It's been a hot, rainy week, which means there has been lots of stitching.
2021: Week 35 of 15 Minutes to Stitch
This week, I have been cutting postage stamps and sewing them together. I wrote a bunch of blog posts, one of which showed you a postage stamp block. I've made good progress on two additional blocks.
I also joined the binding strips and pressed them for the Quote quilt.
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I have started another quilt. I've been wanting to make it since at least September 2019. I had to do some digging on my blog to find that I called it postage stamp and not checkerboard.
I started cutting some 1 1/2" stamps, but then I got distracted with other projects. I started sewing these on Tuesday so I am starting the clock on Tuesday.
My plan is to use a very saturated color for a constant, and use up all my scraps for the alternating block. This is based on a quilt that Lynn made.
My current ...
read moreHi, all!
Another beautiful spring week has gone by, and it's Friday again!! That means it's time for us to get our whoop whoop on - are you ready? Let's go!
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This week I finished up the last binding on the last graduation quilt, which meant that I got to do some "me" sewing!
My "Me Sew Happy" quilt, which I started as part of a quilt-along, had been languishing away on the design wall, because I had not had any time to work on the large and small hourglass blocks. So it was the first thing I ...
read moreIn March of 2020 I started mindless piecing a leader-ender 16 patch using 1-1/2″ squares. The pieces became blocks and the blocks became piles.

The first week of April, those piles became a quilt.

A total of 360 blocks, or 5760 pieces.

The finish isn’t large, but I love it. It now occupies the bed in Sparkle Jane’s former room.
read moreI finished assembling the 360 blocks in to a top this past weekend.

It got a little tedious sewing the long strips together and matching all those seams (One. Inch. At. A. Time.)
But, the effect is worth it. I hope to quilt it next week.
read moreIt's been a busy week here, topped off with lots of ice and a little snow - definitely enough to keep us all at home here in middle Tennessee. We don't deal well with ice on the roads! But as that means more time for sewing, I haven't been complaining. Unfortunately, though, I've been working on commission jobs and haven't had any time to do any scrap sewing. But I have found a "little bit" of inspiration on Instagram to share...
Hi, all!
Does it seem like Fridays roll around faster as the end of the year approaches? Today we are two weeks from Christmas, and three weeks from the end of 2020! Hard to believe, but true. And with it being Friday, that means it's time for us to get our whoop whoop on - are you ready? Let's get started!
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It's been a busy week around here, but I managed to knock two things off my to-do list, both of which REALLY needed to be finished before Christmas! First up was this bolster pillow that matches my ...
read moreHi, all!
Friday again - and not only Friday, but three-weeks-until-Christmas Friday!! Oh my! I'm sure most of you are working on things you can't share, but I hope you can join in the fun and whoop it up a little bit - so let's get started!
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I decided this year that I was finally going to use the three jelly rolls of Kate Spain's Solstice that I had been hoarding saving for the perfect quilt - and because it's Christmas fabric, I was compelled to finish it in time for this Christmas! I wanted a king size ...
Hi, all!
Friday has rolled around once again - and I imagine most of us are "rolling around" too after stuffing ourselves on Thanksgiving! It's been a short week for me, as we've been traveling, but I didn't want to let Friday go by without a chance to see what everyone is working on - - so let's get our whoop whoop on!
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As I said, it was a short week, but I did
have a chance to work on my Christmas quilt...
Hi, all!
Monday has rolled around again and what a week it has been! Both my husband and I tested positive for COVID last week (he's been mildly sick, I'm asymptomatic) and we've been in quarantine for a week now, continuing until the end of the week. Just goes to prove that even if you wear a mask, you can get it - but I'm guessing the mask may help reduce the exposure and make it a lighter case.
Quarantine makes for lots of sewing time, though, so let's see how last week's list went ...
read moreHi, all!
Well, it's finally Friday - and having just finished working the early voting polls Thursday evening, I can really appreciate Friday!! It's been a long fifteen days! That being said, though, we all know what Friday means - it's time for us to get our whoop whoop on and wow and I ready! So let's get started!
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Here's my first whoop whoop of the week...
Hi, all!
The weekend is over, and Monday has arrived, with a whole week of potential ahead of it! Cooler temperatures coming this week, too, which always puts me in the mood to sew. Are you the same way? Fall is my favorite season - the colors, the cooler weather, and the upcoming holidays make it so much fun.
I had fun with last week's list, too - let's see how it went....
Note added: Sadly, the Covid Pandemic completely shut down this swap with post offices around the world shutting down, or postal rates rising dramatically. Hopefully all past swappers have been busy stitching postage stamp quilts anyway!
The swap partner matches for the August 2020 PSQ Charm Swap are all in the hands of swappers. IF you do not find your email, remember to check your SPAM folder.
Before you mail your sets, be sure to confirm address and charm size with your partner/s! I can resolve a lot of issues, but only if I hear about them fast ...
read moreSign-up for the August 2020 PSQ Charm Swap is now CLOSED . . .
. . . but hey, that’s okay. Because now it’s time to play!
My “play” will mean taking a few days to sort out the copious sets of charms that 79 swap participants are ready to send to each other! This can take a few days, and your patience is appreciated As soon as I start sending out the partner-assignment emails, I will post here and on Instagram to let you know the emails are coming.
Looking for ways to “play” while waiting? I have some new posts in the ...
read moreWhile Cindy has been holding down the blog fort, I’ve been staycationing and wallowing in my “world is out of control” funk. No more. I’ve got to shake these blues and maybe the best way to do this is to bring out the reds — you know which ones — the postage stamp reds!
As you may recall, in November 2019, I started creating a red postage stamp quilt. The pattern intrigued me from the beginning of my quilt journey when I was inspired by a quilt created by Red Pepper Quilts. Rita Hodge’s quilt was full of bright ...
read moreThe first Monday of summer has arrived! I love summer - beautiful warm days, sunshine, and usually, more time with my grandkids, although this year that part of summer started way early. So I've been enjoying the weather and working in my quilt studio this week, and I've actually accomplished some things!
Last week, I wanted to find a back for this quilt, and maybe get it quilted. I did find a really great backing - a total steal...
Waffle Stamps is finished!
The stamps are 1.5" squares mostly from mask-making scraps. The blocks are 5.5" unfinished.
The back uses old (bottom right, 36" wide vintage), medium-old (the bright butterflies from about 20 years ago and the Hoffman print right above it), and new (the big piece in the upper left, bought last year).
68 x 70, 10 yards in all.
Linking up with
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Finished or Not Friday read more
The sky was so clear today that the Chicago skyline was visible from Hosah Park. That's 40 miles away. You can click on the photo to enlarge it. Look at the horizon on the right and you can see the outlines of the skyscrapers.

Closer to the ground: flag iris, coreopsis, daisies, spiderwort. I think the plant not in bloom (upper right) is a mullein. It is a huge specimen.
One Tuesday I drove on the Tollway (I-94) for the first time since February when I went to Glen Ellyn. I met first with the incoming AAUW-IL president to ... read more