Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Hurray--the last of the Mr. March went together over the weekend!

Mr. March--94x112"

Too big to get it all in the picture.  I stood on my stepstool and took lots of pictures--if I've made an error somewhere a photo makes it easier to see.  So far--so good!  Usually I don't make a pieced border--but the pattern had a picket fence border and I liked it. The pattern is  Four-Patch Plaid in the book Nickel Quilts by Pat Speth/Charlene Spode.  See what everyone is working on at Patchwork Times.

Henrietta's Brown Batik 4 Patches are on the Princess--

Saturday I had a sewing marathon--finished Mr. March, stitched around and trimmed Swoon, and made 3 sets of binding.  I was able to finish all my goals last week--maybe I didn't make enough???

This week I want to--

1. Quilt Brown 4 Patch
2. Sew one binding on
3. Add one more bunch of appliqued grapes to my block
4. Sew more Birds in Air rows together

I saw this pattern free on-line and maybe it will be my "fun time" this week--

Heritage pattern at Red Rooster Fabrics

Its not that big--44"--but I can see adding squares in the corner and maybe some fun diamond borders.  I tried to talk Henrietta into making one with me but she says I'm the one who likes diamonds and angles and to go ahead without her! 

And yesterday it RAINED.  

This is looking over into my neighbor's backyard--the ground is froze so the water doesn't sink in.  Later on it got much colder--the puddle is now a frozen lake and we've had about 2 inches of snow--all is white again. 

Its time for winter to be over!  I miss green grass and the smell of fresh dirt.  A few flower seeds and some pole bean seed fell into my shopping cart the other day.  I've been saving plastic pop bottles and plastic qt milk jugs all winter--found instructions to make "ghetto greenhouses" and they seem like my kind of project. 

Are you ready for spring?  Have you bought any seeds to plant?  Is your garden planned??

Motivation Friday

This week has flown by---how have I been doing??

1. Load Henrietta's Brown 4 Patch--no
2. Border on Plaid 4 Patch--in progress
3. Trim Swoon--no
4. Applique Cherries on #21 of Beyond the Cherry Tree--yes
5. Make binding for Swoon--no

Not too bad.  I won't load Henrietta's quilt until the borders are on Mr. March--I'm using the long arm rollers to lay it out.  I also made +100 grapes for #16 of the Cherry Tree project.  I have two bunches of grapes sewn down and I'm working on the 3rd bunch.  

There are four "bunches" of grapes, a ribbon wreath and leaves on this block.  Some viney tendrils you embroider.  The middle of the block is empty and is an open spot to sign my name etc.   Not sure about that.  Maybe I will have someone use their embroidery machine to make a nice label for on the back when I'm done.  That's sounds easier.  After all--what year would I put on it?  2010 when I started it--or 2020--when I might finish it?!!  I definitely want a label on this baby.  

I've also been blog reading--catching up my Google Reader.  I may not comment--but I've been reading!

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

The Plaid 4 Patch is back on the wall--

All the blocks for the center section are sewn together--it just needs the inner solid brown border and the outside picket fence units--those are all made.  Each month I need to pull out one UFO and move it one more step--meet Mr. March!  Check everyone's design walls at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

1. Load Henrietta's Brown 4 Patch
2. Border on Plaid 4 Patch
3. Trim Swoon
4. Applique Cherries on #21 of Beyond the Cherry Tree
5. Make binding for Swoon

Swoon is quilted, that's one more for the binding pile.  This month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge color is Orange, I need to schedule time to play.  

Have you scheduled time to play this week?  What are you doing for fun??

Sunday Stash Report

Time to update my stash report--

Stash In--0 yards  
Stash Out--13.5 yards
Stash in YTD--22 yards
Stash out YTD--17.5 yards
    
STASH IS AHEAD--4.5 YARDS

Watch out Stash--I'm catching up!!

See everyone's stash reports at Patchwork Times.

Motivation Friday

Time to check my goals--

1. Quilt Swoon--half way
2. Sew binding to 4 Patch Posey--no
3. Pink Cake Stand blocks--no
4. Sew Birds in Air blocks together--no
5. Borders on DeeDee's Star top--no
6. Applique flowers on block 11 of BTCT project--yes

Good grief--have I been doing ANY sewing??  Lots!  A lot of time so far on Swoon--I'm not sure why but it seems to be taking longer than planned.   I decided to prep two more applique blocks--

This is Block #16 of Beyond the Cherry Tree.  There are 120 grapes in this block.   I'm using pennies, dimes, and nickels for templates to make grapes.   Since my "grapes" are bigger than the pattern I doubt I'll need 120!   There is an entire blog devoted to quilters who participated in this project--Beyond the Cherry Tree.  Mimi's quilt is finished and is entered at Lancaster and Paducah.  Some are being quilted, some are completed tops--and some like mine are still "works in progress".   If you have a quilt you've always wanted to make but wondered if you "had it in you" DON'T WAIT!!  Start!!   Get your bucket list out and pick one.  Or two.  Or ten!!   

I had a finish this week.  You know--a F-I-N-I-S-H.  Its the Blue Urban Cabin.

Twin size--64x85".  Its a great pattern, I've made two and Henrietta made one. 

The weather is going to be nice this weekend, maybe Henrietta and I will road trip.  And more quilting--hopefully Swoon will be finished.  What do you have planned?

Design Wall Monday and Weekly Goals

Swoon is loaded and ready to quilt--

Check everyone's Design Wall posts at Patchwork Times.
Weekly Goals--

1. Quilt Swoon
2. Sew binding to 4 Patch Posey
3. Pink Cake Stand blocks
4. Sew Birds in Air blocks together
5. Borders on DeeDee's Star top
6. Applique flowers on block 11 of BTCT project

That should keep me busy.  Last week was busy with family matters.  But I got a few pictures--

Life is better with Chocolate Cake

Asher wants the WHOLE Banana

Laura Beth described Asher as a "little caveman".  "He yells, grunts, and pounds on things when he's mad".   Pretty good description of that age!

It was very busy here, somehow I missed taking a picture of Mason.  He keeps me busy--EARLY one morning as I snuck to the bathroom (remember those days??) I had a shadow.  As we headed back to bed (I thought) he asked me sleepily while rubbing his eyes "Grandma--are we gonna cook now??"  Although I persuaded him we were going back to bed, it didn't last.  We did manage to bake some cookies while he was here.  

The sun is shining, its warmed up a bit and some of the snow has melted.  Its "cheap burger Monday" and maybe Henrietta, Ken and I will eat out tonight!

Design Wall Monday--Weekly Goals--Happy Birthday Henrietta

This week my design wall has blocks I made last summer--

Birds in Air blocks.  My goal is to get these blocks sewn together during February.  Check everyone's design walls at Patchwork Times.

Weekly Goals--

1. Finish binding Blue Urban Cabin
2. Make binding for Garden Gate Plaid quilt
3. Sashings and Borders on DeeDee's Star
4. Sew binding to Henrietta's 4 Patch Posey
5. Quilt Swoon

That's enough for this week.  

Henrietta had a birthday!

Happy Birthday Henrietta!!  Please note--that is a LEMON cake she is holding.  She requested a lemon cake and I didn't have a recipe.   A LEMON cake with GLAZE.   Thank heavens for Cooks.com! 

The weather was warm over the weekend (+40F) but today the high temp will be +17F.  All the puddles are frozen and a strong wind out of the North all week.  I'm planning to stay inside and sew--what's planned for your week???