More progress on the flannel top

While I watched the TDF that I taped, I got the last of the blocks sewn into rows. Tonight I will start sewing the rows together into pairs.

When I got home from work I took a tour of the yard and found two zinnas had bloomed

I was going to have to water until this rolled in.  The blue circle is the area I live.  The sky picture was at the end of the storm.  There was some loud thunder and lighting!

It didn't last long, but it was enough to give everything a good drink. Then it rained this morning as I was getting ready to leave for work and take out the trash bin. I shouldn't have to water tonight - yeah!

Progress on the flannel quilt and daisies

As I watched Stage 3 of the Tour de France (TDF) that I had taped, I sewed blocks into rows. I got three rows sewn together. The missing row is sitting at the sewing machine ready to be sewn together tonight.

The blocks will finish at 7 1/2" and the quilt should finish about 75" x 90".  Donnie you are a no reply blogger so I will say here that I have to give credit to, and did on my June 3 post, to Rosie Lee Thompkins and Sue Willie Seltzer as my odds and ends quilt is a mashup of ideas from their quilts.  Without seeing their quilts I would have never put these pieces together.   The Shasta dasies that were transplanted and redone this spring are looking good. It is fun to drive into the cul-de-sac and see the row of white flowers greeting me when I come home from work.

Got some stuff done

I needed to move the quilt pieces for the odds and ends top. I needed my bigger design wall for the flannel quilt top so I sewed together most of the top and moved the sections to the smaller design wall. I need to figure out another fabric to use to add a bit more size to the top. I drew lines for the seams that still need sewn. It is hard to take a good picture since this wall is blocked by my big table.

I sewed and sewed all day Saturday to get enough blocks made for the flannel quilt. On Sunday, I started sewing the blocks into rows. I have the bottom 4 rows sewn together and the next two rows above it sew together. The Tour de France and Fast and Furious movies kept me company while I sewed.

I did take a break and do a bit of straightening up. I needed a place to put all the flannel strips left for the next quilt. I cleaned off the table in the fabric storage room that was covered in quilts. I needed a place for them so I cleaned out a closet in the next room with a shelf of clothing that I no longer needed. So after a couple hours I had a nice place to put the flannel.  I also moved the totes that need sewn together here too.  Now the big table is empty and ready when I go to pin baste the flannel quilt. 

Here is the progress on the Xmas stocking. I didn't have as much time last week to work on it, but I did make progress and am getting close to finishing it. Here is where I was and where I am now.

I am getting down to the little details. For the candle flames the chart shows three colors each one stitch! The candles are far apart so I cannot carry the thread from one candle to the next.

Found some solids

Last night I got the last three pieces of flannel plaids cut into strips

I ended up spending at least 45 minutes on the phone with my sister who lives in Georgia and then another hour on the phone with my brother who lives in Texas. I was good to talk to the both of them as time slips away before you realize months have gone by since you talked.  My brother had received the box of space stuff and ornaments I had sent him. I shipped that box on Saturday and he got it on Wednesday! Ohio to Texas in 4 days and I shipped it the cheapest I could. He said the Apollo 11 set came with a mat that you roll out that looks like the surface of the moon. I did not know that and he promised to send me a picture once he and his daughter open the box to set it up. He was so excited to get the Apollo rocket, the Apollo book, and the box of space experiments.  He graduated from Ohio State so he like the ornaments too.   I only had time to sew together a few more blocks.

I got a $5.00 off coupon from eQuilter so I thought I would look again at what flannel they had. Well, they must have gotten a shipment in because they had all kinds of solid flannel. When I looked last week they only had one piece of pink! So, being hopped up on caffeine this morning, I lost my mind a bit and order some solid flannel and of course I had to order enough to get free shipping! LOL!!! I am going to make two flannel quilts for Xmas presents this year so I will be putting all this flannel to good use! Guess what I will be working on this weekend? LOL!!! Have a great weekend!

Flannel-palozza!

I did get the other half of the flannel washed last night. For two straight hours I pressed and cut flannel. I now only have three more pieces to press and cut. Here are the strips that were last night's production.

I did get a few more blocks sewn together - they need pressed - and have more laid out for stitching.

I saw my first marigold flower! I can't believe how few plants that came up from all the seed I planted. Maybe I planted them too early and they got killed with the cold we had in May.

The flannel parade

I got a few more blocks sewn together.

The next batch laid out

Half of the flannel is washed and I got two of the pieces cut into strips.

I will wash the other half tonight. Here is the pile ready to be press and cut. I was thinking that I ought to make some 16 patch blocks ... hum? 16 patch blocks sure would make it faster to put together a top.  I also think I am going to dye some solids.  I need a couple of different dark greens and I would love a dark teal.  I have plenty of white flannel to use.  Flannel picks up the dye color really well.

Here is a shot of the front yard this morning. Everything is filling in and the beds are looking lush.  It was nice and cool last evening so I did get a few weeds pulled too.

More blocks sewn and flannel arrived

Here are those blocks all sewn and pressed. I like to make them both ways, that is, alternating the position of the solids and plaids.

Here is the next group ready for me to sew together tonight.

My flannel arrived from Hancock's of Paducah yesterday! That was fast! Oh my, I sure bought a lot and what was I thinking? I bought more plaids than solids! There is one solid piece that is on backorder. I will have to get this in the washer and dryer tonight so I can start cutting it.

A good weekend

The weekend went slow and I feel like I got a lot done. I got all the strips sewn together and sliced.

What made life easier was that instead of lining up a ruler to cut each slice

with a 40% off coupon, Saturday I bought a 3" wide ruler. Now all I have to so is line up the edge of the ruler and cut. It went much faster. I wish I had bought one of these years ago.

The rest of the time I spent cleaning - the garage, kitchen, and a bit of the studio. There is more that needs done, but every area looks a lot better. It was so humid that it was hard to work in the garage for long period of time.  Here is my progress on the stocking- first where I was last Monday and where I am now.  I finished the doll and did the quilt under the tree.

I have all the big elements stitched; now it's the details. I cross them off when I complete the details. Here is what's left to stitch.

It's Friday!

What a week! At work I have been recruited to help out on some jobs that are way behind with submittals. A submittal is information that a contractor has to give to us which in turn gets sent to the architect for approval. For instance, product information on Hollow metal doors and frames. The contractor says what he plans on installing using the specifications for the project as a guideline and then the architect will review giving an approval or say try again because something is not correct. This submittal process applies to almost everything that is used on a project. It is a lot of work to compile everything and move the documentation from contractor to architect then architect back to the contractor. That is what I am now doing. I have done this before, but I have to use different software this time. The fellow that has been teaching me is a younger guy - late 30's?- and he nicely gave me a hard time when I said that I needed to write down the process. Eventually I will have the process memorized, but one time thru - no. Still don't have the process written down; he didn't have time to run me thru it again.   So after a week of doing this I am glad it is Friday! I did get a few more blocks make before unexpected, but welcomed company came last night

Here are a few more ready to be sewn

My 30 yards of duvetyne (do-va-teen) arrived. I just ordered it on Tuesday afternoon and it came the next day! I am getting ready for my brother to go back out on the road with bands and he is always needing a mask, curtain, or equipment cover. The duvetyne is fire-retardant fabric and will be use to make a mask to hide the underneath view of a drum riser or if a mask/curtain is needed to hide a lighting truss. I already have some 2" wide loop/velcro tape and some of the car cover fabric for equipment covers. Sometimes I need vinyl and since I have been making vinyl project pouches, I have that on hand too. I will be ready for any sewing emergency that arises!

Have a great weekend!

Wool pressing pad - it's the bomb!

I got the first group of strips sewn together. I have to say I am loving my new wool pressing pad. I bought a big one so a half width of fabric would fit. I am impressed on how my seams lay down with a lot less effort! I wish I would have had one of these decades ago!

Here is the first group of blocks ready to be sewn together.

One of the chairs needed to have three of the back rungs reglued. Done!

I finished the rest of the trimming then watered my new grass patch and the cora bell bed. Here is the first coneflower flower.

Lavender in full bloom - I need to pull that clover that has come up LOL!

and the Shasta daisies are starting to bloom

I am loving my new splatter blue pot that I bought at the estate sale. I have used it almost every day since I bought it.

Pairing up plaids and solids

I only had time to pair up the plaid flanned strips with the solids I have right now.

These are laid out and ready to sew.

I have these with no solids to go with them so yesterday I put in a order to Hancock's of Paducah, a big order.

They had lots of nice flannel on sale so I ended up getting more plaids, some solids, and some woven solids. They didn't have a huge selection of solids or woven solids, but I still managed to do some damage to my wallet! LOL!! It is hard not to buy when many plaid pieces were half price. Meanwhile, I have lots of blocks I can make until my order arrives. I did spend most of my evening outside because the weather was so nice. Mid 70's and low humidity means yardwork! I had mowed the other day, but now I needed to trim. I have two batteries for my trimmer, but they only last 15 to 20 minutes. As I ran out of power, I decided to clean and polish my wood chairs while I waited for one of the batteries to charge up. Here is one of the chairs before and after I rubbed it down with Old English for dark wood. The wood was thirsty and they look so much better.

So in two hours I got a lot of trimming done and the chairs polished. Here is one area before and after that I tackled with the trimmer.   

I am not finished trimming yet. Tonight will be another beautiful evening so I will try and finish up all the trimming tonight.

Mowing, cutting, and pressing

The temperature was 75 degrees and the humidity 45% when I got home from work so that meant I could stand to mow the grass. There also was a nice breeze which helped a lot! I got the back and sides done. Tonight the temps will be about the same so I will mow the front and try to get some trimming done. I did get some strips cut from the last three pieces of flannel.

I decided I needed more solid colors of flannel; they are hard to find! I looked online and finally settled on some solids and some woven solids. Not ideal, but I can make it work. I also picked up some plaids that were on sale - Hancock's of Paducah. It is really hard to find solid flannels. Lots of tone-on-tone pieces, but not much in the way of a solid flannel. I then got the dishes done and pressed the washed fabric I got in some kits from that garage sale.

I got them so cheap! I ended up with 7 3/4 yards out of the four kits for $6.00!

I already mailed the Statue of Liberty panel to Vicki for a veteran quilts. I would have never used the panel. Then I have 4 feet of this print. It was in a kit to make place mats. I will never use this fabric. Does anyone have a project they would use it for? Let me know and I will mail it to you.