Finish #2 for 2024

My handwork project during our 4th of July road trip was the binding for the 2023 Stay at Home Round Robin sponsored by Quilting Gail.  I finished the binding on Tuesday, but wasn't able to get photos till Sunday afternoon.  Here's the finished Blue Birds. 

This was my first time participating in the round robin. It was such fun and I'm really happy with how the final quilt turned out. All the blocks are made from my blue, green, purple and teal scraps. This quilt is destined to be My Guy's new TV recliner quilt.  He's been using one of my rejects, a QOV quilt that had major problems with a fabric that bleed badly when I washed it.  I'd made one for him a couple of years ago but Grad Girl begged to take that one to grad school. It really was too big for the recliner so My Guy let that one go.  (Grad Girl has threatened to take this quilt as well. Which is why this year's SAHRR has a black cat at the center and will be my next finish).  

Here's the label:

 

The bird on the left is a Mountain Blue Bird (the ones we have locally are Eastern Blue Birds).  The bird on the right is an Indigo Bunting, which are native to Oklahoma.  Most Saturdays in the spring and summer My Guy heads out to the blue bird trail just to the south of the research center to check the blue bird nests.  He photographs all types of birds on those expeditions.  So it's not surprising I picked Blue Birds as the name of this quilt.  

Trudy quilted large leafy vines over the quilt. 

It adds a very nice texture to the whole quilt.  The two birds in the center are fabric representations of a Indigo Bunting and a Blue Bird.   

The backing really fits the theme. 

Maybe the birds aren't blue, but there is plenty of teal and purple which show up on the front of the quilt.  

Finish #2 is definitely one of my favorites from the UFO list.  My Guy won't be needing this quilt for a few months. But it will be ready to go when late fall gets here.  

Linking up with the Monday Design Wall, Patchwork & Quilts. and Oh Scrap.  

Stitching Stuff: Week 28 of 2024

 

I've felt off kilter all week.  Getting home from Texas on Monday afternoon seems to have thrown both My Guy and I off on where we are in the week.  Saturday seemed to be a reset day. Hopefully next week will feel more normal.  

Even though there were a couple of days I wasn't sure if it was Tuesday or Wednesday, I still met my stitching goals.  

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/July = 13/13 days
• 15 minute days/2024 =195/195 days
• Success rate = 100% 

So far so good on keeping up with finding time to stitch each day.  I'm learning the key factor is to think ahead and have a project and decide on a time to sit and stitch.  While we were on the road, I'd stitch when My Guy was getting ready (shower, shave, dress).  That way I was sure to get my time in no matter what else we did during the day. 

I did get back to both the scrap processing and yardage organization this week. There was a bit of progress on scrap bag #2, but not enough to be really noticeable.  However, the fabric to be pressed bin is noticeably less full.  

It's been fun to rediscover some favorite fabrics that have been hidden in the piles. It's been so hard to not stop and start new projects with some of those rediscoveries.  I'm determined to move some UFOs off the list, so I have room to play with lots more new projects next year.  

So how was your stitching week?  Did you declutter and organize, or stick with stitching stuff?  

1. Julie in GA 2. maggie f 3. Deb in Canada

4. Melisa- Pinker n' Punkin Quilting 5. Jennifer in Indy 6. Bonnie in Va

7. Frédérique 8. Quilting Gail 9. Carol @Quilt Schmilt

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Week 115 Photo Challenge: Sunrise/Sunset

I had hoped to post last week, but we were in Texas.  I forgot to pack the challenge card deck.  Grad Girl struggled to get a photo, she was really busy and grad school schedules are more sleep in a bit, but work late. Which can make it hard to capture a photo for the last challenge. 

My challenge photo is a pretty classic sunrise. 

Kate: Silhouetted Sunrise

We had rain rolling in that morning. I like how the trees are silhouetted.  The dark bands on top and bottom really showcase the oranges and yellows.  We have some wonderful sunrises and sunsets here, especially when there are storms rolling in or out.  

My Guy was lucky enough to find another phenomenon to photograph at sunset. 

My Guy: Beryl Bow

On the drive back from Texas, we encountered some of the early rain bands from Hurricane Beryl.  My Guy was lucky enough to capture this rainbow while we were driving back.  It was amazingly long lived. I could see it in the rearview mirror and side mirrors for about 30 minutes.  

Grad Girl had a completely different perspective. 

Grad Girl: Grad Student Sunrise

Sunrise to Grad Girl is when the sun shows itself in the apartment. Their patio window faces east, so this is sunrise and not sunset.   She really doesn't sleep that late, she's usually up by 7:30 AM.  You can just make out the silhouette of Queenie's head at the bottom of the photo. 

Very different perspectives and photos for the last challenge.  The next photo challenge card covers a readily available subject.  

 

Joni Mitchell once noted that "I really don't know clouds at all".  It would be fun if our photos can demonstrate that. We'll see.  

To Do List for the Week of 07/09/2024

It's been a whirl wind couple of days.  We went to Texas to visit Grad Girl for the 4th of July weekend.  We had planned to stay till Monday to avoid the homeward bound traffic from 4th of July.  Those plans changed when they issued tropical storm warnings for Brazos county due to Beryl. We had a serious rethink and left late Sunday afternoon to drive to Dallas.  It's pretty flat in that part of the state and it doesn't take much for parts of the roads to flash flood, so it just seemed wise to avoid that potential problem.

We left for Texas last Wednesday.  So there wasn't a lot of time in the sewing room last week. Consequently, there aren't a lot of check marks on the to do list. 

To Do List for 07/02/2024

1.  2024 SAHRR: Package and mail ✔   

2.  Kate's Choice: Continue making blocks ✔

3.  Guild BOM: Finish June block - progress

4.  2023 SAHRR: Hand stitch binding - progress

5.  Wild and Goosey: Finish blue blocks, start teal blocks - progress

6.  Indigo Way: Continue as leaders and enders project ✔

Not my strongest week, but I'll take whatever progress I can make on those projects.  This week should be much better.  We are done with travel till the fall.  So I can be much more ambitious with my sewing room plans.

To Do List for 07/09/2024

1.  2023 SAHRR (Quilting Gail): Finish binding

Stitching down the binding was my hand work project while we were in Texas.  I managed to turn two corners and came close to turning the third. It won't take much effort to finish this project.  

2. Kate's Choice: Continue making blocks

The next block for this project is a log cabin, which is partially assembled.  This should be easy to finish up. I should start cutting the pieces for the next block.  

3. Guild BOM: Finish June block, start July block

 

The last pieced border is almost assembled.  All that's left once that's been added is a final border of the green/blue print.  Definitely doable this week.  

4.  Wild and Goosey (Bonnie Hunter): Finish up the blue blocks, start teal blocks. 

One of the blue blocks is almost finished.  The blocks go pretty quickly if I'm at the sewing machine. This should be easy to check off this week. 

5.  Indigo Way (Bonnie Hunter): Finish the setting triangles, start assembly.  

Two of the setting triangles just need the last seam pressed, so just two left to finish.  I'm looking forward to starting assembly.  

That's my list for this week.  Linking up with The Quilt Schmilt for To Do Tuesday.  

Stitching Stuff: Week 27 of 2024

It's been a busy week. We spent some time with family over the 4th of July weekend, but I kept up with my stitching time pretty well. 

• 15 minute days/week = 7/7 days
• 15 minute days/June = 30/30 days
• 15 minute days/July = 6/6 days
• 15 minute days/2024 = 188/188 days
• Success rate = 100%

Most of my stitching time was done early in the morning so I didn't have to worry about finding time while we were with family or stitching just before bed time.  

We were busy enough over the weekend that there wasn't any time for stash organization. Hopefully I'll have more time for that next weekend.  

Did you make it to the sewing machine this last week?  

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

5. Karen 6. Andrée at Quilting & Learning 7. Dreamworthy Quilts 8. Quilting Gail

9. Bonnie in Va 10. Amanda 11. Melisa- Pinker n' Punkin Quilting

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