Saturday County Shoot

Saturday was the county 4-H shootout for the kids. My brother and his family came up and brought members of their club as well, so it was a busy day. My brother found a ramp for my dad's house, so as a family, we all went to load it up and take it to dad's house. While the boys installed it, I did a quick quilting job. It was National Quilting Day on Saturday, so it seemed appropriate. 

I quilted up the small Twister for Julie. It's 17" and uses brands in it. 

I also quilted up the 25" one that she wanted as well. Now I just need to get them bound. 

I quilted this wall hanging for my friend Pat. It's going to be a late birthday present, but I hadn't gotten out to quilt and I wanted to quilt it on the frame. It's 29". 

I also quilted up this purple sampler. I used these blocks several years ago to teach a class, but there isn't enough contrast in the fabrics, so it's a bad sampler. It's now quilted and I'll bind it and someone will enjoy it. 

The kids after the county shoot. They both shot their personal bests in BB Guns. Mik even qualified for State Shoot. It was a great day for shooting and spending time with family. Grandpa and Grandma came to watch and then we all went out to eat. We ended the day with supper at their house after we helped my brother load chutes to take back to their ranch. 

Last week of February

This week is already flying by so quickly. We've had 2 late start mornings and I feel like we may have another one tomorrow. Monday was President's Day and I had big plans for a quilting day at my dad's house after the kid's dentist appointments. The weather was supposed to be bad (6" of snow and below 0 temps), so I changed the plan. I decided Friday that I would go out on Saturday afternoon, after morning haircuts. I worked on the side borders for this quilt until 10:30 Friday night (after my birthday supper at Fuji Steakhouse). I couldn't get them on right, so I went to bed. While Paul took the kids to haircuts, I finished the borders, mopped the floors, cleaned up the kitchen, and sorted laundry. 
Saturday after lunch the kids and I went to Dad's house to quilt. I quilted this little boy quilt for Jace, the son of our work-study student Megan. Then I quilted my pillow swap (which I'll show after it's received) and the HST Valentine L'Amour table runner. 

It was going so well and it was only 2:30, so I loaded my Hey June quilt which is 73"x97". It is a big one, but I knew I had time to quilt it. The machine would not work! I messed with it for 30 minutes before giving up! I set up mom's sewing machine and fixed my dad's shirts and a couple things for his wife. I put everything away and decided I'd come back another day. I moved the quilting machine and it worked! It literally was like God said, "fix your dad's mending". I would have otherwise put him off. 

Thursday I had a foot doctor appointment and had enough time to finish sewing this quadrant of my EPP quilt. 

So I quilted Hey June horizontally (as I had 1" of backing and batting on each side). It was meant to be quilted this way. It quilted up beautifully after the break! I couldn't find anything else that could or would have caused the issue. I don't know who this will go to, but it's quilted and that's what matters. I used wide back red and 124" wide white warm & white batting from the Sewing Center. After it was done, I quilted a 40" square of purple Homemade fabric to make some more by Annie bags/patterns. I didn't have a plan, but I just quilted up the fabric and will cut it out later when I decide what to make with it. 

Last night I sewed the binding on my pillow swap pillow, my valentine's table runner (but was short, darn it!) and then I had put these by my table to finish as needed. I ended up sewing the binding I had cut on these 2 table toppers. I just gave them to a student for an adoption fundraiser he is helping with this weekend. I didn't have any other thing planned for them and it just felt like they would help that cause. 

Monday night I finished the binding on Jace's quilt. I think it turned out pretty cute for a "scrap quilt". I was kind of kicking myself for spending $40 on backing and more background for a scrap quilt (which I think of as a free quilt), but I know it was the right decision to spring for the minkee backing. I did frankenbatt the batting together from scraps, so that was free too. 
 
Sunday night Mathew and I played his new Monopoly game. Friday was the 2 year anniversary of my cancer sister's DMX. I wore my Heidi shirt to work as I celebrated what being a survivor means for me. Harmony is the background quilt. 

September Sewing

I've been making Simply Swoon quilts like they are going out of style. This one is for one of our work-study student's little boy who loves cowboys. I'll get some minkee and quilt it up the next time I go to Dad's.

I've been busy making Quilts of Valor blocks for a charity sewing block drive we're doing in our private FB group. I've made 5 so far, but have 35 cut out. I hope to send some and use some to make a quilt for a co-worker. These are so quick to make. They are fast to cut out and fast to sew. I got three from each fat quarter and they took about 30 minutes to sew all 5. 

My hubby needed a case for his Ipad for work, so I quilted up Chiefs fabric and made this Zip It Up case for him. 

I put a padded pocket on the inside to protect it a bit more. I did make it a bit over an inch bigger to compensate for the size of the ipad.

I had leftover Chiefs fabric, so I cut out and made an Easy Does it bag for my son. He loves it for his toys. I'm not sure it's my favorite bag, but I have 2 more cut out, so I'll get them made. 

I quilted up this panel quilt for my husband's cousin who had a baby recently, but she decided not to attend our family event, so I may be gifting it to someone else. 

I quilted my Good Morning a couple weeks ago with red minkee on the back. I'm going to gift it to an instructor, but she's teaching on Zoom for the next couple weeks, so it may be a while before I get it gifted. 

I'm making progress on my Everyday Handmade EPP project. I have 3 sections stitched together so far. 

I've also been working on my Swoon blocks. I now see that I screwed up on 2 corners and need to re-do them. I'm so thankful I just caught them instead of after I quilted it. Now I can take it apart and fix it. I'll also check my other blocks as well. I did this on the Cowboy Simply Swoon too. 

I've been busily making Yellow and blue Blue Ridge Beauty blocks I finished 5 more. Last night I sewed 27 more strip sets and matched them up, so I have more 4 patches to make. 

I made this Zip It UP in Everyday Handmade.

It has mesh on one side and vinyl on the other side. 

There is a  front pocket as well.

I sued up some scraps to make a Piecekeeper. It's a bit smaller than the original, but it used up the fabric. 

I finished making all my Harmony blocks in Nova fabric. I squared them up and set them aside to piece together at the retreat. 

I finished up the Woven Star blocks in Sakura. I'm hoping to make these into a baby quilt. 

 I've been doing quite a bit of sewing and making bags. It's relaxing to me.  

May the 4th be with my quilting

May the 4th be with you - Press to the Dark Side... All the fun sayings for May. For only being 1 week into May, so far it has been productive. I made 5 more "heart" Sweet Pea Pods for my Cardiac Rehab friends when they finish.  

My APQ UFO for May is Takes the Cake, which are a bunch of 9 patches. I'm slowly piecing them as a leader ender and at the end of the night when I don't want to start anything new. 

I pieced my Nightingale block 1 and started 5 more blocks. I realized I can piece and then trim at work, so I have 5 ready to trim and then I'll finish sewing them tonight.  

I finished the Mini Brick Road table runner, which is an Atkinson Designs pattern. It is Glamping Gypsies fabric. 

I also finished this Hearts runner in LAmor fabric. The pattern is by Atkinson Designs. 

I made this Gala Wax and Wool Tote with Navy Waxed Canvas on the bottom. I put pink grunge in the lining. 

We also celebrated Mathew's 1st Holy Communion. 

 

Last weeks sewing progress

My friend Pat and I have been talking about supporting local businesses. So I sent her a mug from Prouty Pottery for her birthday and she sent me goat lotion this week for my birthday. I love the cute goat picture and note from the shop owner. 

Threadology quilt along is my APQUFO for February. I've had it cut out for 2 years, so if I can get the blocks done, I will be happy with my progress. I finished block 1 last week. 

I'm not a huge fan of Ohio star blocks, but I really enjoyed making these. I'll be making block 2 as a leader/ender tonight when I work on the baby quilt I am making. 

I attended the virtual SDHEA (SD Higher Education Association) conference Friday. It was a great day with some amazing speakers. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I also presented for the conference. 

Friday was also Go Red for Women Day for the American Heart Association. This year it's especially important to me as I deal with a heart beating at 15% compared to the 60% it should be at normally. Since red is our opposing schools colors, I couldn't wear it at work, but I did wear it that evening to take hubby to Urgent Care. His knee popped and he couldn't put weight on it. He's now been to Orthopedic Urgent Care (who knew there was such a thing?), MRI, and just saw the Dr. He has a meniscus tear and will see if heals on its own. 

Sunday we watched the Super Bowl as our Chiefs were playing. It didn't have the outcome we would have liked, but we're still fans. Our sports caster loves the National Anthem. 

Monday I worked on the monkey blocks for the baby quilt I am working on for a customer. It's going to be so cute, but boy they are tiny pieces. I'm hoping to get the 4 blocks together tonight and then figure out how to piece the blocks into a quilt top. Quilting day planned for Monday.