Four Patches and Quilting!

Twosies! Yes, I worked on En Provence yesterday. Here are my twosies all laid out in identical piles. I did this for a reason. I picked up the first one and sewed it to the second one. Then I paired the first with the third, etc, etc. This ensured lots of variety in my four patches. I only ended up with one four patch that had the same two fabrics in it - that will be an "Eye Spy" game for when the quilt is completed!

I sewed all the four patches but have not pressed them yet. I'll get that done in little bits of time throughout the week.

I'm predicting the next clue will be either half square triangles or flying geese since Bonnie is hinting about using the Essential Triangle tool soon.

Since machine quilting is to happen today, I decide to get my machine ready. I oiled and cleaned her. I replaced the needle. I set up my thread holder with a big cone of Aurofil thread. I installed my stitch regulator. Hmmm.....let's just stitch a bit to get a head start!

And so I did! I'm simply stitching a medium sized meander. Bonnie Hunter quilts are typically so busy that detailed quilting is not needed. I'm happy to say it is looking good! My biggest challenge with the stitch regulator is to NOT move my hands and the quilt too fast. Slow down! When I move too fast the stitches can't keep up and it simply stops sewing. And I don't blame it!

Slow down! A good lesson in life, too, don't you think?

Last night we attended a Christmas Festival at our church. A full choir. An orchestra. And lots of Christmas music! It lasted more than two hours with an intermission. I can't even begin to describe how wonderful it was! What fun!

Angie sent me an e-mail yesterday - she has just started making Bliss and sent me a link to her blog telling about it - find it here! She'd making excellent progress and her fabrics are lovely! Any one else have pictures to share? I'd love to see them!

Once Allietare is quilted....Bliss will be up next! Can't wait for my finished quilt!

So today....I'll continue machine quilting. I hope to be approximately one third done today. Fingers crossed!

Have a great one!

Hexies Happened!

I did get sewing done yesterday! Just picture me (along with Hubby) in our recliners watching Netflix with quilts over our laps. I stitched my heart out!

I've been taking my daily project photos on our screened porch each day. It gets wonderful morning light and a large ottoman makes the perfect neutral background. But this piece is almost too big for the ottoman! Once I add three more star points the piece will be drooping over the ottoman sides. So the next photo will have to be on the floor I guess!

I'm so happy I remade the star points - I really like these much better!

And yes, I finally finished basting Allietare so I now have our dining room table back to normal with a lovely Christmas Poinsettia and candles.

Today I'll probably work on hexies again. And maybe I'll pick up the next Farmer's wife block - it's been sorely neglected lately with my hexies taking over my attention.

I might even work on Clue 3 of the Bonnie Hunter mystery, En Provence. I see it's another easy one - more four patches. If I can knock that out, I'll have a free day this week to work on something else. I wouldn't mind having two days this week for machine quilting.

I do love having a schedule for my quilting projects. Without it I would be tempted to work on one project all the time. The schedule keeps me accountable to myself so I can move several projects forward at the same time. Life is too short to only make one quilt at time! Don't your agree???

Have a blessed day!

When Life Gives You Yummy Lemons...

Yesterday I sewed not a single stitch. I got out of the house for a bit a visiting with a good friend. What fun! I needed some girl talk time! She has a Meyer lemon tree in her yard and got a fantastic crop this year. Look at the size of those lemons! She was so sweet to send me home with a few.

I spent the evening on Pinterest figuring out what I will do with these golden treasures. Of course I found oodles of dessert recipes. Well, that stinks, because we are not eating desserts these days. I did find an interesting recipe for preserved lemons - you can add them to salad dressing, fish dishes, chicken dishes - all kinds of dishes. And they keep for a year in the refrigerator. 

I also came across a recipe for homemade Limoncello - a favorite drink of mine. I'm not drinking at the moment (on my no no list, along with desserts). But it will keep well, also. Two great uses for lemons when you're not eating desserts.

She so inspired me - I really want a Meyer lemon tree! 

It's finally cold way down here in the South. It went down to the 20's last night. Hubby is wearing his Alaska socks, a gift from Daughter 2's honeymoon. Cooper is his foot rest. 

Poor Cooper. He spent two hours playing with his 'brother' Scout yesterday. They played SO hard. When he came home, Cooper got on his bed and never got up. We just thought he was tired, but discovered last night he could barely walk. We think he pulled a muscle in his hip area. 

We babied him and let him sleep in our bedroom on his bed in the corner of the room. This morning he's getting around much better. 

Today I'm going to finish basting Allietare! And maybe stitch some hexies. And maybe work on a Farmer's Daughter block. 

Have a fun day!

More Baskets!

Ahh, yes. The baskets are making progress! Seven handles I completed yesterday! But don't think that I'll be ready to sew them together when all the handles have been appliquéd. I have some Winding Ways blocks that I might put with them - so lots of planning yet to be done!

I finished basting these pieces and began the process of stitching them together. This is the arrangement I had planned for these babies to make a star from the large hexie unit.

But after playing with the threesome a bit more I found I like this arrangement. Isn't it fun??!!!

In case you are wondering...I'm using the ladder stitch to stitch the curves - it works so well!

I did run out and buy more safety pins late yesterday. I hope to find a small chunk of time to finish the basting and get my dining room table back again. Then Allietare's quilting can begin on Monday.

Today is set for hexies!!!! (Of course I've been working on them every evening already!)

I've had a couple of requests for my bread recipe: find it HERE. I substitute assorted seeds and chopped nuts for the walnuts.

Have a great Friday!!!

Basting!

And so...basting happened. But it is not finished. Love my Allietare top! My dining room table is working great for basting. And I have my choice of 8 chairs in which to sit while basting. I can move from chair to chair to chair to chair! 

And why was the basting not finished? My pine straw basket full of brass safety pins is now empty. Must buy more tomorrow. Until then the dining room table will be covered with a quilt. Not a bad thing, I think.

And while I was basting...not a creature was stirring. Cooper wrapped himself in a quilt on the floor.

 Mickey (can you see his nose?) took over Cooper's bed with another quilt.

And I made bread yesterday - here are my three loaves of dough ready for their final rise. We've been out of bread for two days. I broke down and bought a loaf. It was the closest thing to my homemade oatmeal wheat seeded version that I could find and it was $5.00! Oh my! So expensive! And it wasn't nearly as good.  I put the remainder of the store bought loaf in the freezer, just in case of emergency, but this morning we get to have the yummy homemade bread with our eggs for breakfast.

This morning I need to run out and buy safety pins. And my basket UFO is up on the schedule. I'm so glad that all my projects are inching forward! 

Best to you all today!

Tri-Recs, and Dresdens, and Hexies! Oh My!

 Yesterday was so very productive! I sewed together the Tri-Recs for Clue 2 for En Provence. This didn't take long since the pieces were already cut. And YAY! They turned out the same size as the four patches!

Then I cut out the background squares for Gardenvale - this didn't take long either. And then (you know I had to!) I grabbed one of the sets of dresden pieces and put it together. LOVE IT! Eventually I'll machine appliqué these to the background squares and then machine appliqué a circle to the middle. But first...27 more dresden plates to make!

And last night....more basting of these little beauties! Getting there!

Last night's dinner: roasted vegetables with a sprinkling of blue cheese crumbles and quinoa. Can you tell we've been eating healthy lately? 

Because Hubby is still unable to play golf due to the load of stitches in his forehead (skin cancer surgery) we've been watching LOTS of Netflix. We completely finished Doctor Foster - really enjoyed it! We're on the last season of Foyle's War - still good, but we liked the earlier seasons better. Still enjoying Call the Midwife and Doc Martin! 

Today on the schedule is En Provence, but I've already done that. Since I'm caught up I plan to baste Allietare. Then it will be ready to start machine quilting when Monday rolls around. Sounds like a plan!

I'm taking a day off from swimming - I'm happy if I swim laps four days per week. But we do hope to take Cooper on a long walk later today. 

Hope you have a productive day!!!

The Replacement Hexies

So you may remember that during yesterday's blog post I talked myself out of the mushy looking hexies I'd made for the next round of my latest Curved Hexagon quilt. Later in the day I pulled out my box of fabric and decided on this. More contrast is better, I think. And how did I make this curve? Certainly not with the Curved Hexagon ruler. Hmmm...I may have a new trick up my sleeve...

I cut out 18 (the proper number this time!), fussing cutting the one with black background. I have lots more basting to do, but I know it will be worth it in the end.

I had planned to stitch together the En Provence Clue 2 blocks, but I did not. I did buy batting for quilting Allietare though. So that's something?

Today on the schedule is Gardenvale. I hope to cut out all the background pieces. And then I'll be ready to start sewing on this quilt!

Can you tell I'm becoming a bit obsessed with the new hexie quilt? I seem to work on it every evening, leaving my other hand stitching projects in the dust. That's the way it is with hexies. They grab you and suck you in. You can't think about anything else. Addiction, that's what it is! I want to move this quilt forward!

I think the rain has finally stopped here...leaving everything damp and gray. Maybe we'll get in a hike later in the day. Cooper would certainly enjoy that. But first...off to the pool!

Have a grateful day!