Monday, September 29, 2014

Progress on Jane Stickle Quilt


It has been slow going, but work has continued on my Jane Stickle project.  The first row is on the design wall.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Just Hexagons This Week

Progress in the sewing room has been nil this week due to a series of unexpected circumstances.  The only quilting related activity was spent on hexagons.  It sure is nice to have a portable handwork project when life blindsides you. 


My collection of completed hexagons is slowly growing.  I put them on the design wall so I could get a sense of how they will look.  I think I want to mix in more red.

Friday, September 19, 2014

The Oops is Fixed and Playing with Layouts


The “oops” on the hexagon I showed yesterday is corrected and added to the slowly growing stack.
Now that I've rearranged my sewing room to accommodate conversion of my HQ 16 to a sit down model, I no longer have enough space for a design wall.  It’s a challenge to pull out the panels and find a spot to temporarily set them up, but the time had come to play with some layouts.  

Here are the blocks from the French General fat quarters I've been making.  I'm still playing with the arrangement.


Bob’s first radio controlled helicopter arrived this week.  I set it next to a coffee cup to show just how small it is.  I've named it the “gnat.”

We've had more than 3 inches of rain in the last 48 hours.  That’s very welcome news.


Thursday, September 18, 2014

Progress and an Oops

It was a long day, but the Quilt Club workshop dedicated to making anti-ouch pouches yesterday was productive.  We had kits for 100 pouches and many were complete and all were in some stage of production by the time we had to vacate our work area at the church.  I enjoyed the opportunity to sew on my sweet Featherweight.
 
I was asked about anti-ouch pouches.  These pouches are distributed to patients who are undergoing breast surgery.  They hang from the shoulder and cushion the surgery site.  In addition, some patients use them to cushion car seat belts or even sleep with them.  Every month we receive thank you notes from recipients.  It’s very gratifying to know we are making a positive impact.  Follow this link to the American Sewing Guild site to learn more and get the free pattern.
 
Uh, oh.  I knew I was too tired to do handwork last night.  Looks like some un-sewing is in order.

In happier news, stage one of sashing my Jane Stickle blocks is complete.  Next I have to trim down the end blocks, add left side sashing to the first block on each row, and add another sashing strip to the top and bottom rows.  Then I get to actually put rows together.  Yah!


Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Ready for Quilt Club Day Wedesday




My 10 anti-ouch pouches are finally finished and my bags are packed.  Tomorrow is Quilt Club meeting day.  Following the program, several of us will set up our machines and work on even more anti-ouch pouches.  I am definitely not a light packer. 
 

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Slow Sunday Stitching...Later, I Hope



I've continued to prepping and working on pieced hexagons as my handwork project for the evenings and Slow Sunday Stitching linky party at Kathy's Quilts.  Now that football season is in full swing, the pace on working on them may pick up.  


Before I can play today though, I need to finish up some Quilt Club book work in preparation for a committee meeting tomorrow.  I hope I will have time to do some more work on these this evening.  There is a PBS program I’d like to watch tonight.  

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Just Stuff...

I've started work on this month’s anti-ouch pouches that I committed to make.  They need to be finished by our meeting Wednesday.  

There is a sewing tool I don’t enjoy but must use more often than I like.  It’s the dreaded seam ripper, and as often as I use it, it always seems to land in a place that makes it hard to find.  Maybe this new one will be easier to spot.  I like the fact that it has a flat handle that makes it less likely to roll off the table.

We woke up to 58 degrees today.  Even better, we've had .56 inches of rain in the last 24 hours.  That’s great news on both fronts.  We were having highs in the upper 90s earlier this week.

The maiden voyage of Bob’s radio controlled boat in the pond near our house was a success.  I understand that a radio controlled helicopter is due for shipment next week and he’s been looking longingly at RC tanks.  I better use my cutting table while I can.

I captured this moon rise the same night Bob launched his boat.



Saturday, September 6, 2014

Plugging Along

I’ve had a hard time getting around to making a post this week, but there has been progress on multiple fronts.

My stack of boxy square Christmas fabric blocks is growing;


as is my stack of sashed Jane Stickle blocks.


Another spool is almost ready for the jar.




A package for Bob landed on my cutting table this week.


This time it’s a boat.  I hate to admit it, but I really like this one.


We enjoyed a brief shower last night.  It was enough to settle the dust for a while and was greatly appreciated.