Three Needle Determination

 I dare say I've stitched 1,000 stitches😄 I noticed one of my bloggers using this trick for a quick finish.& It does go quicker having 3 rows end up at the end as opposed  to getting to the end ,going back to the beginning & stich another row over 60" long then back again😄 this quilt has taken way to long ,I think this method will get her done!

Only 3 strips to go ,I've got the sample quilt top going on the cutting table so Ill get it finished up then cut the binding  for the green quilt

It stopped raining long enough to feed the birds ,Mr Jay was happy to get his peanuts 

I hear thunder in the distance so looks like the rain may be coming back

Sunday Inspiration

 

Sample Top Progress

 This morning I got all 30 blocks sewn together 

Got 2 rows sewn together ,by adding an extra block unit with a 3 1/2" & a 2 1/2" border will make it 52 1/2" wide,Im still debating how long I want it but for now I have them cut to be 5 across & 6 down

and this is why I'm making a sample 🤣

I walked away to let Grace 🐕 outside ,came back & didn't pay attention that Id flipped the block upside down ,so the seam ripper got to participate in this process😄 I also sewed a block with no bobbin thread🤣 can I just blame it on all the rain?🤣

Do You Ever Tire Of Your Scraps?

 Scraps Scraps Scraps & more scraps & lets don't forget the larger pieces & the yardages😄 some go back wayyyy more years than I'll admit🤣

Just one of the larger scrap totes anywhere from 1/2 yd to 2 yds & smaller

Another holding bin of cut yardages that I have used through the years over & over ,make it stop🙆 😄

Back in my doll making days I used a lot & I mean aot of homespuns,I still have an over flowing tote full!

This bag is packed so tight anywhere from 1/2 yd to 4 yds that Im pulling from finishing up the Bramble Bloom Quilt challenge ,3 quilts have to be different but resemble each other ,once again fabrics I've had & used in quilts forever & a day

Ugly fabrics that was gifted to me because they didn't want them 🤔 I wonder why🤣

Did I mention a tote full of seasonals? Im not feeling anything Holiday with the same fabrics again🤷all if these doesn't even come close to half of what Im tired of

I have seen others take their scraps in other directions like pulling all one color prints ,making strip blocks with all fabrics that have white backgrounds & adding a white on white strip to them to taking ugly fabrics & keep cutting & sewing back together  till it looks cute😄

So raise your hand🙋if you have any ideas 

I have newish cuttings that I've gotten from quilt shows scrap bins & a stack of yardages i recently purchased from a consignment shop,a lady had just brought in tons of fabric after I got there which I was happy for that ,i didn't have to wash them ,they still had that clean fabric smell lol

I do not want to mix these with my ancient scrap fabrics 🤣

Once I get through this quilt competition I'll rethink all my fabrics, I know there's got to be a way to make them take on a fresh new look ,Im just not luving them right now🤣

Block Layout For The Sample Quilt & Rose Petals Prep For Herbal Tea

 30 blocks in the makings,so far Im thinking this plus the borders will give me the size Im going for now to sew the strip blocks to the large blocks then sew them together then sew them by rows

each row the strip block is opposite the large block so I'm thinking I may need to pin them & not leave anything to chance😄

All this rain is softening up the rose petals,so I cut them before they fell ,giving them a good rinse in a mix of  vinegar & water to release all dust & critters lol 

they will turn a beautiful burgundy color when dried & join these waiting to be chopped for herbal tea 

In the next few days Im hoping to get out & find different flowers like camelmil & get started on the tea garden😄 the back yard is still mushy from all the rain & water is still standing in some spots putting a hold on my plans for a backyard makeover 

Working On The Sample Top

 Before I cut into my  fabrics for the quilt I'm making for the judging challenge Im making a sample so Ill get the layout down & how many blocks, strips etc it'll take 

The block assembly alternates

This layout is with the lighter being the center & edges

This layout I flipped them making the darker little sq be the middle color & edges 

Everywhere the yellow is will determine which way the pieced strip is turned

This will be just a sample run using what I have ,I will be adding to the pattern size to make it the regulation size so if by chance i run out of fabric by the time I get to the outside border I have. this fabric

It blends with the lighter square

Im not being fussy fussy with these colors as my main focus is getting all the measurements right ,how many blocks needed to make to required size ,changes in border sizes etc ,

there will be no worries with the original fabrics ,I have 4yds of each print & the backing fabric is over 100"wide 🤣

Back to my math & blueprints!funny how back in my highschool days I hated math!,who knew quilting requires math🤣🤣

Closing In On A Finish

Almost ready for binding

Its been a nice slow & easy kind of day, no rushing no hurrying just a pj's kind of day,cleaning,paying bills on line,movie & couch times , I even treated myself to a bubble bath 🤣

made home made tarter sauce

made chocolate cobbler 

I think all this rain & crazy temps has got the insects stirred up,the locust was so loud this evening sound more like screaming😄& flys 🙆 not the big green headed ones but tiny black ones, tons of them & everybody complaining about tiny little fruit flys,just signs of Summer I guess 

Its time, actually past time to get the garden spots started ,I would luv to have some of these 

but it'll probably be closer to this 🤣

Hows your day been?

The Beginnings Of An Art Gallery Wall

 I started painting back in 2019 ,I've learned a lot through the years & still moe I want to learn,I plan on taking water color classes this summer 

I've got the layout of the side wall figured out ,I went through my canvas notebooks & choose the better ones & putting them on canvas boards

the unpainted ones will be replaced with ones that are  drying in the kitchen 

then there will be this wall,Id made a layout before adding the arrangement so I'm having to rethink that wall,the arrangement is just thrown together ,its not final yet, I'm thinking of adding a touch more to it

I luv my home & luving it more as I turn it into a home I luv one corner at a time

Sunday Inspiration

 

Little Things & National Selfie Day

 When the big things are taking too long ,a break & work on little things make for good finishes lol 

another book mark,this one is a patchwork made up of (12) 1 1/2" sq's,the back is jean fabric 

I recovered my little ironing pad

Its made of foam board ,layered with piece of white sheet ,insubright,batting & dotted cotton fabric, forgot to take a pic of the back that  is pink gingham 

speaking of too long,squash in the fridge was starting to go soft faster than I could eat it so I grated them & turned them into squash patties,some call them squash fritters

today is National Selfie Day ,did you take any pictures?

Just a nice quiet pj kind of day 

Update On Grace 🐕& A Sweet Visit

 Some have been asking about Grace & I first.& foremost want to thank you for your concern 

A brief catch up for those who missed the post,big heart felt thank you for all the prayers & concerns for Grace,shes finally resting good ,its been a long 6 hrs for my sweet girl,blood works,test,x rays which revealed arthritic changes to her spine & some deterioration  under her vertebrae ,Dr said it is common but rare in beagles as young as she is &  that she was most likely born with it 

She's going into her 2nd week of mussel relaxers & steroids,she is on the road to recovery ,she slept on her back first brief time this morning for the first time, this is her normal so when laying like this didn't hurt her I knew she was feeling better,this was 2 hrs before taking her meds this morning 

I had my great niece & nephew for a few hrs later this morning & Grace couldn't understand why she couldn't run & play so Livy gave her a hug😄

She brought her nurses kit & gave Grace a shot🤣

They later planted their pick of flower seeds to take home & watch grow 

Drying Dandelions & Roses

 Have you tried Dandelion tea? I know there are some blends of herbal teas that contain it& some of mine most likely does,anyways before the grass got cut I decided to gather the dandelions from the yard,gave them a rinse in a mix of vinegar & water then laid them out on a paper towel while making coffee & giving Grace🐕 her meds then laid them a parchment lined cooked sheet & dried them  in a 175 degree oven for about 3 hours

all this rain  is making the roses petals fragile,so I did the research to see if my roses "knockouts"& "drift" fall into the herbal list & they do ,just touching them they fell off,so I gathered them up & have a good rinse, they're  up next lol

I had a bouquet of knock out roses that O was about to toss out,🤔hummm turns out since it's suggested  to air dry rose petals  for richer colors you can use your dried out bouquet as long as they haven't been sprayed with pesticides & making sure they fall into the list of roses that can be used for herbal teas 

Random Sewing

 It may be a while before I think of stitching every little section of a quilt again but I probably will🤣 I feel like I've done stitched a thousand stitches😄 determined not to go into July with this quilt 👀

 meanwhile ,I've seen a few book markers pop up & decided to give one a try

started on Summer decore beginning with a few potholders,just need to decide whether to put an X in the middle or stitch all around 🤷