Slow Sunday Stitching Again

I have occasionally joined Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching--more often than not I fail to post stitching progress on her blog linkup, but I enjoy reading and seeing all the pretty stitching news.  I've been working on the Slave Quarters stitchery that will eventually become a quilt for my sister.  

 

Lately I've been working on it in the mornings for a few minutes before breakfast, since I have to wait 30 minutes after I take my thyroid pill to eat anything.  

There is a lot of open space on this panel, which is on about an 11x17" piece of fabric.  I should get this finished by the end of the week at this rate; two smaller panels remain to be traced and stitched.

I'll also be slow stitching down a binding for a wedding gift due next weekend, a tablerunner for our oldest niece.  

These HSTs were sewn into a top in November 2018 and I got it sandwiched and quilted today.  The binding is an aqua solid and has been attached. 

See more Slow Sunday Stitching posts on Kathy's Quilts. 

June Gloom and Sewing Room

Typically in Southern California, low clouds and fog hug the coast in the morning and burn off in the early afternoon.  No so for the past week or so--it has been socked in all day, living up to the June Gloom title.  While that means we don't need to get out our room air conditioning unit yet, it makes for long days with no sun!  It has been easy to stay in the sewing room with this weather. 

I think I have finally made enough of the Chunky Churndash blocks to move on to the alternate hourglass block.  For that I will have to confer with my Dad about what colors to use. The dark red print I bought during the Coastal Quilt Run may appeal to him.  One thing I noticed about Bonnie's free pattern (available at Quiltville.com) is that no yardage measurements were given for the alternate blocks or the borders!  I'm sure I can figure it out but it would have been nice to have a starting point--my version will have more blocks and less border.  I will use her Essential Triangle tool to cut the quarter-square triangles from strips instead of the usual  big squares cut twice in an X.  

Some slow stitching has also been happening on the Blackwork embroidery I am making for my sister. 

 The first of four panels is now complete.  Once all are stitched, I will set them into a small quilt per the pattern.

My version will be much scrappier, though, as the Civil War prints drawer is absolutely jammed full.

I took a couple of days off to join my husband on his vacation week.  We had a late breakfast invitation today from daughter Elaine and grandson Hunter, and afterwards we did a bit of shopping and then drove up into the hills above downtown.  

This whole area was burned in the Thomas Fire in December 2017 and the cross was damaged. A lot of work has gone into re-landscaping and reviving the area, which is called Grant Park.

Lots of new plantings with an emphasis on native plants.  None of this was here when Grant and I were married at the cross decades ago.

 I captured some folks getting their group photo in my attempt to photograph our pier and coastline looking to the southwest. 

Though it was overcast we were still able to see our Channel Islands off the coast.  The big gray paved area on the far left is our Fairgrounds parking area.  The Fair begins at the end of next month, which means there will need to be a lot more time in the sewing room if I want to enter anything!  I told my sister I have 8 quilt tops in the closet...

Design Wall Monday: Blocks Everywhere

Design Wall Monday: See more blogs on Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.  

Sewing time was sketchy this past week but I did get a few things done. The block for the pizza box swap for guild was finished on time but I ended up not going to the meeting on Monday and then received two more pizza boxes the next day, so now I have a stack of three.  The next recipient will likely not be pleased to receive three at once--perhaps I'll parcel them out over the month, lol. 

Sarah's box included a thick card catalog of block designs and I chose this 12" windmill block.  There were no instructions other than the size of pieces to cut for one's desired block size, but it went together easily--without any chopped off points, too, yay.

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More Chunky Churn Dash blocks for my Dad's quilt were added to the piles.  I now have over 40 made and need at least 60.

Stripes and dots and tiny prints--I'm having a ball playing in the scraps.  I'll need to figure yardage for the alternate block and any borders. 

There were some test  blocks made for the newlywed's quilt, Dreamweaver, as well.  Since I am enlarging the quilt to throw size I do not want to cut 1000 2.5" blocks for the background, which is made up of Disappearing 9 patch blocks.  

On the right is the DP9 made from the pattern specification of 2.5" squares that finishes at 6"; the left block is from 5" squares, finishing at 12", and the middle block from 3.5" squares, finishing at 9".  I'm happy with the middle block's size as it is not too large in proportion to the appliqued dreamcatcher that will come later. Tester pieces came from stash and not the grouping that will be used in their quilt.  

Some more Log Cabin Loonie blocks are moving along.  I'm about halfway done with the 80 I want for my layout.  

I'm using 1.5" strips precut to sizes for each round.  My blocks will finish at 7.5", an odd size, but it won't matter--the quilt will end up whatever size it ends up!

Busy Times, Lucky Times

Plenty of activity going on outside of the sewing room--I've only managed to sew four blocks this week--as a test for the newlywed's quilt.  Our older daughter and family are mid-move, their new home is not quite ready with the renovations they are doing (kitchen tile just went down yesterday!), and they have to be out of their current house by tomorrow. Luckily her mother-in-law and her husband have plenty of room for them to stay until it is ready.  We've been helping with childcare and had a grand time with the boys yesterday at our house for a few hours.  They are in constant motion at 3 and 5, and of course are  always in need of snacks. All of us have fingers-crossed for no hiccups in the completion of renovations.

In other news, I was the very lucky winner of JanetO's blogversary giveway--she had to draw three times for an eligible entry.  The package arrived with interesting lumps and bumps.  Mini was present for the grand unveiling.

Mini immediately laid claim to the mini quilt...

 ...all innocent in her actions.  Look at the impossibly tiny binding! See the 6" ruler there to the right of the quilt.

Janet included some very lovely handmade soaps, package of pins, thread and notebook with her lovely card.  I'm very thankful to be the new owner of this eensy charm quilt and will treasure it. 

I unpacked all the fabric treasure from the Quilt Run and feasted my eyes on all the loot on the cutting table.  

Most of these pieces had to be put in a box as I cannot stuff any more fat quarters in my drawers!

Some of the packaged badges the quilt shops gave out, so fun.  For completing the Quilt Run we were entered in a Grand Prize drawing but neither of us won. We did get a lovely pair of small scissors at the final shop.  

Off to sew now, I have a block to sew for our pizza box block swap due tomorrow, and two baby quilts to finish and turn in.  Nothing like the last minute....

Design Wall Monday--Central Coast Quilt Shop Tour

On my Design Floor is a small project started at a late hour.  My sister and I talked about doing the Central Coast Quilt Shop Tour but didn't finalize plans until late.  We were happy to be welcome to stay with longtime friends/neighbors overnight on Saturday at their new house. I rummaged through my box of Unfinished Small Projects and came across a baggie of pinned four patch blocks for a mini quilt  to give as a housewarming gift. 

It sewed up fairly quick and I snapped a pic to send my sister Kathy.  Mini performed QC but missed the twisted block ( now marked with an X).  Grr, the chain was broken.  I got the block unpicked and resewn and located an appropriate backing, however decided the wee hours were not a good time to attempt quilting.  It will be stitched up soon.

Our first stop was Superbuzzy in town on Friday night, where we plotted the next day's tour, deciding to start with the Old Town Quilt Shop in Orcutt. 

Someone made this great sign with all the shops for a photo op.  Somehow it looks like we are in the back seat and no one is driving this car, haha.  Kathy downloaded an app that supposedly planned the route but the amount of colorful euphemisms from Kathy that this program created provided me more entertainment than help at times.  

Best quote of the day from Kathy, regarding my XM Radio station '70s soft Rock choice on the drive: "You're going to have to go up a decade or two if you want me to stay awake". 😁

We also visited Picking Daisies, The Quiltery, Quilters Cupboard, and The Creation Station, then headed to Pismo Beach area to our friends' place.  It was fun to catch up with them and share our treasures.  I concentrated on picking up background fabrics for the quilt for the newlyweds.  

These are the fabrics Nick and Ashley picked out at Superbuzzy for the Dream Weaver quilt.  The pattern is for a small quilt, only 40x55" or so, but I assured Ashley the background could be enlarged--it is made from Disappearing Nine Patches. 

Here are a bunch I hope may work with their choices. Most of the backgrounds are white, but I did add a few cream and colored options. 

I spent more this trip than I have ever, but I saw so many fabrics I liked and also stocked up on neutrals that were lacking in my stash. I bought bolt ends and clearance fabrics, but also plenty of full price yardage. It is my wish for brick and mortar stores to stay open, and that means supporting them.  

See more design walls on Judy's Small Quilts and Doll Quilts.