reading

Friday check in: estate sale, WIP, convention bound, + reading from With Strings Attached

Tuesday was month #8 of Barb M's estate sale. Not as much yardage this time -- stacks of books and many, many, many WIPs in ziploc bags.

Here's what I purchased. Average $1.62 per yard by weight.

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Slab block construction continues. I've pretty much decided to make 90 blocks for a 54 x 60 quilt. 10 to go.

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No sewing this evening. I'll be at the AAUW-IL state convention at Elgin Community College. My sister invited me to spend the night at her house (about 10 miles from the convention). Our housekeeper V will be here ...

added by Nann 2 days, 6 hours ago. under batik quilt , estate sale , finished or not friday , reading

BB1: First and Second Borders Continued from Fret Not Yourself

When I started counting my blassings, my whole life turned around.

~Willie Nelson

Quilting

My leftovers box contains a pile of Ohio Stars. Most have red centers but several have this bright, strong yellow. The four added as cornerstones make me smile. But now the white looks weak.

Eventually I pulled some of my never-ending Chinese Coins to make this border. Who'd have thought this much pink/coral would work so well with the reds and yellows?

That pushes the white round out. Something needs to go in it and there's not a lot of white fabric left ...

added by Ann 1 week ago. under bramblebloomsqal , cody cassidy , designing a border , reading

The first cut is the hardest! from Crazy Quilter on a Bike!

I am a slug on a rug!! I did NOTHING yesterday despite the fact that there are quilts to quilt, emails to answer, sewing to do, and so many more things. First, it was a gorgeous day outside, and I didn't want to be in the house. Second, I got reeled into The Rose Code (an audiobook), and while I could have worked while I read, I didn't. Thankfully, the book was finished. Excellent read (it was recommended by someone here). Anything by Kate Quinn is a good read!

I also know what happened to make me feel ...

added by Elaine 1 week, 6 days ago. under backyard , digital cutters , momento , online security , reading

Weekly update: out and about, eclipse day, goal progress + reading from With Strings Attached

Today is eclipse day. Though I'm writing this post beforehand I hope to get some photos to add this afternoon.

We two Rotarians had Kiwanis pancakes at the Moose lodge -- that's cultural diversity. I bought $30 in raffle tickets and won three baskets. (I've already donated one to another community group for their upcoming spaghetti dinner fundraiser.)

We enjoyed a concert Sunday afternoon. Great covers of Sinatra and other classic vocals.

My program had one of the winning stickers for a door prize, a dessert from a local bakery.

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In the studio: a quick start-and-finish: a placemat ...

added by Nann 2 weeks ago. under design wall monday , eclipse , lake county forest preserves , lccca , oh scrap! , reading , sew and tell , weekly update

Friday check in: some editing required, OMG success, and reading from With Strings Attached

The weather cooperated yesterday with sunshine and 45 degrees. We enjoyed a forest preserve walk at McDonald Woods (2 miles)

I've been working on the homespun quilt. There's a piece of green tape to mark the misplaced unit (fourth row, second column).

The fabric for the setting triangles was a serendipitous find on the shelf. I haven't decided whether or not there will be a border.

When I make scrappy quilts I try for "no two fabrics touching." It happened a lot with the second half of the quilt because I hastily put the blocks on the ...

added by Nann 2 weeks, 5 days ago. under finished or not friday , omg 2024 , reading

Relatives from Fret Not Yourself

Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you,

and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement,

you should include all things in your gratitude.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quilting

Since my SIL retired she's enjoying many new hobbies. Fortunately she has a multitude of skilled relatives to show her the steps. She asked me to help her make her first quilt. Some of you may notice these are the same colors, and indeed some of the same fabrics, in the two quilts I made for her previously: a ...

added by Ann 3 weeks ago. under quilt lessons , reading , richard thompson ford , scrap quilt

Weekly update: going to the dogs, remembering a dear friend, a little quilting + two great books from With Strings Attached

My friends Debbie and Bill brought their therapy dogs Buddy and Dandy to the Zion Woman's Club meeting on Tuesday. They explained that therapy dogs differ from service dogs in that they are trained to be approachable to anyone (service dogs bond to one person). They're part of the Medinah Shrine Therapy Dog program and go to the Shriners' Children's Hospital, to schools, libraries, and other locations. The dogs were a big hit with the ZWC, too!

Buddy is a Yorkshire terrier and Dandy is a Shiloh shepherd. When their vests are on they know they are ...

added by Nann 1 month, 1 week ago. under design wall monday , oh scrap! , reading

Weekly update: stash report and OMG + reading from With Strings Attached

ZWC (Deb second from right)

The Lake County Women's Coalition honored Women Who Advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the annual Women's History Month luncheon on Saturday. Each LCWC member organization is invited to nominate a woman who exemplifies the theme. AAUW-Waukegan honored Katie Rinehart and GFWC Zion Woman's Club honored Deb Will, both of whom are long-time friends.

AAUW (Katie seated)

You can read about the other women honored at coalition website

Sharon Epps gave a stirring portrayal of Harriet Tubman.

LCWC awarded four "returning to learning" scholarships for women enrolled at the College of ...

added by Nann 1 month, 1 week ago. under design wall monday , lake county women's coalition , omg 2024 , reading , sew and tell , stash report , weekly update , women's history

Secret Agent Mystery and Indigo Way Mystery Coming Along! from The Modern Diary

Here is the last clue for the Secret Agent Mystery Quiltalong We had to cut things apart and do a bit of sewing before putting our top together.

I ironed most of my seams open since I had to pin like never before to make things line up just so. I redid several blocks if they were off by more than a 16th of an inch.

I did press all along, but it still needs another good press before quilting. Here is my completed top. I had no trouble with the first half of this, but the second half (the ...

added by Andee 1 month, 3 weeks ago. under bonnie's indigo way mystery 2023 , reading , secret agent modern quiltalong 2023

Get a library card! from Crazy Quilter on a Bike!

I need to renew my passport which expires in June. I had so much trouble printing out the form -- of course I did! I must have filled the darn thing out 10 times before the stars aligned and the form was printed! So I'll drop it off today. How many hours will I wait?

I could mail it, but I'd rather know immediately if there is an issue with any part of the application process.

We had Monday sewing and it's always fun! I didn't get as much done as I would have liked, but I ...

added by Elaine 1 month, 3 weeks ago. under bear , customer quilt , lexi , library , murphy , reading , wool applique

Round and Round on Ocean Waves V from Fret Not Yourself

186,000 miles per second is not just a good idea, it's the law.

~Albert Einstein

Quilting

This is the fourth round and I think there's enough for a fifth. Wow. Someone cut way too many QSTs. At least they are all going into this final Ocean Waves quilt. Although I've complained about the repetitive sewing I want to finish this quilt.

Ocean Waves V in progress, starting round 4

And here it is with the next round of triangles sewn.

Ocean Waves V in progress, round 4 finished

There's at least a yard of the ...

added by Ann 2 months ago. under kawandi , ocean waves , reading , scrap quilt

Midweek, part 2: Valentine's Day etc., back to batiks, and a good book from With Strings Attached

Today is momentous. Most important? I've been a big sister for 70 years today!

Secondly: cataract #1 was done at 11:30 this morning. The surgery was as quick as everyone has said. I'm a bit woozy from the Valium and the eye stings a little. They warned that because my eyes are light blue the mega-mega dilation may not wear off until tomorrow.

I'm not supposed to drive for three days so we are relying on friends. (Stevens no longer drives.) I've done some cooking ahead. We will not starve.

I wish I'd ...

added by Nann 2 months, 1 week ago. under batik quilt , midweek makers , reading , wednesday wait loss

The GREAT Fabric Swap from Crazy Quilter on a Bike!

Here's a random thought I had when I woke up this morning.

It's all about learning - what else! When we had small children, what did we do for them? We encouraged them to explore, experiment, and color OUTSIDE the lines. We were willing to spend thousands of dollars for ballet lessons, swim lessons, university, books, and so much more.

So what happens when we become adults, and our children are gone? We seem to think learning and spending money on education is a BAD thing. I once had a lady who said she could NOT waste some fabric ...

added by Elaine 2 months, 1 week ago. under lost and found , monday motivators , murphy , quotes , reading

Weekly update: basting in progress + a terrific book from With Strings Attached

It's been much warmer than normal for early February but kitesurfing? Brisk northwest winds kept these guys going at Illinois Beach State Park on Sunday afternoon.

I stayed on the trail.

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I auditioned all the vintage Cranston and Wamsutta prints in my stash in hopes of finding a "period" backing for the nine-patch quilt. Nothing worked to my satisfaction. Though I'd be happy with a half dozen miscellaneous prints on the back I don't think that variety would be appreciated by the friend who commissioned it. So I bought five yards of a small floral (white on ...

added by Nann 2 months, 2 weeks ago. under oh scrap! , reading , sew and tell , weekly update

Trying to Finish Off the Ocean Wave Triangles from Fret Not Yourself

There are two ways to be fooled.

One is to believe what isn't true. The other is to refuse to believe what is true.

~Soren Kirkengaard

Quilting

When will they end? There are still a bunch of Ocean Wave triangles: both individual and in sets of four. I thought there were just enough for a five-block baby quilt but, no. Silly me. While I love the finished quilts, I'm sick of making the same pattern.

Here's my plan to avoid counting and continual cutting of new triangles. As I finish a "round", I'll move the outer ...

added by Ann 2 months, 2 weeks ago. under ocean waves , reading , scrap quilt , steven rowley

Two Almost Finishes and My Favorite Reads of 2023! from The Modern Diary

I quilted and bound my three little snowmen on Friday. Hazel has pinkeye and an ear infection, so they kept her home and Indie was content to watch me sew in the morning. I am waiting on some tiny black buttons (would you believe I did not have one matched set among all my buttons!) to make their eyes.

Last night, I quilted my snowflake quilt. Today I will bind it, I think.

I read 327 books in 2023. This is a record for me. My favorites this year (not including rereads) were:

This reading year is off to a ...

added by Andee 2 months, 3 weeks ago. under kathleen tracy winter mystery , paper piecing , reading , snowman

Slow Progress on Bramble Blooms QAL from Fret Not Yourself

Your voice matters. If it didn't why would some people keep trying to take it away?

~ US Rep. John Lewis

Quilting

Very slow progress. I changed the curvy leaves that were my first choice and constant downfall. You'll notice a couple still have curves and I may replace those later.

Bramble Blooms QAL - Improv roses

Taking a cue from the striped stems and Audrey's post, I added a second leaf color. It looks much better.

I also turned the background 180 degrees so the bubbles show up more. They inspired the stem and leaf colors. Although it ...

added by Ann 3 months ago. under bramblebloomsqal , improv flowers , reading , roald dahl

Weekly update: cold weather, a birthday, in the mail almost, WIP + reading from With Strings Attached

It's been cold everywhere in the U.S. this week. I took a very brief walk from the parking lot to the lakefront to take a few photos. (I was on my way home from the grocery store and not bundled up (face mask) to walk any farther.)

When the cold settles in I am grateful for central heat and a garage for the car.

I had an ophthamologist appointment on Monday. Hooray! Cataract surgery is scheduled for February.

Stevens turned 84 on Thursday. He was pleasantly surprised when I told him that my FB post about his birthday ...

added by Nann 3 months ago. under batik quilt , birthday , design wall monday , mqg swap , oh scrap! , reading , sew and tell

Health wake-up call! from Crazy Quilter on a Bike!

NOOOOOO!!! I don't want to admit that maybe one of those little pill containers will be good for me. I know this is totally crazy, but I'm not good with taking pills since I haven't really needed to take any. However, I always remember that gummy, multi-vitamin every day! Before I resort to the weekly pill container, I will keep the Vitamin D beside the gummies. And I'll also keep the other pill bottle there, with a big label on it - Sunday! If that doesn't work, I may have to resort to the pill container ...

added by Elaine 3 months ago. under backyard , bear , health , lexi , murphy , reading

Weekly update: the challenge, a flimsy,. something new + reading from With Strings Attached

I was able to walk in the state park on Thursday, between storms. Here along the Lake Michigan shoreline we only got 3" of snow , though areas just a few miles west got a lot more. I was among the frozen chosen who made it to church this morning. Today was beautifully sunny but very, very cold with the high of zero.

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I'm making good progress on the MQG challenge mini quilt.

Neckties are made on the bias so they have to be stabilized before the fabric can be sewn into anything. I scrounged what I could from a ...

added by Nann 3 months, 1 week ago. under design wall monday , oh scrap! , reading , sew and tell , weekly update

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