To-Do Tuesday #35 and dolphin runner finish

 My 35th week of linking to Home Sewn By Us for To-Do Tuesday

Here is the list from last week

To-Do Tuesday week of September 8 through September 14:

1. Finish dolphin runner yes
2. Work on other projects in progress..........scrappy rectangles.....around the cabin....and mini 3 crazy sisters AND my potholder FMQ practice pieces. yes

This dolphin runner started with me finding 3 dolphin fat quarters with the idea of making a runner for a friend to fit the top of her 50 x 18 cabinet.  She also really likes dolphins, blue and flags.  The decisions on this were the size of each section and the sashing...the cornerstones were needed to make it complete.  Then I decided on quilting with wavy lines with some crossing over each other.

And I remembered to FMQ my name and year at the edge...you can see it if you zoom in on that area.

The next photo is the scrappy rectangle quilt top finished and ready to find a backing and decide on quilting?  I used a black jelly roll to put vertical sashing on each block and used all of the length of the strips for the horizontal sashing.  I left the selvage ends on to sew the strips and will trim them after quilting.

I started a new project this week....actually two new projects........

I was watching The Quilt Show episode 2705 and became fascinated with the Kawandi quilt method shown by Sujata Shah.  I put photos and explained this in my last post on Sunday...Slow Sunday Stitching.

I also started another little quilt because of another fascination I saw on Pinterest....by Melody Johnson.  Nothing more about that now.

To-Do Tuesday week of September 15 through September 21:

1. finish hand quilting mini three crazy sisters quilt
2. start Cool Cats quilt in blues
3. FMQ 4 days this week

I am linking to Roseanne's 

http://homesewnbyus.com/to-do-tuesday-linky-58-weekly-progress-update/

and linking to Rebecca Grace  about FMQ

http://www.rebeccagracequilting.com/2020/09/lal7-inspired-by-online-ruler-work.html

and linking to Free Motion Mavericks

https://quiltinglearningcombo.blogspot.com/2020/09/sparkling-star-on-free-motion-mavericks.html

Be sure to see what everyone else is doing and join in the fun!!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Yellow Brick Road finished!

 This post is full of photos...of this quilt I just finished!

The first photo is being held and the second one is laying on the concrete.

This pattern is by Terry Atkinson of Atkinson Designs

I started it Januarry 21, 2014 and have blogged about it.  I had bought a 6 fat quarter bundle several years before I started this quilt.  I blogged about it 1/25/14 and then again 2/01/14, 2/08/14 and 6/27/14.  At that time it was a quilt top and it hung on my quilt rack for years as I did other quilts.

Then this year I decided I needed to finish it.  I used Diagonal Dots for the backing.  There are photos in 2/25/20 post of the start of FMQ.  I used designs by Lori Kennedy mostly.  The designs I used are flower power, Claire's peony, Faye's flower, Easy Peasy.  I also used wiggles, loops, heart leaves and spirals and meanders.  The first border I used lazy 8 Christina Cameli.  The outer border is #4 serpentine stitch on my machine 2.5 x 2.5.

The other blog posts with photos from this year 6/30, 7/14, 7/19 and 7/21.

Here are photos I took all over the quilt...starting at the top left and down and all around.  Since these photos are on my phone and then in my computer....they do go away....but this blog is where I can come to see them if they are gone other places!!

And the last photo is with a corner turned over to see the back.

It feels good to have this done....I had thought about giving it as a gift....but it has practice FMQ...but then that is what I usually call all my FMQ as it is hard to get it to look perfect.  OH that's right....I forgot I gave up being perfect and I am now striving to be perfectly imperfect!!!

Rebecca Grace has started a linky party and this is the second week.  She has invited me to join.

http://cheekycognoscenti.blogspot.com/2020/08/lal2-one-where-thoroughly-modern-millie.html

Be sure to check out the other posts......so many very interesting blogs to check!

AND I am also linking with Free Motion Mavericks

http://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.com/2020/08/free-motion-mavericks-week-293-another.html

Be sure to check their posts also.....it is so fun to see what everyone else is doing!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #27

My 27th week of linking to Home Sewn By Us for To-Do Tuesday

Here is my progress from last week

To-Do Tuesday for the week of July 14 through July 20:

1.  Spend every day on sewing/quilting project.  I will be hand sewing the binding on the yellow brick road a little each day.  Also sewing more scrappy rectangle blocks....and probably some other quilt projects. yes
2. FMQ practice or a project 4 days this week. yes

1  I worked on hand binding usually on the patio first thing in the morning when it was cool in the 60s....also other times during the day and evening.

I finished two more blocks of scrappy rectangles and worked on blocks from some other projects.

I made another mask from a different pattern. I used the CDC tutorial posted on TQS site

2 I did FMQ using the BSR foot, the ruler foot and the walking foot.  Here is the dolphin runner where I am using the walking foot and moving the runner back and forth to create a wavy line.  I decided to go back and cross some of the lines and that is what I will add next.

To-Do Tuesday for the week of July 21 through July 27:

1. Finish quilting the dolphin runner
2. Make the last block of the scrappy rectangle quilt
3. Do online class lessons at least 4 days

I am linking to Roseanne's 

http://homesewnbyus.com/to-do-tuesday-linky-50-weekly-progress-update/

Be sure to see what everyone else is doing and join in the fun!!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Slow Sunday Stitching binding

I have been hand sewing the binding on this quilt sitting on the patio the past few cool mornings...... 

and today enjoying some slow stitching!

There is something so relaxing about hand sewing a binding on a quilt...

I like all parts of making a quilt.....but this is satisfying as the quilt is almost done....

But then.....it is sad sometimes because the enjoyment of making this quilt is over.....

Kind of hard to explain.............

This is my yellow brick road quilt I have blogged about the FMQ.

I am linking to Kathy's Quilts  Slow Sunday Stitching

https://kathysquilts.blogspot.com/2020/07/slow-sunday-stitching_19.html

Be sure and check what everyone else is sewing today.

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #20

This is my 20th week of linking with Home Sewn By Us for To-Do Tuesday.

Here is my list from last week and my progress

To-Do Tuesday for the Week of May 12 through May 18:

1. Work on quilts..........Hope...Mai Tai (pineapple blocks) and Yellow Brick Road yes
2. Work on online class and creative journal 4 days at least yes
3. Learn about Zoom.........our small quilt group is meeting on Zoom and I have the e-mail invite......now just figure out what to do since this is my first time with Zoom. yes

1 On the Hope quilt the A blocks are in stages of completion.  The photos show one done and another under the stripology squared ruler waiting to be squared.  There are others ready to be squared and some yet to be sewn together.  The blue arrows are for lining up the center black strip and the corners of the 10" square.  The pink arrows were the cutting arrows for the A blocks.

    On the Mai Tai quilt the pineapple blocks are done with sashing

    On the yellow brick road I did some more FMQ adding a different flower...........Faye's flower by Lori Kennedy....and also some loops and heart leaves....my favorites!!

I did some FMQ to practice on an old Susan Winget fabric with a sunflower.  I used the ruler for the straight lines around the red edge and did not use the ruler foot.....I just continued to use the BSR foot.  It seemed to work doing it carefully and it was easier than doing a straight line with the BSR foot.

2 I worked in my creative journal and on the online class each for six days this past week.  (yeah....more than my goal!)

3 I did have audio issues with my connection to Zoom.  At first I had both my phone and tablet signed into the meeting.  The group saw 2 images of me and took the phone one off of the meeting.  Then I had a lot of trouble getting audio on my tablet....they could see me but couldn't hear me!!  Finally I was able to get it to work at the end..........very frustrating.  I am used to my iPad and the iPad is too old to use on Zoom.

To-Do Tuesday for the Week of May 19 through May 25:

1. Finish the A blocks on the Hope quilt
2. Work on one or more quilts to be given as gifts
3. Work on 3 or 4 pages in my 2020 Artfully Inspired Life online class

I am linking to  http://homesewnbyus.com/to-do-tuesday-linky-41-weekly-progress-update/

Be sure to see what everyone else is doing and join in the fun!!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Slow stitching with liberated log cabin and more

I get a lot of joy from sitting with a needle and thread and slowly stitching. 

I am hand stitching the liberated log cabin small quilt that I started last year and have blogged about before.  Here is a photo of it today......almost done.

I finished another zen stitching piece this past week.  I used a denim scrap and a fabric scrap piece and used different colors of 12 wt thread for the circle stitching following the patterns of the flowers.  This is my #12  Stitch Meditation.

Today I have some pieces ready to do another stitchery.  A lace scrap I couldn't decide which layout so I took photos and I used a Pin It pin on a piece of cardstock and I may cut that smaller.  The Stitch Meditation is supposed to be something you don't take more than a few minutes to decide.  So I took photos and will go back to it later.

I am linking to Kathy's Quilts:  Slow Sunday Stitching    here

and Quilting is more fun than Housework  Oh Scrap!   here

Be sure to check out these links and see what others are doing.

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Stitch Meditation and slow stitching

This is my 11th Stitch Meditation I have made.  This one I used a flannel piece with scraps of fabric stitched on top.  The long narrow pieces are extra pieces from the pineapple quilt I am doing and the other piece is a tiny piece that didn't fit in my scrappy strips around the cabin I am working on.  It measures about 4".  I am using 12 wt thread.
For those who haven't read about this before.....check out Liz Kettle on YouTube.  It is very relaxing to just start stitching with no plan.  I have blogged about this before in previous posts.  I finished this yesterday and will be doing another one today.

And today I am getting to the end of hand quilting my liberated log cabin small quilt.  I have enjoyed this little quilt so much...the piecing it together and the hand quilting.  I have usually saved working on this quilt to do with my small quilt group when we meet...but we are not meeting now because.....of the stay at home policy.

I am linking with Kathy's Quilts: Slow Sunday Stitching    here

and Quilting is my more fun than Housework  Oh Scrap!   here

Be sure to check out these links for other blogs linking to them.
AND now that we are all home more.....it is time to do some relaxing stitching!

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #8

I have been linking up to Home Sewn By Us and this is my 8th week.

So,,,,here is my list from last week and my progress

To-Do for the Week of February 18 through February 24:

1. Finish the improv brown tablemat yes
2. Do at least 3 more scrappy around the cabin blocks yes
3. Yellow brick road quilt top ready to quilt and start FMQ yes

1  I finished the tablemat and did a blog post about it 2/21... here

2  I got three more scrappy around the cabin blocks done for a total of 37 scrappy blocks done.

3  I started to do FMQing on the yellow brick road.  I am using a new to me design....flower power.  I had planned to do it all over.......we will see how it goes...I may add some different designs.  It is hard for me to do the same thing over and over!

Here is a photo of it basted and ready to quilt on the patio I took before I brought it to the machine!

AND I took a photo of my practice............I used a Susan Winget fabric and will make potholders with my practice pieces.

To-Do Tuesday for Week of February 25 through March 2:

1. Do more FMQ on the yellow brick road quilt
2. Do some class work in my 2020 Artfully Inspired Life...at least 3 days
3. Decide on fabrics and design for a baby quilt and start it
4. Decide on fabrics and design for a tablerunner for a friend and start it
5. Do at least one page in my creative journal and post in my FB Decorative Journaling group in February

I am linking to Roseanne's Linky #29

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

I am also linking to Free Motion Mavericks   week #269

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

Improv scrappy brown tablerunner finish

 I have been blogging about this and yesterday I finished it.  I took a lot of photos and used this for my FMQ practice.  It will go on top of a desktop...that is 5' from the floor.

 Lots of closeup shots to show all the different stitching.
Crazy matrix.........open heart with echo....some closed hearts.....heart leaves...loops...
leafy meander....switchbacks....ribbon candy....lazy 8......u shapes and then backwards

 Designs from online videos and Bluprint classes.

 I used the improv piecing I have done before from Bluprint class by Jackie Gering and it is a fun way to do a quilt.  I used a lot of old scraps in this quilt.  I did 2½" rectangle pieced borders.
AND the backing is from a purchase in the 90's......

 I am linking to Free Motion Mavericks  week 268

Go and check out what others are making..........

I am also linking to Oh Scrap! 
This quilt has some really old scraps from more than 20 years ago!!

AND go check out the other posts in her link

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #6

I have been linking up to Home Sewn By Us and today is my 6th week.

Here is my list from last week and my progress

To-Do for the Week of February 4 through February 10:

1. Do some Stitch Meditations at least 3 days. yes
2. FMQ improv browns quilt  yes
3. 2020 online class Artfully Inspired Life....work on class lessons 4 days  yes

1  Here is the photo of the three I did this week.  I have been so interested in this since I heard about it several weeks ago and have blogged about this in previous blog posts.  These are just fun to do with no plan and just do creative stitching and enjoy the process.  I call these zen stitching.  I have a total of 7 done so far.

2  I finished FMQ on the improv quilt and have the binding sewn on and am now finishing the hand stitching binding to the back.  I did a lot of different practice stitches some for the first time.  I blogged about some of these in the last post.

3  And I worked in my class book.  I have some other pages partly done.  The only one finished is page 1.  The logo art in the photo is by Joanne Sharpe and the bottom part is done by me...the painting and doodle letters.

To-Do for the Week of February 11 through February 17:

1. Do more Stitch Meditations
2. Make sure I have all the info for Bonnie Hunter's Frolic mystery before it is deleted.

I am not going to be very specific on goals this week.....I have a birthday coming up this weekend!  I am coming to the end of my seventies!!  Hard to believe.....this time came too fast!  AND I have Aztec basketball games to watch!

I am linking to Roseanne's linky #27

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

Smiles and hugs....Caryl

To-Do Tuesday #5

I have been linking up to Home Sewn By Us for the past several weeks.  And today is my 5th week.

Here is my list from last week and my progress

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

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

1  I finished the Kiwiberry batik rails quilt the last day of January....and did a blog post about it then.  The quilt has a lot of different FMQing and I added lots of photos to that post.

2  I am in a FB group and we do creative art journaling about our life and our days!  We have to post at least once a month to stay in the group..........and here is the page I posted last month.

3  I have the top almost done of the improv browns.........the top and bottom borders are ready to be added.  I have the binding ready to add.  

4   I worked 5 days on my 2020 online class in practicing and in the class book

My last post I also blogged about what I call my zen stitching.  Last week I heard about Stitch Meditations and started doing them.  There is more about it on my last post.  Here is a photo of the four I have done this past week:

These are not art quilts....just creative stitching for mindfulness practice.  

There is a video by Liz Kettle to watch to learn about it and the rules of doing it.

To-Do for the Week of February 4 through February 10:

1. Do some Stitch Meditations at least 3 days.
2. FMQ improv browns quilt
3. 2020 online class Artfully Inspired Life....work on class lessons 4 days

I am linking to Roseanne's Linky #26

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

Smiles and hugs....Caryl