Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? Finally Gifted!

 

Hi, all!

Well, here it is, Friday again, and we all know what that means - - - it's time for us to get our whoop whoop on!!  Are you ready?  Let's go!

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Many of you know that I was out of commission and out of the blogging world for most of the year in 2022.  During that time I undertook a pretty major handwork project.  Hexies seemed like just the ticket for something small and portable to take with me and work on in my chair, so I put together a small kit and started.  

At first, I intended to make a quilt - but after the first day, I thought it might just end up being a pillow cover!  Slow handwork is not my sweet spot, unfortunately.  But as time went on and the project grew, I fell in love with the process.  And when it was all finished, I ended up with a beautiful quilt top.  I appliquéd it to some vintage linen borders, and it sat on my "to be quilted" rack someday.

One day as I saw it sitting there, though, I realized that it needed a special home.  While I was out of commission, I worried about the quilt ministry and was afraid that it would dwindle away if I wasn't able to keep shepherding it along.  I asked my good friend Piper, who was a faithful member of the group, if she could help keep it going.  And Piper, God bless her, jumped right in and now has the group running so much better than I ever did!  

So of course, this quilt needed to go to Piper!  With a plan in view, I jumped into quilting it, doing diagonal lines through two axes of the hexies for a diamond grid.  The backing comes from a linen duvet I found on sale long ago and saved for the perfect quilt backing.

All in all, I really enjoyed making this quilt, even though all the handwork was a little tedious.  I may make another one for myself this year!

So - - - can we get a whoop whoop?

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And now it's your turn!

What's got you whooping it up this week?

What's making you do a little happy dance?

Share!  We want to dance right along with you,

And it's always more fun to dance with friends!

The party will stay open until Sunday midnight.

Hope to see you there!

Hugs!

Sarah

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? Ahead of the Game!

 

Hi, all!

It's finally Friday!  It seems like it's been a super-long week, but we've made it to the end, and we all know what that means - it's time for us to get our whoop whoop on!  Are you ready?  Let's go!

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As many of you know already, each year I make a quilt for each of my grandkids - a labor of love that my daughter wishes I would rein in sometimes, because they have LOTS of quilts at their house!  But the grands love it, so I keep doing it.  

And I'm so very happy to say that as of today, all three of their quilts are completed....

...except for the labels, which I will prepare and add closer to Christmas.  Each label contains information about things they did in the past year, and it takes a while to compose them in my head before I print them out onto fabric.  But the quilts are finished!

I'm also whooping about this beautiful bouquet of fall leaves that my grandson collected for me last night!  Growing up in Florida, I didn't get to see the leaves change each year and it still amazes me - such a glorious transformation!  This little bundle of leaves is a radiant spot on my kitchen counter....

I'm also whooping because I finally started the quilting on this handmade hexagon quilt top I put together last year.  I've got something special in mind for it, but first I need to finish the quilting.  I've done the straight line quilting in one direction, but there are two more sets of straight lines I need to do through the other points.  It makes my back ache, but it's going to be worth it, I think!

And for your weekly dose of Bree, look at how nicely she was waiting for me while I was quilting Thursday!   For an active little dog, she sure can be patient when she wants to be, and I appreciate that about her so much!  

So - - - can I get a whoop whoop?

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And now it's your turn!

What's got you whooping it up this week?

What's making you do a little happy dance?

Share!  We want to dance right along with you,

And it's always more fun to dance with friends!

The party will stay open until Sunday midnight.

Hope to see you there!

Hugs!

Sarah

Make-A-List Monday - Is It Spring Yet?

 Hi, all!

Ooh, I have been a bad, bad blogger!  I just realized I haven't done a Monday post since March 13th..... oops!  Time really flies when you're busy/having fun/avoiding doing taxes.  But I took care of one of those problems today - I did my taxes!  So now I can do whatever I want and not feel guilty.  Hooray!

First, though, let's look at that long overdue to-do list from March 13th...

1.  Prep work for H2H 2023.

Done!  We now have guest bloggers for the next eight weeks!  Many thanks to those of you who stepped up - you really make my task so much easier!

2.  Borders and backs for ministry quilts.

It seems like this is an ongoing, never-ending task, but I did a bunch of them and still have more to work on.

3.  Then, maybe, more fabric organizing!

I'm still working on cleaning up the oddball pieces - those that need more attention than just cutting straight strips.

4.  Handwork for vacation.

I got my handwork all prepped, and I am proud to say that thanks to long car rides, I have a finished top!!

And I even got in a little sashiko stitching, too!

We had a great time on vacation, even though it got cut short by a death in my son-in-law's family that we had to return home early for.  The view off our back deck was amazing...

...and we spent many hours out there watching the changing view over the bay.  There were times when a mist would roll in and we wouldn't be able to see much at all, then the skies would clear and the sun would shine.  The temps weren't bad at all, and the wind mostly hit the front (Gulf) side of the house, so we had a lovely sheltered spot to enjoy!

And the kids had a blast with the air hockey table, too!  I'm sorry I didn't manage to get Nathanael in this picture - they all three played at this for hours, when they weren't off fishing with Papa or looking for hermit crabs on the beach.

And the remaining member of our family (the one who had to stay behind) was SO glad to see us when we got home!  I tried to snap this picture quicker - Bree literally launched herself at Bill and planted a foot on each side of his neck and HUGGED him!

So we finished out our vacation as a stay-cation, which was ok - it was restful and we even got to see a movie!  But now it's time to get back to work.  As I said, I did the taxes this morning, which is a huge weight off my shoulders.  I don't know why I always leave it so long - it's not really that hard, I just hate to do them!  So now that those are done, I can work without guilt.  Let's see just what I might do this week!

1.  Keep working on ministry quilts.

2.  Quilt a customer quilt.

3.  Work on clearing out a planter in the yard. (It's spring, y'all!)

4.  Keep plugging through the last of the fabric organizing.

5.  Make the back for the hexie quilt.

I'm going to stop there so I can get down to it!  I'm looking forward to this week - how about you?

So now, I really need to know - - - what are YOU working on this week?

Hugs!

Sarah

Can I Get A Whoop Whoop? Progress Is Good, Right?

Hi, all! 

Friday is here once again (hallelujah, right?) and we all know what that means - it's time for us to get our whoop whoop on!!  Just as a reminder, it doesn't have to be a finish (good thing!) it can just be whatever is making you do a little happy dance this week!  So let's get started!

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This week I've started a whole lot of things, but haven't finished much - - well, unless you count sewing the last hexie on this top!

I've still got to add borders and do the quilting, but it sure felt good (and a little strange) to sew on that final hexie!

Next up, progress on the annual quilts.  Nathanael's Dragon Dreams quilt is finally all cut out (so many little pieces!)...

...and I started sewing the strip sets together for Lilli's quilt.  I've got 21 sets sewn together already, and hope to finish sewing the rest together by Monday.

And then, in other (non-quilting) news, I made some pan-fried dumplings!  Nathanael and I share a deep love for dumplings, so I cooked up a huge bag full of them and we ate dumplings until we almost burst!

And this tree makes me whoop it up every time I see it out my studio window!  It turns such a beautiful shade of red, I don't mind having to rake up the leaves later on in the year!

And finally, how about a whoop for Bree? While she's still a wild child, she's a very good car rider!  She cracks me up, looking so serious as she sits there....

So - - - can I get a whoop whoop?

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And now it's your turn!

What's got you whooping it up this week?

What's making you do a little happy dance?

Share! We want to dance right along with you,

And it's always more fun to dance with friends!

The party will stay open until Sunday midnight.

Hope to see you there!

Hugs!

Sarah

I May Have a Scrap Problem - But I've Also Got Hexies!

 

Hi, all!

I am over the moon happy to be able to say that I have sewn the final hexie onto my hexie top!!!

If my math is right, there are 1428 hexies in this top, each one hand basted and then sewn together by hand.  This made a relatively good dent in my 2.5" square scrap bin, although I've probably got at least this many left!  

Today I went up and dug through my stash, hoping that I would have some of my grandmother's vintage Irish linen left in a color that would work as a border, and lo and behold, I found this beauty!  There's plenty to make borders to appliqué the top onto.  That will increase it's size just enough to make it the perfect size, AND will wash up lovely and soft!

And look what else I found!  This is a huge piece of linen that used be part of a duvet cover that I found on sale at Pottery Barn.  I used part of it as a back for a quilt several years ago, but it looks like there's enough to back this quilt too!  I can't wait to see (feel?) how soft and cuddly this quilt will be once it's finished....

So that's what I've been working on in the scrap arena this week.  How about you?  Is it time to bring one of those "squirrel" ideas floating around in your brain out into the light? There's no better day than today!

Hugs!

Sarah

Make-A-List Monday - Slowly Making Progress!

 

Hi, all!

And another week begins!!  Mondays are wonderful, aren't they? A fresh new week to play with!  I'm still getting back in the swing of things, so I didn't get as much done as I'd like, but I did make some progress.  Let's take a look!

1.  Put borders on the string quilt and turn it over to someone else for finishing.

Done!  I think this is going to be a beautiful finished quilt - I'll find the perfect backing for it and bundle it up for someone else to quilt.

2.  Pull/buy fabrics for Emmy's annual quilt.

I didn't get to this one, although I did have Lilli look at what I already have purchased and she gave me a thumbs up!

3.  Cut out Nathanael's annual quilt.

Started (although I don't have a picture to prove it!) and I will keep working on it this week.

4.  Cut out Lilli's annual quilt.

The first cut is done!  Next step is to sew these into strip sets and cross-cut them into patch strips.

5.  Keep working on (finish?) the hexie quilt top.

Drum roll, please!!  I sewed the last hexie this morning!! Next step is to appliqué this onto borders and prep it for quilting.

6.  Get back in the habit of writing blog posts!

I'll  have to say this is a work in progress - I still have to check every morning to see if it's a blog-writing day, and put it on my list!

So while I didn't get to everything on the list, I did make progress.  I have to confess that I have a jigsaw puzzle spread out on top of the piano that keeps dragging me away from more productive work!  So I will try to limit my time "playing" and get back to work this week.  Here's what's on my list to do...

1.  Finish cutting out Nathanael's quilt.

2.  Choose final fabrics for Emmy's quilt.

3.  Start assembling the strip sets for Lilli's quilt.

4.  Put borders on the hexie quilt.

5.  Choose a back for the hexie quilt.

And while I was working in the studio last week, Bree entertained me mightily by "protecting" me from the drum set, which would vibrate a little bit when we walked in the room or slapped our hands on the floor...

Bree was very confused as to why Lilli and I were laughing at her as she did her doggy duties and told that drum set to stay away from us!

So now I really want to know - - - what are YOU working on this week?

Hugs!

Sarah

I May Have A Scrap Problem... But I'm Working On It!

 Hi, all!

Well, I've been absent from the blog, but I haven't been skipping out on my scrappy sewing - I decided that I could definitely do some hand sewing, so I ordered some hexie templates and dragged out my 2.5" square bins.  Many months later, this is what I have...

I haven't actually measured it yet, but it's a good lap size, plenty big enough to snuggle up on the couch with. I've just got to fill in that top right corner and it will be ready for a border and quilting!  Every stitch in it has been done by hand (although I will be finishing it up with the machine) and I am very proud of myself for sticking with it!

I also started a quilt using lots of leftover binding strips earlier this year and have finally finished that top, adding the borders just this afternoon.

This quilt will be finished by someone else in the quilt ministry (I'm not feeling quite able to belly up to the belly bar on my long arm yet) and hopefully will bring a lot of joy to someone in need.

And what's next on my horizon?  Well, while surfing Instagram I found these cute pin cushions that I want to try - it's a good thing I have lots of scraps already cut up into squares!

And I'm thinking that this quilt design, or something similar, would make an excellent ministry quilt!  We are working on making thank-you quilts for our local teachers (in addition to our regular ministry quilts) and this looks quick and easy but so cute!  We were very lucky to have a Studio cutter donated to us, so it's easy for us to cut lots of 2.5" strips now.  I need to get on EQ8 and graph out the quilt and write instructions for our newbie members, but that shouldn't be too hard.

So that's what I'm doing to keep the scraps in control these days.  Of course, I now have a little bit of extra "help" in the studio...

Bree is definitely a fabric lover's dog - she is constantly stealing my scraps, and today she even took fabric off my fabric shelves!  I'm going to have to work out some way to cover the storage units so the temptation isn't staring her in the face, because like me, she has little self control when faced with beautiful fabric.....

So how's your scrap situation?  Are you drowning, or swimming merrily along? 

Hugs!

Sarah

Make-A-List Monday - Vacation's Over, Back to Work!

 

Hi, all!

Vacation's over, and we managed to miss the ravages of Hurricane Ian.  We were staying on Tybee Island in Georgia, very close to the waterfront, and out of an abundance of caution, left on Thursday just ahead of the storm.  It was sad to cut our trip short, but we didn't want to drive back through wind and rain, and we have a lovely porch to spend time on at home!

I did get some things done on my to-do list, so let's see how it went...

1.  Keep working on my hexie quilt.

Done!  I got one end completely squared up, and the other is coming along - maybe another week, possibly two, and this will be done!

2.  Put borders on the string quilt and turn it over to someone else for finishing.

Didn't get to this one, so it will carry over to next week!

3.  Pull/buy fabrics for Emmy's annual quilt, and locate pattern sheets needed.

Partially done - I did locate the pattern sheets I needed, but haven't pulled the fabrics.

4.  Cut out Nathanael's annual quilt.

Didn't get to this!

5.  Press fat quarters for Lilli's annual quilt.

Done!  Aren't those shot cottons just gorgeous?

So considering I wasn't home most of the time, I think I made fairly decent progress on those projects!  Here's what I'll be working on this week...

1.  Put borders on the string quilt and turn it over to someone else for finishing.

2.  Pull/buy fabrics for Emmy's annual quilt.

3.  Cut out Nathanael's annual quilt.

4.  Cut out Lilli's annual quilt.

5.  Keep working on (finish?) the hexie quilt top.

6.  Get back in the habit of writing blog posts!

That last entry sounds funny, but it's harder than you think - I didn't remember until Friday night that (a) it even WAS Friday, and (b) that I had forgotten to write a Whoop-Whoop post!  Granted, I was in a car driving most of the day on Thursday, when I would normally have written it, but I just completely forgot.  So bear with me while I get back into the swing of things...

And now, I really need to know - - - what are YOU working on this week?

Hugs!

Sarah

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop? I'm Back!!

 

Hi, all!

It's Friday, and we all know what that means - it's time for us to get our whoop whoop on!!  After a much longer than anticipated hiatus, I am back - and I am whooping about it!  I've also got a few things I've been working on during the hiatus to share.  I hope you've got something wonderful to whoop about this week, too, so let's get started!!

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First of all, thanks to all of you who have checked in on me over the past months, or who have sent good thoughts and prayers my way.  It's all been much appreciated, even if it was unacknowledged at the time. Life seems to be returning to normal, for which I am VERY grateful!!

Here's a project I started way back in January that is finally coming close to being completed...

This top started out as a bunch of leftover binding strips!  I sewed them together jelly roll race style, then cut the resulting top into long strips made up of short pieces.  Then I re-sewed those strips together to end up with what is shown above.

Isn't that pretty?  It's still not quite large enough, so I went to church this week and dug through the stash for a good border...

... and I think this will do!  Hopefully I will get this border on this week and then this quilt will be ready for quilting and gifting to someone in need!

I also worked on a hand project over the past few months.  

Made completely by hand, from 2.5" squares cut from my scrap stash, I despaired of this ever reaching quilt size.  But as I kept working on it, I realized I was having fun (and getting pretty good at it!) and now it looks like this!

I'm still working on filling in the top angle (that was an "oops" because what I thought would fill in and make a straight, 90 degree corner actually made a way out of whack angle) and I will then finish off the two bottom corners to give me a nice rectangular quilt.  We will be driving on vacation this next week, so I'll have lots of car time to work on that stitching - maybe (just maybe) it will be finished in a couple of weeks!

And last but certainly not least, let me show you a picture of my constant companion of the past few months.  Bree has grown up from a tiny puppy to a lovely, not quite mature one year old. She realizes that I feel better now, and so she has reverted to some of her puppy ways.  One of those "ways" is stealing fabric scraps in my studio!

I guess it's appropriate for a fabric addict's dog to also be addicted to fabric!  So I share with her and hope she doesn't steal anything too precious...

So - - - can I get a whoop whoop?

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And now it's your turn!

What's making you whoop it up this week?

What's making you do a little happy dance?

Share!  We want to dance right along with you,

And it's always more fun to dance with friends!

The party will stay open until Sunday midnight.

Hope to see you there!

Hugs!

Sarah