It’s been a busy week. Unlike those of you in the East, Midwest and South, we sure have had no precipitation to speak of for weeks. It’s scary thinking about what our water situation is going to be come summer, because unless things turn around in the next 2-3 months, even the mountains are hurting for snow. Some ski resorts are hoping they don’t have to shut down early. Having said that, however, I think of the mountain passes I’ll have to drive through come February when my cousin and I take off for a road trip to Western Colorado to handle my late brother’s estate business. And if it’s not icy and wintery in the passes, it won’t hurt my feelings.
There was a lot of blue sewing this week. I made the second of two Rolling Stone blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge’s blue January. The new one is on the left, last week’s is on the right.
And then I got out my blue strings. As I’ve mentioned several times in the past, I like to sew my string blocks at 6.5” and in sets of 15 because that is how our Salt Lake Chapter of Quilts for Kids uses them in their quilt kits. So, I divided lights from darks and sewed 30 light blue blocks. Here they are trimmed, safety-pinned together into two sets on the design wall.
I also did 15 darker blue blocks, but those have yet to be trimmed, so I’ll show them next week.
Oh! I forgot to show you that I did indeed finish up the third row of the wedding quilt I’m sewing for my grandson. Exactly half of the 16” blocks are sewn now. I hope to pick this up again after next week.
Last but not least (well, size-wise, they are the least) were these five Switchplate blocks. I started these last year, and will finish up what I need this year for a kid quilt. They’ll finish at 3x5”. I could’ve sworn I cut and sewed six of them, but one must’ve escaped. Or was perhaps detained by ICE.
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And we’re off and running with the Stay at Home Round Robin (SAHRR)! This week’s first round is hosted by Brenda at Songbird Designs. Brenda called for hourglass blocks. We can make them any size and place as many or as few as we want.
I always try to make my center square starting blocks evolve into a rectangular quilt, because I prefer rectangular quilts, and so does our QFK (Quilts for Kids) chapter, where these will eventually end up. So, I placed my hourglass blocks on the tops and bottoms only of my two starting blocks.
First, the Princess blocks. The hourglasses finish at 3”.
On both blocks above and below, I had to add coping strips (fabric spacers) to the end of each row. The Queen block, below, has slightly smaller-sized hourglasses, and I set them in a Broken Dishes layout.
There are lots of colors in each of these blocks, and I may try to use most of them at some point in the upcoming rounds; however, I want the dominant colors for the Princess to be pink and yellow and for the Queen to be red and gold. I think these hourglasses work perfectly with the whimsy of these blocks! Thanks Brenda! Be sure to check out all the eye candy at Brenda’s linkup, HERE.
And that was my week. There was also physical therapy, grocery shopping, card games at the clubhouse, and lots of talking on the phone to friends and family. So, all in all, Life is Good!






Here in northern IL we are in the same situation as you for moisture. We had the big storm Thanksgiving weekend and since then not enough snow to cover the grass and leaves with about 4 storms that went mostly north or south of us. The big one this weekend might give us an inch and a half but we are at the very northern edge of the storm.
ReplyDeleteYour hourglass borders look great!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful central blocks for your SAHRR and the first round of borders are looking great...and, of course, I just love the blue Ojos and blocks you are making...for RSC.
ReplyDeleteWe are awaiting "snow-mageddon" today and I will be attacking my own private blizzard of scraps that have sneakily mounted up behind my back...
Hugs, Julierose
What a great array of blue projects, Cathy! And I like both of your SAHRRs. As Wanda said, it's very dry in northern Illinois but we have had more snow since November than we had all last year. Bitterly cold yesterday, today, and the week to come but only 1" of snow predicted. My basement (sewing studio) is usually very cozy but it's coolish, too.
ReplyDeleteSome great projects going on here, Cathy. Especially love your SAHRR beginnings.
ReplyDeletewe are getting snow here in Arkansas today but other than a very small rain fall last week we had been in a drought - it has been cancelled today with the snow falling so far about 2 inches.
ReplyDeleteLove all your projects, especially the wedding quilt. So pretty. Sounds like you're getting around well after the surgery & doing PT. Hope all is well & glad to see you busy sewing.
ReplyDeleteSuch a bright and cheerful beginning block and first round. Just what we need on this blustery winter day.
ReplyDeleteNot much snow on this side of the mountains either - maybe an inch here. Cold, though - brrr! The wedding quilt is going together nicely, Cathy, and so are your other blue blocks. Love the happy bright colors in your SAHRR projects!
ReplyDeleteLove all your blue blocks . Rolling Stones are nice, your strings are prolific and those switch plates look fun. But your Mary Engelbreit SAHRR blocks are wonderful. I’m hope to keep my project on the medium to smaller size. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteI love ME graphics and designs and how lucky that you scored 8 of those blocks for your SAHRR and your charity quilts. I like both versions of your hourglass blocks; they compliment the brilliant colors in Mary's designs. It will be fun to see these take shape.
ReplyDeleteAll your blue blocks are beautiful; who can resist a blue-and-white quilt?
And cool to see someone from Utah in this SAHRR -- I was born in Provo and have lots of family up there, from Provo to Farmington. Both my sisters are quite concerned with the lack of snow: what a weird winter it has been!