Well, that week went fast!! For quarantine!!

No, I did not go on a vacation trip.  I was right here.  Apparently just busy in the sewing room! :)  I did get a LOT done!!  All those ripped blocks are done - this time the correct way.  And it makes a world of difference!!  It's a wee bit WILD! But I'm loving it.  Don't you??

But Wait!  There's More!  I've been on a mission lately about more blocks - making more than 1 a day!  It's so much fun!!

  

Elvis after complete overhaul                  Christmas!                 

  

Bee 2                                    Sewing 2

 

Sweet Water fabrics               Quilt of Valor block

 

Halloween 1                             Halloween 2

 

Halloween 3                           Fabrics from Japan

 

Junk foods                                    Brown block

Beach 2                       Covid-19 

                                                       (top right or bottom left fabric)

Then I took a day off and worked on another block I've been wanting to do - Stripe Me Lucky, a Jen Kingwell Collective pattern by Michelle McKillop.  And it's just as much fun!!!  I had to change it, of course!  I made the strips wider and left out one round.  More Stripe fabric goes between the blocks.

 

Our county got released from quarantine.  Free, Free at last!!  BUT don't go wild, there are people out there with the virus.  They may not know it, they may not think they are giving it to you, but it is what it is!!

WEAR YOUR MASK - everywhere.  Wash it every night (or if you have more than one, change them out)  But always wash them between wearing.  I throw mine in with the towels, or just wash it with dish soap in kitchen sink.  Lay it out on a towel, it'll be dry by morning.  If it's double-sided, never switch the side against your face before washing it!!

DON'T GO CRAZY!  Yes, it's exhilarating to have choices!!  Wear your mask, social distance and if there's a crowd, leave!

AND if anyone gives you crap about wearing a mask.  Turn away, make an exit, and make a promise to yourself to NEVER make them a quilt!!! You can tell family that, it just might help keep them in line!!!

I have been to the quilt guild's meeting space 3 times in the last 3 months.  We received requests for face masks. We sprang into action and made hundreds of masks, it was amazing!  

But the last two times I was there to drop off/pick up something:  there were quilters NOT wearing masks!  The same ones that were sewing away!!  It makes NO sense.

So yesterday we had to pick up challenge fabrics.  And we brought our spring challenges.  The leader took a picture of us with them.  And I wore my mask.  She said, "Don't you want to take that off?"  And I replied, "NO!  This is going on FB and we have to set an example!  Wear the mask!"  By the end, 3 of the 6 had masks on during our picture!!  Think you look silly??  Who cares??  You look safe!  You look like you love your family.  You look like a caring person who wants this over with quickly, please!

 

 

 

People who wear masks!  The two with quilts, coming soon to FB!!

BE SMART!  Wear a mask!  And if someone says something, leave it on - they don't really know who you are!!!!  Just leave anonymously!!!  Tee-Hee!

Done Ripping, still resewing blocks

Note to self:  After researching patterns, and collecting data - please refer back after one sample block!!  Not wander over and take a peak after 29 blocks!  Just saying!!

The photo game continues!  Here's some of the latest - all in our apt:

 

 

 

 

The last one - here's a hint - it looks like a face and it is -of a nautical type!

On "May the 4th be with you!" I watched Star Wars IV and other movies and ripped, ripped, ripped!  But, if I resew 5 blocks a day - I'll be back to 29 blocks completed on Mother's Day!

My Mom, Granny, to our family, died a few years back.  She lived to be 97 but she hated being told what to do!  (so that's where I get it!!)  One flu season was tough and they locked down the retirement home she lived in.  It drove her nuts.

She and her dog had a one bedroom apartment with a patio.  TV, books on tape, A little kitchen, and meals delivered.  "I'm locked up in a puppy mill!" was her refrain for that one week!!  She would have HATED this!

Even I can't get my mind around it - I've been doing this for over 2 months???  I think I've left our complex 9 times!!  And normal isn't even 'just around the corner!'  Bah Humbug!!

Here are the photo reveals:

 

 

  

 

The Whale is a salad tong!  It was a gift from the kids - but no one could guess it!  Stay Safe and QUILT ON!

Trouble in Paradise!

I had dreams at the beginning of this self-isolation - Impossible dreams, of course!  It was like when I was working at the University - we pooled our minor Holidays to have the week off around Christmas.  Oh, the plans we had for that week!!  LOL!

As you know, I'm participating in the #100dayproject over at instagram.  My 3rd year and I have never followed thru to the end!  Usually I promise to work on one project to the finish.  And about a month in - I've petered out.

This year I decided to work on whatever I want to - no matter how many deadline projects are looming!!  There are several quilts I've been dreaming of for years - but never allowed myself to start.  This is the year!!  I picked scrap projects because they are my favorite and duh, quarantine!  

Plus / X quilt is one I've wanted to make. I make a block a day.  All those years, waiting, and the block takes 15 minutes!!

Funny story, though it is so-o me these days:  I studied the instructions on the web, pinned pictures of finished tops, and gathered fun fabrics.  But never looked at my notes again.  I've made 29 blocks WRONG! (Color placement) So I switched over and made 2 the right way.  

I had several plans to fix this.  

A. Scatter within the other blocks.  

B.  Use at top and bottom borders around the other blocks 

BUT they are so darn cute done right - so last night during TV I ripped the 4 squares out of 7 blocks.  They look very weird!  But I came up with a easy-looking method to resew.  Today I tested that out!!  

Two new blocks with corrected background squares

 

Since I like the New (Original) block - how can I correct the 29 I made?  Very painstakingly in front of the TV with a ripper.  It's selective, but I can resew 2 blocks together in under 30 minutes.  And that was the first go at it.  I have resewn 7 now and I know I got much faster!!  I have found that I can reuse the squares I'm taking out by using them in another block! 

So let's compare blocks before and after!

  

 

Note:  the light squares now in the block came from the block above it!

  

Ok - more pictures to compare. How do the blocks look together?

Old variation side by side

Old side by side with new

Two new blocks side by side

As you can see, the new - alright original block - sets a grid illusion over the blocks.  Very graphic!  I think I'll correct all of them to original ignored blocks! 

I'm binge watching Voyager anyway!!  Stay safe and QUILT ON!!

Weekend! Hmm, seems the same as the rest of the week!!

I'm in charge of the "Bobbin Reminder" at Stashbusters Online
Quilt group.  Here's what I sent out this rainy Saturday!

It’s the weekend and you know what that means.  Time to
check your bobbin supply.  Is it time to reorder or rewind?
And your job doesn’t end there, you have to keep your eye
on that little gem.  It loves to run out at the darnedest times
 and that’s NOT progressing in an orderly fashion!!

Boy, face masks really go thru the bobbins!!  And of course,
I’m sewing other quilt blocks too.  I’ve started trying to corral
all the scrappiness all over my sewing room!

There’s all the fabrics for Plus/Super X blocks.  I have 29 now!!
And all the scraps for Road to Oklahoma.  8 inch scrappy blocks,
not so much a starter/ender project, I don't remember to do it!!
So it's mindless sewing in amongst the "gotta do" sewing! 

 Next I cleaned out the 3 paper supply boxes of QOV donations /
leftovers / collection.  I cut a 4” high pile of 7 x 7 squares for masks
for a friend.  Then cut out more 6.5 x 9 for patriotic masks to hand
out at the QOV presentation - whenever we end up having that.

Then there is Edyta’s mystery - I changed one border block set.
Just didn’t like it!  The middle of outside row with the 2 squares ...
I’ve got half of the design done - but have to dig for more of a
specific fabric.  Then I can lay out my blocks.  It’s scrappy and
I may be just a little nervous!!  

Pineapple blossom supplies are out because before face masking
(!) I was going to add blocks to the Christmas quilt I’ve been working
on.  Well, you see my dilemma!!  How to clean it up without getting
lost in the treasures!!!

Our Guild Quilt show has been cancelled this year.  Usually it is
 Memorial Day weekend, but got moved to July.  But we decided
 we haven’t been carefully isolating to be trapped at a show with
loads of people.  It was hard to decide, but there was a feeling of
relief after we did it.  Oregon is reopening slowly, and at this point
we’re not even confident we’ll be out and about with groups at
 that time!

I took a bunch of photos inside our apartment.  All the kids spend
time here in the summer, and we haven't redecorated - I'm almost
sure they will recognize these.  So far, mixed reactions!!
Here's the puzzle photos:

 

 

 

I'm now up to 29 Plus/X blocks!! I'll make 6 rows of 7 and I'm starting 

the 5th row!!  I got a picture  of them hanging on the design board, probably the last one because the bed and end of the ironing board 

are in the way now.  What do you think?

Oops!  Lazing about this am, it's raining, I looked back at some

 pictures of the Plus/X block on Pinterest.  I pinned a BUNCH of

 them as I was planning this.  Well, apparently, this is an unique 

variation ... alright, I can hear you snickering - how rude!!

This new bit of brain ageing is hard to remember!!  I think I know 

exactly what I'm doing. The  famous 'we don't need no stinking

map' syndrome. And that's how I made a new variation and also 

how I gave the quilted QOV back to the wrong topper!!!  So I guess 

I'll make the original variation of the block - if it doesn't blend well 

with the others, I can make 2 borders?? 

Apparently, I can't just make lists now, I actually have to refer

back to them!!  Who knew?? Life is an adventure!!  But there 

is a good deal of back-tracking involved!!

Here are the reveal photos, how many did you guess right??

  

Alphabet blocks                          Starfish

 

 Whale Measuring cups             Mug of pens

 

Big Screen TV                                  Breakfast!

I’m so glad I’ve been able to sew like the wind during this time!
Going thru the stash is like meeting up with old friends again!
Stay safe and QUILT ON!

-doni at rainy Oregon coast

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