The fish blocks have been assembled into a finished top.
I’ve got several appointments the rest of the week but I’ll be working on getting the binding on these 4 and ready to hand sew… next week I’ll get one more quilted before we travel.
Assembled
Quilted
Another top loaded and quilted today. This one pieced by Sue. Pantograph is Flounce.
I didn’t have enough of one fabric for the back so I pieced one of my Off Center 4 patch backs for it. I’ve had the candy corn fabric for a while and the trimmings will go into my novelty bins for the next round of Happy Blocks.
I made it out for an easy hike too …
And when I got home, there was a group of deer hanging out near the driveway. They jumped up when I opened the car door but didn’t go far … just to the lot next door. The closing is set for Monday and then it will be ours … I think the deer will be happy!
Do you see all 6 of them? The fawn wasn’t too nervous since he stopped to nurse!
Quilted
I loaded and quilted one of the Happy Block tops today. I even pieced a batting for it. Pantograph is Steam.
That’s the 3rd one quilted this month and I haven’t bound any of them. One reason is that I’m not up to sitting in the chair and hand stitching them down right now but also with the trip to the Maine HeartStrings sew-in coming up, I want to take a few quilts to bind. I’m not sure how many tops there will be to tie so I want to have some other work lined up too.
More leftovers
This was NOT the quilt I intended to start today but I have decided I need to make more of the quilts I’ve drafted … this is one I designed years ago for Mom. Just a novelty fabric with an alternate block. The fish are leftover from another quilt and I had less than a yard so it worked out for this quilt. Then I dug in my leftover jelly roll strip bin for the alternate blocks.
I had two each of the blue and red strips so I’m using those in the corners and the other multicolored leftovers in the center 4 patches.
Since standing/walking is the most pain free position with the sciatica it’s easy to keep up with my daily walk/hike. I’m also doing stretches/yoga each day.
Another bear!
I was laying down on the heating pad this afternoon when Finn started growling … that usually means he hears a deer outside the bedroom window. I checked the cameras and there was nothing caught on video out back so this one must have just been out of camera range until he walked from the driveway up the sidewalk and was caught on one of the front cameras! I went into Keith’s office to show him the video and the bear was outside his window crossing the street. Looks about the same size as the one last week so maybe he’s moved into the neighborhood?!
There won’t be any sewing today – I was cleaning the house getting ready for company and am paying for it dearly. The sciatica pain is intense. At this rate, I’m going to have to go in and have it looked at since I’ve given it over a month of “self” care and it’s just getting worse.
Assembled
It’s insanely busy but it’s FUN! The I-Spy Double 4 patch top is done.
At times like this I LOVE my big board. I’ve been suffering though a major bout of sciatica the last month and not having to crawl on the floor to measure and pin borders is a bonus!
See that bin on the left side of the photo above?! It’s times like this when I know I have no hope of ever using up the stash. I’ve pieced 3 tops from this bin of leftover novelty fabrics in the last week and you’d never know. Not that I mind it still being full. I love making these kids quilts and there will be many more Happy Block quilts in my future.
Every time I looked out the window today there were deer in the yard. This one strolled right by the window.
Quilted
We had another stormy afternoon so I sewed blocks for the I-Spy Double 4 patch quilt. After Keith fell asleep, I came back downstairs and made the last 3 blocks and that one is now ready to assemble. I also quilted Suzanne’s string star – I’d loaded it yesterday but the weather hadn’t cooperated with me … darn those afternoon storms! Pantograph is Happy Times.
I’d like to get one more quilted this week and get the I-spy top assembled. Should be doable. I also finished knitting the blue scarf last night and the ends have been woven in. After I finish the Cowl that is still waiting to be closed up, I’ll let myself start another yarn project.
Thanks for the feedback
I made the 9 blocks and after reading your feedback, I decided I’d continue on and make this a child size quilt as I intended. It is BUSY … but as I get more blocks made it’s just kind of fun. I’m tossing all kinds of novelty leftovers in this one!
I’m not pressing that last seam in the block until I’ve finished making them and have moved things around and am happy with the layout. I am planning a narrow finishing border just to frame the whole thing in the black print. Just 2 or 3 inches because I do not have much of that fabric.
I was supposed to be quilting this afternoon and I did piece a batting from leftovers and load a quilt on the longarm but storms were threatening most of the afternoon and I don’t turn the longarm on when I hear thunder!
Hopefully the weather will cooperate tomorrow and I’ll quilt. The rest of these blocks will go much quicker now that all the novelty squares have been cut – there are two of each one in this Double Four Patch I-Spy quilt too just like the Happy Blocks ones I just pieced.
Undecided
I’ve got partial strips of the solids I’m using for the Happy blocks leftover … enough of them to use in their own quilt with the novelty scraps … so I debated something with a 9 patch or a 4 patch … I pulled a “neutral” and a possible framing border this afternoon.
Tonight, I just had to give some double 4 patch blocks a try. It’s BUSY! Now I’m trying to decide if it’s too busy and I’m waffling … I can always make a doll quilt with the blocks so I think I will make a few more blocks before I decide whether or not to abandon the child size quilt and just use the blocks in a doll quilt. Nine blocks would work size wise for the doll quilt so I’ll start with that and then make my decision.
Assembled
I did have a little time downstairs today … I-Spy Happy Block top #2 is assembled. I’m debating between a snowball or double 4 patch I-Spy next …
