Kiwiberry batik rails finish and some zen stitching

 I finished a UFO that I started in November 2010.  I have blogged about it before and lately quite a lot!  It was a goal to finish this quilt this month.........and that is what I did!

 Here is the back.......I did a lot of different FMQ designs.......mostly as practice for the first time on each design.  This will go on our patio table.

 I took photos of all of the areas and decided to add them to this blog post.  There are words and short sentences added in different areas. AND I did some very big hand stitching in some areas!

next I will talk about what I call zen stitching.................

 This week I read a blog post about Stitch Meditations..........I became very fascinated and interested in checking out the video and learning more about it.
So here is the info I read and you can check it out on this blog post by Andrèe here 

The video she refers to is on YouTube by Liz Kettle   Stitch Meditations

Rules....No plan..take few minutes to pick materials...no taking out stitches. AND OK not to be perfect!! Here are my little pieces of creative bliss!!! I have used flannel 4 x 4 and 3 1/2 x 4 and my tiny saved scraps!!!  I like the idea with no plan and just decide as you go what you will do.  So I have spent about 30 minutes on each of these the past 3 afternoons....sitting on our patio with temps in the upper 70s............so relaxing......

And the reason I call it zen stitching.......meaning of zen is.....a state of calm attentiveness in which one's actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort.

I am linking to Free Motion Mavericks  week 265

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #4

I have been linking up to Home Sewn By Us for the past several weeks.  This is my 4th week already....I like the published list to keep me focused.  AND I like to see what others in the link are doing.

Here is my list from last week and my progress

To-Do for the Week of January 21st through 27th:

1. Piece the improv table runner which will be 14 x 57 and do FMQ practice
2. Do some cutting and/or sewing of the Frolic quilt at least 4 days  yes
3. Work on 2020 Artfully Inspired LIfe book at least 4 days  yes

1.  The photo below shows the stack of blocks ready to put together.  I still need to add some more blocks so I didn't quilte get done what I had planned....but I made good progress!

2.  I did work on the Frolic quilt on 4 days

3.  I worked on my online class on 4 days.

Here are two photos from the Road to California quilt show that we attended in Ontario.  It was an amazing quilt show and very enjoyable.  The quilts were outstanding and there were a lot of vendors.

You can check online to see these quilts by the quilters....these are my photos that I took......

The first one is by Kathy McNeil called Spring Harmony

The second photo is part of the quilt by Claudia Pfeil called Bricks and Gears

To-Do for the Week of January 28 through February 3:

1. Finish batik rails quilt this month. 
2. Do a page in my creative journal and post in FB group Decorative Journaling
3. Improv browns....get the top pieced and start FMQ practice on it
4. 2020 online class Artfully Inspired Life....work on it 4 days.

I am linking to Roseanne's Linky #25

Be sure to check it out and join in the fun!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #3

For the past two weeks I have linked up with Home Sewn By Us for To-Do Tuesday.

Having a list keeps me focused on my plan for the week and I think I get more done with this published list.  So I am continuing with making a list and putting it on my blog.

Here is my list from last week and my progress

To-Do for the Week of January 14th through 20th:

1. Finish quilting batik rails quilt and get ready to add binding.  yes
2. Do 4 pages of Joanne Sharpe online class book Artfully Inspired Life
3. Make 4 more Scrappy Strips Around the Cabin blocks  yes
4. Start an improv table runner for the top of bookcase on office desk.  yes

1.  I finished FMQ and got the binding ready and have applied the binding....and started hand stitching the binding to the back.  Here is the photo I took yesterday of the quilt trimmed and ready for the binding.

2.  I did not get 4 pages done in my 2020 Artfully Inspired Life book but I did work in this book. 

3.  I made 4 more blocks for the Scrappy Strips Around the Cabin quilt.  The photo shows the four in a group of blocks with paw print centers.  I have 9 blocks with these fabrics to add to 21 more blocks I have of all various shapes and fabrics.

4.  I started the improv table runner.  The photo shows the groups of strips sewn together and also some of the 2 patches added together for 4 patches.  I have them numbered 1 through 9 to keep track of which ones I have joined together so I don't have repeats....for more of a variety.  Most of these are really old fabrics that I want to use up and this quilt won't be very visible because it will be up on top of the bookcase.

To-Do for the Week of January 21st through 27th:

1. Piece the improv table runner which will be 14 x 57 and do FMQ practice
2. Do some cutting and/or sewing of the Frolic quilt at least 4 days
3. Work on 2020 Artfully Inspired LIfe book at least 4 days

I am linking up with Roseannes  Linky #24.

Be sure to check it out and join in the fun!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

FMQ fun

• I am having a lot of fun doing FMQ every day.  
• In this photo I wrote the words..... create every day.
• I started doing the designs from online Bluprint class....28 Days to Better Free-Motion Quilting.
• The designs are zig zag, circuit board and simple V from this class in the photo.

I am linking up to Free Motion Mavericks

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #2

Last week I linked up with Home Sewn By Us for To-Do Tuesday.

I found that having the published list for this week kept me focused on the things I had planned for the week and was fun and not a burden.  Since I am retired I try to relax and enjoy my days leisurely as I choose to do things.  But I also need to give myself a little push!!

Here is my list from last week and my progress

To-Do for the Week of January 7th through 13th:

1. Make progress on my batik rail quilt with FMQ and hand quilting.  I made a statement yesterday at my quilt group that I will finish this quilt this month.   yes
2. Practice FMQ at least 5 days this week   yes
3. Do some pages in my online class book with Joanne Sharpe 2020 Artfully Inspired Life   yes
4. Work on Frolic Bonnie Hunter mystery   yes

1.  I worked on the batik rails quilt every day.

2.  I did FMQ practice 6 days for at least 10 minutes.  Practice was on my batik rails quilt most of the time.   I did a blog post on Saturday with a photo of FMQ on my batik rails quilt.

3.  I worked a little bit in my 2020 Artfully Inspired Life book.

4.  I worked on part 3 of Frolic mystery doing HST on 2 different days. 

To-Do for the Week of January 14th through 20th:

1. Finish quilting batik rails quilt and get ready to add binding.
2. Do 4 pages of Joanne Sharpe online class book Artfully Inspired Life
3. Make 4 more Scrappy Strips Around the Cabin blocks
4. Start an improv table runner for the top of bookcase on office desk.

I will post my progress next week

Linking to Roseanne   Linky #23

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

FMQ practice

Today I wrote the word practice...........in my batik rales quilt.  I have been doing FMQ practice and that is what it takes to get better.  I am using this quilt as my practice. 

My inspiration for today and 10 minutes of FMQ was from Bluprint class by Christina Cameli.  From the class Free-Motion Quilting Essentials I did pebbles, spiral vine and feathers.

The other parts at the bottom are from her book Fog, Orange Peel Echoed and Plenty.

There are other parts of this photo I did with a ruler and just practice.

I still need a lot of practice to get these to look decent.......but I wanted to share what I have done this week so far.

I am linking to Free Motion Mavericks
https://quiltinglearningcombo.blogspot.com/2020/01/sacred-geometry-for-project-quilting-at.html

I just found out about this link today and wanted to share my practice of FMQ.

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday

I have decided to add my to-do list to my blog.....at least I will do it this week.
I have a habit of making a list every day of things I want to do.  BUT.....This will be different to post some of my things from my hand written list to my blog! I have been reading blogs of others doing this and I am joining in the fun!

  I will be adding this post to Roseanne's link     Click....It will take you to the To-Do Linky #22

To-Do for the Week of January 7th through 13th:

1. Make progress on my batik rail quilt with FMQ and hand quilting.  I made a statement yesterday at my quilt group that I will finish this quilt this month.
2. Practice FMQ at least 5 days this week
3. Do some pages in my online class book with Joanne Sharpe 2020 Artfully Inspired Life
4. Work on Frolic Bonnie Hunter mystery

At the end of the week I will post a report of how I did for the week on my goals.

Linking to Home Sewn By Us  (link above)

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Happy New Year everyone!

A new year with all new possibilities!  Today I will be setting up my bullet journal and my list of things I want to do this year.........................and working in my new online class and......more fun things!

BUT FIRST.....I am going to watch the basketball game that starts at noon!  Aztecs are 13 and 0 so far this year!
We really enjoy watching college basketball!!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl