Sewing the week away

With a new week, also comes a new month and new goals. I worked on finishing up the blocks for Threadology block 6. I still have 5 and just cut out 7 & 8. I hope to keep this one moving forward. 

My friend Linda recommended these pencils for marking, so I picked up a couple of each color. I think these are working pretty well. I used them for marking flying geese for Ann's t-shirt quilt. 

My APQ goal for March is the Wildlife Teen Spirit. I organized it and started sewing on Monday. I got 5 blocks completed. 

I also worked on putting together a mask-making presentation. I am teaching our 4-H kids to make them on Saturday. It was fun putting the demonstration together on my board. 

My first finish of the month is Rock Candy and I finished hand sewing the binding down on Monday night. I used scraps of Handmade by Tula Pink. 

Last night I worked on getting all the blocks done for Teen Spirit in Wildlife fabrics. I'm pleased with how they turned out. I think this will be a quick finish. I'll probably try to lay it out tomorrow. 

 

Design Wall Monday

 Last night, in an attempt to meet my February goal for the APQ challenge, I pieced my block 4 of the Threadology quilt along. I was trying to get it done quickly and missed that I sewed one wrong, so I'll be fixing it tonight.

Saturday night I stayed up way too late finishing my February Hillside Charm quilt for The Sewing Center support group challenge. It's going to one of the kids teachers. 

I picked up this thread cutter with birthday money and it is awesome! It cuts right through the thread on the first cut. I'm in love with it!

What is on your design wall today?  Linking up for Design Wall Monday.

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Hand Sewing Binding

Thursday and Friday I was busy sewing binding down by hand, so I could finish these two projects. I sewed the binding on Jungle Friends and used Mikaela's orthodontist appointment and Mathew's Parents First Communion meeting on Thursday to get in quite a bit of stitching on the quilt. I was 2" short of the binding, so I picked some up at The Sewing Center on Thursday and sewed it on to finish up the machine part on Thursday night. It turned out super cute and I was able to finish the hand sewing Friday. 

A high school classmate commissioned me to make this to give to her new grandson, due any day. The mom is my nurse at one of the clinics I go to regularly. She requested golden colors with giraffes, monkeys, and elephants. It turned out better than I hoped. I had a giraffe pattern and had planned to add an elephant pattern I had seen. When I went looking for the monkey pattern, I found a pattern online that was all three and I adjusted it to include the animals she requested. It was the same designer as the original giraffes' pattern, Sew Fresh Quilts. 

I found this panel and decided to make the giraffe to gift with the baby quilt. I think it turned out super cute. 

I have never used the lettering on my machine but didn't feel like dragging out the embroidery machine, so I tried it out for this label. It took me about 4 tried to get it right, but I'm pleased with how it turned out and I was able to match the fabric on the quilt, so it looks like it belongs. I hand sewed it down this morning and will deliver it over lunch today. 

I also finished the hand sewing on the binding for my Sakura Stars table runner. I hope to get it in the mail later this week to my friend for her birthday. It's English Paper Pieced and I started it in July of 2019. 

Saturday we went shopping in Sturgis and Spearfish. It was a beautiful day and it was nice to get out and go for a drive after the bitter cold of the previous two weekends. I worked on block 3 of the Threadology quilt-along Saturday night. I cut one of the large red squares in the wrong direction without realizing it, but I found the fabric pretty easily and was able to re-cut one and finish it up. I'm loving how these blocks look. Hopefully, I'll be able to get at least one more block set done this month. 

Mikaela got her expander put in her mouth on Thursday morning. She's doing well with it so far and is figuring out what she can and can't eat. The biggest struggle is pop and chips. We've had a few meltdowns over pop, but otherwise, she's been loving it. 

Yesterday I cleaned my closet. I took out a bunch of summer clothes and all of my "too big" jeans. I've lost 19 lbs and so far have been keeping it off. I'm really happy with my progress, but it was time for all the clothes to go. It gave our room a nice refresh as I re-organized. It felt so good to get so much done. I look forward to cleaning up my sewing area next. 

Last night I was able to work on my Thread Dispenser. I modified the pattern a bit, so I am hopeful it will work. I just need to put the binding on next. 

 

Thursday night sewing

Last night I finished sewing and pressing the caring heart blocks. I have 14 made, so that should last me through the year. I hope to be able to start sending them out to the guild members who have health challenges. I have received quite a few and I look forward to putting them into a quilt. I used pink scraps I had in my drawer for these. 

Threadology quilt along from 2019 is my APQ UFO challenge for February. I had hoped to get 1 block per week done. We're in the 3rd week and I had only gotten block 1 done, so last night after adding a 6" piece of binding to the Jungle Friends baby quilt, I quickly sewed these up. These are the block 2 blocks and the simple 9 patches went together very quickly (30 minutes). I cut the entire quilt out in Little Snippets and it's very organized by block, so I hope to get another one done this weekend. 

I spent most of yesterday working on the binding of Jungle Friends. I had an hour at the orthodontist and then 1 1/2 hours at the First Communion parents meeting of hand sewing time on the binding. I had ran short by 2" when I put the binding on, so I had to pick more up at The Sewing Center yesterday and sewed it in last night, so I can get it finished this weekend. 

I am also working on the Thread Dispenser, so I need to cut out the pieces that go with the zippers. Only I decided to use green zippers and I need a fabric to go with it or I might use the cream Tula fabric. I'm so thrilled to be able to work on these projects as I am done with all my "customer" quilts. I do enjoy doing these projects, but often my own projects get set aside. I'm ready to work on my own stuff. I keep cutting out more and more projects and I need to just work on them instead of cutting out more. I have at least 5 bags cut out in Pinkerville Unicorns. 

The weather has finally warmed up (14 above 0), so I am looking forward to a weekend with no plans, yet we don't have to worry about the cold. 

 

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.