Bowtiesnstars

Well that went fast! I spent the month of May in a depressed funk over how the semester ended, which didn’t help. Next year I will know better, I tell myself, and won’t take things personally. Right. And I will get started on summer work early! Now that is more doable. I think I finally pulled out of my funk when Jeanette came to visit in late June. Amazing what time with a friend can do for your attitude.

We stayed at Rockaway beach two nights and explored the coast during the day – visited quilt shops in McMinnville and Tillamook, cheese factory, Cannon Beach, Astoria, Lewis & Clark. It was a packed week end, and so uplifting! I was able to send two quilts back with her – the Butterfly and the Fig Tree Block of the Month. She is going to custom quilt both of them. So excited to see what she creates.

The next week Donna and Kim came to visit. So much miscommunication between all of us, but it worked out in the end. Again, I was in such a funk the previous month, I didn’t do well at making plans myself.

Kim was last here just a couple of years ago, but it has been 20+ years for Donna, so we did a few traditional touristy things and a few new things. The first day was a quick drive to the coast, stopping at quilt stores as well. My company signed a new account in Salem, and since Donna also works for the company, we joined the opening crew for dinner. The next day we went to Multnomah Falls. What an adventure that turned out to be! I had one bar on my gas gauge left, planning to get gas at the Costco on that side of town. No big deal. I took the old, scenic route to the falls, but somehow missed a turn and started heading up Larch (?) Mountain, behind the falls. Ended up on a very steep, one lane dirt road. And my gas gauge beeps at me. Donna had reminded me of needing gas, but she handled the stress very well. She was more concerned with my stress as she said my knuckles were pretty white gripping the steering wheel! We made it to the closest gas station, came back for Ice Cream Cake for Donna’s birthday and drove down to Medford for the night. The next day we went to the place that has been on my bucket list for decades!

There was a forest fire in the county so a lot of morning haze – you could smell the smoke in the air!

We stopped off at a scenic look out before reaching Crater Lake. Beautiful area! Then we continued on to the North entrance of the National Park.

We continued on to the AirBNB that my sister-in-law had secured the previous year in Tumalo. The next day we visited the quilt stores in Sisters and Bend. My favorite store is Sew Many Quilts in Bend. I spent much more than I intended to spend, and my credit cards reflect it. And I now have three more projects all ready for me to begin. The projects just keep stacking up on me! Saturday we went to the Sister’s Outdoor Quilt Show! Fewer quilts this year, and I think fewer people as well. But just as hot! We got there early to avoid the heat of the day, but by noon we had to buy some hats to help with all that sunshine.

Such beautiful quilts we saw! I took a lot of pictures since my SIL Donna could not attend, but I will only show a few here.

I think this spinning stars one was my favorite. Adorable, unpretentious, and something I would be able to make myself. The most amazing one to me was part of the Tula Pink challenge from a quilter in Pella, Iowa.

That top picture is the center of the bottom picture! Such excellent detail and using such tiny pieces! Just amazing. I was so impressed. There were so many beautiful quilts. And representative of many different styles and skill levels. Maybe next year I will have a quilt ready to be shown. I should make that a goal!

Outside the Stitchin Post, host of the Quilt Show, they hang quilts made by store employees, I believe. Several Log Cabin quilts. Another favorite block as there are so many ways to set the blocks!

I finished the Tree of Life quilt top and made a Christmas quilt for my SIL.

We start feeding athletes on July 29th! I am so anxious, but mainly because of things outside my control. My main food distributer is having labor issues. The Federal Unemployment bonus checks don’t end until September, employees have to pass a drug test and Portland is in a state that has legalized drugs, and the supply chain is facing similar issues. They hope to have it resolved by September when hopefully people are willing to come back to work. My salesperson asked me to reduce my order to 30 cases and only a once weekly delivery. I eliminated all the produce items, and agreed to go to Will Call to pick up some dry items. I got there at 8:11, checked in my order a little before 9:00 and was told it would be 2 hours. It actually turned out to be 4 hours later and I was finally on my way. When we start serving meals, I will not be able to drive south of my house, hang out for 5 hours just to go back to work with it all. I believe the competitor will be getting much bigger orders this year.

So in my 3 months of summer time (with reduced work hours). I completed 4 quilt tops. I am happy with that. Unfortunately, I also bought more fabric so have many more quilts to make! I will not have to go to a quilt store for a year I do believe.

It is finished. At least for me it is.

In the last months packet, they included an eggplant purple for an inner border and than a coral/orange floral for the outer border that just wasn’t my style. As is, it measures 63 1/2 by 75. On Facebook, I saw pictures of last years sampler BOM that did not include a border and I really liked it. Also, this isn’t the type of quilt I will put on a bed. Will look great on the quilt rack or a hanger for show so it really doesn’t need to be any larger. My quilter assured me that all those seams on the edge won’t matter so I am happy with my decision. Here are a few pictures of some of the sections as I put it together.

The fabric in the geese was also to be used for the border.

These leaves were also fun to make, even if the stem was appliqued on. I really need to up my game on that.

Jeanette is coming on Friday!! I am so excited to have her come to visit. I have two tops ready for her to quilt and am hoping to get a third completed, but it is doubtful.

I started this perhaps two years ago now. Time goes so fast. For my cousin in Colorado. Need to make three more trees, than put it all together. And yes, I know that top tree is missing a piece. There are actually two blocks that have that same error. I am okay with it. Hope Joanie will be too!

I am getting so close to the end of this BOM! This is the last block for month 9:

I have started working on month 10 and read ahead as well. Looks like I get to start working on putting sections together and some filler blocks. So exciting!

My goal is to finish it this month! Check out Elm Street Quilts to see more quilting inspiration.

Memorial Day week end, Donna and I went to the Portland Rose Gardens. So many of them were in bloom, and such huge blooms! I couldn’t stop taking pictures!

Just a sampling…so gorgeous!

I am so amazed with this block of the month from Fig Tree Quilt Co. Even if I am a few years late to the game. At the beginning of the month, I was half way through month 3 and I was hoping to double that by the end of the month. Block of the Month is kind of a misnomer, because in this program, there are usually 3 blocks to make and multiples of them. Here is a stack of the different blocks to show the different sizes.

I am so happy to say I am half way through month 8!!

In month 8, I have found an error which slowed me down. Not a big deal as the squares listed to cut were a bit larger than required. A similar technique was used in the previous months blocks so I kind of guesstimated what the sizes should be and I think it worked out well enough. Guess the proof will be in the final placement of the block. A good reason to make the blocks when I get them, not three years later!

My May goal has been met, and surpassed! I am excited to get this done! Hop on over to Elm Street Quilts to see everyone else’s progress!

It is finished! And it went together so fast! All those lovely pastels had me feeling spring or getting ready for Easter. I am so happy with how it turned out!

The pattern only uses four blocks: star, nine patch, skinny sticks, and HST. I added a few Snow Shoos for variety and a four patch block. Next time I would like to do a few more blocks. I can see log cabins fitting in well, maybe another type of star as well. If you need a quick quilt, this is a great option.

Donna brought me to a nice park perfect for walking. Good excuse for a ride in the new car too! Commonwealth Park was easy to get to and I will be visiting it again. Plenty of space, good amount of people of all ages. Pretty. Reminds me of many of the parks back in Eagan.

Beautiful day for a walk!

I am back to working on the Fig Tree BOM Autumn Splendor. Each month has 3 different blocks, and multiples of them. It has been interesting because there are several different size blocks so far: 5″, 6″, 7″, 9″, and a 12″. I finished the last block, the 12″ flying geese block, for month 3 and have done the 3 Acorn blocks and 4 basket blocks for month 4. Now working on 2 bear paw blocks to finish up this month. I am excited to see how this will come together!

This represents 2 1/2 months of blocks for a Block of the Month program from I think 2019. My goal for this month is to double that. Summer is when I have time to sew and for me, summer has started! Also, another incentive is, somehow, I signed up for two more Block of the Month programs for 2021. Why do I do this to myself?!

This was going to be my goal project for May, but it has come together so fast, I could easily be done by the week end. Although my second Covid shot is Friday, so we shall see what my energy level will be.

This well be a rather large baby quilt for a girl to be born in August. It sure felt like Easter though when I was making the blocks! The pattern writer, Vanessa Goertzen, uses 4 blocks to make the butterfly. I added a few shoo fly blocks and a four patch block and wish I had done a few Log Cabins as well. All but the two vertical strips are cut, just needs to be sewed up!

Connect with Elm Street Quilts to see what other quilters are working on this month. Patty has sponsors for One Monthly Goal with a few winners randomly drawn each month. Today I got an email from her that I had been drawn for the month of April! What a pleasant surprise! Thank-you Patty, and Fat Quarter Shop! They are both a great resource for us quilters!

I finished on time! It was a super busy month and I will be happy when the next two days are done as well. I think I am more excited for the end of the semester than some of the students. But I have so much planning to do for the opening of next semester. I am so hoping that Oregon will open up as normal. We. need. it. But first, the doll quilt.

I only had time to machine stitch in the ditch around the blue triangles. The quilting is the more difficult part of the job for me, so not perfect. But hopefully acceptable. I do like the overall look of it, and hope the recipient does too. I think I would like to make a larger quilt for myself. Could be interesting scrappy too. Hmmm.

I also received a doll quilt, from Mary Beard. Hand pieced and hand quilted! Lovely! Such a beautiful quilt and with a great hand feel. Perhaps from not using batting? I have never done that, but this is light, pliable, great drape, and simply lovely.

And now the wedding quilt! Nick and Michele liked the quilt, although Michele has only seen a picture of it at this point. 🙂 She will see it once they are back from their honeymoon.

It was good to be with my Texas family. Fun to see them interact and my brother still being a Dad. He raised some great kids! I may be a bit partial in that opinion…

I didn’t get near enough photos of the quilt. Too busy a month! But the quilting was done by Janie Creates. She did such a great job! I love it so much, I already have plans for one with a softer grey background and Christmas fabrics!

I decided if they didn’t like the mix of blues on the front, the back is more than presentable with all the quilting!

Again, not the best photos. I was too excited after unpacking it from the box! But it has been given, and knowing my nephew, it will be loved. If you click over to Elm Street Quilts, you will see even more quilting fun of other goals met. Great inspiration!

In April, Lori of Humble Quilts, hosts a doll quilt exchange. I have participated I think four different years. Have received lovely quilts, and every year I tell myself, I need to just make two of everything so I will have one for myself when I am done. In an earlier post, I have pictures of some of the doll quilts I have made other years. Last year I did another bow tie block quilt. I wasn’t going to participate this year, because there is a wedding I will be traveling to so it eliminates a whole week end, which is when most of my sewing gets done. But Lori posted that she still has a few openings and really, how long should a doll quilt take to make? So my goal this month is to make a doll quilt, start to finish. At Elm Street Quilts, you can see what other quilters are working on this month.

Years ago on a blog, the author made a two block quilt she called Snow Shoo, using a snowball block and the shoo fly block. I thought it was such a unique look. I emailed myself a link to her blog and I can not find it anywhere. It was so many years ago I think I would have a quilt done by the time I found the link. So I tried to draw out what I remember.

I will keep it just two colors as well. I am hoping the background fabric isn’t too busy. Off to the cutting table!

I finished binding the Laundry Basket/Fig Tree mystery quilt from this spring! I even got a label on it!

I love the soft colors of the Fig Tree fabrics. Very soothing in such a stressful year. I think the quilting that Jeanette did also complimented the fabric and the pattern as well. I think it is most visible in the border…

I have made more paper pieced blocks and cut out fabric for a leader and ender project as well. Hopefully that will help me get a few more quilts made this year. I got the binding on the quilt for my nephew on as well. Less than a month away so I will blog about that later. In the mean time, go over to Elm Street Quilts to see what other quilters finished up this month.

I am surprised at how much I am enjoying this project! I have had to rip on one of the blocks. Not easy to do. They are so cute! And I am getting the hang of the backwardness of the lay out. I am not even close to keeping up with the blocks each week, but that is okay. I am enjoying the process. I think I have 11 done so far. I don’t have an end game, so I am not worried if I don’t get all of them done, but they really are so cute, I will make as many as I can.

My last post, two months ago, outlined a few projects in the works and I have made good progress on them.

My original plan for Nick’s quilt was the Secret Santa, but I saw a picture on pintrest of some flying geese and changed things up.

I sent it off to my Minnesota quilter, Janie Creates. She has already sent a picture back of what she is doing and I love it! Can’t wait to see the finished quilt!

I have the binding strips cut out, so as long as it doesn’t get lost in the mail, I should be able to have it done by the wedding. I need to get caught up on bindings so have top stitched two other quilts. My goal for this month is to get at least one of them completed. Really, how long should a binding take? This is the one I will tackle first!

If you go to Elm Street Quilts, you can view other people’s monthly goals as well. Such talented folks out there!

Coming from Minnesota, weather is always discussed. So here is a picture of the winter storm that came through Valentine’s week end. Actually it is the parking/road behind the back door of where I work. Super slick. I had to stay on campus 3 nights. Only packed for one because surely it won’t be that bad…

I also completed the December project from Figs and Friends.

Love how it turned out. Jeanette did a kind of orange peel quilting motif that reflected one of the fabrics. I think it will be a Christmas gift…

I signed up for Little Blocks 365 at Sentimental Stitches. It is no longer available, but Gay always has different sew-alongs going. This one is 3 inch blocks that are paper pieced. Every Friday she emails directions for a set of blocks. I am not an expert on paper piecing, and with much of my fabric stash unreachable, I think I may make a blue and grey quilt for myself with this project. I think I am in the mood to try and increase my skills. Since it is every Friday for much of the year, this will be another long term project.