Making Freely

With Christmas sewing done, I've turned my attention to catching up on a few WIPs (works in progress). 

At the top of the list is finishing the Like Totally quilt, a free BOM (block-of-the-month) offered in 2024 by Louise Wackerman and the Seattle MQG. 

Like Totally quilt top

Initially, I had thought to make this a quick finish with a wideback, intentionally purchased for this quilt top. However, after seeing several Instagram posts of pieced backings made with extra blocks that were part of the BOM, I decided to do the same. 

Besides using all the extra blocks, I pieced a couple more blocks from the same solid colors, and then dug into my canvas bin, full of orphan and test blocks, for filler pieces. I chose ones that seemed to coordinate best with colors in the top. 

Like Totally back

It was more than satisfying to piece this 58" X 58" backing for the 57" X 57" quilt front. Yep, I know the back is close in size to the top, but since I'll be pin-basting it myself, I can make it work. 

At our Central Florida MQG retreat last spring, my friend Rosemary was knitting dishcloths in between quilting projects and I admired the color of Sugar 'n Cream yarn she was using. I learned it was from Wal-Mart (less expensive than JoAnn's). Shortly after, I bought a cone for myself and wrote "May 2024" inside the cone. I then proceeded to knit dishcloths when on the phone, and attending Zoom activities. Every time I finished a dishcloth I made a hash mark inside the cone.

Today I completed dish cloth number 13 from that cone. I feel like knitting these is a good value for the money.

"What marker can I to use to fit into the narrow and deep slots of my half-hexagon template?"

was the question I posed in my last blog post. Thank you to the three commenters who offered suggestions. 

"Anonymous" suggested a Micron Pigma pen. Since I already had this micro-tip Micron Pigma pen, it was easy to try. It works! My hesitation to use it is related to the fact that marks are permanent. Since hand-piecing a couple blocks, seams looks fine when I'm careful to ensure the mark is inside the seam allowance. Thanks Anonymous!

Saturday morning was our Central Florida MQG annual holiday party with a gift swap-and-steal. It's always great fun to see what each quilter's gift reveals, and what she chooses to do when her gift is stolen, or she can steal someone else's gift.

The gift I took to give was an eight-color fat quarter bundle of Painter's Palette solids.

The gift I brought home was this gray corduroy, zipper-top tote with our Central Florida MQG logo embroidered on the side pocket.

Thanks to the talent of one of our members, Peggy, our chapter has recently begun using this digitized design. I am delighted to have this tote, which came with two sewing-themed emery boards.

Thank you, Peggy!

Book Recommendation

Pretty Dead Things by Lilian West is about Cora who has recently moved from California to a small Midwest town. She's adjusting to life while planning her wedding to the local dentist. Somewhat at a loss as to what to do with her days, while meandering the countryside she comes upon an estate sale. Having always been attracted to colorful things, she buys a $5 container of baubles, expecting to find buttons, marbles, and such. She also discovers a small diamond ring and wedding band, both engraved, and determines to return them to the owner. 

The owner denies knowledge of them, sending Cora to the next nearest relative, and then the next nearest relative. As she continues to search for the rightful owner, she also investigates rumors and old secrets that no one wants her nosing around in. 

The author takes the reader back and forth from now to 1953 where the local dark beauty, Clarity Grey is subjected to unfounded speculation and rumors completely counter to who she really is.

Linda's score: 3.9/5.0 

Linda

End of January

I am continuing to track fabric usage in 2024.

As my "Fearless Curved Piecing" improv quilt remains stagnant on the design wall, January became a month of only a few finishes, and even those finishes were small. I used not quite five yards of fabric, and made no fabric purchases.

Recent finishes are... a Pelican Tote Bag, a free pattern from Bagstock Designs. I've made the free Sunshine Crossbody bag too, and have found Bagstock patterns to be well-written. 

Fabrics are Anna Maria Horner's "Echinacea" print, purchased a couple years ago from Sew Modern Chicky; and an aqua faux leather purchased at last year's QuiltCon from the Sallie Tomato booth. 

For my Pelican Tote, I used add-on instructions to install a recessed zipper.

In addition to an exterior pocket, the pattern calls for an interior zipper pocket (I can't live without that). I also added to the opposite lining side, a sectioned slip pocket. 

In January, after taking Timna Tarr's Map Making workshop, I finished a 19½" X 24½" map quilt.

Since learning how to make such a quilt, I am itching to start another one that's been brewing in my mind for more than a year. It involves my four different, four-mile power walking routes. 

This fun 2005 "Beach Babes" print is the map quilt backing and facing. 

A line dancing friend to whom I gifted a bowl buddy for Christmas, asked for two more. These also came from my sewing room in January. 

I'm not sure how much sewing will happen in February due to me giving a program to the Sarasota MQG, and attending QuiltCon. Actually, I'm facing the real possibility that fabric may be purchased at QuiltCon! I'm only hoping I can remind myself to keep purchases to a minimum - out of necessity.

😀

Book Recommendations

Happiness Falls by Angie Kim was an unexpected surprise, primarily because it was about something I know little about - a type of autism called Angelman syndrome. 

The Parks family lives in Virginia, near a large parkland. They'r Korean-American. with three kids - 20 year-old twins, Mia and John; and 14 year-old Eugene who has Angelman syndrome, that leaves him unable to speak.

Dad and Eugene go for their daily walk. Eugene returns home covered in mud, and runs to his room to jump on the bed, a sure sign that Eugene's emotions are running high. Mia thinks he's had a disagreement with their dad. However, as time passes and dad doesn't return home, the police become involved and a search begins. They need to find and speak to a particular person, but everyone is challenges further because of COVID - places that have needed information are closed, and hospitals aren't allowing visitors.  

Ms. Kim has written an engaging story - a sort of mystery - and woven it into a beautiful story with insights into the frustrating perspective of a person who's unable to communicate. Even with incredible patience and perseverance is understanding possible?   

Linda's score: 4.4/5.0

Of the eight books I listened to in January, these six title earned my score of 4.0 or better. You can find reviews of each title in January blog posts. 

Linda

Texas Catch-Up

Hello friends! And a very big thank you to the 70 people who entered my blog giveaway! When I asked for comments, I wasn't fishing for compliments about my project, but you certainly did just that. Thank you so much for liking the block I designed, and my hand quilting. You-all know how to make a quilter feel good!

The giveaway winner is Debbie M. from South Carolina. She let me know that she's already planning to make a Quilts of Valor quilt, so hopefully those patriotic solids will be put to good use soon!

Because of needing to write the block pattern, make and finish the block, and host the giveaway, I haven't been able to share where I was from June 16-27. Seems like a long time ago now, but we had a great time visiting our son and family in Austin, Texas.

We always spend one overnight at a LaQuinta Inn (they accept pets) on the way there, and the way home. The LaQuinta in Orange, Texas offered this morning waffle shape.

On Father's Day, all six of us ate at The Salt Lick, in Driftwood. It's our most-favorite Texas barbecue spot. At least 300 other people thought of the same thing - a Father's Day meal at Salt Lick - so we had to wait...  and that was at 11:10 am! Yes, it's that good! A quarter pound of pulled pork and blackberry cobbler is what I always order. And I eat every bit of it.

I was happy to get this three-generation photo, in spite of the photo turning out with a glare.

Austin and me at Salt Lick.

One hot day we took a short trail walk near Dripping Springs to find this abandoned house.

We imagined how it looked when it was inhabited. And there probably wasn't air-conditioning.

Me and my DIL, Lyn

I spent a couple hours with the grandies while they played at one of those bouncy-jump places. By now, I'd guess I've been to at least a half dozen different ones! They're a good place for little boys to burn up energy.

This one had make-believe rooms along the perimeter. Though we spent a little time in the school house, Luke and Austin liked the diner best. A little girl was happily waiting on them! It was pretty cute.

We left Hogan at our son's place while we went to Boerne for three days. We stayed with our formerly-from-Iowa friends. One evening the four of us went to Pearl in San Antonio, a refurbished area that includes the Pearl Brewery that's been turned into Hotel Emma. It was named after the woman who became CEO of the brewery following the death of her husband. She managed to keep the brewery going through prohibition, until 1933.

The interior has so much character!

We couldn't find information about what a night's stay might cost.

Must mention that after our stroll in the area, we had dinner at the NAO Culinary Institute of America where we ate a fabulous meal with wine-pairings. Dan really liked his grilled octopus, and lobster risotto. I could have eaten both his and my creme brûlées!

Though our friends live in the city, they have vegetated land that's frequented by deer.

Patty saves scrap food for them, and they seemed to particularly relish watermelon rind. Of all things. 

I attempted to teach Patty to crochet a dishcloth. Unfortunately, I picked a pattern that was a little too challenging. But since I left, she's persevered to learn through YouTube and has now completed a couple of dishcloths.

It's pretty amazing that our fellas have known each other since high school, and Patty and I met right after high school. These are the kinds of friendships to prize. 

Though I've been in my sewing room, I've been disappointed to not be able to quilt because of a repetitive motion injury. Believe it or not, it started because I overdid playing the ukulele! Then, I compounded the problem by hand-quilting while traveling. I didn't use a hoop, but gathered and clamped the quilt with my left hand. And then I crocheted, using my left hand to wrap and feed the yarn onto the hook. All of those activities hurt, and took their toll.

I was at the doctor's office last week anyway, for a routine check, so I showed her my wrist. She noted the swelling, asked me to hold my hands together in a prayer position and twist my hands outward and inward, and then diagnosed the repetitive motion condition.

No ukulele-playing. Wear the brace. Take ibuprofen three times a day. Put ice on it. Since last Wednesday, I haven't done anything that makes my wrist hurt (uke, crochet, handwork) and I've worn the brace, taken the drug, and iced.

It's getting a little better - no more sharp stabs of burning pain along the outside of my wrist - but I'm going stir-crazy. I don't do UNPRODUCTIVE!

So I sewed yesterday. Very carefully. This Lecien Jelly Beads Zipper and pattern is from one of the vendors at the Daytona Beach AQS show that Di and I attend in March.

It's a 10-1/2" X 12" bag that's open at the top (I used yellow Grunge lining), and has this front inside section too. It was fun to sew... not that I really need another tote. Sewing and quilting are mental therapy.

I need to get this wrist back to normal soon. There's FMQ to be done! Linda
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Back to Sewing

First Time Quiltmaking classes have ended - one last week, and one today. Here are pics of both classes.  Don't ya love their bright quilts?

Yep, that's me in the back row, right.

Each class ended with considerably fewer than the 20 students who first began! I heard from some of them who let me know they couldn't attend the last, photo-taking class because they had medical problems, or were traveling. 

These two groups of students received a fifth quilt pattern in their hand-outs - a new design. It's also 36" X 48". I added it because I wanted to offer a design that was more modern-looking, and was a little more challenging, for those students who have previously sewn and/or made quilts. "Spinner" is made with several solids and other modern fabrics, including Lizzy House Pearl Bracelets.

36" X 48"

One student, Lisa, completed Spinner. She added a counted cross-stitched label to the quilt front - the white square, lower right.

Next Thursday I'll be teaching another Free Motion Quilting workshop, and then I'm "off" until the middle of June when I teach a Beyond First Time Quiltmaking series. Until then, more sewing is on my horizon! Here's what I've done lately.  

A recent purchase was the online pattern called "KidShorts" by danamadeit.com. I love the immediacy of downloading a pattern, and that directions have you print only particular pages for the size pattern you want to sew. I am experimenting on shorts for grandsons who live far away. Their moms gave me waist and length measurements so I could select the correct size.

Easy-peasy to cut and sew these elastic waistband shorts in a couple hours. Next time, there will be pockets. Star Wars fan Austin was the first to get his.

The fabric is glow-in-the-dark, purchased at Hawthorne Threads.

I was tickled that my daughter-in-law thought to email me a picture of Austin wearing his new shorts, immediately after they arrived in the mail! Even though it was too cold for shorts, Austin negotiated with his mom to allow him to put them on over long pants! Cutie-pie.

The other sewing I finished was this bag. I love sewing with selvages, and thought I needed a different, larger bag, to hold my cell phone, camera (I rarely go anywhere without it), and credentials. 

I sewed it two-side. Any bag or tote pattern can be adapted for selvage-sewing. This is the Sonoma Swing Bag.

As always, I added extra interior pockets.

No surprise. I have several other projects in the works. What about making a selvage skirt?

You'll be hearing more from me! Linda

Bags and Bee and BOM

Thanks to 31 of you who entered my giveaway for a copy of  Modern Baby Quilts. Number 31, was the winner - Sherry, who's a member of the Des Moines MQG. Congratulations, Sherry!

Have you heard of Operation Christmas Child? It's a shoebox-filling project to collect and send boxes of small gifts to children in other countries. Our church is supporting the effort, even sending 14 people from our church to help process boxes in Atlanta. We took two empty boxes for filling.

We could choose to fill boxes for a boy or girl, in one of three age ranges. We picked the 5 to 9 year-old group, one box for a boy and one box for a girl.

We've been told that book bags are a much-needed item, so it was fun to make these two with fabric from my stash. I adapted this tutorial, making small modifications to make sewing even faster.

For the boy, some essentials (bar soap, washcloths, toothbrush and toothpaste, lip balm, pencils and an eraser) and a couple just-for-fun things.

Likewise, for the girl. It's satisfying to help just a little bit, and know that we'll have helped put a smile on a child's face. We saw the video of what it's like when the boxes are distributed. It just makes you feel warm and squishy inside.

For the Mid-Century Modern Bee, our November Queen Bee, René requested four triangles to sew into a Spider Web block. Here's the tutorial we used. The only difference is that René doesn't want us to sew together the triangles. That's so she can mix them up once she receives pieces from all 12 of us.

These were a mess to make, but oh-so-much-fun! I pulled out several of my small pieces bins to press and cut strips 1" to 2" wide.

I could sew spider web blocks for hours... and probably still not make much of a dent in my scraps. René will be getting eight triangles from me. One of them includes this bit of flamingo. I guess that fabric has become sort of my identification, as I've included it in several bee blocks. 

Keeping up with the Bay Area Modern BOM, along with a few quilters from our Central Florida MQG, I made this 12-1/2" Pixel Strips block. It was easy to sew.

Lately, I've been adding to my fabric stash, for ease in sewing when the moods strikes, or so I rationalize it. I also now own a Quick Curve ruler, and can't wait to make the quilt that's in my head. That is, after finishing the Riley Blake Challenge, a Project Linus quilt, a new quilt design for students in my beginner quilting class, and a couple Christmas gifts! I bet your quilting list is as long as mine. Make me feel better and say, "Yes, my list is long too, Linda!"