big snow storm back in January, I did capture a drop just starting to separate from one of the ice cycles on the tree outside the office window. A splash starts with a water drop, so I just photographed a different part of the sequence.   

My Guy's photo is from about the same time period.  

My Guy: Snow Melt Splashes

This was taken in one of the local creeks just after the snow fall back in January.  Definitely a nice splash, but not one created from an experiment.

I kept hoping to get a better shot. I did try to capture some splashes during our last big rain storm, but those didn't really work out either. Grad Girl just didn't have the time to play with splashes. Since she's not working in a lab these days, but is still working a full time job with a commute in Houston traffic, subjects and time for photography have been a bit narrow for her.  So she really struggled with the last two challenges.  When I sent her the next challenge card, she was happy to see something she could do.  

  

With the spring flowers just starting to bloom, we should all be able to get photos sooner, rather than later.  

To Do List for the Week of 3/10/2026

There's a lot going on in my sewing room this week (and next week and the week after). All the quilt alongs have ended and I need to have finished quilt tops for the quilt parades.  So my priority will change for this week's list. Before I get to that, here's how last week's list went.  

To Do List for 3/3/2026

1. Kate's Choice: Finish borders ✔

2. Scenic Waypoint: Finish block and start quilt assembly - progress

3. Magnificent Mystery: Finish block, start quilt assembly - progress

4. SAHRR: Work on final border, quilt assembly - no progress

5. Wild and Goosey: Work on blue blocks ✔

6. Guild Challenge block: Make at least one block ✔

I had hoped to make lots of progress yesterday, but the massive sinus headache made that impossible. There was time spent in the sewing room, just not the hours I had hoped for.  But at this point, progress is progress.  Here's this week's list.

  

To Do List for 3/10/2026

1. Scenic Waypoint (Meadow Mist Designs):  Finish block and quilt assembly. 

The blocks for the first 4 rows are all sewn together. That leaves row 5 blocks to assemble and then start the sashing the blocks to sew into a top.  Probably not going to be a finished quilt top in time to post for the quilt parade for the 2026 Stash Busting Quilt Along.  

2. Kate's Choice: Finish binding

One side done, one corner rounded.  Just 3 more left.  

3.  SAHRR (Quilting Gail): Work on final border blocks and quilt assembly. 

The first row of blocks is sewn together.  That's as far as I've gotten.  It will my first priority once Scenic Waypoint is a finished quilt top.  

4. Magnificent Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs): Work on block assembly

Half the blocks are assembled.  So still a ways to go on this project. But the deadline for the linky party is still three weeks away.  I might just get this one done in time.  

5. Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter): Continue working on blue blocks

Four blocks have been finished since the beginning of the month. I'm hoping to make good progress on these. It would be nice to be able to assemble the quilt before the end of the year.  For now, I just keep two blocks going as my leaders while I'm working on other projects. 

That's my list for this week.  It's pretty much the same list I've had since the beginning of the year.  But a couple of projects should fall off in the next week or two at the most.  Will I add something new? Probably not, the plan is to move all the current quilt along projects to finished quilt tops (except for Wild and Goosey), then see what UFOs I tackle next.  

Linking up with the Quilt Schmilt for To Do Tuesday.  

Closing in on Finishes

Most of the quilt alongs/mystery quilts I sew along with start in 1st or 4th quarter.  That only becomes an issue when it's time to produce a finished quilt top for the quilt parade at the end of the quilt along.  That happens for 3 projects over the next 3 weeks. The deadline for the Meadow Mist Designs 2026 Stash Busting Quilt Along is this Wednesday.    

The last 2 blocks in row 4 of Scenic Waypoint are lined up by the sewing machine ready for stitching. 

Still need to finish the 4 blocks for row 5.  The quilt is assembled with sashing and corner stones. So there is a long way to go to have a finished quilt top by Wednesday. Will I get there? We'll see. 

One reason I'm not farther along on Scenic Waypoint is that I spent 3 days last week working on finishing up the borders on Kate's Choice.  Once those were all on, it just made sense to get the binding made and attached.  I'm hand stitching on the back and made it past one corner. 

   

Finishing up the binding will have to wait a few days. Fingers crossed I can have a finished quilt by the end of the week. But any progress on Kate's Choice will have to wait till after Wednesday.    

Linking up with Patchwork & Quilts, along with Sew and Tell Monday.  

Stitching Stuff: Week 10 of 2026

 

We've had glimpses of spring this week.  The higher temps have also come with higher chances of severe weather.  It just that time of year here.  But we really need the rain. We had extreme fire danger last month due to the dry conditions.  Fortunately, the recent storms haven't impacted my stitching time over the last week.  

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Mar = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/2026 = 66/66 days
• Success rate = 100%

I've had a few afternoons when allergies just about got the better of me, but otherwise it hasn't been too hard to get in my stitching time each day.  We have some family stuff coming up later this month and in April, so it may be challenging to keep the 100%.  We'll see how it goes.  

How did you do with your stitching goals this week.  

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

5. Frédérique 6. Bonnie Stapleton 7. Shelina at Quilt and Color 8. Quilting Gail

9. Carol @ Quilt Schmilt 10. Marsha's Spot

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February 2026 PHD Report

February is such a short month.  January was 5 weeks, so a true 4 week month is a shock afterwards.  Now that the second month of 2026 is finished,  it's time to report on how I'm doing on my PHDs (projects half done) and link up with Ms P Designs' PHD in 2026.  My PHD report is unchanged from January.   

No finishes, but no new starts either. It was still a good month because there has definitely been progress on several projects.  

Kate's Choice is an almost finish. The second border is attached.  The top border is quilted, but I had to stop and figure out how to deal with the sashing for the top and bottom borders. That's figured out. Hopefully both borders get finished and added this week. Then all that's left is binding.  It would be nice to have a finish for March.  

Since the Rainbow Scrap Challenge color for February was green, I took the month to sash all the green Wild and Goosey blocks (Bonnie Hunter).  Now that those are done, they go back into the project box with the yellow, orange and red sashed blocks. I may make some changes later, some have triangles that stand out a bit much. But I'll wait till I get all the blocks done and see how it looks when these are up on the wall with all the other blocks.  

The quilt assembly instructions came out for the Magnificent Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs) in February. I'm not quite half way done with constructing the blocks.  So not completely caught up, but not way behind either.  

The January, February and March blocks for the Guild BOM have been released. April will be shown at the guild meeting this month. I've started on the instructions for May, I should get back to the instruction writing and block construction this month. It would be nice to have May, June and July ready to go before April gets here.  

The SAHRR (Quilting Gail), is over for this year. I chose a large center block with much smaller sampler blocks as my approach to the challenge this year.  I've changed up the blocks in the sampler rows to better balance the color density in the blocks. There are still  some borders to add, but it's coming together pretty well  

 

When Cheryl of Meadow Mist Designs kicked off her 2026 Stash Busting Quilt along in January, I couldn't resist starting Scenic Waypoint.  I'm about a week behind schedule. But for me, that's not too bad. The blocks are turning out nicely and it feels good to use up some older stash fabrics. 

There was an error in my project mapping graphic last month, I over stated how far along I was on Magnificent Mystery.  So that bar is shorter, but to compensate Kate's Choice became an assembled top, so that bar got a bit longer.  

I should finish up the three quilt tops that have been my priority since January this month.  So hopefully a few lines in the graph will be longer. I'm hoping that happens earlier in the month, so I can start working on that big block of quilts that need to be quilted before the end of the month.  We'll see how far I get on those.  

To Do List for the Week of 3/3/2026

Hard to believe we've already started on the third month of 2026. We'll be one quarter through the year by the end of the month.  Not to scare anyone, but wow, it's been going by fast.  February was a pretty good month, I didn't check all the items off my to do lists each week, but I got close.  The last week of the month was consistent with the previous 3.   

To Do List for 2/24/2026

1.  Kate's Choice: Work on borders ✔

2.  SAHRR: Start 6th prompt ✔

3.  Scenic Waypoint: Assemble blocks - progress

4.  Magnificent Mystery: Continue block assembly ✔

5.  Wild and Goosey: Continue sashing green blocks ✔

I didn't check off all of my to do list, but at least there was progress on every project.  My to do list hasn't changed much since the first of the year. It's going to be pretty much the same this week.  

To Do List for 3/3/2026

1. Kate's Choice: Finish borders

The fabric strips are cut for the sashing and the borders. The top border is quilted, but hasn't been cut to size yet (I started with the border pieces being a bit longer to account for any loss the quilting causes).  I'm hoping to finish quilting the bottom border and get both attached this week. I'm excited to get at least one quilt off my UFO list. 

2. Scenic Waypoint (Meadow Mist Designs): Finish block assembly, start quilt assembly

All the blocks for rows 1 and 2 are finished. A couple of blocks for row 3 are done. The deadline for the quilt parade for this quilt along is March 12th. I have a lot of stitching to do before then. Can I get this to finished quilt top by then?  

3.  Magnificent Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs): Finish block assembly, start quilt assembly

The deadline for the quilt parade for this mystery quilt along is March 11th. Not sure I can move both this one and the one for Scenic Waypoint to finished quilt tops by the due dates.  The more likely scenario is that I don't make either.    

4.  SAHRR (Quilting Gail): Work on final border, quilt assembly

With all the effort going into Scenic Waypoint and Magnificent Mystery it's good that I have a few weeks before the final quilt parade for the SAHRR.  What gets done, gets done this week on this project.  

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

The RSC color is red, but as I've finished all the red blocks for this project, I'm going to pick back up on the blue ones.  

6.  Guild Challenge Block: Make at least one block

The guild challenge block for this year is one for Heartland Quilt Network.  This group creates patriotic quilts for veterans. Several guild members sew with this group weekly.  I've pulled some scrap strips from my bins. We'll see how far I get with it this week.  

That's the list for this week. If I can make a lot of progress on it, several projects should hit significant milestones.  It probably won't happen this week, but surely by the end of the month my list will look a bit different. Fingers crossed on that front.  Linking up with the Quilt Schmilt for To Do Tuesday.   

2026 SAHRR: Quilter's Choice

The sixth and last prompt for the 2026 SAHRR comes from AnjaQuilts, "quilters choice".  Well that leaves it pretty wide open doesn't it?  I've had some of my block books out searching for blocks for next year's guild BOM (Yes I start early. It takes me a while to decide on a final design and pull the fabrics).  I wanted something that worked with the previous blocks and carried similar elements to the Snail's Trail block from week 3.  

 

Dutchman's Puzzle seemed to be the best option. (Texas Quilt Gal decided the same for her prompt 6. Great minds think alike).  I really wanted a block that used the very lightest fabric with the darkest.  I think it worked out pretty well.  

  I added to the design wall with all the other blocks.  

I'm pretty happy with how the sampler looks, but I'm going to need to change some blocks around to balance out the blocks with the light fabric with the two without it.  So I'll have to play a bit before sewing the rows together.  Thank you  to Gail and all her partners for another very fun SAHRR.  There are still some borders to add, the design for those is still work in progress.  I have a couple of weeks before the final link up to get that done.  

Linking up with AnjaQuilts, Sew and Tell Monday, as well as Patchwork & Quilts.   

Stitching Stuff: Week 9 of 2026

 

We hit the low 80s on Friday and Saturday, but it's supposed to cool off today with a chance of showers. We need the showers, but that's not looking too lightly right now.  Unfortunately the higher temps have meant more pollen so my allergies have been keeping me up at night.  Afternoon naps have been my theme all week, but that didn't keep me from the sewing room.  

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Feb = 28/28 days
• 15 minute days/2026 = 59/59 days
• Success rate = 100%

Two months into 2026 and I've sewn every day so far.  It won't last, but it's nice to make the most of the first two months of a new year. Progress has been good, even though I've not finished anything yet.  

I don't post my fabric stats any more.  I love fabrics and discovered that managing my stash is just not something that works for me.  But I was doing so well this year at using more than I bought. Till yesterday. 

   

I went to the local shop for open sew yesterday.  Only to discover the lovely owner had decided she was overrun with batiks, so some needed to go. At $6 a yard, it was hard to say no.  There may be another quilt for My Guy here. We'll see. 

So how has your stitching week worked out?  

 

1. Frédérique 2. Gretchen 3. Melissa G 4. Julie in GA

5. maggie fellow 6. Karen 7. Andrée at Quilting & Learning 8. Bonnie Stapleton

9. Quilting Gail 10. Shelina at Quilt and Color 11. Marsha's Spot 12. Jennifer in Indy

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To Do List for the Week of 2/24/2026

February will end and March will start between now and the next week's to do list.  This month is such a short one, I always feel behind at the end. Looking back over February's to do lists, it was actually a really good month.   

 

To Do List for 2/17/2026

1.  Kate's Choice: Cut borders, layer and pin for quilting - progress

2.  SAHRR: Start 5th prompt ✔

3. Scenic Waypoint: Finish corner units ✔

4. Magnificent Mystery: Continue block assembly ✔

5. Wild and Goosey: Continue sashing green blocks ✔

All the progress is starting to show up on the design walls in the sewing room. This week's to do list will look pretty much like last week's.  

To Do List for 2/24/2026

1. Kate's Choice: Work on borders

I finally decided on the dark green as the border, it makes the best frame for the blocks. The left border is completely quilted and attached.  All the strips are cut for the remaining 3 borders, but batting is only cut for the right border.  It's not likely that the all the borders will get done this week and attached. Fingers crossed the next three borders go on as easily as the first. It would be nice to have a finish this month.  

2. SAHRR (Quilting Gail): Start 6th prompt

Just one block left in this year's quilt along.  I'll decide how to assemble the block rows once that's done.  I have a loose finishing plan, so I need to firm that up once the last block is decided.  

3. Scenic Waypoint (Meadow Mist Designs): Assemble blocks

Last night I started laying out the possible blocks on the design wall.  Once that was done, the panic hit, it looked like a hot mess. I've moved a center here and a set of hourglass blocks there.  But nothing seemed to help.  So I stopped and built the quilt in Electric Quilt using very similar colors.  Once you add the sashing, it doesn't look like such a hot mess.  I have some thoughts on how to set the blocks so there are patterns that draw the eye. The other option is to make each block a single color.  I'm going to play in EQ a bit more before I start sewing the blocks together.  

4. Magnificent Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs): Continue block assembly 

It's been slow going on block assembly as this project isn't my priority at the moment. There are enough blocks finished now to see how the pattern is going to work.  This is a mystery quilt, so I'm always happy when my color selections work out.  It's not as bright as most of my quilts are, but I've wanted to use these three teals together for a long time.  It's nice to see them out of the stash and into a quilt.  

5. Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter): Continue sashing green blocks

Sashing these blocks has been my leaders and enders project for February.  I'm around half way done with these. I'll keep these in the rotation until they are all sashed.  

It's been the same list for several weeks now.  Hopefully I'll get far enough along to be able to rotate some things off and others back on.  Linking up with the Quilt Schmilt for To Do Tuesday.  

2026 SAHRR: Two Colors

Gail, of Quilting Gail, took pity on us after a week of curved piecing, we just need two colors and any block for the Week #5 prompt. That's easy enough, you just have to pick the block.  I'm trying to keep some consistency between the two rows of blocks in my version. Looking at what was already up on the design wall, a block with no background in it seemed the best option to go with either of the two end blocks on the front row. After quick look in Electric Quilt, I finally decided on a simple sawtooth star block.  

Sticking with two colors isn't hard because all the fabrics I'm using are combinations of blue and black.  

  

It's a simple block, but looks very dramatic in the blue and black.  It fits in with the other blocks already up on the design wall. 

Just one block left.  I've not sewn the two rows together just yet.  Once all the blocks are made, then I'll play around with the layout and see what works well with the six blocks.  It was nice this year to limit my weekly sewing to just one block, though I still feel like a cheated this year. A nice quilt will result from it, so I'll get over it.  

Linking up with Quilting Gail for the SAHRR 5th week prompt, Patchwork and Quilts, plus Sew and Tell Monday.  

Stitching Stuff: Week 8 of 2026

 

We are settling into a new rhythm after all the changes earlier this month.  It will likely change again, but probably not for a couple of months.  I'm back to my normal sewing room times which made for a good week on the stitching front.  

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Feb = 21/21 days
• 15 minute days/2026 = 52/52 days
• Success rate = 100%

I'm still at 100% on my stitching time so far this year. I've only managed to keep the 100% thru February 3 times in 15 years.  I still have a week to keep up the 100% to make it 4 times.  We'll see if I can manage that.  

How are you doing with keeping up with your stitching time each day?  

1. Gretchen 2. Frédérique 3. Melissa G 4. Julie in GA

5. maggie fellow 6. Linda at Texas Quilt Gal 7. Karen 8. Shelina at Quilt and Color

9. Andrée at Quilting & Learning 10. Bonnie Stapleton 11. Quilting Gail 12. Marsha's Spot

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To Do List for the Week of 2/17/2026

Hard to believe that February is already more than half over.  I need to get busy on a few projects if I'm going to stay on track with my goals for the year.  My weekly to do list helps to keep me on track, most weeks anyway.  I didn't do too badly last week.  

To Do List for 2/10/2026

1. Kate's Choice: Assemble Quilt top and decide on borders ✔

2. SAHRR: Start the 4th prompt ✔

3. Scenic Waypoint: Finish hourglass/center units, start corner units ✔

4. Magnificent Mystery: Continue block assembly ✔

5. Wild and Goosey: Continue sashing green blocks ✔

Five for five. I'll gladly take that. Hopefully I can carry that momentum into this week's to do list. 

To Do List for 2/17/2026

1. Kate's Choice: Cut borders, layer and pin for quilting

All the blocks are quilted and assembled into a quilt top.  It looks unfinished, so I'm going to try to add a border. It should go together just like the blocks did. The plan for this week is to cut the front and back borders and the sashing strips. Then sandwich the border strips and quilt them. I'm hoping the process is more interesting than it is frustrating.  We'll see.  

2. SAHRR (Quilting Gail): Start 5th prompt

I survived curves and that wasn't at all assured.  Looking forward to seeing what comes next.  

3. Scenic Waypoint (Meadow Mist Designs): Finish corner units

The hourglass and center block units are all finished, finally! So all I have to work on this week is making all the corner units. I've gotten started, but don't actually have any units completed yet.  I'll have lots of sewing to do this week to keep up.

4. Magnificent Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs): Continue block assembly

I've only finished 4 blocks, but you can start to see the secondary patterns.  What looks black is actually a very deep brown.  So far so good, it's been fun to see this project come together. 

5. Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter): Continue sashing green blocks

 

I've made some progress on getting the green Wild and Goosey blocks sashed.  Just a bit over one quarter of the blocks are finished. I'll need to get busy if I want to finish all the sashing of the green blocks this month.  

I'm hoping for another good week of solid progress. Linking up with the Quilt Schmilt for To Do Tuesday. 

2026 SAHRR: Curves

I struggled with this week's SAHRR prompt. Wendy at Pieceful Thoughts set "curves" as our focus for this week. Even though I've sewn curved seams back when making clothes was my main sewing room activity, it's been ages. Searching through the blocks in Electric Quilt, I finally settled on a Dresden Plate block.  

I've made a Dresden Plate block before in one or two other quilt alongs. But I've never made one without a pattern.  After searching through my specialty rulers, I found two wedge rulers. Instructions for the 18 degree one were in my miscellaneous quilting stuff notebook, so that became my path forward. 

  

I'm reasonably happy with how it worked out. The instructions were pretty clear about how long to cut the blades, but they seem a little short, wish I'd cut them a bit longer.  Live and learn, I'll know better next time I make a Dresden Plate. Adding the corners helped fill in all the empty space. It's far from perfect, but my projects never are, so it stays. It works well with the other blocks. 

I'm pretty happy with how this year's SAHRR is coming together. It still feels a bit weird to just be making one block for each prompt, but it has made this year's effort much less stressful. Just two more prompts and we'll be done with the challenge for this year. Looking forward to this week's prompt.  

Linking up with Pieceful Thoughts, Sew and Tell Monday, plus Patchwork & Quilts.

Stitching Stuff: Week 7 of 2026

 

We've had a much quieter and less stressful week.  Thank you for all the moral support.  Uncertainty is never fun. I can't say our ducks are all in a row, but we at least know where they all are. My Guy has made some decisions about his path forward, it may just take him a bit to get there.  

It wasn't too hard to stay on track with my planned stitching time this week. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/Feb = 14/14 days
• 15 minute days/2026 = 45/45 days
• Success rate = 100% 

Another good week on the stitching time front.  Almost half way the second month of the year and I'm still at 100%. My goal is to keep my stitching time over 75%.  I'm on track there.  

How are you doing at keeping up with your crafty projects this month?  

1. Gretchen 2. Kathy S. 3. maggie fellow 4. Julie in GA 5. Melissa G

6. Frédérique 7. Karen 8. DonnaleeQ 9. Linda at Texas Quilt Gal 10. Andrée at Quilting & Learning

11. Bonnie Stapleton 12. Shelina at Quilt and Color 13. Quilting Gail 14. Deb in Canada 15. Marsha's Spot

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To Do List for the Week of 2/10/2026

I didn't make it to the computer yesterday, so my to do list didn't get posted. We've had a lot going on at our household.  My Guy was involuntarily retired last week as part of company cost cutting efforts. So my schedule is just a bit messed up as we've had to deal with getting a few things figured out and set up. Thankfully, I've still had time to get some sanity time in my sewing room and get a bit done on last week's to do list.   

To Do List for 02/03/2026

1. Kate's Choice: Assemble 6th row ✔

2. SAHRR: Make block for third prompt ✔

3. Scenic Waypoint: Finish hourglass blocks, start centers-progress

4. Magnificent Mystery: Start block assembly ✔

5. Wild and Goosey: Sash green blocks, work on blue ✔

It was actually a pretty good week on the progress front. The goal is to maintain that this week. 

To Do List for 02/10/2026

1.  Kate's Choice: Assemble quilt top and decide on borders

The last row is assembled.  Now to stitch that to the other bottom two rows and sew the two halves together.  I'll definitely get that far this week.  Next step is to decide if I want to try quilting borders and add those to the center. 

2.  SAHRR (Quilting Gail): Start the 4th prompt

The sampler has been a fun way to keep up with the SAHRR.  I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next.  

3. Scenic Waypoint (Meadow Mist Designs): Finish hourglass, center units and start corner units

I've made good progress on all the components part, but haven't finished a given step yet.  I'm getting close to finishing up the hour glass blocks.  This week's instructions for the Stash Busting Quilt along are to make all the corner blocks.  

4.  Magnificent Mystery (Meadow Mist Designs): Continue block assembly.  

One of the A blocks is assembled.  I'm happy with my fabric choices. I got started on a B block, but didn't get it finished.  I'm not setting a firm number of blocks to finish, I'll just keep plugging along on block construction and hope that assembly happens in early March.

5. Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter): Sash green blocks

The green blocks have been my leaders and enders this week.  It's been slow going making them that way, but some progress is better than none.  

I'm making steady progress on multiple projects, so it's been a good year so far.  Hopefully that will continue.  Linking up with the Quilt Schmilt for To Do Tuesday.