tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48142625287562468372024-03-19T06:03:27.216-06:00CRAZY BY DESIGNCathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.comBlogger1110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-73650666924191324452024-03-15T22:30:00.001-06:002024-03-16T08:14:10.608-06:00Rainbow Parade Giveaway Winners<p>I’m dropping in briefly this morning (it’s actually Friday evening as I write this) to announce the winner of the Rainbow Parade pattern giveaway from last week. Preeti and I thank you all for the great response! Without further ado, Mr. Random Number Generator chose the number that corresponded to:</p><p style="text-align: center;"> Crazy Mom!</p><p>Crazy Mom, (and I love anyone else who admits they’re crazy too!) I’ve sent your information to Preeti, and she will be contacting you with your free Rainbow Parade pdf copy. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRULG0NswUa7nnQAmIpC-qakHDfjRbISelKsxp8ePvkpXcnVOPWeerFr1e_5DhsVjLzfTJb6MjeT0j0AOuMkqHYhg_t738iJI8Z0ExsGXGRydQ67k_8puB5KrAIb8KRTZL-vSntFozwR4E66UcqpP3TrSqGsXaK9tD6Q0XLTuy1ZSRltnZECxDFpPb/s3671/6364FA43-09F0-4B6E-B620-73CF88410C31.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3671" data-original-width="2866" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRULG0NswUa7nnQAmIpC-qakHDfjRbISelKsxp8ePvkpXcnVOPWeerFr1e_5DhsVjLzfTJb6MjeT0j0AOuMkqHYhg_t738iJI8Z0ExsGXGRydQ67k_8puB5KrAIb8KRTZL-vSntFozwR4E66UcqpP3TrSqGsXaK9tD6Q0XLTuy1ZSRltnZECxDFpPb/w313-h400/6364FA43-09F0-4B6E-B620-73CF88410C31.jpeg" width="313" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>But wait! There is a “consolation” , or should I say a second, prize winner! I offered a selection of Choice Scraps to some lucky entrant. And that person is:</p><p style="text-align: center;">Miss Pat</p><p style="text-align: left;">Pat, please get back to me with your mailing address. And do remember that Bruce and I are in the process of moving, so it will probably be closer to the end of the month before I can get it out to you!</p><p style="text-align: left;">My Saturday plans include attending a National Quilt Day (also called World Wide Quilting Day) event locally with Cousin Kim and friend Ruby. And in the evening Bruce and are going out to dinner to celebrate the March birthdays with my son and DDIL. Another busy but fun day! And it sure beats packing!! </p><p style="text-align: left;">I DID sew several windmill blocks this week in purple for the <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/03/scraphappy-saturday.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a>’s color of the month, but I forgot to photograph them. I’ll be sure to get a picture of those and any other purple blocks I manage to sew at National Quilt Day for next post. </p><p style="text-align: left;">I don’t know if I’ll have internet at the new condo next weekend to do a blog post. I’ll try it using my cell phone hot spot, but just wanted you to know in case I can’t get my act together. If I’m not here for Scrappy Saturday next week, you will definitely see me the following Saturday. </p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-10454428173253956902024-03-09T00:56:00.002-07:002024-03-09T09:33:02.703-07:00Another Crazy Busy Week<p>Oy. What a busy week it’s been! Crazy-busy. The sale of the house continues, as well as the purchase of the condo. We’ve passed all the inspections, all problems or issues have been corrected and it’s All Ahead Full. The closings are in less than 2 weeks. </p><p>The ancient water softener in the new condo has been bypassed by the owner’s plumber and the water service safely turned back on. Our house passed all the inspections for water, electrical, HVAC and mold, although not without a substantial investment in a new electrical panel by us. We later learned it was not totally necessary, but we went ahead with it to assuage our consciences. On Wednesday, the electrical work required us being without power from 9:30 am until 5:30 pm. We were so creative keeping ourselves entertained for the day away from home; canceling the storage unit we will not need after all, having a Barnes & Noble coffee date, visiting our financial advisor, going out to lunch at our favorite Mexican restaurant, seeing the Bob Marley movie One Love (good music and acting, but too hard to understand the thick Jamaican accents), and hanging out at Wheeler Farm. </p><p>On Thursday, my friend Ruby and I packed up the kitchen and dining room. That is progress! I feel that we’ve now entered the third trimester (hehe) of the selling and moving process. The “births” will happen March 21 and 22.</p><p>In the middle of the craziness, there was a definite bright spot. And I mean that both figuratively and literally: the release of my friend Preeti’s new pattern, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1690533725/rainbow-parade-quilt-pattern-beginner?click_key=7e09a999ae98fbc9d473402258fb9a7305eae1cb%3A1690533725&click_sum=69e72696&ref=shop_home_feat_2&pro=1&sts=1" target="_blank">Rainbow Parade</a>. In case you didn’t catch my Wednesday post, here’s a picture of my Rainbow Parade quilt. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ3hb_Q5eWeexlfHQlL2iDAqSUyDiykkwdovfMwkTIMECYNHprC2-gVuLEI1IjagMwuD72zVIyIeDSH2H8kBV1I3RLhwDxN73NQLBuNHVMSEReVFQq31CyVoHa8THODlz04qcLnQQc5s72TNo3M8lXMpzKACFhii6sM4VIutKyOZCN0Qr67ASbumc/s3683/FB493D2C-3A70-4530-B0DB-316C3D2AEF85.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3683" data-original-width="3022" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJ3hb_Q5eWeexlfHQlL2iDAqSUyDiykkwdovfMwkTIMECYNHprC2-gVuLEI1IjagMwuD72zVIyIeDSH2H8kBV1I3RLhwDxN73NQLBuNHVMSEReVFQq31CyVoHa8THODlz04qcLnQQc5s72TNo3M8lXMpzKACFhii6sM4VIutKyOZCN0Qr67ASbumc/w526-h640/FB493D2C-3A70-4530-B0DB-316C3D2AEF85.jpeg" width="526" /></a></div><p>You can read all about it on <a href="https://cathyscrazybydesign.blogspot.com/2024/03/rainbow-parade-im-in-love.html" target="_blank">Wednesday’s post</a>. And while you’re there, don’t forget to leave a comment on that post if you’d like to enter the giveaway for a free PDF Rainbow Parade pattern! </p><p>I managed to get some purple sewing for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge done somehow. First up, three Color Stix blocks. I wasn’t thinking when I laid these blocks out, because it looks like one long piece. But it’s really just three blocks hugging each other! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bCWS9o1MKEQ_0Y0sIQXE6G5Jpvw845HPz52jiQimsBhG3uFKUW0xt8RqsP2wxa5Ju8H-8CsVEIzTZ4iPU3WI-wYHRUO3L9alilFQjxGsxSViB7iz2xdhBmMRDkZp2xFBeLtL_Ti5_Xc414z4o3Uq2rX2m-5QVCFJBxzop_r5N89Wb9vVnaKxMhqz/s4031/C62D1282-5975-4B55-A229-C3BD7A4DF4BA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2097" data-original-width="4031" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_bCWS9o1MKEQ_0Y0sIQXE6G5Jpvw845HPz52jiQimsBhG3uFKUW0xt8RqsP2wxa5Ju8H-8CsVEIzTZ4iPU3WI-wYHRUO3L9alilFQjxGsxSViB7iz2xdhBmMRDkZp2xFBeLtL_Ti5_Xc414z4o3Uq2rX2m-5QVCFJBxzop_r5N89Wb9vVnaKxMhqz/w640-h332/C62D1282-5975-4B55-A229-C3BD7A4DF4BA.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Then I separated my purples into red-purples and blue-purples and made a 16-patch star win each color way.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fRVnyY6R2qncWDyt_UoCkWHY8igh9L9CF7r2nK_6hPrt7U3WOOPTi_og43t2u88DSniqG85zZg5rkDfZam_c1gIZ5J3JmdNbUqw4ba4WsEQ6DtVQDz9PHpHgRNNwRlR8JsGVb55NkE9J7zrTR7RI2FYJN-kVfECijDrm_ZCTvGhi7ZxMSzHCasMQ/s3875/2CAAC306-7645-42C9-B16E-28B0E7038D11.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2938" data-original-width="3875" height="486" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3fRVnyY6R2qncWDyt_UoCkWHY8igh9L9CF7r2nK_6hPrt7U3WOOPTi_og43t2u88DSniqG85zZg5rkDfZam_c1gIZ5J3JmdNbUqw4ba4WsEQ6DtVQDz9PHpHgRNNwRlR8JsGVb55NkE9J7zrTR7RI2FYJN-kVfECijDrm_ZCTvGhi7ZxMSzHCasMQ/w640-h486/2CAAC306-7645-42C9-B16E-28B0E7038D11.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>That’s it from here for now. Do check out <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/03/scraphappy-saturday-plowing-into-purple.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Saturday</a> for this week’s Rainbow Scrap Challenge! </p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-88721752906103672512024-03-06T03:00:00.031-07:002024-03-06T15:59:46.772-07:00Rainbow Parade - I’m in Love!Welcome to my blog, whether you’re a returning reader or if you’re new here. I have a fun post for you today! Let’s get started!<div><br /></div><div>My friend Preeti of <a href="https://sewpreetiquilts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sew Preeti Quilts</a> is an Island Batiks Ambassador and an accomplished quilter and pattern designer. If you’ve been following me for any length of time, you’ll know that I’ve been lucky enough to (1) be her friend and (2) be a pattern tester for her bright and happy quilt designs. And that’s what this special post is all about!! May I introduce you to my new love, Rainbow Parade?!? <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwuajWNEmNusAXtgIQNLTDV_5WibEYqBMQ4zPax0XY2BayJqUPNZCzpEExcxiP06_p3AjGD62m1IMJ-b6xJv3IEv-9eVTd9iJsVSMxcjybTcm5ALrF6KzGIptBtsH0rphF6P5wA6jbYsnhMl50Dc80t0Yj-sCyV187uLmxRJhBbqC6HKGkEeV1icJ/s3671/14165711-1387-4231-9485-C3853CA25C61.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3671" data-original-width="2866" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwuajWNEmNusAXtgIQNLTDV_5WibEYqBMQ4zPax0XY2BayJqUPNZCzpEExcxiP06_p3AjGD62m1IMJ-b6xJv3IEv-9eVTd9iJsVSMxcjybTcm5ALrF6KzGIptBtsH0rphF6P5wA6jbYsnhMl50Dc80t0Yj-sCyV187uLmxRJhBbqC6HKGkEeV1icJ/w500-h640/14165711-1387-4231-9485-C3853CA25C61.jpeg" width="500" /></a></div><br /><div>This quilt practically sewed itself while I watched in wonder! Well, OK, that’s a *slight* exaggeration, but it really was so very easy to cut out and sew. Preeti’s directions are always clear and precise, so it’s like she’s with you there the whole time, like a little angel on your shoulder. Hehehe</div></div><div><br /></div><div>My Rainbow Parade finished at 51.5x65”. I quilted it in a vertical serpentine stitch with my walking foot. I found The Perfect backing fabric in my stash - a rainbow of boxes. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1yZHBXipO5j7o1Qsv35OQibJvqjboV7R2jo5DbzUYrBx2EMCpUF3gTHC2Q69pgcPVG2AvgFFOpzqrvg0BbAa6CfpFNG_98RDOljOv2ZRoJSZefkrLOxq33YQqsWVq5BQ39n7BK9i_R3_pO38NZkZRx3HrAjPYI7hlSEz9JJkug2z7Z6c6msMYR62/s3562/964F89E4-948A-4B19-9ED8-865214D4B48E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3562" data-original-width="2867" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1yZHBXipO5j7o1Qsv35OQibJvqjboV7R2jo5DbzUYrBx2EMCpUF3gTHC2Q69pgcPVG2AvgFFOpzqrvg0BbAa6CfpFNG_98RDOljOv2ZRoJSZefkrLOxq33YQqsWVq5BQ39n7BK9i_R3_pO38NZkZRx3HrAjPYI7hlSEz9JJkug2z7Z6c6msMYR62/w323-h400/964F89E4-948A-4B19-9ED8-865214D4B48E.jpeg" width="323" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Let me show you a closeup of the backing. Truly, I don’t think I could have found a more perfect backing fabric! <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwhEYLZ_Q4RT2RSvv-e4nL3mQRdTYE6JgH-YI3nOZKr6LyTOykbLEx-t6XBmSJKwQk1EN4SgiHglrT-Nxa82rMheYROKVz3Js2b7Vg2H9DZ32J1gVPAF8UwOFoCqrf938WamVJ0W_ZNiK7PbW8T4w2e-qZLX5Ef8vZbmvc4HDygL1toN9BQkm_H44/s4032/7E3B0CCF-CF37-40E6-94C0-0E30B641661C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQwhEYLZ_Q4RT2RSvv-e4nL3mQRdTYE6JgH-YI3nOZKr6LyTOykbLEx-t6XBmSJKwQk1EN4SgiHglrT-Nxa82rMheYROKVz3Js2b7Vg2H9DZ32J1gVPAF8UwOFoCqrf938WamVJ0W_ZNiK7PbW8T4w2e-qZLX5Ef8vZbmvc4HDygL1toN9BQkm_H44/w480-h640/7E3B0CCF-CF37-40E6-94C0-0E30B641661C.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As always, Rainbow Parade will be available in Preeti’s Etsy shop <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1690533725/rainbow-parade-quilt-pattern-beginner?etsrc=sdt" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Preeti has the pattern on sale for a limited time at 20% off, so don’t wait to grab yourself a copy! </div><div><br /></div><div>But guess what? You can enter now to win your own free PDF copy of Rainbow Parade! Just leave a comment below anytime between now and Thursday, March 14 at noon, Mountain Time, and you’ll be entered in a drawing for a free PDF of Rainbow Parade. To sweeten the deal and because March 14 is also my birthday, I’ve got a present for another entrant. I’ll do a consolation drawing for a luscious grouping of scraps chunks and a fat quarter of fabric goodness (trust me, I have good taste - I offer my Rainbow Parade quilt as evidence and rest my case) OR a cute charm pack of Sundrops by Corey Yoder. Your choice. I’ll announce the winners on my Saturday March 16 weekly blog post. </div><div><br /></div><div>To make a good thing even better, you can enter a drawing at the blogs of my friends and fellow pattern testers listed below. We pattern testers may have different drawing dates, but each of us will award a PDF copy of Rainbow Parade to a lucky winner on each blog.</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Frédérique- <a href="https://quiltingpatch.blogspot.com/2024/03/quilt-reveal-rainbow-parade.html">https://quiltingpatch.blogspot.com/2024/03/quilt-reveal-rainbow-parade.html</a></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Diptee - <a href="https://dipteaquilts.wordpress.com/2024/03/06/embrace-the-rainbow-with-the-stunning-rainbow-parade-quilt-and-a-giveaway/">https://dipteaquilts.wordpress.com/2024/03/06/embrace-the-rainbow-with-the-stunning-rainbow-parade-quilt-and-a-giveaway/</a></div><div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Bonnie - <a href="https://institcheswithbonnie.blogspot.com/2024/03/say-hello-to-rainbow-parade.html">https://institcheswithbonnie.blogspot.com/2024/03/say-hello-to-rainbow-parade.html</a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">The PDF drawings are open to international entrants. For my personal drawing of a scrap package or the charm pack, I’m limiting it to US residents. Winners will receive their PDF pattern via email from Preeti. But the winner of my extra birthday drawing will have to be patient until the beginning of April. As some of you may know. My husband and I have sold our home and will be moving into our new condo on March 22-23. I’ll need some time to unpack!! 😂😘</span></div><div><br /></div><div>How about one more picture of this rainbow lusciousness?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmw4Kdj2PhlQ2BPbMhGbF9N2BIjdg0b-Cz6xcZZXrtK1FxOBf4cL9CoaERxlPE6mENhAMPNOmtA4OzsjcQaePPAffghrVbFzSz5F5HbynpjNHgcbtoy_sPCafRmXNjzfTC7Zg45C7EP528Z_4Ezivu3eavEKqTP6QsrLzSX3y0983UdThkoBD0YoZ9/s3683/31E7F2D0-ACE3-45B0-8C8C-2DDAD232D46C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3683" data-original-width="3022" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmw4Kdj2PhlQ2BPbMhGbF9N2BIjdg0b-Cz6xcZZXrtK1FxOBf4cL9CoaERxlPE6mENhAMPNOmtA4OzsjcQaePPAffghrVbFzSz5F5HbynpjNHgcbtoy_sPCafRmXNjzfTC7Zg45C7EP528Z_4Ezivu3eavEKqTP6QsrLzSX3y0983UdThkoBD0YoZ9/w526-h640/31E7F2D0-ACE3-45B0-8C8C-2DDAD232D46C.jpeg" width="526" /></a></div><br /><div>So leave a comment and you could be a lucky winner. If you don’t have a blog or are a No-reply blogger, be sure to leave your email address in your comment. You can’t win if we can’t contact you! </div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks for dropping by. Let’s show Preeti our quilty love, OK? And hopefully I’ll see you back here on Saturday for my regular weekly blog post!</div></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-44659345259609403582024-03-01T22:49:00.003-07:002024-03-02T08:56:44.463-07:00Will Winter Please Leave the Building?<p>I’m so sick of winter that I could scream. Last year, winter was so much more wintery in terms of cold temperatures, precipitation, and early onset. But this has been such a stressful last few weeks and months for us, that it’s been “just one more thing” to deal with. And I’m so over it. </p><p>The house sale and condo purchase saga continues. It’s been up and down, not bad but sometimes not good. I’ll save the details for the end of the post so that if you’re here for the sewing-related content, you won’t have to listen to me whine. :-) But in a nutshell, we got a good offer on our home that we’ve accepted and we have made an offer on a condo to purchase that’s been accepted. Both are set to close on - are you ready? March 22. Yikes!!!</p><p>Suffice it to say that I didn’t get much sewing time this week, and when I did, it was primarily focused on finishing up the secret sewing that will be revealed on Wednesday. A special mid-week blogpost!! But I do have a couple minor things to show you.</p><p>For the <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/03/scraphappy-saturday-passionately-purple.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a> (RSC), Angela at So Scrappy has called purple in all its variations as the March RSC color of the month. All I’ve done so far is sort my purple scraps into strips, chunks (blue purples and red purples) squares/shapes (like HSTs) and miscellaneous. I’m linking up to <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/03/scraphappy-saturday-passionately-purple.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Saturday</a> for the RSC. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJG1HHIwsfL-LUBEXyMAP-KNg4ks9-AkZXMh8n2Ovvj8eYyi2lGclttMbQbs9UBDJQmUR7f4gBgRjKGCqYe3jAYmcUrGiJ8JGo3-u8xiVLnbtkV0HelsueBc4oBOKigIbLgvZgoFVk7VHp8SPCuB_6A5gLD3CuWRg64iqzclvvQYPLGeeui4BVozt/s3899/3B8113B5-BF79-42C4-B572-7B71F28FDB4F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3003" data-original-width="3899" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJG1HHIwsfL-LUBEXyMAP-KNg4ks9-AkZXMh8n2Ovvj8eYyi2lGclttMbQbs9UBDJQmUR7f4gBgRjKGCqYe3jAYmcUrGiJ8JGo3-u8xiVLnbtkV0HelsueBc4oBOKigIbLgvZgoFVk7VHp8SPCuB_6A5gLD3CuWRg64iqzclvvQYPLGeeui4BVozt/w640-h492/3B8113B5-BF79-42C4-B572-7B71F28FDB4F.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>That’s really exciting, isn’t it? (That’s sarcasm, in case you didn’t catch that)!</p><p>I finished up a column of scraps and strips in red for February. Since I never showed my green column for January, I’m showing both now. They’ll finish at about 3” wide (and 62” long), so I’ll not only be doing our usual 9-10 RSC colors, but likely will add gray, brown and black as well. And possibly divide the yellows into a yellow and a gold column. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0n8X7vofYhMbMPxBZOc9AlxeQPN_o5EYNtO5p2yolVKo5c4XtBos51-Mf0LxuESoQjADwYuOUGMBaL-pqL9PuHX421I4lbhPHvymCZgluRW6OLx0VOts5cWohPBFiGXExEWQURrQ4DgZbhUJlPx0HSywlvA7ilE3N-8g-XDi0-hUXVr04vioAubX/s3856/CDAAB0FD-3117-480B-AE98-85E15A3215E3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3856" data-original-width="1544" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0n8X7vofYhMbMPxBZOc9AlxeQPN_o5EYNtO5p2yolVKo5c4XtBos51-Mf0LxuESoQjADwYuOUGMBaL-pqL9PuHX421I4lbhPHvymCZgluRW6OLx0VOts5cWohPBFiGXExEWQURrQ4DgZbhUJlPx0HSywlvA7ilE3N-8g-XDi0-hUXVr04vioAubX/w256-h640/CDAAB0FD-3117-480B-AE98-85E15A3215E3.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><p>Seeing that picture above reminds me that the design board is coming down this week so I’ll have time to patch and paint the wall behind it before we move.</p><p>And through all the chaos that has been our life for the last couple months, I’ve managed to keep up with the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR). But this week, I just couldn’t do it. I did cut out the pieces and began sewing the triangles, but that’s it. The rest of this, the final border, will be sewn next week, come hell or high water. But in the meantime, I do have a photo to share. The outer components are just pinned or slapped up on the design wall, so please disregard the wonkiness. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59qg5VbNksO2WJ47bbygaiIyDL_QpWc53mY-nf9sQeEKQ-H8Y6nvufICQXgUGEPiN9FnG61844LWFs9wNRh3OAwV8RqHrsr_JyLzqxg2mso6YflWqLQ2S701QmhdddEMYD1yBhu7vbDLKOno5qc-pJ8cWoxQSVdl-l3tQ9VnrIw861jiZ60aJWMht/s3379/37A9CE9A-87DE-4CA5-A21F-DB1250E1817E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3379" data-original-width="3008" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59qg5VbNksO2WJ47bbygaiIyDL_QpWc53mY-nf9sQeEKQ-H8Y6nvufICQXgUGEPiN9FnG61844LWFs9wNRh3OAwV8RqHrsr_JyLzqxg2mso6YflWqLQ2S701QmhdddEMYD1yBhu7vbDLKOno5qc-pJ8cWoxQSVdl-l3tQ9VnrIw861jiZ60aJWMht/w570-h640/37A9CE9A-87DE-4CA5-A21F-DB1250E1817E.jpeg" width="570" /></a></div><p>White fabric will fill in between the corner groupings. This week’s hostess, Kathleen, called for us to use a letter or number in our border. Not necessarily literally, although a literal interpretation was certainly valid. I chose the triangle block because it consists of three pieces (2 white side borders and the blue triangle) And because it looks like the letter V. Additionally, I grouped them in threes, so I think I met the challenge. Or I WILL meet the challenge when it’s all sewn. We have until March 18 when the final finished quilts will be revealed. In the meantime, I’m linking up to the Round 6 SAHRR linky party <a href="https://kathleenmcmusing.com/2024/02/sahrr-2024-round-6/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. There are some really lovely quilts being constructed that you can check out at that link. </p><p>So this is where I begin my Tale of Stressful “Woes of Moving” diatribe. If you’re not interested, (and who could blame you?) this is where you take the exit ramp. No hard feelings! </p><p>* * * * * * * * *</p><p>This week, the builders who are building the townhouse complex behind us, legally recorded their quitclaim deeds to the residents on our side of the street. Basically, they gifted us with an additional 252 square feet at the rear of our property, which the county officials have now incorporated into our lot. But we had to chase down a copy of the recorded deed so the prospective owners’ title company could have the documentation. OK, that was easy enough. Then the title company asked us to provide them with the copy of our Kizerian Family Trust, because that’s how our land ownership is held. Luckily I had all the documents on a thumb drive, so that easy enough to locate and get emailed to them. But between the two issues, a half day was killed, never to be recaptured. </p><p>The new owners had their appraiser out to appraise the property (for their mortgage loan), and we had to clear out for a couple hours for that to take place.</p><p>And then on Thursday afternoon - all afternoon - we had to leave the premises while the buyers’ inspectors crawled all over every detail of this house. Roof, plumbing, electrical, appliances, etc. At the same time (yes, it was planned that way), our inspector was doing the same thing on the condo we want to purchase. So far, so good, right? But this is where things began to get a bit stressful.</p><p>When we got home that night, the microwave didn’t work, and neither did the lights in my studio. What had they done? Well, Bruce checked the electrical panels, and one of the kitchen circuit breaker blocks had not been snapped in all the way by an inspector who apparently had to take them out to do his thing. OK, so Bruce snapped it in and the microwave worked just fine. The lights in my studio, it turned out, had been, well, turned out. There’s a master switch that controls all the lights and power in the room (don’t ask me why, it was that way when we moved here 21 years ago), and they had just flipped the switch off. So we just flipped it back on. And let me just say here that Bruce was flipping more than that, too, if you catch my drift. </p><p>So the next morning, we get a text message from our agent saying their inspector said our air conditioning unit was not operational. What?!? Bruce went outside to the A/C unit’s fuse box and low and behold, the inspector had put the fuse block in UPSIDE DOWN, which is the normal “off” position. It wasn’t making contact. Bruce put it in correctly, and then we had to test the A/C. Yep, cold, windy weather outside, and here we are with the A/C on. It worked like a champ, and soon the house was 60 degrees. I have frostbitten toes to prove it! (Just kidding). So we called our agent and explained everything and ranted a bit about their incompetent inspectors. But apparently, not taking our word for it, the buyers have an electrical inspector coming on Monday. Luckily, we don’t have to leave the premises, and Bruce will have the opportunity to show them what happened. </p><p>As if all that weren’t enough, an issue came up with the condo we’re purchasing as well. When it rains, it pours. In one of the hall closets, the water softener unit, the hot water tank, the furnace and main water shut-off valve (to the entire condo) are all situated. Apparently the water softener was leaking (not badly, but leaking nonetheless). When inspecting these items before we arrived, the inspector decided the smart thing to do was shut off the water valves to the softener to bypass it altogether. But apparently the valves “seized” (his words) and he ended up having to shut off the main water valve to the entire condo. We were told it would need to be addressed before the water could be safely turned back on. The condo seller balked; they had a backup offer to ours and said they were not going to address it. We talked to our family plumber (Cousin Kim’s son Nick). We sent him a copy of the inspection report and the pictures. Nick said the inspector, likely erring on the side of caution, probably could’ve unstuck the water softener valves. Nick offered to do it for us. When we talked to our agent to get permission for us to bring our plumber to the premises to try that, we learned that the sellers were getting a plumber in this weekend after all to try that themselves. So, we’ll hear the results once it’s accomplished. We don’t even want the dang water softener! </p><p>And all the while, we’re packing our belongings. I know no home sale is without glitches, but man, the stress keeps ratcheting up. I really need a day to just sit and sew while listening to music. Who’s with me?</p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-62478937851136802922024-02-23T22:13:00.002-07:002024-02-24T08:13:35.484-07:00Cleanest House on the BlockThat would be our house … cleanest house on the block. Why? Because everything was pretty much in tip top shape and freshly painted, scrubbed, wiped, etc etc (you get the idea) when the house went on the market last week. And then, almost every day since we have had lookers and re-lookers. So we go through the process of wiping down counters and floors, turning on lights, making beds and putting away clutter and personal things. And then the housekeeper was here yesterday, too. When agents schedule a showing, which they do through an online app, we have several hours or even a couple days’ notice. And we go through the cleaning and prep process again, sometimes twice a day. About ten minutes before their scheduled time, we leave the premises and do something. Sometimes we run errands. We’ve sat in the parking lot of a local shopping center reading our tablets several times. On Saturday for the Open House, we entertained ourselves by going to <a href="https://livingplanetaquarium.org/" target="_blank">The Aquarium</a>. I have pictures of that to show you for a change of pace. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QBe_RknqjqICws2SMSVHWacXEzvyLLVI7gCnrp6Qp_mmiNxcLfIANR1U0XYl4OY6_Wm3vVtQUv_mygyxXs_Wz-4-OEPMf6Rl2h9pyNhp8SiUcJdiUuYAr1Vo_L_0cpFNr5bppIh1fzWT2YAAI6zwEUusHz3BV4O4cEEyEDsIQFlyflnJGKk_YooE/s4032/C3DBA741-87A5-44D1-916F-8B0DF6719781.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QBe_RknqjqICws2SMSVHWacXEzvyLLVI7gCnrp6Qp_mmiNxcLfIANR1U0XYl4OY6_Wm3vVtQUv_mygyxXs_Wz-4-OEPMf6Rl2h9pyNhp8SiUcJdiUuYAr1Vo_L_0cpFNr5bppIh1fzWT2YAAI6zwEUusHz3BV4O4cEEyEDsIQFlyflnJGKk_YooE/w400-h300/C3DBA741-87A5-44D1-916F-8B0DF6719781.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The first thing we saw was this huge structure, called the EECO Voyager. It is a virtual reality exhibit that you can attend and see the various world ecosystems through. We had already missed the once daily showing, so we just went indoors to visit the various sea life and other creatures. </div><div><br /></div><div>I won’t bore you with all the pictures I took, but I’ll show you a few of my favorites.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoAkgLYAa5qaaN4z7BJHIAYnateLdZ6Nu-NALjbVLzov9d0VFSMFeILfi7GN7kjKipR-38NEuS-AttX7S7Yzy9Xe_PFI_q9VGffa3p-4gZvkkOpHGEx0OScD7C0gTiave3qR6EIG25DrPax5ie_xoy6w2z2W-C7aTAJ0Z3hNM6UgiUuHMK23irJ4O/s4032/FDDBAAA0-6F7F-4E8A-B135-723E2255A70E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoAkgLYAa5qaaN4z7BJHIAYnateLdZ6Nu-NALjbVLzov9d0VFSMFeILfi7GN7kjKipR-38NEuS-AttX7S7Yzy9Xe_PFI_q9VGffa3p-4gZvkkOpHGEx0OScD7C0gTiave3qR6EIG25DrPax5ie_xoy6w2z2W-C7aTAJ0Z3hNM6UgiUuHMK23irJ4O/w480-h640/FDDBAAA0-6F7F-4E8A-B135-723E2255A70E.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><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/AVvXsEidyVCpKHAb_3u8sYruOqjEKr1f2RN5bDlk_5CO4b0qnluXxadOvNnVMGZDrKqdv97XTAdWXODf9nRQ1UhJeolWnl7KfsmUevXba0rddHhrQOCE5ienD72llpKBmCqZQAXaduq9-2icnBIqFIPwSK4oGF0-FnSi6edl2OGRJ170-et19eR2NMnaKy3U/s3169/8E04B300-1C41-4EDB-871F-A6995EEEBF87.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2351" data-original-width="3169" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyVCpKHAb_3u8sYruOqjEKr1f2RN5bDlk_5CO4b0qnluXxadOvNnVMGZDrKqdv97XTAdWXODf9nRQ1UhJeolWnl7KfsmUevXba0rddHhrQOCE5ienD72llpKBmCqZQAXaduq9-2icnBIqFIPwSK4oGF0-FnSi6edl2OGRJ170-et19eR2NMnaKy3U/w640-h474/8E04B300-1C41-4EDB-871F-A6995EEEBF87.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Penguins!</td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEiV6P37rqH7H07cNLI2sDpidvAytzL3gwX92GBf-YijjAeDs41n-cktTrUGCAWpx1qlUZXhlkED2VqcrQTJWrA-8WteERjHxpRijGsj5wV9p7-5rCMteA-RZuf55cuaaJeGcFQ-X8RtayNnNMvHRjAa7o-1dB4EDcDqtqH-Bvf_5dlKad2QqNPsUN77/s4032/0137F224-8EEC-4BFE-AC0D-DA84A88997A9.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV6P37rqH7H07cNLI2sDpidvAytzL3gwX92GBf-YijjAeDs41n-cktTrUGCAWpx1qlUZXhlkED2VqcrQTJWrA-8WteERjHxpRijGsj5wV9p7-5rCMteA-RZuf55cuaaJeGcFQ-X8RtayNnNMvHRjAa7o-1dB4EDcDqtqH-Bvf_5dlKad2QqNPsUN77/w640-h480/0137F224-8EEC-4BFE-AC0D-DA84A88997A9.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Clam. Notice the nozzle-thing (technical term) through which it filter feeds.</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/AVvXsEiMEaW-J8x2z42i2dKsOPQ9K73No1nYbt2asWgjsqVRfr-iIHJFEF0rgrZ3J-c4mUlOgOOczu9gwNC6WLNKTyRcAZH2e7nXMSh5uGoxiN0-IxsnHh6JhlQu04nJEjoDjuIQLY6kMB7zL54GDOW_6brb1HDHpIhW4qsDuDkBWxUGxr6CWHKzW-HdJTsO/s3125/D78F8935-05A2-45DD-8034-55EAF74FF299.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3125" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEaW-J8x2z42i2dKsOPQ9K73No1nYbt2asWgjsqVRfr-iIHJFEF0rgrZ3J-c4mUlOgOOczu9gwNC6WLNKTyRcAZH2e7nXMSh5uGoxiN0-IxsnHh6JhlQu04nJEjoDjuIQLY6kMB7zL54GDOW_6brb1HDHpIhW4qsDuDkBWxUGxr6CWHKzW-HdJTsO/w620-h640/D78F8935-05A2-45DD-8034-55EAF74FF299.jpeg" width="620" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obviously, the is RAY Charles - he’s smiling and “into” the blues…</td></tr></tbody></table><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/AVvXsEhbu2TkUn3zExBSqaB0o5bdjqiVBebnKCmbtg1PagnxDzqWbb5vlAedgdMvp6IlALufYLn06fqQNE36oBskMqMmwM8t5DoHVLgELcJp0H2y1lNkaae-7jnLBcy_T9o7491WtHwKNcSiNLKiJZTLd49Iz5bxaRuYq4tA6l2nL3mFOpsNAQo4uSUQI1UO/s4032/F040EC2E-BBE6-4C35-9AFF-8686A90541CC.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbu2TkUn3zExBSqaB0o5bdjqiVBebnKCmbtg1PagnxDzqWbb5vlAedgdMvp6IlALufYLn06fqQNE36oBskMqMmwM8t5DoHVLgELcJp0H2y1lNkaae-7jnLBcy_T9o7491WtHwKNcSiNLKiJZTLd49Iz5bxaRuYq4tA6l2nL3mFOpsNAQo4uSUQI1UO/w480-h640/F040EC2E-BBE6-4C35-9AFF-8686A90541CC.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looks like “Sugar Ray” to me with those white spots (wink)</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>OK, OK, I’ll stop with the eye-roll-worthy humor and get to the sewing stuff now. You’re welcome.</div><div><br /></div><div>This week for Round 5 of the Stay at Home Round Robin, our hostess <a href="https://fresh.inlinkz.com/party/2b2fe7acafef4414a422258fb410aa76" target="_blank">Gail of Quilting Gai</a>l called “4” as the challenge or theme for the round. She explained that we should use an element of the number 4 to guide our additions; a star with four points (think Friendship Star), four colors, or whatever. I decided to make Rail Fence blocks with four fabrics/colors for my border. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCfn08OPrknYB4gFoK7tT-tIzIfJ0B9U8kVEaci8SugKmFGhHLvyV5Ly38FTo_5KQacuhPJPgUxCuqYmBv8IdpbWDz2UouUoGAmkxkT_GDDTEP6xiSlngoftS7lI2XFCXQ7Gbbll6PnbdsyZylwViE3p3VCBA80dM_LB5KooqW1U-S_G5kgBixy4o/s3572/5F14778D-F148-4796-833E-D8F99DFFFA2A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3572" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCfn08OPrknYB4gFoK7tT-tIzIfJ0B9U8kVEaci8SugKmFGhHLvyV5Ly38FTo_5KQacuhPJPgUxCuqYmBv8IdpbWDz2UouUoGAmkxkT_GDDTEP6xiSlngoftS7lI2XFCXQ7Gbbll6PnbdsyZylwViE3p3VCBA80dM_LB5KooqW1U-S_G5kgBixy4o/w542-h640/5F14778D-F148-4796-833E-D8F99DFFFA2A.jpeg" width="542" /></a></div><br /><div>Although I had no more of that center parrot fabric, I tried to use all the colors of that print, including pulling in some black background prints that had the cheddar and orange in them. The strips were cut at 1.5x4.5” to make blocks that will finish at 4”. I did have to add a few extra strips as coping strips since the measurements weren’t necessarily divisible by 4. But it worked out. The quilt top now measures 39x45.5”, with one more round to go. I can’t wait!!</div><div><br /></div><div>In between house showings (and cleaning and laundry and errands), I managed to pin baste my secret sewing quilt. I am determined to get it quilted on Sunday. Reveal will be March 6.</div><div><br /></div><div>And we can’t forget the <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/02/scraphappy-saturday-red-roundup.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a>. For Red February, I added four simple 8” windmills to the collection. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlCol7-IUMqwZmHoiID9SJZU-Ah1wuFyx1fcLJ1VzOoQFOxt4sEvt_qla_BDivt8Lei2moEec9wSD08werEHxJyBhO6dqWjx12urx9aKCWHBXjnVboQz4PcLeocp3rPURhxN8VL3-bNB-JRIaiCosd-t9cNcp9Rk59N5n4oo7II79NhK31n1pxcLx/s4032/A679B2D1-D984-4695-856F-17259757D4ED.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlCol7-IUMqwZmHoiID9SJZU-Ah1wuFyx1fcLJ1VzOoQFOxt4sEvt_qla_BDivt8Lei2moEec9wSD08werEHxJyBhO6dqWjx12urx9aKCWHBXjnVboQz4PcLeocp3rPURhxN8VL3-bNB-JRIaiCosd-t9cNcp9Rk59N5n4oo7II79NhK31n1pxcLx/w480-h640/A679B2D1-D984-4695-856F-17259757D4ED.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>And finally, I snapped this picture on a blustery and rainy Monday, which was Presidents Day here in the USA. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDygKRyxoU00zvSTNaULnobTdx7f4W3AW-tWr61BeSOrdL1M0wc1lguyPpGzJ_WmYSbdXNfQkwFv2LPJiv446JOMPSzD7rXw5Q7CTvCCKMYslYnpnGURj2w5Ak6js40HG9qovDrrgruczoyq0AXUgMBuopRPmKBcNiiu6kkIfxCnEueOMNnSoRLSxw/s4032/09934FCD-6182-4432-A9F7-40059DC7FA9C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDygKRyxoU00zvSTNaULnobTdx7f4W3AW-tWr61BeSOrdL1M0wc1lguyPpGzJ_WmYSbdXNfQkwFv2LPJiv446JOMPSzD7rXw5Q7CTvCCKMYslYnpnGURj2w5Ak6js40HG9qovDrrgruczoyq0AXUgMBuopRPmKBcNiiu6kkIfxCnEueOMNnSoRLSxw/w300-h400/09934FCD-6182-4432-A9F7-40059DC7FA9C.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div>As for the house sale, we’ve had one ridiculous offer. It was from investors looking to flip the house and make a quick buck. We were told to expect at least one of those. We basically ignored it and let the response deadline expire. I would’ve preferred a “Not only No, but HELL NO” response, but it’s easier just to ignore those types. The good news is that there are two different families who have visited the house twice, one couple staying an hour on their last visit. And more showings scheduled for this weekend. We expect we’ll have a real offer soon. I certainly hope so, as we have made an offer (and it has been accepted) for a condo here in Murray, about six blocks away. But it’s contingent on getting and accepting an offer on this house within the next three weeks. Hold a good thought for us!</div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-58855847114105324182024-02-16T22:04:00.002-07:002024-02-17T07:35:12.795-07:00When the Going Gets Tough . . . When the going gets tough, the tough have to take a one-week break from blogging. So, last Saturday I was finishing up the painting I needed to do on the house - 2 bedrooms, baseboards and a kitchen wall. We also had our contractor here adding baseboards to a closet I never finished, and fixing a leak in one of the storage sheds. The photographers were here on Monday. One took aerial photos and the other took interior photos, and we were fortunate enough to have sunshine that day. The listing went live on the Multiple Listing Service on Tuesday, and I was a crying basket case the entire day (stress relief?) The home showings started on Wednesday. We’ve had 3 showings so far (Friday night as I write this) and have an Open House scheduled for tomorrow. As well, there are 4 additional showings scheduled over the next three days plus a notice from one broker to be expecting an offer already this weekend. Head = spinning. <div><br /></div><div>But the good news (or should I say Additional Good News?) is that I actually got some relaxing sewing time in this week. Some of it is secret sewing (whose reveal date is on March 6), but much of it is Rainbow Scrap Challenge sewing. </div><div><br /></div><div>Finished: two 12” Star blocks. I love these so much! These were done week before last. <br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY82JsCkv5LlXabtuulp1TDvADYr1YLSdoK1m2Fjj71oIUVy7mcD1ARVhuvJNL4FDW2FDVss2Wzx0dfxN34Z4tSTH8EGnyqL5YG-qX5Qo4S5NNlkT4hnXyHOfL9vsYDe9we0ZObJ0f3ipf79Iy2OrlOp9VU2ql-FOupaYtGLMFWd1M8RM0I_YnNAD8/s4007/B5E0ED99-4C80-4028-AD39-6CFD62754F29.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2570" data-original-width="4007" height="410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY82JsCkv5LlXabtuulp1TDvADYr1YLSdoK1m2Fjj71oIUVy7mcD1ARVhuvJNL4FDW2FDVss2Wzx0dfxN34Z4tSTH8EGnyqL5YG-qX5Qo4S5NNlkT4hnXyHOfL9vsYDe9we0ZObJ0f3ipf79Iy2OrlOp9VU2ql-FOupaYtGLMFWd1M8RM0I_YnNAD8/w640-h410/B5E0ED99-4C80-4028-AD39-6CFD62754F29.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>This week I sewed 18 string blocks at 6.5”. No plans yet for them. I’ll be linking up to <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/02/scraphappy-saturday-red-week-3.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Saturday</a> when that link party goes live in the morning. </div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwxB3qgjoX0wZRKDFrgPWvfR02mQuoQzw0lYQluJJUcroD-8NDOQDcDKfCneLUFgQ1fs1vllKG0t468xSbUasrHK0H2hgxwb15spmctR7Iyeg8ALXa3dERaaBq5juLFqsjSZUQYbhKijekNBFyeDleSqN-Rs0OiP8L5GoaUCG-lb-MKlaBcnCMDDf/s3539/D701DB2E-642B-49C1-B9E5-EE6C0567336B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3539" data-original-width="2959" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCwxB3qgjoX0wZRKDFrgPWvfR02mQuoQzw0lYQluJJUcroD-8NDOQDcDKfCneLUFgQ1fs1vllKG0t468xSbUasrHK0H2hgxwb15spmctR7Iyeg8ALXa3dERaaBq5juLFqsjSZUQYbhKijekNBFyeDleSqN-Rs0OiP8L5GoaUCG-lb-MKlaBcnCMDDf/w536-h640/D701DB2E-642B-49C1-B9E5-EE6C0567336B.jpeg" width="536" /></a></div><br /><div>I’ve also been keeping up with the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR). Here was my progress from week before last - Triangles, as called by Emily for Round 3. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpcha0QL4mh2Ehoi0-Qk2Miw8lt3qmwe7TxHrvpfo_L8JnodfBiHz0BLIvdm1LW4zez09bSVWimaOsL8Z-OkvgogH3IFhbx4j52tv6NyctQoqpu5mhixY_-NQrwDGAONVQTNQczOZkSC73J89Ks0xd4Qnlig-lotFDkGffdcrKTaOcfs0V3cPo2Er/s3644/91D74AB2-D046-46A0-BC19-8AF3BA33A559.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3644" data-original-width="2968" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpcha0QL4mh2Ehoi0-Qk2Miw8lt3qmwe7TxHrvpfo_L8JnodfBiHz0BLIvdm1LW4zez09bSVWimaOsL8Z-OkvgogH3IFhbx4j52tv6NyctQoqpu5mhixY_-NQrwDGAONVQTNQczOZkSC73J89Ks0xd4Qnlig-lotFDkGffdcrKTaOcfs0V3cPo2Er/w522-h640/91D74AB2-D046-46A0-BC19-8AF3BA33A559.jpeg" width="522" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>And then this week, <a href="https://songbirddesigns.blog/sahrr-2024-round-four/" target="_blank">Brenda at Songbird Designs</a> called Square-in-a-Square (aka economy blocks). </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2Kdkx8V5rvy_LoF0ccnNkr629oajBtvUHj-khe-X0k_Eod_rZBj98gwGXAIjmyUbayjgkPKoR8fIvkVLup-dczzRfq87lTXzuClOy9t1Wcn7jq-W2F8JsY-FGpdgFhX8W1m6LdEGX4lReHJINUGO-gMWuv6iHx_IIu5U5PWsEhOGQm227lhFUTDm/s3379/F806FD4D-00C7-448B-9FB9-091C1EDA32AE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3379" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2Kdkx8V5rvy_LoF0ccnNkr629oajBtvUHj-khe-X0k_Eod_rZBj98gwGXAIjmyUbayjgkPKoR8fIvkVLup-dczzRfq87lTXzuClOy9t1Wcn7jq-W2F8JsY-FGpdgFhX8W1m6LdEGX4lReHJINUGO-gMWuv6iHx_IIu5U5PWsEhOGQm227lhFUTDm/w572-h640/F806FD4D-00C7-448B-9FB9-091C1EDA32AE.jpeg" width="572" /></a></div><br /><div>So, I am current with this, too! Yay! 🎉. I can’t remember the size of the top offhand, and I’m ready for bed and am NOT going down to the studio to check it. I think it’s 30-something by 40-something at this point, with two more rounds to go. </div><div><br /></div><div>By this time next week we hope to have a sold home, a newly purchased condo, and be well on our way back to sanity. Oh wait, then there will be packing and moving. Oh well, sanity is overrated anyway….</div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-82606647676379411032024-02-02T21:57:00.004-07:002024-02-03T08:42:22.098-07:00How to Pass Winter in the Blink of an Eye<p>Yeah, I know there’s plenty of winter left here in the Northern Hemisphere. But it did feel like spring for several days here this week, which is like an unplanned vacation in my book. I actually was able to get out in the yard for a couple hours on two days to spray weeds and do some garden spring cleanup.</p><p>And the winter really is flying by, helped by the relentlessly-approaching mid-February deadline (self-imposed, but now set in stone by a date with a photographer) to get the house photographed for the MLS listing. So let me gab for a few paragraphs about that before we turn to the meager sewing I got done this week! </p><p>Last Saturday my son Ryan and DDIL Kim came over and helped us take stuff out to the backyard junk heap. We had lovely, sunny weather. Then we shuffled desks, bookcases, beds, etc. to make the three upstairs bedrooms more presentable (staging the house for showings). Kim and I hung or re-hung photos, put out fresh greenery and bedding, etc. Then we relaxed and went out to dinner and just had fun. </p><p>On Monday I went to get my annual cortisone shots in my shoulder, so I didn’t do any wall painting this week per doctors orders. Oh, and we got the credit pre-approval process done with the title company we’ll be dealing with. I arranged for the windows and screens to be cleaned on Tuesday, inside and out. We also scheduled the junk dealer to come on Tuesday. They hauled away so much stuff, and the beauty of it is that they will donate/recycle anything useable (bookshelves, some electronic equipment, wood, etc. So on Tuesday all of that - windows and junk removal - happened according to plan. Big sigh of relief. I still have some furniture to give away and will be posting those photos to the community website later this weekend. </p><p>Later in the week, we looked at a condo, made an offer, then spent a restless night of dread, realizing the work that needed to be done on the new place was not what we wanted. We don’t need a renovation project, just a future home. So we rescinded our offer before the sellers had a chance to respond. In so doing, I came to realize that I’m overly anxious about this process of timing the selling of this home with the buying of a condo. Basically, I’ve never done it before! When I was married to my first husband, we built the two homes we lived in. When Bruce and I got together 22 years ago, we rented this house for the first six months. We fell in love with it and bought it. Easiest “move” we ever had; went to the title company as renters and returned home as owners. </p><p>So, all that to say that my sewing time was precious little this week. My first priority, however, was adding the second border to my SAHRR (Stay at Home Round Robin) piece. </p><p>Also, I’d like to apologize to everyone who left comments last week. I read and appreciated every single one, but never got around to answering any. Shame on me. I’m thinking maybe sleep time is overrated, </p><p>This week was Anja’s turn to call out the next round, and she chose “two colors” as the challenge. I wanted to pull out some orange from the center area, so chose orange and white as the two colors for my next round. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDD8N9mOVW4C4dci6_JIcxCzW8QTXQWnSQUgaj7VS7lQhYC6y10YVChjtg3U2UpchmLZgrfc7O1vLV-JwJTAIP85FQUuPCu49UJj715SlxZB6nj7bJP3qCNhNn0CgSypDwWHo1nIhSR2ABOxZnhns7Vbeu9bro2_x-rp-UfJWXKj3ih7PB0HhNVoKk/s3887/7AC60338-3F16-4DE8-98CA-A13779964706.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3887" data-original-width="2915" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDD8N9mOVW4C4dci6_JIcxCzW8QTXQWnSQUgaj7VS7lQhYC6y10YVChjtg3U2UpchmLZgrfc7O1vLV-JwJTAIP85FQUuPCu49UJj715SlxZB6nj7bJP3qCNhNn0CgSypDwWHo1nIhSR2ABOxZnhns7Vbeu9bro2_x-rp-UfJWXKj3ih7PB0HhNVoKk/w480-h640/7AC60338-3F16-4DE8-98CA-A13779964706.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>That bottom edge looks a little wavy, which happens with borders if you’re not careful. But it might be my pinning. Either way, it will be corrected before the next round. I’m linking to the SAHRR link-up for Round Two <a href="https://anjaquilts.blogspot.com/2024/01/2024-stay-at-home-round-robin-round-2.html" target="_blank"> at Anja’s blog</a>. </p><p>I didn’t forget my beloved <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/02/scraphappy-saturday-number-4-first-red.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a> this week, no matter how busy I was. But truth be told, it took next to no time to whip out these <a href="https://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/2023/06/compassion-quilt-color-stix-block-drive.html" target="_blank">Color Stix</a> blocks by Cynthia Brunz in February’s RSC color of the month, red. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhb0nTutkF7JhJ4XhVjzowEqNjv8yWUDQy7ioAQ8mlvpfM-tltmnc_sfFs9dSj5jmMwow3p89vrxKS_0YFzia59a9o3daknCch0SxJFR2i_laJVsVHKfr7MdZ0-1F1XJZ0lZUzaZCTRpHah7OG0BPdsdYngnMywH4cQf7_DAQWdY_0fvRMJhNH15T/s3576/91022291-2A51-47FD-A83E-A8160481A3E0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3576" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhb0nTutkF7JhJ4XhVjzowEqNjv8yWUDQy7ioAQ8mlvpfM-tltmnc_sfFs9dSj5jmMwow3p89vrxKS_0YFzia59a9o3daknCch0SxJFR2i_laJVsVHKfr7MdZ0-1F1XJZ0lZUzaZCTRpHah7OG0BPdsdYngnMywH4cQf7_DAQWdY_0fvRMJhNH15T/w542-h640/91022291-2A51-47FD-A83E-A8160481A3E0.jpeg" width="542" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The Color Stix quilt, when completed, will be sent to Cynthia Brunz for her Compassion Quilt drive. <div><br /></div><div>And in case you were wondering (or even remembered) about my personal Quilt Kit Challenge, I did not finish the third January quilt yet. It, along with the “green strings and blobs” quilt top I made still need to be basted and quilted. But they have backings and are ready for their turns under the needle. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAzYMcuy23cPurBAh8X16jJ5CNeepjKh-AjPPP5rZK-t70TEk3Eo6CPpd-4QbW_HuMCvF_pjekXWqdZcNZ40q4nYcmqxFVxXNlMT1sR8PJildqdHuSHYcye0NzLsAcM9kKIIAqGPlQa0S8SmfGBh9EIMg76kGB3iYJrozng10x2hnROp5moaFXkEE/s3740/C1DEC02D-8865-4883-B705-8D9C71AB1564.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3740" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAzYMcuy23cPurBAh8X16jJ5CNeepjKh-AjPPP5rZK-t70TEk3Eo6CPpd-4QbW_HuMCvF_pjekXWqdZcNZ40q4nYcmqxFVxXNlMT1sR8PJildqdHuSHYcye0NzLsAcM9kKIIAqGPlQa0S8SmfGBh9EIMg76kGB3iYJrozng10x2hnROp5moaFXkEE/w324-h400/C1DEC02D-8865-4883-B705-8D9C71AB1564.jpeg" width="324" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>But that didn’t stop me (and Ruby and Cousin Kim) from picking the numbers for my three quilt challenge packets for February. The numbers we picked were 15, 21 and 22. Here are the corresponding bags of scraps and yardages: </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDakypJiHADI4M8rakq70JPJ_MlTeCQjpxJXIvGQ-EhVfGYheNhE-psspcvoP0doUy0Z2zKlB4tpGiQ69q3HMeAWr4wDzCqd4pKfb5CKgX1rMEryuykVQeJ_Z8MXn7D6EtgkqYIH1aJIojt8n1OvIvgDRl8EM9NZEoeVaHONu3tfDFUYERqOvyQvw/s3462/8F6A10B9-271B-4C59-B6F7-60BF90AA5DCB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2801" data-original-width="3462" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDakypJiHADI4M8rakq70JPJ_MlTeCQjpxJXIvGQ-EhVfGYheNhE-psspcvoP0doUy0Z2zKlB4tpGiQ69q3HMeAWr4wDzCqd4pKfb5CKgX1rMEryuykVQeJ_Z8MXn7D6EtgkqYIH1aJIojt8n1OvIvgDRl8EM9NZEoeVaHONu3tfDFUYERqOvyQvw/w640-h518/8F6A10B9-271B-4C59-B6F7-60BF90AA5DCB.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0KAegdkd07oulFihbNIJJXXDYDZaDfqhnXm4uwgRgJtk1Pg3xSUzrgH1jUShmU22YZm0_9YMw0uKWmb5Br5LBHJAApenGYmy24Fil8CY5VAbnS_6TDZTckBK7OjyELZ54vRJqf9spU2at86fgBY8TntzatjhJa7NPL-GCRGvv-ikddJJUMT9qKYy/s4032/44DED8D6-AE5A-4EDD-ABFB-DE9E0C6819B6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0KAegdkd07oulFihbNIJJXXDYDZaDfqhnXm4uwgRgJtk1Pg3xSUzrgH1jUShmU22YZm0_9YMw0uKWmb5Br5LBHJAApenGYmy24Fil8CY5VAbnS_6TDZTckBK7OjyELZ54vRJqf9spU2at86fgBY8TntzatjhJa7NPL-GCRGvv-ikddJJUMT9qKYy/w480-h640/44DED8D6-AE5A-4EDD-ABFB-DE9E0C6819B6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEZ8k3JZwTljvv753Z8096xanwGPFRrXtBxm4_3rGhpqqOgTqXc_M21VHXS6RXxJuAEXvn8reGmve_-liLOzapuf4T15x_kiq5kB7WUiK5mxtkvY-1IVYFjTfJnSIrhrTzaRPlMOcNnQlSnwYL3sfB8g5Fej59MvPLLW2hESocwI9X61EdOfQTxyN/s3851/C2BB0902-0019-47A9-A29D-316C33F0FA74.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2853" data-original-width="3851" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyEZ8k3JZwTljvv753Z8096xanwGPFRrXtBxm4_3rGhpqqOgTqXc_M21VHXS6RXxJuAEXvn8reGmve_-liLOzapuf4T15x_kiq5kB7WUiK5mxtkvY-1IVYFjTfJnSIrhrTzaRPlMOcNnQlSnwYL3sfB8g5Fej59MvPLLW2hESocwI9X61EdOfQTxyN/w640-h474/C2BB0902-0019-47A9-A29D-316C33F0FA74.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>On Kit #15, which is another bag of 2.5” strips I coordinated at some point, I am so tempted to do another quilt where I merely sew the strips together along the long edges, like the one I did last month. It would show a total lack of creativity on my part, but desperate times call for desperate measures. On the other hand, if there are too many (I haven’t even counted yet), I could do a simple rail fence quilt which would be easy and fun. I guess we’ll find out soon enough.</div><div><br /></div><div>So tomorrow (Saturday) we are going to an Open House for a move-in ready townhouse in nearby Holladay here in the Salt Lake Valley. And then a stop at Target for another comforter and Home Depot. I will also be spackling holes in two walls of our downstairs office/bedroom in preparation for painting next week. </div><div><br /></div><div>There is a light at the end of this house-prep tunnel - I can see it! Or is that an oncoming train?</div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-16858674158416372252024-01-26T17:41:00.002-07:002024-01-27T08:34:02.878-07:00Hectic Week<p>This week was so busy that I hardly got any sewing done. Really, I mean it this time! :-) I do have the last of my Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks to show you for January’s color of bright and dark green and the first round of my Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR). But first I have to whine. (Anyone have some cheese to go with that?)</p><p>We have moved from Moderate House Prep Mode into Full-on Ninja House Prep Mode. That means my top priority this week was coordinating a family work day for tomorrow (Saturday), emptying desks and bookshelves that will be moved or given away. I also painted a bedroom and closet. I’m trying to pace myself on the painting. In the next week I’ll be prepping 2 walls and painting in our downstairs office/bedroom. The week after I’ll do the touch-up on one kitchen wall and baseboards around the house. We’re trying to get ready ASAP for the photographer to come so our listing can finally go live around mid-February. In the meantime, we’ve been looking at locations and condos/townhouses and have found one that we like. But will it still be there in another week or two when we get pre-qualified for a bridge loan while this house is on the market? Who knows. I have to focus on what I can control and let go of the rest for now. </p><p>So, color me surprised that I even have anything to show you! First up, let’s take a look at the first round of the SAHRR.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGCYJvuX4g3Lf_0qqQx3CE6Dh09Gr0u7AYQkt9R7OsnZsMW0Fz7Q09J1XYVZWydWM0NSBw6L4_DXHyvCZVVUPRlrOX74imPBeky3TDgKqkVkd_SldKwLLF7YbGNzdjO3gAA4xi_RpscvAGGA5NHaw4vnmxmIr2Jxyw-bOow9EnUPqdskWIF9uL9Zj/s492/Image.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="482" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGCYJvuX4g3Lf_0qqQx3CE6Dh09Gr0u7AYQkt9R7OsnZsMW0Fz7Q09J1XYVZWydWM0NSBw6L4_DXHyvCZVVUPRlrOX74imPBeky3TDgKqkVkd_SldKwLLF7YbGNzdjO3gAA4xi_RpscvAGGA5NHaw4vnmxmIr2Jxyw-bOow9EnUPqdskWIF9uL9Zj/s320/Image.jpeg" width="313" /></a></div><p>Our hostess for Round One is <a href="https://www.piecefulthoughts.com/sahrr-border-1-2/" target="_blank">Wendy of Peaceful Quilts</a>. Wendy called for us to use the traditional Signature Block (also known as Indian Hatchet). At Wendy’s link-up, you can see all the fun additions that the participants have sewn for this first round. This is what mine looks like.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilR4v8FRQ2jHGkmEN3HgYqAAmScettcZEagiuWXUmw5c0_Q07mosv1YIC3xSgE9YcqQo4zEK2icuKkoV-uQK9A61g4aQ-LXofW7aE9hWMnye9B0sKZrr1kzPKUtj1ML1Kg3CB9ewCiokrsRSpzfqOgmFcRmz2CmMA35HZazIdcX8viadn81bhAEZD/s3490/IMG_5963.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3490" data-original-width="2807" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilR4v8FRQ2jHGkmEN3HgYqAAmScettcZEagiuWXUmw5c0_Q07mosv1YIC3xSgE9YcqQo4zEK2icuKkoV-uQK9A61g4aQ-LXofW7aE9hWMnye9B0sKZrr1kzPKUtj1ML1Kg3CB9ewCiokrsRSpzfqOgmFcRmz2CmMA35HZazIdcX8viadn81bhAEZD/w514-h640/IMG_5963.jpeg" width="514" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It measures 18.5 x 24” at this point, so I’ll probably combine a couple rounds into one as I move forward, which we totally can do. But we’ll see what is called for the next round. I would like this to end up at roughly 40-45” wide and 50-55” long, so I’ll be keeping that in mind moving forward.<div><br /></div><div>My final blocks for Green January in the <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/01/scraphappy-saturday-4.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge </a>are these simple Windmill blocks. Simple, that is, until you get rockin’ out to some Billy Joel music and lose track of what you’re doing and sew three of nine blocks backwards. *Cough, cough*. But that’s OK, I fixed ‘em. And Billy was totally worth the effort! Hey, did you hear that he has a new single being released on February 1? It’s called Turn the Lights Back On).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWd2NGpC1dF2KiDXriMmxHHRCkKWBFt3sl8o_V559e11wG-msJgUddOwu9OC-E3mgUynApV7tYYs1A9TdIiXShcMh9rUdsEsACiKFquguGSNg6OxBh2rPcTUuIiKV4y3pzHYWxLDPMadu-zvI0QiUGwJ5ouNU1z0wmKUpKPGKH18pnjt-6RGB8m6-/s3278/IMG_5964.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3278" data-original-width="3003" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWd2NGpC1dF2KiDXriMmxHHRCkKWBFt3sl8o_V559e11wG-msJgUddOwu9OC-E3mgUynApV7tYYs1A9TdIiXShcMh9rUdsEsACiKFquguGSNg6OxBh2rPcTUuIiKV4y3pzHYWxLDPMadu-zvI0QiUGwJ5ouNU1z0wmKUpKPGKH18pnjt-6RGB8m6-/w586-h640/IMG_5964.jpeg" width="586" /></a></div><br /><div>So, that’s it for my week. I’ll be linking up to <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/01/scraphappy-saturday-4.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Saturday</a> when that link goes live. And if you’d like to come over and help me paint, don’t be bashful! I invited my entire Weight Watchers workshop over to help me paint this week, and would you believe no one took me up on it? Serves them right because a good time was had by all. And by all, I mean me (wink).</div><div><br /></div><div>Have a good week, friends!</div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-85325902826919985302024-01-20T08:33:00.001-07:002024-01-20T08:33:13.133-07:00Frozen in Place<p>This week has been a bit of a low-key crawl through days. Cold, rain, snow, ice, wind. Cousin Carrie, who was diagnosed in the early autumn with pancreatic and liver cancer lost her battle with cancer on Monday night. That pretty much set the tone for the week (along with Mother Nature). We’re all still trying to take it in. This afternoon there will be a family pot luck gathering at her daughter Jenny’s house where we can all come together and just be with each other. </p><p>So this week’s accomplishments are limited. On Monday during the day (before we learned of Carrie’s last hours), I ran around buying paint and new welcome mats, visiting the pet store (new litter box for the cats), going home store shopping for decorator accent pieces and cushions for staging the house, and going to Costco to get gas for the car and buying a case of tissues for Bruce’s never-ending cold. Or whatever it is. He went to Instacare yesterday and they were stumped. *sigh*</p><p>On Tuesday, I sewed and did laundry and vegetated. On Wednesday, Cousin Kim (Carrie’s sister) and I met up, went to a coffee shop and drank coffee and talked all morning. I took her home (her car was getting serviced) and came home from her place with lots of new empty boxes for future packing…</p><p>On Thursday I deep cleaned some rooms of the house - in preparation for moving around some furniture - and some sewing. Yesterday (Friday) was grocery shopping and lots of paperwork. </p><p>So, I’ll show you what little I have. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-iUtdYeje7pkalwdswQychXPC4NZlifbSyqoV-wQSLg1sVLV_pOS_5cqRkMX0MFrvsPZTVJpVIlsYfNJHAK3nDywUcwQECgk-2z-wqkOUQTFHDt7FpPwaJQw_OdyXEmxoCzkO6wj1TqQiaqCGxVBg5Mc3O7bfkcY4E8nlY8ixelz3Cr9Y6zXA1_D/s3692/DDE61F99-0D6D-4894-9C25-C1AB20426297.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3692" data-original-width="2743" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-iUtdYeje7pkalwdswQychXPC4NZlifbSyqoV-wQSLg1sVLV_pOS_5cqRkMX0MFrvsPZTVJpVIlsYfNJHAK3nDywUcwQECgk-2z-wqkOUQTFHDt7FpPwaJQw_OdyXEmxoCzkO6wj1TqQiaqCGxVBg5Mc3O7bfkcY4E8nlY8ixelz3Cr9Y6zXA1_D/w476-h640/DDE61F99-0D6D-4894-9C25-C1AB20426297.jpeg" width="476" /></a></div><p>I sewed three more blocks for the Anne quilt I’m making for a friend. Now I have five done of twenty needed. I had intended to have at least 10 done this week, but oh well. At least there’s lots of green in the blocks, so I can link up to <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/01/scraphappy-saturday-3-2024.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Saturday</a>! </p><p>And I worked on Scrap Kit #19, pictured here to refresh your memory. </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwzuRktg4b8t6TntwNkbCUsz1ZA7E_zQheEcejJ2sjw_jtykeA_uuNzPmSHhJXETILY6sxPOvzQfOkfbOlD90iWYnYge47y71zLOzicvbWoiXmqC68-BVOqYUfgSOJIOQOAXFAfENyvLWEPQCGUewUUSIvT18YVX_pl4vjQ9r3FKmmUdgxxldnuuf/s4032/368C2E88-3706-4A27-9525-E9DB8BC54B32.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwzuRktg4b8t6TntwNkbCUsz1ZA7E_zQheEcejJ2sjw_jtykeA_uuNzPmSHhJXETILY6sxPOvzQfOkfbOlD90iWYnYge47y71zLOzicvbWoiXmqC68-BVOqYUfgSOJIOQOAXFAfENyvLWEPQCGUewUUSIvT18YVX_pl4vjQ9r3FKmmUdgxxldnuuf/w300-h400/368C2E88-3706-4A27-9525-E9DB8BC54B32.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>The pieces that were already precut in this kit (presumably leftovers from someone’s quilt) pretty much dictated what this would become. Here is the finished 42x54” top. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4m2B-EcFV6UtpVmnxXRSzo2ppNM65BFRDXMGZn88qImmIEnMzMsE-l0d0ZNoeVIiilrfav_Nw86ZeB3xWyaPpjrd1wuTDz2RNoVajZcFsGXKGyrRxoXHWR1AvlI-O_bdoD7qZbJfsUQenqc_nSPlI_84Mjc0fYESIWl8q-zKUVsg-Zl2etC4eXg5Y/s4032/CDB8E44B-ACD7-478C-982D-2A5D90F0AD58.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4m2B-EcFV6UtpVmnxXRSzo2ppNM65BFRDXMGZn88qImmIEnMzMsE-l0d0ZNoeVIiilrfav_Nw86ZeB3xWyaPpjrd1wuTDz2RNoVajZcFsGXKGyrRxoXHWR1AvlI-O_bdoD7qZbJfsUQenqc_nSPlI_84Mjc0fYESIWl8q-zKUVsg-Zl2etC4eXg5Y/w480-h640/CDB8E44B-ACD7-478C-982D-2A5D90F0AD58.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I added in a few squares of blue and brown shirting pieces and the navy polka dot. The plan for the coming week is now to baste this and the green strings quilt top shown last week. </p><p>And in case you didn’t see it, I am participating in this year’s <a href="https://quiltinggail.com/2023/12/20/announcing-the-2024-sahrr/" target="_blank">Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR)</a>. For the next six weeks or so I’ll have a mid-week post about my weekly progress on that as I follow along with the prompts and link up to the SAHRR linky party. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_20wEniG8iIdIZ4ZE-In4Xna_totfwJIL_yxTACoM_IqOJdWScu653bQkbGJV48mg9HFwxuUULkc7ixwLxXhj2aMEAD3hqc3J_MkNt_ZQzuZu2DhCspSCr2kQUxtnGKmAykYxYL7q1Sh1D0F2I_qYO8rIAP9aZNFpJtQkCLL63UMH-0Z2bFT-8UB3/s4032/60506AE5-A203-49FC-B018-9C2B8CB249BD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_20wEniG8iIdIZ4ZE-In4Xna_totfwJIL_yxTACoM_IqOJdWScu653bQkbGJV48mg9HFwxuUULkc7ixwLxXhj2aMEAD3hqc3J_MkNt_ZQzuZu2DhCspSCr2kQUxtnGKmAykYxYL7q1Sh1D0F2I_qYO8rIAP9aZNFpJtQkCLL63UMH-0Z2bFT-8UB3/w300-h400/60506AE5-A203-49FC-B018-9C2B8CB249BD.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>My starting block, an orphan given to me from a donation to Quilts for Kids, is 12.5” and will be a great colorful start to a hopefully-fun kid quilt!</p><p>And that’s it, my friends! Do take extra care if you’re having to go out in the nasty weather that’s plaguing most of the country. Thanks for dropping by!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-90492693493013670002024-01-17T16:37:00.001-07:002024-01-17T19:02:42.113-07:00Stay at Home Round Robin 2024 After skipping last year (and truly missing it), I am once again participating in the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR). This is a fun annual event hosted by <a href="https://quiltinggail.com" target="_blank">Quilting Gail</a> and five other hostesses in the US and Canada.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLjjuhZfnImudaEysXj7EwSYliVRf42Jv_FWahvRNpOuYMFUxoyE-P3LAt4a_EYjEA-lB75eMvDMTLMacpzU-lDtv5cgZeSdQNeRoLhryapRceOE_aopti5Py0v20hERc46GoMI84vYnYo7-rV1QCPQZeo6aqb7vIHC1nFCaBfb3Y7Er8OowspUyh/s492/Image.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="482" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLjjuhZfnImudaEysXj7EwSYliVRf42Jv_FWahvRNpOuYMFUxoyE-P3LAt4a_EYjEA-lB75eMvDMTLMacpzU-lDtv5cgZeSdQNeRoLhryapRceOE_aopti5Py0v20hERc46GoMI84vYnYo7-rV1QCPQZeo6aqb7vIHC1nFCaBfb3Y7Er8OowspUyh/w213-h218/Image.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div><br /><div>This week we’re showing our beginning block, which will become the center of this medallion-style quilt along. The idea is to begin with a random leftover block from our respective block “orphanages”. Then each week for the next six weeks, one of the hostesses will call out a block or motif (like a star, flying geese, checkerboard) and we’re to add that to our block and grow it into something fabulous. </div><div><br /></div><div>I decided to begin with this block that was given to me by our local Quilts for Kids group (it was a donation), since they know I like to play with scraps and exercise my creative bone. This block measures about 12.5” and contains bright kid colors that I’m sure will be easy to supplement from my stash as we move forward.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8weteNv95A9Bgsir-PTxMTI_-OD74Yw9WVKewcukfsqcDAThicQ3kTuWytxcCwmTUhh8v6e6SMRO8xCVqXmNQHuecOUihd8SpP6GebIsyOtKNp64gddO2OP58ax0-IihdSXfCqA9EQpRU60xSafmIH52RI8ygcKBzmisQAQ1mdLEuyyBniykNBIFy/s3200/IMG_5956.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3200" data-original-width="2982" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8weteNv95A9Bgsir-PTxMTI_-OD74Yw9WVKewcukfsqcDAThicQ3kTuWytxcCwmTUhh8v6e6SMRO8xCVqXmNQHuecOUihd8SpP6GebIsyOtKNp64gddO2OP58ax0-IihdSXfCqA9EQpRU60xSafmIH52RI8ygcKBzmisQAQ1mdLEuyyBniykNBIFy/s320/IMG_5956.jpeg" width="298" /></a></div><br /><div>Bright green, orange, blue and chrome gold (and parrots!) What’s not to love? There were also three smaller pinwheel blocks given with these fabrics, but I’ll take them apart to have 12 half-square triangles to use. </div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="color: #38761d;">The link for this week’s parade of blocks is <a href="https://fresh.inlinkz.com/party/32ccd157db2c4490b5010485b8eabcdb" target="_blank">HERE</a> at Gail’s blog. The rest of the SAHRR schedule is:</span></b></div><div><style class="WebKit-mso-list-quirks-style">
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</style><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-size: medium;"><o:p> </o:p></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">January 22: 1<sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; padding: 0in;">st</span></sup> Round: Wendy @ <a href="https://www.piecefulthoughts.com/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #10759c; padding: 0in;">Pieceful Thoughts of My Quilting Life</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">January 29: 2<sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; padding: 0in;">nd</span></sup> Round: Anja @ <a href="https://anjaquilts.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #10759c; padding: 0in;">Anja Quilts</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">February 5: 3<sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; padding: 0in;">rd</span></sup> Round: Emily @ <a href="http://thedarlingdogwood.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #10759c; padding: 0in;">The Darling Dogwood</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">February 12: 4<sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; padding: 0in;">th</span></sup> Round: Brenda @ <a href="https://songbirddesigns.blog/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #10759c; padding: 0in;">Songbird</span><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #10759c; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;"> </span></a><a href="https://songbirddesigns.blog/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #10759c; padding: 0in;">Designs</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">February 19: 5<sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; padding: 0in;">th</span></sup> Round: ME!!! @ <a href="https://quiltinggail.com/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #10759c; padding: 0in;">Quilting Gail</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">February 26: 6<sup><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; padding: 0in;">th</span></sup> Round: Kathleen @ <a href="https://kathleenmcmusing.com/" target="_blank"><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; color: #10759c; padding: 0in;">Kathleen McMusing</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #444444; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">March 18: <b><span style="border: 1pt windowtext; padding: 0in;">Parade</span></b>: showing all of your finished SAHRRs!<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></p><br /></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-22936659512211879872024-01-13T00:16:00.001-07:002024-01-13T08:55:25.101-07:00First Finishes of 2024Woo-hoo! I finished two quilts this week! I’ve had lots and lots of sewing time, thanks to the cold and snowy weather this past week. My friend Ruby and I had planned to have a salmon lunch and then spend a couple hours in her hot tub, but on that day (Thursday), it began snowing like crazy mid-morning - almost whiteout conditions. So we cancelled it for this week. Naturally, by early afternoon it had cleared and the sun was shining. That’s OK, there’s always next week. And Bruce has been sick this week, so I feel better staying close to home. It’s just a nasty winter cold, but it has zapped all his energy. Yesterday was Day 4, so I expect he’ll be turning a corner this weekend.<div><br /></div><div>Working on the <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/01/scraphappy-saturday-2024-number-2.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a> color of Green (darks and brights) for January, I made some good dents in my green fabric scraps.</div><div><br /></div><div>I loved these 16-Patch stars that <a href="https://quiltsandcostumes.blogspot.com/2023/12/scrappy-rainbow-wrap-up-for-2023.html" target="_blank">Julie</a> made for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge last year. So, since I’m trying to stick to simple (but good-looking) blocks this year, this one fit the bill perfectly. They assemble quickly, eat up lots of scraps, and allow me more time to work on assembling RSC quilts from previous years’ blocks.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6ensTlYlNz9QdsmWu5jkiCXXb5VWEAzB7OrfgtI5k5Csm8OoCjC7vazjZY4GvzMQgRX8Wzx1NO41jT2gJ8iTSCCYjJnvJuUhjfe_ng2h_FXynFaPprb3avvy6ayfSZe_xqcUSKhQP2xpYhmecjeYaeAmSv-prc70bRtR3mDMa7MecVaLLUf3Of9e/s4026/C49E446C-7AC5-415A-8D08-1533FD1F4D63.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2779" data-original-width="4026" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6ensTlYlNz9QdsmWu5jkiCXXb5VWEAzB7OrfgtI5k5Csm8OoCjC7vazjZY4GvzMQgRX8Wzx1NO41jT2gJ8iTSCCYjJnvJuUhjfe_ng2h_FXynFaPprb3avvy6ayfSZe_xqcUSKhQP2xpYhmecjeYaeAmSv-prc70bRtR3mDMa7MecVaLLUf3Of9e/w640-h442/C49E446C-7AC5-415A-8D08-1533FD1F4D63.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I’ll make a total of 20 of these blocks for a quilt that finishes 48x60”.<div><br /></div><div>You’d think that after sewing 400+ string blocks last calendar quarter, I’d be so over sewing strings. But you’d be wrong. What’s a Rainbow Scrapper to do when she has loads of strings in the color of the month? For me, the answer was to make 28 string block with a contrasting center string while using other 6.5” solid and dark green prints to round out a green quilt top. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4xFc3I3GZWq-oY5GsPXmjakhbbdZxkbFf5ccs0A5OXVV5yGnnTDa3oVvEiVQieGIaDxkDJg4MWS8uMTCLEl4DH1fn87gBUK3Ft-SkKlrDiYVeZ-T1ybNy3ifRnhuiFjOWib-DjMnXfh5mNRJQqtAWSsJiOKkXdXAsuEzbKm1PMvB_OSz-rRIqZfB/s3621/46F907F2-4E0A-49D2-B646-367A4780EE7D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3621" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS4xFc3I3GZWq-oY5GsPXmjakhbbdZxkbFf5ccs0A5OXVV5yGnnTDa3oVvEiVQieGIaDxkDJg4MWS8uMTCLEl4DH1fn87gBUK3Ft-SkKlrDiYVeZ-T1ybNy3ifRnhuiFjOWib-DjMnXfh5mNRJQqtAWSsJiOKkXdXAsuEzbKm1PMvB_OSz-rRIqZfB/w534-h640/46F907F2-4E0A-49D2-B646-367A4780EE7D.jpeg" width="534" /></a></div><br /><div><div>The first three columns are webbed with 4 more to go. I selected the Kona Iced Frappe color (also just a scrap) from my solids bin. It matched the little bit of Tula Pink scrap print and was a nice contrast with the green strings. When I ran out of the Tula print, I added in the 9 plain dark green blocks to finish them off. I love it when there’s *just* enough fabric to use and match. Click on the picture to see the colors better. You can also see that I had to add some dark green slivers to round out several of the print blocks to 6.5” square. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, that quilt top wasn’t in my plans, but I was more than happy to go where the scraps led me, and the result is far fewer green scraps. Win-win! </div><div><br /></div><div>But the next two quilts WERE on my radar, and this week I basted, quilted and bound them. They’re coming with me (and three other recent finishes) to the Quilts for Kids workshop this morning. </div><div><br /></div><div>First is Chevron Stars, which finished at 40x54”. It was quilted with a vertical serpentine stitch. Last week I said I didn’t have enough of the chevron pieces to make a four-sided border, but I was wrong. We will not discuss how far my quilt math was off…. (wink).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWWZNR9sg9cOl0kaxir2FLB9nVzdRLgAGiQ901EKu-jLr4Mkm8JiJ9Af5XeXiNUCDK9tZkrpn85kHGmjjx10Q6i_wj7YqBtEWWDblrLdbwWnDHvT6sdcXKNMhbOQXybmSMgfeg-OZgpbkjqXaYzrURrR4sYP7blaPunOtw_6rnmNPUvIzFiANv7NU/s4032/972BB603-B642-459D-AF0F-9E1A67AF1043.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNWWZNR9sg9cOl0kaxir2FLB9nVzdRLgAGiQ901EKu-jLr4Mkm8JiJ9Af5XeXiNUCDK9tZkrpn85kHGmjjx10Q6i_wj7YqBtEWWDblrLdbwWnDHvT6sdcXKNMhbOQXybmSMgfeg-OZgpbkjqXaYzrURrR4sYP7blaPunOtw_6rnmNPUvIzFiANv7NU/w480-h640/972BB603-B642-459D-AF0F-9E1A67AF1043.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4qDAHr2bK3FTs1DdUHqMa8e2AO2Ys89CwK0BrYLlB-sJbJdrXUBmDT08abGPwFQws-yKowXrGXgjajXAx39usWy2oBV64oQItTcg6p2aRpXBMtSVxT7aRdf31E7_M3KN6hyWCe2J5EkY42CkNWJM-9gDQ-ZI7jtvLdqH0dxFE3HD2NBeYemTuLOu/s4032/AA8376AF-A9A2-4D7F-944A-7363F1E46D05.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4qDAHr2bK3FTs1DdUHqMa8e2AO2Ys89CwK0BrYLlB-sJbJdrXUBmDT08abGPwFQws-yKowXrGXgjajXAx39usWy2oBV64oQItTcg6p2aRpXBMtSVxT7aRdf31E7_M3KN6hyWCe2J5EkY42CkNWJM-9gDQ-ZI7jtvLdqH0dxFE3HD2NBeYemTuLOu/w480-h640/AA8376AF-A9A2-4D7F-944A-7363F1E46D05.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>My second finish was this striped number….. 39x46”.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQAP6qtHrIfiYh7AQgBdQ_3cSNeJ5nlvX5Lk1bAhvG2IRzdYTkNnYpFcw7RTwJFreST6bPB3eVld4OZsY8uW572Y0QbRbteemj2KQj5jayuokfcW-ctl9NlWpabWCmmQPZzWNb5RH3Z971STZkfiY6bxZ9x_t419nPmkoV33xrAV49rBjDjfHDDkO/s4032/F9D339D1-F5FD-42AC-9705-C628296D818E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQAP6qtHrIfiYh7AQgBdQ_3cSNeJ5nlvX5Lk1bAhvG2IRzdYTkNnYpFcw7RTwJFreST6bPB3eVld4OZsY8uW572Y0QbRbteemj2KQj5jayuokfcW-ctl9NlWpabWCmmQPZzWNb5RH3Z971STZkfiY6bxZ9x_t419nPmkoV33xrAV49rBjDjfHDDkO/w480-h640/F9D339D1-F5FD-42AC-9705-C628296D818E.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>And the backing - </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi988_7lMEGJwOb984vQizHxqjWE57vcb_JMZQrtC7UCGKadvWCzh82U0gDdiV0wOiyrfvg5A9pw_HLkQdYCVnvbbs4RsjE7rMJgYC9ZdkxnoLx1TzP7yw6Nin81ewjp2fyxWrbkQsG_EqfB-TemFGYFsuFF4-HpcBooqjpQ-6JVSH8JWixGi5eaD4c/s3745/AA2EE94E-9D4D-432F-9D13-866A08F2BB4E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3745" data-original-width="2809" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi988_7lMEGJwOb984vQizHxqjWE57vcb_JMZQrtC7UCGKadvWCzh82U0gDdiV0wOiyrfvg5A9pw_HLkQdYCVnvbbs4RsjE7rMJgYC9ZdkxnoLx1TzP7yw6Nin81ewjp2fyxWrbkQsG_EqfB-TemFGYFsuFF4-HpcBooqjpQ-6JVSH8JWixGi5eaD4c/w480-h640/AA2EE94E-9D4D-432F-9D13-866A08F2BB4E.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>One of the things I was going through last week (decluttering) was my tub of home decorator prints and trims. Back in the day I used to make and sell <a href="https://cathyscrazybydesign.blogspot.com/2011/08/more-boho-bags-done.html" target="_blank">Boho Bag</a>s. Anyway, I found two pieces of fabric that matched and perfectly fit a small 12x18” pillow form I had. Thirty minutes later, I had a little cushion (that I said last week I would not be sewing). </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFXu9eK98H9IIy11RuKIvPsezTIDel1cjcZMynn9YJJsUxQnCzXvYmjWs-pxQd9mpUG_1r4AwnWokWxDze_weUHHyl_I_yjlRzrSCojTIjG4WS18O5zWHVh62c4RWlpnqk3KwmaQ9Wmo-BpquLUPok6wdYbTW8DcUAC7a8g3SCHezX8exqmvB-q10/s3187/DAB99454-0C14-472B-8FE0-14930162B98A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3187" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFXu9eK98H9IIy11RuKIvPsezTIDel1cjcZMynn9YJJsUxQnCzXvYmjWs-pxQd9mpUG_1r4AwnWokWxDze_weUHHyl_I_yjlRzrSCojTIjG4WS18O5zWHVh62c4RWlpnqk3KwmaQ9Wmo-BpquLUPok6wdYbTW8DcUAC7a8g3SCHezX8exqmvB-q10/w608-h640/DAB99454-0C14-472B-8FE0-14930162B98A.jpeg" width="608" /></a></div><br /><div>I will purchase the rest of the decorator cushions - stripes, textures, etc. to add some zing to our otherwise neutral living room. Color pops of greens and blues should add some interest when it comes to showing the house for sale. I also went through all our paint cans this week and separated the dried up paints (which we’ll take to the city public works building for safe disposal) and labeled all the viable remaining paints. Finally, I made a short list of colors I need to buy to touch up baseboards and a wall or two. </div><div><br /></div><div>But back to sewing… two quick things. Next week I will begin putting together the third quilt “kit” whose number I pulled for January. This is kit #19…. and it will likely need plenty of supplementation. I’m really looking forward to playing with this!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Da-JczPHl-eFLyNVXJIaCt1oUjB-d96tEBq_PeLmQC_1TaDrSB2Th5gvXgHzEFWo5xMc-fCwx2tlacgmpesKb5o1OuX7v9Vsz8EN0siN4n46t2puDO7RovrMYJnR5AKS8i81vpncUfd_mNrsCWLMDbJ0UCKP3Y9pqJY1YqG-wwYEyF2KivKup-L8/s4032/7E5B703C-BAEC-4D88-8937-436BE907F7BD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Da-JczPHl-eFLyNVXJIaCt1oUjB-d96tEBq_PeLmQC_1TaDrSB2Th5gvXgHzEFWo5xMc-fCwx2tlacgmpesKb5o1OuX7v9Vsz8EN0siN4n46t2puDO7RovrMYJnR5AKS8i81vpncUfd_mNrsCWLMDbJ0UCKP3Y9pqJY1YqG-wwYEyF2KivKup-L8/w480-h640/7E5B703C-BAEC-4D88-8937-436BE907F7BD.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I would also like to finish about 8-10 more blocks for the Anne quilt I’ll be gifting (see <a href="https://cathyscrazybydesign.blogspot.com/2023/12/winter-activities.html" target="_blank">this post</a>, near the end). And finally, I have some secret sewing to do for a reveal in February, but all I can show you is my color pull and some of the cutting. Stay tuned!</div><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/AVvXsEilgH9x_9JvOLrlBKCn3Enk6Co2tEuD_fNWQB4PiNun_DPMOlscdus0SO3Jn677QxW4ksEgHLYiYmAbopiQ2KqbHReJY76z825b1meF_817X0lXXCYEdcv5EgGqhHyKPs01-UuXb0WKel7QHqdNcAVEj4Kn-DXrQGPoFdA_nnq9MjLR9iE6fJw1EHom/s4032/42E27D16-D2F3-486F-819D-8AE7DDFAD075.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgH9x_9JvOLrlBKCn3Enk6Co2tEuD_fNWQB4PiNun_DPMOlscdus0SO3Jn677QxW4ksEgHLYiYmAbopiQ2KqbHReJY76z825b1meF_817X0lXXCYEdcv5EgGqhHyKPs01-UuXb0WKel7QHqdNcAVEj4Kn-DXrQGPoFdA_nnq9MjLR9iE6fJw1EHom/w640-h480/42E27D16-D2F3-486F-819D-8AE7DDFAD075.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A potential RSC Quilt?.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Have a great week! </div><div>Linking to <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/01/scraphappy-saturday-2024-number-2.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Saturday.</a></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-29558275983317279922024-01-06T09:37:00.004-07:002024-01-06T09:37:58.886-07:00Aaaaand… We’re Off and Running!It feels as though winter has just begun post-Holidays. We have had cold and snow this week, which is most welcome in January in a winter sports state such as Utah. And while Bruce and I stay warm and cozy indoors (because we’re old and we’re wusses), we can still accomplish things like sewing and decluttering. I do the former, Bruce does the latter - to atone for a couple decades of collecting and near-hoarding! Hehehe.<div><br /></div><div>So let’s get started! This month’s color range for the <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/01/scraphappy-saturday-1-of-2024.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a> is dark and bright greens. I started my week by sewing three Color Stix blocks (designed by <a href="https://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cynthia Brunz of Quilting is More Fun Than Housework</a>) (was there ever a better blog title than that?)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LiJamTZirG7T4io4d_sXMLtVPqYu7rZp-JdQ6yT4V873e6NFlmnHanKOoMXyrANeAeYHNRbRo9R-_yXw04cGpCOyWhtwrfHYSG-VUhvThONzvZ9jivllWpmnUyoxtL9GEipcYOx71fJLTpQmhdRw4EgA7BoArrW5t4Kl7CynKOlnstiXpgIaUNvd/s3992/C79A4A1B-A2D0-4D3A-A2E4-3C3724AE4548.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2662" data-original-width="3992" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4LiJamTZirG7T4io4d_sXMLtVPqYu7rZp-JdQ6yT4V873e6NFlmnHanKOoMXyrANeAeYHNRbRo9R-_yXw04cGpCOyWhtwrfHYSG-VUhvThONzvZ9jivllWpmnUyoxtL9GEipcYOx71fJLTpQmhdRw4EgA7BoArrW5t4Kl7CynKOlnstiXpgIaUNvd/w640-h426/C79A4A1B-A2D0-4D3A-A2E4-3C3724AE4548.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I intend to make a quilt out of these blocks at year end and donate it to her Compassion Quilts charity. The free pattern for this simple and fun block is <a href="https://quiltingismorefunthanhousework.blogspot.com/2023/06/compassion-quilt-color-stix-block-drive.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>Last week I talked about my goal to begin sewing up the 35+ quilt kits I have assembled from scraps given to me over the last several years. This week I have pictures to show, including the kits whose numbers I drew for January and their progress so far. </div><div><br /></div><div>This photo shows a sampling of kits, which may contain related OR unrelated fabrics in a certain theme or color, and varying amounts of fabric. The scraps are like seeds or idea starters. If I need to add more scraps to them to make a quilt, or return leftovers to the scrap bins, well, it’s all good. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgtm3xhTIbM7nKbyvi9WTLYpHmQByZBdxJNXfb2y7tsMQMR-qSIstxBJQB-oom8D-7mYuKJD-nuSP7ZlskzyGvhUthT8VN3yxGCMI3KhmCGUxbkExxFG6sxBgscwsg4BBEtTkpR5q5x7CRofNL1vIHtfVffANTnGzhB8BArsi_qFUROtBMKrqhwA-/s4027/FDF3B108-F896-4A2A-B906-ECFAF69A95A2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2705" data-original-width="4027" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNgtm3xhTIbM7nKbyvi9WTLYpHmQByZBdxJNXfb2y7tsMQMR-qSIstxBJQB-oom8D-7mYuKJD-nuSP7ZlskzyGvhUthT8VN3yxGCMI3KhmCGUxbkExxFG6sxBgscwsg4BBEtTkpR5q5x7CRofNL1vIHtfVffANTnGzhB8BArsi_qFUROtBMKrqhwA-/w640-h430/FDF3B108-F896-4A2A-B906-ECFAF69A95A2.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The numbers I drew for January were 4, 19 and 26. Here are the kits. </div><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/AVvXsEiUu0Trll8_IHa04j94ss-kv4IAeFfIDLPhP5lbtiSaIEREhtDsH2Or3BCFeE1UrIt921u-k0Lt0b5to6ET6nEp4isi1SWfsctSomCFpcKW4GksxELCe94Nh0nDy8G_PPVXqQIyW3_6kXkQK-8N15APeIvZaTlGnte6WdODe900TQynyVjgm-uMeNLt/s3264/31D4ACDE-13EC-4EEF-A17C-D2C471C4EDF8.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1453" data-original-width="3264" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUu0Trll8_IHa04j94ss-kv4IAeFfIDLPhP5lbtiSaIEREhtDsH2Or3BCFeE1UrIt921u-k0Lt0b5to6ET6nEp4isi1SWfsctSomCFpcKW4GksxELCe94Nh0nDy8G_PPVXqQIyW3_6kXkQK-8N15APeIvZaTlGnte6WdODe900TQynyVjgm-uMeNLt/w640-h284/31D4ACDE-13EC-4EEF-A17C-D2C471C4EDF8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kit #4</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><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/AVvXsEgG1I9R33a-E9cJNH2MP_nJX2kUepB2zVcJcsobFol8XeJT5YbRltjdfAnVAav2NLX1F6ZDA7OMEiKsRZPAL70tolMKemriNu0jaIkmF1LxgDxVkytykEtO2x4MwfY2_ZL538RGwXoZjtxH-U3ef8Xg5iAqH-mhfNJASdewRWCab1pTp_9NfZopN5Jm/s4032/36B0D313-AC06-4E98-9ACA-4DB623B06F68.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1I9R33a-E9cJNH2MP_nJX2kUepB2zVcJcsobFol8XeJT5YbRltjdfAnVAav2NLX1F6ZDA7OMEiKsRZPAL70tolMKemriNu0jaIkmF1LxgDxVkytykEtO2x4MwfY2_ZL538RGwXoZjtxH-U3ef8Xg5iAqH-mhfNJASdewRWCab1pTp_9NfZopN5Jm/w480-h640/36B0D313-AC06-4E98-9ACA-4DB623B06F68.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kit #19</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The third and final kit, #26, was just a bunch of 2.5” strips by width-of-fabric (WOF). I wasted no time in getting them up on the design board, and sewing them up. I had to add a few additional WOF strips to get a good length. The finished top is on the right below. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2-9fs4JTdIhM3EI1Sd6PwTKBHsnsa61Ssb3Mv_9MuwdIfFvA9AjK9tQsLAdAD61k_yC78Mdcywp4LRnqFS-q3dYhWi7vLa8sN_mR4NZeD5SbrX-GzG28cK0-zt1v1iLdI_ImUApH-qJLkKbpgscxrVdXywFwujIGSzTrBe1dLtrs_dXpmWc3EhVV/s3264/73203E8B-1307-4BF9-9191-1547AE723FB4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1793" data-original-width="3264" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2-9fs4JTdIhM3EI1Sd6PwTKBHsnsa61Ssb3Mv_9MuwdIfFvA9AjK9tQsLAdAD61k_yC78Mdcywp4LRnqFS-q3dYhWi7vLa8sN_mR4NZeD5SbrX-GzG28cK0-zt1v1iLdI_ImUApH-qJLkKbpgscxrVdXywFwujIGSzTrBe1dLtrs_dXpmWc3EhVV/w640-h352/73203E8B-1307-4BF9-9191-1547AE723FB4.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Obviously, I’m taking the easy way out on this one, design-wise. But it’s January and there are 12 long months ahead to sew several kits per month, so I don’t apologize. When the scraps dictate an easy way, I’ll follow it. </div><div><br /></div><div>The next kit I tackled, #4, already had 30 of the small star blocks sewn at 6.5”. Only one of the large stars were sewn, but all of the gray background pieces were cut, and there were scraps of the small single-colored chevron prints AND yardage of both the small and large multi-colored Chevron prints. </div><div><br /></div><div>I used some of the gray cuts to add a bar under or over each star block, then set them to dance (alternate by column). </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh5u4HfgkjWkJpHCbHnxGCtKtk_pgWTOmtJoqWGhiYZuZmWa9DwJFN46b3CUlQzVk5pPICVCnn7BED0ZJqDcD7apgi2Vzh3Aoc1_svZ8A1oFFpYGNGhhVjleDzWmwCQ6d7EKfuPWz4y8osfHu2XBtXsQIgsjSS-MZ1pdycUhwuEMa1GrEYqZ5lDMw/s3834/C22C5C0D-ED11-491C-B995-B89CEF428C90.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3834" data-original-width="2876" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDh5u4HfgkjWkJpHCbHnxGCtKtk_pgWTOmtJoqWGhiYZuZmWa9DwJFN46b3CUlQzVk5pPICVCnn7BED0ZJqDcD7apgi2Vzh3Aoc1_svZ8A1oFFpYGNGhhVjleDzWmwCQ6d7EKfuPWz4y8osfHu2XBtXsQIgsjSS-MZ1pdycUhwuEMa1GrEYqZ5lDMw/w480-h640/C22C5C0D-ED11-491C-B995-B89CEF428C90.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>By last night, I had it to this stage:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaRwblSILj3_qPVq3ITuiyiR6RxbfhJIP6r5GUAoMNjAAfeY_q6_5pLoIiBmf8wn8ci7DfkzvjyOMbXEhTmr6vE5_QU_zE72RSJTSAtQVatNWWmgCsHlEg3-2DUR52k7Q7jOdh-lMxywAyjo3FANJicyZITnJ4HN8owuQ3kGt5UiLVIfD9OI0asYC/s3347/390A87C1-03BD-4F6C-B376-94DFC4CF36CE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3347" data-original-width="2704" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLaRwblSILj3_qPVq3ITuiyiR6RxbfhJIP6r5GUAoMNjAAfeY_q6_5pLoIiBmf8wn8ci7DfkzvjyOMbXEhTmr6vE5_QU_zE72RSJTSAtQVatNWWmgCsHlEg3-2DUR52k7Q7jOdh-lMxywAyjo3FANJicyZITnJ4HN8owuQ3kGt5UiLVIfD9OI0asYC/w518-h640/390A87C1-03BD-4F6C-B376-94DFC4CF36CE.jpeg" width="518" /></a></div><br /><div>The columns are sewn into pairs, but the three pairs still need their joining seams sewn, which is why it looks a bit wonky. It is currently about 48” long, which is a good length, but it will only be 36” wide unless I add a border. I’m playing with these 2.5x5” colorful strips along the side, but there aren’t enough for the top and bottom, so I think it looks odd. And even if there were enough, the zigzags would end up in the wrong direction on the top and bottom. So I’m mulling and puzzling what to do. Any ideas?</div><div><br /></div><div>My friend Ruby gave me an amaryllis bulb for Thanksgiving. It’s the first amaryllis I’ve ever had, so it’s been exciting to watch it grow and bloom. This picture shows only three blooms, but it has four now. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu0pFtZlo8W3wQ2UTxP1Mxnq2O7orm6Sj9pFexXqEyeFbNGLzSwmpKTKw2bsSuFTF2QQrJgpoJAC-KVVxs9MhAFNdx0X7R-3BGHr5MVpN7jP_hXD_f-uR58XZ2OS0EqALyMkv0G3JWT1YB6zqeFRX5ruAf03LSxnGxlSvsFhTi8Cp4lrb_oMTLp-P/s3814/B5BDCD8E-47A6-43C4-BC9B-45EB044E2E57.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3814" data-original-width="2860" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu0pFtZlo8W3wQ2UTxP1Mxnq2O7orm6Sj9pFexXqEyeFbNGLzSwmpKTKw2bsSuFTF2QQrJgpoJAC-KVVxs9MhAFNdx0X7R-3BGHr5MVpN7jP_hXD_f-uR58XZ2OS0EqALyMkv0G3JWT1YB6zqeFRX5ruAf03LSxnGxlSvsFhTi8Cp4lrb_oMTLp-P/w480-h640/B5BDCD8E-47A6-43C4-BC9B-45EB044E2E57.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>We have officially listed the house for sale, but our agent is only doing some pre-marketing now (to other agents and brokers). We won’t go “live” on the Multiple Listing Service until after Valentines Day at our request. We still need that extra month to shuffle furniture, buy a few inexpensive colorful items - couch cushions, maybe a couple small bedspreads as we separate our California King bed into two XL twin beds in different bedrooms - and to get the outdoor junk pile hauled off. No, I’m not going to make quilts or cushions myself. No time. I want to stage the house in a more generic and less “folksy” manner. And this last bit is exciting only to a prospective home seller or buyer: We remodeled the three bathrooms a little over 10 years ago. At that time, the only things that weren’t replaced were the toilets. And they were original to this house built in 1963. So, last week we replaced them with brand new, low-water use models. Now everything looks sleek, modern and well kept. *sighs happily*. Oh, and I also need to touch up the paint on some baseboards and small areas here and there. That is a project that begins next week. Have a great week!</div><div><br /></div><div>Linking up to <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2024/01/scraphappy-saturday-1-of-2024.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Saturday at Angela’s So Scrappy</a> blog. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-23693602617811079152023-12-30T09:44:00.001-07:002023-12-30T09:44:06.096-07:00Year End Recap and 2024 PlansI can’t believe we’ve arrived at the last weekend of 2023. What a year of ups, downs and changes! And so much to look forward to in the new year! There’s a lot of stuff to cover in this post, so I’m going to just dig right in.<div><br /></div><div>This year I was not as productive, quilt-wise, as I have been in the past. I finished 33 quilts, which is the least I’ve made since 2019. But I did work on a lot of “community” (several-person effort) quilts; basting, quilting and binding 11 of those. And that reminds me that I need to update my Quilts pages under the blog heading pictures. Of those quilts that I made, the following three are my favorites.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikk6fOiFcTvbg2jwQvpkE3fIBa1BT6U0fujqrrDUv-JBRN4X_FYUCH-W-dx6ePQl-8sPTyT7tnO-FO0ogyWSRYLKsO2TzB265RxEtQ8E2QSYzc_pUumfJpsuRsqqA71UbtJQCyO15kNa5WGkTWFUEtkDPkoBuUOH7Qdt13c7d8Omje2ah5YG8wMIQd/s3575/14DD80F1-0B6B-406B-8102-3AFF0B3DAA0A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3575" data-original-width="2822" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikk6fOiFcTvbg2jwQvpkE3fIBa1BT6U0fujqrrDUv-JBRN4X_FYUCH-W-dx6ePQl-8sPTyT7tnO-FO0ogyWSRYLKsO2TzB265RxEtQ8E2QSYzc_pUumfJpsuRsqqA71UbtJQCyO15kNa5WGkTWFUEtkDPkoBuUOH7Qdt13c7d8Omje2ah5YG8wMIQd/w506-h640/14DD80F1-0B6B-406B-8102-3AFF0B3DAA0A.jpeg" width="506" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Frosted Windowpanes donation string quilt. 42x48”.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-6CQQZBVHG1Ibzq0S0cN7-0ILmSZjoCTMvMiTSYNY0OT4fYMn24tWsZFaDmKLjSM3wis9d5F_5kCoMbJtTcQLjciXCakDrfWie9-IHVLvqCN9sG11vX0zIjkMI4XSoEP5-Lj1Q37eNx7KpcNJACXAfYa7YOi8sFgKMzNdP6xAjS_JyrCcqdeUoXu/s3205/1C4B4BF4-FB7D-403B-A6A2-C730CCDAD4CD.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3205" data-original-width="2342" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-6CQQZBVHG1Ibzq0S0cN7-0ILmSZjoCTMvMiTSYNY0OT4fYMn24tWsZFaDmKLjSM3wis9d5F_5kCoMbJtTcQLjciXCakDrfWie9-IHVLvqCN9sG11vX0zIjkMI4XSoEP5-Lj1Q37eNx7KpcNJACXAfYa7YOi8sFgKMzNdP6xAjS_JyrCcqdeUoXu/w468-h640/1C4B4BF4-FB7D-403B-A6A2-C730CCDAD4CD.jpeg" width="468" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">International Sisters, 56x70”</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rYSYTHQtFPdwTM6DwOGccfkl3V8zz9kjM0x32UJpxhg9EYYjoBnWY1PtrHGFaFJQLdmwbNBZsM8MDtfjeHMmeeNNEydhXIlJlmiIncQIrZptz640rQYuoTAGg-d4tHqc1ZflFCSwcuCikyQF7RfzkbTd71HUosrPcM4U7gKuE9iAib_FgQMlC0AK/s4032/F624A147-4162-4DEB-9A0A-593B43EDDAB6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7rYSYTHQtFPdwTM6DwOGccfkl3V8zz9kjM0x32UJpxhg9EYYjoBnWY1PtrHGFaFJQLdmwbNBZsM8MDtfjeHMmeeNNEydhXIlJlmiIncQIrZptz640rQYuoTAGg-d4tHqc1ZflFCSwcuCikyQF7RfzkbTd71HUosrPcM4U7gKuE9iAib_FgQMlC0AK/w480-h640/F624A147-4162-4DEB-9A0A-593B43EDDAB6.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Christmas Stars, 88x98”</div><div><br /></div><div>This past week I did finish up the two quilts I had basted earlier. These finished up just in time to be counted for 2023. Both were made from <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/12/scaphappy-saturday-ryan-appreciation-day.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge (RSC)</a> blocks. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EfZdg-zzXd6SmWI0QWnFucU_CS2u1egnG48G_dY0ALeKDB-ZRkcNhf3KWbbc2FxfbxeR0CTJ85GHrNwuZ93tB28ySGLAAYGSILAiQem1yUPVvHICYXN0KbHA_8Uo2CkM8hHX1iYEc2YZfW3gnXkvoOpjZdxg1ueOjDGIdhfpFg8BtGChNXswWXJU/s3137/4DA58516-38A7-424E-9E9F-D4351180C551.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3137" data-original-width="3020" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7EfZdg-zzXd6SmWI0QWnFucU_CS2u1egnG48G_dY0ALeKDB-ZRkcNhf3KWbbc2FxfbxeR0CTJ85GHrNwuZ93tB28ySGLAAYGSILAiQem1yUPVvHICYXN0KbHA_8Uo2CkM8hHX1iYEc2YZfW3gnXkvoOpjZdxg1ueOjDGIdhfpFg8BtGChNXswWXJU/w616-h640/4DA58516-38A7-424E-9E9F-D4351180C551.jpeg" width="616" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Above we have the Thrifty Block quilt using navy blue as the constant. It finished at approximately 54x64”. I did some straight line and loopy quilting on it, but I didn’t take any closeups. The little Framed 4-Patch below is a donation quilt that finished at 40x48. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxk7Sa4owHtMRW0X54NEopTyVkO2FXmBQ-TwD6LvPnfbZO-HjWh25XTICowY6t6kZHNALBdTaJafcoim289ymOs4uPk6Lh32BHjJkvwm-VyyJymTgOGY8VSPzukRcFakhHHbpCZ6q-Bg-UMwkHQKsTTQ0xV1MD_edS_tzJGGaDucW3dGnArdoMQ7cb/s4032/CAB6AB67-FA4F-49B2-ACC9-23B7D2A605DE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxk7Sa4owHtMRW0X54NEopTyVkO2FXmBQ-TwD6LvPnfbZO-HjWh25XTICowY6t6kZHNALBdTaJafcoim289ymOs4uPk6Lh32BHjJkvwm-VyyJymTgOGY8VSPzukRcFakhHHbpCZ6q-Bg-UMwkHQKsTTQ0xV1MD_edS_tzJGGaDucW3dGnArdoMQ7cb/w480-h640/CAB6AB67-FA4F-49B2-ACC9-23B7D2A605DE.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>I have lots more blocks and UFOs to carry over into 2024, but before I get to my plan, let me show you the string blocks I finished this week. Two piles of fifteen each and then three extra blocks on the right. That was a total of 33 blocks.</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/AVvXsEiU2aU3kXm4H8g1yfzZcLID_ZyxOyM4p1pKwVyTHMx9h6pQOtWL3c2J66a8apI-5LRmRPPK1zh0KRRpKDq_iVaYv6LnQ1blqPjNg7fvtbl2KPMphwkeOgor-YeN4-DuKHphGe8nYKnaGzKX3CCkzSduUQqV49wtTd3TfSpr4H2wnCrjCaTHqTolQSsg/s4015/BD92CAB9-A696-4978-A821-2B2039F6D840.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2234" data-original-width="4015" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU2aU3kXm4H8g1yfzZcLID_ZyxOyM4p1pKwVyTHMx9h6pQOtWL3c2J66a8apI-5LRmRPPK1zh0KRRpKDq_iVaYv6LnQ1blqPjNg7fvtbl2KPMphwkeOgor-YeN4-DuKHphGe8nYKnaGzKX3CCkzSduUQqV49wtTd3TfSpr4H2wnCrjCaTHqTolQSsg/w400-h223/BD92CAB9-A696-4978-A821-2B2039F6D840.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>When I added the 33 blocks to the pile I started on October 1, it came out to 418 blocks! My goal was to sew 400 string blocks in the fourth quarter of the year, and I did it! The string bag isn’t totally empty, but it is very low and anemic! YAY!! So, wanna see what 400+ string blocks look like?<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyufag0Xp2iQ_-eUO34waNv1wzVwLq2dEUboJRI_-H4RIFtaOxgWxr1YkyP_VQ1ubYS20NmoQ6vv1kqhkE49b-7-x5UZpfdtqw_O3lqpcSfu2teNnaiKy5AE7xAqyavRAEiZdJilTLjqnJdPlYnYmsS6SJZ-GLaaa7VOQC8v3D-Fa-AnQLoLR9_t1X/s4032/ABC73449-1A87-4F8D-8F83-82A322618635.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyufag0Xp2iQ_-eUO34waNv1wzVwLq2dEUboJRI_-H4RIFtaOxgWxr1YkyP_VQ1ubYS20NmoQ6vv1kqhkE49b-7-x5UZpfdtqw_O3lqpcSfu2teNnaiKy5AE7xAqyavRAEiZdJilTLjqnJdPlYnYmsS6SJZ-GLaaa7VOQC8v3D-Fa-AnQLoLR9_t1X/w480-h640/ABC73449-1A87-4F8D-8F83-82A322618635.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>The stack is about 11” high, with the few odd blocks in the foreground. WHEW!!! Cool, huh? Except for some of the light neutral string blocks, they’re all going to Quilts for Kids for quilt kits.</div><div><br /></div><div>My Bernina, “Nina”, is in the shop for her first annual Spa Treatment. I had intended to get all my batting scraps sewn into Frankenbatts, and that is well underway, but I didn’t finish them up. I still have five donated quilt tops that I need to sandwich up, so I’ve been sewing backings and making Frankenbatts specifically for each of them. I have 3 ½ done. Once they’re finished (later today), I’ll just sew the rest of the batting pieces into standard sizes I use a lot. I may get another three or four out of it all. That’s not as bad as last year, because I did occasionally made a Frankenbatt here and there during the year. </div><div><br /></div><div>After Thanksgiving, Cousin Kim and I took inventory of my scraps and “kits” that I had assembled into two cardboard boxes. Over the last couple years I would match up a kit or two with the RSC color of the month and make a donation quilt. Well, that had slacked off toward the end of the year, so I needed a new plan. Kim and I numbered each “kit”, which is just a large baggie-ful of scraps, chunks and small yardage cuts. Sometimes we combined two into one or just added more stuff. The result blew me away. There were 39 or 40 kits! I had planned to try to sew 2 kits into quilts per month, but I’m going to amp that up to 3 per month! I’ll write out the numbers on scraps of paper, put them in a jar, and randomly pick out three per month. That all starts next month. Um, I mean next week. I’ll take a picture of the whole mess (now very well organized). </div><div><br /></div><div>To squeeze the kit sewing in (to say nothing of the RSC finishes and personal quilts) it means I’ll be doing fewer new RSC blocks in the new year. But “fewer” means maybe 3-4 simple blocks instead of 6-8 more involved. </div><div><br /></div><div>And on top of all that, we’re continuing the purge and declutter process, even with the holidays in full swing. We didn’t have time to take a load of <strike>junk</strike> treasure to the thrift store last week because of the short week. It’ll be the same story in the coming week. But then we really get busy! We’re listing the house in less than 6 weeks!</div><div><br /></div><div>Have a Happy and Safe New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day! We’ll probably stay up until midnight and then crawl into beddie-bye. We’re such party animals. </div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-40145910120532113942023-12-23T09:12:00.001-07:002023-12-23T09:12:04.824-07:00Same Old Same Old<p>Not much going on here to report. The week flew by before I knew it. How does that happen? It seemed that every time I wanted to spend an afternoon sewing, something came up - neighbor gifts to prepare and distribute, mountains of laundry, plumber coming over (we’re getting three new toilets for the bathrooms we otherwise remodeled ten years ago). And then there’s the never-ending decluttering of the basement storage room and the “library”/Africa bedroom. Another load of stuff is ready to go to the thrift store - books, clothes, and about a dozen parts storage cabinets. Ugh. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYrGwEzSyeKcNMUecBn0F79amx8zTDrhMGYZ-7dReRphOpm3GeVpAHoEVvg7iXlgGUIkV1d_Jl5exL69OVpFahsWJoW9FhLpHiZOtDvzGI2RKtoI7a80JDU7wpiawcEaA9CiPe1Am6N9bE_n2g8sq9vQnpkIJOESlnEFJ_049uqIKAIhX9ARiRh8p/s450/98636382-91A4-4257-8159-C64B437DF24B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="338" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYrGwEzSyeKcNMUecBn0F79amx8zTDrhMGYZ-7dReRphOpm3GeVpAHoEVvg7iXlgGUIkV1d_Jl5exL69OVpFahsWJoW9FhLpHiZOtDvzGI2RKtoI7a80JDU7wpiawcEaA9CiPe1Am6N9bE_n2g8sq9vQnpkIJOESlnEFJ_049uqIKAIhX9ARiRh8p/s320/98636382-91A4-4257-8159-C64B437DF24B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>But I did sew on Sunday and a couple short afternoons. The result was 45 string blocks at 6.5”shown here in piles of 15. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizD8cFCeNZy_OTf6VLGlp586jpQfGvO1DYI2Dryf4TN71lZhH8EvN8WFFj_S4UR_-QyrZJug2kuFSw_BVQh2tiBkWofCED1qwLGIxjpga7nVgWnjCZBUHdCbRDKYty0pmNRu9ba0BD1Ha31rEJHs0hkKFfstWcJviju_iBzDEhNl8X8N8REUGQ1dlo/s4032/347F28FD-E67E-42B7-9C04-C748188F8AFA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizD8cFCeNZy_OTf6VLGlp586jpQfGvO1DYI2Dryf4TN71lZhH8EvN8WFFj_S4UR_-QyrZJug2kuFSw_BVQh2tiBkWofCED1qwLGIxjpga7nVgWnjCZBUHdCbRDKYty0pmNRu9ba0BD1Ha31rEJHs0hkKFfstWcJviju_iBzDEhNl8X8N8REUGQ1dlo/w300-h400/347F28FD-E67E-42B7-9C04-C748188F8AFA.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>My friend Ruby finished the quilt she made from blocks that <a href="https://exuberantcolor.blogspot.com/">Wanda</a> sent me earlier this year. Ruby added the turquoise sashing. She did stitch-in-the-ditch quilting and wanted to unpick it all. I told her no! Just wash it before you donate it and all the crinkly goodness will equalize everything. As I write this, Ruby has donated it to the Salt Lake Women’s Shelter.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9upLqTXpwt0aCTqUZUBlbO7Pf0dcW5pIDO19yBNDSfFD-LkP6oEot3oJMFpFB8qzHZ8Ws9DEJ3GhCYvb-TAHDxN85rNaA-4-fRVgBKjPyUxGKcSva2C41sbMUxe32-7wK7CTtnZTmz_LbPvKphsF8CqcDuPMAvtxC7aqSlUEtRo3U4r_Tuz8wq0fZ/s4032/9F533B44-7CD0-4C27-91AD-C5871C137530.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9upLqTXpwt0aCTqUZUBlbO7Pf0dcW5pIDO19yBNDSfFD-LkP6oEot3oJMFpFB8qzHZ8Ws9DEJ3GhCYvb-TAHDxN85rNaA-4-fRVgBKjPyUxGKcSva2C41sbMUxe32-7wK7CTtnZTmz_LbPvKphsF8CqcDuPMAvtxC7aqSlUEtRo3U4r_Tuz8wq0fZ/w480-h640/9F533B44-7CD0-4C27-91AD-C5871C137530.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I did manage to baste two quilts yesterday afternoon. Not sure if I’ll be able to quilt one or both of them before I take my Bernina in for her first annual spa treatment on the 26th. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjTpU69rxYfRm2lHkMssmlpvqFS-1PHh_wxXcnVQVQ32m1S8bcC3uRZIS8uGOG8yDgureKp02c4dh2FLlzd23yO4FbGFS7I7WB3HcdxptkBRfMl822PdYrhsn4FHyzSYd0inimuhq59vnzaEhyEvBnt0RtqM80RIeWbxZnMYdtoL4wEkJc0Mj6Ci-/s4032/525E2B54-52D6-40F3-8952-FE44C225ABF4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmjTpU69rxYfRm2lHkMssmlpvqFS-1PHh_wxXcnVQVQ32m1S8bcC3uRZIS8uGOG8yDgureKp02c4dh2FLlzd23yO4FbGFS7I7WB3HcdxptkBRfMl822PdYrhsn4FHyzSYd0inimuhq59vnzaEhyEvBnt0RtqM80RIeWbxZnMYdtoL4wEkJc0Mj6Ci-/w480-h640/525E2B54-52D6-40F3-8952-FE44C225ABF4.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoFGjMWpVPMVnNQdMsydqUziThtVKUqP3FACzgfmUZsVBdxiMKadZuZc9P_JlPiYXPa8q4HMPt6Vg_r3SWiGkQ6SWxhhZJ9ZJWo2XyUnLENY7XeVK9KetQFn88SQONqPgSlrRKLZS5hH145rsVUgrTa0NzAvpUNLzeub4vYaGTCZzMl2KFn8lRmHx/s4032/FAFAD648-E170-4065-BC00-375832E55705.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLoFGjMWpVPMVnNQdMsydqUziThtVKUqP3FACzgfmUZsVBdxiMKadZuZc9P_JlPiYXPa8q4HMPt6Vg_r3SWiGkQ6SWxhhZJ9ZJWo2XyUnLENY7XeVK9KetQFn88SQONqPgSlrRKLZS5hH145rsVUgrTa0NzAvpUNLzeub4vYaGTCZzMl2KFn8lRmHx/w480-h640/FAFAD648-E170-4065-BC00-375832E55705.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>My back-up Brother machine doesn’t do free-motion quilting. But that’s OK because the week between Christmas and the New Year is when I usually gather up my batting scraps and sew Frankenbatts. And I’ll finish my fourth quarter frenzy of string blocks. I think I only need to sew another 20 or so to meet my goal of 400 string blocks. </p><p>That’s about it from here. I have sure appreciated your comments and friendship during the last year. It never ceases to amaze me what a great group of supportive women (mostly women, but some men too) quilters are. May you all have a joyous and healthy Christmas!</p><p>Linking up to <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/12/scraphappy-saturday_23.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Saturday.</a></p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-14720150613494648502023-12-16T09:51:00.002-07:002023-12-16T12:19:55.480-07:00As Christmas Approaches<p>Our week started off last Saturday with a fun visit from our (Bruce’s) daughter Stacy and her three daughters. Her hubby Chad had to work and the two boys were ill. The six of us went out to lunch and then the girls got to clean out the toy cupboard and keep whatever they wanted. The younger two grabbed the princesses and crayons, markers and stencils for their art. But then grandma (me) brought out a large shoebox-ful of ribbons and trims from my crazy quilting and embroidery/embellishment days. These were just the ones that were headed to the thrift store, not the good vintage, silk and expensive ribbons. Those are going to my friend Flora. </p><p>The girls thought they’d died and gone to heaven and dug into the ribbons right away. But then Grandpa Bruce sat down on the floor and they began to decorate him. Mom Stacy had a good laugh as we snapped photos because she and her sister Emily used to do this back in the day when they were little. Stacy sent a photo to Emily who laughed and replied “That brings back memories!” Indeed. As the family lore goes, when Emily and Stacy were little, they were doing Bruce’s then-brown hair by putting curlers in. Of course, someone knocked at the door and Bruce answered it with curlers in his hair. It was a police officer who was canvassing neighbors about something or other. Bruce said the officer looked at him and didn’t bat an eye. He must have had little girls himself! Anyway, here are our granddaughters Remi and Evie doing grandpa’s hair! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgoJkQhJWS6rmuOOQq5w0iWK-w2GxHYxrVpFLUhSgZ2-GM1nVs129DVfAJT5XSvOJWoUI8AFbAb_wwrkiZBehjmHTiiZ8XCjfRoGZw2uF1XnDbZSjHo0mhXYqMTc4SPoC3UnBzP4e0qdUHnRqgiHWdhF9aQPp3bllmcLlbLBW_6NFf7EkC6FFtd2j/s3050/AB66D457-254A-4E02-9576-E8225CA4BF4D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3050" data-original-width="2776" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgoJkQhJWS6rmuOOQq5w0iWK-w2GxHYxrVpFLUhSgZ2-GM1nVs129DVfAJT5XSvOJWoUI8AFbAb_wwrkiZBehjmHTiiZ8XCjfRoGZw2uF1XnDbZSjHo0mhXYqMTc4SPoC3UnBzP4e0qdUHnRqgiHWdhF9aQPp3bllmcLlbLBW_6NFf7EkC6FFtd2j/w582-h640/AB66D457-254A-4E02-9576-E8225CA4BF4D.jpeg" width="582" /></a></div><p>In sewing news, I finished the last two dozen or so Zipper blocks for my very own personal quilt. These blocks, designed by Lynn Dykstra of <a href="https://kleinmeisjequilts.blogspot.com/2017/01/zip-top-completed.html" target="_blank">Klein Meisje Quilts</a>, finish at 6x9”. I have 72 of them which will be set 9 across (54”) by 8 down (72”). This is my fourth Zip quilt, and I’m determined that this one will be for us to keep, not donated or gifted. Here are some of my favorite blocks:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCJzNcJeE-sKSaj428kXIjLFTKKDod1Kkk_dexA9scD-BbZwQbaHz3fiMVXJJZ2-Ap8rOfr-QS53Qfmu5GpirQABZGrAazbK6u4yM2JH9WGrzMFJoL2h2QuEGxORlc3RH9HfSTKeSg5dmcwI0LqBhwM8FhVNqYH4RzxYG4B4O1_yHRtdOg5W4jcBc/s3113/7CEFF3B1-A3A4-4766-8090-3A027C4444F2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3113" data-original-width="2892" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzCJzNcJeE-sKSaj428kXIjLFTKKDod1Kkk_dexA9scD-BbZwQbaHz3fiMVXJJZ2-Ap8rOfr-QS53Qfmu5GpirQABZGrAazbK6u4yM2JH9WGrzMFJoL2h2QuEGxORlc3RH9HfSTKeSg5dmcwI0LqBhwM8FhVNqYH4RzxYG4B4O1_yHRtdOg5W4jcBc/w371-h400/7CEFF3B1-A3A4-4766-8090-3A027C4444F2.jpeg" width="371" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS68PDfm6jy4YjQjU8-3UVTwqeP9tv7lS4k5TJX49UTUr6m_W_t3zpIG_J7mqMBY1N9zhQ_3HZoT3yrCXuyY9Hk4l6pjgNS7rvAMbyzmd1Xj5Z9t2DNtFapwxaYHiYQC_fLn7JIaxPnNL_iZ573tGaiaLf-7XE0wO9kFxJFXlpP7_qvrJMDn93WTm/s3024/64A23CBA-E85F-4E07-9084-ADE46C58E4E0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS68PDfm6jy4YjQjU8-3UVTwqeP9tv7lS4k5TJX49UTUr6m_W_t3zpIG_J7mqMBY1N9zhQ_3HZoT3yrCXuyY9Hk4l6pjgNS7rvAMbyzmd1Xj5Z9t2DNtFapwxaYHiYQC_fLn7JIaxPnNL_iZ573tGaiaLf-7XE0wO9kFxJFXlpP7_qvrJMDn93WTm/w400-h400/64A23CBA-E85F-4E07-9084-ADE46C58E4E0.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhSx7HDMXZI1mHXPE7r6Zqd0e5JO5AOlVFJPeubjBM88OLkKQckWUQeEgDWDlElLY7ym95ZYKV4dh_YQ4dNf1dmNgSStOC6btZglTX3TXyPR_Ky1lBZw9_8xB9GwoTYavopel1ENMUwY4ZZuRRrhqGNBr4cLrBBDUcvNWH5TspynxP2rTbjr5zQvf/s2977/92595976-2BA0-4E74-A410-98FE765F57B7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2888" data-original-width="2977" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhSx7HDMXZI1mHXPE7r6Zqd0e5JO5AOlVFJPeubjBM88OLkKQckWUQeEgDWDlElLY7ym95ZYKV4dh_YQ4dNf1dmNgSStOC6btZglTX3TXyPR_Ky1lBZw9_8xB9GwoTYavopel1ENMUwY4ZZuRRrhqGNBr4cLrBBDUcvNWH5TspynxP2rTbjr5zQvf/w400-h388/92595976-2BA0-4E74-A410-98FE765F57B7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Click on the pix to enlarge them. Anyway, these are now bagged and ready for assembly in the new year. For the rest of this month I want to concentrate on finishing up a couple more <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/12/scraphappy-saturday-month-of-hexies.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a> (RSC) quilts from blocks I’ve made this year. Oh, and I need to make more string blocks in the next couple weeks - about 60 or so - to meet my goal of 400 string blocks in the last calendar quarter.</p><p>I did have a quilt finish this week, though. This delightful and colorful <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/928009884/chaser-pattern-pdf-download-scrap?ref=shop_home_active_1" target="_blank">Chaser Block</a> quilt. I would do this one again in a heartbeat! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_FFw8OMG8o0I3PO6v9C24Q0MbPudFygWBPvzMLOJZpDKzFtkNwYJtccv0-tB7bylYUvjC8IZP-jTGpJACYbypeoRFv5rd0HVZ8ILnixYNRuzxF4ejFUtKekL9M0tHW_dSaLELaajvMxOYZCip-t8fwS7TVqtonpSSpNqsttqBdeieBUwhErayWf6/s4032/9BB78D41-777A-4BCF-8948-5E86CDF05662.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_FFw8OMG8o0I3PO6v9C24Q0MbPudFygWBPvzMLOJZpDKzFtkNwYJtccv0-tB7bylYUvjC8IZP-jTGpJACYbypeoRFv5rd0HVZ8ILnixYNRuzxF4ejFUtKekL9M0tHW_dSaLELaajvMxOYZCip-t8fwS7TVqtonpSSpNqsttqBdeieBUwhErayWf6/w480-h640/9BB78D41-777A-4BCF-8948-5E86CDF05662.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">There was also some progress this week on sewing the Thrifty RSC blocks together. I just have two borders to sew on, and one of those is sewn together and just waiting to be attached. It’s hanging there on the left in the picture below. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXm4l87d9O0YGomNbTtfNTvWVYzEY-bznHHjpn7h0otOTZzrg76Y9LWolEr9k4XC2mQNohH0Zq4_qTXwIjFJGdjlTx4NUBQINaTB9RXas1SxelXmVZw73jUT_ZzpU5JRqHxKpl30X1CWQ8PeYeLbeMmdpnhFhcApzZ3tXijVxi7GDhMHPYMstIItX/s4032/1F0C0D15-722C-4CE6-B22B-A25C3AA7A222.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeXm4l87d9O0YGomNbTtfNTvWVYzEY-bznHHjpn7h0otOTZzrg76Y9LWolEr9k4XC2mQNohH0Zq4_qTXwIjFJGdjlTx4NUBQINaTB9RXas1SxelXmVZw73jUT_ZzpU5JRqHxKpl30X1CWQ8PeYeLbeMmdpnhFhcApzZ3tXijVxi7GDhMHPYMstIItX/w480-h640/1F0C0D15-722C-4CE6-B22B-A25C3AA7A222.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>So then it will be quick work to sew on the bottom border to finish off the top. I then hope to baste this and the third (of three) Framed Four Patch quilt tops. Don’t know if I’ll be able to quilt them during the coming week or not.</p><p><b>Did You Know??? “Xmas” is NOT Disrespectful!</b></p><p>The term Xmas comes from the Greek letter Chi (X) the initial letter in the word <em style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 40); color: #252528; font-family: "LFT Etica", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Χριστός </em><span face=""LFT Etica", arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 40); color: #252528; font-size: 18px;">(</span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 40); color: #252528; font-family: "LFT Etica", arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Chrīstos</em><span face=""LFT Etica", arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; caret-color: rgb(37, 37, 40); color: #252528; font-size: 18px;">) </span>meaning Christ. And the word Xmas actually predates the word Christmas by centuries. While the use of Xmas peaked in the 1950’s, it is still commonly used, although not in formal settings. And it’s not part of a (fictitional) “war on Christmas”. See this Dictionary.com entry <a href="https://www.dictionary.com/e/xmas-christogram/#:~:text=But%2C%20the%20history%20of%20the,the%20word%20Χριστός%20(Chrīstos)." target="_blank">HERE</a> to explain it more thoroughly. So, use it or not as you prefer, but please don’t get your knickers in a twist over it! This is my public announcement for this year to spread a little cheer and peace!! </p><p>And speaking of Christmas, everything is done. All the gifts are wrapped (easy when you have bags and envelopes for gift cards). The out-of state things are mailed. The Christmas decorations have been sifted through and donated or are actually decorating the house! Meal planning is done. Parties are underway! Here is a photo from our Weight Watchers card group Christmas gathering.</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/AVvXsEgBX-ddzv8xbsI7OKxfRuSzSLq7MgDkBgsF7XZeG3y-Ng5cyDrVr4uDdg4_O1I4Dzyx8ffA1LxAP0i_wvNJbRBPLWo_19zakhId0NyIOXqKiiWFW_6XNRrpC9ZiJQP_uDe59CVf6KQB0Q9bHGDMfBQMr8MVqxpGSEEb0QdcWFil9taKSbKmC__DcYgn/s4032/70370C94-527E-4572-A30A-C8B2C8D397C1.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBX-ddzv8xbsI7OKxfRuSzSLq7MgDkBgsF7XZeG3y-Ng5cyDrVr4uDdg4_O1I4Dzyx8ffA1LxAP0i_wvNJbRBPLWo_19zakhId0NyIOXqKiiWFW_6XNRrpC9ZiJQP_uDe59CVf6KQB0Q9bHGDMfBQMr8MVqxpGSEEb0QdcWFil9taKSbKmC__DcYgn/w640-h480/70370C94-527E-4572-A30A-C8B2C8D397C1.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L-R: Linda, Ruby, Lory, me, Lisa and Annette. Ellie is photographer.</td></tr></tbody></table><p>We ate shrimp, veggies, fruit, and a great light pudding parfait that Linda made. Ruby brought the silly headbands for us. That huge pink sweater I’m wearing is definitely oversized - it’s a Medium. Ruby and I should’ve stood up, because we are both at goal. Actually, I’m about 4 pounds under goal now, and heading down to lose another 7 pounds. I’ll be careful during the Holidays and focus on those last pounds in 2024.</p><p>This past week saw Bruce and me make yet another trek to the thrift store. This week we donated kitchen stuff (more to come, I’m sure), old Christmas decorations, toys, a bird cage, clothes and towels. Who knows what will be in the next load! And when we get tired of sorting sh-stuff, we cruise potential neighborhoods to move to, sew (me), read (Bruce) and watch Christmas movies. Life is good!</p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-87236822977043027182023-12-09T08:20:00.000-07:002023-12-09T08:20:05.204-07:00Winter Activities<p>What a varied (and fun) week this has been! It seems that there is a new adventure or challenge awaiting around every corner. Having grown up in Southern California and never learning any snow/winter sports after moving here to Utah 40 years ago, it is usually much easier to keep myself occupied in nicer weather. There’s always quilting and sewing of course, but there is so much more to do outdoors in nicer weather.</p><p>This year, however, we are devoting our winter weekdays primarily to the impending spring move. We want to downsize to a condo and hopefully cut our house square footage in half. We also want to eliminate the yard work, although we prefer a main-level condo so that we can have a patio, courtyard or little patch of ground that we can care for. We want to keep that all-important (to us) connection to the earth. Nope, no upper level high rise condos for us! We’ve narrowed down our geographical area here within the Salt Lake Valley, and have started “neighborhood” and “condo complex” hunting. The area has to have the right “feel”. We’ve eliminated high traffic areas, neighborhoods with dilapidated-looking exteriors (even though some of those condos looked very nice on Zillow on the <i>inside</i>). The condo can’t be too small, too large, we don’t want a stacking washer/dryer set-up, plus all the other things - HOA fees not too high (older complexes have understandably higher fees), and have the right number of bedrooms, bathrooms and a kitchen that has a window or is open to the living area. We’ve found a great real estate agent, after meeting a few that didn’t feel right. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wrC86zrKgNmb7N9utZgQyjLSeyVFCF7WciaWIKcXisUzGHBNpf4BeU5Q08tIsxdOcZ6ItrNojlfGuIxBk_6hV3cYKhiCVXhxiEDOIfKQAnehtT5iSyAoVwJQqqaQuvY-8y9BEtee_WU1ccFvdi2uJZBUZTfHHUaZwaDnZUtXJwYN-x-o6fGPDzSJ/s4032/IMG_4291.jpeg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wrC86zrKgNmb7N9utZgQyjLSeyVFCF7WciaWIKcXisUzGHBNpf4BeU5Q08tIsxdOcZ6ItrNojlfGuIxBk_6hV3cYKhiCVXhxiEDOIfKQAnehtT5iSyAoVwJQqqaQuvY-8y9BEtee_WU1ccFvdi2uJZBUZTfHHUaZwaDnZUtXJwYN-x-o6fGPDzSJ/s320/IMG_4291.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gratuitous photo of Alfie & Darla (doing what they do best)<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>So, we are shooting for listing our home in early February. Bruce has been working on his workshop/laboratory for months, and has made great progress. We are tackling the basement storage together, and I’m doing my studio, the kitchen, and basically the rest of the house. We take a load to the thrift store every week, and offer up potential treasures to Kim and Ruby when they visit every Sunday for our Church of Bernina sewing day! Ruby liked a lot of my old Christmas decorations and Kim favors the books, Pyrex and other useful things. This week they’re getting to pick through old quilt books and patterns, old clocks, and some specialty fabrics (wool and chenille) that I no longer want. </p><p>Between looking at condos, house decluttering, visiting family and friends (December game night and Christmas Party for our Weight Watchers ladies card group), I have been cleaning house and SEWING!! Christmas shopping is all done - it was all gift cards and cash this year, with the exception of the big <a href="https://cathyscrazybydesign.blogspot.com/2023/11/if-i-could-just-stay-awake.html" target="_blank">Christmas Stars</a> quilt and stocking stuffers. </p><p>What sewing did I do this week? I finished the Chaser Block quilt! I totally love it and will probably save it so that we can gift it personally (as opposed to donating to charity).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwAQjdHxX_YHikm1pTZcuOL5khJ-btHuAWNWOdGcOskpgUygTVqt6EVH9IlNZamTXINdXaiDXZAsk383PPO6oJT-DamXd5eNBLeXC-aJ5pLROOc8jLS08xS-uEhG_9rGMCq5HegGOyiQTWVvVUedrr6TkPKdj8JK9mhQv1Sh8TknVxbHLClpTbRQB/s3389/IMG_5854.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3389" data-original-width="2796" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwAQjdHxX_YHikm1pTZcuOL5khJ-btHuAWNWOdGcOskpgUygTVqt6EVH9IlNZamTXINdXaiDXZAsk383PPO6oJT-DamXd5eNBLeXC-aJ5pLROOc8jLS08xS-uEhG_9rGMCq5HegGOyiQTWVvVUedrr6TkPKdj8JK9mhQv1Sh8TknVxbHLClpTbRQB/w528-h640/IMG_5854.jpeg" width="528" /></a></div><p>Chaser Finished at 48x56” and was quilted with a simple meander in gray Aurifil thread. </p><p>I worked on some Zipper blocks - more on those next week. No progress or work on anything else. So I’m going to take this space and time to tell you about a longer-term (as in over the next 2-3 months) project I’ve started. But first, more talking...... I want to tell a little of the back story.</p><p>When I began losing weight seriously last year, I decided to set myself 5-pound goals and non-food rewards. In the early stages, when clothes were just becoming looser and not yet warranting replacement to a smaller size, I chose things like earrings, shoes and the like. I must’ve mentioned once in a WW (Weight Watcher) meeting of my plan, and a fellow member named Ann had simultaneously brought some cute motivational ‘punch cards’ for us to use to tick off the progress. <i>(I may have been the only one who actually used them, but use them I did).</i> </p><p>Fast forward to this summer, when I was 60-ish pounds down. Ann stopped me on the way out of the meeting and said she had something for me. She pulled out a square box and gave it to me. Inside was gray velvet box about the size of a compact disc, only thicker. I opened it to see a beautiful gold necklace with a pendant containing four diamonds in a beautiful setting. She said she had gone a little crazy and bought herself too many things lately, including this necklace from B--- Jewelers (very exclusive), and she wanted me to have it. I said I couldn’t accept such a gift, but she talked to me quietly, saying that I had been an inspiration to her and others, and that it would mean a lot to her to be able to give it to me. I cried, thanked her, and she was gone. Flabbergasted, I took it home and cried for a week before I could put it on. (You know, feelings of being undeserving, yadda yadda). I wore it hidden it under the blouse I wore to the next week’s WW meeting, and Ann wasn’t in attendance. But I showed it to our leader Kris who herself was flabbergasted. She said to me “You know who Ann is, don’t you?”. I didn’t. Kris said that Ann’s late father was XX, a bigwig (as big as they get) in the LDS (Mormon) church. And Ann has a daughter and granddaughters, but chose to pass that necklace to me. Cue another bout of tears...</p><p>So, all that to say that I am making Ann a thank-you quilt. Seems a small thing by comparison, I realize, but I know that she takes interest in the quilts that some of us bring to share before our WW meetings with other quilters in the group. What fabric line am I using? My coveted Anne of Green Gables, of course. Here are the first two blocks that I’ve made.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQlMkRCvnouffNlzPGcZ7sBCmRzEf5-Mdues0xuvEAD3nNh3H2ehigegNiNcuHspqPFdxhGr3SKCkR_rj2OBS2f1Rga2j13UHm7VfZl5gLJwWu9N_KUUhEGsh7iwWCylh9yYgbl5GmUqgjoQxBTWkET26r-Sv8iMGHQ6fHaN1_R3viZDaCsYsWrco/s3982/IMG_5849.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2986" data-original-width="3982" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQlMkRCvnouffNlzPGcZ7sBCmRzEf5-Mdues0xuvEAD3nNh3H2ehigegNiNcuHspqPFdxhGr3SKCkR_rj2OBS2f1Rga2j13UHm7VfZl5gLJwWu9N_KUUhEGsh7iwWCylh9yYgbl5GmUqgjoQxBTWkET26r-Sv8iMGHQ6fHaN1_R3viZDaCsYsWrco/w640-h480/IMG_5849.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>The pattern is Quatrefoil from Missouri Star Quilt Company. I have fussy cut the Anne pieces for the block centers. The corner four-patches will make a lovely chaining effect between blocks, and there will be two borders - a stop border and a wider floral outer border. I hope to give it to her around Valentine’s Day. I’m not sure yet if I will quilt it myself or have it professionally done, but I’m leaning toward the latter. Anyway, I wanted to share that story with you as I get going on this very meaningful quilt. </p><p>Today we have Bruce’s daughter Stacy and her kids coming over. They live about 45 minutes away and the weather has been off-and-on-snowy, so we decided to hedge our bets and have our Christmas gathering way early. We’re taking them out to lunch, giving them all their Christmas gifts, and letting the kids clean out and choose anything they want to keep from our soon-to-be-defunct toy cabinet. (Ha! A method to my madness.....)</p><p>I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and week, and that you’ve got that Christmas shopping beast tamed! </p><p>Linking to the <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/12/scraphappy-saturday.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a>. </p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-56672046053955862662023-12-01T19:59:00.005-07:002023-12-02T08:53:05.569-07:00Back in the Saddle Again!It’s so good to be back in the land of the healthy and strong! My recent left hip replacement was as easy as most everyone said it would be. But I didn’t blog last week because I was laser-focused on my healing and meds and exercises - and the time just sailed by. Bruce and I have mended our differences and he was an excellent nurse, LOL. We spent Thanksgiving at my friend Ruby’s house with her man and her half sister. She had the meal catered and it was delightful to just sit and talk and laugh. And eat, of course. <div><br /></div><div>Did I tell you that I hit my Weight Watchers goal just before my surgery? Actually, after weeks and weeks of a weight plateau, I finally broke through and sailed past my goal, which was -64.4 pounds. I’m actually at -67.8 pounds. Luckily, as a Lifetime Member, I only have to weigh in once per month. I’ve been mindful of my healthy eating through Thanksgiving, but the hip surgery tends to add weight with the fluids they give you, the swelling, etc. Luckily, most of that has passed, but even though I never miss a workshop meeting, I won’t weigh in for another week or two just to be realistic. Now, I hope to lose just a few more pounds - to total 75 lost. They give us these lovely charms for various milestones, and I want that 75 pound charm!! But that will be my winter to spring focus - I’m in no rush. </div><div><br /></div><div>I do have some quilt blocks to show you. After the first several days of recovery, I began to be interested in sewing again. After a week, I had Bruce take all my sewing stuff back down to the studio (he’s such a gem) and I ventured downstairs carefully to take up residence once again in my sewing chair. And all was right in my little world! </div><div><br /></div><div>So, in the two week since I last posted, I managed to sew 75 string blocks (at 6.5”). These will be added to my Bag O’ Strings for Quilts for Kids. They’re pinned in batches of 15 for kit-making.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA53NjmDoKYIz5YCGrcApAPvpmUMX-UdcPFfS4wAsrcWZ4L5i5RfIuPJ76WSapPV95nw2iorsEvDpVJYOOk478sx-ndP5EusTjmaWTXPD7-PR-_jo5aQYH8KkKHomVCZnEQbjD0mcstCTSArw4jjai7Wtb16t2MPJsZOwgv_C1Kv9HgUvZIN-ORy8Y/s4032/5E9AC2E4-DA29-4391-8004-496E978E687D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2745" data-original-width="4032" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA53NjmDoKYIz5YCGrcApAPvpmUMX-UdcPFfS4wAsrcWZ4L5i5RfIuPJ76WSapPV95nw2iorsEvDpVJYOOk478sx-ndP5EusTjmaWTXPD7-PR-_jo5aQYH8KkKHomVCZnEQbjD0mcstCTSArw4jjai7Wtb16t2MPJsZOwgv_C1Kv9HgUvZIN-ORy8Y/w640-h436/5E9AC2E4-DA29-4391-8004-496E978E687D.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>That brought my total for November string blocks sewn to 90. In October I sewed 243, so my total so far this fall for my String Finishing Frenzy is 333. My goal is to hit 400 blocks by the end of the year, so I’m going to have to put the pedal to the metal! At least my string tote bag is breathing easier!! But I doubt I’ll be able to get to the very bottom of it. We’ll see!</div><div><br /></div><div>I also have my Chaser quilt half quilted. These were Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks for this year. Watch for that finish next week.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLFxj0nl6I1foshm_BAUsNWnzdxmHN8Hx6v-2iBfE_CnBmgUj0JAyOx7qvbgZNJDO6TKfCi7jfJO9hlbmjZ-aN2wJi851RzbGJJ4f0I21MtGU6V1-m5uuyuzKttl00YvYwd3eQV2eslObQmkosMR6PQP2VVFICiPYVesMKm-Uv6Fg7Kn3KFAFbjJp/s4032/37D542B8-9491-434F-BB30-C9422E4DE6B3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLFxj0nl6I1foshm_BAUsNWnzdxmHN8Hx6v-2iBfE_CnBmgUj0JAyOx7qvbgZNJDO6TKfCi7jfJO9hlbmjZ-aN2wJi851RzbGJJ4f0I21MtGU6V1-m5uuyuzKttl00YvYwd3eQV2eslObQmkosMR6PQP2VVFICiPYVesMKm-Uv6Fg7Kn3KFAFbjJp/w640-h480/37D542B8-9491-434F-BB30-C9422E4DE6B3.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>While I convalesced, I also began sewing up some Zip(per) blocks for another quilt. I haven’t counted them, nor do I even know how many I want for a quilt top. Hopefully this one will be for me, because my first <strike>two </strike> three ended up going to charity, my daughter and my cousin, respectively. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG_Ewrni8-4PnDWGVNJ6uCVVhgpLHeI0rqfwzzwz-n0RZU4uQMJdrGZJPqWiXmT2-XxrCdgi3BV0iILspWvB-bSogWcDm9FX0ckZ0GSOX6bAe_0GgpeSTwdTT-KnmJHjegIqdqP859BE-Dr2Nv28SBrXm2ClTyTFZYPOY1KzvaAEKAR_ry73fgBn7/s4032/826DBE1C-60EB-49C0-A9D4-9A2D2A7B4217.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2422" data-original-width="4032" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG_Ewrni8-4PnDWGVNJ6uCVVhgpLHeI0rqfwzzwz-n0RZU4uQMJdrGZJPqWiXmT2-XxrCdgi3BV0iILspWvB-bSogWcDm9FX0ckZ0GSOX6bAe_0GgpeSTwdTT-KnmJHjegIqdqP859BE-Dr2Nv28SBrXm2ClTyTFZYPOY1KzvaAEKAR_ry73fgBn7/w640-h384/826DBE1C-60EB-49C0-A9D4-9A2D2A7B4217.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Winter has arrived here, and leaves from the big tree have fallen and littered our front lawn. I haven’t been able to rake or blow them into a pile because of my surgery - and then the rain and snow came. Hopefully we’ll get a few clear and dry days so we can get them all cleaned up! </div><div><br /></div><div>That wraps it up for this week. I have more to show you, but it will wait for next week. Have a good one, friends!</div><div><br /></div><div>Linking up to the <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/12/scraphappy-saturday-wrapping-up.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a>.</div><div><br /></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-76598412123979339152023-11-18T09:00:00.002-07:002023-11-18T09:00:27.102-07:00If I Could Just Stay Awake…<p>My hip replacement surgery went really well. The doctors and nurses were super attentive. All in all, it was a great day, and the hip no longer bothers me. The incision is healing, and I’m up and around doing stairs - just the few up to the bedroom level, but not the full narrow flight down to try basement studio. I even managed to sew a couple Christmas blocks yesterday. </p><p>I’ve got to make this short and sweet, because the pain meds make me sooooo sleepy. I think I’ll be cutting them back a bit today! </p><p>As promised, here are some glamour shots of the Christmas Stars quilt. DIL Kim and son Ryan came over for dinner on Tuesday evening and picked it up. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uAa1tFXDz7psmB3SSe5POR0EQKVJIb2UTuh7_N1xdufeefd85itAianC3GzhgSoLZhB1uLOSHyv-L4VFgkREcYLqXcwZ5_9V9WKH1J8f9U2JXA9UVpsRGfRCv8d2QC5c_g6TIc_AcRO9E4sW1mmnJnPB2QwJx-MxsJQ8PaT8vB78MLLT-rnRByIf/s2597/0AD2D781-727A-4CC2-B36A-CA820221CFC8.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2282" data-original-width="2597" height="562" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uAa1tFXDz7psmB3SSe5POR0EQKVJIb2UTuh7_N1xdufeefd85itAianC3GzhgSoLZhB1uLOSHyv-L4VFgkREcYLqXcwZ5_9V9WKH1J8f9U2JXA9UVpsRGfRCv8d2QC5c_g6TIc_AcRO9E4sW1mmnJnPB2QwJx-MxsJQ8PaT8vB78MLLT-rnRByIf/w640-h562/0AD2D781-727A-4CC2-B36A-CA820221CFC8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They were totally tickled! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuy5rD2szwG8CF0Yep0EB_RYyWYd8GMPmMmMU0hisoHSFbRMkL_Q6AyDWzS-O0pYmA6CYwKvNcJIM_JFZcytJk05ARUhtnrSpW6-YCKLikm4BwYzknwa-Tw9Q98Fv-qYBenObWH0cFZ4yEFExVhXEzUsF3NXMaklb6BV4SENsBdW1Pu8fQH7H7OiZ/s4032/A75E4B77-C32D-446E-A554-E9C93EE2C3E3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifuy5rD2szwG8CF0Yep0EB_RYyWYd8GMPmMmMU0hisoHSFbRMkL_Q6AyDWzS-O0pYmA6CYwKvNcJIM_JFZcytJk05ARUhtnrSpW6-YCKLikm4BwYzknwa-Tw9Q98Fv-qYBenObWH0cFZ4yEFExVhXEzUsF3NXMaklb6BV4SENsBdW1Pu8fQH7H7OiZ/w480-h640/A75E4B77-C32D-446E-A554-E9C93EE2C3E3.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>While Cousin Kim, Ruby and I were out taking pix of my quilt, we added Kim’s House Quilt too. It’s a pattern called Jenny Lane from Missouri Star Quilt Co. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvs1AgRTg6IaZIq9glP3AGC5NulkQwhC10jiE4IItQdZEyrfLocrC7D_Ltb6Mt0hwJOKECzr1fwaFiaLlcVa2dbWg5huq9_AjaRGWGphYAVJqGMcvhBboIaa1osB8ZExqJjIr5svNTJiwq7RB_N51P3XwMuFMKYWPc4tGkyQIu3pCUxF_v6mSkQIEe/s3356/C4B9FD55-EC50-4BEF-8CCD-B3D07C87D366.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3356" data-original-width="2742" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvs1AgRTg6IaZIq9glP3AGC5NulkQwhC10jiE4IItQdZEyrfLocrC7D_Ltb6Mt0hwJOKECzr1fwaFiaLlcVa2dbWg5huq9_AjaRGWGphYAVJqGMcvhBboIaa1osB8ZExqJjIr5svNTJiwq7RB_N51P3XwMuFMKYWPc4tGkyQIu3pCUxF_v6mSkQIEe/w522-h640/C4B9FD55-EC50-4BEF-8CCD-B3D07C87D366.jpeg" width="522" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Back</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixp353YX0sHgMqCFEacqAchQBjTRki8t-CBuN8XKKG96ggfE5Xqbthk_GuYFHXqG8Q73XMVf4thLhFDlSC__HUJYyY4Dknrzm2-4SG3rfPfuLAZ15zcC1y-TFfuP3aL4xCEkpQW2hnRnN8PWKEP3NLlsRZzysALO_iGmvv0OJqf3tZglsV2OeApnxn/s2303/449599A3-17D8-4AEB-B750-F434057BD603.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2303" data-original-width="1898" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixp353YX0sHgMqCFEacqAchQBjTRki8t-CBuN8XKKG96ggfE5Xqbthk_GuYFHXqG8Q73XMVf4thLhFDlSC__HUJYyY4Dknrzm2-4SG3rfPfuLAZ15zcC1y-TFfuP3aL4xCEkpQW2hnRnN8PWKEP3NLlsRZzysALO_iGmvv0OJqf3tZglsV2OeApnxn/w528-h640/449599A3-17D8-4AEB-B750-F434057BD603.jpeg" width="528" /></a></div><br />I managed to get a few columns sewn together on my Thrifty Block quilt top. This was on Wednesday before we hauled up all my sewing stuff to the kitchen.</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/AVvXsEhC4PXaBEE5u4DxDiO7VJBV8WE8wL2a36Y2ztmC6liv3eBlaV_CGTRWEYziZoTOELE_824CMwwX6LvpE6X9fmaRgJB8PrdGXXLx3ociODefNE5e5tldZyb9-MVu9R_sgQ7Wj8AoSG0aeNm-e1nfACjkeXLxSHMiBKcEOVJskVt8FfAZBYotXOsaG49z/s4032/9C0988D3-7ED7-46FE-BD0A-DD87DD841E6D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4PXaBEE5u4DxDiO7VJBV8WE8wL2a36Y2ztmC6liv3eBlaV_CGTRWEYziZoTOELE_824CMwwX6LvpE6X9fmaRgJB8PrdGXXLx3ociODefNE5e5tldZyb9-MVu9R_sgQ7Wj8AoSG0aeNm-e1nfACjkeXLxSHMiBKcEOVJskVt8FfAZBYotXOsaG49z/w480-h640/9C0988D3-7ED7-46FE-BD0A-DD87DD841E6D.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div>The rest will have to wait until I’m back downstairs in the studio. But I am sewing some little 16-patch blocks into a table runner!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQfdFrXqUoFOsVRFZjtHnTjYFnh8puRtABO4IPX2USO4pjX39swDmOfmLmnfCJbnFxGd5nDJKZ5edLQX9CBJI13i-cx6mhlqFf9-8aUtuhGy8akfGugZvFZfkfj69Jh6C4x_g1rtE_XFxvVEwPQIvAltjgNuvnp4OdXcplKgzOPaG2_cX4JVxz2WL/s4032/3FCDC1AA-5C9D-4E6C-9A1A-200CF8ADF884.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQfdFrXqUoFOsVRFZjtHnTjYFnh8puRtABO4IPX2USO4pjX39swDmOfmLmnfCJbnFxGd5nDJKZ5edLQX9CBJI13i-cx6mhlqFf9-8aUtuhGy8akfGugZvFZfkfj69Jh6C4x_g1rtE_XFxvVEwPQIvAltjgNuvnp4OdXcplKgzOPaG2_cX4JVxz2WL/w640-h480/3FCDC1AA-5C9D-4E6C-9A1A-200CF8ADF884.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Finally, when we got home from the hospital on Thursday, the kitties had rearranged some of their foam pieces into this PI sign! Since my birthday is on Pi Day (March 14, or 3.14), we figuring they were sending a message out to me, LOL. <div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVixxkd_SiVhFgAxN9ZQL26Y9jfVMcougYqql4oWlSvrcqSK1RFJK05Y566RGv_Ie_9jxH7xFNRE-C7Lye_GaHBeIVSzaKdxl28wze6z5pn_TyvTVsZ6nEGaCfcWXvvUlQm5fW6AqW6OV9hgTJEtrPFaXO-Er3f-7YPUFDDqHhrYnl4eAajzA6EhV/s1824/D4C96A8E-22CB-49DD-ACD2-C8CCC867B54A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1425" data-original-width="1824" height="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWVixxkd_SiVhFgAxN9ZQL26Y9jfVMcougYqql4oWlSvrcqSK1RFJK05Y566RGv_Ie_9jxH7xFNRE-C7Lye_GaHBeIVSzaKdxl28wze6z5pn_TyvTVsZ6nEGaCfcWXvvUlQm5fW6AqW6OV9hgTJEtrPFaXO-Er3f-7YPUFDDqHhrYnl4eAajzA6EhV/w640-h500/D4C96A8E-22CB-49DD-ACD2-C8CCC867B54A.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>That’s about it for now. I’m hoping to be able to stay awake and have more to share next week! Talk to you then! Linking up to the <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/11/scraphappy-saturday-thanksgiving.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge. </a></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-63801277769017337272023-11-11T08:19:00.001-07:002023-11-11T08:19:59.686-07:00Two Finishes!<p>The weeks are just flying by, aren’t they? I have so many plates spinning that my head is spinning too. Not in an exorcist sort of way (head spinning around on my torso), not in a vertigo way either, but in a “dazed and confused” manner. But one plate took the off-ramp and is now Officially Done. And that is the Christmas Stars quilt. The quilt shop texted me on Thursday that it was ready, so we rushed right down to get it. I immediately set to trimming it, making the binding and finishing it. I even added a label for my son and daughter-in-law. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7tPH5zFBOO6DCWKZTl_FEdTFeyw7oqinztE28cF5oTnTc0YelAAyV33j3NVH5DjP_vh6Q5eIh3LfnTK_jt_DbsGkjkGQDWyoJ9SN9uFYtTv7lfb3GeA7irixrJsi3wKRcuP0tK5vrftFuzK0e_pDvrfN9ygmOhuVdTd8-DhDDI3oT1TFh1cZoEpN/s4032/BED77C88-C591-47C7-B572-A4BB1EFD817A.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw7tPH5zFBOO6DCWKZTl_FEdTFeyw7oqinztE28cF5oTnTc0YelAAyV33j3NVH5DjP_vh6Q5eIh3LfnTK_jt_DbsGkjkGQDWyoJ9SN9uFYtTv7lfb3GeA7irixrJsi3wKRcuP0tK5vrftFuzK0e_pDvrfN9ygmOhuVdTd8-DhDDI3oT1TFh1cZoEpN/w480-h640/BED77C88-C591-47C7-B572-A4BB1EFD817A.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>It is almost too heavy for me to lift. I’m hoping that my friend Ruby (perhaps with the aid of our neighbor Jason) can hold it up on Sunday for glamour shots. Truly, an 88x98” quilt with lots of little pieces and a thick batting is heavy! I should weigh it. Anyway, this is just a peek for now. I hope to have some good photos next week. But it’s DONE, and the rest of the Christmas shopping (mostly gift cards) will be a breeze.</p><p>We visited our friend Terri up in Bountiful this week. We always love getting together with her! Here she is with one of her two kittens, Clancy. She was showing me this quilt top she recently finished (I love those colors!) and Clancy kept jumping up and attacking the quilt (or was it her hands?). Naturally, he stopped as soon as I whipped out my phone to capture it. Silly kitty!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTffS838qgLu717foY6qcfUdGYngyYQ2YbXdbziQKLYN1bLLPGntLQukXbr84Ksyxb8HM21_CyMiU0QcXK5J0n1FYozTz_0FioHXRH5d43Ef26behsBrWSp1S6rEvYK4ifGDO6O9oJR7mKgWPdqgYGN7xLE8oImsYXudJm3jDxYhCPiv7vTuCmRrF3/s3619/73F2141F-E44D-4127-B008-690E9F2F1D14.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3619" data-original-width="2798" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTffS838qgLu717foY6qcfUdGYngyYQ2YbXdbziQKLYN1bLLPGntLQukXbr84Ksyxb8HM21_CyMiU0QcXK5J0n1FYozTz_0FioHXRH5d43Ef26behsBrWSp1S6rEvYK4ifGDO6O9oJR7mKgWPdqgYGN7xLE8oImsYXudJm3jDxYhCPiv7vTuCmRrF3/w494-h640/73F2141F-E44D-4127-B008-690E9F2F1D14.jpeg" width="494" /></a></div><p>Our Bradford Pear (ornamental) tree is sporting its fiery autumn colors this week. I’m going to miss this tree when we sell the house…</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILU4Hm4JkSEaRdFolsWnDUQ6PXOzbTNTVVqUazZw3o3lJ9KTq6sL_EidXyPweaJ52sffGbJBiO_daRUXYFtPxZaZFaYtbVT6G0WSUOMNGQAWuKXtz0-XyUacvBkLIS-Zpn0SCwjosQtFI1Z7-gzVLT6R4hOgyagMr2Ajl_1V-_Isy5-6zlEldtwnZ/s3862/2621E5C3-12BA-4CAB-B0AF-8BCD887A2AED.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3862" data-original-width="2982" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILU4Hm4JkSEaRdFolsWnDUQ6PXOzbTNTVVqUazZw3o3lJ9KTq6sL_EidXyPweaJ52sffGbJBiO_daRUXYFtPxZaZFaYtbVT6G0WSUOMNGQAWuKXtz0-XyUacvBkLIS-Zpn0SCwjosQtFI1Z7-gzVLT6R4hOgyagMr2Ajl_1V-_Isy5-6zlEldtwnZ/w494-h640/2621E5C3-12BA-4CAB-B0AF-8BCD887A2AED.jpeg" width="494" /></a></div><p>Back to sewing, here is the second finish this week. It’s the second (of three) quilts from my RSC2022 framed 4-patch blocks. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyCGI2U-CIZHE8odcoAQSPhTzCIrRhuvd4_EHLeazWPpmM4CMErFxKbLGPHKJ_GpzBe7ahGTaQC_qR5gPAlaBpjMaAfp2RueLFCihsJ-BgxX6uB0uQ7OkIm0VdhBjlgWif0GBHfs3uqqR6ixWdqfuRiSCHyHuiXPnNU20ec2cMsBvh1oensiDclye/s3280/71763581-1B0E-41CD-88D7-29596D6700EB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3280" data-original-width="2578" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyCGI2U-CIZHE8odcoAQSPhTzCIrRhuvd4_EHLeazWPpmM4CMErFxKbLGPHKJ_GpzBe7ahGTaQC_qR5gPAlaBpjMaAfp2RueLFCihsJ-BgxX6uB0uQ7OkIm0VdhBjlgWif0GBHfs3uqqR6ixWdqfuRiSCHyHuiXPnNU20ec2cMsBvh1oensiDclye/w504-h640/71763581-1B0E-41CD-88D7-29596D6700EB.jpeg" width="504" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Quilted with a simple stipple, it finished at 48x54”. The backing used up some large scraps too!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlAIQ3fpC2yejvtgulWSOHRI372DEOtSt6B_tkwHHiPgo8rdW7AZx2igW6GJp-Xa9UA6VD4QGhyRYVa7wCEQ5G1vjO6dLcWRIWGO_D-aBH4z0_Tqr_a2riQj93mL8KP0Q49zkcSFIno57Mxt-443erFPAKL2-G3vbzzDwMSalGpM4LbNH8tpNY_JG/s3515/45F8EC9A-9171-4E56-B83D-EFA56201683F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3515" data-original-width="2636" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSlAIQ3fpC2yejvtgulWSOHRI372DEOtSt6B_tkwHHiPgo8rdW7AZx2igW6GJp-Xa9UA6VD4QGhyRYVa7wCEQ5G1vjO6dLcWRIWGO_D-aBH4z0_Tqr_a2riQj93mL8KP0Q49zkcSFIno57Mxt-443erFPAKL2-G3vbzzDwMSalGpM4LbNH8tpNY_JG/w480-h640/45F8EC9A-9171-4E56-B83D-EFA56201683F.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I didn’t do any string block sewing this week. I’m actually saving them for when I’m less mobile and have to stay upstairs for a period after my hip replacement surgery on Thursday. I’ll also have Zip(per) blocks to sew and maybe some more things. I need to make sure I’ve got plenty to keep me occupied and out of trouble, you know!</p><p>One thing I’d like to do before the surgery is finish getting this top together. It was one of my RSC blocks for this year. I called it Four in Nine, but <a href="https://saneandcrazy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Cathy L</a> tells me its official name is the Thrify Block.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ9KGZl92_YVFaHU8REhRKNiShJG2rHCw8oHUxqDFhYNaUzyP-1VPOJ1AWd-EkcIfk-dZtnl6Qnw8cLKhzUeJ9m1zDFsLf_tadNBYHqU8c5zw8r9DO1Ub318hRTw8O_gvZkyTftyAnxI7n9C0-SsQ7VWalFMP_duIdV724FhmnT9ROYfr3YvGCX_y/s3596/94E04069-8C3E-4B4D-BC19-9FE33F6A7441.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2895" data-original-width="3596" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRZ9KGZl92_YVFaHU8REhRKNiShJG2rHCw8oHUxqDFhYNaUzyP-1VPOJ1AWd-EkcIfk-dZtnl6Qnw8cLKhzUeJ9m1zDFsLf_tadNBYHqU8c5zw8r9DO1Ub318hRTw8O_gvZkyTftyAnxI7n9C0-SsQ7VWalFMP_duIdV724FhmnT9ROYfr3YvGCX_y/w640-h516/94E04069-8C3E-4B4D-BC19-9FE33F6A7441.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>I’m adding the sashing and cornerstones to each block, which you can see on two blocks in the upper left corner. These are the blocks with navy blue as the dark constant. The blocks I made with the gray constant will likely be assembled in December. </p><p>That’s all I have for you this week, folks. I’ll be back next Saturday with a surgery report and some quilt progress as well, come hell or high water. And since there’s no rain in the forecast, that leaves only hell. But I’m more than ready. Meals prepped and frozen - check! Thanksgiving groceries bought- check (except the mushrooms, which Bruce can do). House cleaned (housekeeper comes on Tuesday) and potential tripping hazards removed - check! Sewing area upstairs ready - almost. It’s all packed and just needs to be hauled up on Wednesday. So… bring it on!</p><p>Linking up to <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/11/scraphappy-saturday-three-day-weekend.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Saturday</a> at Angela’s So Scrappy blog. </p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-7881907526808848282023-11-04T09:07:00.001-06:002023-11-04T09:07:30.805-06:00Not Much Going On<p>For as much time as I spent at home this week, you’d think I’d have something exciting to show for it. But the time spent in my sewing studio was roughly equal to the time it took to do some laundry. I’d like to apologize to everyone who commented on my post last week. I don’t think I answered anyone, but please know I truly appreciate you dropping by and taking the time to leave a comment. I’ll do better this coming week. But for the last week, most of my time was spent in my chair, staying as medicated as possible (the hip thing). I did make a trip to the hospital to get all the pre-op tests and paperwork done. Exciting stuff, that. Not.</p><p>But I did do some sewing as I said, so I’ll share what little I did do!</p><p>A mere 15 string blocks at 6.5”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BTqpj3Vf1m0lNbGhXFhfa-sF7kT9Gp7W0SXQFmXJwAT6_r9TSF6WXqDHm4lJCegk-Z9gYYiaAS5AJ46gO9bKcwDAfR1n1y-X-Ba2iZ5e6b0aXKE8XQE5fJB8X8wixTsfItgiEBSDp73ypipUnjQTVzQ8P-x3Ki0dvrRLK14m8ndNSoj_HAsa_Evo/s4032/578D2BA2-B8F7-4234-A5DD-1D5C9CFC190D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BTqpj3Vf1m0lNbGhXFhfa-sF7kT9Gp7W0SXQFmXJwAT6_r9TSF6WXqDHm4lJCegk-Z9gYYiaAS5AJ46gO9bKcwDAfR1n1y-X-Ba2iZ5e6b0aXKE8XQE5fJB8X8wixTsfItgiEBSDp73ypipUnjQTVzQ8P-x3Ki0dvrRLK14m8ndNSoj_HAsa_Evo/w480-h640/578D2BA2-B8F7-4234-A5DD-1D5C9CFC190D.jpeg" width="480" /></a>M</div><p>I sewed together my Chaser blocks into this top:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyZaGwrdDrpJRzM0a4vfyGYs6PDZ9TFkNFcFkeo4GltXnkGxinVk5S4zj1Ta-X2V-NKTbE_8vqtloMmtagoc35nebx-kGh_Dnjl0iazOWD02dSmiwFyshl1EHaR9MBsPi9xmwkrM5eKyVMw5Lc3znP6pyXj8dLEg-f__H2OUu9BNeAy1fl0QOFP0N/s4032/6F091CE8-660C-4134-B1F6-CE8CAF67A3FF.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyZaGwrdDrpJRzM0a4vfyGYs6PDZ9TFkNFcFkeo4GltXnkGxinVk5S4zj1Ta-X2V-NKTbE_8vqtloMmtagoc35nebx-kGh_Dnjl0iazOWD02dSmiwFyshl1EHaR9MBsPi9xmwkrM5eKyVMw5Lc3znP6pyXj8dLEg-f__H2OUu9BNeAy1fl0QOFP0N/w480-h640/6F091CE8-660C-4134-B1F6-CE8CAF67A3FF.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>I love it so much! I hope to baste this quilt and one other in the coming week. Mostly I’ve been gathering things to sew upstairs after the surgery, which is still a couple weeks off. If I can baste several quilts, I can hopefully sit and quilt them in the couple weeks after surgery until I feel confident enough to tackle the rather steep stairs down to my basement studio. I’ve also been cutting out the components for a new large-ish quilt that will be a gift for a very special Weight Watchers friend. More on that in the near future, because there’s an interesting story behind it. Additionally, I’ll bring my Bag O’ Strings upstairs as well as some Zip(per) Block components - I have enough of those cut out for a quilt top too. So, Bruce has agreed to haul my weighty Bernina and my sewing chair upstairs for me. We’ll expand the kitchen table (ceramic surface with a built-in leaf that can be expanded or folded underneath) and I’ll be ready to go!</p><p>On Wednesday night, Bruce got a phone call from a number he didn’t recognize. Long story short, it turns out it was one of his best buddies from his Army days who was in the area with his wife Renee. Dennis and Bruce served in Viet Nam together and then finished their tours at the NSA in Maryland. He and Renee came over for a couple hours that night. Dennis is in touch with all their old Army buddies, and Renee is organizing a reunion of the guys next October in Oklahoma (where they have a barn that’s set up as an event locale). Bruce and Dennis were so happy to see each other and catch up!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nlq4Bk3Tlc2a4fETP_CUJAIbUaucI4ZvxhajIooUlx1Gv_WIioK3fx7scaLNtLhOs5NaNREGrW6Bn6ytu55mJQimEuZhtQr5FC7Vci593Bl-w-83QqTGZeSPGYSkKxzW48H2YQIRxujiZXvrZGjPVXG21Bk6tD4hkhYrWrmINgK9aQfYVYUIeN-S/s4032/7542B7F4-5FE0-4483-ABB7-864FEAFB792F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2nlq4Bk3Tlc2a4fETP_CUJAIbUaucI4ZvxhajIooUlx1Gv_WIioK3fx7scaLNtLhOs5NaNREGrW6Bn6ytu55mJQimEuZhtQr5FC7Vci593Bl-w-83QqTGZeSPGYSkKxzW48H2YQIRxujiZXvrZGjPVXG21Bk6tD4hkhYrWrmINgK9aQfYVYUIeN-S/w480-h640/7542B7F4-5FE0-4483-ABB7-864FEAFB792F.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUiWolEVZCOKVz1BpbYp6imDXNgTA-wum3hxyBav-SUZrM7O2cvWpTaMjdjGICJ6pAIMgWaw1quqJRMGlWJbtH16gai1P-Ahc1dX2vWBADp4mm-UhT1kEP4BYs3FqUhyEk2BsQIn8sLxmXJmYkflOhWq-MUyn6SmbmYyioJDVKHpkHg0ZWiUgG15J/s3088/0D385B4C-E507-4057-A034-4AA5AAA02350.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2316" data-original-width="3088" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUiWolEVZCOKVz1BpbYp6imDXNgTA-wum3hxyBav-SUZrM7O2cvWpTaMjdjGICJ6pAIMgWaw1quqJRMGlWJbtH16gai1P-Ahc1dX2vWBADp4mm-UhT1kEP4BYs3FqUhyEk2BsQIn8sLxmXJmYkflOhWq-MUyn6SmbmYyioJDVKHpkHg0ZWiUgG15J/w400-h300/0D385B4C-E507-4057-A034-4AA5AAA02350.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next week I’ll continue cutting out the new quilt, cutting and sewing binding for Christmas Stars (due home before my surgery), and webbing the final quilt top of Framed 4-Patch blocks from last year’s <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/11/scraphappy-saturday-fall.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a>. And all the aforementioned quilt basting. I’ve definitely got my work cut out for me, no pun intended!</div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-53850860738119611382023-10-28T08:41:00.004-06:002023-10-28T08:41:37.093-06:00Hip Hip Hooray!<p>The blog post title has a double meaning today. I have a quilt finish and some new string blocks to share, as well as some news about a certain left hip. Let me back up a bit. About a year ago, I had a bout of sciatica that sent me to the ER, where they did a hip X-ray to rule out the hips, although in the process it was revealed that my left hip had extreme osteoarthritis. Anyway, after the diagnosis of sciatica, some physical therapy and losing 60+ pounds over the last year, I had hoped to stave off problems with the hip. I worked like a madwoman in the yard this year, doing a lot of planting, hauling a full cubic yard of soil and just generally pretending to be a gardening superwoman. The yard is now put to bed for the winter (save two flowerpots that need to brought in), and it looks like I’ll be turning from garden beds to a hospital bed. </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/AVvXsEjJxvtfKcDMkxUXcy1FmC-8RH6OizPiymzx4iQIVJSMwUS_2kjdnVlL6ZOPZA15SCf1Evg4h2N9W0AaADiOvfb7_JbkcLpCPkG2zl4qaavXyVuIN5pJ8vMPf5aGgX9h13k35o2DhK-3w2ZewLmKyr5TPYvhQj5YQMAedtVa2U6SUcGsweSUX775TZIb/s3138/67ED46B9-B16F-4614-95FA-F1AE15B70A19.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3138" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxvtfKcDMkxUXcy1FmC-8RH6OizPiymzx4iQIVJSMwUS_2kjdnVlL6ZOPZA15SCf1Evg4h2N9W0AaADiOvfb7_JbkcLpCPkG2zl4qaavXyVuIN5pJ8vMPf5aGgX9h13k35o2DhK-3w2ZewLmKyr5TPYvhQj5YQMAedtVa2U6SUcGsweSUX775TZIb/w385-h400/67ED46B9-B16F-4614-95FA-F1AE15B70A19.jpeg" width="385" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Salt Lake Valley from surgeon’s 5th floor office window</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The pain hit relatively suddenly a couple weeks ago. So I talked with my dear friend Terri, whose nephew is an orthopedic surgeon. Long story short, I went to see him (such a nice man!), got xrayed again (“the osteoarthritis in your hip is extreme PLUS”) and hip replacement surgery is scheduled for mid-November. I’m sorta scared, but I honestly can’t wait to be out of pain. I’m in good hands. So, listing the house is probably on hold for a couple months, and hubby Bruce is totally on board with helping me out. It seems fair enough to both of us since we’ve gone through his 15 arm surgeries together up to and including his arm amputation. We’re a great team in that regard!</p><p>But let’s turn to sewing. In keeping with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge’s October color of Light Neutrals, I continued sewing 6.5” string blocks. I used all my loose light neutral strings, as well as two of the handmade rolls of strings (two remaining for some future project) to make 3 groups of 15 blocks plus another 13. That’s 58 neutral string blocks. 45 of them will go to Quilts for Kids and the other 13 will stay here and join the 25 I made last week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYiMB_r5qrz5wxxv7q8hfk2sbGY_71UYRzafbr8T66qVnNz8IWS4vhYIXtu2yUiuo2sKc9llkG0yn2bqqLZczgQZXChyphenhyphen5_Tase_8pyLmZodNFCLR2LsZTVzSjyJUZceRgd6s-i06AgWnmVfgQR8i9SB9oM8ygVLxA1A6uVlwgbtI1_RkMoQQvQNQh/s3950/A5D3E5A3-F472-4201-B947-AA2FBFF18551.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2815" data-original-width="3950" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYiMB_r5qrz5wxxv7q8hfk2sbGY_71UYRzafbr8T66qVnNz8IWS4vhYIXtu2yUiuo2sKc9llkG0yn2bqqLZczgQZXChyphenhyphen5_Tase_8pyLmZodNFCLR2LsZTVzSjyJUZceRgd6s-i06AgWnmVfgQR8i9SB9oM8ygVLxA1A6uVlwgbtI1_RkMoQQvQNQh/w640-h456/A5D3E5A3-F472-4201-B947-AA2FBFF18551.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I also finished 15 multi-colored string blocks. So the total number of string blocks for the week was 73, and the October total string blocks sewn is 75+75+25+73, or 248 string blocks. My goal is to sew 400 by year end. <div><br /></div><div>But I’m also working on my annual Finishing Frenzy, and I finally have another little quilt to show. You’ve seen the top before, but now this is quilted and bound and ready to turn over to Quilts for Kids.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZIO72xqIyDtU5LC1UkhcQLrDbH1PLQfp6_OG7JXLEiSnI2yR-pbVnQ2I6yh1Gp_z-GYeFbH3gU0qLK_KUJtwR3cSljx8QEebt-y45dBlyTwv3fNYojnP5P4YIYGJzkQ1n9kA4PV6CG7s3KoL6G9tkeZ9pqnxOtM73mFSZ0QUYuRvQzcUrnp1I8kk/s4032/B5E35F17-83D8-4F99-BEDC-5BEE45D3B470.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjZIO72xqIyDtU5LC1UkhcQLrDbH1PLQfp6_OG7JXLEiSnI2yR-pbVnQ2I6yh1Gp_z-GYeFbH3gU0qLK_KUJtwR3cSljx8QEebt-y45dBlyTwv3fNYojnP5P4YIYGJzkQ1n9kA4PV6CG7s3KoL6G9tkeZ9pqnxOtM73mFSZ0QUYuRvQzcUrnp1I8kk/w480-h640/B5E35F17-83D8-4F99-BEDC-5BEE45D3B470.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRixKafNc50LUd0xNGDJz_irawFOqno59M4y3xqiL5Kaa3CFi_OA0UqZcDqjHe1jCtlARmJbYYZcm5pj4gcq4ss42hYYBbBD8r1AapUK5XQGishEYNSdTqnktaSvHdpBWcXL8WC8ARNnIUb_NzU-Gn57ylirlY14sKJQKbP78XwPEbyWr0xfEUKyy3/s4032/C8556DCE-BFE4-4879-B5DB-34CD99CB4CD2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRixKafNc50LUd0xNGDJz_irawFOqno59M4y3xqiL5Kaa3CFi_OA0UqZcDqjHe1jCtlARmJbYYZcm5pj4gcq4ss42hYYBbBD8r1AapUK5XQGishEYNSdTqnktaSvHdpBWcXL8WC8ARNnIUb_NzU-Gn57ylirlY14sKJQKbP78XwPEbyWr0xfEUKyy3/w480-h640/C8556DCE-BFE4-4879-B5DB-34CD99CB4CD2.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>This aqua string quilt finished at 42x48”, and isn’t that backing fabric just perfect???</div><div><br /></div><div>I also made some progress on the next RSC quilt in line by completing this top of blue, aqua, green and purple framed four patch blocks. This will be #2 of three planned Framed 4P blocks, which were sewn during 2022. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cDv0kWr32u1KLADqiSD0tvGGnBgu6wLxRntA3H4kWzLbDl1el2fnDi5_G6TJ1Qqb61DG022ffCMmKznAdg3YKvaAXVntY8tM8rUEx6gGtky30S6r6GMIyW45SuAtnGQjlQgfCpAPjVguTx2v7wD_AcHnsgO6NmDTMf3tm8cksOz-B6LobL0Hli2A/s4032/6313EB89-2A20-43AA-BF54-83131280B226.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7cDv0kWr32u1KLADqiSD0tvGGnBgu6wLxRntA3H4kWzLbDl1el2fnDi5_G6TJ1Qqb61DG022ffCMmKznAdg3YKvaAXVntY8tM8rUEx6gGtky30S6r6GMIyW45SuAtnGQjlQgfCpAPjVguTx2v7wD_AcHnsgO6NmDTMf3tm8cksOz-B6LobL0Hli2A/w480-h640/6313EB89-2A20-43AA-BF54-83131280B226.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I also wanted to share a picture of my Thousand Dollar Clock, LOL. That was my nickname for the new range before I read the users manual and tried using it. But it’s great, and it’s really nice not to have to rely on the microwave and other small appliances to cobble meals together!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLl6GnJlIwZFozP1SjBJizhp9EwvcSttEFJPfwzKNMA035v-DhKjmKxsQoIa_FzxTT29DEYsi4ZA3XY__ifgrcxU4eZEgRzsFyYPQ7wQNYYwyJRUR2ST6xsVxJPBRrKOCkc-owKAptB_FvlE82eidzSLRyNbkbuQTdhUvotTsv_utVjjXoH2g3XbIZ/s4032/B1778875-5D0D-4C19-B10B-49B6A3022F1B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLl6GnJlIwZFozP1SjBJizhp9EwvcSttEFJPfwzKNMA035v-DhKjmKxsQoIa_FzxTT29DEYsi4ZA3XY__ifgrcxU4eZEgRzsFyYPQ7wQNYYwyJRUR2ST6xsVxJPBRrKOCkc-owKAptB_FvlE82eidzSLRyNbkbuQTdhUvotTsv_utVjjXoH2g3XbIZ/w480-h640/B1778875-5D0D-4C19-B10B-49B6A3022F1B.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><p>When the old range was moved out, we naturally cleaned out from under where it sat for 17 years. Archeologists would’ve had a good laugh, concluding that there must have been cats in the house. Among the treasures: six felt catnip mice, a sparkly ball, 9 colored plastic straws (back when we used them before switching to reusable metal straws, the cats LOVED the neon straws and they’d routinely go missing from our drinks). And … a puzzle piece! Those little imps!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-EpNsqZz-agpCXt3-lZ8DUp2FrRGMWXsDas-zZfVE2zyy3fXj28laPr6DEnJAwSkVKqVKFmoNJo2UUmLHffRTqPSeEgk4UgHNVFBBDjlNaJ9im1kcHNe4wkEKp7xrapU9iybPdNYYoRWZ5ZkVimSFbr1MQUzRn_dq0m7VjC0nFvq9USD4tuTD732/s4032/EA88BB8B-EBF8-4BB0-8EED-BF2E805B9F7E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-EpNsqZz-agpCXt3-lZ8DUp2FrRGMWXsDas-zZfVE2zyy3fXj28laPr6DEnJAwSkVKqVKFmoNJo2UUmLHffRTqPSeEgk4UgHNVFBBDjlNaJ9im1kcHNe4wkEKp7xrapU9iybPdNYYoRWZ5ZkVimSFbr1MQUzRn_dq0m7VjC0nFvq9USD4tuTD732/w300-h400/EA88BB8B-EBF8-4BB0-8EED-BF2E805B9F7E.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>Linking up to Scrappy Saturday.</p></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-15381526679147783432023-10-21T08:39:00.001-06:002023-10-21T08:39:53.873-06:00Christmas Stars Top Done<p>It is with great relief that I can announce that the Christmas Stars quilt top assembly is complete! This quilt fought me all the way, but I prevailed in the end. Its working name became Nightmare on Twinkle Street, LOL. This week I needed to finish up the last four sections, and then add the extra 10 stars to the bottom. Or so I thought. It turns out that I needed the stars for the width, not the length, so I had to sew two extra 8” stars and cut some alternating plain red squares and split them into two 8” columns on each side. None of that likely makes any sense, but here are some photos I snapped. I had to move the dinette set out of the way - the kitchen floor was the only place large enough to lay it out.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknyaFYCHgmbpThtNxHN_WWLlYvSkYNSFAo0GjwEvhu2G3PUaD15I_de-n8tZgQhVYBePDH-lvtE9s8cwe_beCCrTjG3woSnFEwXuZki-Dn6YnCjIzrhp759aJRyg9r7S4C1u5bXEIRzU0fKy4i6Rcw-KmNCAprB7G11ijud4ani-IwLgeoetK-tBC/s4032/IMG_5779.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiknyaFYCHgmbpThtNxHN_WWLlYvSkYNSFAo0GjwEvhu2G3PUaD15I_de-n8tZgQhVYBePDH-lvtE9s8cwe_beCCrTjG3woSnFEwXuZki-Dn6YnCjIzrhp759aJRyg9r7S4C1u5bXEIRzU0fKy4i6Rcw-KmNCAprB7G11ijud4ani-IwLgeoetK-tBC/w640-h480/IMG_5779.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Naturally, Alfalfa and Darla had to walk all over it to add their artistic touches. Cats will be cats. I finished off with a 2.5” border all around, making it slightly oversized at 98x88”. I figure it will lose an inch or two in the quilting process. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvnOvqoqx6CqPQLlvYvcmuq1_ChAqJc8rOMX4hJxZkmrTVZyPj7Hka4nY_oqsXtyhSrEI8n4zR1Ua8Xo3MmR949Gs_JmqFcILak5Xeozp7KLXZ1mo0pXeazxYmcsDF_12xA0hS2KO0q8eZtSKfePWpv9eM4KSiuaL0xDKrbRTJPi7a5I4mj2H7Xlx/s4032/IMG_5782.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFvnOvqoqx6CqPQLlvYvcmuq1_ChAqJc8rOMX4hJxZkmrTVZyPj7Hka4nY_oqsXtyhSrEI8n4zR1Ua8Xo3MmR949Gs_JmqFcILak5Xeozp7KLXZ1mo0pXeazxYmcsDF_12xA0hS2KO0q8eZtSKfePWpv9eM4KSiuaL0xDKrbRTJPi7a5I4mj2H7Xlx/w640-h480/IMG_5782.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br />In this picture (above) the “top” and “bottom” are really the sides. Anyway, I dropped it off at the quilter - a cute little shop called Quilts on the Corner in old historic Sandy, UT, about a 10 minute drive from my house. They’ve quilted for both me and Cousin Kim before and always do a great job. The quilting pattern I selected was cardinals among mistletoe sprays and berries. So cute, and my daughter-in-law Kim loves cardinals. She picked out the colors and fabrics which include some prints with cardinals in them. The quilt is for her and my son Ryan. The quilt shop said the quilt will be ready before Thanksgiving, which is perfect as it’ll give me time to trim and bind it and give it to them before the end of November. <p></p><p>The only other sewing I did this week - because I spent two and a half days on finishing the last sections of stars and sewing the Christmas Stars top together - was making string blocks. This time, for a change of pace and in keeping with the <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/10/scraphappy-saturday-its-end-of-week.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a> October color of the month, I worked on my light neutral strings, because:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEPsL0ZAlIqKwe4OQZKVbnND69ToseF7EEreoIlNSqw_BYVxS_a_tn05K_wa8v19Rdtr1hVlsOBY10BKfB9obUskXZVmmvx32T7VwFeUpfysyQcehSAuVOKpwLcWvxgKy7WOfmsS3bCuAUpOP7Z8o6C6dyfctG9ImSXIoryD_2tl5lsgKlDoPLhUz/s4032/IMG_5784.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZEPsL0ZAlIqKwe4OQZKVbnND69ToseF7EEreoIlNSqw_BYVxS_a_tn05K_wa8v19Rdtr1hVlsOBY10BKfB9obUskXZVmmvx32T7VwFeUpfysyQcehSAuVOKpwLcWvxgKy7WOfmsS3bCuAUpOP7Z8o6C6dyfctG9ImSXIoryD_2tl5lsgKlDoPLhUz/w640-h480/IMG_5784.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Yep, those are neat rolls (and a messy pile) of white, cream, light neutral strings. Think I have my work cut out for me? hahaha</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9eAwmsTaA9D13zogwD-KZEvUGUCnhevl0sho8zDjFvRmPd3AyEjYS69DB31-iZRAT9kJPytY7EKT6JzlFAkH0klweO0-BBKNohOObGk9xyLvg6g0OSmj2gpShFtM5alIblUTvAtQl-5FiePBJooS03W1nOWF2ymhuhdmGdGxSNQ5HRPhtQNzwRMT/s3614/IMG_5783.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2134" data-original-width="3614" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9eAwmsTaA9D13zogwD-KZEvUGUCnhevl0sho8zDjFvRmPd3AyEjYS69DB31-iZRAT9kJPytY7EKT6JzlFAkH0klweO0-BBKNohOObGk9xyLvg6g0OSmj2gpShFtM5alIblUTvAtQl-5FiePBJooS03W1nOWF2ymhuhdmGdGxSNQ5HRPhtQNzwRMT/w640-h378/IMG_5783.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I did get thirty blocks sewn. For this coming week, I’ll focus on whittling down the pile of neutral strings while it’s still October. I’ve got other plans for November (like finishing some UFO’s and kid quilts). And the multi-colored strings - I will continue with those in November.<div><br /></div><div>In other news, last Saturday, Cousin Kim and I (and her DD and DGD) went to a Zac Brown Band concert at the local Usana Amphitheater. <i>Note to self: Cathy, you are too old to sit outdoors on a quilt on the grass without a chair</i> (the rental were all taken and we weren’t allowed to bring our own). We ended up standing most of the time anyway, but on a grassy incline. With my bad hip (and back and knees by the time we were done, LOL), I was sore the next day or two. So was Kim. But it was loads of rockin’ fun! Never too old for that!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23hZQ0nSw7LM7Ak0QMG_V7cOSla-X86ImhUaoVshw_JlOqBrkPWoHvj9AEuQaKml4qX8xKPFDDdiAiEyw3AqUssy5dM8UMuhEoVyud0uWRKtXiPcO0vqpRQuiGXSofFG1Jo5Zm4XSnCU6ksQgq_2KkHgWrFqMT4QgDuM7Zm7mmxhCoSTDXZAd7aya/s2819/IMG_5772.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2819" data-original-width="2269" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi23hZQ0nSw7LM7Ak0QMG_V7cOSla-X86ImhUaoVshw_JlOqBrkPWoHvj9AEuQaKml4qX8xKPFDDdiAiEyw3AqUssy5dM8UMuhEoVyud0uWRKtXiPcO0vqpRQuiGXSofFG1Jo5Zm4XSnCU6ksQgq_2KkHgWrFqMT4QgDuM7Zm7mmxhCoSTDXZAd7aya/s320/IMG_5772.jpeg" width="258" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The pictures above and below are of the Jumbotron - the actual performers are shown as little tiny images below the Jumbotron. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWawAYr2BNbzFggCAUoJwuhR8s4ultIgEgmMoCJ60F2JDDNO0gPr3rW3rdlWWeshd6fB9gY86lqM2GGk8S_dlEyrjmMn4cbfeXkXn_OmxHmfGZqlNtFJBtWmoKfvcdpIgSzA3WV2bxnKjZA901GUD7H6jXfHpd_HF6xPTyVqz9DK7-6TgfYnUVKXN/s2820/IMG_5774.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2173" data-original-width="2820" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWawAYr2BNbzFggCAUoJwuhR8s4ultIgEgmMoCJ60F2JDDNO0gPr3rW3rdlWWeshd6fB9gY86lqM2GGk8S_dlEyrjmMn4cbfeXkXn_OmxHmfGZqlNtFJBtWmoKfvcdpIgSzA3WV2bxnKjZA901GUD7H6jXfHpd_HF6xPTyVqz9DK7-6TgfYnUVKXN/s320/IMG_5774.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Our kitchen range (oven/stove) died this week. Poor thing worked very hard for us over the last 17 years. So, we went appliance shopping and bought a new electric range in stainless and black. We figured we’d have to replace a couple things before we got the house sold. I’ve got my eye on our poor old microwave that keeps going like the Energizer bunny, even though the finish is wearing off in several places from being cleaned so much! We’ll replace that before we leave, too. We’re listing the house in November, ready or not.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today we’ll be out in the yard, pulling up the remaining tomato plants, bringing in the last of the flower pots and finishing the garden cleanup. We found family members who will claim more of the outdoor stuff - our lawn mower and <a href="https://www.thebluerooster.com/catalog/fire-p-176.html?osCsid=4cb3j7fr98kmbba1ddt3011la5" target="_blank">chiminea</a>. Next week is full of appointments for us, but when we’re not running around we’ll be cleaning out the basement and I’ll be sewing strings (I can work twice as fast as Bruce because I have twice as many arms). </div><div><br /></div><div>I think that’s about it for now. Time for another cup of coffee and checking out the links for <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/10/scraphappy-saturday-its-end-of-week.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Saturday. </a></div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-86734443915117806732023-10-14T07:57:00.005-06:002023-10-14T07:57:59.755-06:00Goals<p>I don’t know about you, but without goals in my life, I’d be rudderless. As the saying goes, if you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you get there? That’s not only true for our lives in general, but for all the mileposts and events along the way. Now, I’m not going to get into life goals or religion or anything like that, but I am going to mention some of the “interim” goals I’ve set for myself over the last year or two. Are you a goal person? A list person? A fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants person? </p><p>But before that (and in case you’re only here for the sewing and quilting pictures, LOL), I’m going to share what I worked on in the studio this week.</p><p>First up, I basted two quilts and actually got one quilted, bound and labeled. It’s a small donation quilt for Quilts for Kids. The top was made from a kit in our last workshop (September), and I haven’t shown this before now.</p><p>The pattern, which I’ve seen in an old magazine, on the Missouri Star site and the Fat Quarter site - all named something different - starts with a charm square. To that you sew two random 2.5” scraps along one side and two longer ones across the top. The strips are kept in the same orientation for all blocks, and yields a block that is 9” (8.5” finished). The blocks are then turned around to different positions for the quilt top assembly.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8r6VGxlLmnErMzd7Yco1aXSo70yM1ysRZeqSIJF9h2ivn4fQNFJdt88HBV0NQWhvbYdfznBkZRYa2jWJNSVAjVce_8_sT5yAFEFdwNWocouBvMGrRy2hVP5up1h7ICfMIruktRvOy8tY-1pvrkLLvITlG5-Y0l0G5BtrE0dsATD1tkAjBTBHQzZ2x/s4032/IMG_5767.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8r6VGxlLmnErMzd7Yco1aXSo70yM1ysRZeqSIJF9h2ivn4fQNFJdt88HBV0NQWhvbYdfznBkZRYa2jWJNSVAjVce_8_sT5yAFEFdwNWocouBvMGrRy2hVP5up1h7ICfMIruktRvOy8tY-1pvrkLLvITlG5-Y0l0G5BtrE0dsATD1tkAjBTBHQzZ2x/w480-h640/IMG_5767.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>So, this whipped up very quickly, and measures 38.5x46.5”. It’s the first quilt finish of my Fourth Quarter Finishing Frenzy, a personal sewing challenge.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-TQXT57pekL-xjTUOg2ve0sScm74yJWqy2WD00jfQRJJ52ch4WnVAYps3UFOibS6eijRfGnHP19On6REkghmcfAoSpT1rIRpuhqtX9r1dKKcmv9W3eJHYzfZZ23FlUqLNLPdnqVfMhscfvoeb93lUuh0SrcK4Vw6HFpLz99fJl9_5mcaeZ5PslDT/s3774/IMG_5768.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3774" data-original-width="2830" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT-TQXT57pekL-xjTUOg2ve0sScm74yJWqy2WD00jfQRJJ52ch4WnVAYps3UFOibS6eijRfGnHP19On6REkghmcfAoSpT1rIRpuhqtX9r1dKKcmv9W3eJHYzfZZ23FlUqLNLPdnqVfMhscfvoeb93lUuh0SrcK4Vw6HFpLz99fJl9_5mcaeZ5PslDT/w480-h640/IMG_5768.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Next I tackled the Christmas Stars quilt. My <b>goal</b> for the week was to sew 4 (of the 8 total) sections together. And I met my goal! Come to think of it, once I get the 8 sections together, there is still a row of single 8” stars (already made) to add to the very bottom edge to lengthen it, so I guess there are 9 sections. But anyway, here is a picture of the four finished sections hanging out and getting to know each other on the design board.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0B3TfY7q0c4A6ypcpENyfWSG7ZNU6ZUKyvVPS0vk-gck5OhBcsv9oSTmZOuQ_H0oOmOKZnF6SunFkW4NhHLicn5GxO-URfgzjTXcaz4XZfsFyNlm2iMxFsBLdyNwXL6w6x2TiKZoJO1ahh5SBOy3v_ILnbJYaKFxgNgS4tZSbwmmwv58Ots2d5mDG/s3955/IMG_5761.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2485" data-original-width="3955" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0B3TfY7q0c4A6ypcpENyfWSG7ZNU6ZUKyvVPS0vk-gck5OhBcsv9oSTmZOuQ_H0oOmOKZnF6SunFkW4NhHLicn5GxO-URfgzjTXcaz4XZfsFyNlm2iMxFsBLdyNwXL6w6x2TiKZoJO1ahh5SBOy3v_ILnbJYaKFxgNgS4tZSbwmmwv58Ots2d5mDG/w640-h402/IMG_5761.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>Yes, that right-most section is supposed to be 4” shorter; the section that will go beneath it will make up the difference. One thing you can’t tell unless you look closely (so, of course, you’re going to click on the picture and look closely, aren’t you? I knew it.....) is that although the Kona red background is the same throughout, it did come from two different bolts (read: same color, different dye lot). I’m thinking that even the Quilt Police won’t notice it once it’s quilted. </p><p>And here is the same picture marked up to show the sections. “A” is on the left, “B" is top center, “C" is bottom center and “D" is on the right. My <strike>numbering</strike> lettering system is to help me retain my sanity. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uZgfoNTF2L9k_Iqger9LJUej0JeNu9-HOMDP4ZyT76AWI5o96ykwQ9cX-tSw4IyOYhqkKdLSVXfl6hftOFcbrhtgKrNAF3T-g-WU7Xdsce8hoXC-uf3XnvnYgtYfMlq34R75RDTgcg6JzSXB-xGd8sUDZLeg5Y0wZFiOgjBlbnGeau374iyNoSdB/s4030/IMG_5761.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2274" data-original-width="4030" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uZgfoNTF2L9k_Iqger9LJUej0JeNu9-HOMDP4ZyT76AWI5o96ykwQ9cX-tSw4IyOYhqkKdLSVXfl6hftOFcbrhtgKrNAF3T-g-WU7Xdsce8hoXC-uf3XnvnYgtYfMlq34R75RDTgcg6JzSXB-xGd8sUDZLeg5Y0wZFiOgjBlbnGeau374iyNoSdB/w640-h362/IMG_5761.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please excuse all the weird lines and text as I learn to work with Markup on my iMac - not as intuitive as on my iPad. </span></i><br /><p>So, next week my <b>goal</b> is to finish the top; Sections E-H. I’ll get a picture at that time if I can. The above sections, roughly half of the quilt, take up the entire design board, so unless my friend Ruby is back from India and Nepal in time to be a quilt holder (she’s the only one except my neighbor Jason who is tall enough!), we may have to wait until it’s back from the quilter. More on that next week.</p><p>Before moving on to show you my string blocks sewn for the week, I want to share this tool with you and see if any of you use it or are familiar with it. It’s called a height compensator, and comes with Bernina machines. Do you have or use something similar? It’s three little plastic wedges held together by a screw that swivels, and you place it behind the needle (see picture) to help your machine get over “humps” in the seamline. You can use one, two or all three plastic pieces for varying thicknesses. With all the star points made of HST’s in this quilt, you can imagine that no matter which way you press the seams in a given block or row, sooner or later you will have to sew over 4 or more layers of fabric. Enter the height compensator.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6oNXYSIJxQG9bWX9pqRd8N1_oUtfB7XBsztkP1kAxR721hzfo0ulBf8QvksrB3NWDYP6WoLnpPNdjkIBxhYlCTowwPaQg8vwY1g8cfpDTGryRxIe14b0BJFhODidlPRtdwpDYAyF0J98GCwHKNMd_HC_HFflLTKsM7g7dbdAjCOItiikO1O0IfOF/s4032/IMG_5760.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6oNXYSIJxQG9bWX9pqRd8N1_oUtfB7XBsztkP1kAxR721hzfo0ulBf8QvksrB3NWDYP6WoLnpPNdjkIBxhYlCTowwPaQg8vwY1g8cfpDTGryRxIe14b0BJFhODidlPRtdwpDYAyF0J98GCwHKNMd_HC_HFflLTKsM7g7dbdAjCOItiikO1O0IfOF/w480-h640/IMG_5760.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br />Without it, the thread breaks or the machine stalls out or the fabric gets pushed into the feed dogs... In other words, this little tool is worth its weight in gold. You just sew up to the edge of the bump, stop, raise the foot and insert the height compensator behind the needle (it lifts the entire foot), and then resume sewing. Works slick as a whistle! <b>You’re welcome!</b><p></p><p>Ok, here are 75 more string blocks from this week. The 75 from last week are the large pile at the top (back), and the other 5 piles are 15-block batches, as usual. I’ve sewn a few more than these, but since I group them in batches of 15, I just carry the leftovers into the next week. :-) You may remember that my <b>goal</b> for this fourth quarter is to sew 400 string blocks. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMX1mtTjJ0ygOaNKm_4wzgKhOtmsTVN0_g5JuWQihabjjL1vdx1qPw8Jr4ufeUXS8UrqWaM7Ezm6k77AghYudlCTBXhtsvNPvcJsSULOpO7BEX3NW090YcRvyYMESGn5VO9r1qbVpBPOCphZgQ9e1kiLeL5h5UtzP39X-X6u8OJlSl-Kkos5CkGiAd/s4032/IMG_5769.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMX1mtTjJ0ygOaNKm_4wzgKhOtmsTVN0_g5JuWQihabjjL1vdx1qPw8Jr4ufeUXS8UrqWaM7Ezm6k77AghYudlCTBXhtsvNPvcJsSULOpO7BEX3NW090YcRvyYMESGn5VO9r1qbVpBPOCphZgQ9e1kiLeL5h5UtzP39X-X6u8OJlSl-Kkos5CkGiAd/w480-h640/IMG_5769.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>Other goals accomplished this week: I ordered fabric for a quilt I’m planning for a friend who gave me an unbelievably generous gift a few weeks ago. It’s a story for another time. I’m hoping my fabric picks align with some of her favorite colors, because the name of the collection matches her first name. We shall see. Even if I have to select other colors, I already had a layer cake of this line and needed yardage for borders and backings, so I can always use that for another quilt. </p><p>Bruce and I took a huge load of Stuff to the thrift store (in the rain, but hey - there were no lines to unload!). We got the arborist scheduled for our annual yard/tree pruning. And several pieces of furniture we need to unload have been claimed and taken. The Downsizing continues!!</p><p>Now, that’s all of the usual stuff; the rest relates to my weight loss and Weight Watchers, so if you’re uninterested in that, you are excused with thanks for visiting!! xo</p><p>*****************</p><p>It was 1975 (when I was 21 years old) that I joined Weight Watchers with my mom. I had all of 12 whole pounds to lose - and I did, gaining Lifetime Membership pretty easily. I kept it off, mostly. There were the natural ups and downs weight-wise of having three children, LOL. But I lost my lifetime status sometime in the ’90’s from eating too much and not exercising enough; working too hard in an office, feeding teenagers and making sure I got my share of the goodies. The idea of Not Being Invincible or Not Living Forever finally dawned on me around the turn of the century, in my mid-forties. A new prescription or health glitch here and a few pounds there and there..... you know how it goes. All that to say, my mid-life crisis was realizing I had to take care of my health. But diet and exercise/activity were on again, off again priorities.</p><p>Fast Forward to last year. After a bout of sciatica, I decided to finally get serious with my weight. I hated the idea of tracking what I ate, but it’s so easy now that there’s a phone app to handle it and lots of “free” - zero-point foods with low abuse potential like turkey, chicken, vegetables, fruits, all seafood, and beans. I only have to track things like breads, dairy and fats that aren’t on the free list. What really changed my outlook about tracking was when our workshop leader Kris asked if we had a family budget to track our finances - money in and expenses out. Well, duh, of course! And then she asked us if our health was at least that important?? Bam! I was sold on tracking.</p><p>I’ve now recaptured my Lifetime Membership (free unlimited attendance). And the attendance at weekly workshops is necessary for me personally. It’s like a friend reunion, weight and health coaching workshop and a psychotherapy session with humor - all in one! I love all my WW friends. I still have about a pound to go to reach my original weight loss <b>goal</b>, but the app converted me to Lifetime status at 2 pounds over (because I recaptured it). Anyway, I want to lose another 11.5 pounds to get to a total of -75. That is my goal for this coming winter. I hope you’ll be here to share in my periodic updates! Thanks for all your sweet support!</p><p>Linking to <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/10/scrappy-and-happy-in-october.html" target="_blank">Scrappy Saturday for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a>.</p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-72684427730854369112023-10-07T09:23:00.004-06:002023-10-07T09:23:59.641-06:00Kicking off the Finishing Frenzy<p>As the vegetable garden winds down and we tear most of it up (still getting lots of tomatoes), it seems I have more time to sew instead of processing veggies. Theoretically. Bruce and I spend some time every day cleaning out the basement and our respective playrooms (my studio and his workshop). We fill up our two large city garbage cans every week, although one has already been filled with garden debris this week. That means we will instead focus on gathering donations for the thrift store(s) and making a trip or two there. </p><p>There is a lot of furniture and Stuff that neither of us want (or will have room for) that we are trying to <strike>pawn off</strike> give to family members. So far, one bicycle and some IKEA chairs have a home, but I think we’ll have to resort to the classified ads to sell a few furniture pieces, my treadle sewing machine, some outdoor furniture and Bruce’s workshop machinery. Oy. We need to move that stuff out sooner rather than later so we can straighten things up enough to have the house look uncluttered for staging/selling. And the weather is getting colder ... not the best timing. </p><p>But let’s focus on why we’re here - the sewing part. Actually, there’s not much to see. But what I do have represents a lot of sewing this week. </p><p>String blocks - 75. I sew these at 6.5” square, remove the papers and pin them in groups of 15 for use in Quilts for Kids kits. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvL_FpQ7gB1nztcGSr1MsAJPLYmUKFRKkBE9p4Z0qyHKz4zeikVtXe5faHFRtqIUeZKj7TxSS2Es-e8DXp6QIfXee5dSnofJENlqE4gJZjmnzFd_5xFgApBk6uPUXvdtCR8N7OAFAQeibaB7BubpmVDDzez1CZxn-DK5fx8T2SMXFwNX_tRyCUMG5/s3490/IMG_5755.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3490" data-original-width="3018" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvL_FpQ7gB1nztcGSr1MsAJPLYmUKFRKkBE9p4Z0qyHKz4zeikVtXe5faHFRtqIUeZKj7TxSS2Es-e8DXp6QIfXee5dSnofJENlqE4gJZjmnzFd_5xFgApBk6uPUXvdtCR8N7OAFAQeibaB7BubpmVDDzez1CZxn-DK5fx8T2SMXFwNX_tRyCUMG5/w552-h640/IMG_5755.jpeg" width="552" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Has it made the slightest dent in that pile of strings I showed last week? Surely, you jest! I’m hoping that at the end of the YEAR we will see a dent! My dear Nina (my Bernina sewing machine) and I will be working diligently again this week on more strings. <div><br /></div><div>I also hope to pin baste (and possibly to quilt?) two quilt tops that are hanging on their hangers, patiently waiting for their turn to be finished. </div><div><br /></div><div>But my other primary goal this next week (in addition to continuing the string blocks) is to begin sewing the Christmas Stars Quilt together. I finished the last of the 4” (finished size) stars this week:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxv97dHz9EBNu9eM40-hZTIyN6lOaf2WAIWOtMmnbdijuw6IokPf4F2syuaNfYZWsUEOmp_u42VQ7ulakfbFhxz1hfQlE0o5G1sFB-IeuU73suUsKVr7g0HhxrVOUKzDRW5-1iCVsLNurc4PADqHooXLwapL0MyupPlKtqRrzkRsEzLefJJ_R5HU6n/s2871/IMG_5754.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2871" data-original-width="2783" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxv97dHz9EBNu9eM40-hZTIyN6lOaf2WAIWOtMmnbdijuw6IokPf4F2syuaNfYZWsUEOmp_u42VQ7ulakfbFhxz1hfQlE0o5G1sFB-IeuU73suUsKVr7g0HhxrVOUKzDRW5-1iCVsLNurc4PADqHooXLwapL0MyupPlKtqRrzkRsEzLefJJ_R5HU6n/w620-h640/IMG_5754.jpeg" width="620" /></a></div><br /><div>Here are the 73 stars and the 16 4.5” squares to total the 89 blocks I’ll need of that size. There are eight sections to assemble of the quilt top, and I want to get at least half of them done this week. The target date for me to finish the quilt is sometime in the middle week of October (15th-21st). I want to get it to the longarm quilter as early as possible so I can have it back before Thanksgiving weekend. Then I can bind and gift it to my son and daughter-in-law for them to use this year on their bed during the Christmas season. It will be so good to not have this hanging over my head!!</div><div><br /></div><div>So, that’s all I have this week. I hope your week was good and wish you the same for the coming week! Thanks for stopping by! Linking up to <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/2023/10/scrappy-happy-saturday.html" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge’s Scrappy Saturday</a>. </div>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4814262528756246837.post-85423130940615710612023-09-30T08:10:00.001-06:002023-09-30T08:10:05.749-06:00First Week of Autumn<p>It was another busy week of “spinning plates”. Don’t you feel as though your life is sometimes a circus act? Please tell me I’m not alone in this, LOL.</p><p>The garden is waning and slowly coughing up the last of the cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes. But last Tuesday, I still had two whole baskets-full of surplus produce to take to my Weight Watchers meeting. Going forward, it will now dwindle to one basketful per week, and then end when I pick all the green tomatoes before the frost, which will likely happen in the second half of October. </p><p>A couple days ago I roasted/steamed all my poblano peppers from my single very prolific plant. They are now all skinned and sliced and waiting to go into a casserole I’m going to put together with the chiles, cheese, chicken, tortillas and eggs. I’ve got it narrowed down to a couple recipes, so wish me luck! </p><p>We’ve pretty much ignored the grape arbor this year, although a couple neighbor kids have enjoyed some that we picked for them. The birds (and bees and wasps) are getting the rest. We’ll have it all trimmed down when our arborist comes to do his annual tree and bush pruning in a couple weeks. </p><p>All this talk of food is making me hungry, so we better move on to the topic of sewing...</p><p>I finished my blocks in Aqua (plus teal, turquoise, etc), September’s color in the <a href="https://superscrappy.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Rainbow Scrap Challenge</a>. </p><p>Three Split Nine blocks at 6.5”</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU2MTLqxqnbRGjF4gDsfLsgmxSJDWd7RiQd-DTk2IMVHhe1y5BPoYSvrfXyy1hGSNLF9g3NgXZ-nem7jCol7oCEW6ibb7aM_Ytb5oT3cPe4-MTM4QfWpd8cmcdjmgRNkyG4cFwKVykp8rFzN5V4BNRx4BuKh0jH1Xsa3W-mMuWnZlE4qs2mOF12yU/s3310/IMG_5751.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3310" data-original-width="3013" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGU2MTLqxqnbRGjF4gDsfLsgmxSJDWd7RiQd-DTk2IMVHhe1y5BPoYSvrfXyy1hGSNLF9g3NgXZ-nem7jCol7oCEW6ibb7aM_Ytb5oT3cPe4-MTM4QfWpd8cmcdjmgRNkyG4cFwKVykp8rFzN5V4BNRx4BuKh0jH1Xsa3W-mMuWnZlE4qs2mOF12yU/w363-h400/IMG_5751.jpeg" width="363" /></a></div><p>Seven crumb blocks at 6.5” (pinned so close together that they may look like a single block!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEca9nIEMKiandfUqXsw5OoxvntFYyXOuf1bKhybt1HpM1-Wdek0t7xiCnRYvKez6f752bKgN6kCq04ixyMqmO0yUCNV5YCxAdrr_ZpecRyxNzSkB2OWNKZuAoIjfHTEf3DaQgjvkk2YMhUiCei_dLxcQh2IQFgxkYtF_l2x-2CsZgsx1zxAJJMiO/s3974/IMG_5752.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3974" data-original-width="2980" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGEca9nIEMKiandfUqXsw5OoxvntFYyXOuf1bKhybt1HpM1-Wdek0t7xiCnRYvKez6f752bKgN6kCq04ixyMqmO0yUCNV5YCxAdrr_ZpecRyxNzSkB2OWNKZuAoIjfHTEf3DaQgjvkk2YMhUiCei_dLxcQh2IQFgxkYtF_l2x-2CsZgsx1zxAJJMiO/w300-h400/IMG_5752.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p>For the Christmas Stars quilt, I sewed 26, that’s TWENTY-SIX (yes, I’m excited!!) of the little stars this week. Here they are, combined with all their friends. My total is now 63, and with 16 red squares already cut to eliminate some sewing, I only need to sew 10 more to reach the total count of 89. Easy Peasy!! (Thanks for the encouragement, Chantal!)</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKNV_Rk0EwWGZVEV9j-U7LDik88o7TR7O9nNgJbCWhZ6yFGWkwjJopqu7J7yB6udg9bs0JrGw7PqTz4BXJWtmoxlsnes4713ZAcEnvteOyCnxGlxTAVubxhtQSWOdgGAd6ujM-io5ycCjNf7NFq574M21FtcbA_7SxHhoy9izq0MsXW08jEx-HmeL/s4032/IMG_5750.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKNV_Rk0EwWGZVEV9j-U7LDik88o7TR7O9nNgJbCWhZ6yFGWkwjJopqu7J7yB6udg9bs0JrGw7PqTz4BXJWtmoxlsnes4713ZAcEnvteOyCnxGlxTAVubxhtQSWOdgGAd6ujM-io5ycCjNf7NFq574M21FtcbA_7SxHhoy9izq0MsXW08jEx-HmeL/w480-h640/IMG_5750.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><p>So, once I finish the ten stars, I’m giving myself a couple weeks to assemble the top. I have the “road map” for assembly at the ready!</p><p>Another project I hope to begin in October and continue through the end of the year is a Finishing Frenzy! If that sounds familiar, it’s because I did it last year. As part of the Finishing Frenzy, I’m repeating a sub-goal of knocking back some of my multi-colored strips. These are the ones that didn’t make it into my scrap bins that are sorted by color. With copious donations from Kat (cuttings from quilt backs for Covered in Love) and donations from our local Quilts for Kids chapter, and my own scraps, the strings have outgrown their large beach/book bag (the green and pink flamingo bag). Time to do some string sewing!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU28w-AVADNpIXhQlL_SH-9ztPv6WcsD3nohc4Ji7YVgn9hr-u61pypshkfnBr78DSSUSRDYf1OHQeZYXFBLPGm8fQ5ctPN_FGHJkFflsIum2O_cY3MlaW0EJgxsIg-Reko_aDQ2Q8xZjmFgQ3hM7Ovk5DCwGGwrLEg5TsQ_pBFKrk3GynIT3C5Z1m/s4032/IMG_5753.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU28w-AVADNpIXhQlL_SH-9ztPv6WcsD3nohc4Ji7YVgn9hr-u61pypshkfnBr78DSSUSRDYf1OHQeZYXFBLPGm8fQ5ctPN_FGHJkFflsIum2O_cY3MlaW0EJgxsIg-Reko_aDQ2Q8xZjmFgQ3hM7Ovk5DCwGGwrLEg5TsQ_pBFKrk3GynIT3C5Z1m/w640-h480/IMG_5753.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><p>That pile is seven inches deep! The bag and my Bernina give an idea of scale. I’m hoping to cull some wider scraps out of the mess, like that black and bright swirly print in front. I’m collecting a lot of those to cut into various sized “bricks” for some future (but as yet unplanned) project. </p><p>Last October my goal was to sew 300 string blocks, but I was only (“only” - hah!) able to churn out 180, plus 45 blocks of green strings. This year, my personal String Challenge will run all quarter as part of my Finishing Frenzy. Target Number: 400 (go big or go home, eh?) Along with the strings, I hope to finish an ample list of Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilts from the blocks of the last couple of years. I want to clear the decks and start fresh in 2024!</p><p>Will you be finishing quilts for this last calendar quarter? Do you have strings laying around, yelling at you? You are most welcome to join in on the String Challenge and/or Finishing Frenzy if you are crazy enough! Muahahahahahaha........</p><p>See you next week! xo</p>Cathyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05765115495938525371noreply@blogger.com8