A Rainbow Scrap Challenge Finish and Clean Up and Prep

In 2017 I made Straits of Mackinac blocks for the Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  I did not put them together because I was waiting for Bonnie's full pattern to come out to decide how I wanted to set them.  Somehow a few years passed and this just hung out waiting for me. A few months ago I laid the blocks out, took a picture (which I apparently deleted) and put the blocks back in the box facing each other to sew them.  I did not pin (next time, I will pin!).  So since laying them on the floor and doing all that is a bit much for me some days with my energy level I just sewed them semi blindly together as they were.  As I went I realized I was not doing it as it planned at I had blocks of the same color lining up..ugh so I did impromptu twisting and turning and in the end, this is what I wound up with.  Not the best, but it is together so there is that.

I only have a few UFO's left.  I took out my landscape quilt from SIX years ago...at this point it is not going to get done.  I need someone who knows what they are doing to help me with that. So back in the box it went. I have Circa 2016 left and think I am going to make a mini of what is done and then be done with that one too.  No motivation to finish it anymore.

I spent a bit of yesterday going though my squares and random scraps.  I got out all my green fabrics and cut strips to add to the bag of the right size.  I now have another ready to sew.  That will be Winter Blues but mine more likely to be named Spring Greens.  

A few weeks ago I got out all the plaids and cut for Moth in the Window, any yardage left got added to my already full shelf! Back in February I ordered some fabric from Facebook Marketplace.  I got a decent deal and had not bought fabric in forever.  I needed some reds.  I found a few and some eye spy fabrics and a few others.  So this got added to my fabric shelf here and there.

So all that led to reorganizing my fabric shelf.  I changed things around a bit so the same colors could be together.  It does not look all that different but it is a bit more organized.  

(before is above and after is below) 

 

Straits of Mackinac Rainbow BOM

 I also managed to get caught up on the Rainbow Scrap Challenge BOM from SuperScrappy while on break.  Always makes me smile to not be behind!  Only two more months to go on this and then I am going to need a new block to do each month.  Remind me to pick something less labor intensive since I am so busy with work!

I will say I love how these blocks are coming together and the movement that is created when you put them together makes all the time worth it! 

Fall Break Means SEWING!

 Tomorrow is our quilt guild's small quilt auction so when I finally got a minute to sew I started with this Rock Candy tabletopper.  I made some awhile back and had this one all cut and ready to go.

 I also got the 35th Ave. BOM together. Not my best block as I was a bit rushed.  My parents finally came back from their summer in Wisconsin and were staying here this past weekend (they were doing a craft show nearby) so it was nice to see them and catch up.  My brother got engaged and his engagement party was last Saturday night so we went north to celebrate with them and Ashley asked me and my sister to be bridesmaids.  Wedding is tentatively scheduled for March 2019.

I also found time Sunday to sew the last two blocks of the Pat Sloan Library BOM.

 I sewed the top together up until the last two borders and got this picture.  I will get better pictures outside now that I added the last two borders.

 I am saddened by the news of the shooting in Vegas and have been working this morning on last month and this month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge blocks.  I have orange and pink to do...almost all parts are sewed and ready to be put together.

I am off work for two whole weeks for Fall Break....we are going out of town to San Francisco ( I have never been there!) on Friday with my mom.  We will see Alcatraz and Angel Island, China Town, the Pier, a Deaf Pizza Place called Mozzeria and Winchester House...and whatever else catches our interest in the few days we have.  Next week I am training back at my old video relay job for three days.  I also picked up a little freelance so I am not completely off work...also I have TONS to do for planning and prepping for second quarter.  So trying to get in some fun sewing while I can!

Red, White, and Blue and a Rainbow

 Finally boxing up and mailing out our Quilt of Valor quilts from the 35th Ave. BOM last year.  Mine is above, Kathy's is below.

Barb's is the same but she did a cool border in red, white, blue and black.  I cannot find the picture I took of hers when she finished it but I know I have one!  

 This month's UFO number pull was this Little Bit Hexie.  I need to get to hand quilting it in the month of August.

I finished up my brown blocks for this month's Rainbow Scrap Challenge.  She said neutrals but that does not really work for me so I did browns.  If she picks brown I will do a different color.  Hopefully orange is coming up soon!  This is Straits of Mackinac and it is really coming along well in all these different colors!

I also got a little bit sewn on last month's Children's Library blocks...trying to get caught up to August on that. I hate feeling behind!

Not Even Close to Catching Up...but Moving Forward!

 Last weekend BJ met up with us since this weekend (our usual meet up) she is out of town.  Always so good to see her!

 I am liking teaching high school.  Hard work but already had a parent email telling me her daughter's attitude about school has completely changed since starting ASL class. She loves it and me!  Another student told me my class was her favorite and I was her favorite teacher.  Not bad for two weeks in!  I am so excited to make a difference in these kids' lives!  So this Prince picture is me dressed for spirit week--I chose the 80's for my decade and wore my shirt from seeing Purple Rain in Minneapolis back in 84-85.  The shirt fits me again!  The green jewelry and headband (socks) are mine from the time too!  I dressed up each day and played music to match between classes.  Might as well make it fun!

 My mom and dad sent me birthday money so I promptly spent it at 35th Ave. when we went to pick up our blocks today.  I have eyed this cool baby quilt for the past few months..I bought the die to make all these animals and though I do not do applique I had to add it to my list.

 I also bought all this fabric at 40 percent off.  Mostly neutrals but some fox fabric for a gift too.  I went to Barb's to sew for the afternoon and made these blue Straits of Mackinac blocks for the Rainbow BOM for July. Yep, I am behind and I rarely get behind!

 Barb made the most recent Pat Sloan Children's Library BOM today.  I do not even have that cut (or last months' rows sewn)!

2016 Block of the Month for January

 I bought this cute little hedgehog (that I keep calling a porcupine) from Bonnie at her workshop.  It holds my Bernina bobbins, scissors and pins too and sticks to my machine.  Bonnie says she has one she uses in the car for hand sewing--sticks it right to her window.  I LOVE THAT idea and hope to remember to take it roadtripping with me down the line.

 I sewed at Becky's with her and Suzy today.  We even watched QuiltCam!  Becky made a fabulous sweet and sour meatball dinner which I loved.  She shared her recipe and I am going to print it and add it to my cookbook.  I sewed up the new 35th Ave. BOM and then made two of the Bonnie's Straits of Mackinac in purple since that is what SoScrappy picked for the color of the month.  I skipped her challenge last year (so busy hiking I think) but I missed it and missed blogland so I going to do my darndest to participate again this year.  I love that we can pick an block or project we want and link up to show off our progress and be motivated by our fellow quilters who also linked up.

 My daughter asked me to make a few eye spy baby quilts for a few friends of hers who are having babies.  I don't usually do that sort of thing because I have too much I want to sew to add what others want, but my daughter does not ask me for much and we agreed she would buy me some online fabric as "payment" and so we are both happy and hopefully the babies will be too.  I got this one together today as the Packers were winning--tied--winning today!  I have another one with the blocks all cut and ready to go. I plan to tie them both and get them out the door soon.

I am scheduled to teach three ASL classes again this semester so that has been keeping me busy (prepping--one class has a new curriculum) but I really enjoy it and am looking forward to it!  I am doing well on the eat right and exercising front too.  Down 111.4 and going up and down a pound or two mostly but steadily (SLOWLY) going down so I will take it.  I need to get back out and hike.  I just have not done it since my knee healed--I swear I never slow down.  I really enjoyed sewing, watching the game, blogging and updating Pinterest today.  Just enjoying a day!