So Many projects where do I start

With the fire in my apt, then putting everything in storage, now in a house and unpacking has taken a big part of this year. No the unpacking isn't finished but it is getting there. Everything has to be cleaned before it is put away in the house - which is taking forever.


I do now have it down to where I can take time to do some fun things. I did the two blocks for the round robin on a Yahoo group. And I have enough of my craft/quilt/embroidery where I can start working on some things. HOORAY I've missed it. Making the two blocks really got my creative juices flowing again. I have the two blocks from other ladies in the round robin (RR) and I'll begin work on the border I am to add to each so they can be mailed hopefully prior to Oct 25 the scheduled date. Then I have a beautiful CQ quilt to assemble. It was made for a charity auction on a group of mine. It has been lost and was actually in storage when I thought it had been stolen when I had a break-in, now found I need to get it together. It will be assembled as one huge block, with all seams embellished with trim, gimp, lace, embroiery etc. Not sure of the backing yet. It is done in white/off white and ecru (mostly) with pastel embellishments, and is so striking. I may have to make one for myself as I really like the way it turned out. Rather than a solid light colored backing I may choose to piece on, and then tie the two together hiding the stitches in the embellishments on the front CQ side.


Yes, I know I have to many irons in the fire, but busy life keeps me young, if not in body otherways for sure. In November I will have my family here for Thanksgiving and I'm excited and looking forward to it. The first time I've been in a place in a long time where I could have them all. I thoroughly enjoy the day and cooking for them. We've had several gatherings at my youngest daughter's but I like to do it, so this year will get to.


I have a tower of plastic drawers that I just took outside and sprayed with the hose, it got partially clean now I will have to take soap and rag or pinesol and finish cleaning it. Then once it is dry will be able to put all my needles, threads, scissors, small rulers, etc in the drawers smaller ones. It has 4 small and 3 large drawers, the larger ones are perfect for the projects I'm working on when I want to have handy or put away till next time at the machine. Need to get another to put near my sewing chair in my bedroom for the hand stitched quilt and embroidery projects. I have two large plastic baskets of projects waiting on me there. Some where some time in the near future need to select a fabric and recover that chair - it matches nothing in my house, but love it.


Have 4 cornices to make and 2 chairs to upholster for the living room. Have the upholster fabric, just need to get rest of the materials.


Someone said on a group yesterday that they needed a few hours added to each day, that would help, but since that won't happen, need to make the most of the hours I have. Which I don't always, but think once the unpacking is done and things are more organized where I can find something when I want it without looking for hours

Round Robin Blocks Done (Almost)

The last couple of days have been good. I finished (almost) the first of two round robin blocks. I had chosen a Valentine's day theme and used identical red/white fabric, with design reversed. I then cut out free hand some red and white hearts and machine appliqued to a 9 patch. Thinking I had a lace heart to put in the center - well I havent found it. So ordered a new one, and will add to my block once it makes it rounds and comes back home. This block is my first attempt at machine applique. I did an overcast on the white hearts and a satin stitch on the red. The satin was maybe to tight as it made the center of the block pucker a tiny bit. Need to practice more but didn't take it out since I'm putting the lace heart over the center and maybe a cupid. The heart for sure and will try the cupid and see how it looks.

The second block is for 4th of July theme. There are 5 ladies in each group. We each make a block (square or rectangle) about 16" and send to the person under us on the list. Then each of the rest of the ladies as they get it add a border of 5-9". After the last lady adds her border it is returned to the person that made the block. The borders are pieced or appliqued continuing the theme of the block. This photo doesn't do justice to the fabrics. This block is awesome (I think). Just wish I had more of the flag fabric and would make a quilt. Maybe do one using a pretty flower print instead. It goes together easy, works up quickly.

I have a small table that I had used in a breakfast area in another house and have it in my living room for a game table. I want to have several small quilt table toppers to use on it, having one special to each holiday.

I now have a start. How many holidays to go????

My first Round Robin in a long Time

I've signed up for a round robin and really looking forward to it. This one is different from any I've done in the past.


We have a group of 5 ladies. We each make a block then send to the person just below each of us on the list. Then we each add a border to the block, sending to the person below us. Once it makes all the rounds the block with it's borders is returned to it's owner. At first I was hesitant, but after sufing I found a number of similar round robins and found the small quilts to be very attractive.

I've toyed with a dozen or more ideas in my head, and with each I really liked the thought but wasn't sure I had time to put it together. So while ironing some fabric that had to be washed after the fire, I found 2 pieces (1/2 yard each) of the same design. One is red design on white, the other the same design in white on red. So I will be making a checkerboard background square and applique red hearts on it, and maybe add a few white ones. The end of the Round Robin is the end of Jan which will mean it will be home in time to use for Valentine's Day. I plan to quilt it into a small quilt for a table topper for a "game" table I have in my living room.

Morning Glory Block

I'm in the process of designing a center block with morning glories (appliqued) to center a small quilt. It originally was to be used in a round robin - not sure that will happen. Original rules were a group would be assigned of 6 people. #1 makes a square (14-16" appliqued, pieced etc) and send to #2 on list. That person through #6 would add a border (appliqued or pieced from 5"-9" wide). I thought 5 borders of this size on a 14 or 16" center block would be to many. Even though the borders are all pieced or appliqued or in some other way much more than a piece of plain fabric I think they would overwhelm the block. So there has been some discussion and not sure of current status.


Either way decided I liked my idea for my square and even if the round robin doesn't work out, will make it and add borders of my own choosing. I have a small table in my living room that I'm using for a game table for games and/or zig saw puzzles. In between I plan to keep a table cloth on it that somewhat hides the legs (as I don't like them for that room) and top with a small quilt. Somewhere when I have the fabric (find it or buy) and work into my growing list of projects plan to make a tablecloth in the shape of a plus sign. Center a square the size of table top, and then sides long enough to touch the floor (or nearly) and that will hang straight and meet at the corners.


I am leaning as time allows (or I move in ahead of something else) to make several themed little quilts for using there. I'm thinking the following themes, winter, spring, autum, summer, valentine's day, 4th of July, easter, halloween, thanksgiving, christmas and the list goes on and on and on. Where or where are some little elves that I can brainwash into my way of doing and thinking that can help. LMAO.


Found one of the several rolls of freezer paper I've ended up with over the past several years. Many times because when I put things in storage it went to thinking I wouldn't need it. Then decided to do a project needed some and bought another roll. So now I have enough surely to last the rest of my life. I got my morning glory pattern traced on it last night, now today make some extra blooms, leaves and cut out, iron to fabric, cut out and start assembling my block.


Worked in the yard yesterday. Watered all the front, including some slow soaking of the 4 oak trees that were planted when this house was remodeled. Planted 2 hydrangeas (red), cape jasemine, 10-15 lilly of the valley (didn't count), oleander (red) and have still a clumping bamboo and a mandevilla (pink) to plant. Kow where I'm going to put the bamboo - near my bedroom window between me and my neighbor. Don't know about the mandevilla but I'm leaning towards getting a pot so I can bring in just in case we have an unusal winter and it gets to cold.

Have many more plants to buy and plant to get this yard where it looks nice. But a project I enjoy.