PIECING BIG

One of the odd things about this Wallflower quilt kit I'm working on is the size of the pieces and blocks.
I usually work in smaller pieces.  These blocks end up being 18" square, which seem so big!
I was busy most of the day, and only got a few more of the other blocks done.
I think there's only five left to sew together.

COLOR LOVE

This color is the main reason I found this quilt kit irresistible.  It's the most wonderful acidy greeny-yellowish-gold.  With the red, it just pops.

I got the rest of the 'star' blocks for the "Wallflower" quilt sewed together today.

SEWING NUT

I've been working on this Splendid Sampler block for a little while and finally finished it today.

I fussed and fussed with the yo-yo flower.  I redid it several times and just could not get the center to come together and remain a circle.  I don't want to add things like buttons or leave a gap. So, it is what it is.

This is "Sewing Nut" by Frances Newcombe.

CUTTING IT ALL OUT

I bought another kit from Craftsy!  I can't help myself, they are all on sale.

This one is called "Molly".  I like the colors and the pattern looks quick and easy.

I took all the fabric to work and got it all cut out during the slow times.

I have to make the half-square triangle squares yet.

I can probably bring those to work and trim them down, too.

[an efficient use of time]

I was pretty upset, because there were supposed to be 20 fat quarters, and I only had 19.  And, the larger piece for the binding was advertised as being red - I got brown.

Luckily, before I sent of a complaint, I found the missing fat quarter at home, hiding.

I went online to order the red for the binding, and it was out of stock.  So, I ordered a different red that should work.

SUNDAY LITE

Sundays are always our days to go shopping and get ready to go back to work.

We went grocery shopping in the morning, then spent most of the day catching up on yardwork, housework and laundry.

I'm still putting the kitchen back together.

The countertops, tile and sink are all installed.  But, I still need a garbage disposal for one side of the sink and the dishwasher is not hooked up yet.  Hopefully, that will all come together early next week.

I did get a little time in the studio sewing and I spent some time getting a list of fabrics I need for my next project.

A glimpse of the new countertop and tile back splash.

BIRTHDAY 61

Only one more year until I can retire!

Darrell and I left early and went up I-90 to Denny Creek and hiked up to Franklin Falls with the dogs.  We were surprised to see so much snow on the trail, and the poor dogs didn't bring their boots!

Afterward, we went shopping and bought a new toaster-oven.

Then had lunch and came home to relax.

I sewed a little, but it was getting stuffy upstairs with the iron going and I was tired.

I got another Splendid Sampler block done - The Selvedge Saver, which happens to be one of my least favorite blocks.

I got a couple more of the easy blocks done on the Wallflower Quilt Kit.

SOLSTICE BLOCK 22

Here is the shrunk down version of this week's Solstice Challenge block.

The block was supposed to be 24" square, but I'm making all my blocks just 12" because I have a limited amount of fabric -- and it's dwindling fast.

Even on this block, I used a different background in the corners because I didn't have enough of the other.  That pretty much finished off that little striped fabric.

This is Weathervane:

They came and installed the new countertops today!

The backsplash tile will be installed tomorrow.

TWO FOR TUESDAY

After tearing the countertops off in the kitchen (or rather, I watched Darrell do it), I went up to the studio and made two more Splendid Sampler blocks.

Both paper pieced, both all paisleys.

#48 "Whim" by Fath Jones

Jelly sleeps on the floor below my sewing machine.  This is where the scraps end up.

#42 "Pencils" by Jane Davidson

TWO MORE SPLENDID BLOCKS

I finished up some applique blocks for my Splendid Sampler.

TRIMMING PIECES

I got all of the half-square triangles and flying geese sewed together for my Wallflower kit project so I could take them to work and trim them up there.

So, I did and I did.

SOLSTICE WEEK 21

This one has a lot of little 2 inch squares.

I'm not so sure it works with all these plaids and their lines going every way and not matching up!

I would have used a less busy background if I had had more choices.

GETTING CAUGHT UP

I finally got around to making this week's Solstice Challenge block, "Hugs and Kisses".

The directions called for doing it in such a way that there would be a lot of fabric waste.  I'm getting down to small bits of fabric left and I'm getting concerned about having enough.  I decided to make the block, but in a way that wouldn't use as much fabric.

I first had to draw out the block on paper so I could figure out what size pieces I needed.

This is how the directions wanted it made.

Here is the little drawing I made, with actual sizes so I'd know what size to cut the pieces.

I sewed the triangles to the sides of the rectangle.

Then I squared them down to the right size.

The finished block - Hugs and Kisses.

 Then I moved on to the Children's Library Block of the Month.

This is May's - "Green Eggs and Ham".

FLYING GEESE UNITS

I'm working on this Wallflower Quilt kit.  The directions introduced me to a new way to making Flying Geese units.  It is a very strange way to do it.  I wonder how anyone ever wrapped their mind around this and came up with this convoluted process.  But I like it.

May the Fourth Be With You!

ALL CUT OUT

I finished cutting out the fabrics for the Wallflower quilt kit.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was plenty of fabric to cut out the needed pieces.  The stack on the lower left of photo is all the leftovers.  The only one that had me worried was the background fabric, it came very close.  I have very little left.

Then I got the rest of the tiles removed (except for the tiles behind the sink, which I'll remove at the last minute so as not to get the wallboard wet.)

This is the before picture - I guess I didn't take an after picture.

I accidentally destroyed the wallboard trying to get these tiles out.

I cleaned up the hole - tomorrow I'll put a patch in there.

CUTTING FABRIC

I had to work a half day this morning.  I got home just in time to go out to lunch with the DH to a new sandwich shop down by Endolyne Joe's called Wildwood Market where they make sandwiches and have gluten free bread on request.
After lunch I cleaned the green stuff off the back deck and deck furniture and got the picnic table ready to use.

Then I went upstairs and started cutting fabric for the Wallflower quilt (kit).  So far, they seem to be pretty generous with the fabric.  Yea!

MAY DAY BUSY

Monday, and I was pretty busy today.

I took the dogs to the park first thing.

Then I went with DH while he ran a bunch of errands.  We had lunch out and then returned home.

I got the Block B of my Wallflower Quilt kit done.

Then I removed one wall of tile in the kitchen in preparation for the new countertops and backsplashes and cleaned up the mess.

The instructions include a totally different way to make the Flying Goose units.  I works okay, so I'll probably do the rest of them the same way.

Jelly and Jax

Jax says he heard a squirrel.

Cherry blossoms at Lincoln Park

The old tile and countertop.

After I removed the one wall of tile.