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                                         Hello October! 

This week I felt like starting some little scrap stars for fall. Care to join me?? I uploaded the pattern for these cute little stars made with scrappy fall colors to my Facebook group Kathleen Tracy Quilts. Look for it in the Files section. I'll also upload it to my website (www.countrylanequilts.com) as a free pattern. 

I knew I'd acquire fabric in September at the Wisconsin Quilt Show but I didn't know that I'd discover two new shops and get a big destash (for free).     Fabric IN:  195 yards, $407, $2.08 per yard.    I turned around and gave away a considerable quantity, as well as making flimsies, a finished quilt, and placemats.   Fabric OUT:  215-1/2 yards.  

September sewing

In January I set quarterly goals.  #1 -- use at least one "I can't cut ...

This morning I retrieved my scrap basket from the cupboard. Lisa had asked for blocks using blues and low volumes. Fortunately, she wanted a scrappy look so I managed to cut all of the pieces from the scrap bags. Very satisfying!

The instructions were very clear and apart from some mistakes that I made in cutting out the thin strips it was an easy make. I could wait until the November retreat to give these blocks to Lisa, however I think I will get them in the post next week.

Next on my to-do list is to quilt my stash ...

…and it’s not a quilt.

I love to quilt, almost to the exclusion of everything else, but not quite so. I have other interests that I enjoy. On Tuesday evening, it was a spelling bee.

I may not be a good quilter, but I am a good speller. My father taught me to read when I was 18 months old, and I read everything I could get my hands on. Reading consumed me in my earliest years until I learned how to craft. But reading is still a great love of mine and I believe all the reading I ...

I fixed the offending block I mentioned in my previous Checkered Garden post. Now I'm much happier with the blocks. This is the final layout, and I can sew the blocks together. 

September felt like summer rather than fall this year.  It also went really fast. I'm not ready for it to be October.  We'll blink and it will be New Year's at this point.  I'm never ready for how fast the end of the year goes. 

I have so many autumn quilts in everything from bed size to table top and more. Over the past couple of years, I have sold a bunch of them on Sample Sales. But I still have plenty left to decorate our home in practically every room. There are so many ways to incorporate quilts in your decor and I hope today’s post may give you a few ideas. Obviously, a quilt can go on a bed, and I will sometimes put one flat so the whole quilt is visible. I made two fall print pillowcases a few years ago ...

Oh—of course—I MUST walk or cycle over the Gordie Howe Bridge—how silly of me to think I should drive a car. That would be a waste. If I walk or cycle, I can go slowly, stop, look, and take pictures. I must give my head a shake on that one!! 

And if you are interested in other bridges, here are pictures of the Jacque Cartier Bridge in Montreal, which I have driven over countless times. It seems that it was also built from both sides. 

The Jacque Cartier Bridge in Montreal

That bridge was built from 1925 ...

My RR time was over when I received this quilt. While quiet, I started reading an intriguing book about one of Jeffrey Epstein’s survivors. I soon realised I needed to get a system, or nothing else would happen. I let myself read one chapter, but then I had to finish a chore. This morning I made coffee, read one chapter, and loaded this quilt. Another chapter, started supper, the next chapter was followed by starting the laundry. This way, I did not have any guilt trips.

The Antrisite stove is installed, and although we haven't purchased the coal ...

As I mentioned in my previous post, last week was full of sewing ... just not quilts! Curtains were the theme of the week. It all started with a simple valance for the laundry room.

I needed to do a load of laundry so while I was in the basement I cut the batting and pieced the backing for the fall color 9 patch quilt.  The backing is an early batik, probably late 1990s and has always been a favorite.  I have used it for the backing on one African ...

I have been getting a few things done, but not many are fully completed. I did get a call from my CPA saying my taxes are done, so that’s one thing! Unfortunately, I owe money again. Bummer. It does not make me happy to have to give even more money to the IRS, but there aren’t any other choices other than to pay it. 

I showed these tops before, but now they are quilted and bound. I quilted them all three at the ...