Really Random Stuff on a Random Day

Some random things to share while I've got some time to sit at a computer.

A friend from the my Gridster Bee sent me this great pouch.  Perfect for putting projects into and then forgetting them :)

Progress on my New 10 year project.  These are all the dresdens that have been appliqued down.  I have about 175 plates in total. 

Its been a pretty hot summer here in WI, with multiple days over 90.  We spent one of those evenings getting pizza and hanging out at the lakefront. 

My industrious middle child spent a week or so picking black raspberries, that we froze each day, until there was enough for an actual pie. 

Seriously one of the best pies I've ever had. 

I didn't actually know what this plant in my garden was until there were monarch caterpillars all over it. 

They really stripped it of most of the leaves, and poop everywhere.  I actually had to sweep. 

We brought two in to watch them emerge. 

I ended up lining this corner cabinet one evening because it needed fixing and was empty for that.  Not what I had planned, but I love that its done.  Hard to do any matching on curves and corners though!

New pourings of beeswax for my Etsy shop.  I love watching it cool.  Makes the coolest patterns.

I had seen this collection when it first came out at Joann, before the lockdown.  Scored a clearance mug the other day!

And I never got a finished picture of this little quilt, but put together a signature quilt for a dear friend and our Pastor's wife who has retired. 

A Basting Day in May

In May I took a day to baste some quilts in my church's basement.  This was still when everything was in lock down/ quarantine - so I was quite by my lonesome, with just audio books to keep me company. 

This was my hopeful pile.  I brought as many tops and backings as I could get ready. 

I don't know if I was planning to photograph every step - but this was the first one that I basted, my Christmas Angel Band quilt.  I started with the largest/ones I wanted to get done first. 

It was nice to have lots of space to spread out.  

I borrowed my daughter's volleyball knee pads to baste - best idea I've ever had.  For these quilts I did a combo of spray baste and some pins.  I have a hard time trusting just spray baste....

This is the Elvira Quarantine Quilt Along quilt.  Happy to say that I'm working on the binding now. 

I got the two ugly quilts basted that day, which as you know they are done and dusted.  

Houses from last year's Gridster Bee.  Probably will quilt this one next.  A little smaller, so a little faster?

By the end of the day, this was the done pile.  At this point, 3 of the 6 are quilted.  I didn't even have time to baste them all, so yes, I've still got some waiting in the wings!

Two Ugly Quilts Finished

Last year I went through all my scraps and actually managed to clear out an entire box. 

You can read about it Here and Here.

One of the things I did with all those scraps was sew the strips together and eventually I had a pile of 12.5" squares all ready to be turned into quilts. 

I put them together into two "Ugly Quilts" 

They were quilted in a giant meandering stipple.  With all kinds of various threads that I've been trying to use up. 

This one is 8'x8'.  Hubby told me to "go big or go home"  It was funny because at the time it was more like "go big and stay home".

It does make for a nice family size beach blanket!  

Used up some more ugly fabrics on the back.

The second one turned out to be 7' x 6'.  This one is for E's Car.  She requested a "nicer back"

It's actually part of a clearance cotton duvet cover from Ikea.

Love seeing the quilts getting used!!

Star Storm Quilt Finish

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away (or at least that's what it feels like), I took a class with Victoria Findlay Wolf.  If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend it!  

Anyway, it was last September, for the Star Storm pattern.   She just recently posted some photos on Instagram of her recent finished top.  She was working on it in September.

My version is done!  When I heard that a new nephew was due in June, I worked on getting it finished. 

Here it is basted on the kitchen floor. 

And finished!  I added borders to the star itself to enlarge it a bit and bring out the darker (more boy-y) colors.  The quilting is just in the ditch, so that the quilt itself will be nice and soft.  

I sent it out shortly after Fitz arrived.  

Mothra - A Foundation Pieced Project

At the beginning of April maybe end of March, Sarah of Pitchers Boutique, was looking for some pattern tester volunteers.  I usually miss out, but I think this time around I was probably the only one who was willing to do something like Mothra!  She is a Kaiju from the same "family" as Godzilla and Gamera.  I knew about her thanks to my geeky family.

Anyway, I was send the amazingly detailed foundation piecing pattern and set to work.  I started with the eye.

This is my set up for foundation piecing.  Best invention ever?  The add a quarter ruler!!  I may need an Add an Eighth, now, too.

 I crease the fabric folds with my thumb, and after a couple days working on this, noticed I had worn down the nail from friction.

 All the pieces laid out.   This is by far the most complicated foundation paper piecing I've ever done.

 Found a mistake as I was putting things together.   I forgot to add color and went straight to back ground.

 And here she is, all put together.  I did the 30 x 30 version.   I don't have definite plans for her yet.  It was a fun thing to do and a great challenge.  You really need to visit the Pitcher's Boutique shop.  Lots of free and reasonably price patterns and such a huge variety!

Really Random Wednesday 4.29.20

 Yep, we've been home for so long I've made Bacon Fat Cookies.

 They were a hit!

 I made my first foccacia loaf.  I will try again and with less salt.  There were no leftovers, though.

Do you remember this quilt?  Well, its needed some repairs for a while, and I haven't wanted to do it.  At all.  Its like altering a dress, I'd almost rather start from scratch.  BUT... hubby works out of a camper and wanted a background for his online meetings that didn't scream CAMPER, so I suggested hanging his quilt - which meant I had to repair it.

So I did.  Took me 20 minutes tops.  Figures. 

Silly pictures of Mini with a basket for a head.

 I shared on social media how excited I was to have a second fridge in our garage.  I don't think I've ever gotten so many comments.  Everyone agreed that a second fridge is the best!