What I'm Working On and Catching Up

Oh I had such grand plans for this summer.  I had my summer all mapped out.   The three quilts I was determined to finish this summer, all that wonderful fabric I was going to use. The yard work I was so looking forward to each morning. Getting a head start on product for my fall/Christmas craft show.  Getting back into my craft room and working with photos and paper.  Then there was some house projects.

Yes I had my summer all planned, and it was all going so well until the morning I was working in the yard and fell.

Yes my "Summer To Do List" came to a screeching halt when I broke my right wrist.  One good thing well there is more than one, I am ambidextrous.  I do a lot of things left handed but I sure have learned just how right handed I am.  My left handed writing has improved greatly the last two weeks.  :-)

Well since a person can only rest so long before start cleaning out drawers and closets.  I am pulling out all my holiday fabric.  Halloween, Fall and Christmas Fabric piled stacked and sorted on table.

Doing an inventory of sorts and making a a list of product ( on yellow pad, left-handed)  to make for show and if the Doctor cooperates I'll be sewing up a storm in August,

I think sometimes it takes something drastic like this to make us examine our lives.  I try to do this often but like others it's hard for me to slow down or just stop and step back to see the big picture.  So I need to be thankful for this inconvenience. Learn some lessons and don't go fabric shopping on the internet.  Oh and those three quilts I was determined to finish this summer, they'll be here in the fall and they will get done in their own time.

I'm linking up with Patchwork Times and Love Laugh Quilt

What I'm working on Monday May 25, 2015

Lots going on this week. I finished up several pieces of furniture last week and got them into the shop.  Now my room doesn't  look so bare.

Quilting:
 I have a small red/white/blue quilt going on.  The block design is from Missouri Start Quilts. Double Slice Layer Cake.  But I wanted the quilt a little bit wider and longer than I had 10 inch squares for so I added sashing so of making it up as I went.  I'm ready to add strips between the rows to make it a bit longer and then I'll see whats next.

I also have a baby quilt I'm remaking.  I received this vintage well loved baby quilt.  There request is to make a new one using what I can for a new grand baby.

Furniture:
Working on finishing upholstering a chair. This is the most current photo of the chair on the computer.  It's been painted and the seat is upholstered.  The bad news is this picture is from February.  I better move this up the list.  Yikes.

House:
Working on cleaning out the main floor. I'm at the stage where pulling everything out to go through it makes a bigger mess than before.  But it's progress.

Well I'll see how far I get.  It's already Monday afternoon/evening and I just found out I'm working an extra day this week.  It's all good and it will all get done, maybe just not this week.

Linking up with Judy at patchwork times.

Design Wall and Stash Report

Design Wall

What is up on my design wall today?  This simple little baby quilt.  The poor thing has been hanging here for well over two months.  I am determined to get it quilted this week.  It's not hard it's just time.

[caption id="attachment_2909" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Baby Quilt #1[/caption]

 

What little sewing time I've had has been used making new blocks and trying to tame the chaos.

[caption id="attachment_2908" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Chaos in sewing room[/caption]

 

Stash Report Week 10, 2015

After my travels I've added up the lovely fabric that came home with me.  Here are my new totals.  I think I need to stay home and sew....

Added since last report: 18 Yards
Added this Year: 59 Yards
Used since last report: 5.0 Yards
Used this Year: 16.5 Yards
Net Used this Year: -42.50 Yards  

 

I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday Dec 29, 2014

I do so love Monday evenings when I can visit everyone's design wall and be inspired.

On the design wall are my finished blocks from the Road to Oklahoma Shop Hop.

[caption id="attachment_2889" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Road to Oklahoma[/caption]

My sister did this shop hop that lasted for the month of June.  She went to all 25 shops.  It took every weekend and a couple of Fridays too.

She picked up a two block kits at each shop and surprised me with a set when I visited in July.  We decided we could each pick a block a month and have our own "Block of the Month" club.

Of course with my crazy busy fall season I fell behind. I only have four to do to be caught up.  I will be caught up by January 1st.  Honest!

For more design walls head over to Judy at Patchwork Times

Design Wall Monday December 15, 2014

I've finished up Christmas sewing and can get back to finishing up (or starting) projects.

I'm putting up some string QOV blocks that I'd like to get sewn up this week.

[caption id="attachment_2844" align="aligncenter" width="225"] QOV String Blocks[/caption]



 

These little blocks have been leaders/enders for the past year and I was playing with layouts.  Of course I like both so I'm back to making more little Nine Patches.



 

For more design walls head over to Judy's at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday November 17, 2014

It's been a long time since I've had a quilt on the design wall.  I have been working on craft show product for the last several months, but that is over and now I can work on quilts again.  In between pillows and table runners I have been making blue 9patches for two Christmas gifts.

[caption id="attachment_2835" align="aligncenter" width="293"] Stack of 9's[/caption]

Now it's time to put it all together.  The pattern is Bonnie Hunter's Dancing Nine Patch.  I sewed up two blocks just to see how it was going to look with my chosen sashing.

[caption id="attachment_2834" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Dancing Nines #1[/caption]

Then I picked out the 9patches for quilt #1.

[caption id="attachment_2836" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Blue 9 patches[/caption]

Surprise I really like the nice patches just up on the wall with the cream color between the blocks too.  I see more blue 9patches happening, maybe a QOV.

To see what other people are working on head over to Patchwork Times.

What I'm Working on This Week

The design wall has changed but not because I finished the Gecko quilt. The Gecko blocks were taken down so I could put up the flamingo strip top.



I was getting ready to quilt this new strip quilt and have just run out of time. So it too has been folded with the backing and batting and put away until I can spend some quality time with it

What is happening is that today is the official start of my Summer Break.  For me this is more a state of mind than a break because I have of course made a impossible long list of what I want to get done this summer before my classes start up again in September.  Starting with a very thorough cleaning of the sewing room.  There is just too much in the room to make it functional anymore.

So my starting point will be the table and surrounding area.  There are a lot of scraps to be cut down to the sizes I use. I think that this summer will be a good time to get caught up on that too.  Besides cleaning up and out the sewing room there is the main floor of the house that we're working on too.  This will be the summer of the big clean out. Oh let us not forget the yards too all this while I'm thinking of starting up a walking program.  Well I won't be bored this summer that's for sure.

Anyway to see more design walls that are really in use head over to Judy's at Patchwork Times.

What I'm Working On

Just what am I working on?  Sometimes it's darn hard to tell.  Do you ever get so many project going that you get lost?  Happens to me all the time.

Right now on the design wall are the Gecko blocks ready for sashing and on the table in front is where I'm cutting fabric for my plus quilt.  While I'm cutting 2.5 inch strips from the fabric I might as well cut a 1.5 in strip for my 3 inch 9-patchs and 2 in strips for my growing up odd quilt.

[caption id="attachment_2681" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Gecko blocks[/caption]

I started the 3 inch 9-patchs last July as a leader/ender.  I counted my squares and I only need about 100 more for the quilt floating around in my head. No time limit on these it just happens as I sew other blocks.

[caption id="attachment_2683" align="aligncenter" width="300"] 3 inch 9-patches[/caption]

My 2 inch Growing up Odd quilt  that I promised myself just one block a day, well somedays I'm caught up and other days I'm making two or three blocks. I've yet to be head of the one block a day.

[caption id="attachment_2682" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Growing up odd[/caption]

So mostly this week I'll work on getting all that fabric cut and off the table so I can work on the Gecko blocks again.

What are you working on?  Head over to Judy's at patchwork times and check out more design walls/

 

DWM March 24, 2014 and Stash Report Week 12

It's Design Wall Monday and Catch Up Stash Report here at the Brick Sidewalk.

The Black and White with Charms is down off the wall. The center has been sewn together and now I have to think about borders. So new on the wall is the Disappearing 4 Patch.

[caption id="attachment_2594" align="aligncenter" width="300"] DW 3-24[/caption]

The fourth row is at the machine to have the side sashing sewn. This is my LMOF challenge March goal to have the center completed. I think I might maybe make it.

Up in the corner are three blocks of 16 from my flannel cutting. I'm making one or two blocks each evening and should have them completed in a little over a week. They will be a quilt for the Hands2Help Challenge

Stash report Week 12. I used a bit so I'm heading in the right direction.

•  Added this Week:  0 yards


•  Added this Year:   61.25  yards




•  Used this Week :  3 yards


•  Used this Year:   58.25  yards




• Net Used this Year  -3.00 yards  

Only three extra yard in but I'm finishing the binding on a couple and have on at the quilter so I'm thinking I could be out of the red next week.

No sewing happen yesterday it was a total day off with a drive in the country.  Sometimes it's just good to get out and go for a drive.

[caption id="attachment_2593" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sunday Drive[/caption]

I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times. Check out what other people are working on.

 

Design Wall Monday March 17, 2014

I have more projects going right now than usual. I usually try to keep it down to one or two or three projects out and being worked on because with more than that happening things can get lost or mixed up.

I made a very ambitious goal list for March, so I've been working on checking things off that list. Also working from a list has kept me much more focused, go figure.

[caption id="attachment_2575" align="aligncenter" width="220"] Black & White with Charm[/caption]

I've been focused on my UFO's this month. On the design wall is the Black and White with Charms.  Then over here on the ironing board is the Disappearing 4 patch blocks I'm sewing in between the rows of the black and white. There are also some 3 1/2 inch 9 patches that I've been doing as a leader/ender that I want to speed up. The strips on the back of the ironing board are for QOV labels.



I'm really hoping to be back in the sewing room this week, in fact I'm planning a mini solo retreat for Thursday and Friday.  Around here that could mean a couple of hours of uninterrupted sewing or a whole day, it will be a surprise and I will relish every moment.

I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times so head on over there and check out the beautiful things that others are making.

I have two projects that I'm very excited about coming up and I'll be posting about them this week.

Design Wall Monday January 27, 2014

Up on the design wall today is a t-shirt quilt. I worked on it Thursday cutting t-shirts and ironing the interfacing and cutting again.  Started adding sashing and that's as far as I got before my super busy weekend started on Friday.



I spent some time sorting through the bins of flannel yesterday afternoon. K and I have spent three Thursday Nights at quilt club matching and cutting flannel. We have  8-10 quilts kitted up so I thought I'd organize the flannel we had left.  It doesn't even look like we made a dent in the bins. I thought for sure we emptied at least one bin and I really think we did it's just that not all the flannel was in bins before.  News Flash::

I DO NOT NEED ANY FLANNEL

I was wondering if you can make string quilts with flannel or does it get to bulky.  Guess I'll give it a try.

For more inspiration check out all the design walls at Judy's

Design Wall Monday January 20, 2014

The design wall is empty this morning but the work table is full.  There are several projects spread across the table.

[caption id="attachment_2471" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Table 1-20-14[/caption]

That stack of orange fabric and the white there by the calculator (that stopped working) are going to be my Orange Cream or maybe I'll call it 50/50.  I was trying to decide what size I wanted and how much fabric to cut.

The back left corner has Valentine fabric and the pattern ready to go.

The black and red are flannel for a giving quilt I am cutting.

The pile by the white fabric is are t-shirts for a customer order for a bed runner.

There you have it hopefully there will be some order to this by next Monday.

In other news:  We went again this year to the old tractor show in Yuma AZ.  These were my favorite tractors.

[caption id="attachment_2468" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Farmall[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2469" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Steam Roller[/caption]

You might remember some from last year.  These are the new ones. Check out the steam roller.  There was a raffle for a green John Deere one of these and even though I bought lots of tickets it didn't get to come home with me. But we did find a little blue beauty that did come home.  I'll have photos later this week.

Then driving home we head west and had a most beautiful sunset coming through the mountains.

 

[caption id="attachment_2470" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sunset Jan 18, 2014o[/caption]

For more design walls head to Judy's at Patchwork Times

 

Design Wall Monday January 13, 2014

Still have Flannel Woods up on the wall.  I have the rows sewn together and the first little border cut.  I have plenty more squares but this is as large as Mr Bill wants it, so I see a second one of these flannel quilts in the future.

[caption id="attachment_2446" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Flannel Woods[/caption]

I think I finally have the sewing room rearranged so it will work for me.  Which is the reason I don't have the borders on yet I've probably moved my sewing and cutting tables at least twice a day for the last week.

Tonight I really hope to spend a good hour or two in the room sewing.

For more great design walls head on over to Judy's at Patchwork Times

What I'm Working On and Goal Setting

A while back, like the middle of December it got a bit chilly here. I mean some mornings it was 40 degrees when we got up in the morning.  That was when Mr. Bill requested a fuzzy quilt and being the sweetheart I am, cough, cough I jumped right on it.  Then this being southern CA we got a warming trend and it got put away for a while as I was cleaning the sewing room.

[caption id="attachment_2422" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Flannel Woods[/caption]

Since I started it last year and it was put away in a project bag, I'm calling it a UFO. That way when I finish it I'll get to check it off the UFO list. I'm clever that way.

Speaking of UFO's so far I've listed 26 UFO's, 12 pulled projects and 2 long term projects. Now you know why I want to have something to cross off the list. :)

Since I've worked almost everyday since Christmas I'm giving myself to Friday to finish my list, yes I'm afraid there are more UFO/Projects lurking about in the sewing room. They are hiding but I will seek them out.

My goal is to work thru half of my UFO list what ever that number ends up being and half of my pulled projects and when I want to start something new it really should be one of them but I know that others things will get started too.

To what other people are working on head over to Judy's at Patchwork Times.

Design Wall Monday December 2, 2013

Oh My. It's been awhile, like two months since I posted my design wall.  It's not because of lack of projects I'll chalk it up to lack of time.

This is the beginnings of a Christmas present. It's suppose to go to the quilter tomorrow. I'm thinking it will be late afternoon at best before it gets there.

[caption id="attachment_2358" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Thomas Tank Engine[/caption]

 

Check out more design walls at Judy's Patchwork Times

Design Wall Monday October 14, 2013

Up on the design wall today is this little Christmas quilt that I've been calling Christmas Quickie. I started it two years ago as a quick little Christmas quilt. I pulled it out and looked at it last year but this year it's getting finished. Piecing the back today and onto quilting.

Design Wall Monday August 13, 2013

It's Monday again and time to check out the progress on my tumbler charm quilt.  In spite if several distractions I was able to make progress on the charm quilt this week.

I decided on a border color and all the charms were cut.  Saturday late afternoon I was able to start on the last 13 rows and finished them up by Sunday afternoon.  I now have 37 rows of 27 mini tumbler charms.  Now I need to sew a grey tumbler on each end of each row and then sew two rows of grey for the top and bottom border.

[caption id="attachment_2244" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Mini Tumbler Charm[/caption]

Of course this is the week that the both sewing machines have appointments at the sewing machine spa.  I've so very lucky that my new sewing machine shop makes appointments so I don't have the two to three week wait time that I use to have.  I plan to use the down time this week to clean up the sewing room that looks like  a fabric tornado came through.

[caption id="attachment_2243" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Bonus. Used up 10 of these[/caption]

I'll need to go through the closet for a backing and then I'm thinking about how I want to quilt it.  Did I mention that it has to be done, as in completely done by Sept 5th.  Yikes and no machine time until Friday or Saturday.

I'm linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times for Design Wall Monday,

Design Wall Monday July 8, 2013

It's so hard to grasp the the year is half over.  I've not gotten half of what I wanted done even making my get it done list didn't help this year.  I'd make my list and then something will come up and I'm changing course in mid stream.  My goals for the rest of the year is to just keep at  my first half of the year list.  :)  Then there are the quilts I want to get done for Christmas too. What to do first.

First I'll finish the QOV top that is on my design wall.

[caption id="attachment_2163" align="aligncenter" width="225"] July 8, 2013[/caption]

These are the blocks I started many many months ago for Alycia's February Block Drive.  Now you know how far behind I really am.  I'd like to finish it up this week and then take it and my sister's top and make an appointment for the long arm and get them quilted and sent off.

No sewing happen today, someone who will remain nameless passed on their sore throat and I just don't feel like dealing with the heat in the sewing room.(Mr Bill)  I think I'll set on the couch after dinner and check out everyone's design walls

Linking up with Patchwork Times for more design wall viewing.

Design Wall Monday May 13, 2013

On my design wall today is this soft floral quilt.

[caption id="attachment_2080" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Soft Floral[/caption]

Need to sew on those borders and it will be ready to take with me tomorrow for my appointment with the Long Arm.  Maybe I'll get the binding made too so I'll be ready to finish it up this week.

To see more design walls head over to Judy's Patchwork Times

Design Wall Monday

Yes it's the same picture from last week.  Remember I've been gone having fun all last week.  Of course I now have a billion things to do today but I'm determined  to have borders on this quilt this evening.  I mean really the quilt is due at quilt club on Thursday night so  I look at it this way..I'll have a finish to post on Friday. :)



I'll also be putting away the fabric bought on this road trip and counting it for next weeks report.  That could sting a bit, but most of what I bought already has purpose.

For more design walls head over to Judy's at Patchwork Times.